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Old Mans Comeback #3
Lost Civilization
The Collectors were supposed to be the answer. Now, their erratic, contradictory intel makes them the biggest question mark. Flip and Sorsha must race against time to uncover the truth behind their rogue assets, but their investigation is about to lead them into a labyrinth of danger they never imagined.
As the conspiracy against the Hostel explodes, assassins emerge from the shadows, ready to spill blood. The Collectors may have ignited the fuse, but a far more sinister puppeteer is pulling the strings, intent on unleashing pure chaos before claiming their ultimate prize. Can Kesta and his companions untangle the web of lies before it's too late? Or will the colony fall to ruin?
As the conspiracy against the Hostel explodes, assassins emerge from the shadows, ready to spill blood. The Collectors may have ignited the fuse, but a far more sinister puppeteer is pulling the strings, intent on unleashing pure chaos before claiming their ultimate prize. Can Kesta and his companions untangle the web of lies before it's too late? Or will the colony fall to ruin?
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2025
292 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
John Walker
1,009 books164 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 14, 2025
Another enthralling read
Walker is the author who keeps on giving. Even if you can recognise similarities in his various plots. I don't care. Once you start reading, you cannot stop. Carry on Mr Walker. How long before the next chapter in this series is published.
Walker is the author who keeps on giving. Even if you can recognise similarities in his various plots. I don't care. Once you start reading, you cannot stop. Carry on Mr Walker. How long before the next chapter in this series is published.
January 15, 2026
This isn’t the best writing that John Walker has done. I hate to say that because I’ve read so many of his books and they are usually very well written. Yet, the dialogue between the main characters, Sorsha Ritaktha and Raymond “Flip” Kinnely, seems very stilted or not natural. These two get along Ok, but they just don’t seem to communicate with flowing dialogue that you’d expect from a seasoned writer. It doesn’t necessarily hinder the story, it’s just kind of an annoyance in my humble opinion.
While Sorsha and Flip really haven’t had any kind of a “breather” on their search for lost Kultarin tech., they have found an ally of sorts in Kesta Orat, a.k.a., the Concierge of the Hostel. He has agreed to allow them to stay at his, well, hotel, and provide them with support in their search. He knows about the *Collector* or *Collectors* and has been in communications with one for some time. Neither he nor Sorsha or Flip know exactly who these *Collectors* are. They are mysterious voices heard on the radios telling them where to go to collect certain Kultarin technology.
Sorsha has relied on her *Collector* contact to send her to places she probably would never have gone. Once such place was Earth where she eventually met Flip and saved his life. But, she has increasingly become suspect of the *Collectors* since the last time they sent her some where, she almost got killed. So now she believes it’s time to go find these *Collectors* and clear the air as to why they seemed to set her up for danger in their last mission.
Still, in that last mission, Sorsha and Flip managed to acquire a Kultarin AI named Gia. This AI had been stuck on a planet for centuries. So long that the population of that planet had gone feral and almost managed to kill both Sorsha and Flip before they could escape. They did tear down the building that housed Gia, but Sorsha and Flip managed to get back to their starship, install Gia and then flee with their lives. The fact that a bunch of Mahshi came to the same planet and tried to capture or kill the two was something Sorsha wanted to know why. The Mahshi were nothing but cut-throat pirates that stole everything they could get their hands on and they desperately wanted any Kultarin technology. If they had gotten their hands on Gia, there would have been no stopping their raids on other potential Kultarin tech hiding places.
But, the Mahshi had been dealt with on the planet so Sorsha felt now was the time to go find out who or what were the Collectors. They set up a plan where Kesta would contact his Collector telling him something that got him to stay on the frequency they were using long enough for Gia in Sorsha’s starship to trace the transmission. They successfully got that done.
The only problem was the signal kind of terminated near three different star systems and Gia couldn’t pin down the location of the transmitting device from this far away. So, Sorsha and Flip took off once again into deep space to find out what they could. Flip has begun to wonder what he’s doing out there in deep space with no real means of ever getting back to Earth. If their ship suddenly had trouble or they were attacked, then they would be forever lost in deep space. There was no one they could actually count on to come rescue them since no one really knew what they were up to.
Sorsha, on the other hand, couldn’t believe she was doing what she had been or was doing. She had been a librarian back on her home planet. Only because she knew the history of her people and that they were dying, got her to leave her comfort zone and attempt to find some kind of Kultarin lost technology that could restore their civilization. She didn’t eve know if what she was doing was possible, yet she was driven to do it. It just so happened that Flip, an Earth human, had decided to come along and help out.
What they are going to confront during this book is very, very much unexpected. I’m also not sure this mission will accomplish much, but it might. They won’t be just going to one place, but to an even stranger place that gives them some hope of finding more Kultarins alive and thriving. Well, maybe not alive!
I’m going to continue reading this series although as I said, the dialogue isn’t the best. It’s gets the job done, but I know John Walker has written smoother books than this one. Next up is book 4, “The Last Element”, now available on Amazon.
==[Note 1 (12/23/2025): I’m no longer associated with Amazon and will no longer provide any links to books from that website. You can usually find books that you like at your usual source.]==
==[Note 2: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be posted on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. ]==
While Sorsha and Flip really haven’t had any kind of a “breather” on their search for lost Kultarin tech., they have found an ally of sorts in Kesta Orat, a.k.a., the Concierge of the Hostel. He has agreed to allow them to stay at his, well, hotel, and provide them with support in their search. He knows about the *Collector* or *Collectors* and has been in communications with one for some time. Neither he nor Sorsha or Flip know exactly who these *Collectors* are. They are mysterious voices heard on the radios telling them where to go to collect certain Kultarin technology.
Sorsha has relied on her *Collector* contact to send her to places she probably would never have gone. Once such place was Earth where she eventually met Flip and saved his life. But, she has increasingly become suspect of the *Collectors* since the last time they sent her some where, she almost got killed. So now she believes it’s time to go find these *Collectors* and clear the air as to why they seemed to set her up for danger in their last mission.
Still, in that last mission, Sorsha and Flip managed to acquire a Kultarin AI named Gia. This AI had been stuck on a planet for centuries. So long that the population of that planet had gone feral and almost managed to kill both Sorsha and Flip before they could escape. They did tear down the building that housed Gia, but Sorsha and Flip managed to get back to their starship, install Gia and then flee with their lives. The fact that a bunch of Mahshi came to the same planet and tried to capture or kill the two was something Sorsha wanted to know why. The Mahshi were nothing but cut-throat pirates that stole everything they could get their hands on and they desperately wanted any Kultarin technology. If they had gotten their hands on Gia, there would have been no stopping their raids on other potential Kultarin tech hiding places.
But, the Mahshi had been dealt with on the planet so Sorsha felt now was the time to go find out who or what were the Collectors. They set up a plan where Kesta would contact his Collector telling him something that got him to stay on the frequency they were using long enough for Gia in Sorsha’s starship to trace the transmission. They successfully got that done.
The only problem was the signal kind of terminated near three different star systems and Gia couldn’t pin down the location of the transmitting device from this far away. So, Sorsha and Flip took off once again into deep space to find out what they could. Flip has begun to wonder what he’s doing out there in deep space with no real means of ever getting back to Earth. If their ship suddenly had trouble or they were attacked, then they would be forever lost in deep space. There was no one they could actually count on to come rescue them since no one really knew what they were up to.
Sorsha, on the other hand, couldn’t believe she was doing what she had been or was doing. She had been a librarian back on her home planet. Only because she knew the history of her people and that they were dying, got her to leave her comfort zone and attempt to find some kind of Kultarin lost technology that could restore their civilization. She didn’t eve know if what she was doing was possible, yet she was driven to do it. It just so happened that Flip, an Earth human, had decided to come along and help out.
What they are going to confront during this book is very, very much unexpected. I’m also not sure this mission will accomplish much, but it might. They won’t be just going to one place, but to an even stranger place that gives them some hope of finding more Kultarins alive and thriving. Well, maybe not alive!
I’m going to continue reading this series although as I said, the dialogue isn’t the best. It’s gets the job done, but I know John Walker has written smoother books than this one. Next up is book 4, “The Last Element”, now available on Amazon.
==[Note 1 (12/23/2025): I’m no longer associated with Amazon and will no longer provide any links to books from that website. You can usually find books that you like at your usual source.]==
==[Note 2: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be posted on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. ]==
February 8, 2026
Great Potential, but missed it by that much 99.
I’m still enjoying this series, but Book 3 has some real ups and downs. The suspense is definitely there, and the plot isn’t to predictable, which I appreciate. Walker is also great at descriptive writing in many scenes—I had no trouble picturing the scenes as they happened.
However, the storytelling feels a bit thin this time around. It’s basically just one action scene after another without much depth. For example, a warship is introduced, but then the author just... ignores it. It felt like an afterthought, leaving me wondering why it was even there. Between that and some "woke" introspective parts that felt really odd for this story. I kept losing my immersion in the universe becuase of thia and the editorial errors.
As it started in book 1, I was really hoping for something closer to riveting Asimov’s level of world-building detail, but the author never gets there. Some sections were so out of theme, they actually felt AI-generated.
The most annoying part is the editing. Just like the last two volumes, there are constant typos and missing words that totally ruin the flow. It’s a fun series, but it’s frustrating to see the same basic mistakes over and over.
Bottom line: A solid, entertaining story, but the lack of creative depth and poor editing keep it from being great.
I’m still enjoying this series, but Book 3 has some real ups and downs. The suspense is definitely there, and the plot isn’t to predictable, which I appreciate. Walker is also great at descriptive writing in many scenes—I had no trouble picturing the scenes as they happened.
However, the storytelling feels a bit thin this time around. It’s basically just one action scene after another without much depth. For example, a warship is introduced, but then the author just... ignores it. It felt like an afterthought, leaving me wondering why it was even there. Between that and some "woke" introspective parts that felt really odd for this story. I kept losing my immersion in the universe becuase of thia and the editorial errors.
As it started in book 1, I was really hoping for something closer to riveting Asimov’s level of world-building detail, but the author never gets there. Some sections were so out of theme, they actually felt AI-generated.
The most annoying part is the editing. Just like the last two volumes, there are constant typos and missing words that totally ruin the flow. It’s a fun series, but it’s frustrating to see the same basic mistakes over and over.
Bottom line: A solid, entertaining story, but the lack of creative depth and poor editing keep it from being great.
November 16, 2025
I've been in too many waiting rooms for long periods of time lately. This book was life saver while waiting for the mechanical problems of my vehicle to be solved. This book has interesting characters, lots of action, interesting situations, characters who are growing, and is just plain an absorbing read. The book did make the wait for the mechanic lots easier. I have read the three books in this series in paper. I face a big problem now since the next book is not published in paper. Please, Mr. Walker, allow your books to be published in paper. I do so much screen time that I want my leisure reading to be in real paper.
September 8, 2025
Danger everywhere!
Flip and Sorsha are continuing their efforts to find a Spark, along with an updated Registry. Unfortunately for them they are constantly being pushed into nearly lethal situations by various groups. Worse still they are coming to realize that the Collectors are not always trustworthy sources of information.
The Concierge is facing new challenges too, with chaotic events rapidly becoming a serious threat to not only his control of the Hostel but causing injuries and death to the community.
Flip and Sorsha are continuing their efforts to find a Spark, along with an updated Registry. Unfortunately for them they are constantly being pushed into nearly lethal situations by various groups. Worse still they are coming to realize that the Collectors are not always trustworthy sources of information.
The Concierge is facing new challenges too, with chaotic events rapidly becoming a serious threat to not only his control of the Hostel but causing injuries and death to the community.
August 19, 2025
Good Story But …
It is a good story but the characters spend a lot of time in self recrimination for their actions, concern about their enemies, and other misguided thinking. Despite that they survive and continue their adventure.
It is a good story but the characters spend a lot of time in self recrimination for their actions, concern about their enemies, and other misguided thinking. Despite that they survive and continue their adventure.
October 11, 2025
Another jem in the series...
What can I say I got hooked! Can hardly wait for the next one. The characters are likable, the villains are villainous, and the action is continuous. Never a dull moment with these. Appreciate your work, John.
What can I say I got hooked! Can hardly wait for the next one. The characters are likable, the villains are villainous, and the action is continuous. Never a dull moment with these. Appreciate your work, John.
August 9, 2025
Not that great
Sounds like a first book from a new author….not at all like the many John Walker books I’ve read. Isn’t even a close match to other books he’s written!
Sounds like a first book from a new author….not at all like the many John Walker books I’ve read. Isn’t even a close match to other books he’s written!
August 27, 2025
Sold as a three part story. Wrong!
Plot twist become obvious, weird, unnecessary.
Waste of money!
Plot twist become obvious, weird, unnecessary.
Waste of money!
August 27, 2025
Still have to want more!
More plot twists keep me reading and wondering where this ends! What more can happen to the pair as the try to save her people!
More plot twists keep me reading and wondering where this ends! What more can happen to the pair as the try to save her people!
August 30, 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!
September 5, 2025
Good follow up
I enjoyed this follow up to Namads Gate. The author kept my interest in the on-going adventures of Flip & Sorsha
I enjoyed this follow up to Namads Gate. The author kept my interest in the on-going adventures of Flip & Sorsha
November 12, 2025
More of the same enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews