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Shadows of the Void #1
Generation
INFECTION - POSSESSION - GENERATION
What if the alien who wants to kill you looks exactly like your best friend?
Chief Security Officer Jas Harrington must protect her starship’s crew from hostile aliens. For the efficient if quick-tempered Jas, that hasn’t been too hard up till now. But the captain is drug-addled, and he’s hungry for the bonuses he gets from finding valuable resources on new worlds.
When the captain won’t listen to Jas’ fears about a mysterious planet, he is compromised by contact with a strange life form. A life form that threatens to take over the entire ship and return to Earth, where it can spread its deadly infection.
Now Jas is in a race against time, fighting to quarantine the alien infection and prevent the aliens from achieving their goal: Generation. She doesn't realize it yet, but as she fights to save her crew, the future of all humanity hangs in the balance.
What if the alien who wants to kill you looks exactly like your best friend?
Chief Security Officer Jas Harrington must protect her starship’s crew from hostile aliens. For the efficient if quick-tempered Jas, that hasn’t been too hard up till now. But the captain is drug-addled, and he’s hungry for the bonuses he gets from finding valuable resources on new worlds.
When the captain won’t listen to Jas’ fears about a mysterious planet, he is compromised by contact with a strange life form. A life form that threatens to take over the entire ship and return to Earth, where it can spread its deadly infection.
Now Jas is in a race against time, fighting to quarantine the alien infection and prevent the aliens from achieving their goal: Generation. She doesn't realize it yet, but as she fights to save her crew, the future of all humanity hangs in the balance.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2016
571 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Green
105 books391 followersJ.J. Green is a British-Australian science fiction author with a lifelong love of distant landscapes, intriguing cultures and fascinating places. She was born within the sound of the bells of Mary-le-Bow church in Cheapside, London, making her a bona fide Cockney, and she lived in Australia, Laos and Taiwan before returning to the UK to settle down in Cambridge.
Green’s novels weave science-based speculation with richly personal stories. Her works explore themes of environmental degradation, political conflict, mythical resonance, human resilience, and the ethics of technology and expansion. Her characters—often strong women—navigate future worlds grounded in both scientific plausibility and mythic imagination.
Sign up to J.J. Green's reader group at jjgreenauthor.com
Green’s novels weave science-based speculation with richly personal stories. Her works explore themes of environmental degradation, political conflict, mythical resonance, human resilience, and the ethics of technology and expansion. Her characters—often strong women—navigate future worlds grounded in both scientific plausibility and mythic imagination.
Sign up to J.J. Green's reader group at jjgreenauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 22, 2019
A great space opera adventure, more to follow 😊
So I nominated this book as Decembers read in the Space Opera Group, and it won. So having read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it, here is my review.
It is easily discernible as one gets near the end of the book that this is going to be series of books, and there is nothing wrong with that, well in truth there's a lot right with it as this was a really enjoyable book.
It is a novel with some great characters set on a spaceship that hacks around the universe checking out planets, good and bad. Ok that's a very VERY brief précis, and probably doesn't do it justice, well I know it doesn't do it justice. The story is really good and develops well through the book, the characters are fun, and you want to know what happens to them. You want to know how they get out of the mess, they're in and now I know that the next book is going to bring more of everything I enjoyed in this book.
Well I enjoyed it so much that I bought the company, ooh no, that was an advert, I enjoyed it so much I bought book 2.
So I nominated this book as Decembers read in the Space Opera Group, and it won. So having read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it, here is my review.
It is easily discernible as one gets near the end of the book that this is going to be series of books, and there is nothing wrong with that, well in truth there's a lot right with it as this was a really enjoyable book.
It is a novel with some great characters set on a spaceship that hacks around the universe checking out planets, good and bad. Ok that's a very VERY brief précis, and probably doesn't do it justice, well I know it doesn't do it justice. The story is really good and develops well through the book, the characters are fun, and you want to know what happens to them. You want to know how they get out of the mess, they're in and now I know that the next book is going to bring more of everything I enjoyed in this book.
Well I enjoyed it so much that I bought the company, ooh no, that was an advert, I enjoyed it so much I bought book 2.
December 2, 2019
Interesting story line! I didn't like the abrupt ending!
March 26, 2018
Saw this book listed for free on Amazon and thought I'd give it a try. It wasn't a bad read but fairly simple and quick. There is no resolution at the end of the book but the story continues on in the following book. I didn't mind the simple, straight forward story but I had a hard time feeling much of anything for any of the characters. There was nothing overly deep about any of them and in fact, I really disliked how there were so few decent people on this ship. I suppose it depicts how easy it is to just follow along blindly and not question things. On the whole, though, I found it kind of depressing.
April 11, 2018
The book was a little short... just when I was really getting pulled in, it ended. The characters were well rounded, and I am ready to find out what happens next.
September 10, 2018
Author J.J. Green brings us the next adventure for Jas Harrington. We come into the story when Jas is the chief security officer of the Galathea a prospecting ship out surveying planets. As they come across one planet Jas begins to feel that they've made the wrong choice in picking this planet. She turns out to be right as one of the survey works has been taken over by a species that likes to replicate their victims. Once Jas protests about going down to the planet she is put in her quarters but she doesn't stay there. She hopes a ride with one of the defense unites on an unauthorized trip of which the ships captain has ordered. Everything goes down from there as the crew doesn't want to listen to Jas and her warnings that the captain has been taken over thus she plans an insurrection to take the ship from the possessed crew. This is a great book and I highly recommend it to all science fiction fans.
November 15, 2016
INTERESTING START TO NEW SERIES. 3.5 stars. Generation is the first book in the Shadows of the Void series. This could be read as a standalone, though it is clear at the end that this book is just the beginning. There is violence.
The book description adequately explains what this story is about, so I'm not going to repeat that info here. While the beginning of this book is somewhat confusing, stick with reading as it is worth it. Who, or what, on the planet is infecting the crew? And is the original consciousness of the human still there inside those infected? I can't wait for the next book to have some of my questions answered.
While I did receive a copy of this book from the author, I chose to write a review of it for other readers. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
The book description adequately explains what this story is about, so I'm not going to repeat that info here. While the beginning of this book is somewhat confusing, stick with reading as it is worth it. Who, or what, on the planet is infecting the crew? And is the original consciousness of the human still there inside those infected? I can't wait for the next book to have some of my questions answered.
While I did receive a copy of this book from the author, I chose to write a review of it for other readers. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
November 16, 2016
Fast paced reading
A prospecting starship find a alien building, the chief security officer feels something is wrong, but the ships captain pushes ahead only to be infected. The cso, has only a few crew members to fight off a alien race from taking over the ship and possibly the human race.
A prospecting starship find a alien building, the chief security officer feels something is wrong, but the ships captain pushes ahead only to be infected. The cso, has only a few crew members to fight off a alien race from taking over the ship and possibly the human race.
May 10, 2018
Chief Security Officer Jas Harrington’s job is to protect her ship’s crew from hostiles on alien planets. When she realizes there is something wrong on the planet where her crew is exploring, she has to work to convince others to help her save them from harm. Although she doesn’t make much headway in getting help, Jas is determined to save the crew, even though they all believe her to be insane. After finally convincing two of her crewmates, pilot Carl Lingiari and navigator Sayen Lee, they work to prevent the aliens who have taken over the officers on the ship from achieving their goals. I liked that Jas was tough and resourceful, but was smart enough to know she needed help and couldn’t do everything all on her own. Carl and Sayen were pretty realistic in that they were reluctant to put themselves in danger, but once caught up in the situation, they surprised themselves with what they could accomplish. The story ends at a resolution of the fight against the possessed officers, but with the ship and it’s crew in a precarious position. I’m looking forward to finding out how they fare going forward, so I'm eager to start the next book, Stranded.
June 1, 2020
Generation
Stranded
Dawn
Shadowrise
Underworld
Burned
Trapped
Mar’s Born
Shadow Battle
Shadow War
I really enjoyed this series even though I thought if was dragged out a bit. It is done in episodes, like the old Saturday morning serials. They are quick reads being only 250 or so pages.
Author J.J. Green brings us Jas Harrington's last adventure with the Shadow War. As the book opens we find out that it's been five years since Jas was assigned as a security guard aboard a Unity vessel that was taking part in one of the first major engagements of the war. In the five years that she has been with the Unity Command she has been promoted to Commander of her own starship and was the first to fight the Shadows and their new ships. As the war rages on Jas learns that the Unity has plans to deal with the Shadow's flagship but as it turns out the Shadows had set at trap for the Unity fleet. As soon as the tide of battle turns Jas's ship in the one that Unity wants to deliver the final blow to the Shadow fleet. This is a great book and longer than the rest of the series but it is a fitting end too. I highly recommend this book to all science fiction fans.
Stranded
Dawn
Shadowrise
Underworld
Burned
Trapped
Mar’s Born
Shadow Battle
Shadow War
I really enjoyed this series even though I thought if was dragged out a bit. It is done in episodes, like the old Saturday morning serials. They are quick reads being only 250 or so pages.
Author J.J. Green brings us Jas Harrington's last adventure with the Shadow War. As the book opens we find out that it's been five years since Jas was assigned as a security guard aboard a Unity vessel that was taking part in one of the first major engagements of the war. In the five years that she has been with the Unity Command she has been promoted to Commander of her own starship and was the first to fight the Shadows and their new ships. As the war rages on Jas learns that the Unity has plans to deal with the Shadow's flagship but as it turns out the Shadows had set at trap for the Unity fleet. As soon as the tide of battle turns Jas's ship in the one that Unity wants to deliver the final blow to the Shadow fleet. This is a great book and longer than the rest of the series but it is a fitting end too. I highly recommend this book to all science fiction fans.
July 7, 2021
I received a copy of this from the author. She writes a gripping story that captures the imagination from page one and keeps the reader focussed through to the end.
Jas, head starship security officer aboard the Galathea, knows that something is wrong on the planet that she is surveying. The geo-physicist research teams need her to tell them that it’s safe to go down to the surface. Much to the annoyance of Loba, the ship’s master, she can’t tell what the danger is or even confirm that there is danger.
Jas, along with Carl, the co-pilot, Sayen, a navigator, are about to face a near impossible task of saving the ship’s personnel from an unknown alien. They are helped in this task by Flux, Carl’s illegally smuggled aboard alien pet.
Throughout it all Jas, Carl and Sayen don’t know who they can trust and who has been taken over by the aliens.
The end, when it came, left me feeling the need to continue reading to find out what happens next in “Stranded: Shadows of the Void” book 2.
Jas, head starship security officer aboard the Galathea, knows that something is wrong on the planet that she is surveying. The geo-physicist research teams need her to tell them that it’s safe to go down to the surface. Much to the annoyance of Loba, the ship’s master, she can’t tell what the danger is or even confirm that there is danger.
Jas, along with Carl, the co-pilot, Sayen, a navigator, are about to face a near impossible task of saving the ship’s personnel from an unknown alien. They are helped in this task by Flux, Carl’s illegally smuggled aboard alien pet.
Throughout it all Jas, Carl and Sayen don’t know who they can trust and who has been taken over by the aliens.
The end, when it came, left me feeling the need to continue reading to find out what happens next in “Stranded: Shadows of the Void” book 2.
April 23, 2018
The was an enjoyable sci-fi read set in the far reaches of the galaxy but with a crew that goes through the same problems most of us have experienced at some point of time (bosses that are annoying, heated discussions with colleagues, etc).
The main character is Jas Harrington, the security officer in charge of ensuring a planet is safe for exploration before researches are allowed to investigate its worth, and this time around, even though she can't detect a threat, her instincts tell her otherwise. Up against a captain whose greed is only displaced by visible danger, he ignores the warnings and it doesn't take too long before problems arise.
The pace of the book is good, the characters are well developed yet have room for improvement and there are a nice couple of twists that keep you reading to the end.
The main character is Jas Harrington, the security officer in charge of ensuring a planet is safe for exploration before researches are allowed to investigate its worth, and this time around, even though she can't detect a threat, her instincts tell her otherwise. Up against a captain whose greed is only displaced by visible danger, he ignores the warnings and it doesn't take too long before problems arise.
The pace of the book is good, the characters are well developed yet have room for improvement and there are a nice couple of twists that keep you reading to the end.
February 25, 2020
Well, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this series. I knew it was not going to be a mirror of the "Carrie Hatchett" stories and was pleasantly surprised to discover a strong heroine in Jas Harrington as the Chief Security Officer of a prospecting ship - a ship firmly under the thumb of a mad, addicted captain!
Jas's main job is to scout planets and report on the suitability for Resource Analysis but when her report doesn't agree with what the captain expects - well - watch out! The arguments and disagreements lead to all kinds of problems.
Alien possession and battles being fought all through the ship kept me hooked all the way along. The last six or seven chapters are especially riveting.
So; on to Book #2 where I hope the adventures of Jas, Carl and Sayen Lee will continue in the same vein.
Jas's main job is to scout planets and report on the suitability for Resource Analysis but when her report doesn't agree with what the captain expects - well - watch out! The arguments and disagreements lead to all kinds of problems.
Alien possession and battles being fought all through the ship kept me hooked all the way along. The last six or seven chapters are especially riveting.
So; on to Book #2 where I hope the adventures of Jas, Carl and Sayen Lee will continue in the same vein.
July 30, 2017
On a new planet, looking for alien life, Jason was the security officer in charge of ensuring that any aliens did not threaten the ship or its crew. However, on this planet, no alien life was found, although all Jas' warning sensors were indicating otherwise. Unfortunately, the greed of the Master of the ship, over rode Jas' warning of concern. What happens next is well worth the read. Very dramatic and suspense filled scenes, as our heroic crew members fight for the ship and the uncontaminated crew members lives.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, to find out how and if they can escape from the planet that eventually the ship was crash landed on.
I voluntarily submitted this review after reading an advanced copy of this book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, to find out how and if they can escape from the planet that eventually the ship was crash landed on.
I voluntarily submitted this review after reading an advanced copy of this book.
March 12, 2021
Yikes! Now that's one trip everyone would've been happy to have missed!
Wish I knew how to give a 4.5 star, but no idea how. However. This story grabbed me very quickly, and pretty much read through at one sitting - simply had to know the outcome. Truthfullly I was so wrapped up in Jas' adventures, it wasn't until towards the end of the book that I realized there would be another book. Oh rats and begorrrrrrah! Tough for someone like me, an ancient retired humanoid! No matter. I am more than curious to know what happens next. JJ Greene has written an a remarkable and unconventional scifi story, filled with great characters, and the aliens? Ugh! a really great concept, and truly frightening. They just can't be allowed to win! But my bet's on Jas.
Wish I knew how to give a 4.5 star, but no idea how. However. This story grabbed me very quickly, and pretty much read through at one sitting - simply had to know the outcome. Truthfullly I was so wrapped up in Jas' adventures, it wasn't until towards the end of the book that I realized there would be another book. Oh rats and begorrrrrrah! Tough for someone like me, an ancient retired humanoid! No matter. I am more than curious to know what happens next. JJ Greene has written an a remarkable and unconventional scifi story, filled with great characters, and the aliens? Ugh! a really great concept, and truly frightening. They just can't be allowed to win! But my bet's on Jas.
February 15, 2018
Another great book by J.J. Green. After reading Starbound, i had to get the next one, Generation.
I was delighted to read it. What a great story and story line.
All seniors crew members were possessed with aliens, as they ventured to go down, to explore the planet.
Jas has to do everything, to keep the rest of the crew alive and well. Not an easy task.
And then they crash land on the planet. One good thing with that, all the senior crew members they were possessed died at the crash.
Now Jas has to find a way, to survive, survive the aliens and bring the crew and the damaged ship home.
I was delighted to read it. What a great story and story line.
All seniors crew members were possessed with aliens, as they ventured to go down, to explore the planet.
Jas has to do everything, to keep the rest of the crew alive and well. Not an easy task.
And then they crash land on the planet. One good thing with that, all the senior crew members they were possessed died at the crash.
Now Jas has to find a way, to survive, survive the aliens and bring the crew and the damaged ship home.
April 16, 2018
Excellent
I have not read what I would call hard sci fi for quite a while, it used to be the main subject that I read but as I have gotten older,( and I think more miserable) I have tended to read more humour and fantasy.This book encourages me to rethink my policy, it gripped me from the start and I cared about the characters. The story moves quickly and I found myself reading more than I had intended at a sitting. I have already bought the rest of the series and look forward to reading it.
I have not read what I would call hard sci fi for quite a while, it used to be the main subject that I read but as I have gotten older,( and I think more miserable) I have tended to read more humour and fantasy.This book encourages me to rethink my policy, it gripped me from the start and I cared about the characters. The story moves quickly and I found myself reading more than I had intended at a sitting. I have already bought the rest of the series and look forward to reading it.
June 2, 2018
Generation is the first in a series of nine volumes. It jumps right into the action of an alien encounter and is non-stop action. It’s interesting to read a story which follows the characters down some dead ends and changes of plans. I think that it adds personality to the characters. I would have liked to learn a little more about the world this takes place in, but I’m hoping this will come out in some of the other books in the series, and I've received enough that I’m willing to wait. 4 out of 5 on Goodreads
May 17, 2021
Security Officer Harrington has a strange feeling upon landing on another planet.So far vall of her hunches have paid off. But now the commander of the ship ignores her warnings and she lands in the brig. The commander and one other person go down to the planet and are taken over by an alien being. They return to the ship but noone will believe Harrington that the ship is in trouble. The the commander takes his officers down to the planet and they all become infected. What can Harrington do to save the ship. Only time will tell.
March 14, 2020
It's easy for the Security Officer to be willing to kill people that she thinks have been taken over by aliens. It's a lot harder to expect a navigator or the co-pilot to have the same attitude. Stunning the aliens can only be a temporary solution.
Jas is determined to save the people of Earth but doesn't seem concerned about saving the people of the exploration ship - including herself.
The aliens won't survive
[Reviewed on Kobo on April 4, 2018]
Jas is determined to save the people of Earth but doesn't seem concerned about saving the people of the exploration ship - including herself.
The aliens won't survive
[Reviewed on Kobo on April 4, 2018]
February 6, 2024
One can thoroughly understand that Loba, captain of Galathea would be keen to sign off on a far flung planet as being safe for exploration, thereby earning some major credits.
Except for one thing, his security officer is Jas Harrington and she refuses to do so. Indeed, she is conviced there is something major wrong with that planet. Something dangerously so.
Oh, boy. Was she proven correct!
Enjoy.
Except for one thing, his security officer is Jas Harrington and she refuses to do so. Indeed, she is conviced there is something major wrong with that planet. Something dangerously so.
Oh, boy. Was she proven correct!
Enjoy.
March 4, 2025
Not my usual cup of tea, but I couldn't put it down. At times, the characters made decisions or plans that seemed uncharacteristic or redundant for readers, but I do love the way the author writes these characters, even ones that are seemingly irrelevant. I bought this book as a collection of the entire 10-book series on Kobo - with a much more appealing cover - and I'm glad I can jump right into the next one.
April 4, 2018
Alien infestation assumes command.
Different approach to alien takeover of humanity. Now they are not just with us, they are us. The story flow was quick and easy to read. I wish there had been more detail around the aliens and the scenery. The characters were reasonably well developed. Worth a weekend read.
Different approach to alien takeover of humanity. Now they are not just with us, they are us. The story flow was quick and easy to read. I wish there had been more detail around the aliens and the scenery. The characters were reasonably well developed. Worth a weekend read.
April 7, 2018
This was a very good book. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to any to any person who liked exciting science fiction. Have a good read.
This is exciting science fiction I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it 2 any person who likes fast paced science fiction with a Twist
This is exciting science fiction I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it 2 any person who likes fast paced science fiction with a Twist
May 12, 2021
Sneaky aliens and a scrappy security officer provide plenty of action and adventure!
Jas Harrington is the security officer on a prospecting space ship and her gut feeling is yelling that danger is all over this planet. The alien infestation is subtle and causes many challenges, along the way. Will Jas save the crew, or will aliens overtake the spacecraft and afterwards Earth?
Jas Harrington is the security officer on a prospecting space ship and her gut feeling is yelling that danger is all over this planet. The alien infestation is subtle and causes many challenges, along the way. Will Jas save the crew, or will aliens overtake the spacecraft and afterwards Earth?
December 12, 2021
Twists and turns
This book is interesting enough I’ll go looking for the second book in the series. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to align somewhere.
Jas is a security officer who learnt her trade the hard way. While Jas is a loner she is forced to become the mother of a small band of bells
This book is interesting enough I’ll go looking for the second book in the series. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to align somewhere.
Jas is a security officer who learnt her trade the hard way. While Jas is a loner she is forced to become the mother of a small band of bells
Read
November 13, 2022Life is tough for interstellar prospectors, and gets tougher when a greedy captain doesn’t listen to his security officer’s misgivings. Unpleasantness follows on various levels. This fell in the middle of the 2019 "Future Adventures" collection: readable and well-edited, reasonable characters and a conventional plot that was interesting but not ground-breaking.
January 30, 2018
Jas Harrington, a Martian that grew up on Earth
is the Security Officer aboard the prospecting Starship
Galathea, seeking precious minerals and rare resources.
The Captain disagrees with Jas about the safety of the
current planet.
RECOMMENDED! ! !
is the Security Officer aboard the prospecting Starship
Galathea, seeking precious minerals and rare resources.
The Captain disagrees with Jas about the safety of the
current planet.
RECOMMENDED! ! !
April 8, 2018
A decent story. I liked it. Nothing new here, but if you like spaceship or alien stories, then this one should appeal to you. First contact without most crew even realizing it is how I would describe this one.
April 18, 2018
Great new worlds
I enjoy the character Jas; she has one main problem to communicating---her temper. Had she learned anger management, this story might not have happened. I for one am glad she has this quirk: it led to a very enjoyable tale.
I enjoy the character Jas; she has one main problem to communicating---her temper. Had she learned anger management, this story might not have happened. I for one am glad she has this quirk: it led to a very enjoyable tale.
April 18, 2018
This was another example of excellent writing from JJ Green. Just what we have come to expect. Good character development, interesting concepts and situations, and down-right fun to read. Read the book through Kindle Unlimited...such a deal!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews