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Lost: A Christmas Novella
Merry Christmas, son. Don’t come home.
Stuck on Central Transit Station, Sergeant Ryan Dabrowski receives a Dear John letter from his family. The home he fought to protect doesn’t want him. He’s left too much of his body out among the stars. The aug-doctors patched him up better than new, but cyborg freaks aren’t welcome on Earth.
“Don’t ruin your sister’s life.”
But what about Rye’s life?
***
Lost is a short Christmas novella about found family, new beginnings, and believing that anything is possible. Merry Christmas! Happy Wishing Tree!
Stuck on Central Transit Station, Sergeant Ryan Dabrowski receives a Dear John letter from his family. The home he fought to protect doesn’t want him. He’s left too much of his body out among the stars. The aug-doctors patched him up better than new, but cyborg freaks aren’t welcome on Earth.
“Don’t ruin your sister’s life.”
But what about Rye’s life?
***
Lost is a short Christmas novella about found family, new beginnings, and believing that anything is possible. Merry Christmas! Happy Wishing Tree!
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2024
259 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books568 followersAustralian science fiction and fantasy author.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
November 15, 2024
Tries for a happy ending
No, this was not a happy story. It's b-sht to believe the main character was just suddenly fine with what his family did. Or the fact that his offer to help was so rudely thrown in his face while when another person payed a million dollars for her, without even asking, that was "a miracle". Maybe a longer story could have made it believable. I'm not feeling happy.
No, this was not a happy story. It's b-sht to believe the main character was just suddenly fine with what his family did. Or the fact that his offer to help was so rudely thrown in his face while when another person payed a million dollars for her, without even asking, that was "a miracle". Maybe a longer story could have made it believable. I'm not feeling happy.
December 3, 2024
Lovely, Christmas-themed, SF-romance short story
Rye is a veteran of intergalactic war, whose family on Earth does not want him to return home to them, because they are prejudiced against him now that he is a cyborg. It does not matter to them that, if he had not been augmented by some of the most advanced medical techniques in the galaxy, he would have died from his grievous battle wounds. At a way-station in space, while he is trying to decide where he can go instead, Rye encounters an adorable robot child and his devoted, adoptive human mother.
Though this is a short story and not a complete novel, the arc of the romance to an HFN resolution is satisfyingly believable. This story is told from the single POV of the MMC, who is a courageous, ethical, compassionate human being. His love interest is an admirable woman, and her robot child is adorable.
Rye is a veteran of intergalactic war, whose family on Earth does not want him to return home to them, because they are prejudiced against him now that he is a cyborg. It does not matter to them that, if he had not been augmented by some of the most advanced medical techniques in the galaxy, he would have died from his grievous battle wounds. At a way-station in space, while he is trying to decide where he can go instead, Rye encounters an adorable robot child and his devoted, adoptive human mother.
Though this is a short story and not a complete novel, the arc of the romance to an HFN resolution is satisfyingly believable. This story is told from the single POV of the MMC, who is a courageous, ethical, compassionate human being. His love interest is an admirable woman, and her robot child is adorable.
November 15, 2024
Romance:
May 2, 2025
Entertaining relationship listening 🎶😮
This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account
He has been in the army for three years but his parents do not want him to return. He is waiting for a ride when he meets a child with his guardian. His future comes to be Merry Christmas. 🎅🎄
I would recommend this novella and author to readers of family and friends relationships holiday novels 😮😁 2025 🌃👒
This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account
He has been in the army for three years but his parents do not want him to return. He is waiting for a ride when he meets a child with his guardian. His future comes to be Merry Christmas. 🎅🎄
I would recommend this novella and author to readers of family and friends relationships holiday novels 😮😁 2025 🌃👒
November 8, 2024
amazing story
This is a wonderful, human story, full of heartfelt emotion, loss and finding something that really matters. I wanted it to go longer - much longer - and as always with Jenny Schwartz’ writing, it hit the perfect spot within and yep I cried at the end. Read it. You’ll be glad you did.
This is a wonderful, human story, full of heartfelt emotion, loss and finding something that really matters. I wanted it to go longer - much longer - and as always with Jenny Schwartz’ writing, it hit the perfect spot within and yep I cried at the end. Read it. You’ll be glad you did.
December 27, 2024
A surprisingly sweet, timely story
This novella is set in a future where the classic anti soldier bias is definitely the “The war is over, dogs & soldiers keep off the grass!” type of vibe.
A lonely Sergeant discovers that his family on Earth REALLY doesn’t want him to have anything like the homecoming he has dreamed of. Take the poor souls who managed to survive Vietnam only to be ostracized by screaming morons who spat on them. Now double it. I’m curious to discover what else Jenny Schwartz has written!
This novella is set in a future where the classic anti soldier bias is definitely the “The war is over, dogs & soldiers keep off the grass!” type of vibe.
A lonely Sergeant discovers that his family on Earth REALLY doesn’t want him to have anything like the homecoming he has dreamed of. Take the poor souls who managed to survive Vietnam only to be ostracized by screaming morons who spat on them. Now double it. I’m curious to discover what else Jenny Schwartz has written!
February 13, 2025
Fun, quick read by an author I read regularly. The plot and characters are great. I found the ending resolution too fast and not believable but it is a “happy ever after” novella so the story is still worth the quick read by
Read
November 15, 2024this was good just wasn’t at all what i expected
December 13, 2024
Great Christmas story
Rye is mustering out of the service when he receives a message from his family that's cyborg is not welcome. But like all good Christmas stories a small robot angel intervenes and leads to a happy ending.
Rye is mustering out of the service when he receives a message from his family that's cyborg is not welcome. But like all good Christmas stories a small robot angel intervenes and leads to a happy ending.
November 21, 2024
Wonderful holiday story
The prejudice of being different knows no boundaries. Be it religion, birthplace, or race. Just having metallic body parts make one no less human. But then I did see the ending coming early on. Maybe too many holiday movies.
The prejudice of being different knows no boundaries. Be it religion, birthplace, or race. Just having metallic body parts make one no less human. But then I did see the ending coming early on. Maybe too many holiday movies.
Read
February 4, 2025I usually really enjoy this author's works. The ending on this one, however, I REALLY didn't care for.
I should state, here at the outset, that the following is rant-y, very, very rant-y, because I'm very, very annoyed with this story. That said, I have really enjoy the authors' other works (and hope she won't read my rant-y hissy fit because it's not at all nice or diplomatic), I definitely do not think one work that I have issues with makes her a bad author (and if I'm being fair, I think ruminating on this kind of outraged response is good for a reader to understand my fundamental values/beliefs), and I'll definitely be reading more books by this author in the future (in truth, the next book I read after this story was her 3rd Pax Galactica book, and I enjoyed it).
Anyway, to the rant...
SPOILERS!!
SPOILERS!!
SPOILERS!!
I didn't like how the colonel ended up using his inheritance for the bond for the robot child, for several reasons. I get that the author/characters didn't want the MFC to feel indebted to the MMC, but... if they're heading that way anyway, why not just do the marriage of convenience, save the expense of the $1M bond, start from a basis of friends, and if it doesn't actually work out, I think if they stayed friends (which, kid involved, so that should be a good regardless of the label) I don't think the government would have to know / don't think it would be an issue. The whole 11th hour godmother (god-colonel?) just didn't work for me. (1) He said he inherited just "a little more" than the bond from his father. Okay, so he's basically giving away his entire inheritance (or at least loaning it out, for at least more than a decade, until the kid grows up), for a stupid government bureaucracy / governmental money-making scheme? (2) He said his father wouldn't approve of using it for a mercenary business start-up, but... $1M is a crazy amount of money, he could use it for something that would actually make a difference (yes, clearly using it as a bond makes a large difference in the life of kid and MFC, BUUUUUUT, that money would be entirely unnecessary if they did the marriage of convenience thing). And we get the main characters all matched up (but no obligation, as if their lack of mutual obligation is THE most important thing here), but the poor colonel is just like "yep, giving you all my money, feel good about this" and exit stage right. No discussion of his future, what he's going to do now that he gave up his entire plan (and what about the people he was going to employ huh??? It's not like they're nebulous, hypothetical people, he was definitely recruiting from his former military comrades. So they're just SOL because fairy (robot) godmother (colonel) wants his nice underling not to have to marry the lady he's probably going to end up marrying anyway?!?! WTF?! I just can't even, it annoys me so much. Her books are so smart and involved and this just comes off as stupid and one-dimensional. GRRR.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
I should state, here at the outset, that the following is rant-y, very, very rant-y, because I'm very, very annoyed with this story. That said, I have really enjoy the authors' other works (and hope she won't read my rant-y hissy fit because it's not at all nice or diplomatic), I definitely do not think one work that I have issues with makes her a bad author (and if I'm being fair, I think ruminating on this kind of outraged response is good for a reader to understand my fundamental values/beliefs), and I'll definitely be reading more books by this author in the future (in truth, the next book I read after this story was her 3rd Pax Galactica book, and I enjoyed it).
Anyway, to the rant...
SPOILERS!!
SPOILERS!!
SPOILERS!!
I didn't like how the colonel ended up using his inheritance for the bond for the robot child, for several reasons. I get that the author/characters didn't want the MFC to feel indebted to the MMC, but... if they're heading that way anyway, why not just do the marriage of convenience, save the expense of the $1M bond, start from a basis of friends, and if it doesn't actually work out, I think if they stayed friends (which, kid involved, so that should be a good regardless of the label) I don't think the government would have to know / don't think it would be an issue. The whole 11th hour godmother (god-colonel?) just didn't work for me. (1) He said he inherited just "a little more" than the bond from his father. Okay, so he's basically giving away his entire inheritance (or at least loaning it out, for at least more than a decade, until the kid grows up), for a stupid government bureaucracy / governmental money-making scheme? (2) He said his father wouldn't approve of using it for a mercenary business start-up, but... $1M is a crazy amount of money, he could use it for something that would actually make a difference (yes, clearly using it as a bond makes a large difference in the life of kid and MFC, BUUUUUUT, that money would be entirely unnecessary if they did the marriage of convenience thing). And we get the main characters all matched up (but no obligation, as if their lack of mutual obligation is THE most important thing here), but the poor colonel is just like "yep, giving you all my money, feel good about this" and exit stage right. No discussion of his future, what he's going to do now that he gave up his entire plan (and what about the people he was going to employ huh??? It's not like they're nebulous, hypothetical people, he was definitely recruiting from his former military comrades. So they're just SOL because fairy (robot) godmother (colonel) wants his nice underling not to have to marry the lady he's probably going to end up marrying anyway?!?! WTF?! I just can't even, it annoys me so much. Her books are so smart and involved and this just comes off as stupid and one-dimensional. GRRR.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2024
3.25 meh stars. Rye is told the day before his deployment ends, “Don’t come home and embarrass the family” or something to that effect. He was almost dead, had modifications to keep him alive and is a cyborg. But where should he go? While on a space station he finds himself befriending a robot child and his nanny/guardian. Chaos ensues.
What I liked: 1) The concept. The idea was a good one and the characters (w/the exception of the nanny) are pretty likeable. 2). The characters were interesting. They were pretty well fleshed out with the exception of the nanny. The kid was adorable.
What didn’t work out for me: 1) The nanny. A lot of her personality was told to us by Rye. Everyone else was shown who they were by their actions. 2). The only one who was second to the nanny was the colonel. His actions in the end came out of nowhere and didn’t make a whole lot of sense b/c his character wasn’t developed earlier to lead us to that conclusion. 3). Rye needs to figure himself out. Okay I get it. But the WHY does the colonel sponsor the kid? He says something like, “I’m sure my dad would rather I spend it on this kid instead of a security company?” Wait, what??? His dad? Hello, left field! Out of nowhere he fronts a million dollars and she is 100% on board. Why? Why is she okay with it? I don’t get it. This just left me confused and a bit annoyed. Happy for Rye, I guess, but not loving this one.
What I liked: 1) The concept. The idea was a good one and the characters (w/the exception of the nanny) are pretty likeable. 2). The characters were interesting. They were pretty well fleshed out with the exception of the nanny. The kid was adorable.
What didn’t work out for me: 1) The nanny. A lot of her personality was told to us by Rye. Everyone else was shown who they were by their actions. 2). The only one who was second to the nanny was the colonel. His actions in the end came out of nowhere and didn’t make a whole lot of sense b/c his character wasn’t developed earlier to lead us to that conclusion. 3). Rye needs to figure himself out. Okay I get it. But the WHY does the colonel sponsor the kid? He says something like, “I’m sure my dad would rather I spend it on this kid instead of a security company?” Wait, what??? His dad? Hello, left field! Out of nowhere he fronts a million dollars and she is 100% on board. Why? Why is she okay with it? I don’t get it. This just left me confused and a bit annoyed. Happy for Rye, I guess, but not loving this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
beautiful
Rating: 5✨
This remarkable emotional short story has the power to absolutely break your heart and then knit it back together again. Lost: a Christmas novella is a science fiction tale of a retiring space soldier rejected by his earth based family because of the wars damage turned him cyborg. And the diverse found family that gave him and them a potential future.
It’s sheer serendipity that I found this story shortly after finishing this author, Jenny Schwartz ‘s fantastic book, Stars Die, the first in her new Caldryn Parliament science fiction series.
A short poignant holiday read, its emotional context is rooted in past events and even more importantly, in our own connections with people, veterans within our communities and families. It’s real and lastly, gives the characters and readers a sense of hope for a better future.
I honestly don’t know how I missed this author before but she’s now finally on my list of writers to read. She should be on yours too.
Just incredible.
Rating: 5✨
This remarkable emotional short story has the power to absolutely break your heart and then knit it back together again. Lost: a Christmas novella is a science fiction tale of a retiring space soldier rejected by his earth based family because of the wars damage turned him cyborg. And the diverse found family that gave him and them a potential future.
It’s sheer serendipity that I found this story shortly after finishing this author, Jenny Schwartz ‘s fantastic book, Stars Die, the first in her new Caldryn Parliament science fiction series.
A short poignant holiday read, its emotional context is rooted in past events and even more importantly, in our own connections with people, veterans within our communities and families. It’s real and lastly, gives the characters and readers a sense of hope for a better future.
I honestly don’t know how I missed this author before but she’s now finally on my list of writers to read. She should be on yours too.
Just incredible.
Read
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Thông tin liên hệ:
Địa chỉ: 398 Đ. Lũy Bán Bích, Hoà Thanh, Tân Phú, Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam.
Phone: 0385724305.
Email: info@shbet.clothing.
Website: https://shbet.clothing/
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November 21, 2024
A fascinating science fiction Christmas story
This is a Christmas story about a cyborg soldier who survived by having parts of his body replaced by metal and wires. Unfortunately, his family back on Earth doesn't want him to come home because of his cyborg body, which is a rather horrific Christmas present. He meets various people on the space station where they're all waiting to go somewhere else, and he finds new meaning for his life. This is an excellent Christmas story that I greatly enjoyed. I would also like to read more about the world that the author has created. It's an interesting one, and this would be a great prequel to a series.
This is a Christmas story about a cyborg soldier who survived by having parts of his body replaced by metal and wires. Unfortunately, his family back on Earth doesn't want him to come home because of his cyborg body, which is a rather horrific Christmas present. He meets various people on the space station where they're all waiting to go somewhere else, and he finds new meaning for his life. This is an excellent Christmas story that I greatly enjoyed. I would also like to read more about the world that the author has created. It's an interesting one, and this would be a great prequel to a series.
December 19, 2024
Be Home For Christmas
Lightly, deftly handled.
What happens when they don’t want you home for Christmas? Ryan’s parents have decided that a cyborg veteran of a son would hurt their fully human daughter’s chances of building a normal life.
Not much of a welcome. And now, Rye is at a loss of what to do with his civilian status. He wants to live on a planet, not work on an asteroid or become a space sheriff or a mercenary.
But, meeting a small robot child opens Rye up to new possibilities and directions.
Charming.
Lightly, deftly handled.
What happens when they don’t want you home for Christmas? Ryan’s parents have decided that a cyborg veteran of a son would hurt their fully human daughter’s chances of building a normal life.
Not much of a welcome. And now, Rye is at a loss of what to do with his civilian status. He wants to live on a planet, not work on an asteroid or become a space sheriff or a mercenary.
But, meeting a small robot child opens Rye up to new possibilities and directions.
Charming.
March 14, 2025
om Jenny Schwartz
Dangerous because once you immerse yourself in one of her worlds, time and obligations disappear. This story was a lesson in the strength of diversity and of love. As usual there was a treasured, thought provoking line: “Studying history I came to believe that you become the evil you refuse to fight. Once I was in the war, I knew that was true. You can’t be neutral.” He paused. “You can choose how you fight, though. Resistance can be subtle.” How timely!
Dangerous because once you immerse yourself in one of her worlds, time and obligations disappear. This story was a lesson in the strength of diversity and of love. As usual there was a treasured, thought provoking line: “Studying history I came to believe that you become the evil you refuse to fight. Once I was in the war, I knew that was true. You can’t be neutral.” He paused. “You can choose how you fight, though. Resistance can be subtle.” How timely!
November 8, 2024
Short and sweet...
...with all the feels. I enjoyed this new take on robots and humans in a joined society. Percy is an adorable robot child and Sylvester is a possible scary version he can become. I enjoyed this and wanted more. Looking forward to February and the new series.
...with all the feels. I enjoyed this new take on robots and humans in a joined society. Percy is an adorable robot child and Sylvester is a possible scary version he can become. I enjoyed this and wanted more. Looking forward to February and the new series.
November 9, 2024
Excellent sci fi holiday short story
The worldbuilding is a little grim, since the story occurs after a war with an alien race, and prejudice against anyone who is other (cyborg, robot) is a problem. The characters are likeable, the story is believable and honest, and the ending is hopeful.
The worldbuilding is a little grim, since the story occurs after a war with an alien race, and prejudice against anyone who is other (cyborg, robot) is a problem. The characters are likeable, the story is believable and honest, and the ending is hopeful.
November 30, 2024
Chosen found family
Christmas is a time for family, some of us don't have families or we are estranged but we all have our chosen family people we let into our lives along the way.
Lost captures the essence of a chosen family at our Christmas miracle.ax alway Jenny you hit the spot. Truly captures our attention
Christmas is a time for family, some of us don't have families or we are estranged but we all have our chosen family people we let into our lives along the way.
Lost captures the essence of a chosen family at our Christmas miracle.ax alway Jenny you hit the spot. Truly captures our attention
November 7, 2024
Hollow Hearts filled.
Love knows love and where you find it is often a surprise.
Hearts don't look at surface things. Hearts look at love.
So mixed sorts of folks find a purpose and a path.
Enjoy a completely charming few minutes being "LOST".
Love knows love and where you find it is often a surprise.
Hearts don't look at surface things. Hearts look at love.
So mixed sorts of folks find a purpose and a path.
Enjoy a completely charming few minutes being "LOST".
November 7, 2024
Loved it!
I needed to read something happy today, and lo and behold a Christmas novella from Jenny Schwartz appeared in my kindle! (I love when I pre-order and then have a happy surprise when a book shows up!) I'm excited for the New series and crossing my fingers!
I needed to read something happy today, and lo and behold a Christmas novella from Jenny Schwartz appeared in my kindle! (I love when I pre-order and then have a happy surprise when a book shows up!) I'm excited for the New series and crossing my fingers!
November 16, 2024
Jenny wins again
The Author writes some of the best love which include children stories out there. And they are not children's stories.
She writes pure science fiction, pure fantasy and magic/science fiction.
Enjoy.
The Author writes some of the best love which include children stories out there. And they are not children's stories.
She writes pure science fiction, pure fantasy and magic/science fiction.
Enjoy.
November 20, 2024
A pleasure to read
I'm not a fan of short stories generally, as I always want more. I do like Christmas ones though, and this one hit the spot. I hope this is a taster for the new series.....
I'm not a fan of short stories generally, as I always want more. I do like Christmas ones though, and this one hit the spot. I hope this is a taster for the new series.....
December 24, 2024
4.5 stars
This short story came along at exactly the right time. I was on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages until I suddenly realized it was over and done. Too bad it wasn't longer; I do feel it ended too abruptly... but I still loved the reading experience.
This short story came along at exactly the right time. I was on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages until I suddenly realized it was over and done. Too bad it wasn't longer; I do feel it ended too abruptly... but I still loved the reading experience.
December 26, 2024
lost! Christmas Novella! what a sweet story
I needed a reminder of family, love and acceptance and this was it! Whatever your beginning it doesn’t always tell your tale! I am glad it takes all kinds to make a family!
I needed a reminder of family, love and acceptance and this was it! Whatever your beginning it doesn’t always tell your tale! I am glad it takes all kinds to make a family!
January 7, 2025
Extra 0.65 star
Cutest little robot kiddie! Wish it was longer and that there were more stories with these characters and this universe. I was enjoying the story and then it just wrapped up and ended abruptly.
Cutest little robot kiddie! Wish it was longer and that there were more stories with these characters and this universe. I was enjoying the story and then it just wrapped up and ended abruptly.
May 28, 2025
Here’s the premise. A wounded vet with lots of replacement parts gets a letter from his family telling him that, because he is now a cyborg, he is not welcome home for Christmas. He meets a woman with a cute five-year-old robot boy she wants to adopt. You can write the rest.
November 6, 2024
Lovely little story
In this small novella, there is interesting world building, heart breaking realities, and compelling characters. Just what I need to read this season
In this small novella, there is interesting world building, heart breaking realities, and compelling characters. Just what I need to read this season
November 9, 2024
Lost
Interesting world building and an engaging story. If you haven't read Jenny Schwartz's books, you should. All of them are really cool
Interesting world building and an engaging story. If you haven't read Jenny Schwartz's books, you should. All of them are really cool
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews