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Three Lives Of Mary Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

Can a heart be broken, even when it's artificial?

Mary is part of an elite CySapient team. Together with her husband Ben--a total-conversion sentient spaceship--she surveys planets looking for potentially colonizable worlds.

While investigating a possibly habitable planet, Mary encounters a strange plant-animal hybrid that threatens to destroy her, despite her near invulnerable Cynetic body. Ben rescues her, but is severely damaged--including his highly expensive Dataract brain augmentation.

After limping back to the nearest repair base, Mary discovers that bad investments in immature colony worlds, along with Ben's taste for lavish hardware upgrades, have wiped out most of their funds. Unable to afford the life-saving repairs Ben needs, Mary must now risk everything to save him, and make decisions that will change both their lives forever.

David M. Kelly
is also the author of the Joe Ballen sci-fi thriller series, the Logan's World series, and the Hyperia Jones series.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David M. Kelly writes fast-paced, near-future sci-fi thrillers with engaging characters, cynical humor, and (mostly!) plausible science. He is the author of the Joe Ballen books, the Logan's World spin-off series, and the Hyperia Jones sci-fi humor series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LWAQVIH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Nemesis Press (September 14, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 14, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 43 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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David M. Kelly
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David M. Kelly writes fast-paced, near-future sci-fi thrillers with engaging characters, cynical humor, and (mostly!) plausible science. He is the author of the Joe Ballen series (Mathematics of Eternity, Perimeter, Transformation Protocol, and Intersection), the Logan’s World series (Kwelengsen Storm, Kwelengsen Dawn, Kwelengsen Swarm), and the Hyperia Jones sci-fi humor series (Hyperia Jones & the Olive Branch Caper).

David’s interest in science and technology began early. At the age of six his parents allowed him to stay up late into the night to watch the television broadcast of Neil Armstrong stepping on to the surface of the moon. From that day he was hooked on everything related to science and space.

An avid reader, he worked his way through the contents of the mobile library that visited his street, progressing through YA titles (or ‘juveniles’ as they were known back then) on to the classics of Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Harry Harrison.

David worked for many years in project management and software development. Along the way his interests have included IPSC combat (target) pistol shooting, crew chief on a drag racing team, and several years as bass player/vocalist in a heavy rock band. He also managed to fit in some real work in manual jobs from digging ditches and work on production lines to loading trucks in a haulage company.

Originally from the wild and woolly region of Yorkshire, England, David emigrated to Canada in 2005 and settled in Northern Ontario with his patient and supportive wife, Hilary. Foot surgery in 2014 temporarily curtailed many of his favourite activities – hiking, camping, piloting his own personal starfighter (otherwise known as a Corvette ZR-1). But on the plus side, it meant a transition from the world of IT into life as a full-time writer—an opportunity he grasped enthusiastically.

David is passionate about science, especially astronomy and physics, and is a rabid science news follower. Never short of an opinion, David writes about science and technology on his blog davidmkelly.net. He has supported various charity projects such as the Smithsonian’s Reboot The Suit and the Lowell Observatory Pluto Telescope Restoration. He also contributes to citizen science projects such as SETI@home.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
16 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's pacing, writing style, and story quality. They found it fast-paced and engaging with interesting twists and turns. The book was described as well-written and great overall. Readers appreciated the touching story about a strong female character and the philosophical aspects of science fiction. Overall, they found the book entertaining and worth reading.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it engaging and fast-paced, with interesting characters and twists.

"...It is an entertaining, fast reading book. I gave it five stars. I received a complimentary Kindle copy in an Amazon promotion...." Read more

"Good fast paced compelling super short story. Was hoping for a next book...." Read more

"...'s not a lot I can say without spoiling this story, but it was a rather quick and well written read...." Read more

"...Engaging characters, good pacing, and I loved the twists and turns and for me, the ending...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They describe it as a quick, yet in-depth read that they enjoy.

"...say without spoiling this story, but it was a rather quick and well written read...." Read more

"...Well done all round." Read more

"...The main character, a strong woman. It’s well written & thooughly enjoyable. If I said much more it would spoil it...." Read more

"...A quick, but in depth read that I enjoyed very much." Read more

5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it captivating and touching, examining the human spirit through the main character's perspective. The book is described as philosophical and a short sci-fi tale that explores technology and the human condition.

"Three Lives Of Mary by David M. Kelly is a mesmerizing story of a cybot named Mary. Along with her husband Ben, she looks for habitable planets...." Read more

"A wonderful little story examining the strength of the human spirit. The main character, a strong woman. It’s well written & thooughly enjoyable...." Read more

"Three Lives of Mary, by David M. Kelly, is a touching sci-fi story about a female cysap/woman's evolution...." Read more

"Good super short story..." Read more

3 customers mention "Entertainment value"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find it an engaging and fast-paced read, giving it five stars.

"...It is an entertaining, fast reading book. I gave it five stars. I received a complimentary Kindle copy in an Amazon promotion...." Read more

"I found this story to be a tight, entertaining read. Engaging characters, good pacing, and I loved the twists and turns and for me, the ending...." Read more

"...The main character, a strong woman. It’s well written & thooughly enjoyable. If I said much more it would spoil it...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2017
    Three Lives Of Mary by David M. Kelly is a mesmerizing story of a cybot named Mary. Along with her husband Ben, she looks for habitable planets. It is an entertaining, fast reading book. I gave it five stars. I received a complimentary Kindle copy in an Amazon promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.

    "Mary gasped as her legs were ripped from under her and she slammed face down into the ground. Several tendril-like vines wrapped around her arms and legs and she instinctively pulled against them. Thorn-like bristles clawed at her burnished skin as the vines coiled tighter around her despite her struggles."

    Mary discusses her feelings about Ben and changes he had made. "They'd seen so much together, it was hard to remember when it had been different. Mary still thought of Ben as he was when they were first married. He'd always been easy going, with an almost endless joy of life in general. But after they became CySaps he'd become more intolerant and obsessed with the latest technology. Sometimes Mary wondered if the gain of extended lifespans was worth the sacrifice."

    Link to purchase: Three Lives Of Mary
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2018
    Good fast paced compelling super short story. Was hoping for a next book. Leaves the next story to your imagination with the wonder thatiracles can happen, good people are everywhere and come in many forms and life is to be lived! Thanks!😎
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2016
    This is an interestingly philosophical bit of science fiction. Mary, the protagonist, is a woman who has opted to become cybernetic rather than face the possibility of growing old. There's not a lot I can say without spoiling this story, but it was a rather quick and well written read. There were certain elements that reminded me if McCaffrey's brainship series, including the fact that Mary's husband Ben opted to have his cybernetic body be a space faring ship. Highly recommended for sci-fi fans.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2016
    I found this story to be a tight, entertaining read. Engaging characters, good pacing, and I loved the twists and turns and for me, the ending. Mr. Kelly does a good job of laying out vivid environments and situations the characters find themselves in. Again, I got attached to the players in this book, I rooted for Ben at times, and felt sorry when Mary was treated badly. Well done all round.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2017
    A wonderful little story examining the strength of the human spirit. The main character, a strong woman. It’s well written & thooughly enjoyable. If I said much more it would spoil it. It’s a fresh look at what it means to be human in a time of increasing technology. I highly recommend it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2018
    Three Lives of Mary, by David M. Kelly, is a touching sci-fi story about a female cysap/woman's evolution. Mary gave everything she had to give in order to actually live again. A quick, but in depth read that I enjoyed very much.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2017
    Another great read!
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
    Great characters and fast moving plot.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Ulla Fleu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative Science Fiction
    Reviewed in Germany on September 13, 2020
    I enjoyed this exciting science fiction story very much. It has great characters and story setting. I highly recommend this author.
  • Ignite
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating stuff
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2018
    Mary, a human woman, faced with growing old, opted, with her husband, for a cybernetic life. For many years, she as a robot and he as an enhanced space ship, have scouted for planets suitable for human habitation. This short story packs a big philosophical punch. What is it to be human? I really enjoyed getting my head around this – and around what happened to Mary and her husband later. A very interesting quick read.

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