What do you think?
Rate this book
The Terran Fleet Command Saga #1
TFS Ingenuity
It’s the year 2277.
For fifty years, Earth has received mysterious data transmissions from random locations in deep space. The streams include advanced technology, allowing Humans to achieve faster-than-light travel virtually overnight. As we prepare to take our first, tentative steps into interstellar space, we know almost nothing about our alien benefactors, and their motivations remain unexplained.
While completing their shakedown cruise, Captain Tom Prescott and the crew of the first Terran Fleet Command starship, TFS Ingenuity, stumble into a first contact situation. They learn that Earth is not the first civilization granted access to the stars before their time – and how this Faustian gift has inevitably led to centuries of interstellar war.
Humanity’s existence hangs in the balance as a powerful alliance assembles a preemptive military strike, believing it to be their only option to protect themselves … from us. Prescott and his small, initially unarmed starship must serve as our only line of defense. Ingenuity is our only hope.
For fifty years, Earth has received mysterious data transmissions from random locations in deep space. The streams include advanced technology, allowing Humans to achieve faster-than-light travel virtually overnight. As we prepare to take our first, tentative steps into interstellar space, we know almost nothing about our alien benefactors, and their motivations remain unexplained.
While completing their shakedown cruise, Captain Tom Prescott and the crew of the first Terran Fleet Command starship, TFS Ingenuity, stumble into a first contact situation. They learn that Earth is not the first civilization granted access to the stars before their time – and how this Faustian gift has inevitably led to centuries of interstellar war.
Humanity’s existence hangs in the balance as a powerful alliance assembles a preemptive military strike, believing it to be their only option to protect themselves … from us. Prescott and his small, initially unarmed starship must serve as our only line of defense. Ingenuity is our only hope.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2015
432 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Tori L. Harris
8 books166 followersBorn in 1969, four months before the first Apollo moon landing, Tori Harris grew up during the era of the original Star Wars movies and is a lifelong science fiction fan. During his early professional career, he was fortunate enough to briefly have the opportunity to fly jets in the U.S. Air Force, and is still a private pilot who loves to fly. Tori has always loved to read and now combines his love of classic naval fiction with military Sci-Fi when writing his own books. His favorite authors include Patrick O'Brian and Tom Clancy as well as more recent self-published authors like Michael Hicks, Ryk Brown, and Joshua Dalzelle. Tori lives in Tennessee with his beautiful wife, two beautiful daughters, and Bizkit, the best dog ever.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
October 10, 2016
I didn't finish as when I got to the point where TWO CHAPTERS were spent detailing moving a ship from orbit to area 51 I was cross eye'd and gave up. Just not my cup of tea writing style wise.
May 5, 2018
(the start is quite subjective, for a more objective opinions only scroll down a bit)
TBH, this is the first time I am bothering to write a negative review. I read the reviews before deciding to read this book and i noticed two reviews from a husband and wife that said it was horrible but i didn't believe it. I figured they are just slandering and a book ranked so high and that has quite a few more books in the series can't be that bad.
I was very wrong.
I broke down and stopped reading at 52% of the book, the first time it happened to me in thousands of books, I have always finished every book where I finished the first chapter. So i think that tells you how bad I think this book is (I may try again to finish it but that is unlikely).
Why I don't recommend anyone to spend any time on this book:
1. The writing level is infantile - the characters verbalize the positions that the author wants you to know
2. The author (and editor) clearly have no idea about how military organizations work, yet he wrote a fiction that tries to be a military focused sci fi
3.plot development is just not happening, the entire first half of the book nothing happens, the first contact moment passes briefly yet the landing of the ship takes more than 80% of the first half of the book (and I am a big Peter F Hamilton fan, if you know what I mean...)
4. The author is clearly busy passing random political opinions instead of developing the plot (I am also a big Heinlein fan so when done as part of the plot this can be great, but not here).
5. almost no plot development tools are used.
6. the characters make endless monologues while "conversing", it is just not believable
7. Other than that the characters are just one dimensional, even the hero.
7. for hard scifi fans this is softcore but for soft fans this is just full of incorrect science bullshit in between the endless monologues.
Finally, on a different note, I am pretty certain that this book ranks high on Goodreads due to paying for votes. I just can't believe almost the entire series is up in the top 10...
if you still choose to read it you can only blame yourself. this book is not bad like an enjoyable B movie, this is just a boring catastrophe with no redeeming qualities.
TBH, this is the first time I am bothering to write a negative review. I read the reviews before deciding to read this book and i noticed two reviews from a husband and wife that said it was horrible but i didn't believe it. I figured they are just slandering and a book ranked so high and that has quite a few more books in the series can't be that bad.
I was very wrong.
I broke down and stopped reading at 52% of the book, the first time it happened to me in thousands of books, I have always finished every book where I finished the first chapter. So i think that tells you how bad I think this book is (I may try again to finish it but that is unlikely).
Why I don't recommend anyone to spend any time on this book:
1. The writing level is infantile - the characters verbalize the positions that the author wants you to know
2. The author (and editor) clearly have no idea about how military organizations work, yet he wrote a fiction that tries to be a military focused sci fi
3.plot development is just not happening, the entire first half of the book nothing happens, the first contact moment passes briefly yet the landing of the ship takes more than 80% of the first half of the book (and I am a big Peter F Hamilton fan, if you know what I mean...)
4. The author is clearly busy passing random political opinions instead of developing the plot (I am also a big Heinlein fan so when done as part of the plot this can be great, but not here).
5. almost no plot development tools are used.
6. the characters make endless monologues while "conversing", it is just not believable
7. Other than that the characters are just one dimensional, even the hero.
7. for hard scifi fans this is softcore but for soft fans this is just full of incorrect science bullshit in between the endless monologues.
Finally, on a different note, I am pretty certain that this book ranks high on Goodreads due to paying for votes. I just can't believe almost the entire series is up in the top 10...
if you still choose to read it you can only blame yourself. this book is not bad like an enjoyable B movie, this is just a boring catastrophe with no redeeming qualities.
November 14, 2016
I read a lot of military science fiction, because it tends to be more disciplined in its thinking as a genre than other subgenres of sci-fi, let alone fantasy. Why do I think that is important? Because good story-telling means taking a few good ideas and seeing how they would play out if they were true. A lot of sci-fi and fantasy is weak because it is undisciplined - if the writer gets in a corner they conveniently change the rules or throw in a new scientific buzz word to make their inept plot work.
In TFS Ingenuity: The Terran Fleet Command Saga, Tori Harris has written an excellent piece of military sci-fi. It was fast-moving, well-plotted, with good characterization and plausible science. Unlike at least one other reviewer, I liked the level of detail as Tori worked out some of the scientific and military implications. I also liked the positive tone with some realism about human nature and politics to temper it. Highly recommended!
In TFS Ingenuity: The Terran Fleet Command Saga, Tori Harris has written an excellent piece of military sci-fi. It was fast-moving, well-plotted, with good characterization and plausible science. Unlike at least one other reviewer, I liked the level of detail as Tori worked out some of the scientific and military implications. I also liked the positive tone with some realism about human nature and politics to temper it. Highly recommended!
April 23, 2016
This is a space opera book. Earth is receiving info from some unknown source that allows it to advance it's technology. But is the source of the information really on Earth's side? Interesting premise but a lot of the writing was tedious and unnecessary. Let's land the ship already, especially since it didn't change anything relevant to the plot. Several of the main points were just too unbelievable. An intelligence that can tell when nations aren't cooperating but can't see that umpteen trillions of dollars had to be missing from economies to construct a secret spaceship fleet? Not to mention the infrastructure that goes into it? And that the first time out of the solar system the plucky humans exceed all previous species capabilities. My, aren't we special. The idea was very good, the writing was poor, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. It was okay.
August 1, 2016
Good start to a series
A little wordy at times, but solid space combat and military sci-fi. I enjoyed the book enough to purchase the next one right now.
There are some interesting thought problems in the book around first contact and being fed into from another race. Fun stuff to think about.
A little wordy at times, but solid space combat and military sci-fi. I enjoyed the book enough to purchase the next one right now.
There are some interesting thought problems in the book around first contact and being fed into from another race. Fun stuff to think about.
January 21, 2016
I enjoy reading space based Science Fiction books. Many of them have a similar premise of Humans making the necessary advances to reach the stars.
I really enjoyed this one because of the authors approach. Rather then make most of the discoveries ourselves, we are spoon fed the info and set up as proxies of another civilization.
Venturing out from Earth, we discover a wider galaxy full of other sentient species all predisposed to not like us because of being set up as proxies. This has the makings of a great series of novels and I look forward to reading more.
I really enjoyed this one because of the authors approach. Rather then make most of the discoveries ourselves, we are spoon fed the info and set up as proxies of another civilization.
Venturing out from Earth, we discover a wider galaxy full of other sentient species all predisposed to not like us because of being set up as proxies. This has the makings of a great series of novels and I look forward to reading more.
January 16, 2016
Fantastic Space Drama begins!
It is always a supreme pleasure to read a book that is well written and combines an imaginative story with well thought out science and technology. This story is a satisfying look forward to the day when humanity leaps into space with advanced science and technology. Wonderful job! Congrats on a terrific first sci fi novel. I can't wait for the sequel.
It is always a supreme pleasure to read a book that is well written and combines an imaginative story with well thought out science and technology. This story is a satisfying look forward to the day when humanity leaps into space with advanced science and technology. Wonderful job! Congrats on a terrific first sci fi novel. I can't wait for the sequel.
November 29, 2016
This book was a step above of some of the others found for free in the Kindleverse. I enjoyed the first book in the series because it was a fresh approach to the normal SF world. I would recommend this book.
March 25, 2017
An enjoying military space opera
3'5 stars
3'5 stars
October 19, 2016
Great book
Great story with interesting characters. Looking forward to the next book! Gave the book 5 stars but will reduce thar because of the minimum word for the revoew
Great story with interesting characters. Looking forward to the next book! Gave the book 5 stars but will reduce thar because of the minimum word for the revoew
October 17, 2022
Bad Star Trek episode. I’m 17% into this book and the author’s description of the ship is “has sleek lines” and “is not boxy.” Well, I can just picture the whole thing, already. Also, almost none of the characters have physical descriptions...just names and maybe the briefest of bios. I’m sure the author has a bright and full image of the ship and crew in his mind...but he forgot to put them down on paper.
The story flows like a bad episode of Star Trek with wooden dialog and overused phrases. If there’s anything specail about this series coming up, although I seriously doubt it, I won’t get to experience it because I can’t continue.
Who are the people giving this series 4 and 5 stars??? Relatives, investors, perhaps the publisher’s employees???
The story flows like a bad episode of Star Trek with wooden dialog and overused phrases. If there’s anything specail about this series coming up, although I seriously doubt it, I won’t get to experience it because I can’t continue.
Who are the people giving this series 4 and 5 stars??? Relatives, investors, perhaps the publisher’s employees???
January 13, 2016
Great introduction book
I have enjoyed reading this first book of what looks like a great series. I will be looking forward to reading the next book when it is released. Recommended you give it a read.
I have enjoyed reading this first book of what looks like a great series. I will be looking forward to reading the next book when it is released. Recommended you give it a read.
July 3, 2016
Listened to the Audible edition. Good story. Good narration. I am looking forward to the 2nd book.
April 6, 2016
That was fun...
There are so few pleasant surprises in the world of Kindle Unlimited, and now I've actually hit two in a row (if haven't read Atlas then by all means do so, but not till after you're done with TFCS).
Getting the basics out of the way, unlike most KU offerings, the book is well written and well edited. The author writes like an adult and doesn't use words he doesn't understand.
With that out of the way the best way i can describe book one of the TFCS is just what I said at the top, it was a lot of fun. The story moves smoothly and the characters are likeable, if a little underdeveloped. Dropping a tiny spoiler here, I think I know more about the alien admiral than i do about Ingenuity's captain. That's not a deal breaker btw. At 278 pages, so far this is best described as 'Space Opera Lite'. I've been reading space opera for 40 years and I can easily say that it doesn't have 500 pages to be good.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I HIGHLY recommend this one. If you have KU, download it and if you don't, buy it.
There are so few pleasant surprises in the world of Kindle Unlimited, and now I've actually hit two in a row (if haven't read Atlas then by all means do so, but not till after you're done with TFCS).
Getting the basics out of the way, unlike most KU offerings, the book is well written and well edited. The author writes like an adult and doesn't use words he doesn't understand.
With that out of the way the best way i can describe book one of the TFCS is just what I said at the top, it was a lot of fun. The story moves smoothly and the characters are likeable, if a little underdeveloped. Dropping a tiny spoiler here, I think I know more about the alien admiral than i do about Ingenuity's captain. That's not a deal breaker btw. At 278 pages, so far this is best described as 'Space Opera Lite'. I've been reading space opera for 40 years and I can easily say that it doesn't have 500 pages to be good.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I HIGHLY recommend this one. If you have KU, download it and if you don't, buy it.
April 19, 2016
If the first 80% were as good as the last 20% -- and if the ending had some sense of resolution rather than just an abrupt stop -- this would be a five-star read. I want to love this book and support this author, but the first 80% of the novel is weighed down by info dumps, exposition about how things work, a lengthy practice run for the starship with no real stakes, the most interesting characters (minor ones, unfortunately) disappearing off-stage, and a near-endless landing sequence that even as a visual in a film would need to be shorter.
The setting is good, though, and the potential is there. Enough to keep me going through that first 80%. If only the rest of the book had been as good as that last fifth, which was truly gripping space opera.
The setting is good, though, and the potential is there. Enough to keep me going through that first 80%. If only the rest of the book had been as good as that last fifth, which was truly gripping space opera.
July 22, 2017
I really wanted to like this book because the premise of aliens spoonfeeding humans technology was a good one.
But after about a third of the book i gave up. A good portion of this was spent in boring conferences where nothing happend. Furthermore, the dialogues/language of the characters didn´t fit and were immature, not something I would expect in the navy.
But after about a third of the book i gave up. A good portion of this was spent in boring conferences where nothing happend. Furthermore, the dialogues/language of the characters didn´t fit and were immature, not something I would expect in the navy.
May 31, 2016
Great read
Wonderful book and realistic progression of technological advancements from an alien assist. Looking forward to future installments and seeing where the author takes it!
Wonderful book and realistic progression of technological advancements from an alien assist. Looking forward to future installments and seeing where the author takes it!
October 24, 2018
Bit slow, not much happens. Tried to finish but fell asleep.
April 7, 2018
Awesome series! Great writing, thrilling storyline, hilarious dialog, and lots of action! I thoroughly enjoyed it! I highly recommend checking it out!
May 30, 2017
Overall this wasn’t a bad SciFi novel, but it did seem to take a long time to get anywhere, I really felt like I was been drip fed information. Fortunately this improved, but not until the last quarter of the book.
My biggest problem was too much technical information and too many pages spent on the technicalities of running a space ship e.g. it took 2 chapters to land the ship at the Yucca shipyard and there are only 15 chapters in the whole book. The whole procedure could have been written in 2 sentences. The actual story could have been written in half the number of pages, the rest of the book was basically a technical manual.
Without the last quarter of this book I would have given up on this series, but I will give the next book a try.
My biggest problem was too much technical information and too many pages spent on the technicalities of running a space ship e.g. it took 2 chapters to land the ship at the Yucca shipyard and there are only 15 chapters in the whole book. The whole procedure could have been written in 2 sentences. The actual story could have been written in half the number of pages, the rest of the book was basically a technical manual.
Without the last quarter of this book I would have given up on this series, but I will give the next book a try.
May 10, 2017
This book was believable and entertaining
Many times when reading science fiction by a New author, you feel like you were late to the party. They are so advanced and so blase'' about space travel that you just can't get interested. The characters were, well, human, likable and believable. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
Many times when reading science fiction by a New author, you feel like you were late to the party. They are so advanced and so blase'' about space travel that you just can't get interested. The characters were, well, human, likable and believable. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
January 13, 2016
Great reading
Really enjoyed this book,storyline is solid and believable. The abilities of humanity to capitalize on the technology is exiting to read about. Look forward to the next book.
Really enjoyed this book,storyline is solid and believable. The abilities of humanity to capitalize on the technology is exiting to read about. Look forward to the next book.
May 7, 2016
Shockingly good.
It's books like this that make kindle unlimited such a great deal. I can't wait to continue the series. I sure hope the author gets a nice cut from Amazon. If I had to make one critique it would be that the story is a bit short.
It's books like this that make kindle unlimited such a great deal. I can't wait to continue the series. I sure hope the author gets a nice cut from Amazon. If I had to make one critique it would be that the story is a bit short.
June 12, 2016
Good story with alien assisted tech advancement
I enjoyed this story. Based around alien assisted technological advancement and first contact issues. Military SciFi basics but still enjoyable. Worth giving this book a go.
I enjoyed this story. Based around alien assisted technological advancement and first contact issues. Military SciFi basics but still enjoyable. Worth giving this book a go.
November 4, 2016
Enjoyable Read
This is an interesting depiction of accelerated development influenced by deliberate exposure to advanced technology. Humor is involved with the interaction of the characters.
This is an interesting depiction of accelerated development influenced by deliberate exposure to advanced technology. Humor is involved with the interaction of the characters.
March 12, 2016
Thoroughly Entertaining
A great read that mixes the old and new. One minute I thought I was reading classic Clancy, the next Roddenbery!!
Can't wait for book 2!!!
A great read that mixes the old and new. One minute I thought I was reading classic Clancy, the next Roddenbery!!
Can't wait for book 2!!!
August 20, 2016
Brilliant story.
Does exactly what you expect, but the twists work in unexpected ways. Really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
Does exactly what you expect, but the twists work in unexpected ways. Really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
September 27, 2016
Great read
Good tale. So far I have really enjoyed this series. Thanks to the author for sharing his imagination and writing skills.
Good tale. So far I have really enjoyed this series. Thanks to the author for sharing his imagination and writing skills.
October 19, 2016
Great Read!!!
Enjoyed very much. Sometimes got a little long on the tech side, but interesting take on Earth's first ventures to the stars and first contact.
Enjoyed very much. Sometimes got a little long on the tech side, but interesting take on Earth's first ventures to the stars and first contact.
November 14, 2016
Series debut reading fun.
Tori Harris début had me unable to turn the page's fast enough on my kindle fire. Thanks a new fan.
Tori Harris début had me unable to turn the page's fast enough on my kindle fire. Thanks a new fan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews