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Beacon Saga #1
Beacon: Part I
At the end of time, a miracle endangers a vast refugee fleet. Part I of the Beacon Saga.
They call it the Shroud, and Beacon is the only star that survived its wrath. At this endpoint of existence, humanity lingers on alongside every living species. Layers of orbiting ships can provide you everything—except children. So when Mally and Tersias conceive, they are instant celebrities, lavished with accolades and gifts. But their act will carry a high cost, starting with the return of a specter from the past. And the end will become the beginning.
A serial installment of six thousand words. Parts II (twelve thousand words) and III (fourteen thousand words) also available. Part IV coming soon.
They call it the Shroud, and Beacon is the only star that survived its wrath. At this endpoint of existence, humanity lingers on alongside every living species. Layers of orbiting ships can provide you everything—except children. So when Mally and Tersias conceive, they are instant celebrities, lavished with accolades and gifts. But their act will carry a high cost, starting with the return of a specter from the past. And the end will become the beginning.
A serial installment of six thousand words. Parts II (twelve thousand words) and III (fourteen thousand words) also available. Part IV coming soon.
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
23 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2012
22 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan C. Gillespie
21 books18 followersJonathan C. Gillespie has been writing genre fiction for almost two decades, with a particular interest in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His short fiction has been published in a variety of outlets on three continents, including “The Drabblecast”, “Spinetingler Magazine”, and “Murky Depths”, and has been nominated for a number of awards, including the Parsecs.
Having shifted his focus to longer works in recent years, he has authored the Beacon Saga serial, and the Tyrant Strategy novel series.
He lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and daughters.
Having shifted his focus to longer works in recent years, he has authored the Beacon Saga serial, and the Tyrant Strategy novel series.
He lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 7, 2015
The universe has been reduced to a grouping of spaceships gathered around a star they call Beacon. The remnants of the races live here but reproduction has ceased among all of them. It’s been 20 years since a child was born. Then twenty-year old Tersias and nineteen-year old Mally find out that Mally is pregnant. Within hours all the remnants of civilization have their eyes on this pregnancy. A grand celebration is planned, but will all go as intended?
This short story is the first in a series. I really enjoyed this one and hope to read part 2 soon. I particularly liked the characters of Tersias and Mally. Even though the short story format doesn’t allow for a huge amount of character development, I found these two totally likable. They were totally overwhelmed by all the attention but handled it with grace and calm. The occurrence at the end makes me especially curious to see where the author intends to go with the world he has created. I recommend “Beacon” for lovers or dabblers of sci-fi.
This short story is the first in a series. I really enjoyed this one and hope to read part 2 soon. I particularly liked the characters of Tersias and Mally. Even though the short story format doesn’t allow for a huge amount of character development, I found these two totally likable. They were totally overwhelmed by all the attention but handled it with grace and calm. The occurrence at the end makes me especially curious to see where the author intends to go with the world he has created. I recommend “Beacon” for lovers or dabblers of sci-fi.
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March 22, 2019
A very quick, relatively well-written first installment of a sci-fi epic following the first conceived baby in outer space for twenty years.
Difficult to really judge anything much from a couple thousand word extract, though honestly it was a little boring. I expected quite a lot more to happen considering it was the first part, though it left me a little intrigued. I feel like I can see where it's going, however.
Difficult to really judge anything much from a couple thousand word extract, though honestly it was a little boring. I expected quite a lot more to happen considering it was the first part, though it left me a little intrigued. I feel like I can see where it's going, however.
August 8, 2018
An interesting quick read
This is the first serial in the Beacon Saga. There are quite a few. It seems the last of humanity and the last of alien races are huddled around the last star. Something called the Shroud has decimated everything else...so they all think. The birth of a new baby girl gives hope to all because there have been none in a very long time.
This is the first serial in the Beacon Saga. There are quite a few. It seems the last of humanity and the last of alien races are huddled around the last star. Something called the Shroud has decimated everything else...so they all think. The birth of a new baby girl gives hope to all because there have been none in a very long time.
July 16, 2018
Intriguing
Great start on a very interesting story that has possibilities of becoming a great saga. A new life beginning in a faraway place and it could change their world.
Great start on a very interesting story that has possibilities of becoming a great saga. A new life beginning in a faraway place and it could change their world.
April 17, 2015
Beacon: Part I by Jonathan C. Gillespie is delightful science fiction, reminiscent of the writing style of Philip K. Dick or Ray Bradbury in The Martian Chronicles, with a variety of unique aliens that reminds one of Star Wars. The story reads like fantasy with all the details of science fiction: spaceships, AIs, unique outer space aliens, and so much more.
Beacon: Part I is set in the future after the "Shroud" has appeared, beautifully described by the author this way: "One after another, the stars across the universe began folding in on themselves and burning out, dissipating into background radiation. Each time, everything around them also disintegrated and vanished: dust, meteorites, asteroids, comets, moons, planets, people, cities, nations...Civilizations." Beacon: Part I is the story of a miracle that occurs in one of the spaceships orbiting the last remaining star, giving tremendous hope that human life will continue.
Beacon: Part I is set in the future after the "Shroud" has appeared, beautifully described by the author this way: "One after another, the stars across the universe began folding in on themselves and burning out, dissipating into background radiation. Each time, everything around them also disintegrated and vanished: dust, meteorites, asteroids, comets, moons, planets, people, cities, nations...Civilizations." Beacon: Part I is the story of a miracle that occurs in one of the spaceships orbiting the last remaining star, giving tremendous hope that human life will continue.
January 12, 2013
A quick read- and a bit confusing because I didn't feel like there was a lot of introduction to the characters or the world. It was a good story, and one I'd recommend- I just felt a bit left out.
August 5, 2013
Interesting premise and ending.
February 11, 2016
This is a good start to this series. It is a short story of hope when all of the world's are all but gone. I will most likely read the rest of this series.
June 5, 2014
Interesting and quick read. I'd be really interested in seeing this world developed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews