The Lesson Audiobook By Cadwell Turnbull cover art

The Lesson

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The Lesson

By: Cadwell Turnbull
Narrated by: Janina Edwards, Ron Butler
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An alien ship rests over Water Island. For five years, the people of the US Virgin Islands have lived with the Ynaa, a race of super-advanced aliens on a research mission they will not fully disclose. They are benevolent in many ways but meet any act of aggression with disproportional wrath. This has led to a strained relationship between the Ynaa and the local Virgin Islanders, and a peace that cannot last.

A year after the death of a young boy at the hands of an Ynaa, three families find themselves at the center of the inevitable conflict, witness and victim to events that will touch everyone and teach a terrible lesson.

©2019 Cadwell Turnbull (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Literary Science Fiction

Critic reviews

“Turnbull is a rising star in the science fiction and fantasy world.” (The Verge)

“Turnbull was raised in the Caribbean in a family that lived there for generations. This slow but gradual addition to the field of diverse writers whose fiction is influenced by their cultural background has not only led to a more authentic depiction of places other than mainland America and the United Kingdom, it’s also revitalized the genre’s creaky old tropes, such as the alien invasion/first contact narrative.... The Lesson is everything I adore about a debut, a bold new voice that applies a fresh coat of paint to an old idea and does so with a sense of daring, compassion, and intelligence.” (Ian Mond, Locus)

“Sometimes the aliens don’t land in New York or London. In fact, the alien Ynaa ship that catalyzes the emotional landscape and drives the action of this debut novel lands in the harbor of Water Island, one of the US Virgin Islands.... A persuasively - almost musically - worded meditation on colonialism and whether it’s really possible to return home again.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Editor's Pick

First contact & human connection
"Despite its popularity as a genre, I find that true literary sci-fi is a tricky thing to get just right. And yet Cadwell Turnbull’s debut has done just that. A first-contact narrative set in the US Virgin Islands, The Lesson is as "unpauseably" (it’s a word, okay?) compulsive as it is worthy of quietly savoring. Turnbull explores—yes, even through his non-human characters—the full range of the human experience: the sense of family, of feeling on the outside, of needing to belong to someone or something. One listen will not be enough—I know I’ll come back to this novel again, eager to reacquaint myself with the characters and pick up on those subtle cues missed the first time around. Not to mention re-experience the dynamic performances from the skilled duo of Janina Edwards and Ron Butler."
—Sam D., Audible Editor

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The story was original and set in the US Virgin Islands, which was an unusual treat. The author captures the feel of the Islands and their history. A true pleasure.

Awesome story set in my native US Virgin Islands

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If you are looking for something different than a trite alien invasion story, this is it. The Lesson is original. The story takes place on St. Thomas in the Caribbean and the author looks at the colony of aliens through a lens shaped by the island's history of invasions and slavery, and by the willingness of the world to ignore the invasion of St Thomas as long as the invasion does not damage them. The title is not clearly explained until late in the book, but don't give up. It's worth every second of the original read.

A moving story of suspicion and misunderstanding

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I'm not going to re-cap the blurb or give a synopsis.

It's classic SF, about first contact, and humanity's struggle with a more technologically developed species. The book is informed by the authors background, the history of his birthplace.

History most of us know little about.

In it, all these half century old tropes spring to life on the page, vital and new and infused with fresh meaning, enacted by real characters we feel like we know.

There's stuff about colonialism I knew in my head, that I now feel in my flesh and bones. The book has made me a bigger person. This is the best case scenario; this is what we want books to do.

Human scaled interaction with global importance, existential impact. No straw men. No villains. No superheroes.

Just humanity, love, wonder, loss, resilience.

SF doing what SF does best; accessible to all

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Kept me intrigued, didn't want to stop listening. I thoroughly appreciated the detailed description of ROCK CITY which was SPOT ON!

Captivating storyline!!!

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An interesting storyline with poignant vignettes of human lives intersecting with extra terrestrial visitors to earth. I felt it ended rather abruptly and wanted more of the characters lives. Definitely thought-provoking regarding the existential questions of conflict, survival, and protecting one’s own at any cost. Fantastic narrator – – the vocal characterizations were great!

Wanted more!

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A truly compelling novel and so well written. Set in the Virgin Islands (author from there originally), sci-fi/aliens, the colonialism in our history intertwined with what the aliens, who have vast powers, create when they arrive. I cannot praise the audio performances enough. An absolute pleasure to listen to—so very well executed.

Excellent writing, excellent audio performance

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Well written, well performed. I hope the story continues as a series. Worth the credit!

Wonderful Novel

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This novel wasn't quite what I expected but I grew to appreciate the paced reading and thoughtfulness of the ideas. Not a Syfi thriller or action story, but more of a contemplative saga. Janina Edwards narration was great.

Sssso Interessssting

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The aliens in this book are more of less incidental. The majority of the book is about relationship issues and Caribbean culture. Even the aliens are basically just like slightly modified people. That said, the author does an OK job at character development and the use of language is reasonably good.

More Drama and Romance than Sci-Fi

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This isn’t a thrilling sci-fi adventure cruising through space and kicking ass. It a creative take on invasion, occupation, and race. Those who come do so in search of something, whatever the cost.

Way better than I expected.

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