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Durga System #1
Starfall
Starla Dusai is fifteen, deaf — and being held as an enemy combatant by the Indiran Alliance. Willem Jaantzen is a notorious crime lord about to end a fearsome vendetta – and possibly his life. When he learns his goddaughter has been captured by the Alliance, will he able to save her in time? And she, him?
STARFALL is the first book in Jessie Kwak’s Durga System series, a fast-paced series of gangster sci-fi novellas set in a far-future world where humans may have left their home planet to populate the stars, but they haven’t managed to leave behind their vices. And that’s very good for business.
STARFALL is the first book in Jessie Kwak’s Durga System series, a fast-paced series of gangster sci-fi novellas set in a far-future world where humans may have left their home planet to populate the stars, but they haven’t managed to leave behind their vices. And that’s very good for business.
118 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2016
6 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Kwak
55 books131 followersJessie Kwak has always lived in imaginary lands, from Arrakis and Ankh-Morpork to Earthsea, Tatooine, and now Portland, Oregon. As a writer, she sends readers on their own journeys to immersive worlds filled with fascinating characters, gunfights, explosions, and dinner parties. When she’s not raving about her latest favorite sci-fi series to her friends, she can be found sewing, mountain biking, or out exploring new worlds both at home and abroad.
She is the author of supernatural thriller From Earth and Bone, the Bulari Saga series of gangster sci-fi novels, and productivity guide From Chaos to Creativity. You can learn more about her at www.jessiekwak.com, or follow her on Twitter (@jkwak).
She is the author of supernatural thriller From Earth and Bone, the Bulari Saga series of gangster sci-fi novels, and productivity guide From Chaos to Creativity. You can learn more about her at www.jessiekwak.com, or follow her on Twitter (@jkwak).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 26, 2018
I couldn’t finish this book. It is written in first person present tense (Starla doesn’t know.) which is not my cup of tea. The author also uses the device of frequent phrases and/or incomplete sentences which irritates me no end. Sorry, but a few pages were all I could handle.
October 14, 2018
STARFALL is a gripping sci-fi adventure novella with characters whose lives extend way beyond the pages. That sentiment applies to the world of the story, too--I felt it expanding beyond the story and felt hungry to know more. And since I'm now hooked on this series, no doubt I will!
I immediately connected with Starla, who begins the book trapped in prison on a planet where she's struggling to get used to the gravity after growing up on a space station. The pacing of the novella gives little time to rest as Starla is questioned, and tension builds as Willem Jaantzen's point of view chapters bring him closer to his goal of helping her--while also illuminating how much danger Starla is truly in. It's masterfully done.
Needless to say, I read this FAST. I left the story wanting to know more -- so much more! -- about these characters and their pasts, but satisfied with the glimpses I got and the promise of more to come.
A super fun sci fi adventure! With a kickass deaf heroine!! And an angsty space gangster with a marshmallow heart! (Don't tell him I said so.)
I immediately connected with Starla, who begins the book trapped in prison on a planet where she's struggling to get used to the gravity after growing up on a space station. The pacing of the novella gives little time to rest as Starla is questioned, and tension builds as Willem Jaantzen's point of view chapters bring him closer to his goal of helping her--while also illuminating how much danger Starla is truly in. It's masterfully done.
Needless to say, I read this FAST. I left the story wanting to know more -- so much more! -- about these characters and their pasts, but satisfied with the glimpses I got and the promise of more to come.
A super fun sci fi adventure! With a kickass deaf heroine!! And an angsty space gangster with a marshmallow heart! (Don't tell him I said so.)
August 20, 2023
This novella concerns Starla Dusai, after Silk Station had been destroyed. It's also about Willem Jaantzen. And it’s also about Bulari saga and Durga system.
Above all, it's a breathtaking thriller with enough emotional turbulence and grim actions to satisfy the staunchest fan of 'Firefly'.
And now I have to finish all of these, one by one.
In the meanwhile, this one is highly recommended.
Above all, it's a breathtaking thriller with enough emotional turbulence and grim actions to satisfy the staunchest fan of 'Firefly'.
And now I have to finish all of these, one by one.
In the meanwhile, this one is highly recommended.
May 28, 2019
Beautifully, tightly written story with intriguing characters in a gritty yet futuristic world. Love love loved this, and devoured the sequels immediately. These shorts definitely leave me wanting more.
July 16, 2017
As the opening novella-length story in a series set in a believable, multi-planetary, human civilization, Starfall is a fast-paced, engaging, science fiction thriller. Through the points of view of two engaging main characters--a deaf teenage girl imprisoned as a potential terrorist for the crimes of her space-station dwelling family; and an aging, planet-side crime boss--author Jessie Kwak outlined the setting gracefully without heavy-handed backstory. She uses a deft, spare style to create two characters I came to care about within only a few paragraphs of each one's opening chapter. The conflicts felt authentic to the characters' backgrounds and ages, and even the "faceless goons" showed individuality and took understandable actions.
Two notes on my biases:
NOVELLA LENGTH: I'm usually disappointed in incomplete stories, but this novella was staged as perhaps the first episode in a television series, rather than as an artificially cut-off piece of a longer story. Certainly there must be more to come, but Starfall satisfied me in itself, while leaving me eager to read more
FORMAT: I listened to the audiobook. The performer did an excellent job and enhanced the story, giving the characters of both genders unique voices without making them sound stage-y or annoying. 5 stars for the performance. I hope future novellas in this series retain the same reader!
Two notes on my biases:
NOVELLA LENGTH: I'm usually disappointed in incomplete stories, but this novella was staged as perhaps the first episode in a television series, rather than as an artificially cut-off piece of a longer story. Certainly there must be more to come, but Starfall satisfied me in itself, while leaving me eager to read more
FORMAT: I listened to the audiobook. The performer did an excellent job and enhanced the story, giving the characters of both genders unique voices without making them sound stage-y or annoying. 5 stars for the performance. I hope future novellas in this series retain the same reader!
June 3, 2018
As you can see by my "read" dates, I inhaled this novella. I was drawn in by the premise and the promise of disability rep with a central character who's Deaf.
Starla Dusai, the teenaged daughter of space pirates, is captured and imprisoned when her family's space station is raided. Her best hope for escape is Willem Jaantzen, a crime boss and close friend of her parents, who appointed him Starla's godfather. Oh hey, I just got the joke.
Both Jaanzten and Starla are great characters, well-drawn with strengths and vulnerabilities. Even the minor characters get development beyond the Henchman or the Corrupt Prison Guard, and I was thrilled to see that Manu Juric, one of my favorite minor characters, gets his own novella in the series (Negative Return).
Starla's Deafness is handled very well, too. It's a part of who she is, and she uses it to her advantage in the story, for instance, by pretending not to be able to read lips and know what her adult captors are saying. The flashback of her experiment with integrating Communicative Assistance technology into her EVA suit was also very cool.
Pick up this novella if you like the idea of crime lords on another planet with a sympathetic YA heroine!
Starla Dusai, the teenaged daughter of space pirates, is captured and imprisoned when her family's space station is raided. Her best hope for escape is Willem Jaantzen, a crime boss and close friend of her parents, who appointed him Starla's godfather. Oh hey, I just got the joke.
Both Jaanzten and Starla are great characters, well-drawn with strengths and vulnerabilities. Even the minor characters get development beyond the Henchman or the Corrupt Prison Guard, and I was thrilled to see that Manu Juric, one of my favorite minor characters, gets his own novella in the series (Negative Return).
Starla's Deafness is handled very well, too. It's a part of who she is, and she uses it to her advantage in the story, for instance, by pretending not to be able to read lips and know what her adult captors are saying. The flashback of her experiment with integrating Communicative Assistance technology into her EVA suit was also very cool.
Pick up this novella if you like the idea of crime lords on another planet with a sympathetic YA heroine!
August 12, 2019
(This review originally appeared at Mad Scientist Journal.)
Starfall by Jessie Kwak is an exciting action and adventure novella set in a fascinating world of intrigue and organized crime in space. The Durga System, where the book takes place, is a system settled by refugees from Earth, and is home to all sorts of seedy underworld types as well as an overbearing government.
The book features two points of view—Starla Dusai, a deaf fifteen-year-old girl, and Willem Jaantzen, her crime lord godfather. With the scenes flipping back and forth between the two characters, this novella felt a bit like two interwoven short stories. Based on the cover art, I anticipated that the book would be more about Starla, but it’s really Willem who gets the lion’s share of the growth arc in this book, setting aside his vendetta in order to attempt to rescue his goddaughter from the government.
As someone who briefly studied American Sign Language, I really loved what Kwak did with the sign language in the novella. For example, Starla’s modified spacesuit gloves that allowed her to sign messages to her cousin, which came through as text on her cousin’s end, was fantastic—especially when the messages occasionally didn’t come through with 100 percent accuracy. The interactions between Starla and her interpreter while she’s in government custody were also great.
If you’re a fan of the Firefly series, you will likely find yourself right at home in the Durga System. The heroes go through all sorts of tough scrapes and make a lot of sacrifices in order to come through those scrapes.
Starfall by Jessie Kwak is an exciting action and adventure novella set in a fascinating world of intrigue and organized crime in space. The Durga System, where the book takes place, is a system settled by refugees from Earth, and is home to all sorts of seedy underworld types as well as an overbearing government.
The book features two points of view—Starla Dusai, a deaf fifteen-year-old girl, and Willem Jaantzen, her crime lord godfather. With the scenes flipping back and forth between the two characters, this novella felt a bit like two interwoven short stories. Based on the cover art, I anticipated that the book would be more about Starla, but it’s really Willem who gets the lion’s share of the growth arc in this book, setting aside his vendetta in order to attempt to rescue his goddaughter from the government.
As someone who briefly studied American Sign Language, I really loved what Kwak did with the sign language in the novella. For example, Starla’s modified spacesuit gloves that allowed her to sign messages to her cousin, which came through as text on her cousin’s end, was fantastic—especially when the messages occasionally didn’t come through with 100 percent accuracy. The interactions between Starla and her interpreter while she’s in government custody were also great.
If you’re a fan of the Firefly series, you will likely find yourself right at home in the Durga System. The heroes go through all sorts of tough scrapes and make a lot of sacrifices in order to come through those scrapes.
June 28, 2019
When I first spotted the cover for Starfall, I was intrigued, as I hadn't read a good science fiction story in a while. Zombie gore-stories don't count. I was quite impressed with the story, as the author does an amazing job in creating a setting that combines instellar travel, galactic alliances and space stations - the typical backdrop of a good space saga story - with mob bosses and human trafficking and blood fueds and a good, old fashioned adventure story. I enjoyed the two MCs, the young deaf Starla, newly orphaned after the space station that she's lived on her entire life was pretty much destroyed by the Alliance, and Willem Jaantzen, her godfather and also a notorious crime lord on the brink of an assassination attempt when he learns of Starla's plight. In short, the setting and characterizations are wonderfully done, and Jessie Kwak is definitely an author I will watch out for. Kudos!
February 20, 2018
This novel definitely deserves the 4.5 bump. The writing is absolutely fantastic. The characters are superb - they practically leap off the page! I was fascinated with both Starla and Willem, both of whom seem to have rich and detailed pasts we only catch a glimpse of. There was obviously a lot of world building put behind this tale, and I feel like this story only scratched the surface. Plus I love that the author went to great lengths to discuss the ways Starla overcame the challenges of growing up deaf on a space station with her own fearless ingenuity.
My only complaint is that this novel is short. It felt more like an introduction than a fully-fleshed out story (though I will admit that could be in part because I just plain wanted more). This is an easy read, and I recommend it to anyone who's interested in character-centric sci-fi!
My only complaint is that this novel is short. It felt more like an introduction than a fully-fleshed out story (though I will admit that could be in part because I just plain wanted more). This is an easy read, and I recommend it to anyone who's interested in character-centric sci-fi!
October 1, 2019
“Gangsters in space” is the tagline for a series of novellas I read recently on a road trip. Different criminal groups vie with each other for power and money, or cooperate uneasily for a common goal. What makes this series stand out is the different POV of the characters, including the deaf teenager, Starla. Each character is intriguing, and each sees their situation in a new light. The 'Rashomon' effect of seeing an action sequence from different POVs is handled well and interestingly.
Full disclosure: I met the author some years ago at a con but only recently decided to catch up with her work. I'm glad I did – it was great road trip reading. Lots of action, both on planet and in space. Never a dull moment. I read a boxed series of 'Starfall', 'Negative Return' and 'Deviant Flux', which was a little challenging because they jump around in time with the same characters.
Full disclosure: I met the author some years ago at a con but only recently decided to catch up with her work. I'm glad I did – it was great road trip reading. Lots of action, both on planet and in space. Never a dull moment. I read a boxed series of 'Starfall', 'Negative Return' and 'Deviant Flux', which was a little challenging because they jump around in time with the same characters.
September 20, 2019
A great introduction to the Durga System series, Starfall begins with Starla Dusai in prison being questioned about her parents activities, and her godfather, Willem Jaantzen working to free her, since he's all she has left after the Alliance attacked Starla's home and killed many of her family, including her parents. It's up to Willem to look after the young deaf girl now and I'm looking forward to seeing how that all works out, since he's a powerful crime boss who's used to giving orders and she may not be so good at doing what she's told.
November 17, 2018
15-year-old Starla Dusai is held as a POW, because her parents were part of a rebel group. Her godfather, Willem Jaantzen is a notorious crime lord. But when he learns about Starlas fate, he risks everything to bring her back.
Very well written novel. The main characters are definitely not the law-obeying hero types. A refreshing, fast moving story with absolute believable technology. Love it.
Very well written novel. The main characters are definitely not the law-obeying hero types. A refreshing, fast moving story with absolute believable technology. Love it.
February 9, 2019
an interesting read. Starla is a deaf mute and is captured by the alliance after they destroyed the ship her Family was on. She is taken to prison and questioned about her motives. It appears that one of the officers is selling and young inmates. Her godfather Jaantzen finds out about it and trys to find her.That is easier said that done.
April 2, 2019
This story was an interesting read since I've yet to read any book featuring a deaf character. Starla is witty and determined is finding a way out of enemy prison and finding her family. It was an uplifting book that anyone can relate to. Recommend.
May 5, 2019
Great novella introducing well made characters you quickly come to care about. Deaf, teenage, female spacer protagonist? Yes please. New and fun universe. Looking forward to learning more in subsequent work.
July 28, 2019
Exciting novella with strong female lead. Full of conflict , adventure and mobsters you can love. This is an excellent start to this series. I raced through it & immediately ordered the next in the series.
December 17, 2019
Five stars!! over the top. This series is great, the main GIRL is deaf and well, read it yourself to see if beats the odds. I love that she used a special needs child in the book and we see her grow up in the series.
November 27, 2018
This was good, but I feel like it ended just when it was starting to get good!
December 14, 2018
Interesting beginning
I liked the use of the young lady who was "hearing challenged". This could be a very good series and I'm looking forward to the next books. Keep them coming.
I liked the use of the young lady who was "hearing challenged". This could be a very good series and I'm looking forward to the next books. Keep them coming.
May 8, 2019
Ms. Kwak delivers a tale that balances adventure, world building and character development.
I think it is worth a read.
I can hardly wait to see what happens next.
I think it is worth a read.
I can hardly wait to see what happens next.
May 3, 2022
Part of one of my new favorite series.
December 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this back story to a character i find fascinating. I hope there will be many more books continuing the action and community she builds around herself.
March 17, 2019
Enthralling, full of detail and a visceral world you'll believe is real. This book is a great entry into the Durga System world and I look forward to reading more.
January 28, 2017
I received a review audiobook of Starfall: A Durga System Novella by Jessie Kwak in exchange for my honest opinion.
Starla Dusai is a 15-year-old girl who has been separated from her family after her home was destroyed by the Alliance, and now she’s being held prisoner on an unfamiliar planet. She is also deaf. Willem Jaantzen is a known criminal, who also happens to be her Godfather. He is determined to save her. This novella follows both characters’ stories in alternating chapters, which intertwine to form an exciting sci-fi story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Kwak’s writing is fluid and filled with beautiful imagery. I loved how the ending of each chapter always left me wanting more. It was hard to stop listening!
I liked both the main characters of Starla and Jaantzen. It was refreshing to read a story about someone who is deaf. I’ve never come across a book with a deaf main character before, and now I hope to expand my horizons and read more in the future. Starla is a very likable character who has an interesting past, which I hope to hear more about in later installments. It was also fun to read about Jaantzen, a crime lord, who is also loyal to the people he cares about. I never felt like any of the characters were stereotypes or clichés; they were believable and had realistic dialogue, motivations, and personalities.
My only complaint is that as I was listening to the audiobook, it was hard to keep up with all of the characters. I’m more of a visual learner, so I think I would have better remembered who all the side characters were if I could have seen the names as opposed to just hearing them. That might have just been a personal issue though. The audiobook was narrated by Scott Dai who had a very easy voice to listen to.
I don’t often read sci-fi books, but I’m glad that I read this one! It was enjoyable and fast-paced, with a cast of characters I want to find out what happens to. I will definitely read future installments.
Starla Dusai is a 15-year-old girl who has been separated from her family after her home was destroyed by the Alliance, and now she’s being held prisoner on an unfamiliar planet. She is also deaf. Willem Jaantzen is a known criminal, who also happens to be her Godfather. He is determined to save her. This novella follows both characters’ stories in alternating chapters, which intertwine to form an exciting sci-fi story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Kwak’s writing is fluid and filled with beautiful imagery. I loved how the ending of each chapter always left me wanting more. It was hard to stop listening!
I liked both the main characters of Starla and Jaantzen. It was refreshing to read a story about someone who is deaf. I’ve never come across a book with a deaf main character before, and now I hope to expand my horizons and read more in the future. Starla is a very likable character who has an interesting past, which I hope to hear more about in later installments. It was also fun to read about Jaantzen, a crime lord, who is also loyal to the people he cares about. I never felt like any of the characters were stereotypes or clichés; they were believable and had realistic dialogue, motivations, and personalities.
My only complaint is that as I was listening to the audiobook, it was hard to keep up with all of the characters. I’m more of a visual learner, so I think I would have better remembered who all the side characters were if I could have seen the names as opposed to just hearing them. That might have just been a personal issue though. The audiobook was narrated by Scott Dai who had a very easy voice to listen to.
I don’t often read sci-fi books, but I’m glad that I read this one! It was enjoyable and fast-paced, with a cast of characters I want to find out what happens to. I will definitely read future installments.
August 24, 2017
Jessie Kwak described her new Durga System series as "gangsters in space." I was intrigued.
The story opens with two protagonists, a 15-year-old deaf girl being held prisoner as an enemy combatant and a middle-aged crime boss choosing between vengeance and duty.
The book has all of the elements of an epic space opera, with factions like criminal organizations, political bosses, rebels, and an interstellar empire. The characters are also intriguing, from the irrepressible Starla--who is down, but far from out--to her godfather, an actual mobster.
Many of the names have a South-Asian flavor, with the Indiran Alliance, the planet of New Sarjun, and Silk Station. You get the feeling of colonial era Malaysia or Indonesia, where many different traders and pirates go through, and politicians and gangsters are competing to fleece the unwary.
I was immediately sucked in to this world, and left wanting more at the end of this novella-sized introduction to the Durga System.
View the complete review here at Epic Grit.
The story opens with two protagonists, a 15-year-old deaf girl being held prisoner as an enemy combatant and a middle-aged crime boss choosing between vengeance and duty.
The book has all of the elements of an epic space opera, with factions like criminal organizations, political bosses, rebels, and an interstellar empire. The characters are also intriguing, from the irrepressible Starla--who is down, but far from out--to her godfather, an actual mobster.
Many of the names have a South-Asian flavor, with the Indiran Alliance, the planet of New Sarjun, and Silk Station. You get the feeling of colonial era Malaysia or Indonesia, where many different traders and pirates go through, and politicians and gangsters are competing to fleece the unwary.
I was immediately sucked in to this world, and left wanting more at the end of this novella-sized introduction to the Durga System.
View the complete review here at Epic Grit.
January 16, 2017
I was drawn into this book from the very first chapter. The writing is evocative, with beautiful, rich descriptions, and interesting characters. This is a great piece of sci fi, with fun explorations into the everyday lives of space pirates and back room dealings of interplanetary gangsters. I particularly appreciated the varied cast, from a deaf girl protagonist to Asian women mob bosses. It's so refreshing to read stories that include more kinds of people than just white men.
This is a fun, quick read & I can't wait for more of this series!
This is a fun, quick read & I can't wait for more of this series!
January 2, 2020
This book kept me reading past my bedtime. It's a well-crafted story that features Starla Dusai, a teenager who finds herself in an Alliance prison after her space station was attacked. As she tries to keep herself from getting labeled an enemy combatant, Willem Jaantzen (her godfather in both the literal and criminal sense) is racing to free her as the situation goes sideways. This story stands on its own with interesting characters and plenty of action, though I got the sense that events set in motion here will get more interesting in later installments.
June 6, 2017
This was a freebie recorded book, but I would have gladly paid to listen to it. What an exciting start to a series that I hope continues to deliver the intriguing characters and exciting storyline. I'm following the author on Goodreads and have subscribed to her email list so I can stay up to date on the next installment.
I have always loved sci fi, and usually look for titles either written by a woman or featuring a female protagonist. This fits the bill nicely.
I have always loved sci fi, and usually look for titles either written by a woman or featuring a female protagonist. This fits the bill nicely.
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July 16, 2016Science fiction fun with unusual and developed main characters, deep world-building, and an engaging plot. This is a world I will want to come back to when other installments are available.
February 2, 2023
A vivid and rich story told by a strong voice. The world building sets a foundation for–what I hope will be–a long and successful series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews