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Project: Generations #1
Generations Beyond
Hidden, buried deep within the government’s archived files of failed military experiments lays a troubling secret. For years, 1953 to 1972 to be exact, a team of doctors and scientists tried unsuccessfully to alter test subjects, hoping to build living, organic weapons for the future. Eventually the project was disbanded, labeled an abject failure – but they were wrong – it just took the passage of time and altered DNA.
Now, years later, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the original test pool are different, superior, and dangerous. Project Generations was spawned, a systematic collecting, or scrubbing, of an experiment gone awry. The Generations are hunted, collected, and eliminated before someone discovers the key to controlling them...or perhaps someone already has.
Clouded in secrecy, a General is tasked with the daunting assignment of hoarding or wiping out the past by destroying their future. Captain Christina Aarons, a cursed Generation, is dispatched by the General to locate a new partner, Captain Jonathan Cross, himself the recipient of special abilities. Together the duo battle time, the General, and unseen forces, to block the laboratory testing and genocide of their brothers and sisters.
A story steeped in plausible rhetoric, Generations Beyond will grip you and not let you go until the final page of this series is turned and the truth is revealed. Secure your copy today and discover The Generations.
Now, years later, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the original test pool are different, superior, and dangerous. Project Generations was spawned, a systematic collecting, or scrubbing, of an experiment gone awry. The Generations are hunted, collected, and eliminated before someone discovers the key to controlling them...or perhaps someone already has.
Clouded in secrecy, a General is tasked with the daunting assignment of hoarding or wiping out the past by destroying their future. Captain Christina Aarons, a cursed Generation, is dispatched by the General to locate a new partner, Captain Jonathan Cross, himself the recipient of special abilities. Together the duo battle time, the General, and unseen forces, to block the laboratory testing and genocide of their brothers and sisters.
A story steeped in plausible rhetoric, Generations Beyond will grip you and not let you go until the final page of this series is turned and the truth is revealed. Secure your copy today and discover The Generations.
188 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2015
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292 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 15, 2015
“Generations Beyond” by husband and wife author team J. A. Stinger and P. W. Stinger was, for me, a bit of a disappointment. I purchased this story based on the book blurb as the idea of a clandestine genetic experiment conducted during the post WWII Cold War era and subsequently abandoned as a failure, only to re-emerge two generations later in the grandchildren of the vets who were ‘modified’ was a very interesting premise.
I am a big fan of the Clandestine Spy Thriller type genre and this in combination with a shadowy government program and latent genetically modified ‘super-powers’ piqued my interest. Unfortunately, for me a least, this was an unfulfilled expectation.
The story would fit much more realistically into the Romance/Adventure type genre, with nearly the whole plot concentrating on the interpersonal relationship between the two main protagonists, Chris (Christina) Aarons and Johnathan Cross. There is some scene setting that alludes to the premise and some attempt to cast the characters into ‘X-Files/Dark Angel’ type roles but the follow thru is just not there. That said, my review.
Our story opens with a ‘foreshadowing’ prologue where we are introduced to Aarons, the beautiful blonde haired ex-Captain Christina Aarons, now an agent working for a mysterious organization run by General Jason Penn. We learn that she and Penn are tracking down the grandchildren of servicemen experimented on during the Generations Project, a clandestine operation designed to create genetically modified ‘supermen’. The project had been abandoned over 50 years ago as a failure, but somehow its effects and genetic mutations have begun to reemerge.
Aarons herself is ex-Army and is also the granddaughter of one of the Generations Project failures. She, we learn, has the innate ability to somehow render anyone she touches helpless within seconds and even cause their death if she maintains contact for too long a period. Her ‘superpower’ was discovered when she was in her teens, and she has been forced to work with General Penn to help him collect other Second Generations for his undisclosed purposes. Her next target, for testing and collection, is Captain Johnathan Cross, Special Forces, who is on the list of potential Second Generation candidates because his grandfather was also among the modified Navy vets. Aarons is assigned to find him, test him and ‘collect’ him if he shows evidence of latent super talents.
Unaware of this potential threat we are next introduced to Captain Johnathan Cross, currently assigned as the chief Intelligence officer at Fort Lewis in Tacoma Washington. Cross is tall, preternaturally handsome, a highly decorated Army Special Forces vet. There is an immediate ‘star-crossed-lovers’ bond and sexual tension which arises between the beautiful Aarons and the brooding, haunted Cross as they spar and banter with each other over every meticulous moment of their forced interaction.
Cross is tested for Second Generation capabilities and the outcome of this test and the subsequent interactions between Aarons and himself basically occupy the remainder of this story. Suffice to say that each detail of each day for the next few months is described meticulously.
I gave this story a rating of three stars, though it should rate two and a half in my humble opinion. It was somewhat chaotically written with a good deal of odd POV changes between the various characters. The story also loses some points for its haphazard plot, which meanders and plugs along with little actual movement or character development. There is a good deal of over exposition and quite a bit of day-by-day, (hour by hour), descriptions of outfit changes, showers, jogging, clothes shopping, car buying and home decoration. Little of this moves the plot and the reader has to plow through reams of detail to get to the next salient story point. A thorough editing with attention to the story-line and trimming of non-essential detail would benefit this work immensely.
The main point of much of the novel is the burgeoning love affair between Cross and Aarons and this becomes the only discernible story vehicle.
All that said, fans of somewhat steamy romance novels will not be disappointed as there are several somewhat gratuitous sex scenes as well as a meticulous sub plot which revolves around Aarons and her family. Overall this story premise does have great potential and I do wish the authors good luck in their future endeavors together.
I am a big fan of the Clandestine Spy Thriller type genre and this in combination with a shadowy government program and latent genetically modified ‘super-powers’ piqued my interest. Unfortunately, for me a least, this was an unfulfilled expectation.
The story would fit much more realistically into the Romance/Adventure type genre, with nearly the whole plot concentrating on the interpersonal relationship between the two main protagonists, Chris (Christina) Aarons and Johnathan Cross. There is some scene setting that alludes to the premise and some attempt to cast the characters into ‘X-Files/Dark Angel’ type roles but the follow thru is just not there. That said, my review.
Our story opens with a ‘foreshadowing’ prologue where we are introduced to Aarons, the beautiful blonde haired ex-Captain Christina Aarons, now an agent working for a mysterious organization run by General Jason Penn. We learn that she and Penn are tracking down the grandchildren of servicemen experimented on during the Generations Project, a clandestine operation designed to create genetically modified ‘supermen’. The project had been abandoned over 50 years ago as a failure, but somehow its effects and genetic mutations have begun to reemerge.
Aarons herself is ex-Army and is also the granddaughter of one of the Generations Project failures. She, we learn, has the innate ability to somehow render anyone she touches helpless within seconds and even cause their death if she maintains contact for too long a period. Her ‘superpower’ was discovered when she was in her teens, and she has been forced to work with General Penn to help him collect other Second Generations for his undisclosed purposes. Her next target, for testing and collection, is Captain Johnathan Cross, Special Forces, who is on the list of potential Second Generation candidates because his grandfather was also among the modified Navy vets. Aarons is assigned to find him, test him and ‘collect’ him if he shows evidence of latent super talents.
Unaware of this potential threat we are next introduced to Captain Johnathan Cross, currently assigned as the chief Intelligence officer at Fort Lewis in Tacoma Washington. Cross is tall, preternaturally handsome, a highly decorated Army Special Forces vet. There is an immediate ‘star-crossed-lovers’ bond and sexual tension which arises between the beautiful Aarons and the brooding, haunted Cross as they spar and banter with each other over every meticulous moment of their forced interaction.
Cross is tested for Second Generation capabilities and the outcome of this test and the subsequent interactions between Aarons and himself basically occupy the remainder of this story. Suffice to say that each detail of each day for the next few months is described meticulously.
I gave this story a rating of three stars, though it should rate two and a half in my humble opinion. It was somewhat chaotically written with a good deal of odd POV changes between the various characters. The story also loses some points for its haphazard plot, which meanders and plugs along with little actual movement or character development. There is a good deal of over exposition and quite a bit of day-by-day, (hour by hour), descriptions of outfit changes, showers, jogging, clothes shopping, car buying and home decoration. Little of this moves the plot and the reader has to plow through reams of detail to get to the next salient story point. A thorough editing with attention to the story-line and trimming of non-essential detail would benefit this work immensely.
The main point of much of the novel is the burgeoning love affair between Cross and Aarons and this becomes the only discernible story vehicle.
All that said, fans of somewhat steamy romance novels will not be disappointed as there are several somewhat gratuitous sex scenes as well as a meticulous sub plot which revolves around Aarons and her family. Overall this story premise does have great potential and I do wish the authors good luck in their future endeavors together.
October 22, 2016
I liked Arrons. Her analytical and straightforward manner painted her as a diligent and intelligent woman - someone I could live with as a POV character.
But just as I was getting into it, the POV changed to Cross - between paragraphs. There was no break, no signal to hint at a change. "Head Hopping" makes for a difficult read. Dual perspectives is fine, but this is kind of rough at times. The story is good, but takes a while to get to the point.
But just as I was getting into it, the POV changed to Cross - between paragraphs. There was no break, no signal to hint at a change. "Head Hopping" makes for a difficult read. Dual perspectives is fine, but this is kind of rough at times. The story is good, but takes a while to get to the point.
July 18, 2021
I'm trying to get through my indie books on my Kindle and this was first on the list.
It's rare that I don't finish a book, as I tend to read anything through the the end even if I'm not liking it; there's a rounded perspective I prefer.
Unfortunately, I'm done with this story. I actually started it quite a long time back, but was pulled away for various reasons. December is my reading month this year, so I thought I'd get back on it, as I remember being interested in where it was going. I was all geared up for some kind of X-Men/Heroes adventure trope, but it just turned into some unnecessary erotica (I'm at about 50%) after chapters and chapters of endless--and not particularly charming-flirting. I'll read anything, so this ain't no prude thing. But when you're sold an action adventure based around mutations, and it started out good and heading towards this direction, but actually get one based around a character trying to work out why the other can't be touched just so he can screw her...? A lot of the stuff that happens between these characters
This is the issue. It took less than 50% of the book for one character to find out how the other one's mutation can basically be turned moot, so great, no suspense and no real tension to build now they know they can screw. This story was basically just a vehicle to get two characters together, and write hardcore sex scenes, which was a disservice to them both as they started out interesting. Just write an erotica sci-fi or a romance, there's nothing wrong with doing that, but please don't sell it as science fiction.
I'm disappointed because I love the premise. I've always liked stories in the vein of X-Men and genetic engineering, and I wanted to read the story that's in the blurb. The writing isn't bad (but could have been polished better), but you go with it. The reason I stopped is because there is no way to rebuild the tension between them, and therefore nothing for me to root for. It makes for a boring second half, so I'll move on.
It's rare that I don't finish a book, as I tend to read anything through the the end even if I'm not liking it; there's a rounded perspective I prefer.
Unfortunately, I'm done with this story. I actually started it quite a long time back, but was pulled away for various reasons. December is my reading month this year, so I thought I'd get back on it, as I remember being interested in where it was going. I was all geared up for some kind of X-Men/Heroes adventure trope, but it just turned into some unnecessary erotica (I'm at about 50%) after chapters and chapters of endless--and not particularly charming-flirting. I'll read anything, so this ain't no prude thing. But when you're sold an action adventure based around mutations, and it started out good and heading towards this direction, but actually get one based around a character trying to work out why the other can't be touched just so he can screw her...? A lot of the stuff that happens between these characters
This is the issue. It took less than 50% of the book for one character to find out how the other one's mutation can basically be turned moot, so great, no suspense and no real tension to build now they know they can screw. This story was basically just a vehicle to get two characters together, and write hardcore sex scenes, which was a disservice to them both as they started out interesting. Just write an erotica sci-fi or a romance, there's nothing wrong with doing that, but please don't sell it as science fiction.
I'm disappointed because I love the premise. I've always liked stories in the vein of X-Men and genetic engineering, and I wanted to read the story that's in the blurb. The writing isn't bad (but could have been polished better), but you go with it. The reason I stopped is because there is no way to rebuild the tension between them, and therefore nothing for me to root for. It makes for a boring second half, so I'll move on.
November 22, 2015
The government experimented on test subjects in the 50s - 70s. They attempted to alter the genetic code in them to create super soldiers. The results were considered a failure and the project was shut down. several generations later the results of the experiment begin to manifest in the DNA of Captain Christina Aarons and Captain Jonathan Cross. Together they are trying to stop the extermination of all the children of the original test subjects.
That's the basic premise of the book and it's a sound one. The characters were intriguing and fun. The book is self-published and an editor could have turned this book from a good read into a great one. For about the first few chapters I found the book to be a bit of a slog. Lots of unnecessary exposition and the only thing that kept pulling me through were the strength of the characters. I'm glad I stuck with it, the story is a strong. It's more of an adult romance than an action thriller, but I'm good with that.
I would have given this book 5 stars if the book didn't end on a cliffhanger. I'm in favor of cliffhangers between chapters and have stayed up extra hours because I couldn't put the book down, but when I come to the end of a book I want to put it down. I love books that give you unresolved threads to pull for future stories, but I don't like to be left twisting. The best example I have is the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, each book is a case file with an overarching story, it wasn't until book 12 Changes that he left his readers on a cliffhanger. After twelve books, it felt earned and went on to an mazing next book. I feel like we didn't quite get there with Generations Beyond, but I'm also willing to stick around for book 2. I do want to see this resolved and I care enough about Aarons and Cross to be along for the ride.
Looking forward to the next.
That's the basic premise of the book and it's a sound one. The characters were intriguing and fun. The book is self-published and an editor could have turned this book from a good read into a great one. For about the first few chapters I found the book to be a bit of a slog. Lots of unnecessary exposition and the only thing that kept pulling me through were the strength of the characters. I'm glad I stuck with it, the story is a strong. It's more of an adult romance than an action thriller, but I'm good with that.
I would have given this book 5 stars if the book didn't end on a cliffhanger. I'm in favor of cliffhangers between chapters and have stayed up extra hours because I couldn't put the book down, but when I come to the end of a book I want to put it down. I love books that give you unresolved threads to pull for future stories, but I don't like to be left twisting. The best example I have is the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, each book is a case file with an overarching story, it wasn't until book 12 Changes that he left his readers on a cliffhanger. After twelve books, it felt earned and went on to an mazing next book. I feel like we didn't quite get there with Generations Beyond, but I'm also willing to stick around for book 2. I do want to see this resolved and I care enough about Aarons and Cross to be along for the ride.
Looking forward to the next.
July 15, 2016
This is a really great read, of the vicissitudes of the life of a lone woman, who by some crooks or turns found herself on the rough side of life. Aarons or Christina, as she was variously referred to in the story, finally met Jonathan, her match. She discovers that Jonny, as he too was generally referred to, is bird of the same feather. They become a team. But their work together is fraught with danger.
The love scene, the only time it was openly shown was nothing less than erotic. I was happy that it was only shown so explicitly that one time. I don’t like erotic! However, the story was very interest capturing, it held my attention to the end.
With a story this good, one would expect that the author should have taken extra care to deliver an error free manuscript. Alas! the story has its fair share of edit problems, which I hope the author will redress. These are little omissions here and there, a bit too many to be ignored. Otherwise, the story is beautiful. I enjoyed reading it.
The love scene, the only time it was openly shown was nothing less than erotic. I was happy that it was only shown so explicitly that one time. I don’t like erotic! However, the story was very interest capturing, it held my attention to the end.
With a story this good, one would expect that the author should have taken extra care to deliver an error free manuscript. Alas! the story has its fair share of edit problems, which I hope the author will redress. These are little omissions here and there, a bit too many to be ignored. Otherwise, the story is beautiful. I enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews