The Hyperlight Project

by J.A. Mortimore

Improved fuels and technologies should help the Fleet return home faster – so why would someone want Ashwood’s new project to fail?

Zetta defied her mother’s plans for her in order to complete her contract as the Atria’s personnel manager. But when she’s asked to help identify a saboteur, she finds her choices, her friendships and even her courage challenged in ways she’d never imagined.

Kelan’s love of flying is unrealised on his family’s merchant ship. But when he applies to join the fleet’s hyperlight project, his whole life is turned upside down. He knew it would be dangerous – he didn’t expect to find both his life and his heart at risk.

The discoveries Kelan makes could change everything – but only if the saboteur can be unmasked in time.

The next flight of the Wildcat could be its pilot’s last.

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2024

About the author

Judith Mortimore is legendary, but isn't admitting what for. She started writing fiction at a young age and has never stopped. She has run UK fan clubs for Star Trek and the A-Team and written in a number of fandoms, predominantly pre-internet. Now retired, she lives in Gloucestershire with two friends, four cats and far too many books. She writes space opera with heart,but is an expert procrastinator so watch this space ...

Reviews

[Ben Jeapes · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a slight sense of the calm before the storm here. It's book 5 of a 6-book series, as the fleet of survivors of an alien attack makes its way through uncharted space back home, and the clues have been piling up that something major will happen. Our heroes are testing a new technology that could drastically speed up the journey, and opposition continues to arise from unexpected corners. What exactly is the agenda of these enemies; why would anyone not want to get home quicker? I look forward to finding out ...

I will say that the life-or-death situation one of the characters finds himself in did not feel quite as gripping as in previous books; maybe it's because we only meet him on page 1 in the volume rather than develop an acquaintance over the previous titles. But he is a well-drawn character and the obligatory happy romance is intentionally one of the funniest in the series, to make up for it.

And lastly, cudos to the author for making one of the leads ... the ship's HR manager. There is a space for everyone!

The series and the fleet are well on track towards an exciting denouement. (Though, why is there a picture of a SpaceX Dragon capsule on the cover?)