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Backyard Starship #24
The Enemy Within
The final enemy has been revealed, and it's more insidious than Van could ever imagine, spanning space and time with the patience of immortality—and an utter disregard for all forms of life.
On the run and broken, the Equal Grasp faces elimination on earth and everywhere else, their leader gone, their mission a shambles, and with new agents of justice hard on their heels.
But the fight isn't over. In fact, it's just begun, and Van knows that every decision he's made for the past decade will come to bear on who lives, and who dies—
And who is meant to rule over a universe where freedom and justice are the ultimate pursuit. At any cost, Van and his crew will finish the job, but they're going to need a lot of help from people and beings who have been observers.
Until now.
The time for watching is over. The time for victory is now. But the cost might be more than anyone can pay, and Van is no longer merely an agent of justice. He's a father, a husband, and a friend—and he's going to need every connection in the stars to defeat the ultimate enemy and save his people.
On the run and broken, the Equal Grasp faces elimination on earth and everywhere else, their leader gone, their mission a shambles, and with new agents of justice hard on their heels.
But the fight isn't over. In fact, it's just begun, and Van knows that every decision he's made for the past decade will come to bear on who lives, and who dies—
And who is meant to rule over a universe where freedom and justice are the ultimate pursuit. At any cost, Van and his crew will finish the job, but they're going to need a lot of help from people and beings who have been observers.
Until now.
The time for watching is over. The time for victory is now. But the cost might be more than anyone can pay, and Van is no longer merely an agent of justice. He's a father, a husband, and a friend—and he's going to need every connection in the stars to defeat the ultimate enemy and save his people.
- GenresScience Fiction
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2024
1363 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 28, 2024
WHAT A GREAT SERIES FOR ALL WHO ENJOY A GOOD SCI-FI STORY
The Enemy Within (Backyard Starship Book 24) by J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert is a well written tell of a group of heroes out to save the universe from villains on numerous fronts.
You will find yourself routing for Van, Torina, Perry, Netty, Netty-P, Icky, Funboy, Gabby, Rab while they save Earth from Yotov, The Equal Grasp, and Calamity and take back Anvil Dark.
If you haven't read the books in this series, start out with the first book. Once you've read the first, you'll be hooked, and you'll find yourself finishing each one and unable to wait to start the next book in this series.
Hope you will enjoy reading this book and series.
The Enemy Within (Backyard Starship Book 24) by J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert is a well written tell of a group of heroes out to save the universe from villains on numerous fronts.
You will find yourself routing for Van, Torina, Perry, Netty, Netty-P, Icky, Funboy, Gabby, Rab while they save Earth from Yotov, The Equal Grasp, and Calamity and take back Anvil Dark.
If you haven't read the books in this series, start out with the first book. Once you've read the first, you'll be hooked, and you'll find yourself finishing each one and unable to wait to start the next book in this series.
Hope you will enjoy reading this book and series.
December 24, 2025
Great book now with all the extra people and ships and extended family things are gonna move. Things are starting to look up. Can’t wait to start the next book.🤓
November 15, 2024
24 of 25. Wow!
Two years or so ago, when I first picked up this series I had no idea what an investment in time it was going to be! Especially when I got all caught up and had to wait for the next new book.
And here I am, again, waiting for the next volume. Thanks ok, lots to read in the meantime!
24 was pretty good. Lots of action, world building and interesting developments. My only complaint is that it took the entire book just to reach the ultimate step of what we knew was going to happen. And when i5 did it was an anti-climax. After all that happened Van and his band of merry sentients are not any closer to their actual goal.
To end on a positive note I appreciate how Van is able to listen to his friends and let them help him make honorable, ethical decisions. It’s almost like a video game and we are given choices. All of which will advance the plot, but not all of which give the “A+” ending.
I’m glad I picked this series up all those months ago. Time well spent!
Cheers!
Two years or so ago, when I first picked up this series I had no idea what an investment in time it was going to be! Especially when I got all caught up and had to wait for the next new book.
And here I am, again, waiting for the next volume. Thanks ok, lots to read in the meantime!
24 was pretty good. Lots of action, world building and interesting developments. My only complaint is that it took the entire book just to reach the ultimate step of what we knew was going to happen. And when i5 did it was an anti-climax. After all that happened Van and his band of merry sentients are not any closer to their actual goal.
To end on a positive note I appreciate how Van is able to listen to his friends and let them help him make honorable, ethical decisions. It’s almost like a video game and we are given choices. All of which will advance the plot, but not all of which give the “A+” ending.
I’m glad I picked this series up all those months ago. Time well spent!
Cheers!
January 5, 2025
Van Tudor and his family. That’s what the crew of the *Fafnir* have become plus he’s added a lot of other people to that family. They are now truly a family since both Van with Torina and Icky with Paxomar now have children. Van has built the Nexus on Earth and it is now a galactic trading hub bringing in ships from anywhere in the galaxy to do business with Earth. And business is booming. They had to heavily defend the Nexus from the Equal Grasp and that would include a family bunker where the children and their parents reside when on Earth. Of course they still use the old farm house for meetings and stuff, but the Nexus has become the focus of their operations on Earth.
Everything seems to be going very well, except for the constant threat of Calamity. Calamity, what ever it is, has seemly infected various machines or computer driven objects and made them go haywire often endangering the humans that work with these machines. Perry, Netty-P and Netty have tried to develop protection protocols against Calamity, but they can’t actually protect every computer system on Earth. Fortunately, the large majority of computers and even Artificial Intelligence systems on Earth are too primitive for Calamity to infect and control. Van’s crew are still finding the remnants of the Equal Grasp and rooting them out as they go. They did locate a hidden satellite used by the Equal Grasp and Yotov. This satellite was very stealthy and was also very heavily armed.
So, they went to decommission that dangerous weapon system only to find it occupied by a very nearly dead human. It was also controlled by three AIs that were definitely not of human origin. The human was actually placed there to make the final decisions on when to fire the weapons, but fortunately, they were never used. When the Equal Grasp lost to Van Tudor, they definitely forgot about this lone human and he had ran out of supplies a while ago so he was in bad shape.
When Perry and Netty-P took control of the AI in the satellite, they found out that they didn’t actually want to do the job as directed by the Equal Grasp. They wanted to join Van’s movement to straighten out the galaxy. Van was OK with that, but he didn’t like calling these entities AI’s. He wanted to call them Created Persons and that would include Perry, Netty-P and even Netty. Van had always include these entities as living beings and treated them as people. So, that’s what they would call them and their kind from now on.
Then Funboy came to Van to talk to him about Gabby. Gabby was Vruk which was a race that didn’t normally mix with other races. Gabby was the exception and she had become a valuable member of Van’s crew. Gabby could cook so that’s what she mostly did aboard the Fafnir, but Gabby also had the uncanny ability to plan and organize vast projects. Van currently had her as the Director of the Nexus where she was masterfully coordinating all the shipping activities of the sight. But, as Funboy told Van, Gabby was very, very sick. It turns out she needs something and she needs it immediately. So, that’s the next project that the entire crew gets involved in. They will save Gabby one way or another.
Van is building a pretty large empire. The Quite Room, aka galactic bank, has been funding his efforts so far. They are making some money on the Nexus, but he knows the Quiet Room wants to know what their long-term returns on their investments will be. The Quiet Room has done some analytics on Van Tudors efforts and the results point to the strong possibility that Van and his efforts as they are now, will not result in success and could result in galaxy-wide chaos! So, Van has to do something different and something that places him and his crew and those that follow him in a position to influence not just Earth, but the entire galaxy!
The end of this book comes quickly and, if I am honest, a little anticlimactic. What he does can’t just stop at this point so we’re definitely going to see more in the next book, “Fist of Orion”, available o/a 19 January 2025.
Everything seems to be going very well, except for the constant threat of Calamity. Calamity, what ever it is, has seemly infected various machines or computer driven objects and made them go haywire often endangering the humans that work with these machines. Perry, Netty-P and Netty have tried to develop protection protocols against Calamity, but they can’t actually protect every computer system on Earth. Fortunately, the large majority of computers and even Artificial Intelligence systems on Earth are too primitive for Calamity to infect and control. Van’s crew are still finding the remnants of the Equal Grasp and rooting them out as they go. They did locate a hidden satellite used by the Equal Grasp and Yotov. This satellite was very stealthy and was also very heavily armed.
So, they went to decommission that dangerous weapon system only to find it occupied by a very nearly dead human. It was also controlled by three AIs that were definitely not of human origin. The human was actually placed there to make the final decisions on when to fire the weapons, but fortunately, they were never used. When the Equal Grasp lost to Van Tudor, they definitely forgot about this lone human and he had ran out of supplies a while ago so he was in bad shape.
When Perry and Netty-P took control of the AI in the satellite, they found out that they didn’t actually want to do the job as directed by the Equal Grasp. They wanted to join Van’s movement to straighten out the galaxy. Van was OK with that, but he didn’t like calling these entities AI’s. He wanted to call them Created Persons and that would include Perry, Netty-P and even Netty. Van had always include these entities as living beings and treated them as people. So, that’s what they would call them and their kind from now on.
Then Funboy came to Van to talk to him about Gabby. Gabby was Vruk which was a race that didn’t normally mix with other races. Gabby was the exception and she had become a valuable member of Van’s crew. Gabby could cook so that’s what she mostly did aboard the Fafnir, but Gabby also had the uncanny ability to plan and organize vast projects. Van currently had her as the Director of the Nexus where she was masterfully coordinating all the shipping activities of the sight. But, as Funboy told Van, Gabby was very, very sick. It turns out she needs something and she needs it immediately. So, that’s the next project that the entire crew gets involved in. They will save Gabby one way or another.
Van is building a pretty large empire. The Quite Room, aka galactic bank, has been funding his efforts so far. They are making some money on the Nexus, but he knows the Quiet Room wants to know what their long-term returns on their investments will be. The Quiet Room has done some analytics on Van Tudors efforts and the results point to the strong possibility that Van and his efforts as they are now, will not result in success and could result in galaxy-wide chaos! So, Van has to do something different and something that places him and his crew and those that follow him in a position to influence not just Earth, but the entire galaxy!
The end of this book comes quickly and, if I am honest, a little anticlimactic. What he does can’t just stop at this point so we’re definitely going to see more in the next book, “Fist of Orion”, available o/a 19 January 2025.
November 17, 2024
love this series!
I love the characters in this book. They’re not just human and the aliens are all very unique. All of them have very discerning personalities which just get better with each book. Above all, I love their banter, their humor, their witty one liners and arguments like sibling kids. The crew, with its family atmosphere, just continues to grow, thrive and surprise us with some of the most random things, like movie productions. There’s a lot going on in this crew’s life. They’re being pulled in many directions. The biggest threats being Calamity and the ever present traitorous Guild leaders and those who follow them—either,believing their bogus propaganda or they’re true believers in the abuse of power and are willing participants in that endeavor. The story seems to hop around a lot but that just cements the rather random chaos this crew and their Allie’s are fighting. A bold move at the end will either help them them or doom them.
I love the characters in this book. They’re not just human and the aliens are all very unique. All of them have very discerning personalities which just get better with each book. Above all, I love their banter, their humor, their witty one liners and arguments like sibling kids. The crew, with its family atmosphere, just continues to grow, thrive and surprise us with some of the most random things, like movie productions. There’s a lot going on in this crew’s life. They’re being pulled in many directions. The biggest threats being Calamity and the ever present traitorous Guild leaders and those who follow them—either,believing their bogus propaganda or they’re true believers in the abuse of power and are willing participants in that endeavor. The story seems to hop around a lot but that just cements the rather random chaos this crew and their Allie’s are fighting. A bold move at the end will either help them them or doom them.
November 21, 2024
The mastermind Yotov now makes their presence felt
In a surprise twist in the last book, it was revealed that something else was pulling the strings of Yotov and Equal Grasp. I'm not going to name the entity in case the reader has not yet read the previous book... The new enemy starts to make its presence known as things begin to go wrong... Good AI's are given a new designation - created people - and when sacrifices are made, a philosophical discussion of what it means to back up an AI or clone a person occurs. A visit to Matterforge reveals more about the 'new' enemy as plans are made and executed...
This novel has the usual heady and intricate mix of suspense, mystery, sacrifice, intrigue, romance, family, podcasts/movies (!) as the plot advances and surprises abound.
Another fun entertaining read, that is clearly not the last novel in the series despite what you may have heard...
In a surprise twist in the last book, it was revealed that something else was pulling the strings of Yotov and Equal Grasp. I'm not going to name the entity in case the reader has not yet read the previous book... The new enemy starts to make its presence known as things begin to go wrong... Good AI's are given a new designation - created people - and when sacrifices are made, a philosophical discussion of what it means to back up an AI or clone a person occurs. A visit to Matterforge reveals more about the 'new' enemy as plans are made and executed...
This novel has the usual heady and intricate mix of suspense, mystery, sacrifice, intrigue, romance, family, podcasts/movies (!) as the plot advances and surprises abound.
Another fun entertaining read, that is clearly not the last novel in the series despite what you may have heard...
November 20, 2024
Well, this was pretty bad. Almost no action. They took back Anvil Dark in the last few pages of the book in what could be best described as lame. It appears as though the authors went on an extended vacation and left the writing of this installation to an adjunct professor of trade and commerce. It was so boring and not worthy of this series. I do not understand the thought process that went into publishing this piece of crap. Way to ruin an otherwise great series. Skip this one and you will not miss a thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2024
Excellent installment in the Backyard Ship story
Van and his crew has been fighting the guild and the evil known as Calamity for some time now. He has amassed a great following with a multitude of ships but will it be enough? The question is, take on Calamity, that is as slippery as an eel or take back the Guild. And if he takes the guild back, what shape does it take.
Great story as always. A must read in this series. You will enjoy it.
Van and his crew has been fighting the guild and the evil known as Calamity for some time now. He has amassed a great following with a multitude of ships but will it be enough? The question is, take on Calamity, that is as slippery as an eel or take back the Guild. And if he takes the guild back, what shape does it take.
Great story as always. A must read in this series. You will enjoy it.
December 7, 2024
Where does it go from here
Book 24, Van has made major inroads into the corruption that was the Guild and now has to focus on Calamity
The whole story line lacked a lot of the usual banter between the crew, there was some just not the usual amount
Overall I felt it was a lackluster chapter in the series and hopefully things pick up in the next
The issue is, where does the author take it from here. How far does this get dragged out?
Book 24, Van has made major inroads into the corruption that was the Guild and now has to focus on Calamity
The whole story line lacked a lot of the usual banter between the crew, there was some just not the usual amount
Overall I felt it was a lackluster chapter in the series and hopefully things pick up in the next
The issue is, where does the author take it from here. How far does this get dragged out?
December 21, 2024
I was worried for a bit but you pulled out a great story!!!
The beginning of the book lagged in places before sputtering to Van taking a stance. At a point, I question the logic in reading longer. But you pulled a rabbit from your battle helmet and changed direction. I am a bit weary of the "same stuff, different day" storyline. Is that a happily ever after on the horizon or just wishful thinking?
The beginning of the book lagged in places before sputtering to Van taking a stance. At a point, I question the logic in reading longer. But you pulled a rabbit from your battle helmet and changed direction. I am a bit weary of the "same stuff, different day" storyline. Is that a happily ever after on the horizon or just wishful thinking?
November 12, 2024
BSS is the Best
BSS continues to be the series at most look forward to to installments and a series which always turns a good yarn. It has the problem with most space beast series in that the more advanced the main characters get the fewer space battles they get involved with which makes me sad, but the intrigue is well done and I enjoy it.
BSS continues to be the series at most look forward to to installments and a series which always turns a good yarn. It has the problem with most space beast series in that the more advanced the main characters get the fewer space battles they get involved with which makes me sad, but the intrigue is well done and I enjoy it.
November 13, 2024
It gets better with each new installment in the series
I won't give away any of the story, but I really look forward to the release of ever installment of this series. Humor, yes, wisdom? Absolutely, and thoroughly entertaining. Do yourself a favour, if you can, go back to the beginning and start reading this series.
I won't give away any of the story, but I really look forward to the release of ever installment of this series. Humor, yes, wisdom? Absolutely, and thoroughly entertaining. Do yourself a favour, if you can, go back to the beginning and start reading this series.
December 9, 2024
Sophisticated writing
Character development was superb.
Weaving of history, human memes, popular culture, known and theoretical science, Philosophy, ethics, Theology, ontological and epistemological constraints, plus just good old fashioned Humor and whimsy in this series of books makes this work Immensely gratifying.
Character development was superb.
Weaving of history, human memes, popular culture, known and theoretical science, Philosophy, ethics, Theology, ontological and epistemological constraints, plus just good old fashioned Humor and whimsy in this series of books makes this work Immensely gratifying.
December 11, 2024
Great Adventure! fun read!
Wonderful series. Great characters, captivating, stories, and it keeps you on edge! From book one I’ve been hooked. I look forward to each new release. As a sci-fi fan from my youth, at 77 I’m still a fan. Clever stories and cliff hangers keep me coming back for more.
Wonderful series. Great characters, captivating, stories, and it keeps you on edge! From book one I’ve been hooked. I look forward to each new release. As a sci-fi fan from my youth, at 77 I’m still a fan. Clever stories and cliff hangers keep me coming back for more.
January 25, 2025
enjoyed it, but maybe a little slow
I’ve been really busy with my own writing career and I’m afraid it took me a couple of tries to get into this and read it. I finally did because the next book is out and I want to know how they got there. Having read it, I enjoyed it and recommend it. But you might have to push through a little bit.
I’ve been really busy with my own writing career and I’m afraid it took me a couple of tries to get into this and read it. I finally did because the next book is out and I want to know how they got there. Having read it, I enjoyed it and recommend it. But you might have to push through a little bit.
July 16, 2025
Get With the Enemy Within and Drive it Without
Tudor Team struggles to build a powerful defensive force by uniting many friends and worlds to stop the digital threat of the computer program that lives to take control of the Universe and kill off all organic beings. But the unexpected can disrupt the patterns of program controlled AIs.
Tudor Team struggles to build a powerful defensive force by uniting many friends and worlds to stop the digital threat of the computer program that lives to take control of the Universe and kill off all organic beings. But the unexpected can disrupt the patterns of program controlled AIs.
September 19, 2025
Good read
Keep doing the job as is. Everything seems to work very good. New plots are interesting, new materials are updated and added to storylines. And follow ups are done to answer most questions or concerns about old characters. Way to tie things into everything to make this series seem like a very real place in our minds and lives. 😊
Keep doing the job as is. Everything seems to work very good. New plots are interesting, new materials are updated and added to storylines. And follow ups are done to answer most questions or concerns about old characters. Way to tie things into everything to make this series seem like a very real place in our minds and lives. 😊
November 16, 2024
Excellent book. True to the core of the series.
Excellent read. Every book in this series has been awesome. Van faces each and every challenge. He trusts and relies on his team. He respects all beings. This is an amazing series.
Excellent read. Every book in this series has been awesome. Van faces each and every challenge. He trusts and relies on his team. He respects all beings. This is an amazing series.
November 18, 2024
Wow
Big things happening in the world of Van and the gang. I have to say, though, that Funboy was rather muted in this. He usually utters something so outrageous that I laugh to tears. Not even once here. Please, make him funny again.
Big things happening in the world of Van and the gang. I have to say, though, that Funboy was rather muted in this. He usually utters something so outrageous that I laugh to tears. Not even once here. Please, make him funny again.
November 23, 2024
One battle is won
With one battle won, the war continues for Van and his growing team. But they still need to be careful, the biggest foes is still out there learning and growing itself.
With one battle won, the war continues for Van and his growing team. But they still need to be careful, the biggest foes is still out there learning and growing itself.
December 1, 2024
Great book
A solid addition to an already exceptional series. A well written and executed progression to the heroes tale that has fleshed out in unpredictable way that has become a reading priority for me. Anxiously awaiting book 25!
A solid addition to an already exceptional series. A well written and executed progression to the heroes tale that has fleshed out in unpredictable way that has become a reading priority for me. Anxiously awaiting book 25!
December 3, 2024
So many things happening.
Attacks on Earth by Calamity. Feints and hidden attacks by other enemies. While Calamity remains a threat, the rest is coming under control. A time to build is here. But what to build so that it doesn't get corrupted again? More to this story perhaps?
Attacks on Earth by Calamity. Feints and hidden attacks by other enemies. While Calamity remains a threat, the rest is coming under control. A time to build is here. But what to build so that it doesn't get corrupted again? More to this story perhaps?
December 5, 2024
Another great read
Another great read in a series I've loved, the only reason it's getting knocked down is that this one was a little slow on its pacing compared to others. Bit too much politics, and only the one battle, which was a bit of a short read and none of the usual twists, and turns like the other books.
Another great read in a series I've loved, the only reason it's getting knocked down is that this one was a little slow on its pacing compared to others. Bit too much politics, and only the one battle, which was a bit of a short read and none of the usual twists, and turns like the other books.
December 7, 2024
As always amazing
Book 24 really delivered the punches in a good way, though. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and we're finally getting to see the real bad guy and exactly what it's going to mean for our heroes.
Book 24 really delivered the punches in a good way, though. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and we're finally getting to see the real bad guy and exactly what it's going to mean for our heroes.
December 14, 2024
Within our lives we set for change
This is another great book by Chaney and Maggert. What a great look at how corruption can grow and ruin great ideas. Much action and filling of blanks in one short tome.
This is another great book by Chaney and Maggert. What a great look at how corruption can grow and ruin great ideas. Much action and filling of blanks in one short tome.
December 20, 2024
Book 24 in the series
Van and the rest of the crew gather resources and people to continue the fight against the Calamity being. The Guild is still another problem. A great story.
Van and the rest of the crew gather resources and people to continue the fight against the Calamity being. The Guild is still another problem. A great story.
December 24, 2024
what a fantastic series
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
March 5, 2025
Ever more
Complex. The things that go on in this series are nothing, if not complex. Hangs together well, even if it is totally unbelievable that he is never betrayed by the tremendous number of people he trusts!
Complex. The things that go on in this series are nothing, if not complex. Hangs together well, even if it is totally unbelievable that he is never betrayed by the tremendous number of people he trusts!
March 16, 2025
Along the lines of the past masters of this genre.
An evil of massive proportions pushes Van and his eclectic company of true friends to extreme measures. Calamity,an ancient force of evil forces our group to extremes. On to 25.
An evil of massive proportions pushes Van and his eclectic company of true friends to extreme measures. Calamity,an ancient force of evil forces our group to extremes. On to 25.
October 5, 2025
The Enemy Within (Backyard Starship Book 24)
I have read all of the Backyard Starship books so far and enjoyed them all, they had some slow moments at times, but most books do, but they had lots of fast moments to. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I have read all of the Backyard Starship books so far and enjoyed them all, they had some slow moments at times, but most books do, but they had lots of fast moments to. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews