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Starship Omega #1
The Forever Ship
Only Omega can free humanity.
When the Ornu came, they took Earth in a single night. Humanity never stood a chance. Now, they force us to crew their ships and fight their wars for them. They hold Earth hostage, and if we refuse to do their bidding, they’ll lay waste to our precious blue marble. Slaughtering the billions who live there.
But when Captain Bill Henderson is sent to claim a small moon for his masters, he finds something they never accounted for. An ancient warship – a behemoth abandoned for millennia by a species that reached its peak at the dawn of the universe.
Could this ship of ages be exactly what humanity needs to cast off the shackles of their oppressors? Find out in Book 1 of Starship Omega, an engrossing new military science fiction saga from bestselling authors Scott Bartlett and Joshua James.
When the Ornu came, they took Earth in a single night. Humanity never stood a chance. Now, they force us to crew their ships and fight their wars for them. They hold Earth hostage, and if we refuse to do their bidding, they’ll lay waste to our precious blue marble. Slaughtering the billions who live there.
But when Captain Bill Henderson is sent to claim a small moon for his masters, he finds something they never accounted for. An ancient warship – a behemoth abandoned for millennia by a species that reached its peak at the dawn of the universe.
Could this ship of ages be exactly what humanity needs to cast off the shackles of their oppressors? Find out in Book 1 of Starship Omega, an engrossing new military science fiction saga from bestselling authors Scott Bartlett and Joshua James.
478 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2024
2459 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Scott Bartlett
115 books303 followersScott Bartlett writes his books from inside a mech, which is inside the hangar bay of a light armored cruiser stationed just past Jupiter.
Certain parts of the last sentence may not be completely true.
Here are some more believable statements:
Scott was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland – the easternmost province of Canada.
During his decade-long journey to become a full-time author, he supported himself by working an assortment of jobs…
...salmon hatchery technician, grocery clerk, youth care worker, ghostwriter, research assistant, pita maker, and freelance editor.
In 2014, he succeeded in becoming a full-time novelist, and he’s been writing science fiction at light speed ever since.
Get 3 FREE military space opera ebooks:
https://www.scottplots.com
Certain parts of the last sentence may not be completely true.
Here are some more believable statements:
Scott was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland – the easternmost province of Canada.
During his decade-long journey to become a full-time author, he supported himself by working an assortment of jobs…
...salmon hatchery technician, grocery clerk, youth care worker, ghostwriter, research assistant, pita maker, and freelance editor.
In 2014, he succeeded in becoming a full-time novelist, and he’s been writing science fiction at light speed ever since.
Get 3 FREE military space opera ebooks:
https://www.scottplots.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
June 10, 2024
A path of growth and self-knowledge.
A unique, original and suspenseful plot with an engrossing story that keeps moving and the exposition and dialogue are balanced together to keep interest and to keep you feeling engaged. Intense character dynamics, they felt like real people and by the end of the book I found myself very invested in what their fates would be. I was constantly on a roller coaster of emotions, raw and deep, with unexpected revelations, intriguing backstories, a raw, riveting and compelling conflict resolution.
-There were some amazing plot twists and unexpected friendships formed in this book that I loved.
It was so much fun to read, and when I had finished the book, I wished I already had Eternity’s Battleship #2 to continue on to another adventure.
I highly recommend this 5/5* new series co-written by titans Joshua James and Scott Bartlett.
A unique, original and suspenseful plot with an engrossing story that keeps moving and the exposition and dialogue are balanced together to keep interest and to keep you feeling engaged. Intense character dynamics, they felt like real people and by the end of the book I found myself very invested in what their fates would be. I was constantly on a roller coaster of emotions, raw and deep, with unexpected revelations, intriguing backstories, a raw, riveting and compelling conflict resolution.
-There were some amazing plot twists and unexpected friendships formed in this book that I loved.
It was so much fun to read, and when I had finished the book, I wished I already had Eternity’s Battleship #2 to continue on to another adventure.
I highly recommend this 5/5* new series co-written by titans Joshua James and Scott Bartlett.
June 1, 2024
A New Universe
I find that this book is new and fascinating. To be shown something this interesting. At parts you think you know what is going to happen, but a twist pops up.
To think about how some writers can imagine and write a book like this, simply amazing.
I hope the next book comes out soon!!!
I find that this book is new and fascinating. To be shown something this interesting. At parts you think you know what is going to happen, but a twist pops up.
To think about how some writers can imagine and write a book like this, simply amazing.
I hope the next book comes out soon!!!
June 18, 2024
The Forever Ship (Starship Omega Book 1)
What a trip! As a fan of 'good' space adventure, science fiction. I have been excited to finally get to read "The Forever Ship!" It's inception - do I dare say, it's conception - started a while back. Many fans of Scott Bartlett and Joshua James have been waiting 'expectantly' for this final version to drop. (OK, no more birthing references) In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. There are so many things in this book to like. Add to the great writing the audio performance by one of the best, Mark Boyett, and you are in for one outstanding adventure. I can not wait to read the follow-up book, Eternity's Battleship (Starship Omega Book 2). -Mr.Bill
What a trip! As a fan of 'good' space adventure, science fiction. I have been excited to finally get to read "The Forever Ship!" It's inception - do I dare say, it's conception - started a while back. Many fans of Scott Bartlett and Joshua James have been waiting 'expectantly' for this final version to drop. (OK, no more birthing references) In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. There are so many things in this book to like. Add to the great writing the audio performance by one of the best, Mark Boyett, and you are in for one outstanding adventure. I can not wait to read the follow-up book, Eternity's Battleship (Starship Omega Book 2). -Mr.Bill
May 23, 2024
"The Forever Ship" by Scott Bartlett and Joshua James is an absolute gem in the world of military science fiction. From the very first page, this book grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. The authors have masterfully created a gripping narrative that weaves together elements of adventure, suspense, and profound human resilience.
The story begins with a chilling premise: humanity, under the brutal control of the alien Ornu, is forced to fight wars on behalf of their oppressors. The fate of Earth hangs in the balance, with the Ornu threatening to annihilate our home planet if we don't comply. Captain Bill Henderson, a compelling and relatable protagonist, finds himself in the midst of this dire situation. His mission to claim a small moon for the Ornu takes an unexpected turn when he discovers an ancient warship, Omega, abandoned for millennia.
This ship, with its advanced technology and enigmatic AI, represents a glimmer of hope for humanity. The authors expertly build tension and excitement as Henderson and his crew uncover the ship's secrets and begin to see a path to freedom. The character development is superb, and you can't help but root for Henderson and his ragtag team as they take on the seemingly invincible Ornu.
The pacing of is perfect, with each chapter ending on a note that makes it impossible to put the book down. The descriptions of space battles are vivid and thrilling, making you feel as if you're right there in the cockpit with Henderson. The authors' ability to blend high-stakes action with moments of introspection and emotion is truly commendable.
What sets this book apart is its underlying message of hope and resilience. Despite the overwhelming odds, the human spirit's indomitable will to fight for freedom shines through. It's a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a way to resist and reclaim our destiny.
"The Forever Ship " is a must-read for any fan of space opera and military sci-fi. Bartlett and James have crafted a story that not only entertains but also inspires. I eagerly await the next installment in this series, confident that it will continue to deliver the same pulse-pounding excitement and thoughtful storytelling. Don't miss out on this phenomenal start to what promises to be an epic saga!
The story begins with a chilling premise: humanity, under the brutal control of the alien Ornu, is forced to fight wars on behalf of their oppressors. The fate of Earth hangs in the balance, with the Ornu threatening to annihilate our home planet if we don't comply. Captain Bill Henderson, a compelling and relatable protagonist, finds himself in the midst of this dire situation. His mission to claim a small moon for the Ornu takes an unexpected turn when he discovers an ancient warship, Omega, abandoned for millennia.
This ship, with its advanced technology and enigmatic AI, represents a glimmer of hope for humanity. The authors expertly build tension and excitement as Henderson and his crew uncover the ship's secrets and begin to see a path to freedom. The character development is superb, and you can't help but root for Henderson and his ragtag team as they take on the seemingly invincible Ornu.
The pacing of is perfect, with each chapter ending on a note that makes it impossible to put the book down. The descriptions of space battles are vivid and thrilling, making you feel as if you're right there in the cockpit with Henderson. The authors' ability to blend high-stakes action with moments of introspection and emotion is truly commendable.
What sets this book apart is its underlying message of hope and resilience. Despite the overwhelming odds, the human spirit's indomitable will to fight for freedom shines through. It's a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a way to resist and reclaim our destiny.
"The Forever Ship " is a must-read for any fan of space opera and military sci-fi. Bartlett and James have crafted a story that not only entertains but also inspires. I eagerly await the next installment in this series, confident that it will continue to deliver the same pulse-pounding excitement and thoughtful storytelling. Don't miss out on this phenomenal start to what promises to be an epic saga!
June 17, 2024
Disappointed
The storyline starts well, blending real science with future “deus ex machina” technology. Good character development and a multilayered plot serve to move the story forward but somewhere along the way these authors seem to have discarded the readers and slowly begin to kill off some of the primary characters and many collateral characters. The storyline morphs from one with hope for the future to one with only different options for death and destruction. By the end of this book, I wanted nothing more to do with this series or these authors.
The storyline starts well, blending real science with future “deus ex machina” technology. Good character development and a multilayered plot serve to move the story forward but somewhere along the way these authors seem to have discarded the readers and slowly begin to kill off some of the primary characters and many collateral characters. The storyline morphs from one with hope for the future to one with only different options for death and destruction. By the end of this book, I wanted nothing more to do with this series or these authors.
May 24, 2024
I really wanted to love this book, but....
It's so bloody boring.
I forced myself to read a quarter of it and it felt like I was slogging uphill....in the rain.....in the wind.
There's no chemistry to draw you into the book.
It's so bloody boring.
I forced myself to read a quarter of it and it felt like I was slogging uphill....in the rain.....in the wind.
There's no chemistry to draw you into the book.
May 30, 2024
Annoyingly frustrating in the first half, painfully slow in the second half.
August 27, 2024
All the aliens are just humans in terms of society and personality.
DNF at 50%
DNF at 50%
August 2, 2024
Show no tell. This is something the authors need to relearn. By the end of the book I was sick of the character saying what they feel instead of the authors showing it trough their actions. And even when they manage to show, they still spell it out, almost as if they believe the reader is too dumb to understand.
One example early on, is one character pondering about her loyalty to her friend and captain, when he is making decisions she thinks is morally wrong. She literally says, and I quote
Like, you don't need to that. I felt offended the authors thought so little about the readers that they wouldn't understand her inner conflict without explicitly stating it.
And this happens all the time, character are always "I feel awful for having to do this." "How can I sleep in peace while people are suffering", "I'm so angry at John Doe".
_______________
The story is so so. Extremely slow paced, and full of unnecessary twists and turns. If the book was half as long, it would be at least 4 times better.
Characters had almost no personality. The captain Bill, one of the main characters, does almost nothing the whole book. The plot literally have to seek him out and drag him. And the only two things he did, were bad things.
There's several grunts, who all have the same personality. They were all written the same, except for a quirk for each so you could tell them apart, they could be called Marine #X and wouldn't made a difference.
Lastly, there's a scene that made me facepalm too much, because I could see the authors thinking they were so cleaver. Marine #4 is floating in zero G while a battle is happening, she has nothing but her weapon and she needs to turn. What does she do? She throws away one of her magazines to gain momentum, with the basic explanation of Newton's second law. But remember I said she has a gun. She has a gun. She can shoot in the opposite direction to gain momentum. But no... she flings her magazine away.
I can't with this book... seriously. Don't read it. It's not even dumb fun... it's just dumb.
One example early on, is one character pondering about her loyalty to her friend and captain, when he is making decisions she thinks is morally wrong. She literally says, and I quote
If you have to choose between supporting Bill and making the Imperium stronger? Will you choose friendship over morality? Where does your true loyalty lie?
Like, you don't need to that. I felt offended the authors thought so little about the readers that they wouldn't understand her inner conflict without explicitly stating it.
And this happens all the time, character are always "I feel awful for having to do this." "How can I sleep in peace while people are suffering", "I'm so angry at John Doe".
_______________
The story is so so. Extremely slow paced, and full of unnecessary twists and turns. If the book was half as long, it would be at least 4 times better.
Characters had almost no personality. The captain Bill, one of the main characters, does almost nothing the whole book. The plot literally have to seek him out and drag him. And the only two things he did, were bad things.
There's several grunts, who all have the same personality. They were all written the same, except for a quirk for each so you could tell them apart, they could be called Marine #X and wouldn't made a difference.
Lastly, there's a scene that made me facepalm too much, because I could see the authors thinking they were so cleaver. Marine #4 is floating in zero G while a battle is happening, she has nothing but her weapon and she needs to turn. What does she do? She throws away one of her magazines to gain momentum, with the basic explanation of Newton's second law. But remember I said she has a gun. She has a gun. She can shoot in the opposite direction to gain momentum. But no... she flings her magazine away.
I can't with this book... seriously. Don't read it. It's not even dumb fun... it's just dumb.
May 29, 2025
The book had so much potential in the beginning...
This might be a good entry into the sci-fi genre, but anyone who has been here a bit longer, is probably gonna be bored.
This might be a good entry into the sci-fi genre, but anyone who has been here a bit longer, is probably gonna be bored.
May 23, 2024
I am a long-time fan of Scott Bartlett's and I have read most of the books he's written. I am relatively new to Joshua James, but I have now read a few of his books as well. These two together? Just think about Reese's cups. Peanut butter and chocolate may be good on their own, but when you put them together? Divine.
I was an early backer of the Kickstarter, so I had read about 20 chapters of the Forever Ship already, but wow, wow, wow, did this thing just pop. Bartlett and James together are much better than the sum of their parts.
I really liked the POV perspective changing for each chapter. It's easy to start hating the Ornu early on, and everyone knows that desperate times call for desperate actions. In this case, stumbling on ancient tech and an ancient immense battleship? You can't get better than this.
It all starts quietly, with an odd signal in Primeval. Captain Bill Henderson and XO Bina Chakravarti discover the signal, stave off the Ornu killing them, and then have the audacity to capture a dreadnaut!
And the action only goes up from there!
They say that history repeats itself, and in the case of Captain Bill and Bina, Al Stone the Marine Captain and his detachment, and those who are tired of being vassals for overbearing and oppressive alien snakes, who as far as I can tell have NO advantage but technology and firepower... I couldn't stop turning the pages.
This collaboration between Bartlett and James has wonderful worldbuilding and characters, fabulous story arcs, and edge-of-your-seat action. I stayed up reading way too late more than once. The chapters are pretty short, so it's easy to keep reading to see what will happen next. And you're going to want to.
I can't wait for the following books in the series to come out. This is a 100% must-read.
I was an early backer of the Kickstarter, so I had read about 20 chapters of the Forever Ship already, but wow, wow, wow, did this thing just pop. Bartlett and James together are much better than the sum of their parts.
I really liked the POV perspective changing for each chapter. It's easy to start hating the Ornu early on, and everyone knows that desperate times call for desperate actions. In this case, stumbling on ancient tech and an ancient immense battleship? You can't get better than this.
It all starts quietly, with an odd signal in Primeval. Captain Bill Henderson and XO Bina Chakravarti discover the signal, stave off the Ornu killing them, and then have the audacity to capture a dreadnaut!
And the action only goes up from there!
They say that history repeats itself, and in the case of Captain Bill and Bina, Al Stone the Marine Captain and his detachment, and those who are tired of being vassals for overbearing and oppressive alien snakes, who as far as I can tell have NO advantage but technology and firepower... I couldn't stop turning the pages.
This collaboration between Bartlett and James has wonderful worldbuilding and characters, fabulous story arcs, and edge-of-your-seat action. I stayed up reading way too late more than once. The chapters are pretty short, so it's easy to keep reading to see what will happen next. And you're going to want to.
I can't wait for the following books in the series to come out. This is a 100% must-read.
December 27, 2024
I gave this 2 stars but it's really 2.5.
The series has humanity under alien oppression and then they find hyper advanced star ship that let's them throw off localized oppression and take the fight to the aliens.
At some point despite almost magical science powers in the first book the characters will have to abandon earth and most of humanity to save a few hundred thousand. The AI for all its God like power seems sketchy on why it can't save earth. Mostly it's reasons bpil down to some tough love lesson it's teaching the characters. They didn't ask it for help...even though it dies occasionally hint and act without prompt.
The sheer logistical nightmare of the evacuation takes up inlu a few pages....which is fair...military science fiction authors lack the competence to do that type of story telling. Still there's a whole issue of genetic diversity that is never discussed when only a tiny fraction of humanity is expected to survive into the future.
Expect a lot of inbreeding issues.
But really...in the end theseries is inept. The obvious answer would be to carpet bomb the alien Overloard Imperial capital (because military science fiction writers love empires) which would break the overlordship and free all of earth. But the AI winter let then... however it will not act when the aliens commit an act of genocide...even though it's been acting independently right up to that point and it seems to have no problem with the concept of genocide. Why? It's teaching a life lesson to a specific character and the deaths of millions of non humans does not seem to he an issue.
It's a mess.
The magical science of the spaceship is uneven and the motivations of the AI that runs it are silly. I makes inconsistent choices about working with the characters that infers knowledge of human psychology and the characters lives even though an ancient race created it oblivious of humans, and yet seems to react capricious to the character's actions
It's supposed to come from a hyper advanced culture, but chooses to fight within the limited technology of the existing civilizations. It has a disdain for the alien over lords thst makes no sense and will arbitrarily lose independent volition to aid those in distress.
I would not be surprised to learn this work was reviewed by a writer's group epidosically......that would explain it's uneven writing.
It was an interesting concept that was executed in competently. This needed at least 3 more drafts.
.
The series has humanity under alien oppression and then they find hyper advanced star ship that let's them throw off localized oppression and take the fight to the aliens.
At some point despite almost magical science powers in the first book the characters will have to abandon earth and most of humanity to save a few hundred thousand. The AI for all its God like power seems sketchy on why it can't save earth. Mostly it's reasons bpil down to some tough love lesson it's teaching the characters. They didn't ask it for help...even though it dies occasionally hint and act without prompt.
The sheer logistical nightmare of the evacuation takes up inlu a few pages....which is fair...military science fiction authors lack the competence to do that type of story telling. Still there's a whole issue of genetic diversity that is never discussed when only a tiny fraction of humanity is expected to survive into the future.
Expect a lot of inbreeding issues.
But really...in the end theseries is inept. The obvious answer would be to carpet bomb the alien Overloard Imperial capital (because military science fiction writers love empires) which would break the overlordship and free all of earth. But the AI winter let then... however it will not act when the aliens commit an act of genocide...even though it's been acting independently right up to that point and it seems to have no problem with the concept of genocide. Why? It's teaching a life lesson to a specific character and the deaths of millions of non humans does not seem to he an issue.
It's a mess.
The magical science of the spaceship is uneven and the motivations of the AI that runs it are silly. I makes inconsistent choices about working with the characters that infers knowledge of human psychology and the characters lives even though an ancient race created it oblivious of humans, and yet seems to react capricious to the character's actions
It's supposed to come from a hyper advanced culture, but chooses to fight within the limited technology of the existing civilizations. It has a disdain for the alien over lords thst makes no sense and will arbitrarily lose independent volition to aid those in distress.
I would not be surprised to learn this work was reviewed by a writer's group epidosically......that would explain it's uneven writing.
It was an interesting concept that was executed in competently. This needed at least 3 more drafts.
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2025
Day in the life
The book does not have an ending. There are also a number of things not done, e.g., why wasn't Val asked if he could fix the Kettering whatever? What was Val anyway? He sure was a stick-in-the-mud snot. If he were the authors' idea of a moral conscience, I see him failing by not acknowledging certain moral dilemmas. With most of these space battle stories, the idea of logistics is never addressed. In this book we at least get a little lip service as we acknowledge that food is in short supply, but then we load a bunch of refugees, we acknowledge the weapons are finite, but fire 50 missiles at a time. What the heck? The story moves along with good character development of captain Bill, Al & Biria, but the rest not so good. They are all survivors of the defeat of earth, and are now slave labor on a space ship under the supervision of their conquerors who control by the threat of exploding a device implanted in their chest. They all dream of freedom, but know that rebellion would result in their death. That is, until they're sent on an exercise to board a gigantic derelict left behind by an ancient race called primevals. It turns out to be sentient, and it decides to side with the humans supporting their wish to be free. So then things get interesting as we follow the various problems the humans get into along with their frustratingly incomplete solutions.
The book does not have an ending. There are also a number of things not done, e.g., why wasn't Val asked if he could fix the Kettering whatever? What was Val anyway? He sure was a stick-in-the-mud snot. If he were the authors' idea of a moral conscience, I see him failing by not acknowledging certain moral dilemmas. With most of these space battle stories, the idea of logistics is never addressed. In this book we at least get a little lip service as we acknowledge that food is in short supply, but then we load a bunch of refugees, we acknowledge the weapons are finite, but fire 50 missiles at a time. What the heck? The story moves along with good character development of captain Bill, Al & Biria, but the rest not so good. They are all survivors of the defeat of earth, and are now slave labor on a space ship under the supervision of their conquerors who control by the threat of exploding a device implanted in their chest. They all dream of freedom, but know that rebellion would result in their death. That is, until they're sent on an exercise to board a gigantic derelict left behind by an ancient race called primevals. It turns out to be sentient, and it decides to side with the humans supporting their wish to be free. So then things get interesting as we follow the various problems the humans get into along with their frustratingly incomplete solutions.
May 23, 2024
Forever Ship is the first book in the Starship Omega series. It is obvious from page one that this book encompasses a vast time frame in an enormous universe. Fortunately this series is written by two of the best indie military sci-fi authors IMHO. The book like most books switches from one individual’s perspective to another. But this is done in a manner that is very smooth even though at times it’s between humans and aliens of many shapes and sizes. Communication difficulties drive a brutal occupation of the galaxy in a hierarchy driven on fear by push buttons. The aliens like the well designed characters they are not only reflect their birthplace but also by their limitations. Anyway if you like odd aliens this book has some great ones.
Lest you think this is anything less than powerfully written science fiction, fear not it’s the real thing. The space battles are full of edge of your seat “hurry up” and “wait” moments of battle in the great void. The starships both demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of spaceships in battles that require movements across vast distances to deliver unerring explosions.
I found this book fascinating and difficult to put down. I recommend this book to military science fiction fans of all stripes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lest you think this is anything less than powerfully written science fiction, fear not it’s the real thing. The space battles are full of edge of your seat “hurry up” and “wait” moments of battle in the great void. The starships both demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of spaceships in battles that require movements across vast distances to deliver unerring explosions.
I found this book fascinating and difficult to put down. I recommend this book to military science fiction fans of all stripes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 28, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
2.50 / 2.25* -- For books 1 and 2.
What lost it points with me.
[1] Told via multiple POVs. ---- I don't mind lots of characters, but more than 4 POVs gets annoying for me.
I will give huge thanks though for tagging who is 'talking' under each chapter title.
[2] Character actions didn't make sense to me. ---- I had book 2, so decided to see if that was better and for me it got worse.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: I've some firsts of some of their other series so I will try those sometime.
Would you recommend?: Probably not.
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
2.50 / 2.25* -- For books 1 and 2.
What lost it points with me.
[1] Told via multiple POVs. ---- I don't mind lots of characters, but more than 4 POVs gets annoying for me.
I will give huge thanks though for tagging who is 'talking' under each chapter title.
[2] Character actions didn't make sense to me. ---- I had book 2, so decided to see if that was better and for me it got worse.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: I've some firsts of some of their other series so I will try those sometime.
Would you recommend?: Probably not.
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
May 25, 2024
Sit back in your chair and be prepared to be in awe of this collaborative work of Scott Bartlett and Joshua James. The Earth we all know and love is long since gone to a species that have no respect for Earth's inhabitants and have made them their vassals. And to add insult to injury, all humans have a chip in their chest that can be detonated for any perceived misdeed. Captain William (Bill) Henderson had been reconditioned as a youth, but he manages to keep his true thoughts to himself until the time is right. To break free from the Ornu for the inhabitants of the Tennyson is one thing. All of humanity is another. Read on with bated breath as the captain and his crew discovour Omega, deal with an AI - or whatever it is - and oh so many more firsts for this crew. I am so glad I got to read this book and learn about what "could" happen to humanity if we ever get invaded. Thank you guys for a great read.
June 1, 2024
I am lucky enough to have read an advance copy of THE FOREVER SHIP by investing in the Kickstarter project.
That being said, Scott Bartlett and Joshua James are aces at the top of their game. They seamlessly wrote the novel, and it's darn good.
The Ornu attacked Earth, and in one night, humanity became the Ornu's slaves. Captain Bill Henderson has been ordered to obtain a small moon for the 'Masters'. Much to the surprise of the Captain, the crew found a ship that had been abandoned, by the looks of it, a millennia. To say it was huge was an understatement. As captain and crew try to explore the ship they hit roadblock after roadblock.
The Forever Ship will entrance you from the beginning, leaving you wanting book 2 of the Starship Omega series to hit the bookshelf. Scott Bartlett and Joshua James have a winner in this series.
That being said, Scott Bartlett and Joshua James are aces at the top of their game. They seamlessly wrote the novel, and it's darn good.
The Ornu attacked Earth, and in one night, humanity became the Ornu's slaves. Captain Bill Henderson has been ordered to obtain a small moon for the 'Masters'. Much to the surprise of the Captain, the crew found a ship that had been abandoned, by the looks of it, a millennia. To say it was huge was an understatement. As captain and crew try to explore the ship they hit roadblock after roadblock.
The Forever Ship will entrance you from the beginning, leaving you wanting book 2 of the Starship Omega series to hit the bookshelf. Scott Bartlett and Joshua James have a winner in this series.
June 20, 2025
The Forever Ship by Scott Bartlett opens with a bleak but gripping vision of humanity’s fall—enslaved as intergalactic soldiers under alien conquerors. Against this grim backdrop, the discovery of an ancient ship sparks a flicker of hope and the possibility of rebellion.
Bartlett delivers military sci-fi at its finest, combining intense action, strategic battles, and richly imagined worldbuilding. The story balances relentless tension with moments of humanity and hope, making it a must-read for fans of high-stakes space warfare and epic resistance tales.
If you love your sci-fi packed with gritty combat, deep loyalty, and the fight for freedom, The Forever Ship is a thrilling journey you won’t want to miss.
Bartlett delivers military sci-fi at its finest, combining intense action, strategic battles, and richly imagined worldbuilding. The story balances relentless tension with moments of humanity and hope, making it a must-read for fans of high-stakes space warfare and epic resistance tales.
If you love your sci-fi packed with gritty combat, deep loyalty, and the fight for freedom, The Forever Ship is a thrilling journey you won’t want to miss.
May 8, 2024
The Ornu came and enslaved the whole human race rather quickly.
The nightmare subsequently unleashed was terrible, as Captain Bill Henderson can attest to. However, a stray communication from an unknown source eventually led to a discovery of an old but very advanced technological alien ship run by an AI.
And the nightmare switched over and became one the Ornu started experiencing.
Yay!
Authors Scott Bartlett and Joshua James crafted a humdinger of a military SciFi adventure with The Forever ship that will raise your pulse and quicken your breathing every few minutes. This is one book not to miss out on, as would the whole series considering this book already.
Enjoy!!!
The nightmare subsequently unleashed was terrible, as Captain Bill Henderson can attest to. However, a stray communication from an unknown source eventually led to a discovery of an old but very advanced technological alien ship run by an AI.
And the nightmare switched over and became one the Ornu started experiencing.
Yay!
Authors Scott Bartlett and Joshua James crafted a humdinger of a military SciFi adventure with The Forever ship that will raise your pulse and quicken your breathing every few minutes. This is one book not to miss out on, as would the whole series considering this book already.
Enjoy!!!
May 22, 2024
An excellent first book in a new sci-fi series which already shows huge potential. The Ornu have defeated and enslaved humanity as they do to all species the conquer, but, in the course of their enslaved duties, Captain Henderson and his crew come across Starship Omega, an ancient, huge spaceship abandoned by the advanced race who built it. It finally provides the capacity to enable Henderson and crew to fight back which they do, albeit at a cost. The characters are very well described and the action is gripping throughout. It is going to be a fascinating ride to see where this story goes from here.
May 30, 2024
excellent story and world building, but why get us readers invested in characters that you kill off?
Excellent story, great world, building, and character development. The only issue I have with this author is that he writes characters builds them up and then he smokes them. Why write characters that you as an author are gonna kill off, you get us readers invested in them and then they’re gone, that’s why I’ve stopped reading your books. I understand you wanna write your books the way you do, but don’t get us invested in red shirts. as a reader, if you don’t mind getting to know a character, and then having them killed, you will probably enjoy the series, I do not.
Excellent story, great world, building, and character development. The only issue I have with this author is that he writes characters builds them up and then he smokes them. Why write characters that you as an author are gonna kill off, you get us readers invested in them and then they’re gone, that’s why I’ve stopped reading your books. I understand you wanna write your books the way you do, but don’t get us invested in red shirts. as a reader, if you don’t mind getting to know a character, and then having them killed, you will probably enjoy the series, I do not.
July 10, 2024
I really wanted to love the book and rate it higher, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The premise is great and the first 80-90% of the book is enjoyable, but the last 10-20% lost me. I could get past the somewhat dull main characters, but the authors seem to try too hard to impose some moral dilemmas into the end of the story, and the inner turmoil the main characters face because of it just seems ridiculous. All in all, an ok book, but I'm not itching to read the next ones in the series like i usually am (and I found I didn't care at all about the prequel story with some of the main characters origins).
August 10, 2024
An excellent and intriguing start!
I can’t say enough good things about this first book!
The human characters are very human; complicated, flawed, scared by many horrible decisions, both their own, and their oppressors.
The alien species are just that; alien. Some have things in common with the humans, some are so different they can have no common ground.
I am off to read the next book in the series.
A thorough review would take far too long to write, and I have lots more reading to do!
If you enjoy character driven space opera that is extremely well written and thought out…just read this book. I bet you’ll be just as hooked as I am!
I can’t say enough good things about this first book!
The human characters are very human; complicated, flawed, scared by many horrible decisions, both their own, and their oppressors.
The alien species are just that; alien. Some have things in common with the humans, some are so different they can have no common ground.
I am off to read the next book in the series.
A thorough review would take far too long to write, and I have lots more reading to do!
If you enjoy character driven space opera that is extremely well written and thought out…just read this book. I bet you’ll be just as hooked as I am!
June 1, 2025
Not impressed and I had a hard time finishing it. There are tons of physical battle details that resemble a choreographic description without any contribution to the plot or the characters. Emphasized battle strategic are lame and the most powerful ship in the universe is an AI that operate on prompts.
Chapters are titled by characters, but their perspective add nothing to the plot, since there are several characters in each scene and there’s nothing to distinguish one person POV from the other.
There is no fun factor that grasp the reader and as a serious novel it feels shallow.
This could have been a nice short story.
Chapters are titled by characters, but their perspective add nothing to the plot, since there are several characters in each scene and there’s nothing to distinguish one person POV from the other.
There is no fun factor that grasp the reader and as a serious novel it feels shallow.
This could have been a nice short story.
May 23, 2024
Scott Bartlett and Joshua James shine?
I contributed to the Kickstarter for this book and received an advanced copy. I couldn't wait for the Audible version to come out and it's finally here. These authors did a great job laying the ground work for this new series and it's just as promising as some of Scott's earlier series. Expect some great action and on-, depth character building. No spoilers here but I love the way Mark Boyett brings this story to life. I love the monikers for the crew. Now I get to read and listen at the same time!
I contributed to the Kickstarter for this book and received an advanced copy. I couldn't wait for the Audible version to come out and it's finally here. These authors did a great job laying the ground work for this new series and it's just as promising as some of Scott's earlier series. Expect some great action and on-, depth character building. No spoilers here but I love the way Mark Boyett brings this story to life. I love the monikers for the crew. Now I get to read and listen at the same time!
June 15, 2024
A decently written SciFi story. All of the beats are familiar. The characters also seem taken from other books. Nothing made it stand out.
Every character seemed very concerned about their feelings and reputation – rather than being focused on a goal... like saving humanity from slavery. I see this trend a lot these days. This homogeneous self-absorbed psychology rubs me the wrong way. It wasn't over the top here, but still...
Every character seemed very concerned about their feelings and reputation – rather than being focused on a goal... like saving humanity from slavery. I see this trend a lot these days. This homogeneous self-absorbed psychology rubs me the wrong way. It wasn't over the top here, but still...
November 25, 2024
‘The Forver Ship,’ a chance for Humanity!
Captain Bill Henderson set’s himanity free but in so doing makes a all to human mistake. Will Omega forgive him? Only time will tell. This is an epic saga about what may happen when Earth dies but humanity survives. The question becomes - Can they? An excellent Sci-Fi adventure, it’s sutible for all ages who enjoy great sci-fi reading!
Captain Bill Henderson set’s himanity free but in so doing makes a all to human mistake. Will Omega forgive him? Only time will tell. This is an epic saga about what may happen when Earth dies but humanity survives. The question becomes - Can they? An excellent Sci-Fi adventure, it’s sutible for all ages who enjoy great sci-fi reading!
October 8, 2025
Well, I really liked the premise, but when we descended into the "nicknamed" marine POV chapters I had to abandon the book as it was unreadable.
Prior to that, I was getting frustrated at the idea of the interoperability of multiple alien species basically being anthropomorphic, depsite the writers best attempts to create a sense of alieness. Snake like Aliens who have Uncles? Seriously.
Slop, pure and simple, avoid!
Prior to that, I was getting frustrated at the idea of the interoperability of multiple alien species basically being anthropomorphic, depsite the writers best attempts to create a sense of alieness. Snake like Aliens who have Uncles? Seriously.
Slop, pure and simple, avoid!
June 11, 2024
Meandering Plot, Poor Suplots
There wasn't a character that I liked, a character that I could embrace. And some really incompetent officers, who were both MC' and major subplots. They didn't have the sills to be effective.... They wouldn't have been able to command a cohort or a modern rifle company.
There wasn't a character that I liked, a character that I could embrace. And some really incompetent officers, who were both MC' and major subplots. They didn't have the sills to be effective.... They wouldn't have been able to command a cohort or a modern rifle company.
June 11, 2024
You know, that AI is really full of itself for a glorified abacus. Why doesn't it do everything itself? Why does it need a human controller? It's almost like it needs an independent, living person to make the decisions that have consequences. Really hope the next book picks up the pace and stops making the AI a bunch of moody self-satisfied pricks.
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