Peacekeeper

Galactic Alliance #4

by Doug Farren

Alternate-cover edition can be found here

The Peacekeepers were the solution to a problem: How do you enforce the laws of a society made up of a dozen species spread out across hundreds of planets? Peacekeepers were endowed with the strength of cybernetics and the authority to enforce the law throughout the Alliance. They were admired by those they protect and feared by those who break the law. Communications specialist Tom Wilks is about to find out just how demanding a Peacekeeper's life can be as he undertakes the journey to becoming one of them.

Genres: Science Fiction

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2013

About the author

I'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.

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of the Star Trek TV series(s) I think you will really enjoy this SiFi series. Nicely written stories that read like an extended series of TV episodes. Very good series for a new SiFi reader or younger reader to break into the genre. Recommended

[Thomas M Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and creative. The evolution and manufacturing of Peacekeepers is unique as are their missions

Excellent and quite creative. Peacekeepers are around in earlier books of this series; but wild science creating them makes them much more interesting.... I am still quite sure what the end product looks like. Recognizable but how human?

The plot is good but one I've seen before in different setups.

A fast fun read.

[Per Gunnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quite okay little Sci-Fi story. It takes place in the Galactic Alliance universe after the third book. It could actually be thought of as the start of a new spin-off series to the original trilogy. Unfortunately I feel it is a bit rushed and tries to cover too many bases at he same time.

The main focus, or what should have been the main focus, is the Peacekeeper Tom Wilks. The book starts of with Tom being admitted to the Peacekeeper academy and we start to follow him in his training which, as you can deduce from the book blurb above, includes a bit of “upgrading”. Quite a bit actually. This is a great part of the book. However, I feel a lot more time could be spent on this. It feels rushed and Tom is a full-fledged Peacekeeper way too early.

Then the book takes off with a story about infiltration and conspiracy to take over the Earth by an old terrorist organization. Not surprisingly their leader is referred to as “High Sultan”. This is not bad although I find the conclusion a bit unsatisfactory given the actions these terrorists take during the course of the story. There are some nice tie-ins with the previous books though.

However, my main gripe is that each part of this book, the Peacekeeper training and the terrorist part, could easily have been made into two separate really good books. As it stands now it is a good book but it feels somehow lacking or perhaps more precisely I get a feeling of wasted potential.

Having said that, it is definitely a read-worthy book.

[Silicon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

You will need to have read some of the Galactic Alliance Series in order to fully understand the detailed and factual science behind the story. But even if you don't, its a great book which touches on many sub-plots including the loss of humanity for our Peace keeper Tom (in favour of his cyborg status)

Doug's writing is, as in his other books engaging and entertaining. Unlike some Sci-fi that manages to branch into sub-plots of complex techno speak, Doug keeps it accessible for all whilst giving far more factual scientific depth than many other "household name" titles.

I've been a fan of Dougs since reading his first Galactic Alliance novel and I've read all his works, enjoying them all. I hope we get another book continuing on with the adventures of Tom.

Thanks Doug, great book and great value for money too!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a spin-off from Farren's Galactic Alliance series, focusing on the Peacekeepers, a group who played a relatively small roll in the first three books. It follows the transition of Tom Wilkes from human to cyborg and his involvement with other Peacekeepers of various alien species. He becomes involved in the defense of Earth against the Army of Humanity (Purists) who are violently against any contact between humans and aliens. The resulting battle is a space spectacular with complete with a light show from laser weapons and the expenditure of
many terawatts of pure energy and the destruction of thousands of space vehicles. This one is not quite up to the level of the previous Galactic Alliance books, and rates three stars.

[Ann Zdunczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love them more and more

Can't wait to start the next one. You never know what will happen next!! AOH has shown up again! Will they be back!!