The Phantom Fleet

by Julien Boyer

Cold war between Earth and Mars. A massive invasion fleet suddenly appears off the corner of the solar system, headed towards Earth. The nearest patrol ship is sent to investigate, with little chance of survival.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2015

Reviews

[Jyoti Dahiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute piece of space opera, fast paced, with humour and a sly take on all kinds of tropes. The protagonist emerges as an... unexpected... person, very delightful. The trusty AI sidekick is well done, too. The end is deadpan not-so-happy-ending that made me laugh.

I was fully prepared to roll my eyes at laser beams lighting up the interstellar medium, spaceships that whiz between Mars, Earth and Moon within hours, but the author thankfully assures us these are artistic liberties. As long as there is no dodging between asteroids, I'm good.

Read it. It's fun.

[GREGG CORDELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

I thought this book was a good little read and it went together pretty good . It could have used a little more background in what was going on before the ghost fleet had shown up. However I think that the story is just beginning as they find more and more alien technology on the ships or from the aliens themselves.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Space

I have read too many poor stories lately, but I found this one refreshing. Like most sci-fi you have to be able to suspend your disbelief. As an avid reader I am used to it. I felt this story was well written and fairly well developed. I liked the characters. I just wanted more. Looking forward to what this author comes out with later. Give this one a try.

[james holt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very poorly written. Focus on action with no character development. Hard to follow. I am sure the author had a vision of what was happening but the ideas did not translate. Good idea just poorly communicated

[neal mirin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's start out with good

A great storyline, a funny carrottur,but a weak story telling, more research is need, but for someone how is just starting out not to bad.

[Jefrois · Rating 1 out of 5]

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Fricking silly.
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[cathey dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

New sci-fi

By George I think you've got the start of a great sci-fi, not withstanding the mathematical problems. Keep up the good work.

[Michael Wood]

Neat Little Space Opera Short Story

Thoroughly Enjoyable Military Space Opera Short Story...nothing fancy, nothing long, nothing too detailed; just a short story of a single battle and three space fleets...Reminds me of the stories in the old SF monthlies...Pretty darn good!

[Marek Pawlowski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Naprawdę nie podobała mi się ta krótka opowieść. Bohaterowie wydawali się jednowymiarowi, trochę jakby do statku kosmicznego o ogromnej sile rażenia wsadzić wyluzowanych nastolatków jadących na szkolną wycieczkę. Przez to, że książka wymusza, w mojej opinii dość nieudolnie, „wyluzowaną” atmosferę, jest ona zbyt chaotyczna, zarazem będąc zbyt prostą. W skład tej opowieści wchodzi także autorefleksja autora nad tym, jak z czasem uda mu się stworzyć kosmiczną sagę epickich rozmiarów, co wypada dość słabo. No cóż, opowieść jest bardzo krótka, więc możecie przekonać się sami, czy warto czekać na dalsze części.

I really didn’t like this short story. The main heroes seemed to be one-dimensional, it was like to let some school children travel a spaceship with a great firepower. In my opinion because of the fact that the author incompetently creates a very “cool” atmosphere, the book appears to be too chaotic and at the same time too simplistic. At the end of this work we can find some author’s self-reflection about him writing the epic sci-fi story in the future but considering what I’ve read it just sounds rather lamely. Well, this novel is very short so you can find out by yourself whether it is worth to wait for the rest.

[Tracey Liberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

Not bad grabs your attention right off the bat. I understand its a short story. To me it was just too damn short along with anticlimactic ending. Something you fine in the middle of the beginning of a Great Star Wars book before it starts to get really good and juicy. Looking forward for the rest of it.

[Tim Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella that I read from start to finish on the bus to work this is a fun piece of space opera but to fast moving and short for any real charcter development, the plot is a bit thin as well, but the action is well written & it engaged me.

[Barbara Pettengill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast action.

Accurate and fast paced. Too short. I was ready to read a lot more r e. I hope to see a military space opera from the author soon.

[Iain · Rating 2 out of 5]

This made me think of bad fan-fiction, almost gave up reading half way through.

[Jesse Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the story would make a fantastic series.

Thank you Julian Hoyer for a great story that I believe would make a series of adventure and humor. A new fan.

[Ashley Carper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. I think you will enjoy this one.

[Rafael Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but Satisfying

The book moved quickly. I thought there was a good balance of new technical terms and common language. I also liked the character Lexi. She had just the right amount of "attitude."