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The Mystic Saga #2
Legacy
In McElhaney’s first book of the groundbreaking Mystic Saga “Indentured”, the Colonial Establishment Cruiser “Pioneer” discovered a major fault in their experimental Jump Drive. Though it served its purpose by sending the ship across 24 light years in what felt like a mere instant, its failures were a little less noticeable.
Indentured was the prequel, and now, in his second book of bestselling serial, the USSC sends a follow-up ship to the Beta-Hydri system in order to investigate what happened to their missing cruiser, the USSC Pioneer. The investigation brings them to a planet named Legacy where an Earth colony appears to have been thriving for hundreds of years – much longer than the few decades they expected if it indeed was the Pioneer Colony. To add to the confusion, the colony appears to have forgotten their roots over the centuries, so the shuttles of the USSC Foothold aren’t welcomed in the way they’d expect.
The crew of the Foothold is about to learn that a lot can change when you’re forced to adapt to a different environment. But could the changes involve the development of the unusual electrical defense mechanism of the Mystics? Why are there two human civilizations on Legacy and why does one group of people have the ability to throw lightning?
A serial novel published in the tradition of 50's sci-fi pulp brought to you by the Xulon Award winning author of Mommy's Choice, One Crazy Summer, Indentured, and Dominion. Now Scott McElhaney is making most of his novels available to Kindle readers at the very accessible price of only 99 cents. Book three of the Mystic Saga "Violation" is now available at the same low price as all the rest!
Editorial Reviews
"McElhaney's story telling is deft, well-paced, and with an ear for conversation" ~ Beacon Journal Book Review
"The author does a good job of sucking you into the moment and feeling as if you are the main character. The technology and scenarios are realistic enough for this sci fi fan and if you like a good storyteller Mr. McElhaney knows how to do it." ~Top 50 Amazon Reviewer and Vine Voice Michael Gallagher
Indentured was the prequel, and now, in his second book of bestselling serial, the USSC sends a follow-up ship to the Beta-Hydri system in order to investigate what happened to their missing cruiser, the USSC Pioneer. The investigation brings them to a planet named Legacy where an Earth colony appears to have been thriving for hundreds of years – much longer than the few decades they expected if it indeed was the Pioneer Colony. To add to the confusion, the colony appears to have forgotten their roots over the centuries, so the shuttles of the USSC Foothold aren’t welcomed in the way they’d expect.
The crew of the Foothold is about to learn that a lot can change when you’re forced to adapt to a different environment. But could the changes involve the development of the unusual electrical defense mechanism of the Mystics? Why are there two human civilizations on Legacy and why does one group of people have the ability to throw lightning?
A serial novel published in the tradition of 50's sci-fi pulp brought to you by the Xulon Award winning author of Mommy's Choice, One Crazy Summer, Indentured, and Dominion. Now Scott McElhaney is making most of his novels available to Kindle readers at the very accessible price of only 99 cents. Book three of the Mystic Saga "Violation" is now available at the same low price as all the rest!
Editorial Reviews
"McElhaney's story telling is deft, well-paced, and with an ear for conversation" ~ Beacon Journal Book Review
"The author does a good job of sucking you into the moment and feeling as if you are the main character. The technology and scenarios are realistic enough for this sci fi fan and if you like a good storyteller Mr. McElhaney knows how to do it." ~Top 50 Amazon Reviewer and Vine Voice Michael Gallagher
- GenresScience Fiction
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2012
11 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Scott McElhaney
73 books64 followersScott's first novel, Mommy's Choice, was originally published in paperback under the pseudonym Scott Curtis. In under a year on the bookshelves, that novel won the National Christian Choice Book Award for romantic suspense. When Scott moved to a different publisher and started making his novels available to Kindle readers, he returned to his real name and reduced the prices to the absolute minimum allowed by Amazon.
Scott McElhaney currently resides in Ohio with his wife and two sons. He's a Desert Shield veteran of the US Navy, having served on the USS South Carolina CGN-37. Although his books didn't become available to Kindle readers until December 2011, over 250,000 digital copies have been purchased to date and he still maintains a position in the top 100 worldwide in the "Sci-fi Space Opera" category.
Scott McElhaney currently resides in Ohio with his wife and two sons. He's a Desert Shield veteran of the US Navy, having served on the USS South Carolina CGN-37. Although his books didn't become available to Kindle readers until December 2011, over 250,000 digital copies have been purchased to date and he still maintains a position in the top 100 worldwide in the "Sci-fi Space Opera" category.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 28, 2012
A few random typos but otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable story. The Mystic Saga is up there with Battlestar Galactica as one of my favorite sci-fi mythologies. I'd love to see Joss Whedon make it into a TV series.
September 18, 2017
To start off this review, if you haven't read the first novella in the series, Indentured, I would recommend you read it prior to picking this one up: while this novella could stand on its own, it will make a lot more sense as book one plugs the background information.
Similar to the first in the series, this is a short and fun little novella. I will tell you I was a little disappointed there wasn't a continuation of the characters from book one, but what you have here is a real continuation of the story in this case the ancestors of the original population of the planet Hydra. It is pretty fast-paced and McElhaney is a good storyteller. At 99 cents, this one is a bargain and I just purchased book 3 in the series to see where the adventure goes next.
Similar to the first in the series, this is a short and fun little novella. I will tell you I was a little disappointed there wasn't a continuation of the characters from book one, but what you have here is a real continuation of the story in this case the ancestors of the original population of the planet Hydra. It is pretty fast-paced and McElhaney is a good storyteller. At 99 cents, this one is a bargain and I just purchased book 3 in the series to see where the adventure goes next.
July 15, 2018
Another fantastic installment from this series.
I got a little lost in the beginning as the pov changed to completely new characters and settings, but I within a few pages I was back in the thick of it!!
Now on to part 3....
I got a little lost in the beginning as the pov changed to completely new characters and settings, but I within a few pages I was back in the thick of it!!
Now on to part 3....
May 15, 2014
Legacy, Scott McElhaney [The Mystic Saga #2]
Ok, scorn coming towards the author. It starts in a fashion somewhat familiar and possibly linked to the previous offering, Indenture. I don't know what to call it... perhaps a hybrid prologue? The “1” “Braxton” “Blaze continent” chapter which has infinitely more content meaning than anyone could be expected to grasp. Then “Cortalilly patch...”, really? Not in any dictionary anywhere. After giving up and restarting to read I run into several other 'surroundings' or concepts equally unexplainable. I've critiqued a ton of science fiction manuscripts over the years but still didn't immediately recognize this is just a bad choice for the author to try to set up some plot parts without the courtesy of somehow alerting the reader what may be going on. Consider yourself chastised Scott.
To Scott's benefit he was skilled enough to plow through it which makes reading it possible with a only a headache instead of spontaneous human combustion. As you start bouncing back and forth to something possibly familiar (In itallics hinting at the Indentured novella) and whatever is going on in the alien planet you start to realize there may be some hop-scotch mangling together of a story that will eventually make sense. Your next bizarre encounter is “2” “Diana” “Green Continent” which establishes another frenzy of pulling your hair out. It is something going on, but it isn't related to the previous numbered chapter with enough 'alien' to keep you confused. Then back to something that is familiar now, again in italics. So you're starting to grasp something but the alien stuff is still extremely confusing... and ALERT, I know why. Those chapter titles are intended to carry infinitely more information that 98% of chapter titles in the history of man. If you get that and really notch that into your memory you might save yourself the agony I want through... and had to go way back and start over with my new understanding in order to have enough understanding to have a clue what was going on.
Then you come to another italic set of paragraphs which is a repeat of the first italic set of paragraphs and you realize you'll need to go back and try again, again.
I'm going to save you that heartache. The numbered chapters are followed by a character name... Diana, or Braxton, etc., followed by the continent they are on at this alien world (Blaze, & Green, and much ado about the planet of the Ronans.) . I pretty much dismiss chapter titles as they are usually simply a “divide mark”. In this case chapter titles are supplying a prologue of sorts... IE, you are now at chapter 2 with the character Diana on Green Continent of the alien world (with cortalilly patches). If you know that you should easily understand there's the “italic's” plot thread and the “alien planet's & different continents” plot threads and that they are all edging closer to each other.
@12 Braxton: Scott is still having issues with his transitions and points of view. You eventually figure out what he's doing but it really cramps the otherwise fun and fast reading.
I suppose after reading enough it starts making sense, and thanks to Scott's writing, the read is fast enough that you're into the story and forgive the earlier nonsense. It actually isn't nonsense, just really doesn't give you a hint in hell what's going on and figuring it out makes this ~115 page book a 185 page read. Kudos to Scott that it reads fast so it doesn't seem that long.
Still I'm handing out three stars because in the end I liked it. Not the 3.5 I offered the previous book but a solid 3. Despite my frustration with the first third of this book I am looking forward to the next one, Violation.
Ok, scorn coming towards the author. It starts in a fashion somewhat familiar and possibly linked to the previous offering, Indenture. I don't know what to call it... perhaps a hybrid prologue? The “1” “Braxton” “Blaze continent” chapter which has infinitely more content meaning than anyone could be expected to grasp. Then “Cortalilly patch...”, really? Not in any dictionary anywhere. After giving up and restarting to read I run into several other 'surroundings' or concepts equally unexplainable. I've critiqued a ton of science fiction manuscripts over the years but still didn't immediately recognize this is just a bad choice for the author to try to set up some plot parts without the courtesy of somehow alerting the reader what may be going on. Consider yourself chastised Scott.
To Scott's benefit he was skilled enough to plow through it which makes reading it possible with a only a headache instead of spontaneous human combustion. As you start bouncing back and forth to something possibly familiar (In itallics hinting at the Indentured novella) and whatever is going on in the alien planet you start to realize there may be some hop-scotch mangling together of a story that will eventually make sense. Your next bizarre encounter is “2” “Diana” “Green Continent” which establishes another frenzy of pulling your hair out. It is something going on, but it isn't related to the previous numbered chapter with enough 'alien' to keep you confused. Then back to something that is familiar now, again in italics. So you're starting to grasp something but the alien stuff is still extremely confusing... and ALERT, I know why. Those chapter titles are intended to carry infinitely more information that 98% of chapter titles in the history of man. If you get that and really notch that into your memory you might save yourself the agony I want through... and had to go way back and start over with my new understanding in order to have enough understanding to have a clue what was going on.
Then you come to another italic set of paragraphs which is a repeat of the first italic set of paragraphs and you realize you'll need to go back and try again, again.
I'm going to save you that heartache. The numbered chapters are followed by a character name... Diana, or Braxton, etc., followed by the continent they are on at this alien world (Blaze, & Green, and much ado about the planet of the Ronans.) . I pretty much dismiss chapter titles as they are usually simply a “divide mark”. In this case chapter titles are supplying a prologue of sorts... IE, you are now at chapter 2 with the character Diana on Green Continent of the alien world (with cortalilly patches). If you know that you should easily understand there's the “italic's” plot thread and the “alien planet's & different continents” plot threads and that they are all edging closer to each other.
@12 Braxton: Scott is still having issues with his transitions and points of view. You eventually figure out what he's doing but it really cramps the otherwise fun and fast reading.
I suppose after reading enough it starts making sense, and thanks to Scott's writing, the read is fast enough that you're into the story and forgive the earlier nonsense. It actually isn't nonsense, just really doesn't give you a hint in hell what's going on and figuring it out makes this ~115 page book a 185 page read. Kudos to Scott that it reads fast so it doesn't seem that long.
Still I'm handing out three stars because in the end I liked it. Not the 3.5 I offered the previous book but a solid 3. Despite my frustration with the first third of this book I am looking forward to the next one, Violation.
May 15, 2012
Fantastic Sequel!
I recommend you read the previous book in the series (Indentured) prior to reading this book.
I was expecting this sequel to grant me some much needed answers to questions I have concerning the first book. To my chagrin, the plot thickens and what's more, I am left with more additional questions than answers.
The story takes up right where the last book leaves off and has a completely unexpected fresh approach. This story keeps you guessing and every nook and cranny of the plot is cleverly utilized to the max. There aren't any wasted pages; instead, this short story is crammed full of as much action, mystery and intrigue as you can get into 131 pages.
This was a superb follow-up installment and I can't wait for the release of the next book in the series.
I highly recommend this book to fellow SF fans and fellow dark urban fantasy fans who are looking for a good SF book.
I also recommend:
Castle Vroman (A Galaxy Unknown, Book 6)
Mech 1: The Parent (Imperium Series)
Children of Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus, Book 2)
Space Trippers Book 3: A Frosty Farewell
Darkfever (Fever Series, Book 1)
I recommend you read the previous book in the series (Indentured) prior to reading this book.
I was expecting this sequel to grant me some much needed answers to questions I have concerning the first book. To my chagrin, the plot thickens and what's more, I am left with more additional questions than answers.
The story takes up right where the last book leaves off and has a completely unexpected fresh approach. This story keeps you guessing and every nook and cranny of the plot is cleverly utilized to the max. There aren't any wasted pages; instead, this short story is crammed full of as much action, mystery and intrigue as you can get into 131 pages.
This was a superb follow-up installment and I can't wait for the release of the next book in the series.
I highly recommend this book to fellow SF fans and fellow dark urban fantasy fans who are looking for a good SF book.
I also recommend:
Castle Vroman (A Galaxy Unknown, Book 6)
Mech 1: The Parent (Imperium Series)
Children of Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus, Book 2)
Space Trippers Book 3: A Frosty Farewell
Darkfever (Fever Series, Book 1)
May 20, 2012
I loved the first part of this book. It's a complete departure Indentured, no recurring characters. But the first half of this book was great!
The second half lost me a little though. It felt like the ending was rushed and too quickly thrown together. However, I still really enjoyed this book, and the world that McElhaney has built, I just wish that in the next book we could take our time getting to the end, and enjoy it. It felt like a hectic rush to finish.
I did enjoy this book.
The second half lost me a little though. It felt like the ending was rushed and too quickly thrown together. However, I still really enjoyed this book, and the world that McElhaney has built, I just wish that in the next book we could take our time getting to the end, and enjoy it. It felt like a hectic rush to finish.
I did enjoy this book.
February 20, 2014
This sequel is in the same world as the first book, but doesn't follow the same characters. It's enough of a departure that it took a bit to catch up. And the first large section of the book didn't have the same discovery and surprise that the first book did. But just when I worried the book took off. The ending on this one was much better. But note that this book doesn't truly end. It's a total cliffhanger, setting up the next book in the series. Fun read.
August 7, 2012
Better. A more coherent story and characters that you could engage with. I enjoyed the presentation style of this story, flipping as it did between characters and historical back story. The time travel angle does move the plot all over time but so far its not left me to cold as other time travel stories do.
Now reading Violation.
Now reading Violation.
October 5, 2013
Fearless and amazing :) Scott introduces mind-blowing sci-fi concepts without a flinch or pause, taking you along in a crazy but highly enjoyable ride along light years, centuries and a stream of characters without becoming overwhelming or dull. Quite an interesting combination. The next books of the series are also all really imaginative and great.
July 7, 2012
I like this a little better than the first. Wish I had read all three of the first books in a row. Characters don't necessarily go together between the books, but the story does carry on. Can't wait to read Violation!
May 28, 2012
Another great easy read that was very different from the first but also twisting. I quite like the pacing of these books although it does accelerate to light speed towards the end, but great nonetheless.
June 22, 2012
Interesting 2nd book to the series. It kinda began a separate storyline from the 1st book. I'm curious if the 3rd book is going to tie the two together.
July 12, 2012
Gah, another great one. Really changed the mood and overall plot of the story, but kept me on my toes. Lots of fun to read, and Scott's good story telling really keeps you interested.
July 13, 2012
A fairly quick read and an interesting book, but I was not completly happy with the ending and have not yet decided to pick up the next in the series.
December 11, 2012
great had me wanting more had to go buy the other books darn you
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews