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Generational Space Trilogy #1
Generational Space
Embark on an Epic Journey in the Generational Space Trilogy!
In the first short story of The Generational Space Trilogy, join the pioneers aboard the Ventura, Earth's largest and most advanced generational ship, as they venture on a mission to Proxima Centauri b. As humanity’s best hope for interstellar colonization, the Ventura carries not just cargo and technology but the dreams of future generations.
However, as the journey unfolds, unforeseen challenges threaten to derail the mission. Isolation looms, tensions rise, and the pioneers must face the immense unknowns of deep space. Amidst triumphs and tribulations, hope, sacrifice, and unexpected allies emerge, shaping the destiny of generations to come.
This short story is part of a series that will unfold into a complete novella, each chapter building on the epic adventure.
Hard science fiction and space opera fans, get ready for a breathtaking adventure through the cosmos—where humanity’s resilience will be tested, and survival may depend on more than just technology.
Book One of the Generational Space Trilogy—a gripping saga of discovery, sacrifice, and the enduring human spirit.
In the first short story of The Generational Space Trilogy, join the pioneers aboard the Ventura, Earth's largest and most advanced generational ship, as they venture on a mission to Proxima Centauri b. As humanity’s best hope for interstellar colonization, the Ventura carries not just cargo and technology but the dreams of future generations.
However, as the journey unfolds, unforeseen challenges threaten to derail the mission. Isolation looms, tensions rise, and the pioneers must face the immense unknowns of deep space. Amidst triumphs and tribulations, hope, sacrifice, and unexpected allies emerge, shaping the destiny of generations to come.
This short story is part of a series that will unfold into a complete novella, each chapter building on the epic adventure.
Hard science fiction and space opera fans, get ready for a breathtaking adventure through the cosmos—where humanity’s resilience will be tested, and survival may depend on more than just technology.
Book One of the Generational Space Trilogy—a gripping saga of discovery, sacrifice, and the enduring human spirit.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2024
5 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Tony Travis
11 books297 followersTony is an award-winning author and lives with his dachshund poodle. Science has always been a part of his life. He enjoys exploring ways that it may develop in his works. With a focus on our shared human condition.
He writes in the general style of the 1960's with a few more modern touches. He is also an avid fan of the Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Dune universes.
Follow me on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tony-... and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonytravis.com
He writes in the general style of the 1960's with a few more modern touches. He is also an avid fan of the Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Dune universes.
Follow me on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tony-... and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonytravis.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 23, 2024
Would you go with the ship leaving Earth forever, leaving everything you've ever known behind, knowing your descendants will never see the sky, the sun or the mountains nor feel the wind on their skin on a summers' day? That's the question this short story leaves me with, as we get to follow the crew on the Ventura into the unknown. Would I leave? What could possibly make me leave everything behind?
I like the idea that humanity, for once, cooperate and get something productive done. That struck me as the most fantastic part of the story, as the science seemed reliable enough to a layman such as me. The author convinces me that this could work, that the technology is solid. As I read, I am convinced we could do this, were it not for one thing.
The humans. I am less certain of those. There is little power struggling, and virtually no religion or superstition, which I find people bring with them even when they claim to be non-religious and not at all superstitious. You just have to dig a little deeper, that's all. Then I realise, the people in this short story are an image of what humanity could have been, if we hadn't been busy being greedy and selfish. I wonder as I read what keeps them focused on the journey. Why they all just get along. Who decides who will succeed as commander? Why are there no usurpers? I sincerely hope the author revisits the Ventura and allows us more time there, this is a brilliant setting for a novel. Or a series of novels, space is big.
I like the idea that humanity, for once, cooperate and get something productive done. That struck me as the most fantastic part of the story, as the science seemed reliable enough to a layman such as me. The author convinces me that this could work, that the technology is solid. As I read, I am convinced we could do this, were it not for one thing.
The humans. I am less certain of those. There is little power struggling, and virtually no religion or superstition, which I find people bring with them even when they claim to be non-religious and not at all superstitious. You just have to dig a little deeper, that's all. Then I realise, the people in this short story are an image of what humanity could have been, if we hadn't been busy being greedy and selfish. I wonder as I read what keeps them focused on the journey. Why they all just get along. Who decides who will succeed as commander? Why are there no usurpers? I sincerely hope the author revisits the Ventura and allows us more time there, this is a brilliant setting for a novel. Or a series of novels, space is big.
May 14, 2024
‘Generational Space’ offers a brief yet thought-provoking glimpse into events onboard the Ventura, a spaceship bound for the distant planet of Proxima Centauri b. Spanning a mere 22 pages, it covers a timeframe of two of the five centuries it will take to reach the planet. The story details two disasters – a communication loss with Earth, and the catastrophic destruction of a vital habitat module.
While sci-fi elements are sprinkled into each chapter, which is likely to please fans of the genre, and the writing is competent, I felt the narrative falls short in character development. Without a deeper understanding of the individuals experiencing the disasters, I struggled to emotionally connect with their plight, which diminished the sense of urgency and peril of some quite scary events. I would’ve loved to have more insight into the daily life aboard the spacecraft – what the ship looked like, the challenges they faced day to day living on the ship, friendships, leisure activities - without that, the story felt abstract, and I felt detached.
On the plus side, the book does touch on the ethical dilemma of raising children aboard a vessel destined to be their sole world, condemning them to a life confined within the spacecraft.
Ultimately, as the first instalment in a trilogy, I see ‘Generational Space’ as an extended prologue, providing a promising introduction, to what, I hope, is a trilogy with more fleshed-out characters, worlds, and relationships.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
While sci-fi elements are sprinkled into each chapter, which is likely to please fans of the genre, and the writing is competent, I felt the narrative falls short in character development. Without a deeper understanding of the individuals experiencing the disasters, I struggled to emotionally connect with their plight, which diminished the sense of urgency and peril of some quite scary events. I would’ve loved to have more insight into the daily life aboard the spacecraft – what the ship looked like, the challenges they faced day to day living on the ship, friendships, leisure activities - without that, the story felt abstract, and I felt detached.
On the plus side, the book does touch on the ethical dilemma of raising children aboard a vessel destined to be their sole world, condemning them to a life confined within the spacecraft.
Ultimately, as the first instalment in a trilogy, I see ‘Generational Space’ as an extended prologue, providing a promising introduction, to what, I hope, is a trilogy with more fleshed-out characters, worlds, and relationships.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
June 21, 2025
A brief but enjoyable story about a generational colony ship and the struggles it and its crew face throughout the early stages of its centuries-long journey to an unexplored planet. The author crams a lot into just a few chapters and pages. As a result, the story moves very quickly, with the first few generations aboard the ship passing in the proverbial blink of an eye. Fortunately, Travis does a good job of providing enough essential detail to make the story feel complete despite its brisk pace and brevity. That said, it should be noted that this tale, despite having a potentially-satisfying conclusion, is continued in two additional stories that provide a more complete experience. Seasoned science fiction readers likely won't find much new to get excited about but in general, the story's concepts and narrative elements are interesting, and presented in ways that feel fun, technically-proficient, and compelling. All things considered, I'd say "Generational Space" is a solid little introduction, both to Tony Travis as an author and his style of writing, and I found myself eager to continue the series. Nicely done!
March 4, 2024
I don't usually read books in this genre, however this short story was very well written. I personally would not be getting on a ship that takes me away from earth forever, because I have too much here on earth. Good read.
May 12, 2024
Generational Space is a short story about a space mission designed to send humans from Earth to Proxima Centuri b, the nearest habitable planet. Given contemporary technological limitations, the voyage will take 500 years, requiring that multiple generations be born and die on the ship during the mission. The story comprises five chapters, each dealing with an incident of crisis that occurs during the voyage, involving different generations of explorers.
The story is fine as far as it goes. Unfortunately, that is not very far. Such a tale is a huge topic whose complexities could never be covered in twenty-eight pages, although the author gives it a very good try. The story is reminiscent of the 1950s-1960s hard sci-fi stories that dwelt heavily on the technology required for specific future developments and how it could function to solve problems. However, there is little room for character development and without characters that the reader can identify with, it’s hard to get invested in the story on more than a surface level.
I hope the author has written the story as a preview for a novel or a series. I think it would be excellent for that purpose and certainly would attract readers to commit to the whole thing.
The story is fine as far as it goes. Unfortunately, that is not very far. Such a tale is a huge topic whose complexities could never be covered in twenty-eight pages, although the author gives it a very good try. The story is reminiscent of the 1950s-1960s hard sci-fi stories that dwelt heavily on the technology required for specific future developments and how it could function to solve problems. However, there is little room for character development and without characters that the reader can identify with, it’s hard to get invested in the story on more than a surface level.
I hope the author has written the story as a preview for a novel or a series. I think it would be excellent for that purpose and certainly would attract readers to commit to the whole thing.
May 12, 2024
A 28-page story, by its nature, is a low content story. The norm is for that content to be high-concept and original, to try for a mind-blowing twist, or even drill down to reveal a tiny slice of life for one character. Generational Space tries something different, taking the overarching idea of the human perseverance needed for a colony ship—something often imbedded in larger narratives—and presenting that as the focus for a short story.
What works: There are several disasters to overcome, so we get those twin doses of sudden dread and subsequent triumph. It has a pretty inspiring message overall.
What doesn't work as well: The standard novel format doesn't do it any favors. A bit of narration introduces a character, a couple of lines of dialogue explaining the biggest crisis they've ever faced, and the narrator informs us of the results. The next chapter starts, new generation, new character, etc.
The most negative thing to say is Travis has rendered character development completely moot, there simply isn't room for any. What's left reads like the chapter headings and synopsis of a full length novel. The most positive thing to say is I would read that novel.
What works: There are several disasters to overcome, so we get those twin doses of sudden dread and subsequent triumph. It has a pretty inspiring message overall.
What doesn't work as well: The standard novel format doesn't do it any favors. A bit of narration introduces a character, a couple of lines of dialogue explaining the biggest crisis they've ever faced, and the narrator informs us of the results. The next chapter starts, new generation, new character, etc.
The most negative thing to say is Travis has rendered character development completely moot, there simply isn't room for any. What's left reads like the chapter headings and synopsis of a full length novel. The most positive thing to say is I would read that novel.
August 2, 2024
Generation Space is the first in a trilogy of short stories about a colonization voyage to Proxima Centauri b. The voyage is estimated to take at least 500 years, which means multiple generations will live and die on the spacecraft before it reaches its target. This story introduces the concept and describes how the crew handles various problems. Some of which they are able to overcome. Others they are not.
Travis does a good job of building tension around the problems and their consequences. However, the story often reads more like a report rather than a story that one feels immersed in. I would have enjoyed a longer story that delved more into the characters and offered a stronger sense of place through details and physical descriptions. Despite these drawbacks, the story held my interest. If you're interested in thinking about space exploration to distant planets and how it might come about, give Generational Space a read.
Travis does a good job of building tension around the problems and their consequences. However, the story often reads more like a report rather than a story that one feels immersed in. I would have enjoyed a longer story that delved more into the characters and offered a stronger sense of place through details and physical descriptions. Despite these drawbacks, the story held my interest. If you're interested in thinking about space exploration to distant planets and how it might come about, give Generational Space a read.
June 11, 2024
this short serialisation is an ambitious voyage. not least of all because, however adept the writer, science fiction/fantasy (and perhaps even all works of fiction but particularly SF) are burdened by unimaginable expository detail at their beginning. i felt this was a struggle in this piece, and i struggled to be drawn in past what were characterizable as somewhat abstract, technical descriptions. in my view an opportunity for vivid language was lost here. nonetheless, the ambition of the piece was commendable. i was reminded, predictably perhaps, of a space opera. and the title plus the focus on space travel has allowed me to vibe with the notions of a 'generation ship' as first written about by Robert H. Goddard. these vibes, while perhaps tangential, will be what sticks in my mind long-term from this high science fiction opener.
August 22, 2024
The story is the first in a trilogy centred around the Ventura, the largest generational ship bound for Proxima Centura B, estimated to take the crew around 500 years to reach. The book examines some of the challenges and calamities along the way. It is a fascinating concept with a lot of promise for the series as a whole. Personally, I would like there to have been more emphasis on the present events than the past with a deeper engagement with the characters and a more profound understanding of life aboard the vessel. To his credit, the author did touch on the ethical concerns of raising children onboard a vessel that would be their only home. Overall, Generational Space serves as an inspiring introduction, and it ends on a note that whets the reader's appetite for more.
February 23, 2024
Good Story!
A well written and interesting story. Good plot and character development. It kept you reading until the end! A very talented and good writer!
A well written and interesting story. Good plot and character development. It kept you reading until the end! A very talented and good writer!
May 25, 2024
Awesome book! I recommend it to everyone! I love outer space, spaceships, and planets!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews