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The Starship In The Stone #1
The Starship In The Stone
When Thomas heard the cries for help, he didn’t hesitate to do the right thing. It was his chance for redemption.
Until everything went wrong.
The cave should have been deserted. The perfect place to hide. Instead, it’s crawling with soldiers and engineers working to unearth the
Excalibur.
Deep beneath the mountain, she’s waited centuries to be found. Not a sword in the stone, but a starship. And according to the onboard AI, Thomas is the only one who can command her.
Now he's on the run across a galaxy more astonishing and treacherous than he ever imagined, where magic and technology intertwine and ancient powers lurk in the shadows. Relentlessly hunted and hopelessly lost, he needs to learn fast if he wants to survive. Only his greatest challenge isn't training to pilot a starship. It's accepting that he, of all people, is responsible for reigniting the hope of a fallen kingdom.
King Arthur’s legend may be complete, but his is just beginning…
Until everything went wrong.
The cave should have been deserted. The perfect place to hide. Instead, it’s crawling with soldiers and engineers working to unearth the
Excalibur.
Deep beneath the mountain, she’s waited centuries to be found. Not a sword in the stone, but a starship. And according to the onboard AI, Thomas is the only one who can command her.
Now he's on the run across a galaxy more astonishing and treacherous than he ever imagined, where magic and technology intertwine and ancient powers lurk in the shadows. Relentlessly hunted and hopelessly lost, he needs to learn fast if he wants to survive. Only his greatest challenge isn't training to pilot a starship. It's accepting that he, of all people, is responsible for reigniting the hope of a fallen kingdom.
King Arthur’s legend may be complete, but his is just beginning…
394 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2025
3858 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
M.R. Forbes
163 books1,015 followersM.R. Forbes is the author of a growing number of science-fiction series including Rebellion, War Eternal, Chaos of the Covenant, Stars End, and the Forgotten novels. Having spent his childhood trying to read every sci-fi novel he could find (and write his own too), play every sci-fi video game he could get his hands on, and see every sci-fi movie that made it into the theater, he has a true love of the genre across every medium. He works hard to bring that same energy to his own stories, with a continuing goal to entertain, delight, fascinate, and surprise.
He maintains a true appreciation for his readers and is always happy to hear from them.
To learn more about M.R. Forbes or just say hello:
Visit his website:
mrforbes.com
Send him an e-mail:
michael@mrforbes.com
Check out his Facebook page:
facebook.com/mrforbes.author
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Find him on Goodreads:
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He maintains a true appreciation for his readers and is always happy to hear from them.
To learn more about M.R. Forbes or just say hello:
Visit his website:
mrforbes.com
Send him an e-mail:
michael@mrforbes.com
Check out his Facebook page:
facebook.com/mrforbes.author
Join his Facebook fan group:
facebook.com/groups/mrforbes
Follow him on Instagram:
instagram.com/mrforbes_author
Find him on Goodreads:
goodreads.com/mrforbes
Follow him on Bookbub:
bookbub.com/authors/m-r-forbes
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
February 17, 2025
meh
Protagonist is foolish. The story speeds from one poorly conceived encounter to the next. Apart from the beginning, there is no real time pressure for the characters yet they still just barrel through things with no real consideration. Basically lazy writing suited to a direct to video action movie. Disappointing because it could have been good.
Protagonist is foolish. The story speeds from one poorly conceived encounter to the next. Apart from the beginning, there is no real time pressure for the characters yet they still just barrel through things with no real consideration. Basically lazy writing suited to a direct to video action movie. Disappointing because it could have been good.
March 5, 2025
I'm sorry. I couldn't finish this. I got till about midway through chapter 19, and I couldn't keep looking the other way.
The story on Earth was great. Excellent writing and it instantly got me invested in the story. But as soon as Thomas met Merlin, things started falling apart.
The main issue I have is the science. It physically pains me as an astrophysicist reading this.
Minor spoilers ahead.
(1) The author wrote that matter was occupying the same space when the ship phased through the Earth - this is just impossible according to our understanding of quantum mechanics. It would have been better if the ship's molecular structure moved in between particles. (2) When Thomas was getting attacked from the 4 ship's waiting near Mars, the author wrote that Thomas was getting boxed in... how? It's space and only 4 ships. Also, that doesn't seem smart for 2 ships to be firing in each-others directions. (3) How could Merlin know the coordinates for a Galaxy he didn’t have info on for 1500 years (which, years relative to what reference frame)? Galaxies move, galaxies affect one another, we have to take into account relativity, and the universe is expanding. So that is 1500 years of potential error and randomness. One might argue that Merlin just found his galaxy again when Thomas flew into space, however, any observations made in the Sol system for a Galaxy will ve many years outdated. 1 light year is how far light will travel in 1 year. The closest galaxy to us, Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is 25,000 light years away. And finally, my last straw, how does Merlin know they are spinning. Without any reference frame or acceleration, there is absolutely no way to know. The only thing I could think of is relative to the celestial sphere of the ship, but it absolutely doesn't matter.
Anyways, my rant is over. I can't take the scientific inaccuracy in this sci-fi book, so I'm dropping it. If you are a scientist also bothered by a book not trying to maintain scientific realism, you probably will not like this series.
The story on Earth was great. Excellent writing and it instantly got me invested in the story. But as soon as Thomas met Merlin, things started falling apart.
The main issue I have is the science. It physically pains me as an astrophysicist reading this.
Minor spoilers ahead.
(1) The author wrote that matter was occupying the same space when the ship phased through the Earth - this is just impossible according to our understanding of quantum mechanics. It would have been better if the ship's molecular structure moved in between particles. (2) When Thomas was getting attacked from the 4 ship's waiting near Mars, the author wrote that Thomas was getting boxed in... how? It's space and only 4 ships. Also, that doesn't seem smart for 2 ships to be firing in each-others directions. (3) How could Merlin know the coordinates for a Galaxy he didn’t have info on for 1500 years (which, years relative to what reference frame)? Galaxies move, galaxies affect one another, we have to take into account relativity, and the universe is expanding. So that is 1500 years of potential error and randomness. One might argue that Merlin just found his galaxy again when Thomas flew into space, however, any observations made in the Sol system for a Galaxy will ve many years outdated. 1 light year is how far light will travel in 1 year. The closest galaxy to us, Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is 25,000 light years away. And finally, my last straw, how does Merlin know they are spinning. Without any reference frame or acceleration, there is absolutely no way to know. The only thing I could think of is relative to the celestial sphere of the ship, but it absolutely doesn't matter.
Anyways, my rant is over. I can't take the scientific inaccuracy in this sci-fi book, so I'm dropping it. If you are a scientist also bothered by a book not trying to maintain scientific realism, you probably will not like this series.
February 10, 2025
Poor attempt At a legend rewrite
If you change starship and replace it with sword in the book title, you pretty much get the premise of the story
It's basically King Arthur, but in space, with magic and technology
All the obvious characters are here and they all pretty.kuch hold true to form, the only omission being King Arthur himself
The problem is, the transfer of old England to future space has not been done well. The premise has promised and is most likely a 2.5* book, but I just could not bring myself to round up
I will try book 2 when it's released, but it needs to be significantly better than this one for me to eve consider going further than that
If you change starship and replace it with sword in the book title, you pretty much get the premise of the story
It's basically King Arthur, but in space, with magic and technology
All the obvious characters are here and they all pretty.kuch hold true to form, the only omission being King Arthur himself
The problem is, the transfer of old England to future space has not been done well. The premise has promised and is most likely a 2.5* book, but I just could not bring myself to round up
I will try book 2 when it's released, but it needs to be significantly better than this one for me to eve consider going further than that
March 22, 2025
Just doesn’t work
First the good: spelling, grammar, punctuation and work choice all seem to be well edited.
There’s an overall flow to the story , and the author seems to understand where.
It’s an interesting tie in of the classic Arthur tail to a sci-fi setting , and it’s got most pieces. It needs to be a good story.
The bad :
We start out with a hero who fits the modern standard of self doubting, brooding, somewhat dark. The problem is it’s not just a bit of self doubt ware deserved. It’s crippling mental illness where they can’t believe they could ever do anything useful and within the first chapter it’s both flatly stated and shown through actions they have a death wish.
This pattern is going to continue. The character constantly questioned himself, and not in the let’s build my character for the audience sort of way, more in the I’m an insecure and unreliable person who will fold under pressure.
The main character is also completely unnecessary : he never wins through intelligence, guile, planning, fortitude, or his character. It’s always some random association of events, some third-party, pulling his bacon out at the last minute, or at the beginning of the book, a brooding retreat to the bad habits of his criminal past. His skills are useful, and those things he learned in the darkness of his past could be used to build a better future, but the tone of the book is self-flagellation not thankfulness that he has the necessary skills.
His relationship with Merlin is especially problematic. Merlin lied to him nearly nonstop, in an attempt to control him like some helicopter, parent living through their child, when the hero calls Merlin on this, he flat out admit it, and we have a critical moment where the hero and Merlin could join together with a new relationship and we could see a moment of character building by the hero.
Instead, after a strong start the hero just caves , says oh I guess you’re right then, and puts Merlin back in charge of everything rather than keeping a close eye on the lying, traders, backstabbing, foolish advisor.
In the end, it’s hard to root for the hero to win . He simply doesn’t deserve it. He’s not working for it. He has no skin in the game. He’s not particularly likable. And he doesn’t have many redeeming qualities.
Merlin, who should be a wise inspiring and mystical figure in the story Comes off more as an intoxicated, backstabbing, corporate manager, trying to manipulate his way through the hierarchy.
At one point, Merlin is so eager to get moving forward he sends our here out to buy three specific things that could only possibly be used by the missing rogue starship. Not you know, go buy one thing that would be totally normal at one shop, then by the second thing at a different shop. No we had to buy them all at once.
That kind of grade school stupidity , just doesn’t fit what was supposed to be a wise experienced and powerful person, who was stored as an advisor who then had 1500 years to plan their next step.
I have hoped for this author. They have some good ideas, and their flow and pacing is in a good , even if there’s room for improvement . They need a highly critical editor to hold them accountable when their writing gets lazy or inconsistent with the story, and to challenge them to be better.
I do not recommend this book . There are many better out there.
First the good: spelling, grammar, punctuation and work choice all seem to be well edited.
There’s an overall flow to the story , and the author seems to understand where.
It’s an interesting tie in of the classic Arthur tail to a sci-fi setting , and it’s got most pieces. It needs to be a good story.
The bad :
We start out with a hero who fits the modern standard of self doubting, brooding, somewhat dark. The problem is it’s not just a bit of self doubt ware deserved. It’s crippling mental illness where they can’t believe they could ever do anything useful and within the first chapter it’s both flatly stated and shown through actions they have a death wish.
This pattern is going to continue. The character constantly questioned himself, and not in the let’s build my character for the audience sort of way, more in the I’m an insecure and unreliable person who will fold under pressure.
The main character is also completely unnecessary : he never wins through intelligence, guile, planning, fortitude, or his character. It’s always some random association of events, some third-party, pulling his bacon out at the last minute, or at the beginning of the book, a brooding retreat to the bad habits of his criminal past. His skills are useful, and those things he learned in the darkness of his past could be used to build a better future, but the tone of the book is self-flagellation not thankfulness that he has the necessary skills.
His relationship with Merlin is especially problematic. Merlin lied to him nearly nonstop, in an attempt to control him like some helicopter, parent living through their child, when the hero calls Merlin on this, he flat out admit it, and we have a critical moment where the hero and Merlin could join together with a new relationship and we could see a moment of character building by the hero.
Instead, after a strong start the hero just caves , says oh I guess you’re right then, and puts Merlin back in charge of everything rather than keeping a close eye on the lying, traders, backstabbing, foolish advisor.
In the end, it’s hard to root for the hero to win . He simply doesn’t deserve it. He’s not working for it. He has no skin in the game. He’s not particularly likable. And he doesn’t have many redeeming qualities.
Merlin, who should be a wise inspiring and mystical figure in the story Comes off more as an intoxicated, backstabbing, corporate manager, trying to manipulate his way through the hierarchy.
At one point, Merlin is so eager to get moving forward he sends our here out to buy three specific things that could only possibly be used by the missing rogue starship. Not you know, go buy one thing that would be totally normal at one shop, then by the second thing at a different shop. No we had to buy them all at once.
That kind of grade school stupidity , just doesn’t fit what was supposed to be a wise experienced and powerful person, who was stored as an advisor who then had 1500 years to plan their next step.
I have hoped for this author. They have some good ideas, and their flow and pacing is in a good , even if there’s room for improvement . They need a highly critical editor to hold them accountable when their writing gets lazy or inconsistent with the story, and to challenge them to be better.
I do not recommend this book . There are many better out there.
July 26, 2025
ChatGPT generated series
The premise is fine, but it’s hard to look past the obvious ChatGPT generated parts. It has a certain way of writing that humans don’t usually use, let alone over and over again. As an AI researcher, I can spot it a mile away. Don’t believe me? Look at the release dates - AI can crank out books quickly, but I’d rather read original stories by humans. I got to the third book and gave up.
The premise is fine, but it’s hard to look past the obvious ChatGPT generated parts. It has a certain way of writing that humans don’t usually use, let alone over and over again. As an AI researcher, I can spot it a mile away. Don’t believe me? Look at the release dates - AI can crank out books quickly, but I’d rather read original stories by humans. I got to the third book and gave up.
February 16, 2025
don’t bother
This seems to be a low input rehash of previous books. Looking at other books from the author, I can imagine asking an automated writing tool to rewrite and exiting series adding the Arthurian legend
This seems to be a low input rehash of previous books. Looking at other books from the author, I can imagine asking an automated writing tool to rewrite and exiting series adding the Arthurian legend
September 25, 2025
This took a while to get my attention, but I thought it would be pretty good. But it took a while to get started and then went into some combination of magic and sci-fi and I just don’t care. I never like it when the two are mixed. The characters are likable enough, but the story doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. And it’s nice that it’s a retelling of King Arthur, but I think the two genres just don’t mix well. I’m giving up at about 30% in. The narration is good though.
June 13, 2025
First, a note on Kindle Unlimited: It's not unlimited.
I was hoping to find plenty of scifi and fantasy options, but no such luck. And they won't let you search for specific authors. In short, save your money.
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I gave "The Starship in the Stone" a shot because it was free, and I got what I paid for.
We're talking a space opera version of the Arthurian legend, and it's a version that makes almost no sense. Arthur was betrayed by Lancelot (not with Guinevere) and his spaceship wound up crashing on Earth. It buried itself certain fathoms in the ground so it remained hidden. Somehow, Arthur got out (even though the ship was covered with hundreds of feet of soil), became the Arthur of legend, with everyone around him, friends and enemies, all having the same names as his interstellar cast of friends and enemies. Merlin didn't survive, but embedded himself in the ship's computer and is essentially alive.
The protagonist is a struggling ex-gang member who gets in trouble with the London police for saving a woman under attack, and ... well, I just can't go on because it just gets worse from there.
This is sloppy, poorly edited and gives scifi a bad name. I gave it two stars because at least M.R. Forbes appeared to be trying.
I was hoping to find plenty of scifi and fantasy options, but no such luck. And they won't let you search for specific authors. In short, save your money.
-----------
I gave "The Starship in the Stone" a shot because it was free, and I got what I paid for.
We're talking a space opera version of the Arthurian legend, and it's a version that makes almost no sense. Arthur was betrayed by Lancelot (not with Guinevere) and his spaceship wound up crashing on Earth. It buried itself certain fathoms in the ground so it remained hidden. Somehow, Arthur got out (even though the ship was covered with hundreds of feet of soil), became the Arthur of legend, with everyone around him, friends and enemies, all having the same names as his interstellar cast of friends and enemies. Merlin didn't survive, but embedded himself in the ship's computer and is essentially alive.
The protagonist is a struggling ex-gang member who gets in trouble with the London police for saving a woman under attack, and ... well, I just can't go on because it just gets worse from there.
This is sloppy, poorly edited and gives scifi a bad name. I gave it two stars because at least M.R. Forbes appeared to be trying.
June 2, 2025
“The Spaceship in the Stone” is a reworking of the Arthurian legends.
Thomas Drake is a troubled young man working as a courier in Manchester.
When he kills a man who had been trying to rob a woman he goes on the run because, in his past, he'd done time for murder. And the fact that the police seem to believe he is guilty.
Oddly enough, this was the part of the book I liked most because it gets strange quite rapidly.
Having made his way to Llanberis, Wales, he takes a mountain path and finds an old boathouse which, oddly, contains a high tech trap door!
To cut to the chase, some idiot has forgotten to lock the entrance to the greatest scientific find ever - the spaceship of King Arthur.
And the ship has an AI based on the original Merlin!
It's time to head into space and find allies to fill the 'Round Table'.
It's fantastical stuff but didn't really cut the mustard for me - take away the story of Arthur and it isn't that much different from hundreds of similar books.
3 Stars.
Thomas Drake is a troubled young man working as a courier in Manchester.
When he kills a man who had been trying to rob a woman he goes on the run because, in his past, he'd done time for murder. And the fact that the police seem to believe he is guilty.
Oddly enough, this was the part of the book I liked most because it gets strange quite rapidly.
Having made his way to Llanberis, Wales, he takes a mountain path and finds an old boathouse which, oddly, contains a high tech trap door!
To cut to the chase, some idiot has forgotten to lock the entrance to the greatest scientific find ever - the spaceship of King Arthur.
And the ship has an AI based on the original Merlin!
It's time to head into space and find allies to fill the 'Round Table'.
It's fantastical stuff but didn't really cut the mustard for me - take away the story of Arthur and it isn't that much different from hundreds of similar books.
3 Stars.
May 5, 2025
Will see. Epic start with legends but....
Interesting take on Arthurian legends. Still at its part, it's stage ooera/drama. Thomas finds himself in over his head from the get-go and is always behind the 8 ball. This type of desperate on the run drama is not really my cup of tea. They usually follow a predictable plot arc of desperation and unfathomable opposition vs. the hope and heroic desperation. Annoying. Because it is hopeless unless you have some hook or advantage to leverage like a special tech or magic ability. I don't see that hook in this series yet, so I find it mostly drama and drag. Maybe the author is setting it up for a later book, but I doubt I'll wait with no hint. The MC is self-doubter and quitter, not a rally point. A but disappointed because it's a fun premise. Well written, though, just I don't like the plot arc and where it's going.
Interesting take on Arthurian legends. Still at its part, it's stage ooera/drama. Thomas finds himself in over his head from the get-go and is always behind the 8 ball. This type of desperate on the run drama is not really my cup of tea. They usually follow a predictable plot arc of desperation and unfathomable opposition vs. the hope and heroic desperation. Annoying. Because it is hopeless unless you have some hook or advantage to leverage like a special tech or magic ability. I don't see that hook in this series yet, so I find it mostly drama and drag. Maybe the author is setting it up for a later book, but I doubt I'll wait with no hint. The MC is self-doubter and quitter, not a rally point. A but disappointed because it's a fun premise. Well written, though, just I don't like the plot arc and where it's going.
July 23, 2025
This almost felt like a "coming of age" book. The MC was so self-doubting and pitiful he presented more late teens. I THINK he was actually in his 20's, but maybe not. He's had a tough life growing up, juvie, murder, shot, mother was drug/alcohol addiction. Trying to get his life on a more even keel, he relocated from the US to UK. Things didn't go well and he ended up chased by police and finally on a buried starship with Merlin's consciousness downloaded into a "GOLEM". What followed was a breakout spaceship trip with a retelling of the downfall of Arthur and Camelot with a few knights thrown in. Just set in another galaxy with aliens and starships. It was ok, just not compelling. Overall editing and flow were decent. I may come back to book 2 (or more) since there was a bit of a hook at the end.
April 19, 2025
What a fun twist on the legends of King Arthur and Merlin! M. R. Forbes plays with the traditional story of the abandoned teen rising out of a ruined life, a street kid without a future and little hope of one, who rises to take the seat of grand promise.
This uncertain youth, with all his foibles, is utterly likable. Of course, he has his AI mentor and a skilled warrior to instruct him, but no one is accepted for the seat of power—but him! Impossible odds belong in such starship stories of heroism and luck, with the promise of odd allies and wrong enemies.
Can he save an entire galaxy from being destroyed by oppressive dragon-like conquerors?
I am confident he can, but I won’t know until I reach the end of book 3.
This uncertain youth, with all his foibles, is utterly likable. Of course, he has his AI mentor and a skilled warrior to instruct him, but no one is accepted for the seat of power—but him! Impossible odds belong in such starship stories of heroism and luck, with the promise of odd allies and wrong enemies.
Can he save an entire galaxy from being destroyed by oppressive dragon-like conquerors?
I am confident he can, but I won’t know until I reach the end of book 3.
October 4, 2025
A delightful new twist on the Arthurian legend. This seems to start slow as it sets teh stage for Thomas to find himself in an underground military location with a “starship in the stone”. It takes the reader from the present day stresses of a young man running from the law into an interstellar conflict that shows him how small his problems were compared to the bigger world/universe. The author does a very nice job of explaining how the legend of Arthur, his knights and Excalibur came about from off-world while making it believable and fun to read. I thought the book was good enough that I have already started listening to the second book.
January 21, 2026
It's a children's book.
After getting past the first few chapters set in Manchester England which were OK except possibly for some errors "lamp poles", "side-walks", "colors" and "after eating Kit Kats" later "the Mars Bars were heavy on his stomach". The main character immediately identified the artefact being excavated as a starship.
The next few chapters were awful with Merlin appearing as a glowing ball, King Arthur's round table, King Arthur of the Avalon Galaxy, reference to some uprising lead by Morgana, Draconites as a dragon like species and Lancelot turns up!
I skipped to the last page and closed it down- a waste of £4.80
After getting past the first few chapters set in Manchester England which were OK except possibly for some errors "lamp poles", "side-walks", "colors" and "after eating Kit Kats" later "the Mars Bars were heavy on his stomach". The main character immediately identified the artefact being excavated as a starship.
The next few chapters were awful with Merlin appearing as a glowing ball, King Arthur's round table, King Arthur of the Avalon Galaxy, reference to some uprising lead by Morgana, Draconites as a dragon like species and Lancelot turns up!
I skipped to the last page and closed it down- a waste of £4.80
February 2, 2025
Complex Retelling of Arthurian Legend
If you’ve not read TH White’s “The Once and Future King” then parts of this sci-fi version may escape you. For those who have, this retelling changes the background we thought we knew and replaces it with sci-fi tech and magic, spinning a tale for an alternate universe reality. Well written, though the hanging ending denies the reader any resolution for this book. Perhaps it comes in book 2, but even so I feel it a disappointment to leave book 1 unresolved.
If you’ve not read TH White’s “The Once and Future King” then parts of this sci-fi version may escape you. For those who have, this retelling changes the background we thought we knew and replaces it with sci-fi tech and magic, spinning a tale for an alternate universe reality. Well written, though the hanging ending denies the reader any resolution for this book. Perhaps it comes in book 2, but even so I feel it a disappointment to leave book 1 unresolved.
February 20, 2025
OK book, but not my cup of tea
Personally, I am not a fan of the King Arthur legend. After saying that this book was OK but the main problem with me was the doubting Thomas MC of the book. That was the theme of the entire story the MC trying to find his footing, in my opinion, he never did. The other negative of the book, a cliffhanger. You may like the story, I did not. PS the author has no idea about American gang bangers Because this character certainly does not act like one. Even though the MC is an ex gang banger they have more heart than this character does.
Personally, I am not a fan of the King Arthur legend. After saying that this book was OK but the main problem with me was the doubting Thomas MC of the book. That was the theme of the entire story the MC trying to find his footing, in my opinion, he never did. The other negative of the book, a cliffhanger. You may like the story, I did not. PS the author has no idea about American gang bangers Because this character certainly does not act like one. Even though the MC is an ex gang banger they have more heart than this character does.
May 4, 2025
I don’t often stop reading a book, but this one irritated me.
I have given up.
I got to 11% and just can’t continue. I am from the UK. I love M.R Forbes’ books, but this one has so many small irritating details which are just wrong about how things work over here with the Police, and the way people speak in general that I can’t read it. The hero is completely unlikeable, to the point where i just didn’t want to know what happened to him when he got to space.
I am incredibly sorry Forbes, but this is just not in the same league as your other masterpieces.
I have given up.
I got to 11% and just can’t continue. I am from the UK. I love M.R Forbes’ books, but this one has so many small irritating details which are just wrong about how things work over here with the Police, and the way people speak in general that I can’t read it. The hero is completely unlikeable, to the point where i just didn’t want to know what happened to him when he got to space.
I am incredibly sorry Forbes, but this is just not in the same league as your other masterpieces.
June 21, 2025
A new twist to an old story
The Arthurian legend has been told many times. More films and books you could shake a stick at, but this is a totally different story.
I was not expecting what I read, so it was a very pleasant surprise. To be honest if I'd known the premise before hand, I MORE than likely have not bothered with it. Glad I found it.
Now for the criticism. The book obviously written by someone who doesn't know British culture. There are many errors because of it, mainly the age old differences between Britain and the States. Put that aside, it is well written.
The Arthurian legend has been told many times. More films and books you could shake a stick at, but this is a totally different story.
I was not expecting what I read, so it was a very pleasant surprise. To be honest if I'd known the premise before hand, I MORE than likely have not bothered with it. Glad I found it.
Now for the criticism. The book obviously written by someone who doesn't know British culture. There are many errors because of it, mainly the age old differences between Britain and the States. Put that aside, it is well written.
August 5, 2025
Great adventure story! The blend of space sci-fi technology and magic was quite effective, more so than I anticipated. Using the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as a foundation for this book provided avenues for story development that worked very well. The evolution of Thomas, the main protagonist, was slow and deliberate. Despite this, constant action and intrigue kept the story interesting. Thomas' slow evolution made his changes more believable and helped me invest in him as the leader-to-be. I definitely look forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 19, 2025
This wasn’t bad. There’s a protagonist who is likeable despite a bad past as well as an entertaining take on Arthurian legend. There are a fair number of plot holes and unlikely coincidences, but I could overlook those since the story moved fairly fast and was basically just for fun. But, when I went to get the second book in the series, I realized that there are ten of them. Ten. I didn’t like this enough to invest that much time and energy into it. (We really need more editing these days.)
This is the first book in a 10 book series.
This is the first book in a 10 book series.
April 10, 2025
Enjoyable Arthurian sci-fi fantasy
What if Arthur, Merlin, and all the legends of Camelot were actually ... extraterrestrial? And those legends were true, but hadn't occurred on Earth, much less in our galaxy?
This fast-paced book tells how a young human with a troubled past is pulled into fighting against tyranny and evil, in a swirl of alien technology and magic.
This series is going to be a fun ride!
What if Arthur, Merlin, and all the legends of Camelot were actually ... extraterrestrial? And those legends were true, but hadn't occurred on Earth, much less in our galaxy?
This fast-paced book tells how a young human with a troubled past is pulled into fighting against tyranny and evil, in a swirl of alien technology and magic.
This series is going to be a fun ride!
August 4, 2025
Thomas an American living in England as a way to restart his life, finds himself again in trouble not of his making. A woman being attacked by a man. What can he do? After all is done the man lay dead out of self defense, but the police accuse him. Thomas will not have it so he runs. He continues to run eventually reaching Wales. When he runs into a mine and discovers a metal wall his real adventure begins. Not a wall but a spaceship.
August 7, 2025
Creative and clever twist on the Arthurian Legend
I'm always up for a good Arthur story so the description of this series peaked my interest. While I thought the story in the first chapters could have moved along a bit faster, it soon picked up speed and the parallels to the literary legend began to develop. I can't wait to get into the next book to see how the story unfolds and the characters of legend appear in this new twist on an ancient legend.
I'm always up for a good Arthur story so the description of this series peaked my interest. While I thought the story in the first chapters could have moved along a bit faster, it soon picked up speed and the parallels to the literary legend began to develop. I can't wait to get into the next book to see how the story unfolds and the characters of legend appear in this new twist on an ancient legend.
December 25, 2025
Fun read going from earth to the stars
Fun story that starts out with a bike messenger who has a troubled past and gets in trouble with the law when trying to do the right thing. He gets chosen by a Starship hidden in stone deep underground and ends up on a journey with Merlin's consciousness as an AI on the ship and on an epic journey to find his worth and to hopefully save the galaxy and universe from making Arthur's enemies.
Fun story that starts out with a bike messenger who has a troubled past and gets in trouble with the law when trying to do the right thing. He gets chosen by a Starship hidden in stone deep underground and ends up on a journey with Merlin's consciousness as an AI on the ship and on an epic journey to find his worth and to hopefully save the galaxy and universe from making Arthur's enemies.
February 9, 2025
Not what expected
Got really stuck with this book. Definitely not what I expected and got really stuck on the Excalibur, Merlin theme. Could not get into the story because of this distraction so I had to bale 48% of the way through the book. Maybe I will pick it up later and see if I can steamroll my way through.
Got really stuck with this book. Definitely not what I expected and got really stuck on the Excalibur, Merlin theme. Could not get into the story because of this distraction so I had to bale 48% of the way through the book. Maybe I will pick it up later and see if I can steamroll my way through.
February 17, 2025
You might like this.
What do you get when you mix a Recovering Juvenile Delinquent, the myth of King Arthur and a Spaceship? Oh yeah, a digital clone of Merlin?
You get this Novel. The Author has setup a robust story about the return of hope.
This is not hard science fiction. It is definitely coming of Age space opera.
Enjoy.
What do you get when you mix a Recovering Juvenile Delinquent, the myth of King Arthur and a Spaceship? Oh yeah, a digital clone of Merlin?
You get this Novel. The Author has setup a robust story about the return of hope.
This is not hard science fiction. It is definitely coming of Age space opera.
Enjoy.
February 18, 2025
Well written and should be turned into a movie franchise. With a foundation in two of the all time greats - The Sword in the Stone, & Star wars, you can't help but relate and be entertained. Combining the two is all the originality needed and there is excellent attention to detail and character development. Enjoy and patiently wait for more.
February 26, 2025
Good Read
Interesting approach to the Arthurian legend. The MC is worked into the storyline as a perpetual failure with no self confidence who almost always folds under pressure but who quickly responds to words of encouragement and rises to save the day. It becomes boring and I can only hope it doesn’t continue into book 2.
Interesting approach to the Arthurian legend. The MC is worked into the storyline as a perpetual failure with no self confidence who almost always folds under pressure but who quickly responds to words of encouragement and rises to save the day. It becomes boring and I can only hope it doesn’t continue into book 2.
March 3, 2025
Good, but . . .
A little too much introspection from the MC. Just a bit too much contrivance, although that’s not really the right word. It’s that feeling you can’t put your finger on.
I did like the world building, at least what has been described.
I’m on the fence about whether I will continue the series.
A little too much introspection from the MC. Just a bit too much contrivance, although that’s not really the right word. It’s that feeling you can’t put your finger on.
I did like the world building, at least what has been described.
I’m on the fence about whether I will continue the series.
April 14, 2025
The idea that escaping life in America for a bike courier job in Englander will lead to a quiet existence is dashed one night. MC Thomas leaps in to help someone and stands accused of the crime.
A quick sci-fi that mixes the Arthur legend with Sci-Fi makes for a fun read.
The Starship in the Stone by M.R. Forbes. I look forward to reading book 2.
A quick sci-fi that mixes the Arthur legend with Sci-Fi makes for a fun read.
The Starship in the Stone by M.R. Forbes. I look forward to reading book 2.
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