THE ENDURANCE BOX TWO By Tracy Cooper-Posey

I found The Endurance Box Two to be just as captivating as the previous books in the series. The plot is full of exciting twists and turns, and the romantic elements are as compelling as ever. What's great about this series is that while the storylines are connected from book to book, each volume stands alone as a complete and satisfying read.

This boswt is volume 2 of the Endurance series. It contains XENOGENESIS, JUNKYARD HEROES, EVANGELIYA, and SKINWALKER’S BANE. It is full of adventure, excitement and amazong cast of characters. If you like romance with you sci-fi adventures. I highly recommend this series.

EVANGELIYA
Evangeliya, a novelette, is a great quick read. This story while being book 5.1 can be read as a standalone. The advantage to read the stories at least book #5 would be to understand the world in which the story is set in. While this has not be like other novels and novelette written by Tracey Copper-Posey, it still has been written to the same standards.

The Endurance series takes place during a voyage spanning a thousand years, with a controlled population of 5000 souls. Each book brings you further along on the journey. The imagination of Tracy Cooper-Posey, along with her in depth and well detailed writing draw you in-book after book. Every book is well edited (so important to me)! I’ve read these books as they’ve come out and really enjoyed rereading them all at once. This is a great collection of books.

Really an excellent series and with this second omnibus we really get to follow the history of the shop on a decent year space a little more than 10years in the life of the characters and we see the consequences of some of their actions, how they got more mature. Each story is great but put together it's even better but to fully grasp everything this must be read in order and after the precedent omnibus/stories. Romance, action, tension and a look on sociology in a closed environment it's really a great sci fi.

Of all the many series written by Cooper-Posey, the Endurance book series is probably my favorite. This series has such an interesting plot - a ship bound for a destination, a thousand years away. Each book presents a different snapshot in time of a society evolving independently in space - for lovers of science fiction and romance, this is the perfect blend! Reading the Endurance series as a compilation also enhances the experience. Book Two includes the following:

1. Xenogenesis - Rex and Belen, thrust together again after many years of separation - it’s understandably a bit awkward since the two once had a passionate affair. As their former relationship is brought to light, we discover that morale on the ship is at an all-time low, since the time of Micah and Laura. How did this happen and why? Fans of Micah and Laura will love the return of Emma.

2. Junkyard Heroes - The Endurance finds itself presented with a novel problem - after centuries of a quiet and sheltered existence on a 3 km ship, there is a sudden reminder that an outside world DOES exist. As if dealing with an outer world problem wasn't problematic enough, the "Cavers" decide it’s time to prove their beliefs - that the Endurance is just a ship in a cave - even if it means killing everyone on board. Junkyard Heroes introduces us to Noa and Hadyn, the son of the leader of the Cavers - both will play an integral role in the future of the ship as they navigate through the unknown.

3. Evangeliya – Though a novelette, Evangeliya adds depth to the Endurance series by exploring the role of the AI - does it really know what's best? In this short story, we are introduced to two couples, both deeply in love with each other. Both couples have desired to be assigned a child, but in what seems to be a cruel twist of fate...only one partner from each couple is chosen and paired with each other. What are they to do? All four realize that raising a child with full dedication requires at least 18-20 years commitment - a serious obstacle to maintaining a long-term relationship with a life partner. Why would an AI choose these two specific people?

4. Skinwalker’s Bane - The Skinwalkers are a wary and mysterious bunch who perform the most dangerous job on the ship, but few know them well. As one of their own is killed on the job, Adam is charged with the task of delivering his final message to a mystery person named Devin, who happens to be an aspiring politician. As her relationship with Adam evolves, she begins to realize what shocking and criminal activities occur behind political doors. Is she sure she wants to be immersed in politics if she wins the Captain's chair?

I love the Endurance 'world', its people and the evolution of unexpected romances!
Each book of the Endurance series just keeps getting better and better. These books (like all novels by Tracy Cooper-Posey) are well written and thoroughly intriguing with memorable characters, an environment that should defy the imagination (but is believable) and surprises galore!

The more I learned about each set of main characters, the more I liked them, making it an interesting read with characters I enjoyed ‘watching’ develop and change through the course of the novel. I have enjoyed the intrigue of each novel as the characters deal with the next crisis or hiccup in the 1000-year journey by the Endurance spacecraft on its way to ‘Destination’.

I’m an Endurance series addict and think it's well worth reading the series in the correct order, from the prequel onwards. There is so much about life aboard the Endurance which you learn through the course of each novel that enriches your experience of the complexities in this imaginary world.

Fabulous Series
The Endurance Box Two contains book four, Xenogenesis, book five, Junkyard Heroes, a small story, Evangeliya, and book six Skinwalker’s Bane, in a long-arc series about the ship, Endurance, as it travels across the cosmos on its way to a new planet and home for the human race. Xenogenesis stands alone in the arc, plot-wise, in my opinion, but the remaining three pieces, Junkyard Heroes, Evangeliya and Skinwalker’s Banke form a beautiful mini-arc all on their own. The Endurance, because of age and stresses, is under attack from the “junkyard” of debris, threatening the very ship and everyone aboard. This set of stories covers the discovery of the problem, creating a solution to the problem, and the political aftermath a decade later. This is the second time I’ve read this series, and it was just as enjoyable this go-through as it was the first. As always, Cooper-Posey creates fully-formed characters within a ship-sized universe that makes the reader feel a part of it. She makes a microcosm of civilizations rising and falling inside a petri dish, with all the flavors of personalities and emotions that accompany such an endeavor. Love this series. DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The Endurance is on a generation spanning voyage to somewhere. What is more fascinating is the stories set on this closed system. Four great stories filled with intrigue, politics, love, and all of the usual things that happen to human society as time passes. This series is one of my favorites, I could happily read these stories again and again.

Although I own and had previously read all four of the books in this box set, it was great fun to go back and visit the Endurance again. As you know from the box set description, this generation ship has been traveling for centuries on its journey to Destination. I’m fascinated with the confined nature of the ship’s complement, partly because their population of 5,000 people is midway between that of the village I live close to and the surrounding area that village serves.

The author, as she always does, has magically spun four fascinating tales in this densely-detailed world of the Endurance. Each is different, each builds on the small universe within the ship, each teaches us a little about humanity as a whole and, if we think about it along the way, a little bit about ourselves, as well.

On my first reading of these books, I mostly appreciated them for the very fine science fiction they are. The world-building of this series is impeccable, and I’m constantly surprised by the attention that has been paid to the smallest details of life in this most artificial of constructs. Now, since I have some familiarity with the plots, I can better appreciate these books for being more than just ripping great stories, which they are. Similar to the stories in Star Trek, wherein Gene Roddenberry (who I was privileged to see in person, many years ago) addressed problems of the day disguised in science-fiction clothing, as did Asimov and Bradbury (whose books I obsessed over in my youth), the books in this series also analyze the people and happenings aboard the Endurance. In this box set we see the unintended consequences of people doing their best to solve problems. There are knotty problems involving economic pressures, outside dangers, manipulation within the society, and difficulties within the various strata of that society, which changes through the lengthy journey.

I also absolutely adore some of the amenities this community takes for granted. I would love to be able to “print” dinner and then recycle leftovers and dishes. What an idea! And if anyone ever invents a noise shield that keeps you from hearing anything beyond your office door, well, I want one of those, too. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to spend time with the brilliant imaginings of this gifted author, and I highly recommend this box set. If you haven’t read any of the other Endurance titles, you will find a fascinating world to explore and enjoy. (I know this is true: I initially started with the seventh book — but then I was hooked.) If you have read the series from the beginning, it will be a richer experience, but feel free to jump right in if you have not. This is my honest and voluntary review of an ARC.