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Laura Montgomery
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The Gear Engages: A Science Fiction Lost Colony Adventure (Martha's Sons Book 4) Kindle Edition

by Laura Montgomery (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

It takes more than a single terraformer to start a new world.

The human colony on the lost world of Not What We Were Looking For faces fracture and schism. On one side of the river, the settlers from Earth remember what it means to live in a free society. In the Marss-controlled city, the governor cancelled elections long ago and strives daily to cement his grip on the inhabitants.

Thaddeus Dawe and the Hudson cousins, including the one who agreed to marry him, save the colony’s last terraseeder from the governor’s political grandstanding, and head for the secret northern enclave started by Thaddeus’ brother. But all Thaddeus’ careful planning takes a wrenching turn when not one but two parties race in pursuit.

Thwarted in his original goal, faced with repairing the consequences of what he does to escape arrest, and besotted by the discovery of newspapers, Thaddeus wrestles with new ventures and roles in which he dare not fail. He must save not only Earth’s microbial legacy but its knowledge base as well. Not to mention, he’s getting married.

But when the governor’s chief of staff decides to weaponize Thaddeus against both the city’s farmers and the newspaper’s publisher, Thaddeus must fight the governor’s attempts to steal the farmers’ land even as someone destroys everything Thaddeus himself tries to build. In the end, he must do what he can to save those his own betrayal put at risk.

Picking up where Under the Earthline left off, The Gear Engages is the fourth book in the gripping science fiction colonization series Martha’s Sons. If you like action, political machinations, and a driven hero, you’ll want to dive in heart-and-head first.

Pick it up now to join the fight for a lost world!

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  1. Book 4 of 6
    Martha's Sons
  2. Print length
    380 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 18, 2021
  5. File size
    4.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 6 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B099SF6556
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 18, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 380 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

About the author

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Laura Montgomery

Laura Montgomery

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Laura Montgomery began reading science fiction when she was thirteen, when the local U.S. Air Force base donated many amazing books to the school she attended in northern Thailand. Laura practices space law in Washington, D.C. She has worked on space tourism and launch safety regulations, which, honestly, are not science fiction. She lives outside Washington with her husband, children, and dogs.

To receive updates about new releases, sign up for her newsletter at lauramontgomery.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
81 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The keys to Liberty
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Like Larry Niven’s Destiny’s Road, Laura Montgomery tells a story of how a modern society can throw away its prosperity—and even its food security—by giving up the keys to Liberty. Thaddeus Dawes takes his lumps learning hard lessons from enemies—and enemies of enemies—about how to fight an apparently unsophisticated but canny governor of a small isolated city state who has turned his small democracy into a dictatorship, and wants to make it into a medieval kingdom.

    In earlier books in the series, the weak are at the mercy of the strong without a means to defend themselves. In this one, no one can object to ill treatment if they are illiterate and poorly educated. If there’s a nano assembler that can produce anything, it will benefit almost exclusively the ones that control its production. In one generation, a prosperous nation can go from plenty to famine if it is managed badly enough. Overnight, non-enforcement of laws can sunder families, strip freedom and even memories.

    Montgomery’s economic and political hard lessons for Dawes are (mostly) played out under Marquis of Queensbury rules in this book, but the stakes are always the end of civilization altogether, when there are no other worlds within light years that can save this isolated colony from itself.
    One person found this helpful
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  • ShirleyAvidReader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Different
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2022
    A Hidden Gem Review

    Wasn't sure what I was getting into here but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a great story, told well. The author's great story telling voice takes you along in such a way you feel like you're there. It's like back street small time criminals pair up with new world settlers, all wanting to make a better life. And told in such a way you want to be there so as not miss a minute of it.

    This story isn't for everyone, the characters remind me of Firefly, the settlers of the new worlds they carved out. This is a story you have to experience for yourself because it's full of interactions that will lead you to your own impressions. I delved into the author's writing history and was duly impressed. Ms Montgomery is a seasoned author, and it shows.

    A chosen read and a volunteered review.
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  • Lawrence M. Good
    5.0 out of 5 stars The plot get thicker as resources get thinner for this lost colony of Earthlings
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Fun book series- really good for anything from tweens to teens to adults. If you're an adult who learned from Heinlein's juveniles and want to see a bit more modern attempt at the genre, this is a series worth checking out.
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  • LT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I recd an advance copy from the author for review. What a great read!! I esp like the very believable characters. Some good some bad and all with their flaws. Very “human”!! Very believable commentary on humanity and the abuses of power as well.

    After finishing I just had to go re-read previous works in the Martha’s Sons series. Great job Laura!!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Begineer rider
    5.0 out of 5 stars More Great Story Telling from Laura Montgomery!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2021
    With the addition of Ms. Montgomery’s latest book in the Martha’s Sons series, the story of NWWWLF (Not What We Were Looking For) is a classic science fiction series in the making! After their starship arrives at a seemingly habitable planet, but not their intended destination, the first generation of settlers has wrested away from NWWLF a place for humanity to survive by terraforming the valley of First Landing. But as the original generation is getting older, machinery falters and technical literacy wanes, most of humanity on NWWLF is settling into a standard of daily living far different than their parents and grandparents remember from Earth and Mars. Leading the charge to the bottom is the Governor and his supporters from the Mars contingent, whose dogged adherence to a political and economic doctrine of “The Greater Good” justify one bad decision and poor practice after another. Of course, there are still pockets of functioning technology and human knowledge, but like most societies with a skewed political philosophy, these seem only to benefit those in charge – for the greater good.
    But humans also persevere. The starship’s Earth contingent, the Weshem, have worked to establish a successful agricultural community on the other side of the river from the city of First Landing. Thaddeus Dawe, son of a farmer, however finds himself uprooted and in First Landing as a hostage under the thinly veiled pretext of an agricultural advisor, for the actions of his younger brother, Peter, now an outlaw and on the run. Thaddeus, a book loving and principled fellow, decides that while he is in First Landing he will help the city’s failing farmers, read every book he can find, save the last terraforming machine, and make a plan to preserve human knowledge.
    Ms. Montgomery weaves a rich tale with an undercurrent of political and economic theory, control of information and political maneuvering which resonate today and that continues to grow the story of NWWLF. But it is her story telling, her eye for detail and truly enjoyable characters that keep the pages turning! The intricately choreographed sword fights put you in the middle of the action. The thoroughly detailed visits to the blacksmith and the printing press leave you convinced she has studiously researched every aspect of her material to provide an authentic background for the story. And her characters become real people through dialogue that rings true. Following Thaddeus and his companions through their successes and failures, feels less like reading about characters in a book and more like finding out what is happening with good friends.
    Ms. Montgomery also has a wonderful way of telling a story gently, which I appreciate, but without losing any emotional impact. We don’t have to read the words to know someone swore. Thaddeus and his bride’s wedding night is described with tenderness and emotion, but without graphic description so common with other authors. The Gear Engages, and all the books in the NWWLF universe, are suitable for all readers from young teens to older, discerning readers of great science fiction.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Sharper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another exciting installment about Martha's sons
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
    I have the eBook via Kindle Unlimited, as well as the other books in the series, and this one is well worth it.

    Besides re-discovering early printing technology in a search for knowledge, the heroes must deal with corrupt government officials, unlikely competitors, and mob justice. Still, in his new government position and his friends, Thaddeus Dawe has an inside edge in the race for preserving information and technology to support those trying for freedom.

    Along the way, there's a marriage, and a bunch of finicky farmers, spoiling for a fight.

    A fun, rollicking adventure, with the underlying social and political drama I've come to expect from the series. Highly recommended!
    2 people found this helpful
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