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Ten years after earning his wings as a spaceship pilot, Zhendar is finally ready to silence the naysayers. Despite being the youngest navigator, he is tasked with infiltrating a brutal and amoral society where torture is entertainment and planets are expendable resources. As he struggles to blend in, he must determine how the Ksarrichis choose their victims before his own planet falls prey to their insane games.
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A prequel to the series The Legacy, Dax is a standalone that can be read first, or anywhere in between.
***
A prequel to the series The Legacy, Dax is a standalone that can be read first, or anywhere in between.
222 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
About the author
G.G. Atcheson
4 books237 followersAfter she encountered strange lights in the sky, GG Atcheson became obsessed with extra-terrestrial life. She often daydreams about possible life in the universe.
When she's not stargazing, she reads, or plays MMORPG on the computer.
GG is a fighter and a cancer survivor.
When she's not stargazing, she reads, or plays MMORPG on the computer.
GG is a fighter and a cancer survivor.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2017
After reading the other two books in this series, I was super excited to hear that the prequel would be coming out (and if the rumors are true, there is another series book in the works) and even more excited to get my hands on an advance copy.
This book takes place well before the events in Fate, but this is the time period LX talks about: the time spent aboard the brutal warship of the Ksarr people. As such, this is something of a dark read. There are parts that were emotionally difficult, and some parts that I admit had me saying, "Ew! Yuck!"
But a good book makes you feel and doesn't always promise those feelings will be nice. This is a good book. It made me think. Loved it.
This book takes place well before the events in Fate, but this is the time period LX talks about: the time spent aboard the brutal warship of the Ksarr people. As such, this is something of a dark read. There are parts that were emotionally difficult, and some parts that I admit had me saying, "Ew! Yuck!"
But a good book makes you feel and doesn't always promise those feelings will be nice. This is a good book. It made me think. Loved it.
December 10, 2017
GG Atcheson is starting her new series with a short prequel novel, which she made available as a free promotion, and which I took her up on (The official title is: Dax ___Prequel to The Legacy Series).
The book was fun! It establishes a tone and a set of parameters that let you know some of the boundaries the series is going to play within - which seem to be: horror, science, romance, and full-on imagination. The novel weaves through all of these, and future stories in the series could emphasize any particular one, or any mix, at any time -- whenever there is a cool idea to present. This story had quite a few cool ideas: there’s a moment when plentiful mold spores and chemical run off (copper sulphate) offer oxygen to the lungs of drowning cadets -- if they are brave enough to fill their throats will both. I don’t personally know if alien fungus and copper sulphate produce oxygen, but I certainly trust the author enough to accept it as a cool idea, and to watch for what happens next. (another cool idea that I personally loved, was that navigators in this story are partnered with an AI that lives in the “heart” of their ship. The Hearts are removable flash drives that allow a person to configure any starship in the fleet with their personal preferences and personal AI, thus making any ship ready to use, and possibly use well. The ships are just hardware, and getting going in a ship can be as hard or as easy as a story needs it to be. I thought it was a very shrewd idea and I thrilled a little at hearing it. (Sulu and Scotty in an app.)).
Atcheson’s main character is named Zhendar. He is deep undercover on a ship full of torture-loving conquerors. The character is a navigator by trade, with hints of some unusual X-men /Jedi skills and talents. His job is to pose as a crew member on a ship for a year’s tour of duty and gather all the information on the conquerers he can (so using his special powers is not something he intends to do much of). He has to fit in, and not call too much attention to himself. His hosts are psychopaths. At least on the macro level, they are psychopaths. One on one, they turn out to be fairly approachable. Zhendar can get along with them - sort-of. They are off-shoots of his race, (Human? Human-ish?) but, in living with psychopaths, even day to day existence is a challenge.
Zhendar moves from one complication to another - trouble with his assigned mentor/roommate, trouble when his mentor’s girlfriend starts to like him, trouble when his work crew tries to throw him in an industrial garbage disposal/meat processor, and trouble when he tries to protect a race of beings currently in the cross hairs of the conquerers.
The story offers a lot of relationship chess and a lot of dangerous physical attractions, and it is with this mix of guy/girl/alien escapades that the series may win its readers. It’s fun. It’s lively. The series could be ambitious at any time, but even when it’s not, it would still be guilty-pleasure sci-fi. So if you have room for a new series, go ahead, grab some chocolates, grab a bottle of wine, and have some fun finding out which card Atcheson plays next.
Thank you
- Rik Ty
The book was fun! It establishes a tone and a set of parameters that let you know some of the boundaries the series is going to play within - which seem to be: horror, science, romance, and full-on imagination. The novel weaves through all of these, and future stories in the series could emphasize any particular one, or any mix, at any time -- whenever there is a cool idea to present. This story had quite a few cool ideas: there’s a moment when plentiful mold spores and chemical run off (copper sulphate) offer oxygen to the lungs of drowning cadets -- if they are brave enough to fill their throats will both. I don’t personally know if alien fungus and copper sulphate produce oxygen, but I certainly trust the author enough to accept it as a cool idea, and to watch for what happens next. (another cool idea that I personally loved, was that navigators in this story are partnered with an AI that lives in the “heart” of their ship. The Hearts are removable flash drives that allow a person to configure any starship in the fleet with their personal preferences and personal AI, thus making any ship ready to use, and possibly use well. The ships are just hardware, and getting going in a ship can be as hard or as easy as a story needs it to be. I thought it was a very shrewd idea and I thrilled a little at hearing it. (Sulu and Scotty in an app.)).
Atcheson’s main character is named Zhendar. He is deep undercover on a ship full of torture-loving conquerors. The character is a navigator by trade, with hints of some unusual X-men /Jedi skills and talents. His job is to pose as a crew member on a ship for a year’s tour of duty and gather all the information on the conquerers he can (so using his special powers is not something he intends to do much of). He has to fit in, and not call too much attention to himself. His hosts are psychopaths. At least on the macro level, they are psychopaths. One on one, they turn out to be fairly approachable. Zhendar can get along with them - sort-of. They are off-shoots of his race, (Human? Human-ish?) but, in living with psychopaths, even day to day existence is a challenge.
Zhendar moves from one complication to another - trouble with his assigned mentor/roommate, trouble when his mentor’s girlfriend starts to like him, trouble when his work crew tries to throw him in an industrial garbage disposal/meat processor, and trouble when he tries to protect a race of beings currently in the cross hairs of the conquerers.
The story offers a lot of relationship chess and a lot of dangerous physical attractions, and it is with this mix of guy/girl/alien escapades that the series may win its readers. It’s fun. It’s lively. The series could be ambitious at any time, but even when it’s not, it would still be guilty-pleasure sci-fi. So if you have room for a new series, go ahead, grab some chocolates, grab a bottle of wine, and have some fun finding out which card Atcheson plays next.
Thank you
- Rik Ty
July 2, 2017
It took me a while to write this review. I'm sad that the series is over (or is it?...) I have read and very thoroughly enjoyed all three books, but I must say I found this one to be the most challenging and ultimately rewarding of the bunch. I would categorize this a road trip book, albeit in space; it is a harrowing journey for our hero, LX. He is on an undercover mission to discover the methods of the villainous Ksarrichis, who remind me somewhat of the Harkonnens from one of the true classics of the genre, Dune. If you have read Dune, you know how truly horrible and odious the Harkonnens are; however, they are mere neophytes compared to the Ksarrichis. They will torture to death, then resurrect, then torture to death again, 50 times, THEIR OWN PEOPLE, just for entertainment. They capture whole civilizations just to make them battle other civilizations until all of one group are gone, again just because they enjoy it. The point is, these are bad dudes. Our hero spends much of the book going along with these shenanigans because those are his orders, but eventually his moral center and urge for self-preservation win out, and he escapes with another captive, one of a group of somewhat primitive, peaceful shape shifters called the Dax, hence the title. They engage in a highly entertaining, perilous journey that caps off this brutal but wonderfully creative and entertaining read. Thanks, GG Atcheson, for some great hours of entertainment, and for adding LX to the pantheon of great heroes.
October 24, 2021
Zhendar is on a dangerous undercover assignment to observe and report on the activities of other species. I found Kheesha and Zhulk to be selfish ungrateful bastards. I won't state my true opinion of Tash for fear my review won't be published. Zhendar is an honest and good-hearted man making the best possible decisions under the most horrifically gruesome circumstances. He's helped whomever he could whenever possible, even at the risk of his own life... a true hero.
June 19, 2018
Atcheson places readers squarely in the heart of a dilemma; several in fact.
Zhendar, a Xhartan navigator, has been assigned to infiltrate a Ksarrichi war ship. His planet is technologically advanced, seems to have solved all or most of its social problems, and is ardently neutral. Therein lies the rub.
Zhendar has always been a bit different than his peers, and though his mission is strictly an observational one (interference being strictly verboten to the Xhartans), he can’t help but feel empathy for the victims of the Ksarrichis, a related but polar opposite race, who thrive on torture.
Atcheson builds Zhendar’s character as skillfully as she builds tension; all the while erecting a bizarre and chilling universe which will thrill, please, and repulse readers by turns.
As the action proceeds, Zhendar finds himself, not only facing gruesome physical consequences, but internal strife as he sees his bystander status grow more and more untenable.
Dax is a well written, excellent read which resonates on multiple levels; a book which can stand on its own or serve as a prelude to the Legacy Series.
Zhendar, a Xhartan navigator, has been assigned to infiltrate a Ksarrichi war ship. His planet is technologically advanced, seems to have solved all or most of its social problems, and is ardently neutral. Therein lies the rub.
Zhendar has always been a bit different than his peers, and though his mission is strictly an observational one (interference being strictly verboten to the Xhartans), he can’t help but feel empathy for the victims of the Ksarrichis, a related but polar opposite race, who thrive on torture.
Atcheson builds Zhendar’s character as skillfully as she builds tension; all the while erecting a bizarre and chilling universe which will thrill, please, and repulse readers by turns.
As the action proceeds, Zhendar finds himself, not only facing gruesome physical consequences, but internal strife as he sees his bystander status grow more and more untenable.
Dax is a well written, excellent read which resonates on multiple levels; a book which can stand on its own or serve as a prelude to the Legacy Series.
October 21, 2018
Best read ever
Great read,best story i have read in along time great job!!!!.looking forward to reading the next book and hoping it is just as good as the first book
Great read,best story i have read in along time great job!!!!.looking forward to reading the next book and hoping it is just as good as the first book
July 24, 2017
Wanting to read more of the incredible Indie writer's part of the GoodReads and SIA (Support Indie Writer's) group and a fan of crazy Speculative fiction I decided I'd pick up this prequel thinking that where better to start than before the beginning (making babies instead of giving birth???) and I wonder if it might have been a mistake. Why?
(Think 'Tokyo Ghoul' anime and "Star Trek' first generation rated NR17)Our main character Zhendar is a Navigator, his race of people studies other races with the eyes of pure Neutrality and Zhendar chooses a race that is most related to his own though they are completely the humans definition of evil. EVIL. A case study of the worse parts of humanity all wrapped up in on species. There is no redeeming qualities in this race of being, er, except maybe toughening up warriors and enjoying the pleasures of flesh and debauchery. And even when Zhendar has contact with his own people they too seem not to have much in redeeming qualities.
Matter of fact Zhendar himself though the essence of good permeates through him and he is constantly in turmoil between rules and his own well being, seems to mostly ignore what is right at least by my standards (which might not be 'right' either). Not that he doesn't make correct choices but without that love of the character which I'm sure comes from later books it's hard to love anyone in this book and if you do prepare to be heart broken.
So why did I enjoy this book sooo much: If you loved the original Star Trek show (the aliens, world views and action) and have any appreciation of Anime (especially darker ones) you will like this book. It is fast pace nonstop action, I am a slow reader and I read it in basically a week. This book shows Zhendar's (Alex, LX) birth of strength, understanding and power, the way to use it and way to look at the world.
Ask yourself,(using a currently Popular Anime) did you enjoy and understand the reasons for last two episodes of "Tokyo Ghoul" season one. If Yes, READ THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed.
(Think 'Tokyo Ghoul' anime and "Star Trek' first generation rated NR17)Our main character Zhendar is a Navigator, his race of people studies other races with the eyes of pure Neutrality and Zhendar chooses a race that is most related to his own though they are completely the humans definition of evil. EVIL. A case study of the worse parts of humanity all wrapped up in on species. There is no redeeming qualities in this race of being, er, except maybe toughening up warriors and enjoying the pleasures of flesh and debauchery. And even when Zhendar has contact with his own people they too seem not to have much in redeeming qualities.
Matter of fact Zhendar himself though the essence of good permeates through him and he is constantly in turmoil between rules and his own well being, seems to mostly ignore what is right at least by my standards (which might not be 'right' either). Not that he doesn't make correct choices but without that love of the character which I'm sure comes from later books it's hard to love anyone in this book and if you do prepare to be heart broken.
So why did I enjoy this book sooo much: If you loved the original Star Trek show (the aliens, world views and action) and have any appreciation of Anime (especially darker ones) you will like this book. It is fast pace nonstop action, I am a slow reader and I read it in basically a week. This book shows Zhendar's (Alex, LX) birth of strength, understanding and power, the way to use it and way to look at the world.
Ask yourself,(using a currently Popular Anime) did you enjoy and understand the reasons for last two episodes of "Tokyo Ghoul" season one. If Yes, READ THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed.
August 28, 2018
The prequel to the Legacy series is action-packed and intense. Zhendar has trained his entire life to become a navigator and awarded with a covert mission where he is required to infiltrate the enemy and be accepted as one of them. The problem is that the Ksarrichis are polar opposites with the Xhartan. Zhendar has to continually fight his conscience when dealing with the violence surrounding him but his mission is that of an observer only and any action he takes to help the victims of the Ksarrichis would be viewed as treason to Xhartan, his world.
The Ksarrichis are similar to the people of Xhartan in appearance and they use the same language making them somehow related. The planet of Ksarr had used up its own resources and are in the process of conquering other planets to survive. The torture and brutal treatment of their adversaries is just an added bonus to the cruel people and Zhendar has difficulty blending in with them. One of the planets on the Ksarrichis radar is Dax and Zhendar finds is nearly impossible not to help the Daxons as we learn more about this amazing planet of shifters and oii’iios (yeah, not sure how you would pronounce). The writing is superb and the storytelling remarkable. A very creative and fascinating world. Highly Recommended!
The Ksarrichis are similar to the people of Xhartan in appearance and they use the same language making them somehow related. The planet of Ksarr had used up its own resources and are in the process of conquering other planets to survive. The torture and brutal treatment of their adversaries is just an added bonus to the cruel people and Zhendar has difficulty blending in with them. One of the planets on the Ksarrichis radar is Dax and Zhendar finds is nearly impossible not to help the Daxons as we learn more about this amazing planet of shifters and oii’iios (yeah, not sure how you would pronounce). The writing is superb and the storytelling remarkable. A very creative and fascinating world. Highly Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews