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Old Mans Comeback #2
Nomads Gate: Old Mans Comeback Book 2
Flip and Sorsha didn’t plan to land in a warzone.
They only wanted answers, from the elusive Collectors, no less. But their quest for a legendary Kultarin AI leads them to The Hostel, a refuge for the galaxy’s outcasts and criminals, where peace is a threadbare illusion and betrayal hides behind every corner.
The Collectors offer secrets wrapped in riddles, forcing Flip and Sorsha into a dangerous game of trust and deception. Outside forces circle, ready to tear the fragile sanctuary apart, while inside, chaos brews and time is running out.
The truth could save an entire culture. Or destroy it.
They only wanted answers, from the elusive Collectors, no less. But their quest for a legendary Kultarin AI leads them to The Hostel, a refuge for the galaxy’s outcasts and criminals, where peace is a threadbare illusion and betrayal hides behind every corner.
The Collectors offer secrets wrapped in riddles, forcing Flip and Sorsha into a dangerous game of trust and deception. Outside forces circle, ready to tear the fragile sanctuary apart, while inside, chaos brews and time is running out.
The truth could save an entire culture. Or destroy it.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2025
523 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
John Walker
1,210 books163 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 6, 2025
Sci-fi
Very entertaining looking forward to reading the entire set of the stories to see where it is headed and where May end
Very entertaining looking forward to reading the entire set of the stories to see where it is headed and where May end
December 8, 2025
[Jim C. - Long review; I got carried away a little bit. This is a very good book and if you’ve read the first one, then you should continue on with this one. It’s very interesting!]
This is becoming a very interesting story. Of course I was initially drawn to it because the main character or at least one of the main characters was an old 75 year old man from Earth! That’s me! But there all similarities end, for sure! “Flip” Kinnely used to be a janitor in a big company that did secret squirrel work for the Department of Defense on Earth. He was living out his days doing menial tasks and just getting old, older as we all are. Then something happened at the warehouse he worked in; something that soon changed his entire life. Wow!
He me a young lady by the name of Sorsha who desperately needed his help. Her starship had crashed on Earth and she needed him to help get it back. Well, they eventually did even though it wasn’t easy for a 75 year old guy. But what Sorsha was looking for was an ancient artifact her people had possessed a long, long time ago and lost. Now they desperately need it. They found one in a nearby museum, but by that time, the federal authorities were after them.
Well, not actually Feds, but some experts in security that was hired by the secret squirrel company that Flip had worked for. Those guys had orders to get her back at any expense and that including eliminating the old man that had helped her. But, before these guys found the both of them, they had gotten into the museum and found the item Sorsha needed. It was a sarcophagus which needed a power source to work. Sorsha knew that with this device, the people of her home planet might be able to survive a devastating pandemic that was afflicting them. With Flip’s help, she was able to find the battery near where the sarcophagus was being store. Meanwhile, Flip had been badly wounded by the guys trying to capture them both.
At the last minute, Sorsha decided to drop Flip into the sarcophagus and fire it up. Well, the effect it had on Flip was very pronounced. He stirred from this stone coffin feeling much, much better than he had in thirty or forty years. He was able to jump from the sarcophagus and help Sorsha and himself to flee from the museum. They got back to her ship and then went back to the museum and picked up the ancient sarcophagus. But, sadly, the battery Sorsha had used on it this one time, died because it was so old. In order to get it to work again, she needed to find another battery or even another working sarcophagus.
For Flip, his change was extraordinary. He once was an elder gentleman of 75, but not looked and felt like he was 25 again, about the same age as Sorsha. He asked if she knew it would do this to him and if she did, why did she do it. She said there wasn’t any other way to save his life. The sarcophagus was a very powerful medical machine that could and did cure many ailments for her people but they had forgotten how to build them or even how to use one. The pandemic affecting her people had made them less able to understand advanced technology and further, they were losing their will to even learn new things. She needed to get a working sarcophagus back to her home planet. She asked Flip if he would like to join her.
Now Flip had to think just a few minutes about this. If he stayed, he’d eventually be caught and tried for his crime of helping her escape. Doesn’t matter the exact laws that were broken, they’d make something up in order to keep him confined for the remainder of his natural or unnatural life. He was going to be examined by every scientist the government had to find out had he had become young again. So, stay and go to prison or flee and go with a very beautiful young woman, whose only difference from a human was her skin color of blue. Flip made the same choice and went into space. He went a long, long ways into space.
Sorsha had been provided information as to the whereabouts of various lost Kultarin artifacts by a group known as the Collectors. They seemed to be willing to help her but not get involved themselves. Their first tip had lead her to Earth so it seemed they knew what they were talking about. Now, after she had explained to these Collectors what had happened on Earth, they sent them to another place only to find out it had been looted and was also the lair of a dangerous monster. Not only that, but another group of aliens called the Mahshi, wanted any tech associated with the Kultarin civilization. They were a private society and would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
Sorsha and Flip ran into them while at their first stop after leaving Earth. They managed to escape, barely but now needed to contact the Collectors for a new lead on where to go. There was rumors of a Kultarin AI still operating some where and it could give them all the information they needed to either solve the pandemic or lead to more sarcophagus. So, they got a short, encrypted message to go to the *Hostel* and someone would contact them.
Well, the *Hostel* turns out to be a very interesting place. It’s ran by someone who calls himself the “Concierge”. He knows a lot about what Sorsha and Flip are about, but he’s willing to help them if they help him. Seems like one of the domes on the planet they are on has something not right going on inside. The Concierge wants Flip and Sorsha to find out who’s behind this vacant dome activity and stop it if they can. Once they do so, he’s willing to assist them in all their future efforts even though he doesn’t exactly know what that is.
Flip volunteers to go to the dome with two security personnel even though he doesn’t want to do so. Nether he nor Sorsha have the resources to continue on much longer without some kind of help. And as long as the Mahshi don’t show up, they might be able to get some help.
Turns out, this is going to be a very trying times for both Flip and Sorsha. They can’t trust any one and even the Collectors are coming into question as whether they are a help or a danger. This book has a very interesting story and it’s not over with this book. The next book, “Lost Civilization”, is now available on Amazon and I’m certainly adding it to my lengthy reading list. One last thing, I’m not sure what the title of this book has to do with the book. I don’t recall anything named “Nomads Gate” while reading the book so that’s kind of a puzzle. Maybe you can figure it out and drop me a comment?
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==
This is becoming a very interesting story. Of course I was initially drawn to it because the main character or at least one of the main characters was an old 75 year old man from Earth! That’s me! But there all similarities end, for sure! “Flip” Kinnely used to be a janitor in a big company that did secret squirrel work for the Department of Defense on Earth. He was living out his days doing menial tasks and just getting old, older as we all are. Then something happened at the warehouse he worked in; something that soon changed his entire life. Wow!
He me a young lady by the name of Sorsha who desperately needed his help. Her starship had crashed on Earth and she needed him to help get it back. Well, they eventually did even though it wasn’t easy for a 75 year old guy. But what Sorsha was looking for was an ancient artifact her people had possessed a long, long time ago and lost. Now they desperately need it. They found one in a nearby museum, but by that time, the federal authorities were after them.
Well, not actually Feds, but some experts in security that was hired by the secret squirrel company that Flip had worked for. Those guys had orders to get her back at any expense and that including eliminating the old man that had helped her. But, before these guys found the both of them, they had gotten into the museum and found the item Sorsha needed. It was a sarcophagus which needed a power source to work. Sorsha knew that with this device, the people of her home planet might be able to survive a devastating pandemic that was afflicting them. With Flip’s help, she was able to find the battery near where the sarcophagus was being store. Meanwhile, Flip had been badly wounded by the guys trying to capture them both.
At the last minute, Sorsha decided to drop Flip into the sarcophagus and fire it up. Well, the effect it had on Flip was very pronounced. He stirred from this stone coffin feeling much, much better than he had in thirty or forty years. He was able to jump from the sarcophagus and help Sorsha and himself to flee from the museum. They got back to her ship and then went back to the museum and picked up the ancient sarcophagus. But, sadly, the battery Sorsha had used on it this one time, died because it was so old. In order to get it to work again, she needed to find another battery or even another working sarcophagus.
For Flip, his change was extraordinary. He once was an elder gentleman of 75, but not looked and felt like he was 25 again, about the same age as Sorsha. He asked if she knew it would do this to him and if she did, why did she do it. She said there wasn’t any other way to save his life. The sarcophagus was a very powerful medical machine that could and did cure many ailments for her people but they had forgotten how to build them or even how to use one. The pandemic affecting her people had made them less able to understand advanced technology and further, they were losing their will to even learn new things. She needed to get a working sarcophagus back to her home planet. She asked Flip if he would like to join her.
Now Flip had to think just a few minutes about this. If he stayed, he’d eventually be caught and tried for his crime of helping her escape. Doesn’t matter the exact laws that were broken, they’d make something up in order to keep him confined for the remainder of his natural or unnatural life. He was going to be examined by every scientist the government had to find out had he had become young again. So, stay and go to prison or flee and go with a very beautiful young woman, whose only difference from a human was her skin color of blue. Flip made the same choice and went into space. He went a long, long ways into space.
Sorsha had been provided information as to the whereabouts of various lost Kultarin artifacts by a group known as the Collectors. They seemed to be willing to help her but not get involved themselves. Their first tip had lead her to Earth so it seemed they knew what they were talking about. Now, after she had explained to these Collectors what had happened on Earth, they sent them to another place only to find out it had been looted and was also the lair of a dangerous monster. Not only that, but another group of aliens called the Mahshi, wanted any tech associated with the Kultarin civilization. They were a private society and would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
Sorsha and Flip ran into them while at their first stop after leaving Earth. They managed to escape, barely but now needed to contact the Collectors for a new lead on where to go. There was rumors of a Kultarin AI still operating some where and it could give them all the information they needed to either solve the pandemic or lead to more sarcophagus. So, they got a short, encrypted message to go to the *Hostel* and someone would contact them.
Well, the *Hostel* turns out to be a very interesting place. It’s ran by someone who calls himself the “Concierge”. He knows a lot about what Sorsha and Flip are about, but he’s willing to help them if they help him. Seems like one of the domes on the planet they are on has something not right going on inside. The Concierge wants Flip and Sorsha to find out who’s behind this vacant dome activity and stop it if they can. Once they do so, he’s willing to assist them in all their future efforts even though he doesn’t exactly know what that is.
Flip volunteers to go to the dome with two security personnel even though he doesn’t want to do so. Nether he nor Sorsha have the resources to continue on much longer without some kind of help. And as long as the Mahshi don’t show up, they might be able to get some help.
Turns out, this is going to be a very trying times for both Flip and Sorsha. They can’t trust any one and even the Collectors are coming into question as whether they are a help or a danger. This book has a very interesting story and it’s not over with this book. The next book, “Lost Civilization”, is now available on Amazon and I’m certainly adding it to my lengthy reading list. One last thing, I’m not sure what the title of this book has to do with the book. I don’t recall anything named “Nomads Gate” while reading the book so that’s kind of a puzzle. Maybe you can figure it out and drop me a comment?
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==
November 12, 2025
When I realized, after the fact, that this was the perfect book to read while waiting for the doctor, I knew this one was a five rating. Long waits in eye doctor's offices can be so...., but this book made the wait not noticeable except as a rude interruption to the story when the nurses came. The main characters continue to get to know each other, and at least three more secondary characters are introduced. All characters have enough fleshing out to be interesting in their own way. Flip and Sorsha continue to work at becoming a team and being patient with each other's quirks and very different culture back grounds. Lots of action, mystery, and just plain fun, since I the read is not the one being shot at. I will start the third book in the series in a few minutes. I am glad the first three books of the series are available in paper form and I wish #4 and 5 would become so, as I don't do p;lease reading on screen, but by the real printed page.
September 6, 2025
Slow progress but still frustrating for them
Flip and Sorsha are following the lead she found in the hopes of getting useful information from the Collectors. However they aren’t given a warm welcome. Worse, a local Boss has asked them to accomplish a dangerous task before they can find their contact from the Collectors.
Needless to say, they run into quite a few obstacles to overcome before they can reach their goal.
Flip and Sorsha are following the lead she found in the hopes of getting useful information from the Collectors. However they aren’t given a warm welcome. Worse, a local Boss has asked them to accomplish a dangerous task before they can find their contact from the Collectors.
Needless to say, they run into quite a few obstacles to overcome before they can reach their goal.
October 3, 2025
Worth reading
This was an enjoyable read. Good follow-up to the first book. The story develops well, the characters are well defined. The only issue is have is the spell checking and proof reading are lacking . Lots of misspelled and wrong words. Can be distracting. But it is still a good story
This was an enjoyable read. Good follow-up to the first book. The story develops well, the characters are well defined. The only issue is have is the spell checking and proof reading are lacking . Lots of misspelled and wrong words. Can be distracting. But it is still a good story
July 5, 2025
Chapter 2 is as good as the 1st
Characters are getting better as we go. Story is well written with good twists and turns to keep it fun and engaging.
Really looking forward to the next adventure!
Well done!
Characters are getting better as we go. Story is well written with good twists and turns to keep it fun and engaging.
Really looking forward to the next adventure!
Well done!
July 22, 2025
great read about fist contact
It’s a lot of fun to read and also has a message. My hope is it will be a third series since I have questions and also wonder if my theories are correct.
Thank you, John
It’s a lot of fun to read and also has a message. My hope is it will be a third series since I have questions and also wonder if my theories are correct.
Thank you, John
July 25, 2025
I got completely into this book couldn't put it down enjoyed it tremendously.
Ounce the story and characters got going it moved fast and develop into a great read. There's many interesting characters and twit s
Along the way.
Ounce the story and characters got going it moved fast and develop into a great read. There's many interesting characters and twit s
Along the way.
July 27, 2025
Excellent
Someone once said "a good book is one that you can't wait to finish, and then when it does you don't want it to" . This was one that I was happy when it was done... Oh well... Moving on.
Someone once said "a good book is one that you can't wait to finish, and then when it does you don't want it to" . This was one that I was happy when it was done... Oh well... Moving on.
August 18, 2025
Good Read!
It is a good read. I find some of the characters guilt and over concern about people including their enemies to not fit with the story but i am not the author. I will still read the next book in the series.
It is a good read. I find some of the characters guilt and over concern about people including their enemies to not fit with the story but i am not the author. I will still read the next book in the series.
August 26, 2025
Great space opera
This is a fun read for fans of Earth people adapting to the universe. It also explores fears that we have regarding giving AI to much control. Can't wait for book three.
This is a fun read for fans of Earth people adapting to the universe. It also explores fears that we have regarding giving AI to much control. Can't wait for book three.
October 11, 2025
Action packed, never a dull moment.
This was a good sequel to the last one, Artifact. I like the way you set up the villains and kept the action moving without killing the good guy off. As a writer I won't give away the plot or offer a spoiler but I really like the book.
This was a good sequel to the last one, Artifact. I like the way you set up the villains and kept the action moving without killing the good guy off. As a writer I won't give away the plot or offer a spoiler but I really like the book.
November 12, 2025
Not bad cause I want to read the next book in the series soon and I have downloaded it, but I need to finish another book I just started first. Good thing it is the last available book in its series so I can get back to this one in a few days.
July 13, 2025
enjoyable
I enjoyed reading this book. In fact I read instead of doing some other things that I should have been doing.
I enjoyed reading this book. In fact I read instead of doing some other things that I should have been doing.
Read
July 18, 2025Full of grammar and spelling mistakes. Story was intriguing but we need a book three or more to finish the story.
July 29, 2025
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
August 23, 2025
The search continues
Guess the best laid plans always have glitches! But, our team seems to always get a break and a chance to continue!
Guess the best laid plans always have glitches! But, our team seems to always get a break and a chance to continue!
September 27, 2025
well written
Great series with interesting characters, a well written interesting easy read. Love good reads with multiple books in the series.
Great series with interesting characters, a well written interesting easy read. Love good reads with multiple books in the series.
November 5, 2025
Fast moving but verging on same plot undertones, see what the next one brings
November 11, 2025
Very fun
Love the characters and action. Well done cultural variations. Look forward to more books are the saga is unfolding. Bravo
Love the characters and action. Well done cultural variations. Look forward to more books are the saga is unfolding. Bravo
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews