Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this book. Almost decided to not finish but glad I got all the way through. This is a novel about human observation of a dying species on another planet. The observers question if it is right to interfere and try to save the aliens, much like the Prime Directive of the Star Trek universe. Ultimately the species does die out. The changing emotions of the observers are well thought out by the author. Initially I was put off by the use of they/them pronouns for individual aliens, thinking it was just te wokeness of the author. Turns out the aliens had only one gender and he/him and her/she would have made no sense. Very enjoyable and thought provoking.

The first 2/3rds of this was great! It was following two explorers that are aware an alien civilization is about to be wiped out by a plague, so they go down and start talking to them in order to learn about them before their extinction. This part of the book was excellent and I enjoyed the interactions between the two cultures a lot.

The last third didn't really go the way I expected or wanted, but it did end well. Would definitely read another book in this overall universe, even following different characters.

a softhearted and sad sci-fi story with an off subplot

Thanks to NetGalley, A.T. Sayre, and Dreamscape Lore for sending me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

What a fascinating explorative story that does so much right despite a subplot that ends it all in a very anticlimactic way. But to begin with, the way this book is presented is exactly what it should be based on the synopsis. The tone is pastoral, slow, but nonetheless gripping. Since this is a short book, it spends little time setting everything up before just allowing the heartbreaking situation to unfold. There is not a lot of plot as most of the story is mostly an exploration of a dying people that is heartwarming, sad, and melancholic.

The best part of this story is found in the middle as it showcases a growth of the main character who learns that being a impartial third-party isn't as easy as he thought and the situations of being with the aliens are handled really well and poignantly. While this isn't an exciting read, it's not lacking because of it. It asks gentle questions about humanity, control, and what ethics compels us to do. I loved getting to know the Retti people and the interactions (while a bit too easy) really suits the narrative's needs and is utterly devastating when it ends.

I think that much of this book is exactly what it needs to be in order to explore the themes it presents but the ending was lacking for me. I don't want to spoil anything, but the increased stakes that are employed didn't feel right. It felt forced. I think it would've been a far more powerful story had it kept to the smaller elements and would've ended in a much milder result but no less impactful gut punch. As is, it feels a little too like a movie. That being said, overall this was a really compelling in a slice-of-life kind of way. A nice refreshing palette cleanser for being in the sci-fi genre.

This narrative offers a thoughtful combination of themes of compassion and trying to understand others before condemning them. It serves not only as an engaging science fiction novel but also tackles important issues surrounding environmental conservation. The story examines the study of a seemingly primitive species and their struggle for survival. Overall, I found this brief audiobook experience to be quite enjoyable and I would recommend to a friend!

Thank you to the Author A.T. Sayre for writing this story and sharing it with us.

A team from Earth has been observing and studying the small planet Retti 4. Its population exists by farming and they have none of the trappings of more “advanced”civilizations, but in many ways they are quite advanced. A fatal virus has now mutated and will quickly lead to the extinction of the Rettis, unless the observers distribute the cure. This is not just a case of the old Star Trek directive of to not interfere with the evolution of other civilizations. The observers have asked that they be allowed to save the Rettis, but their request has been denied because the Rettis are not advanced enough to bother saving. Warin is the team member who is sent to Retti to witness its final days.

This book is strange, subtle, sad and engrossing. The Rettis have evolved without many of the more unpleasant human characteristics and the contrast between the Rettis and humans becomes very stark at the end of the book.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

When the demise of an intelligent species is a given, only then can the visitors/observers/humans make themselves known to that planet’s inhabitants. They try to learn as much as they can from the species in the time left, using technology like translating devices to help fill in the gaps between what the humans know from decades of observing (at a distance) and the inner thoughts of the doomed species they now meet in person. It’s a novel about interspecies contact and protocols (good and bad), and it’s a thought experiment - as one human must reevaluate his initial uncaring attitude once he starts to know the people of the alien world. There’s a warning about empire-building too: do we not intervene so we can plunder the planet once its population is decimated? Who is making these decisions? These questions are not answered but they gave me a lot to think about. The book moves at a deliberate pace and is occasionally unsettling. There is great world-building and excellent narration. 4.25 rounded to 4.0.
My thanks to the author, publisher, Dreamscape Media, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheLastDaysofGoodPeople for review purposes. Publication date: 25 February 2025.

This book fits right into my wheelhouse. I always enjoy a bit of speculative xenobiology and xenoanthropology. In this novel, a small team of scientists is observing the extinction of an agrarian species. They are there to observe only, but of course, once they get to know the aliens, it's hard to just stand back and watch them die.
I thought this short novel did a great job of bringing forward some neat ideas and points to think on. I don't think the audio narrator was quite right, though, he seemed too old to be the voice of the main character.

my first take about this audiobook is that it feels like a star trek episode, but one episode from the first season with Jim and spock, and all around makes me remember the do not interfere directive, I will be really honest, my Bias was always giving me ideas of what would happen and in the end I was surprised by what really happened…

overall I did like it, Chris Andrew Ciulla did a good job, I just wish we had a female voice to read the female voices in the book, it has a good story, I was just hoping it went other ways instead of the one the author went. But that is for me to know and for you to wonder, this is still worth to grab a copy and read/listen for yourself, I recommend this book for people who likes to read about wonderful new worlds, new animals, where the leafs are other colour than green, it has a good world building, but its a sad story, so keep in mind it will leave you with sadness in your heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore, for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this. We follow Warin and group of other people from earth as they are set to observe the Rettis. A group of people from a distant planet that are slowly dying off from a virus that has almost 100% fatality rate.

The world building was fantastic, and the characters were well fleshed out. I enjoyed the deeper questions it's trying to ask such as when life is deemed important enough to save. The rettis aren't well advanced in terms of technology. They are living more like the stone ages, but does that mean there is no hope for them and Warin and his crew are better not interfering? Although the rettis are not technologically advanced, they are skilled in nonverbal communication and have built up solid communities. They are the biggest on their planet, so they have not developed the emotion of fear, so as the virus takes over, there is no panic or rioting.

This was more emotional at times than I thought it would be, and the pacing
really picks up. There were some plot twists i didn't see coming. I struggled with the audio just a little bit as I felt it was a little monotone at times. Overall, the story was not what I was expecting but very thought-provoking and interesting.

Hmm, this was a weird one. I was expecting less of an ethical drama and more of a sci-fi adventure, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. A sad one, but still interesting.

If you are into more character-driven and compassionate stories, this might be one for you. I however, was unable to connect with the story, and found it tedious, as I've read many a book with the "breaking the prime directive" quandry on the table and have seen it done much better elsewhere.

I also found the narration a bit jaunty, which didn't work well with the serious material.

This story started out an an exploration tale. It provided an cozy exploration of a planet and alien civilization and the role of advanced species in aiding in the survival of stagnant civilizations. The storytelling is executed in the same rhythm and pace of Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot series, but then this takes a sharp turn in plot and pace. The plot twist is not of concern, but listening it to audio, it felt as if the narrator Chris Andrew Ciulla struggled with the sudden shift in pace of the events. Given that, the story was amazing and definitely worth the experience.

Thank you Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio ARC. My opinions are my own.

Disclosure: I was blessed and am very thankful to Netgalley for an early release of the audiobook to this story.
Rating: 3.75 of 5

Warin's posting on his current station as a data analyst was supposed to be a necessary pit stop in the upward trajectory of his career. He's always kept his head down and out of trouble, willing to keep to his duty of report filing for an entity that skips through the universe playing god in evaluating each new planet for its potential in evolutionary trajectory. Even if he may disagree with their criteria in determining when to assist a planet not as far along in its technology to subvert a detriment to its continuance, there's simply no room to make it personal. What is the point when applications for reconsideration often get lost in the muck of data and selective silence of bureaucratic goals?

That is until Retti 4.

Though its fate is sealed with the order to not deploy vaccination methods against an infectious disease that targets the local beings body it opens up the opportunity for Warin and the social scientist who has invested a decade and a half of his life studying the society to initiate contact. In his familiarity with the Rettys, we come to learn an rich and endearing culture thriving on the concepts of community and unity with nature. Yet it is not so much a lecture on environmentalism, but a gateway to consider how different the Retty's philosophies and way of life are from the ways a human's. The gaps create vastly different reactions to life, other beings, and values.

A novel of quiet exploration, "The Days of Last People" will not appeal to as broad of an audience as some sci-fi novels packed with suspense and turmoil. It is for the fans of the genre that go all in for every sociological and cultural studies aspects that are dropped about spaces explorers find along the way. There is a rather heavy handed message concerning corporate values and traditional patterns of inaction that come with many forms of protest. For the most part, it weaves in well to the issue at hand. It is a book of studies rather than escapades.

Personally, as a whole this was refreshing. I am that target audience who would rather spend time knowing the worlds and its people than to see someone blast their way through the stars. It was nice to see a novel put understanding and finding commonality at its heart. The mental evolution of Warin and the path it leads him was somber and hard hitting.

Where this novella faltered for me a little was its climax. It came swiftly with one character who had been the closest to a stereotypical stamp character in their attitude at the lead. While it is easy to see what drives them to their actions, a little more subtlety would have been appreciated. there was also the aspect of the narration of the audiobook I was reading. as a whole the narrator was lovely. He captured the interactions between the Rettys and the staff beautifully. however, in the few action scenes I didn't really feel the build of tension for the most part. That is vital when you inject a last minute tonal shift.

Overall, this book is one that will turn the heart in knots five ways before the end. It's one I greatly appreciated as being courageous. While the conclusion was well suited, the transitional period to the fate of the society to the end just didn't quite land for me.

This book was a beautiful exploration on when is life deemed important and advanced enough to be worth it. Just because a society may have advanced a different way or lives more simply to what you know does it make them lesser? It explores the ethics of knowing you have the knowledge and ability to help a dying civilization but at what point should you just let nature take its course. You can’t always save everyone and what will happen in the future if you start to help.