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Toy Starship
Evan Marshall was a decorated Marine until a deadly mistake ended his career. Now he drifts between dead-end jobs and cheap motels, running from a guilt he can’t escape. When his estranged sister dies, Evan heads home carrying more regret than hope, uncertain whether anything of his old life can still be salvaged.
A garage sale find. A cheap gift for the nephew who hates him. That’s all the toy starship was supposed to be. Instead, the simple peace offering opens the door to something far more unbelievable, extraordinary, and dangerous than he ever imagined.
Because the starship isn’t a toy at all.
The discovery carries Evan beyond Earth and into a sprawling galaxy of distant worlds, ancient powers, and unfolding conflicts. But his initial wonder quickly gives way to desperate survival when he learns he’s not the only one who knows about the ship. They’ve been searching for it for a long, long time, and there’s nothing they won’t do to get it from him.
They say you can never go home again.
They were right.
A garage sale find. A cheap gift for the nephew who hates him. That’s all the toy starship was supposed to be. Instead, the simple peace offering opens the door to something far more unbelievable, extraordinary, and dangerous than he ever imagined.
Because the starship isn’t a toy at all.
The discovery carries Evan beyond Earth and into a sprawling galaxy of distant worlds, ancient powers, and unfolding conflicts. But his initial wonder quickly gives way to desperate survival when he learns he’s not the only one who knows about the ship. They’ve been searching for it for a long, long time, and there’s nothing they won’t do to get it from him.
They say you can never go home again.
They were right.
- GenresScience Fiction
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2026
About the author
M.R. Forbes
214 books1,051 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
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
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 8, 2026
I loved it! I like the way Forbes has combined thriller elements to a SciFi story. Excellent Writing, unique and engaging storyline.
Can’t wait to read Möbius #2! I hope it releases soon.
Can’t wait to read Möbius #2! I hope it releases soon.
March 7, 2026
great book to read!
This adventure was on earth and the in the stars. Very enjoyable kept me captivated throughout the book. Evan was the main character and rose from failure in life to a life worth living in
This adventure was on earth and the in the stars. Very enjoyable kept me captivated throughout the book. Evan was the main character and rose from failure in life to a life worth living in
March 2, 2026
lots of deux ex machina, and a cliffhanger ending
The book starts out a little slow, and then does a decent job of introducing us to the main character.
The main character has some flaws, but does recognize them and start to try to grow past them. Or at least he says he intends to. Events happen fast enough that we never find out if he would’ve done so.
The story itself is kind of weak, lots of perfectly time to accidents that work either for or against the hero, but boggle all sense of reality.
There’s also no clear plan for victory. The entire story is him trying to figure out how to run a magic spaceship in another universe.
That solves nothing for him in this universe, so all of his effort is functionally wasted.
Further, the story seems to conflict itself in the cliffhanger. At one point we’re told moving between universes is a one-way trip, but then when we meet the character from one universe in another, so there are questions.
Overall, this author has a lot of potential, but really needs to work on storyboarding his plots better.
The book starts out a little slow, and then does a decent job of introducing us to the main character.
The main character has some flaws, but does recognize them and start to try to grow past them. Or at least he says he intends to. Events happen fast enough that we never find out if he would’ve done so.
The story itself is kind of weak, lots of perfectly time to accidents that work either for or against the hero, but boggle all sense of reality.
There’s also no clear plan for victory. The entire story is him trying to figure out how to run a magic spaceship in another universe.
That solves nothing for him in this universe, so all of his effort is functionally wasted.
Further, the story seems to conflict itself in the cliffhanger. At one point we’re told moving between universes is a one-way trip, but then when we meet the character from one universe in another, so there are questions.
Overall, this author has a lot of potential, but really needs to work on storyboarding his plots better.
February 10, 2026
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
I did not know what to expect when I got this book.
Rather than dissecting the characters i will only say this .
GET IT. If you don't you will be missing on a fantastic spellbinding read!
Albert.
I did not know what to expect when I got this book.
Rather than dissecting the characters i will only say this .
GET IT. If you don't you will be missing on a fantastic spellbinding read!
Albert.
April 23, 2026
A Real Page Turner…
Made the mistake of starting this book when I went to bed last night…finally put it down when I saw the sunrise. It totally drew me in. I can’t wait to start the second book.
Made the mistake of starting this book when I went to bed last night…finally put it down when I saw the sunrise. It totally drew me in. I can’t wait to start the second book.
March 31, 2026
M. R. shows his skill as an author in the pace and movement of this book. I put off reading this book because it thought the title meant it was a simplistic story, but I am glad I have read it, and the # 2 in this series.
A beat-up, decorated Marine is running from life and responsibility as the book opens. He thinks that the only things he has to offer is "I'm sorry" to those he has disappointed. When the need comes, his training kicks in, and he is a different person. The dual personality is a disappointment and frustration in the story. His guilt on needing others, especially his sister, paralyzes him, and tends to get tedious in the story.
This book is really a "part 1" of this story and has a very incomplete resolution. Part 2, the next book, gets him involved with the starship and the multiple empires a war in a galaxy far-far away.
I enjoyed this story of a 21st century man being thrust into a galactic war with FTL travel and the mysteries of that interaction. I hope you do too.
A beat-up, decorated Marine is running from life and responsibility as the book opens. He thinks that the only things he has to offer is "I'm sorry" to those he has disappointed. When the need comes, his training kicks in, and he is a different person. The dual personality is a disappointment and frustration in the story. His guilt on needing others, especially his sister, paralyzes him, and tends to get tedious in the story.
This book is really a "part 1" of this story and has a very incomplete resolution. Part 2, the next book, gets him involved with the starship and the multiple empires a war in a galaxy far-far away.
I enjoyed this story of a 21st century man being thrust into a galactic war with FTL travel and the mysteries of that interaction. I hope you do too.
May 23, 2026
Vet suffering from PTSD finds a toy that turns out to be a kind of a key to an advanced alien starship. Okay, I’m willing to suspend disbelief thus far.
Somewhat predictably, there are various groups that want to recover the artifact—although where they’ve been up to now is not explained. Our hero fights them off and goes on the run. Fortunately he hooks up with an old army buddy who gives him a place to hole up while he starts to figure out how to operate the alien ship (thank goodness they’re built to the same size and shape that we are!) and how to read the alien alphabet(!)
This is where my credulity started to wear thin. There are human languages that haven’t been deciphered yet, but our hero cracks the hieroglyphs.
Two things stuck out. It was heavy on the guns. M17, M24, SIG Sauer, yada yada yada. It’s a shame a bit more description couldn’t have been spent on the milieu. Everyone is tired or weary, which is shorthand for the rundown environment, but it was overused.
I’ll not be picking up the sequel
Somewhat predictably, there are various groups that want to recover the artifact—although where they’ve been up to now is not explained. Our hero fights them off and goes on the run. Fortunately he hooks up with an old army buddy who gives him a place to hole up while he starts to figure out how to operate the alien ship (thank goodness they’re built to the same size and shape that we are!) and how to read the alien alphabet(!)
This is where my credulity started to wear thin. There are human languages that haven’t been deciphered yet, but our hero cracks the hieroglyphs.
Two things stuck out. It was heavy on the guns. M17, M24, SIG Sauer, yada yada yada. It’s a shame a bit more description couldn’t have been spent on the milieu. Everyone is tired or weary, which is shorthand for the rundown environment, but it was overused.
I’ll not be picking up the sequel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2026
A recent vet suffering from PTSD from a friendly fire incident and grieving for his sister finds a toy starship that is a portal to a real starship in deep space. Of course, he finds himself in the middle of an interstellar firefight in space with men in black pursuing him on Earth.
The premise is silly, but Forbes gets the pacing right. The conflict on Earth keeps the action going. The military details are convincing. It reminds me of Joe Haldeman’s Work for Hire.
I appreciate the difficulty of learning to read alien-language computer screens, but there is too much hand-waving at the technology. 3.5.
The premise is silly, but Forbes gets the pacing right. The conflict on Earth keeps the action going. The military details are convincing. It reminds me of Joe Haldeman’s Work for Hire.
I appreciate the difficulty of learning to read alien-language computer screens, but there is too much hand-waving at the technology. 3.5.
June 16, 2026
Oorah!
I have just read a book and apart from the ground work about the toy ship, the only thing that I have established is that US marines are rough and tough. Although fairly well written, it’s way too wordy. I was bored reading the description of the starship. So much unnecessary detail it was impossible to build a mental picture.
I don’t know about other SciFi fans, but the variance between the obvious soviet style clunky ships and a mobius strip ship meant that there aren’t any ‘rules’. The Author can manipulate the story Willy nilly. Not for me. Evan, you’re on your own. Semper Fi.
I have just read a book and apart from the ground work about the toy ship, the only thing that I have established is that US marines are rough and tough. Although fairly well written, it’s way too wordy. I was bored reading the description of the starship. So much unnecessary detail it was impossible to build a mental picture.
I don’t know about other SciFi fans, but the variance between the obvious soviet style clunky ships and a mobius strip ship meant that there aren’t any ‘rules’. The Author can manipulate the story Willy nilly. Not for me. Evan, you’re on your own. Semper Fi.
February 4, 2026
Warning! Nonstop action!
Crap. No, not the story. It’s the fact that I once again have to wait for the next book in what clearly is going to be a great series. I’m much happier with starting a finished series.
This is a refreshing twist to the “I found a starship” easy story line that’s oh so familiar in the sci-fi genre. Very fast paced and hard to put down (which I didn’t). Forbes has once again given us a great story and I am already impatiently waiting for the next in the series. Unfortunately, it may be a while as this just released. 😢
Crap. No, not the story. It’s the fact that I once again have to wait for the next book in what clearly is going to be a great series. I’m much happier with starting a finished series.
This is a refreshing twist to the “I found a starship” easy story line that’s oh so familiar in the sci-fi genre. Very fast paced and hard to put down (which I didn’t). Forbes has once again given us a great story and I am already impatiently waiting for the next in the series. Unfortunately, it may be a while as this just released. 😢
February 5, 2026
Standard story of Earthling finding= alien technology and uses it to travel the stars. Conflict is that others want that technology as well. Our hero is a former marine and is one mean fighting machine. Hero is not perfect and has many human flaws but once a path is found he does not lose focus on the goal. Fun read. Ends on a cliff hanger. Am still looking forward to reading the sequel.
Kindle unlimited borrow. Alexa audio read application used to listen to book.
Kindle unlimited borrow. Alexa audio read application used to listen to book.
March 16, 2026
fantastic
Another fantastic story by Mr. Forbes. I got slow in starting but once I got into it, I couldn’t put the book down. It is absolutely fantastic and so enjoyable so different from everything else once again I wish there was an AI could interpret things, but I think that’s been written to death and this new look at trying to decipher things and trying to get ahead is so amazing.
Another fantastic story by Mr. Forbes. I got slow in starting but once I got into it, I couldn’t put the book down. It is absolutely fantastic and so enjoyable so different from everything else once again I wish there was an AI could interpret things, but I think that’s been written to death and this new look at trying to decipher things and trying to get ahead is so amazing.
March 25, 2026
Not bad but it was more about a marine killing and shooting than SciFi. I mean he kills a bunch of “aliens”. The alien angle could have been more imaginative. Maybe with a talking spaceship or universal translator. But then what would the marine study to decipher the ship. OK, I’ll give the author that point. Overall not bad but 5 stars only goes writers such as Asimov, Heinlein, Herbert, Clarke, a few others. Difficult to be that good.
June 22, 2026
Slow, Slower, Slower-er
Did I mention it's slow??? Draaaags on and on. It's obvious before buying the book what it's about so the "Big Reveal" is flat. Flatter than all the chapters trying to build it up. But good old Forbs won't let it go, everything he tries to build suspense around is just as obvious, just as drawn out, just as flat. This book has some promise, but to be able to read without brain damage the reader will have to skip ahead...
.ps
Did I mention it's slow?
Did I mention it's slow??? Draaaags on and on. It's obvious before buying the book what it's about so the "Big Reveal" is flat. Flatter than all the chapters trying to build it up. But good old Forbs won't let it go, everything he tries to build suspense around is just as obvious, just as drawn out, just as flat. This book has some promise, but to be able to read without brain damage the reader will have to skip ahead...
.ps
Did I mention it's slow?
July 11, 2026
Suspend any sense of logic.
It is an ok read, but way too many unbelievable escapes from over complicated situations. Also, the premise that the hero can decipher an alien language in a few days and fly a supposedly highly sophisticated space ship is just too much for me.
If you are willing to suspend all disbelief, then it s a moderately fun read. I read the second book, hoping the leaps of faith would settle down - no such luck. Not sure if I want to continue with 3 thru 6.
It is an ok read, but way too many unbelievable escapes from over complicated situations. Also, the premise that the hero can decipher an alien language in a few days and fly a supposedly highly sophisticated space ship is just too much for me.
If you are willing to suspend all disbelief, then it s a moderately fun read. I read the second book, hoping the leaps of faith would settle down - no such luck. Not sure if I want to continue with 3 thru 6.
March 3, 2026
We know the basic beats to such a story so it is always interesting to see what an author does with them. I like the setup and the way the author makes the alien technology and language so very alien. However, it just kept going and going with lots of description while the story continually hit about three main points and not in ways that showed us anything new. I found this boring.
March 5, 2026
This Sheriff IS the Marine
I have read most everything Mr Forbes has written. After bidding farewell to a character set I was very comfortable with I wondered what might come next. This was very hard to put down and is a definite action packed page turner. Five stars and highly recommend.
I have read most everything Mr Forbes has written. After bidding farewell to a character set I was very comfortable with I wondered what might come next. This was very hard to put down and is a definite action packed page turner. Five stars and highly recommend.
March 18, 2026
I loved this book
I am partial to any book that uses my name and my city,I also owned a red ford ranger. I was impressed but the Gault house would have been a better choice. The story was fun the concept was interesting and filled with plot problems. I will read the next book because hate cliff hangers. Great job keep up the good work.
I am partial to any book that uses my name and my city,I also owned a red ford ranger. I was impressed but the Gault house would have been a better choice. The story was fun the concept was interesting and filled with plot problems. I will read the next book because hate cliff hangers. Great job keep up the good work.
April 8, 2026
Boring. Repetitive. Over the top fighting sequences he survives due only to his.. marine training? Seems far far fetched to me.
Able to translate an alien language? He magically can!
Don't use the device or they'll find me.. and he has his friend do just that AT HIS HOME.
This book could have been so much better.
Able to translate an alien language? He magically can!
Don't use the device or they'll find me.. and he has his friend do just that AT HIS HOME.
This book could have been so much better.
July 1, 2026
an interesting concept
I enjoyed the book. I kept wondering how he would and how to run the starship since he didn’t know the language or the alphabet. Evan sees himself as a protector and having killed one of his buddies by mistake is devastating. The battle to keep the starship effigy out of the wrong hands gives him purpose again.
I enjoyed the book. I kept wondering how he would and how to run the starship since he didn’t know the language or the alphabet. Evan sees himself as a protector and having killed one of his buddies by mistake is devastating. The battle to keep the starship effigy out of the wrong hands gives him purpose again.
March 15, 2026
I enjoyed it very much
Started a little slow, but picks up steam as you get into the book. Maybe some topics a little drawn out and too much about remorse about warfighting…it is a job and a good war fighter has a switch.
Started a little slow, but picks up steam as you get into the book. Maybe some topics a little drawn out and too much about remorse about warfighting…it is a job and a good war fighter has a switch.
March 17, 2026
Excellent sci-fi Space drama
This saga grabs your attention and will not let you go. Two former marines find themselves struggling to learn enough about the mini starship in their hands before other groups can steal the craft. I look forward to learn more of their struggles.
This saga grabs your attention and will not let you go. Two former marines find themselves struggling to learn enough about the mini starship in their hands before other groups can steal the craft. I look forward to learn more of their struggles.
March 22, 2026
Good
Interesting challenge with the parallel universe and trying to find common linguistics. I enjoyed the finding of the Tory spaceship and how it was integrated into the story with the threats. The plot is a little bit focused on sequel, and I guess I kind of like that.
Interesting challenge with the parallel universe and trying to find common linguistics. I enjoyed the finding of the Tory spaceship and how it was integrated into the story with the threats. The plot is a little bit focused on sequel, and I guess I kind of like that.
April 5, 2026
I love it
This is the most realistic story I’ve ever read about someone who finds a starship. It makes sense that it wouldn’t have an AI that understands English and that there would be a learning curve. I’m getting the next one.
This is the most realistic story I’ve ever read about someone who finds a starship. It makes sense that it wouldn’t have an AI that understands English and that there would be a learning curve. I’m getting the next one.
May 1, 2026
Recommend Read.
Well written, good plot with realistic scenarios with multiple threats from different unknown groups. Recommend reading it if you like sci-fi, it’s not a retake on Star Wars, Star Trek, or Battlestar Galactic. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Well written, good plot with realistic scenarios with multiple threats from different unknown groups. Recommend reading it if you like sci-fi, it’s not a retake on Star Wars, Star Trek, or Battlestar Galactic. Looking forward to reading the next one.
May 10, 2026
A Real Pageturner
Well worth reading.
Very well written and truly engaging. Although the initial backgrounding seemed somewhat slow, I regretted that the cliffhanger ending came and look forward to further engagement with the sequel(s).
Well worth reading.
Very well written and truly engaging. Although the initial backgrounding seemed somewhat slow, I regretted that the cliffhanger ending came and look forward to further engagement with the sequel(s).
May 27, 2026
Quite an interesting premise for the first book in a series. I liked having no idea of where the story was going. A different take on having aliens on Earth. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next in Book 2.
February 8, 2026
Marine in over his head - maybe - will training pay off ?
Good read : can't wait until the next one comes out to see what happens next to this over his head Marine.
Good read : can't wait until the next one comes out to see what happens next to this over his head Marine.
February 9, 2026
Great story! Can’t wait for the next in the series.
February 10, 2026
A surprisingly intense story
Didn’t take long to get me hooked. Now that I am, book two shouldn’t be too far away as this is a great start.
Didn’t take long to get me hooked. Now that I am, book two shouldn’t be too far away as this is a great start.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews