Talman Prime

by J.J. Green

Three ships

One fleet

Many destinies

Setia Zees fled Earth to escape the clutches of a tyrannical master, becoming one of humanity’s first deep space colonists.

Her destination, Talman Prime, should be a pristine planet, never inhabited by intelligent life. That’s how it looks at first, but then Setia stumbles across what seem to be the remains of an ancient civilization.

The other colonists don’t agree. They think she’s crazy.

Can she convince them? Does it really matter?

When she discovers the aliens may still exist, it does.

Talman Prime is book one in the space mythic adventure, Interstellar Fleet.

Genres: Science Fiction

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2024

About the author

J.J. Green is a British-Australian science fiction author with a lifelong love of distant landscapes, intriguing cultures and fascinating places. She was born within the sound of the bells of Mary-le-Bow church in Cheapside, London, making her a bona fide Cockney, and she lived in Australia, Laos and Taiwan before returning to the UK to settle down in Cambridge.

Green’s novels weave science-based speculation with richly personal stories. Her works explore themes of environmental degradation, political conflict, mythical resonance, human resilience, and the ethics of technology and expansion. Her characters—often strong women—navigate future worlds grounded in both scientific plausibility and mythic imagination.

Sign up to J.J. Green's reader group at jjgreenauthor.com

Reviews

[Adam Collings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of moral complexity. It explores the conflicts that can come out of first contact, misunderstandings and bad responses. It's a story that forces its protagonist to make hard choices about her loyalties. Whose side should she take? I am reminded of similar stories often seen in classic Star Trek where the characters take a moral stand against something that is wrong. The book also had some great sci-fi world-building. A great read if you like space exploration.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the stars

J.J. Green has done an excellent job of world and character building with this book. I am looking foward to reading book two !

[Gail Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author.

I have read and enjoyed many of her books before and can safely say that this is a really good beginning to a new series.

Setia Zees and Carys Ellis are characters from the Star Legend series which is well worth a read, although not necessary to enjoy Talman Prime.

Settia and Carys along with two thousand other humans are trying, for whatever their own reasons, to leave Earth. Their aim is to settle on Talman Prime, an uninhabited world some distance away.

Due to the cost of such a journey, the passengers are from the wealthy, upper class who are used to an easy life but life never turns out as we planned.

The character, landscape and spaceship descriptions are very clear. I do think that if the passengers had been able to read the book, they would not have ventured forth, however this is their story.

I can’t wait for the next book, Steadfast Star.

[Joseph Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first human colonization of the stars is underway. Like the luxury space travel market offered today by our world's billionaires, there are (relatively) few spaces available, and the rich are the ones with a chance to explore.
But all is not as it seems for the three ships seeking to plan a flag for humanity on a distant planet. Other powers are at work, which have the potential to upend everything that humans knew and understood.
Setia Zees has joined the colony project to get away from a tyrannical life on earth. What she did not bargain for is aliens and ancient civilizations.
She's a strong female lead, surrounded by well developed characters. Good worldbuilding, and provokes many questions about who and what we are.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series - and it deserves 6 stars! The first chapter raised some questions (who is this? what will happen to...?), the second got everything rolling with a surprise, and by the third chapter I was oblivious to anything but the book. Puzzles, mysteries, surprises, lots of suspense - all for your special delection and sore fingers from turning pages (paper or virtual). And a terrific ending which leads into the next book (which can't come soon enough!). Readers of the earlier books will find some familiar things, but new readers to this universe will have no problem diving in - and getting lost in the story. Don't miss it! - I received a review copy and freely leave this honest review.

[Alex Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a ripsnorter of a journey through a bundle of high tension challenges and hard to make decisions. Green has good ideas and some really interesting concepts and traits / abilities for the characters (human and alien) to exhibit.
Characters develop very quickly and the four main protagonists go from outright antagonism and conflict to becoming friends and solving challenges together.

All in all, maybe I got into it more easily due to having previously read the Star Legend series, a few characters definitely benefitted from being familiar and knowing them probably helped me access the story and get into them faster.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts as a somewhat conventional story but soon sheds that and becomes something different. Like her other stories (say Shadows of the Void) the story revolves around a strong female In fact, the bulk of developed characters are female here. As usual JJ Green develops her characters with care.

Without any spoilers this story has aliens, evil people, good people, action, spaceships, alien planets, and some interesting technology.

This is the lead book in a new series that might be the best series she has written to date. It does follow another book but you won't have any idea of that if you read this alone.

[Peter Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few J.J. Green's books and I love her writing and characters. However, I felt this first book in a new series took things to a new level. Great characters, tight plot, expansive world building and enticing mystery. The book builds off of another series 'Star Legend', but do not let that put you off it stands absolutely well all by itself. You can leap into it without having read any of the 'Star Legend' series.

The book was impossible to put down and there was just so much to enjoy, think about and speculate on (including as to where this series is going).

I cannot wait for the next in the series.

[Lacey Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A promising start to another exciting science fiction series by J J Green. I have been wanting to start a new series by this author for a few years and I am excited to start with this one, as now I have the excitement of waiting for each new installment. I enjoyed the character development and world building in this first book, as well as the story itself. Deep space colonization, unexpected intelligent life forms. The makings of a good story no matter how it goes. I am excited for the next book with further adventures for Setia, Carys, Mariam, and Beefcake.

[Gary Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Kept me reading all the way through... No scanning. Guess I'll have to order the next in the series to see how the snobbish rich people take to having to actually work to live. I have a feeling that the first attempts to colonize another planet will parallel much of what is described in this book. I'm not a student of history but from what I understand of the settling of North America it was pretty savage. Seems we humans are pretty violent.

[Catherine Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploration of a new planet by interesting characters finding unusual and unexpected conditions. This investigation leads to finding out more about inner values as well as external characteristics. Well written with surprises, no graphic violence nor squishy romance. I look forward to more in this series.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mix of lead female characters - Setia Zees (previously head of security for a cult leader), Carys Ellis (a bird trainer/specialist) and Miriam Belby (marketing expert, unwanted second child). Diverse personalities but able to work together (and separately) for the future of the new colony.

ARC from author

[KATHY BROWN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-Fi, Space Opera, Mystery, Aliens, Suspense, and Battles!
She builds worlds with a fine hand! Once you're into the world, the twists and turns start and if you are not careful you may start spinning like a top. Fantastic new series. It's hard to step away from this book once you get started. Another winner from JJ Green! I'll be starting on book 2 as soon as I can get my hands on it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when humans from Earth travel across the galaxy to settle a new home, but the new world is populated by an intelligent species. Would the new settlers leave the world alone or would they demand to colonise?

[Miss Mairi Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I have not finished the book yet . I would like to tell the author that I bloody love it.
She's written a perfect belter of a sci-fi novel.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a reverse take on ancient alien encounters, but set around a future colonization program.

[Jayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this Star Legend spinoff. It had a good story with a lot of action.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out great. It devolved into a confusing mess. I forced myself to finish the story in hopes that it would stop spiraling around and around. Nope, it kept on spinning. No more for me.

[gloria marquardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

The story was good but I fell in love with the characters. The d dynamics of the major players meshed perfectly.

[Alan Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent opening chapter to a new series ,storyline good characters developing promising start, and I enjoyed it.

[Mike Rempel · Rating 1 out of 5]

nope

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no problem whatsoever with Setia Zees going as a colonist to a world just waiting to be colonised. I suspect mankind will all be keenly interested in such a move as a suitable planets for colonising is rather rare. More so since it does not have much in the way presently in the line of animals or even intelligent life of any kind.
But a planet where everything is colored purple?
That is weird. We on Earth have most things growing in soil being green. But purple? On a planet called Talman Prime?
Author JJ Green no doubt had a a roving mind full of mirth somewhere in the creating business...and still producing an immersive story line full of surprises and action in-between the purple fields of Talman Prime.
That is, untill the uninhabited planet suddenly is not so uninhabited.
Talman Prime is but the first book in a series that already is promising and bound to loads of fun and adventure.
Enjoy.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Kept me interested. A good G rated book that is suited for young adults. I thought it was well written.