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Off Course
The interstellar freighter Star-Pulse, is thrown far off course when it encounters a rare disturbance in hyperspace. Hundreds of light years from the nearest colonized planet, the ship must now search for a source of deuterium to fuel the journey home. The unsuspecting crew, led by Captain Arnold J. Zak, soon discover that their adventure is only just beginning as they find themselves stranded in a star system occupied by an intelligent species. In order to ensure their survival, the Captain must not only overcome a common phobia, he must also convince the indiginous population that his ship is not a scout from a hostile civilization.
201 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2011
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Doug Farren
17 books18 followersI've always wanted to be a writer. I used an old Royal typewriter in high school to start my first work of genius - I never completed it. Over the years, I started and never finished more stories than I can count--and then I discovered word processors. Editing was a snap and as my time in the Navy drew to a close I finished my first complete novel. Although it was never published, it served as the basis for the entire Galactic Alliance series.
The books I write can be read by all age-groups from the young to the very old.
Today, I'm a husband, father of two daughters, grandfather, and a science fiction writer. I currently work as a database administrator at a nuclear power plant in Northeastern Ohio. I am proud to have served 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear propulsion operator (nuke ET).
I am an avid reader of science fiction and science-related books and magazines and I prefer to write science fiction that is heavily based on science. Of course, it is science fiction so the science often has to be stretched. I have also written two fantasy novels.
I am constantly trying to improve my writing skills and I enjoy receiving feedback from my readers. One of my more vocal fans is now a close collaborator serving as my content editor in my most recent book. An author should always listen to those who read his or her books; it's the only way to know where improvements can be made.
The books I write can be read by all age-groups from the young to the very old.
Today, I'm a husband, father of two daughters, grandfather, and a science fiction writer. I currently work as a database administrator at a nuclear power plant in Northeastern Ohio. I am proud to have served 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear propulsion operator (nuke ET).
I am an avid reader of science fiction and science-related books and magazines and I prefer to write science fiction that is heavily based on science. Of course, it is science fiction so the science often has to be stretched. I have also written two fantasy novels.
I am constantly trying to improve my writing skills and I enjoy receiving feedback from my readers. One of my more vocal fans is now a close collaborator serving as my content editor in my most recent book. An author should always listen to those who read his or her books; it's the only way to know where improvements can be made.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 16, 2012
Another great read from Doug Farren. Just like "When Ships Mutiny", this does not take place in the Galactic Alliance series and is a stand-alone novel.
The story moves along at a great pace and documents a stranded ship seeking help from a newly discovered Alien race and in turn assisting them.
There were only two issues I had with the story which served as a great piece of entertainment. These are as follows:
(MILD SPOILERS - OF SORTS)
1. The Akuta were only 6 light years away and hadn't been seen in 1000 years. Why was there a need to check if they still posed a threat? They had attacked before, had advanced technology and were so close, I'd expect they would have come back before now.
2. The relationship between AJ and Heather felt a little fake.
Other than that, another great read!
The story moves along at a great pace and documents a stranded ship seeking help from a newly discovered Alien race and in turn assisting them.
There were only two issues I had with the story which served as a great piece of entertainment. These are as follows:
(MILD SPOILERS - OF SORTS)
1. The Akuta were only 6 light years away and hadn't been seen in 1000 years. Why was there a need to check if they still posed a threat? They had attacked before, had advanced technology and were so close, I'd expect they would have come back before now.
2. The relationship between AJ and Heather felt a little fake.
Other than that, another great read!
May 14, 2012
A simple fairly short Sci-Fi story about a spaceship being diverted by a rare natural phenomenon while doing a hyperspace jump, encountering aliens, needs to find a way to get home. This certainly has been done before but despite re-hashing this basic story the book didn’t feel old news.
Unusually for a Sci-Fi book in my bookshelves there’s no real military aspect in this one with the exception of some historical events forming parts of the background story. The “don’t burn fossil fuel” environmental finger pointers was a bit annoying and the way the uberadvanced 2nd alien race that they meet suddenly see the errors in their ways is a bit overly simplistic but forgivable.
Overall a simple enough, but well done, story making for an easily digestible and entertaining short read.
Unusually for a Sci-Fi book in my bookshelves there’s no real military aspect in this one with the exception of some historical events forming parts of the background story. The “don’t burn fossil fuel” environmental finger pointers was a bit annoying and the way the uberadvanced 2nd alien race that they meet suddenly see the errors in their ways is a bit overly simplistic but forgivable.
Overall a simple enough, but well done, story making for an easily digestible and entertaining short read.
December 21, 2021
This is one of my favorites the story unfolds good and the entire story takes you with it please read this one
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews