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Old Mans Comeback #4
The Last Element
The galaxy is never short on danger—but this time, it might be too much even for them.
Sorsha and Flip have stared down death before, but their latest mission is anything but routine. Sent to recover a Spark to operate the Resurrection Box, they land on a strange world where nothing is as it seems. What begins as a simple pickup explodes into a fight for survival, with unusual enemies lurking in every shadow and a threat they never imagined.
Back at the Hostel, trouble brews on an even greater scale. Kesta Orat and Bolst Losely are taken captive by a mysterious enemy, and escape is their only hope to save not just themselves, but everyone who calls the settlement home. Outnumbered and out of time, they’ll have to risk everything to turn the tide.
Sorsha and Flip have stared down death before, but their latest mission is anything but routine. Sent to recover a Spark to operate the Resurrection Box, they land on a strange world where nothing is as it seems. What begins as a simple pickup explodes into a fight for survival, with unusual enemies lurking in every shadow and a threat they never imagined.
Back at the Hostel, trouble brews on an even greater scale. Kesta Orat and Bolst Losely are taken captive by a mysterious enemy, and escape is their only hope to save not just themselves, but everyone who calls the settlement home. Outnumbered and out of time, they’ll have to risk everything to turn the tide.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2025
About the author
John Walker
1,070 books174 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 15, 2026
We’re back with a story that is kind of getting lost. Sorsha Ritaktha (Kultarin) and Flip Kinnely (Earth) are supposed to be searching for one or more “Sparks” to get the Resurrection Box operational. That Box will help restore Sorsha’s Kultarin civilization back to its former glory. Yet they keep going on side trips that aren’t necessarily focused on that mission.
Right now they have followed a lead that led them to a planet where they thought a Collector or Collectors were located. What they found was a man who had been submerged in a tub for decades. His mind had almost gone but definitely had split into two personalities. One was very helpful to Sorsha, providing her leads on where to go to help her fined a Spark or a working Resurrection Box. The other personality was just the opposite and was frankly trying to kill her and anyone helping her.
They had managed to free the man in the tub whom they called Cade. He was now recovering from his ordeal and they really didn’t know which personality would be forthcoming with his recovery. Meanwhile, they had to manage their current situation. The facility they were in had been attacked by some strange creatures that had almost gotten through their robotic defenses. Neither Sorsha nor Flip knew why they were attacking but they also knew that their robotic defenders were not operating to their full potential so there was a possibility that the facility could be overran.
Flip had chosen to go out and set some sensors around the facility so maybe they could see any attacks coming early. Unfortunately, he found out that his enemies had ground-to-air missiles. They damaged his shuttle which crashed and they Flip was attacked by these strange creatures. It was daylight which helped since the creatures were very afraid of sunlight. While Flip was trying to get out of the crashed shuttle, he fell into a hole that took him down into a tunnel complex. How was he going to find his way out and surely he was going to find more of those savage creatures that very well might end him.
After that struggle, Sorsha and Flip received information from Gia, their on-board AI, who had gone through the Registry and found a potential source for Sparks! So they loaded up the *Ilisn* and headed out. What they found was a planet that seemed to be normal from space but turned out very unusual when they landed. It seems that every where they go, they have fight someone or something to achieve their goal. This adventure goes the same. Surprisingly, it turns out that most of the enemies they face a not real. They are holograms but they have energy projection capabilities as does every building in this strange city. What that means for Sorsha and Flip is that their enemies weapons can kill just as if the entities firing them were real.
So, if Sorsha and Flip are successful in obtaining a Spark or Sparks, will they then head back to Earth? That’s certainly what they should do. They need to recover the Box that Flip had used to restore himself back to a twenty something year old man. Then they would take the Box back to Sorsha’s home planet to help her people.
But, things back at the *Hostel* were not going so well. And this is really the second part of this book. Kesta and Bolst had been kidnapped by unknown entities. They are in a tram headed somewhere, but manage to rescue themselves and get out of the tram. Yet, they don’t really know where they are. Then they find an entrance to a dome, but still not sure which one nor how they will be received. They attempt to contact the citizens in the dome only to find out they are all paranoid idiots and start shooting at them as soon as they see Bolst and Kesta. They have a big problem in finding out who’s after them, who’s trying to kill them and why are these people so hostile.
Sorsha and Flip will not be heading back to Earth right now. I don’t know when they will actually start working on their original mission. It seems they have something coming up at every turn. Now they face an old enemy that is much more powerful than they are. We’ll find out more in book 5, “Loyalty”, 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. ]==
Right now they have followed a lead that led them to a planet where they thought a Collector or Collectors were located. What they found was a man who had been submerged in a tub for decades. His mind had almost gone but definitely had split into two personalities. One was very helpful to Sorsha, providing her leads on where to go to help her fined a Spark or a working Resurrection Box. The other personality was just the opposite and was frankly trying to kill her and anyone helping her.
They had managed to free the man in the tub whom they called Cade. He was now recovering from his ordeal and they really didn’t know which personality would be forthcoming with his recovery. Meanwhile, they had to manage their current situation. The facility they were in had been attacked by some strange creatures that had almost gotten through their robotic defenses. Neither Sorsha nor Flip knew why they were attacking but they also knew that their robotic defenders were not operating to their full potential so there was a possibility that the facility could be overran.
Flip had chosen to go out and set some sensors around the facility so maybe they could see any attacks coming early. Unfortunately, he found out that his enemies had ground-to-air missiles. They damaged his shuttle which crashed and they Flip was attacked by these strange creatures. It was daylight which helped since the creatures were very afraid of sunlight. While Flip was trying to get out of the crashed shuttle, he fell into a hole that took him down into a tunnel complex. How was he going to find his way out and surely he was going to find more of those savage creatures that very well might end him.
After that struggle, Sorsha and Flip received information from Gia, their on-board AI, who had gone through the Registry and found a potential source for Sparks! So they loaded up the *Ilisn* and headed out. What they found was a planet that seemed to be normal from space but turned out very unusual when they landed. It seems that every where they go, they have fight someone or something to achieve their goal. This adventure goes the same. Surprisingly, it turns out that most of the enemies they face a not real. They are holograms but they have energy projection capabilities as does every building in this strange city. What that means for Sorsha and Flip is that their enemies weapons can kill just as if the entities firing them were real.
So, if Sorsha and Flip are successful in obtaining a Spark or Sparks, will they then head back to Earth? That’s certainly what they should do. They need to recover the Box that Flip had used to restore himself back to a twenty something year old man. Then they would take the Box back to Sorsha’s home planet to help her people.
But, things back at the *Hostel* were not going so well. And this is really the second part of this book. Kesta and Bolst had been kidnapped by unknown entities. They are in a tram headed somewhere, but manage to rescue themselves and get out of the tram. Yet, they don’t really know where they are. Then they find an entrance to a dome, but still not sure which one nor how they will be received. They attempt to contact the citizens in the dome only to find out they are all paranoid idiots and start shooting at them as soon as they see Bolst and Kesta. They have a big problem in finding out who’s after them, who’s trying to kill them and why are these people so hostile.
Sorsha and Flip will not be heading back to Earth right now. I don’t know when they will actually start working on their original mission. It seems they have something coming up at every turn. Now they face an old enemy that is much more powerful than they are. We’ll find out more in book 5, “Loyalty”, 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. ]==
September 12, 2025
“Run!” (he or she said)
Unfortunately for Flip and Sorsha, all too often they are forced by situations that make it critical for one or both to flee to save their lives!
They are continuing their search for Kultarian technology in the hopes of not only fixing the box that healed Flip but to get better protection from attack & to hit harder in offense.
Unfortunately for Flip and Sorsha, all too often they are forced by situations that make it critical for one or both to flee to save their lives!
They are continuing their search for Kultarian technology in the hopes of not only fixing the box that healed Flip but to get better protection from attack & to hit harder in offense.
September 18, 2025
A really fun space opera
I'm not sure how these guys are going to save the hostel, but I can't wait to find out. It's predictable, but that's part of the fun! One step forward, two steps back.
I'm not sure how these guys are going to save the hostel, but I can't wait to find out. It's predictable, but that's part of the fun! One step forward, two steps back.
October 11, 2025
So far so good!
I loved the complicated plot twists. I was wondering how you going to put it all together... you did well. I'm becoming a real fan. Can't hardly wait to read the last one in the series.
I loved the complicated plot twists. I was wondering how you going to put it all together... you did well. I'm becoming a real fan. Can't hardly wait to read the last one in the series.
December 28, 2025
Good series
These books really move along. Several lines moving forward at all times. Each thread has strong tie to the main characters while having their own lives and issues to deal with. A lot of growth in the characters. Fast paced great read.
These books really move along. Several lines moving forward at all times. Each thread has strong tie to the main characters while having their own lives and issues to deal with. A lot of growth in the characters. Fast paced great read.
September 6, 2025
A good story continues
This story continues to be interesting and has many twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. I look forward to the next installment.
This story continues to be interesting and has many twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. I look forward to the next installment.
September 21, 2025
Lots of action
Action packed with lots of twists and turns, new aliens, new friends and excellent character building. Highly recommend this series
Action packed with lots of twists and turns, new aliens, new friends and excellent character building. Highly recommend this series
November 17, 2025
Good continuation of the story
March 22, 2026
Better
The author seems to have hit his stride with this book. The story flowed better and the action sequences were smoother. I’m looking forward to the next book.
The author seems to have hit his stride with this book. The story flowed better and the action sequences were smoother. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews