Review of Sent to Watch

[Anaïs Quesson]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sent to Watch" by David J. Lebenstein.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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“Sent to watch but not to affect.”

Such is the motto of the Interplanetary Intelligence Services’ Bureau of Exploratory Surveillance. Its agents infiltrate primitive planets, observe their development without interfering, and regularly report to their superiors if said planets are ready to be offered membership in the Confederation of Civilized Planets.
Sent to Watch follows three of these agents. Unni Vlaytork, Orishakt ‘Ori’ Svavapass, and Urelt Sraymlat are assigned to watch Earth 48. They settle on our planet Earth in early 19th-century Britain. Ori and Urelt disguise themselves as officers in the Royal Army under the aliases of Major Robert Weatherby and Lieutenant William Greenhill. Unni’s alias, Jenny Carter, is a young farmgirl who came to the city hoping to build a better life.
Soon, the surveillance team for Earth 48 (Unni, Ori, Urelt, and their fellow agents undercover in France, Prussia, or Spain) find themselves at odds with the Noninterference Protocol. Indeed, a belligerent Empire is slowly enslaving neighboring planets and reaching toward the Confederation’s members. Earth 48 is among the next worlds it will conquer. The only way to save it from slavery is to accelerate its technological development deliberately.

Will Unni and Ori succeed in opening the eyes of Earth 48’s leaders about this extraterrestrial threat? Or will their superiors find out about this plan and put it to an end? When love and revenge get in the midst of saving the world, will the agents even be able to carry out this plan successfully?

This book has everything you can look for. And when I say everything, I mean everything. David J. Lebenstein did tremendous work with his brilliant novel.
A book about aliens and interplanetary federations naturally falls under the sci-fi umbrella. The world-building is concrete and very precise. The first chapter explains the Confederation of Civilized Planets' history: how it was founded, how it recruited new planets, and why it doesn't interfere with the planets' historical development. From there on, the main plot unfolds in a fast-paced novel.
Sent to Watch is also a historical fiction. Lebenstein's research about historical settings is outstanding. The principal events from 19th-century Europe are told with such preciseness that it is no wonder the author knows his subject very well.
I enjoy how both genres intertwine. The idea that extraterrestrial beings are watching our every move, waiting for the right moment to contact us, is fascinating. I like the example of the previous breach of the Noninterference Protocol. Earlier on Earth 48, two undercover agents had a son and raised him among the natives. This child was Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius far ahead of his time due to his parents’ teachings.
Lastly, I enjoyed the touches of romance and humor Lebenstein added throughout the book. Who would have guessed I'd get so emotional while reading about an extraterrestrial relationship?

At first, understanding the different alien names and aliases took a lot of work. Yet, it hasn’t bothered me more than a couple of pages. Each character has a unique personality, so it quickly became easy to differentiate them from one another. The glossary at the beginning of the book also sums up each agent’s names and aliases. It is easy to refer back to it when an unknown name appears.
I especially enjoy the character of Ori. I relate a lot to him. At first, he is always focused and devoted to his mission for the Confederation, so much so that he tends to be oblivious to his feelings. His personality develops with time as he builds his family. His relationship with Unni is adorable. I especially like the scene when they bond on the beach. I appreciate how both characters grow as people as the story goes on.
I didn't understand why both of these characters were so determined to ‘save’ Earth 48. Multiple times, Ori and Unni could have obeyed orders and started a new life on another planet, but they stayed entitled to their mission of accelerating Earth 48’s development. While this unfailing determination gives depth and strength to the characters, I was also sometimes puzzled by their decisions to keep defying the Confederation’s orders.

I love the author's writing style. His descriptions are picturesque and vivid. Thanks to them, the reader is immediately immersed in this complex universe. Lebenstein successfully translated the thoughts and feelings of his characters into words. He created a thrilling story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I did not expect such an ending!
I also enjoy the fact that the chapters have titles. They are an effective way to give the reader a glimpse of each chapter.

I ended up giving Sent to Watch a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
I don't have any strong negative comments about this book that could lower my rating. It might seem all over the place, but each theme blends perfectly with the others to create a thrilling story. Mr. Lebenstein produced an excellent piece of fiction that I highly recommend to anyone who likes science fiction.

******
Sent to Watch
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Cara Wilding]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sent to Watch" by David J. Lebenstein.]

Sent to Watch follows three of these agents. Unni Vlaytork, Orishakt ‘Ori’ Svavapass, and Urelt Sraymlat are assigned to watch Earth 48. They settle on our planet Earth in early 19th-century Britain. Ori and Urelt disguise themselves as officers in the Royal Army under the aliases of Major Robert Weatherby and Lieutenant William Greenhill. Unni’s alias, Jenny Carter, is a young farmgirl who came to the city hoping to build a better life.

Soon, the surveillance team for Earth 48 (Unni, Ori, Urelt, and their fellow agents undercover in France, Prussia, or Spain) find themselves at odds with the Noninterference Protocol. Indeed, a belligerent Empire is slowly enslaving neighboring planets and reaching toward the Confederation’s members. Earth 48 is among the next worlds it will conquer. The only way to save it from slavery is to accelerate its technological development deliberately.

I enjoy how both genres intertwine. The idea that extraterrestrial beings are watching our every move, waiting for the right moment to contact us, is fascinating. I like the example of the previous breach of the Noninterference Protocol. Earlier on Earth 48, two undercover agents had a son and raised him among the natives. This child was Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius far ahead of his time due to his parents’ teachings.

I love the author's writing style. His descriptions are picturesque and vivid. Thanks to them, the reader is immediately immersed in this complex universe. Lebenstein successfully translated the thoughts and feelings of his characters into words. He created a thrilling story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I did not expect such an ending!

Anais, I love the sound of this book! Like you, I like the idea of extraterrestrial life existing around us, waiting to make contact! My curiosity is killing me: do they come as full-grown adults and infiltrate, or do they grow up as children here?! I guess I'll have to read to find out. The conflict with the belligerent empire is a great way to give gas to this plot! Advancing existing technological development is also an interesting element. I think my favorite part of your review is your mention of who Leonardo Da Vinci really was/is! I love this! It already sounds like an exciting read, and then you mention it also has an unexpected ending!!! I enjoyed reading your review, as always, and I can't wait for your next one! Until next time...

[Rob Carr]

Sounds like a great read. I love the idea of mixing the historical past with sci-fi elements. I can definitely understand the getting emotional about clearly fictional characters relationships too! Thanks for the review.

[The Keeper Jr]

I like the fact that this is a mix of history and sci-fi. Any book with a plot containing aliens is enjoyable to me. It kinda gives me the Avengers vibe, and the fact they are saving Earth instead of obeying their orders is interesting. I love sci-fi so this book won't be left unread. Thanks for the amazing review Anaïs!

[Anaïs Quesson]

Anais, I love the sound of this book! Like you, I like the idea of extraterrestrial life existing around us, waiting to make contact! My curiosity is killing me: do they come as full-grown adults and infiltrate, or do they grow up as children here?! I guess I'll have to read to find out. The conflict with the belligerent empire is a great way to give gas to this plot! Advancing existing technological development is also an interesting element. I think my favorite part of your review is your mention of who Leonardo Da Vinci really was/is! I love this! It already sounds like an exciting read, and then you mention it also has an unexpected ending!!! I enjoyed reading your review, as always, and I can't wait for your next one! Until next time...

As always, thank you for your kind words, Cara!

The mention of Leonardo Da Vinci is nothing more than anecdotic, to be honest. I thought sharing it could highlight the importance of the protocol the agents have to follow.

I'm glad you liked the review! I really enjoyed this book and I hope you will too if you ever give it a try.

[Anaïs Quesson]

Sounds like a great read. I love the idea of mixing the historical past with sci-fi elements. I can definitely understand the getting emotional about clearly fictional characters relationships too! Thanks for the review.

I like the fact that this is a mix of history and sci-fi. Any book with a plot containing aliens is enjoyable to me. It kinda gives me the Avengers vibe, and the fact they are saving Earth instead of obeying their orders is interesting. I love sci-fi so this book won't be left unread. Thanks for the amazing review Anaïs!

Thank you both. It is always a pleasure to read your kind comments.

[Cara Wilding]

As always, thank you for your kind words, Cara!

The mention of Leonardo Da Vinci is nothing more than anecdotic, to be honest. I thought sharing it could highlight the importance of the protocol the agents have to follow.

Anais, quite honestly, it reminded me of reading The Da Vinci Code "waaaaay" back when! I also remember what a beautiful book cover it had and thought you would have appreciated it! Until next time...

[MsH2k]

It really does sound like this story has everything! I may just have to check it out. Usually, I get tripped up when there are lots of names, especially unique ones like those you've listed, but it's good to hear you got used to them quickly. Thank you for your thorough review and recommendation, Anaïs!

[Anaïs Quesson]

Anais, quite honestly, it reminded me of reading The Da Vinci Code "waaaaay" back when! I also remember what a beautiful book cover it had and thought you would have appreciated it! Until next time...

Oh, I looove The Da Vinci Code. I'm more familiar with the movie adaptation, but I've read the book twice! It does have a beautiful cover!

[Anaïs Quesson]

It really does sound like this story has everything! I may just have to check it out. Usually, I get tripped up when there are lots of names, especially unique ones like those you've listed, but it's good to hear you got used to them quickly. Thank you for your thorough review and recommendation, Anaïs!

Thank you for your kind words. The glossary at the beginning really helped with remembering every name.
If you read it, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

[ZCReviews]

I like this book, and there was a part that really broke my heart. The book was a great blend of history and science fiction, and the author did a fantastic job. I'm glad you mentioned the glossary because it was really helpful to read before starting the book and to refer back to during the reading. I found the names in the book to be unappealing, which was a complaint I raised in my review. Your review was very thorough, and as someone who has read the book, I enjoyed reading your perspective and agree with the high rating.

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sent to Watch" by David J. Lebenstein.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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“Sent to watch but not to affect.”

Such is the motto of the Interplanetary Intelligence Services’ Bureau of Exploratory Surveillance. Its agents infiltrate primitive planets, observe their development without interfering, and regularly report to their superiors if said planets are ready to be offered membership in the Confederation of Civilized Planets.
Sent to Watch follows three of these agents. Unni Vlaytork, Orishakt ‘Ori’ Svavapass, and Urelt Sraymlat are assigned to watch Earth 48. They settle on our planet Earth in early 19th-century Britain. Ori and Urelt disguise themselves as officers in the Royal Army under the aliases of Major Robert Weatherby and Lieutenant William Greenhill. Unni’s alias, Jenny Carter, is a young farmgirl who came to the city hoping to build a better life.
Soon, the surveillance team for Earth 48 (Unni, Ori, Urelt, and their fellow agents undercover in France, Prussia, or Spain) find themselves at odds with the Noninterference Protocol. Indeed, a belligerent Empire is slowly enslaving neighboring planets and reaching toward the Confederation’s members. Earth 48 is among the next worlds it will conquer. The only way to save it from slavery is to accelerate its technological development deliberately.

Will Unni and Ori succeed in opening the eyes of Earth 48’s leaders about this extraterrestrial threat? Or will their superiors find out about this plan and put it to an end? When love and revenge get in the midst of saving the world, will the agents even be able to carry out this plan successfully?

This book has everything you can look for. And when I say everything, I mean everything. David J. Lebenstein did tremendous work with his brilliant novel.
A book about aliens and interplanetary federations naturally falls under the sci-fi umbrella. The world-building is concrete and very precise. The first chapter explains the Confederation of Civilized Planets' history: how it was founded, how it recruited new planets, and why it doesn't interfere with the planets' historical development. From there on, the main plot unfolds in a fast-paced novel.
Sent to Watch is also a historical fiction. Lebenstein's research about historical settings is outstanding. The principal events from 19th-century Europe are told with such preciseness that it is no wonder the author knows his subject very well.
I enjoy how both genres intertwine. The idea that extraterrestrial beings are watching our every move, waiting for the right moment to contact us, is fascinating. I like the example of the previous breach of the Noninterference Protocol. Earlier on Earth 48, two undercover agents had a son and raised him among the natives. This child was Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius far ahead of his time due to his parents’ teachings.
Lastly, I enjoyed the touches of romance and humor Lebenstein added throughout the book. Who would have guessed I'd get so emotional while reading about an extraterrestrial relationship?

At first, understanding the different alien names and aliases took a lot of work. Yet, it hasn’t bothered me more than a couple of pages. Each character has a unique personality, so it quickly became easy to differentiate them from one another. The glossary at the beginning of the book also sums up each agent’s names and aliases. It is easy to refer back to it when an unknown name appears.
I especially enjoy the character of Ori. I relate a lot to him. At first, he is always focused and devoted to his mission for the Confederation, so much so that he tends to be oblivious to his feelings. His personality develops with time as he builds his family. His relationship with Unni is adorable. I especially like the scene when they bond on the beach. I appreciate how both characters grow as people as the story goes on.
I didn't understand why both of these characters were so determined to ‘save’ Earth 48. Multiple times, Ori and Unni could have obeyed orders and started a new life on another planet, but they stayed entitled to their mission of accelerating Earth 48’s development. While this unfailing determination gives depth and strength to the characters, I was also sometimes puzzled by their decisions to keep defying the Confederation’s orders.

I love the author's writing style. His descriptions are picturesque and vivid. Thanks to them, the reader is immediately immersed in this complex universe. Lebenstein successfully translated the thoughts and feelings of his characters into words. He created a thrilling story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I did not expect such an ending!
I also enjoy the fact that the chapters have titles. They are an effective way to give the reader a glimpse of each chapter.

I ended up giving Sent to Watch a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
I don't have any strong negative comments about this book that could lower my rating. It might seem all over the place, but each theme blends perfectly with the others to create a thrilling story. Mr. Lebenstein produced an excellent piece of fiction that I highly recommend to anyone who likes science fiction.

******
Sent to Watch
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Gerry Steen]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sent to Watch" by David J. Lebenstein.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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“Sent to watch but not to affect.”

Such is the motto of the Interplanetary Intelligence Services’ Bureau of Exploratory Surveillance. Its agents infiltrate primitive planets, observe their development without interfering, and regularly report to their superiors if said planets are ready to be offered membership in the Confederation of Civilized Planets.
Sent to Watch follows three of these agents. Unni Vlaytork, Orishakt ‘Ori’ Svavapass, and Urelt Sraymlat are assigned to watch Earth 48. They settle on our planet Earth in early 19th-century Britain. Ori and Urelt disguise themselves as officers in the Royal Army under the aliases of Major Robert Weatherby and Lieutenant William Greenhill. Unni’s alias, Jenny Carter, is a young farmgirl who came to the city hoping to build a better life.
Soon, the surveillance team for Earth 48 (Unni, Ori, Urelt, and their fellow agents undercover in France, Prussia, or Spain) find themselves at odds with the Noninterference Protocol. Indeed, a belligerent Empire is slowly enslaving neighboring planets and reaching toward the Confederation’s members. Earth 48 is among the next worlds it will conquer. The only way to save it from slavery is to accelerate its technological development deliberately.

Will Unni and Ori succeed in opening the eyes of Earth 48’s leaders about this extraterrestrial threat? Or will their superiors find out about this plan and put it to an end? When love and revenge get in the midst of saving the world, will the agents even be able to carry out this plan successfully?

This book has everything you can look for. And when I say everything, I mean everything. David J. Lebenstein did tremendous work with his brilliant novel.
A book about aliens and interplanetary federations naturally falls under the sci-fi umbrella. The world-building is concrete and very precise. The first chapter explains the Confederation of Civilized Planets' history: how it was founded, how it recruited new planets, and why it doesn't interfere with the planets' historical development. From there on, the main plot unfolds in a fast-paced novel.
Sent to Watch is also a historical fiction. Lebenstein's research about historical settings is outstanding. The principal events from 19th-century Europe are told with such preciseness that it is no wonder the author knows his subject very well.
I enjoy how both genres intertwine. The idea that extraterrestrial beings are watching our every move, waiting for the right moment to contact us, is fascinating. I like the example of the previous breach of the Noninterference Protocol. Earlier on Earth 48, two undercover agents had a son and raised him among the natives. This child was Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius far ahead of his time due to his parents’ teachings.
Lastly, I enjoyed the touches of romance and humor Lebenstein added throughout the book. Who would have guessed I'd get so emotional while reading about an extraterrestrial relationship?

At first, understanding the different alien names and aliases took a lot of work. Yet, it hasn’t bothered me more than a couple of pages. Each character has a unique personality, so it quickly became easy to differentiate them from one another. The glossary at the beginning of the book also sums up each agent’s names and aliases. It is easy to refer back to it when an unknown name appears.
I especially enjoy the character of Ori. I relate a lot to him. At first, he is always focused and devoted to his mission for the Confederation, so much so that he tends to be oblivious to his feelings. His personality develops with time as he builds his family. His relationship with Unni is adorable. I especially like the scene when they bond on the beach. I appreciate how both characters grow as people as the story goes on.
I didn't understand why both of these characters were so determined to ‘save’ Earth 48. Multiple times, Ori and Unni could have obeyed orders and started a new life on another planet, but they stayed entitled to their mission of accelerating Earth 48’s development. While this unfailing determination gives depth and strength to the characters, I was also sometimes puzzled by their decisions to keep defying the Confederation’s orders.

I love the author's writing style. His descriptions are picturesque and vivid. Thanks to them, the reader is immediately immersed in this complex universe. Lebenstein successfully translated the thoughts and feelings of his characters into words. He created a thrilling story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I did not expect such an ending!
I also enjoy the fact that the chapters have titles. They are an effective way to give the reader a glimpse of each chapter.

I ended up giving Sent to Watch a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
I don't have any strong negative comments about this book that could lower my rating. It might seem all over the place, but each theme blends perfectly with the others to create a thrilling story. Mr. Lebenstein produced an excellent piece of fiction that I highly recommend to anyone who likes science fiction.

******
Sent to Watch
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

I generally don't read science fiction unless the book is a gem, such as you described in this thorough review. I will enjoy reading the blend of historical fiction and science fiction. You have me convinced that this book will be worth my time to read. I am adding it to my bookshelves. Thank you.

[Julie Marie Basil]

I've never read a story that combined science fiction and historical fiction, but this sounds like a very engaging one. I appreciate that the author included the glossary at the beginning to help the reader keep track of the different characters.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Stories like this make the reader wonder if this kind of thing has been going on all the time. As someone who doesn't believe that we're the only race in the universe, I'm very interested in this story. Thanks for introducing it to me.

[Kshitija Sonawane]

Are you sure they are aliens? Those names sound very Russian to me. Well, I don't see much difference between Russians and aliens anyways (just kidding, sorry). Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this review. Thank you.

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sent to Watch" by David J. Lebenstein.]

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5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

“Sent to watch but not to affect.”

Such is the motto of the Interplanetary Intelligence Services’ Bureau of Exploratory Surveillance. Its agents infiltrate primitive planets, observe their development without interfering, and regularly report to their superiors if said planets are ready to be offered membership in the Confederation of Civilized Planets.
Sent to Watch follows three of these agents. Unni Vlaytork, Orishakt ‘Ori’ Svavapass, and Urelt Sraymlat are assigned to watch Earth 48. They settle on our planet Earth in early 19th-century Britain. Ori and Urelt disguise themselves as officers in the Royal Army under the aliases of Major Robert Weatherby and Lieutenant William Greenhill. Unni’s alias, Jenny Carter, is a young farmgirl who came to the city hoping to build a better life.
Soon, the surveillance team for Earth 48 (Unni, Ori, Urelt, and their fellow agents undercover in France, Prussia, or Spain) find themselves at odds with the Noninterference Protocol. Indeed, a belligerent Empire is slowly enslaving neighboring planets and reaching toward the Confederation’s members. Earth 48 is among the next worlds it will conquer. The only way to save it from slavery is to accelerate its technological development deliberately.

Will Unni and Ori succeed in opening the eyes of Earth 48’s leaders about this extraterrestrial threat? Or will their superiors find out about this plan and put it to an end? When love and revenge get in the midst of saving the world, will the agents even be able to carry out this plan successfully?

This book has everything you can look for. And when I say everything, I mean everything. David J. Lebenstein did tremendous work with his brilliant novel.
A book about aliens and interplanetary federations naturally falls under the sci-fi umbrella. The world-building is concrete and very precise. The first chapter explains the Confederation of Civilized Planets' history: how it was founded, how it recruited new planets, and why it doesn't interfere with the planets' historical development. From there on, the main plot unfolds in a fast-paced novel.
Sent to Watch is also a historical fiction. Lebenstein's research about historical settings is outstanding. The principal events from 19th-century Europe are told with such preciseness that it is no wonder the author knows his subject very well.
I enjoy how both genres intertwine. The idea that extraterrestrial beings are watching our every move, waiting for the right moment to contact us, is fascinating. I like the example of the previous breach of the Noninterference Protocol. Earlier on Earth 48, two undercover agents had a son and raised him among the natives. This child was Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius far ahead of his time due to his parents’ teachings.
Lastly, I enjoyed the touches of romance and humor Lebenstein added throughout the book. Who would have guessed I'd get so emotional while reading about an extraterrestrial relationship?

At first, understanding the different alien names and aliases took a lot of work. Yet, it hasn’t bothered me more than a couple of pages. Each character has a unique personality, so it quickly became easy to differentiate them from one another. The glossary at the beginning of the book also sums up each agent’s names and aliases. It is easy to refer back to it when an unknown name appears.
I especially enjoy the character of Ori. I relate a lot to him. At first, he is always focused and devoted to his mission for the Confederation, so much so that he tends to be oblivious to his feelings. His personality develops with time as he builds his family. His relationship with Unni is adorable. I especially like the scene when they bond on the beach. I appreciate how both characters grow as people as the story goes on.
I didn't understand why both of these characters were so determined to ‘save’ Earth 48. Multiple times, Ori and Unni could have obeyed orders and started a new life on another planet, but they stayed entitled to their mission of accelerating Earth 48’s development. While this unfailing determination gives depth and strength to the characters, I was also sometimes puzzled by their decisions to keep defying the Confederation’s orders.

I love the author's writing style. His descriptions are picturesque and vivid. Thanks to them, the reader is immediately immersed in this complex universe. Lebenstein successfully translated the thoughts and feelings of his characters into words. He created a thrilling story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I did not expect such an ending!
I also enjoy the fact that the chapters have titles. They are an effective way to give the reader a glimpse of each chapter.

I ended up giving Sent to Watch a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
I don't have any strong negative comments about this book that could lower my rating. It might seem all over the place, but each theme blends perfectly with the others to create a thrilling story. Mr. Lebenstein produced an excellent piece of fiction that I highly recommend to anyone who likes science fiction.

******
Sent to Watch
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon