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Odyssey Earth #3
Star Bound
A storm’s coming, and it’s time to go home. But home isn’t always where you think it is.
As rescue looms, the teenage castaways face new decisions and changing alliances. It’s not plain-sailing on New Earth either, where Captain Juno Washington faces a blatant challenge to her authority.
As the dangers increase and stories collide, everyone has a choice to make. Be part of something or strike out on your own? Make plans or break promises?
All the Odyssey Earth characters combine for one final, unforgettable adventure, as they look for a place to call home.
And one thing’s for sure. If you want a happy ending, you need to put your trust in the people you love.
As rescue looms, the teenage castaways face new decisions and changing alliances. It’s not plain-sailing on New Earth either, where Captain Juno Washington faces a blatant challenge to her authority.
As the dangers increase and stories collide, everyone has a choice to make. Be part of something or strike out on your own? Make plans or break promises?
All the Odyssey Earth characters combine for one final, unforgettable adventure, as they look for a place to call home.
And one thing’s for sure. If you want a happy ending, you need to put your trust in the people you love.
- GenresScience FictionHumor
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2023
28 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Rex Burke
7 books39 followersRex Burke is a SciFi writer based in North Yorkshire, UK.
When he was young, he read every one of those yellow-jacketed Victor Gollancz hardbacks in his local library. That feeling of out-of-this-world amazement never left him – and keeps him company as he writes his own SciFi adventures.
When he's not writing, he travels – one way or another, he'll get to the stars, even if it's just as stardust when his own story is done.
For a fantastic FREE prequel to the Odyssey Earth series ('First Date') not available anywhere else, sign up to his newsletter at http://subscribepage.io/GPiihl
When he was young, he read every one of those yellow-jacketed Victor Gollancz hardbacks in his local library. That feeling of out-of-this-world amazement never left him – and keeps him company as he writes his own SciFi adventures.
When he's not writing, he travels – one way or another, he'll get to the stars, even if it's just as stardust when his own story is done.
For a fantastic FREE prequel to the Odyssey Earth series ('First Date') not available anywhere else, sign up to his newsletter at http://subscribepage.io/GPiihl
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January 21, 2024
“I know this was an accident, us being here. But it was ours, you know? Think what we’ve found, what we’ve seen? No one else has ever done that.”
My review of book one, Orphan Planet, is here.
My review of book two, Twin Landing, is here.
This is the third book in the Odyssey Earth series and I WANT SPIN OFFS AND SIDE STORIES AND MORE ADVENTURES ON PLANET DAVE.
BRING IT ON.
This trilogy is such an underrated gem and I really hope more people check it out! Sometimes hardcore sci-fi without romance is hard for me to sink into and I always find myself wishing for more romance, but it’s friendship and found family that carry this trilogy and I really, really adored it. Congratulations to Rex Burke for making me totally adore a series with barely any romance (although there were hints towards the end between a couple of them, yes yes mayhaps?!)
Burke’s Odyssey Earth is funny and witty and insightful and filled with found family and exploration and adventure and friendship and pop culture references that will make you giggle (so many good space and music jokes).
The characters all have good growth throughout the course of the series and the plot moves along at a cracking pace from book to book without ever making you wait too long for answers or reunions. The new characters add in something fresh but don’t take away from the established characters. The heroes are flawed, but fun and funny, and each one is struggling with a different aspect of life far, far from Earth. I liked the friendships and comradery between the scientists on the ship as much as the ones between the kids, Jordan and Reeves, their sentient computer babysitter and engineer. The villains are believable without being over the top. All I wanted by the end was more, ha! Which is honestly the best compliment one can give a book series.
Lost in Space and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans will surely love this one and I personally cannot wait to read more by Rex Burke. (Hopefully more books set on Planet Dave, please!)
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
My review of book one, Orphan Planet, is here.
My review of book two, Twin Landing, is here.
This is the third book in the Odyssey Earth series and I WANT SPIN OFFS AND SIDE STORIES AND MORE ADVENTURES ON PLANET DAVE.
BRING IT ON.
This trilogy is such an underrated gem and I really hope more people check it out! Sometimes hardcore sci-fi without romance is hard for me to sink into and I always find myself wishing for more romance, but it’s friendship and found family that carry this trilogy and I really, really adored it. Congratulations to Rex Burke for making me totally adore a series with barely any romance (although there were hints towards the end between a couple of them, yes yes mayhaps?!)
Burke’s Odyssey Earth is funny and witty and insightful and filled with found family and exploration and adventure and friendship and pop culture references that will make you giggle (so many good space and music jokes).
The characters all have good growth throughout the course of the series and the plot moves along at a cracking pace from book to book without ever making you wait too long for answers or reunions. The new characters add in something fresh but don’t take away from the established characters. The heroes are flawed, but fun and funny, and each one is struggling with a different aspect of life far, far from Earth. I liked the friendships and comradery between the scientists on the ship as much as the ones between the kids, Jordan and Reeves, their sentient computer babysitter and engineer. The villains are believable without being over the top. All I wanted by the end was more, ha! Which is honestly the best compliment one can give a book series.
Lost in Space and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans will surely love this one and I personally cannot wait to read more by Rex Burke. (Hopefully more books set on Planet Dave, please!)
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
October 9, 2023
Having read the first two books in this series, I couldn't wait for number three to come out and pounced on the opportunity to be an ARC reader. The best thing about Star Bound is that it wraps everything up perfectly but leaves the door open for more books in the series, should Rex Burke choose to write them (and I hope he does!). The worst thing about it is that I finished it far too quickly and even felt quite teary at the end.
The characters Mr Burke has created are quite wonderful really, and in Star Bound, many of them come into their own. Dave and Tillie, Suzannah, Major Tom, Juno, Jordan and the irrepressible teenagers are somehow all magnificent in their own ways. Of course, we have the dastardly Sprake too, but the feelgood element is strong throughout the story despite a number of crises, even involving mutinies, to keep the tension up and the pages turning. However, my absolute favourite personality in the whole series, and especially in Star Bound, was Reeves, the AI brain with a wit dryer than James Bond's Martinis. His barely veiled sarcasm prompted some very funny dialogue that had me chuckling many a time.
As for the story, Planet Dave (the Twin Planet of Book 2), where the kids and Jordon were marooned, turned up some shocking surprises that left me wondering about malignant forces. There were also close encounters of a very unusual kind indeed that will surely be the subject of a sequel? However, how the rescue attempt panned out is something readers will have to find out for themselves. Suffice to say it was my favourite part of the storyline.
New Earth, the location of the main colony had its own share of secrets, some of them quite dark, but whether the new settlements will flourish remains to be seen and again, it feels as if the opportunities are there for future books to explore these new planets further. Nonetheless, the end is no cliff-hanger and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire dénouement of the story. Thank you, Rex Burke. These three books have made a terrific trilogy which would have earned Douglas Adams' approval, I'm sure. Very, very highly recommended.
The characters Mr Burke has created are quite wonderful really, and in Star Bound, many of them come into their own. Dave and Tillie, Suzannah, Major Tom, Juno, Jordan and the irrepressible teenagers are somehow all magnificent in their own ways. Of course, we have the dastardly Sprake too, but the feelgood element is strong throughout the story despite a number of crises, even involving mutinies, to keep the tension up and the pages turning. However, my absolute favourite personality in the whole series, and especially in Star Bound, was Reeves, the AI brain with a wit dryer than James Bond's Martinis. His barely veiled sarcasm prompted some very funny dialogue that had me chuckling many a time.
As for the story, Planet Dave (the Twin Planet of Book 2), where the kids and Jordon were marooned, turned up some shocking surprises that left me wondering about malignant forces. There were also close encounters of a very unusual kind indeed that will surely be the subject of a sequel? However, how the rescue attempt panned out is something readers will have to find out for themselves. Suffice to say it was my favourite part of the storyline.
New Earth, the location of the main colony had its own share of secrets, some of them quite dark, but whether the new settlements will flourish remains to be seen and again, it feels as if the opportunities are there for future books to explore these new planets further. Nonetheless, the end is no cliff-hanger and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire dénouement of the story. Thank you, Rex Burke. These three books have made a terrific trilogy which would have earned Douglas Adams' approval, I'm sure. Very, very highly recommended.
October 12, 2023
Fantastic
Book three does a marvelous job of providing closure to the trilogy while leaving the door open for future adventures of the Odyssey Earth crew.
I found myself guessing just how Rex was going to pull it all off until the very end. My guesses were satisfyingly wrong.
You really should read the first two books.
First, you've missed much of what sets up Star Bound.
Second, you've missed a plethora of Rex's classic rock references and well-timed witty banter among the crew and our quarrelsome but lovable A.I., Reeves.
Don't tell Reeves, but he is one of the best characters in the series.
Reading Rex's writing is like a relaxing vacation.
You arrive, fall into a satisfying rhythm where your cares drift away, and then BAM! It’s over way too soon and back to the real world you go.
I hated that it had to end, just like vacation.
Pace, flow, rhythm, timing…Rex has it all.
Here's what is going on and getting taken care of:
🔹️Six teenagers and their teacher thought to be tragically lost are stranded on the Twin Planet (Dave) of New Earth where the colony is taking shape. They manage to get a signal for help out to New Earth.
🔹️Wanting to send a rescue, Captain Juno is constrained by mission parameters.
🔹️A rogue effort is launched to save the kids undermining Juno's authority at a crucial time.
🔹️Meanwhile, Juno and Major Tom are having a rough go of it with
ground control courtesy of the villainous billionaire Sprake.
🔹️If that's not enough, the system is keeping the yet to be revived colonists in deep sleep is failing with deadly consequences.
Don't let the “feel good SciFi space adventure" description fool you.
Well, it absolutely is “feel good” but there is suspense, loads of humor and a whole cast of characters that are quirky, lovable, dastardly and outrageously funny.
Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Also, there is an Odyssey Earth short, First Date, available when you sign up for Rex's monthly newsletter.
I was excited to receive and read an Advance Review Copy, but I went ahead and pre-ordered Star Bound.
BSFReads
Book three does a marvelous job of providing closure to the trilogy while leaving the door open for future adventures of the Odyssey Earth crew.
I found myself guessing just how Rex was going to pull it all off until the very end. My guesses were satisfyingly wrong.
You really should read the first two books.
First, you've missed much of what sets up Star Bound.
Second, you've missed a plethora of Rex's classic rock references and well-timed witty banter among the crew and our quarrelsome but lovable A.I., Reeves.
Don't tell Reeves, but he is one of the best characters in the series.
Reading Rex's writing is like a relaxing vacation.
You arrive, fall into a satisfying rhythm where your cares drift away, and then BAM! It’s over way too soon and back to the real world you go.
I hated that it had to end, just like vacation.
Pace, flow, rhythm, timing…Rex has it all.
Here's what is going on and getting taken care of:
🔹️Six teenagers and their teacher thought to be tragically lost are stranded on the Twin Planet (Dave) of New Earth where the colony is taking shape. They manage to get a signal for help out to New Earth.
🔹️Wanting to send a rescue, Captain Juno is constrained by mission parameters.
🔹️A rogue effort is launched to save the kids undermining Juno's authority at a crucial time.
🔹️Meanwhile, Juno and Major Tom are having a rough go of it with
ground control courtesy of the villainous billionaire Sprake.
🔹️If that's not enough, the system is keeping the yet to be revived colonists in deep sleep is failing with deadly consequences.
Don't let the “feel good SciFi space adventure" description fool you.
Well, it absolutely is “feel good” but there is suspense, loads of humor and a whole cast of characters that are quirky, lovable, dastardly and outrageously funny.
Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Also, there is an Odyssey Earth short, First Date, available when you sign up for Rex's monthly newsletter.
I was excited to receive and read an Advance Review Copy, but I went ahead and pre-ordered Star Bound.
BSFReads
October 30, 2023
For a while, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this third entry in the Odyssey Earth series. A great deal of the book seemed to creep along rather ponderously for a final book in a trilogy, which was close to leaving far too much work for the final third of the story to have to try and hold up, given the increasing number of characters needing adequate screen time and a lot of threads set up in the previous book.
If I’m honest, it didn’t always satisfy on the character arc front - I wanted to see more of cast get their equal time to play out their part instead of some feeling slightly sidelined after following their journey this far and one of the seemingly significant plot threads has less overall impact than the time spent invested in it. But, I’m not sure any of that ultimately matters, because this was a wonderful read full of humour, full of drama and full of fun little Easter eggs for any fan of pop culture. And almost every character does get the right ending to their individual story, which was great to see.
The story isn’t breaking new ground here, nor is it trying to. Rex’s skill is that he knows who you are going to be rooting for and who you are booing in this space age pantomime and yet still manages to write a genuinely warm and engaging story about family and friendship. Not about action, not about hard science, but about the bonds that form and break between a very real bunch of people. It also has probably the most perfect ending to any series.
I’m struggling to find another author who understands storytelling of this calibre quite so well and pulls it all together into such a fun science fiction series. Lots of successful writers have dealt with the subjects of humanity and friendship over the years with expert precision, but few in such a heart warming, natural way. I defy anyone - even those with my cold heart - not to laugh and smile at the bickering between Reeves and Jordan or to find yourself rooting for the pairing up of those meant to be together.
And that’s why I can forgive any minor flaws. The book - and the series as a whole - simply made me happy to read it. This has not just been the discovery of the year, it’s been that little spark of joy right when it was needed the most, with characters whose adventures I could read about forever. If someone isn’t still grinning at the final page, then there is simply no hope for them at all.
3-0 to humanity. Hopefully the series isn’t snuffed out like a candle in the wind, as someone’s brother might have once said..
If I’m honest, it didn’t always satisfy on the character arc front - I wanted to see more of cast get their equal time to play out their part instead of some feeling slightly sidelined after following their journey this far and one of the seemingly significant plot threads has less overall impact than the time spent invested in it. But, I’m not sure any of that ultimately matters, because this was a wonderful read full of humour, full of drama and full of fun little Easter eggs for any fan of pop culture. And almost every character does get the right ending to their individual story, which was great to see.
The story isn’t breaking new ground here, nor is it trying to. Rex’s skill is that he knows who you are going to be rooting for and who you are booing in this space age pantomime and yet still manages to write a genuinely warm and engaging story about family and friendship. Not about action, not about hard science, but about the bonds that form and break between a very real bunch of people. It also has probably the most perfect ending to any series.
I’m struggling to find another author who understands storytelling of this calibre quite so well and pulls it all together into such a fun science fiction series. Lots of successful writers have dealt with the subjects of humanity and friendship over the years with expert precision, but few in such a heart warming, natural way. I defy anyone - even those with my cold heart - not to laugh and smile at the bickering between Reeves and Jordan or to find yourself rooting for the pairing up of those meant to be together.
And that’s why I can forgive any minor flaws. The book - and the series as a whole - simply made me happy to read it. This has not just been the discovery of the year, it’s been that little spark of joy right when it was needed the most, with characters whose adventures I could read about forever. If someone isn’t still grinning at the final page, then there is simply no hope for them at all.
3-0 to humanity. Hopefully the series isn’t snuffed out like a candle in the wind, as someone’s brother might have once said..
October 10, 2023
I've been waiting impatiently for book three (although in Rex's defence I didn't have to wait too long), and I'm thrilled to report that it's equally as good as the first two books. Our teenage heroes are still stranded on Planet Dave with Teach, while Captain Juno is dealing with a recalcitrant Sprake on New Earth. There are so many twists and turns in the plot, that I literally didn't have any idea how it would end up. I loved it. From the first line I was chuckling: the old sci-fi and 70s rock references are sublime. And the characters are well drawn (easy to see that Rex has experience of teenagers) and the scenarios are believable. A totally entertaining, fun, rollicking ride through space. Hopefully there are more adventures to come. This series is the most fun sci-fi I've read in many years. Definitely recommended.
January 20, 2025
A wonderful, exciting and satisfying conclusion to this series while still leaving the back front door open for future books in this world.
I had a great time with this series and genuinely hope we get more with the crew of the Odyssey Earth or at least in this world.
I am so glad I binged this series and I'd recommend the same if it's something you're considering. They're so easy to get through and yet it made for a great experience to get the full scope of the story all back to back.
If you want Wayfarers but make it laugh out loud funny, you should definitely try this one out.
I had a great time with this series and genuinely hope we get more with the crew of the Odyssey Earth or at least in this world.
I am so glad I binged this series and I'd recommend the same if it's something you're considering. They're so easy to get through and yet it made for a great experience to get the full scope of the story all back to back.
If you want Wayfarers but make it laugh out loud funny, you should definitely try this one out.
October 4, 2023
A strong 4.5 stars. Review to come. I received a review copy from the author.
November 27, 2024
I know this is the end of the trilogy but Mr Burke.... I wanna know what happens next in this universe!
This continues to growth of the main cast to a natural stop point, with the friendship between Jordan and the AI Reeves being the highlight. The conflicts were entirely believable as were the conclusions, even if some timing was very very fortunate. And this certainly feels like the end of a section of the story, although there's plenty of opportunity to revisit this setting with fresh stories and maybe even other character in the future if Rex ever decides to revisit.
As with all the books in the series, this was full of heart and humour, and is a really cozy sci-fi read!
This continues to growth of the main cast to a natural stop point, with the friendship between Jordan and the AI Reeves being the highlight. The conflicts were entirely believable as were the conclusions, even if some timing was very very fortunate. And this certainly feels like the end of a section of the story, although there's plenty of opportunity to revisit this setting with fresh stories and maybe even other character in the future if Rex ever decides to revisit.
As with all the books in the series, this was full of heart and humour, and is a really cozy sci-fi read!
October 13, 2023
Awesome sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is amazing, Reeves is a gem, and the ending was a complete, fantastic surprise. Some bad things do happen, but the overall feel of Star Bound is hope and happiness. I love these characters (except egomaniacal Sprake and his minions). Jordan and the kids are great. Tilly, Dave, Major Tom, and the medics make me laugh. And I laughed out loud many times. The story is entertaining, thrilling, nail-biting, and everything I look for in a great sci fi book. I highly recommend this series.
The worldbuilding is amazing, Reeves is a gem, and the ending was a complete, fantastic surprise. Some bad things do happen, but the overall feel of Star Bound is hope and happiness. I love these characters (except egomaniacal Sprake and his minions). Jordan and the kids are great. Tilly, Dave, Major Tom, and the medics make me laugh. And I laughed out loud many times. The story is entertaining, thrilling, nail-biting, and everything I look for in a great sci fi book. I highly recommend this series.
December 7, 2023
A satisfying conclusion
I was excited to read the last in the trilogy and find out what happened with Jordan and the kids. Oh, and the dastardly Sprake. There were bumps along the way (as usual) and I wasn't sure if or how things were going to work out. The ending was "just right" in my opinion. Enjoy!
I was excited to read the last in the trilogy and find out what happened with Jordan and the kids. Oh, and the dastardly Sprake. There were bumps along the way (as usual) and I wasn't sure if or how things were going to work out. The ending was "just right" in my opinion. Enjoy!
September 22, 2025
The kids on the earth clone are making a life for themselves, a wilderness life. the crew lands on New Earth trying to get the colony off the ground. No spoilers, but a good story.
November 3, 2023
I was lucky enough to be asked to beta read this book, but my review is in no way biased. I have just reread the finished version and it is even better now than it was the first time I read it.
Star Bound is the third book in the Odyssey Earth series by Rex Burke.
It was great to return to these beloved characters and see how well they adapted to life on not one but two new planets. The wonderfully weird and wacky characters drove the plot of the previous two books of this series and Star Bound is no different. Major Tom has left behind his quirk of speaking in David Bowie lyrics but now appears to have started using Elton John lyrics, occasionally. Dave and Tillie have become a favourite couple of mine and I really enjoy the banter between Cliff and Terence. Reeves, the AI, is delightfully sarcastic and his relationship with Jordan is truly hilarious at times.
The themes of family in all its different shapes and sizes, which have been present throughout this series, are once again at the forefront of this book. The teenagers have a large found family amongst the crew of the Odyssey Earth and this circle becomes even wider as they get to know two new teens, Jet and Bel, the daughters of the despicable Sprake, whom he kidnapped away from their mother and brought on a one-way trip into space without their permission. They are quickly accepted by the group of orphans, and they now consider themselves to also have no parents, having disowned their evil father. They soon become entangled in teenage romances which is a sweet touch.
I didn’t really develop a favourite amongst the teens, they were all pretty typical teenagers for the fact that their childhoods had not been typical at all. They have each developed skills and resourcefulness they didn’t know they were capable of, while surviving on the planet. Poole is a keen buggy-driver and Karlan has developed green fingers and displays a nurturing side to his character. The group seems to be surviving pretty well and learning about their new environment. However, no amount of survival skills can prepare them for the devastating storm which hits their camp, straight after the arrival of their rescuers and renders the rescue craft unflyable. If you want to know the eventual outcome of this setback you will need to read the book.
Back on the other planet, known as New Earth, Sprake is acting in just as dastardly a manner as he had proved himself capable of in the previous book. I really didn’t like this unsympathetic villain, which is exactly what the author is aiming for, so well done, Rex Burke!
Following the cliffhanger ending of the previous book, Twin Landing I was anticipating a first contact moment between the castaways and a group of aliens who appear to have a hive mind and are referred to as The Family. Yet another type of family relationship is being explored here. This episode was not at all how I expected, but I do think it worked well.
The ending was left fairly open which may mean more books are coming in this series in the future. I do hope so, as it is a wonderfully heartwarming and witty series and I haven’t had enough of it yet. It should not be missed!
Star Bound is the third book in the Odyssey Earth series by Rex Burke.
It was great to return to these beloved characters and see how well they adapted to life on not one but two new planets. The wonderfully weird and wacky characters drove the plot of the previous two books of this series and Star Bound is no different. Major Tom has left behind his quirk of speaking in David Bowie lyrics but now appears to have started using Elton John lyrics, occasionally. Dave and Tillie have become a favourite couple of mine and I really enjoy the banter between Cliff and Terence. Reeves, the AI, is delightfully sarcastic and his relationship with Jordan is truly hilarious at times.
The themes of family in all its different shapes and sizes, which have been present throughout this series, are once again at the forefront of this book. The teenagers have a large found family amongst the crew of the Odyssey Earth and this circle becomes even wider as they get to know two new teens, Jet and Bel, the daughters of the despicable Sprake, whom he kidnapped away from their mother and brought on a one-way trip into space without their permission. They are quickly accepted by the group of orphans, and they now consider themselves to also have no parents, having disowned their evil father. They soon become entangled in teenage romances which is a sweet touch.
I didn’t really develop a favourite amongst the teens, they were all pretty typical teenagers for the fact that their childhoods had not been typical at all. They have each developed skills and resourcefulness they didn’t know they were capable of, while surviving on the planet. Poole is a keen buggy-driver and Karlan has developed green fingers and displays a nurturing side to his character. The group seems to be surviving pretty well and learning about their new environment. However, no amount of survival skills can prepare them for the devastating storm which hits their camp, straight after the arrival of their rescuers and renders the rescue craft unflyable. If you want to know the eventual outcome of this setback you will need to read the book.
Back on the other planet, known as New Earth, Sprake is acting in just as dastardly a manner as he had proved himself capable of in the previous book. I really didn’t like this unsympathetic villain, which is exactly what the author is aiming for, so well done, Rex Burke!
Following the cliffhanger ending of the previous book, Twin Landing I was anticipating a first contact moment between the castaways and a group of aliens who appear to have a hive mind and are referred to as The Family. Yet another type of family relationship is being explored here. This episode was not at all how I expected, but I do think it worked well.
The ending was left fairly open which may mean more books are coming in this series in the future. I do hope so, as it is a wonderfully heartwarming and witty series and I haven’t had enough of it yet. It should not be missed!
April 13, 2024
Star Bound: A feelgood space adventure (Odyssey Earth Series Book 3) by Rex Burke.
Quick synopsis : The six castaway teenagers and their teacher are brought home. But "home" has lots of issues to work out.
Brief opinion : I loved book 1 so much, I wish I had better things to say about this one. Book 2 was downhill from book 1 for me, and book 3 downhill from book 2.
Plot : [I finished reading the book and immediately opened this window to write the review, and already I can't remember what the plot was. That's kind of telling...]
On the planet New Earth, the evil billionaire is making trouble.
On the twin planet (named Dave...), the weather is turning bad. But luckily one of the people from New Earth "borrows" a small ship and flies off to Dave to rescue the kids and their teacher.
Once both groups are back together, they have to deal with the evil billionaire. Once that is done, it's happily ever after.
Writing/editing : Both were fine. As I mentioned in my review of book 1, this series is very British. It reads sort of like a British sitcom (so if you find the series funny or not depends on your opinion of those).
This series is billed as "a feelgood space adventure", but I never understood that. The three books seemed like normal books with ups and downs. British humor is a thing, is British feelgood-ness also a thing? Maybe I'm just not seeing the feelgood-ness. The series did have a happy ending, but that's not uncommon in books.
What I Liked/What I Didn’t Like : I liked book 1 so much, I wish I didn't have to talk about things I didn't like in my review of 2 and this one.
In my review of 2, I had mentioned not liking the evil billionaire character. It was much worse in this book; I ended up skimming or skipping most of the chapters with him. I had this visceral reaction to him, I just could not stand spending even a moment of time with him. I usually have no issues with villain characters, I often like them best! I don't know what it was about the evil billionaire that got that reaction out of me.
Related to that, I didn't believe that the resolution around him would work.
While I had some mild amusement in book 1, I didn't find 2 and 3 funny at all (but that was probably just American-me not getting the British humor). Lots of puns and pop references which are the opposite of funny to me.
Rating: 1-Hated / 2-Disliked / 3-Okay / 4-Liked / 5-Loved : A generous ⭐️⭐️ ½, 2.5 stars. The half-star is from good feeling leftover from book 1.
Quick synopsis : The six castaway teenagers and their teacher are brought home. But "home" has lots of issues to work out.
Brief opinion : I loved book 1 so much, I wish I had better things to say about this one. Book 2 was downhill from book 1 for me, and book 3 downhill from book 2.
Plot : [I finished reading the book and immediately opened this window to write the review, and already I can't remember what the plot was. That's kind of telling...]
On the planet New Earth, the evil billionaire is making trouble.
On the twin planet (named Dave...), the weather is turning bad. But luckily one of the people from New Earth "borrows" a small ship and flies off to Dave to rescue the kids and their teacher.
Once both groups are back together, they have to deal with the evil billionaire. Once that is done, it's happily ever after.
Writing/editing : Both were fine. As I mentioned in my review of book 1, this series is very British. It reads sort of like a British sitcom (so if you find the series funny or not depends on your opinion of those).
This series is billed as "a feelgood space adventure", but I never understood that. The three books seemed like normal books with ups and downs. British humor is a thing, is British feelgood-ness also a thing? Maybe I'm just not seeing the feelgood-ness. The series did have a happy ending, but that's not uncommon in books.
What I Liked/What I Didn’t Like : I liked book 1 so much, I wish I didn't have to talk about things I didn't like in my review of 2 and this one.
In my review of 2, I had mentioned not liking the evil billionaire character. It was much worse in this book; I ended up skimming or skipping most of the chapters with him. I had this visceral reaction to him, I just could not stand spending even a moment of time with him. I usually have no issues with villain characters, I often like them best! I don't know what it was about the evil billionaire that got that reaction out of me.
Related to that, I didn't believe that the resolution around him would work.
While I had some mild amusement in book 1, I didn't find 2 and 3 funny at all (but that was probably just American-me not getting the British humor). Lots of puns and pop references which are the opposite of funny to me.
Rating: 1-Hated / 2-Disliked / 3-Okay / 4-Liked / 5-Loved : A generous ⭐️⭐️ ½, 2.5 stars. The half-star is from good feeling leftover from book 1.
October 11, 2023
Star Bound is exactly what the doctor ordered, and teases a little more.
I've come to love this universe and the people in it over the past year, having been lucky enough to read the previous two books in the series early. Likewise, I was offered a chance to beta read for Star Bound and really enjoyed being a part of that process. If you're coming into this cold, ensure you head back to the beginning and read the free short story that kicks off the series. I believe it's available on the author's website. Then, proceed to the first two books that follow; they are a real treat.
So, what can I say that I haven't already said? In my previous reviews, I've spoken about Burke's prose, the effortlessness of it, how it feels familiar, like a long-lost friend you haven't seen for a decade or two. I've discussed this universe and its witty charm, how it manages to be both humble and high stakes simultaneously. I've been there, I've said it, and I stand by it. The main difference between this review and the last is that with this one, I have nothing critical to say. All those loose ends I wanted tied up have been addressed and done well. I even thought that the character development was stronger, with us getting some much-needed POV sections for the antagonist.
This book does break with some of the tradition of the first two, by delving into the life on Planet Dave. I, for one, loved these sections, to the point where I wondered if this was the hidden road running parallel to the main plot all along. These sections were refreshing, mysterious, and came at the perfect time for me, starting near the beginning of the book, which truly refreshed the palate. It pains me to think that this series might have concluded when there's so much potential for more. Hopefully, Burke feels the same way. I would love to see this series embark on a larger arc that sees our colonists at odds with both the Twin Planets and their inhabitants and, potentially, Mr Sprake and whatever he manages to establish from where he ended up.
Bravo, Mr Burke. Please don't let it be the end!
I've come to love this universe and the people in it over the past year, having been lucky enough to read the previous two books in the series early. Likewise, I was offered a chance to beta read for Star Bound and really enjoyed being a part of that process. If you're coming into this cold, ensure you head back to the beginning and read the free short story that kicks off the series. I believe it's available on the author's website. Then, proceed to the first two books that follow; they are a real treat.
So, what can I say that I haven't already said? In my previous reviews, I've spoken about Burke's prose, the effortlessness of it, how it feels familiar, like a long-lost friend you haven't seen for a decade or two. I've discussed this universe and its witty charm, how it manages to be both humble and high stakes simultaneously. I've been there, I've said it, and I stand by it. The main difference between this review and the last is that with this one, I have nothing critical to say. All those loose ends I wanted tied up have been addressed and done well. I even thought that the character development was stronger, with us getting some much-needed POV sections for the antagonist.
This book does break with some of the tradition of the first two, by delving into the life on Planet Dave. I, for one, loved these sections, to the point where I wondered if this was the hidden road running parallel to the main plot all along. These sections were refreshing, mysterious, and came at the perfect time for me, starting near the beginning of the book, which truly refreshed the palate. It pains me to think that this series might have concluded when there's so much potential for more. Hopefully, Burke feels the same way. I would love to see this series embark on a larger arc that sees our colonists at odds with both the Twin Planets and their inhabitants and, potentially, Mr Sprake and whatever he manages to establish from where he ended up.
Bravo, Mr Burke. Please don't let it be the end!
October 31, 2023
I absolutely loved the first two books in this trilogy (Orphan Planet, Apr 2023, and Twin Landing, Jul 2023) and the fact that all three were published in the same year still blows my mind. If you haven't read the first two, then you could theoretically read this one, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice (and you'd miss out on all the awesome in-jokes).
In this third book, many situations come to a head, but not without the requisite amount of disaster and conflict. The kids make new friends and discoveries, and New Earth turns out to be a bit more difficult and a lot less glamorous than Mr Sprake's brochures led people to believe. Not that he lets that get in the way of anything.
Mr Booth and the kids continue to be amazing and Reeves continues to be the best AI ever (sorry Marvin). I sometimes wish I could get Chat-GPT to sound like Reeves, but perhaps it is better for all of us that that isn't possible...yet.
If you're looking for cosy sci-fi that gives you lots of laughs and the warm and fuzzies, then this is the trilogy for you. With the world as dark as it is these days, it's soothing to be able to lose yourself in a good old fashioned adventure.
I hope this isn't the last we hear of the New Earth colony.
In this third book, many situations come to a head, but not without the requisite amount of disaster and conflict. The kids make new friends and discoveries, and New Earth turns out to be a bit more difficult and a lot less glamorous than Mr Sprake's brochures led people to believe. Not that he lets that get in the way of anything.
Mr Booth and the kids continue to be amazing and Reeves continues to be the best AI ever (sorry Marvin). I sometimes wish I could get Chat-GPT to sound like Reeves, but perhaps it is better for all of us that that isn't possible...yet.
If you're looking for cosy sci-fi that gives you lots of laughs and the warm and fuzzies, then this is the trilogy for you. With the world as dark as it is these days, it's soothing to be able to lose yourself in a good old fashioned adventure.
I hope this isn't the last we hear of the New Earth colony.
October 23, 2023
I can truly say that I’ve loved this trilogy from new Sci-fi writer Rex Burke, and I’m hoping for more books from his pen.
There is plenty in here for serious sci-fi fans: spaceship crashes, unknown planets, aliens, love, friendships, humour, and a baddie you can really get behind hating.
But, if you aren’t a hard-core sci-fi fan, don’t turn away, because this is sci-fi with heart. Think of the Swiss Family Robinson in space: shipwrecks, unknown territories, unknowable locals, love, family, humour, and a baddie you can really get behind hating.
There is plenty in here for serious sci-fi fans: spaceship crashes, unknown planets, aliens, love, friendships, humour, and a baddie you can really get behind hating.
But, if you aren’t a hard-core sci-fi fan, don’t turn away, because this is sci-fi with heart. Think of the Swiss Family Robinson in space: shipwrecks, unknown territories, unknowable locals, love, family, humour, and a baddie you can really get behind hating.
May 1, 2024
If you've read "Lord of the Flies," you have a hint as to what goes wrong in this book, the last of the Odyssey Earth series. People are people, and their foibles follow them into space. Fortunately, unlike the previously mentioned book, this one comes to a satisfactory ending. I can really recommend this book, although it took me a long time to read it, but that wasn't the fault of the book. The human component is very important to the story, and character development is excellent. I would recommend this to young readers.
October 25, 2023
I'd really enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy: Orphan Planet and Twin Landing, and the third and final instalment did not disappoint. There was even more drama and tension in this novel, and I was fully engaged (I think I was actually holding my breath at one point..) Humour and poignancy, warmth and well-developed characters, originality and surprise - what more could you want? I really hope Rex decides to tell us more about the lives of the people he has created in Odyssey Earth.
June 5, 2024
Will the kids be rescued? Will they make first contact? Will the Sprake twins fit in? Will Reeves be able to put himself together? Will CEO Sprake get his comeuppance? Will Dave and Tillie get back together? Star Bound, the third volume of Rex Burke’s Earth Odyssey series, has many self-answering questions. Three-point-five stars.
November 26, 2023
And so the galactic ride comes to an end.
From New to Dave and back again, this book (and series) is a refreshing journey through the written word.
But yet, there are so many unfinished storyline directions to go.
Reeves...Engage!
From New to Dave and back again, this book (and series) is a refreshing journey through the written word.
But yet, there are so many unfinished storyline directions to go.
Reeves...Engage!
January 2, 2026
A fitting conclusion wrapped in a bow. There was a little too much recap and explanation throughout the book for things relating to the first two in the series. But that's a minor gripe. I recommend this trilogy for anyone who like scifi, humor, and some emotional connections.
July 4, 2025
Interesting series
Gets kind of boring with the the human interaction. I liked the first two books but the last one just wasn't that great.
Gets kind of boring with the the human interaction. I liked the first two books but the last one just wasn't that great.
October 30, 2023
I have actually loved this series of books by Rex Burke. I'm not a fan of Sci-Fi but I do hope there will be more from this particular author. His storytelling is masterful and I just loved the musical comments. The humour in the book carries it along nicely and draws the reader in. There were more than a few times I laughed out loud.
I was fascinated by the happenings on Planet Dave, so intriguing that surely there is more to come. It was also interesting to see how things were progressing on New Earth and how Sprake's presence affected the ongoing colonisation. There's fun, friendship, love and plenty of tension with the villainous Mr Sprake and the rescue of the teenagers, Reeves and Jordan. Lots of strands were cleverly tied up but please let there be more.
I was fascinated by the happenings on Planet Dave, so intriguing that surely there is more to come. It was also interesting to see how things were progressing on New Earth and how Sprake's presence affected the ongoing colonisation. There's fun, friendship, love and plenty of tension with the villainous Mr Sprake and the rescue of the teenagers, Reeves and Jordan. Lots of strands were cleverly tied up but please let there be more.
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