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Where the Strangers Live
The highly anticipated first release of 2015 by bestselling author Oliver Phipps.
When a passenger plane disappears over the Indian Ocean in autumn 2013, a massive search gets underway.
A deep trolling, unmanned pod picks up faint readings and soon the deep sea submersible Oceana and her three crew members are four miles below the ocean surface in search of the black box from flight N340.
Nothing could have prepared the submersible crew for what they discover and what happens afterwards. Ancient evils and other world creatures challenge the survival of the Oceana’s crew. Mysteries of the past are revealed, but death hangs in the balance for Sophie, Troy and Eliot in this deep sea Science Fiction thriller.
When a passenger plane disappears over the Indian Ocean in autumn 2013, a massive search gets underway.
A deep trolling, unmanned pod picks up faint readings and soon the deep sea submersible Oceana and her three crew members are four miles below the ocean surface in search of the black box from flight N340.
Nothing could have prepared the submersible crew for what they discover and what happens afterwards. Ancient evils and other world creatures challenge the survival of the Oceana’s crew. Mysteries of the past are revealed, but death hangs in the balance for Sophie, Troy and Eliot in this deep sea Science Fiction thriller.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2015
About the author
Oliver Phipps
18 books1,392 followersOliver served as a Paratrooper in the United States Army and studied at MSC. In the late 1980s through mid 90s Oliver pursued his love of music. He enjoyed traveling, playing percussion and writing lyrics for popular bands. During this time Oliver also began writing short stories and articles.
After playing for thousands through the fall and winter of 1996 Oliver's band abruptly disbanded. In early spring of 1997 Oliver along with a good friend who was a guitarist got together with the intention to form a new group. But rather than form a new band the two put together an expedition plan for traveling to Northern Canada and Alaska in order to prospect for gold.
Leaving in April of 1997 Oliver and company traveled up the historic AL-CAN highway. After exploring the Yukon and Northwest territories of Canada as well as the Arctic Circle the team traveled over the Top of the World highway to Alaska.
1999-2000 Oliver traveled through Asia, visiting Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan among other countries.
In 2004 Oliver published his first book and continues to write books, articles and short stories. Currently Oliver and family reside happily in the U.S.
After playing for thousands through the fall and winter of 1996 Oliver's band abruptly disbanded. In early spring of 1997 Oliver along with a good friend who was a guitarist got together with the intention to form a new group. But rather than form a new band the two put together an expedition plan for traveling to Northern Canada and Alaska in order to prospect for gold.
Leaving in April of 1997 Oliver and company traveled up the historic AL-CAN highway. After exploring the Yukon and Northwest territories of Canada as well as the Arctic Circle the team traveled over the Top of the World highway to Alaska.
1999-2000 Oliver traveled through Asia, visiting Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan among other countries.
In 2004 Oliver published his first book and continues to write books, articles and short stories. Currently Oliver and family reside happily in the U.S.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 2, 2015
See the full review at Katie's Corner
Oliver Phipps again made my day with this short but amazing book. How is it better for me to explain this, I believe the author just used this well-known proverb: Curiosity killed the mouse, or was it a cat? That doesn’t really matter. The first feeling that I got from this book was just that sometimes the unknown should stay unknown. Because some mysteries might be deadly if unraveled.
Now, let me stray a bit before returning to the novel itself. In quite a few aspects this novel reminded me of Tears of Abandon. The concept of the unknown and the concept of the good and evil were similar. What do I mean by all that? Let me start with good and evil. If we assume that our heroes are good and aliens are evil, in the end of the book the evil is not won over, it actually just goes back to slumber to await for its next sacrifice. Wasn’t it the same in Tears of Abandon? If we think of Whisper as evil, that it never vanished and it still has new people coming into its web. I actually enjoy this concept in Phipps’s books, because he shows the reality and not just some rose-colored happy endings. Think for yourselves, does the evil always disappear?
As all the books I’ve read by Oliver Phipps this one is high in suspense and on making you feel on edge. Truthfully speaking that might have also been the room I was reading it in that made everything too real. But I would want to believe it’s Phipps’s writing style. I do not know how he does it, but my imagination just goes wild whenever I read his books. I nearly ha a heart attack when it showed a specific creature in the cylinder. Sorry, don’t want to spoil you one of the best moments. Let me spoil you on thing. An alien research lab 4 miles under water? For real, how much of imagination a person should have to actually imagine that? But it’s not just your normal research lab; add into that blunder some super crazy experiments and an arena for battle to death. You do get me now right? This book is just too amazing, and after reading it my theory of all myths being reality just got another argument and I believe it even more.
But do not believe my words only; grab your copy now to find the mysteries of underwater with our 3 submariners. Are you up for another adventure? I hope you are! Happy reading!
Oliver Phipps again made my day with this short but amazing book. How is it better for me to explain this, I believe the author just used this well-known proverb: Curiosity killed the mouse, or was it a cat? That doesn’t really matter. The first feeling that I got from this book was just that sometimes the unknown should stay unknown. Because some mysteries might be deadly if unraveled.
Now, let me stray a bit before returning to the novel itself. In quite a few aspects this novel reminded me of Tears of Abandon. The concept of the unknown and the concept of the good and evil were similar. What do I mean by all that? Let me start with good and evil. If we assume that our heroes are good and aliens are evil, in the end of the book the evil is not won over, it actually just goes back to slumber to await for its next sacrifice. Wasn’t it the same in Tears of Abandon? If we think of Whisper as evil, that it never vanished and it still has new people coming into its web. I actually enjoy this concept in Phipps’s books, because he shows the reality and not just some rose-colored happy endings. Think for yourselves, does the evil always disappear?
As all the books I’ve read by Oliver Phipps this one is high in suspense and on making you feel on edge. Truthfully speaking that might have also been the room I was reading it in that made everything too real. But I would want to believe it’s Phipps’s writing style. I do not know how he does it, but my imagination just goes wild whenever I read his books. I nearly ha a heart attack when it showed a specific creature in the cylinder. Sorry, don’t want to spoil you one of the best moments. Let me spoil you on thing. An alien research lab 4 miles under water? For real, how much of imagination a person should have to actually imagine that? But it’s not just your normal research lab; add into that blunder some super crazy experiments and an arena for battle to death. You do get me now right? This book is just too amazing, and after reading it my theory of all myths being reality just got another argument and I believe it even more.
But do not believe my words only; grab your copy now to find the mysteries of underwater with our 3 submariners. Are you up for another adventure? I hope you are! Happy reading!
February 17, 2015
Just Amazing!!
I am not one to read books on mythical creatures but I absolutely loved this book! The detail on the fight scenes were incredible that it made it seem like you were really there. I was trying to predict the ending and it could have went in a couple different directions. I think the author made the correct move on the conclusion of the book. I look forward to more books from this author. This book has opened my eyes to the mythical world!
I am not one to read books on mythical creatures but I absolutely loved this book! The detail on the fight scenes were incredible that it made it seem like you were really there. I was trying to predict the ending and it could have went in a couple different directions. I think the author made the correct move on the conclusion of the book. I look forward to more books from this author. This book has opened my eyes to the mythical world!
August 10, 2015
Where the Strangers Live involves three submariners having their submarine break down. They stumble upon mysterious technology that takes them into unknown situations. Although this story is short (a 1-2 hour read), Oliver Phipps knows how to fuse modern technology with science fiction and ancient mythology.
October 24, 2015
Oh, I just don't look at the sort of book by this author anymore. I like this one so much to. Very original and nicely written. I will read all his works eventually no matter the genre.
May 29, 2022
I don’t know how this book ever made it to my to-be-read pile. It’s a clumsily written short novella about a woman, Sophie, and two men, Elliot and Roy (who only have eyes for Sophie’s butt, breasts, etc.) who happen to enter a submerged alien base…
The story itself reads like a truly bad b-movie but as if that wasn’t bad enough, the writing style is repetitive (we keep reading the “three submariners” and other constantly repeating phrases and denominations) and clumsy.
Furthermore, there are countless truly grating grammar issues (tense!), typos and other mistakes (“to” versus “too”) that made me think the author must be a non-native speaker (as am I)...
The fight scenes were atrociously badly written, a crime against Phipps’ readers! Long-winded, boring and, of course, also badly written.
Stay away from this!
One out of five stars because I can’t award none.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
The story itself reads like a truly bad b-movie but as if that wasn’t bad enough, the writing style is repetitive (we keep reading the “three submariners” and other constantly repeating phrases and denominations) and clumsy.
Furthermore, there are countless truly grating grammar issues (tense!), typos and other mistakes (“to” versus “too”) that made me think the author must be a non-native speaker (as am I)...
The fight scenes were atrociously badly written, a crime against Phipps’ readers! Long-winded, boring and, of course, also badly written.
Stay away from this!
One out of five stars because I can’t award none.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
May 19, 2017
Wow! I must say this is a well thought out science fiction thriller novel that will keep the reader turning the pages in anticipation to find out what happen next.
Sophie, Troy and Elliot the main characters are submariners on the vessel Oceana, They had the task of locating the black box from the disappeared airline, flight N340 over the Indian Ocean.
You would have thought this was a routine feat after a plane disappeared, but you are in for a surprise. Other World Creatures challenge their survival.
Not only do you get the rich, beautifully crafted novels, and the fluidity in the writing, but also imagining the vivid scene that the author created in the novel. This is a definite must read.
Sophie, Troy and Elliot the main characters are submariners on the vessel Oceana, They had the task of locating the black box from the disappeared airline, flight N340 over the Indian Ocean.
You would have thought this was a routine feat after a plane disappeared, but you are in for a surprise. Other World Creatures challenge their survival.
Not only do you get the rich, beautifully crafted novels, and the fluidity in the writing, but also imagining the vivid scene that the author created in the novel. This is a definite must read.
November 8, 2015
This is another good book by Oliver. I think it's just not so much my style of book. Very enjoyable though. I recommend. If you like science fiction you will really like it.
January 26, 2017
I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into when I picked up this story. I don't know if I've ever read a story about mythical creatures before, unless Harry Potter counts. The story was surprisingly kept my attention throughout. It was an interesting setup and I hope to read more by Oliver in the future.
December 8, 2021
“Eliot ran towards Sophie . . . as he passed the Griffin he slowed down and with one swing of his battle-axe struck the Griffin’s head from the large lion body.”
In the novella Where The Strangers Live by Oliver Phipps, the Pacifica has sent out the deep-sea submersible the Oceana to look for a missing airplane’s black box. While they are trolling about the bottom of their part of the Indian Ocean, they come across an anomaly just as the sub reaches a deep-sea trench and then has to return to the surface. When they reach the surface, the Oceana’s crew of three, Eliot, Sophie, and Troy, decide to go back down to investigate the trench’s anomaly’s the next day, and see what it is.
When they arrive at the trench the next day, they get a stronger signal than they had previously. So, the Oceana decides to descend into the trench, and investigate. They enter a cave and end up in some form of advanced underwater base. The Oceana and its crew find themselves stranded as the water in this base is suddenly drained away. Not being able to stay in the Oceana very long due to a not having enough air, so, when they are able, the crew decides to go outside the sub and explore. While doing so, they realize that the base is still fully functional, and they also discover that it’s a base for a cargo of exotic and dangerous mythological animals that are being held in some kinds of chambers, and the animals are trying to get out of their chambers.
As they do their wanderings, they realize that they are being followed, and finally the Oceana’s crew is informed by these alien beings that they are trespassing on the property of the Zonalex Family Weapons Company, and that the inhabitants of this base are artificial beings, and that the crew of the Oceana must pay a price for their trespassing, and that the price is going to have to be for them to fight in “the arena” to the death.
To do this, Eliot, Sophie, and Troy will have to have their consciousness switched to three mythic animals, a medusa, a minotaur, and a centaur, and the animals that they have to fight are a harpy, a dragon, and a griffon.
Now, in theory this all sounds like a jolly good adventure, but in practice, Where The Strangers Live just ends up being dreadful.
First of all, I found it hard to believe that the Oceana’s crew would have no oversight, and that they are operating completely independently, and that they don’t have to answer to anybody, I mean, don’t these people have superiors? I would think that a mysterious signal coming out of deep-sea trench would have attracted the attention of some of their higher-ups.
But, the most glaring thing that will grab you is this novella’s characters and their characterization. They’re embarrassingly bad. It seems like somebody in their fifties trying to write a leering tale for the 1950’s sexually immature fourteen-year-olds. Sophie is a French woman for whom the two males are always butt-checking her. Through Eliot and Troy, the male gaze of these two are always noticing her butt, her breasts, her cuteness, adorableness, and her French accent. Phipps keeps the commentary rather “clean”, but, his male characters commentary will only be of interest to the emotionally immature young lads, as for myself, I almost got eyestrain from my constant eyerolling.
If you’re expecting a science fiction thriller, you’d be disappointed. What you get is, for the last half, a sword & sorcery tale. With technology taking the place of magic.
The action scenes near the end were rather well done, but it was too little too late. All-in-all, this novella was pretty much a waste of my time. Nice cover though, who did it?
In the novella Where The Strangers Live by Oliver Phipps, the Pacifica has sent out the deep-sea submersible the Oceana to look for a missing airplane’s black box. While they are trolling about the bottom of their part of the Indian Ocean, they come across an anomaly just as the sub reaches a deep-sea trench and then has to return to the surface. When they reach the surface, the Oceana’s crew of three, Eliot, Sophie, and Troy, decide to go back down to investigate the trench’s anomaly’s the next day, and see what it is.
When they arrive at the trench the next day, they get a stronger signal than they had previously. So, the Oceana decides to descend into the trench, and investigate. They enter a cave and end up in some form of advanced underwater base. The Oceana and its crew find themselves stranded as the water in this base is suddenly drained away. Not being able to stay in the Oceana very long due to a not having enough air, so, when they are able, the crew decides to go outside the sub and explore. While doing so, they realize that the base is still fully functional, and they also discover that it’s a base for a cargo of exotic and dangerous mythological animals that are being held in some kinds of chambers, and the animals are trying to get out of their chambers.
As they do their wanderings, they realize that they are being followed, and finally the Oceana’s crew is informed by these alien beings that they are trespassing on the property of the Zonalex Family Weapons Company, and that the inhabitants of this base are artificial beings, and that the crew of the Oceana must pay a price for their trespassing, and that the price is going to have to be for them to fight in “the arena” to the death.
To do this, Eliot, Sophie, and Troy will have to have their consciousness switched to three mythic animals, a medusa, a minotaur, and a centaur, and the animals that they have to fight are a harpy, a dragon, and a griffon.
Now, in theory this all sounds like a jolly good adventure, but in practice, Where The Strangers Live just ends up being dreadful.
First of all, I found it hard to believe that the Oceana’s crew would have no oversight, and that they are operating completely independently, and that they don’t have to answer to anybody, I mean, don’t these people have superiors? I would think that a mysterious signal coming out of deep-sea trench would have attracted the attention of some of their higher-ups.
But, the most glaring thing that will grab you is this novella’s characters and their characterization. They’re embarrassingly bad. It seems like somebody in their fifties trying to write a leering tale for the 1950’s sexually immature fourteen-year-olds. Sophie is a French woman for whom the two males are always butt-checking her. Through Eliot and Troy, the male gaze of these two are always noticing her butt, her breasts, her cuteness, adorableness, and her French accent. Phipps keeps the commentary rather “clean”, but, his male characters commentary will only be of interest to the emotionally immature young lads, as for myself, I almost got eyestrain from my constant eyerolling.
If you’re expecting a science fiction thriller, you’d be disappointed. What you get is, for the last half, a sword & sorcery tale. With technology taking the place of magic.
The action scenes near the end were rather well done, but it was too little too late. All-in-all, this novella was pretty much a waste of my time. Nice cover though, who did it?
September 7, 2021
A sci-fi novella that was a page-turner from first to last. If you have a 'me' hour and want to immerse yourself in an exciting underwater adventure, this novella is worth the read. The author's writing is easy-reading with a plotline full of twists and turns. The characters are endearing and believable with dialogue that is realistic and compelling. I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 26, 2017
I liked this book, even though it was more action/science fiction than I normally read. But the characters were great along with a very interesting story so I'll give it five stars.
April 3, 2018
Average fanfic is better written than this.
October 9, 2019
Shockingly bad
December 4, 2017
Short little book, this one. Its kind of got the feel of an attempt at old pulp style science fiction. Basically a trio of submersible adventurers exploring a trench go four miles deep and discover something that has been there for longer than humanity has been around, by far. The trio enters a structure and then the inhabitants awake and use them as arena combatants. They win their freedom and are allowed to leave and return home, on the guarantee that they keep their tale to themselves.
This one was ok but not great. There are typos and the story seems rushed and lackluster, but it was alright. I began reading an old science fiction anthology I found at a local bookstore written in 1959 that is like this, just way better executed.
Danny
This one was ok but not great. There are typos and the story seems rushed and lackluster, but it was alright. I began reading an old science fiction anthology I found at a local bookstore written in 1959 that is like this, just way better executed.
Danny
July 29, 2023
Full disclosure...having read some of the author's work before, I was prepared for something weird & mind-bending and this novella delivered. My takeaway from reading this is to mind the gap when you are on the edge of the Marianas Trench, know your Greek mythology, and always respect the female of any species—good advice for anyone. This one was fun.
January 5, 2024
I purchased this used edition for my son. It was on a list for required reading for school as the class no longer provides loaners for students. (I love that you can buy them used) There are many versions available so I was a little worried about getting the right one, but I have heard no complaints from him, his teacher, or his grades.
November 18, 2023
I LOVED this book. It took me a couple months to get into it. It was slow in the beginning. Then once it got going, I finish probably 80% of the book in 3 days. I couldn't put it down. I was dying to know the ending. A great read and wonderfully written.
August 6, 2018
Nothing special to me.
Want to read
June 14, 2019DigitalBookSpot
September 25, 2019
This book was not real long, but was action packed. Really enjoyed it.
November 29, 2019
This book is very amazing.
March 27, 2021
Enjoyed this read. Wasn’t sure what would occur from page to page but I kept coming back to read some more. Then some more. Thanks Oliver.
April 12, 2021
This was a uniquely told story and very well written. Once into the story it was very hard to stop reading.
April 28, 2021
Another amazing read. I am in love with all of the books by Oliver Phipps. Very well written! Thank you.
May 16, 2021
I quite enjoyed this book. It is an easy read. Not too heavy or deep, just a good story to lose yourself in for a bit.
May 16, 2021
This was a very good read. Well written and a very good story. I wanted to keep reading to find the ending.
May 30, 2021
I couldn't put this book down. Very entertaining. Very well written. I felt like I was there. Highly recommend.
June 18, 2021
This book ends and I am left wanting more! I fell in love with all the characters. Hoping for another book!
August 27, 2021
Very intriguing story that had me wrapped up in the plot and made it hard to put down. Can't wait to read the next book.
September 28, 2021
This book is such an Awesome read, I can’t wait to see what the author has coming out next! Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews