Outlaw World: Mission 7

by J.S. Morin

It's all fun and games until someone loses a captain.

Desperate for allies, captain Jessie Ramsey enters negotiations with an independent border colony. The planet has food and basic essentials aplenty; the Arete can offer protection in return. However, talks take a turn for the worse when half the ship's delegation is kidnapped—and the other half doesn't notice.

Who leaked their itinerary to the kidnappers? What will become of the negotiations? Who is even qualified to take over command when all the top officers are either captured or actively involved in the rescue?

Chaos and confusion reign. Except for our victims, who have their kidnappers right where they want them.

Outlaw World is the seventh mission of Black Passage of Time, a science fantasy series set in the late 26th century. What if Futurama jumped 5 years ahead instead of 1000? What if Doc and Marty lost the car keys? What if Bonnie and Clyde were siblings instead of lovers? Passage of Time jolts the Black Ocean universe forward into new adventures and new perils with a new cast of zany misfits trying to outsmart the galaxy just to get by.

Strap in and hold on tight. Passage of Time is the latest series in the Black Ocean universe, and it’s going to be an action-packed, mystery-filled, madcap ride across the galaxy!

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

I am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.

Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.

I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.

My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.

Reviews

[Brett Wickersham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crew of the "Arete" is growing, and with a larger crew come more personalities, and also more interpersonal interactions. Attitudes and ideas clash as crew members settle into new roles and expectations. However all is not perfect as some of the new crew have ulterior motives. Some overt and some covert. This comes to a head as two members of the command crew are kidnapped during a diplomatic negotiation. Which crew members pull together for the rescue, and which will use the incident for their own gain?
Another great addition to the series, with many plots and schemes being set up for later "fun".

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Faith Hakimian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, the ending is fantastic, but my favorite part by far is seeing Carl in his new role in the story. The Black Ocean books span so much time now, and Morin knows how to write the change that comes with it.

Also, Grosstet is, as always, a hoot. I laughed out loud at some of his dialog.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelly Peasgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The crew sees some unexpected action, learn their strengths and weaknesses, and start to get a better understanding of some of their fellow travelers--both those who would betray and those who remain staunchly loyal.