What do you think?
Rate this book
Starbirth #2
The Shifter Dimension
An inescapable conflict. A weapon with devastating capabilities.
Lock has a choice – stay at home and develop a team of enhanced-ability operatives like himself, or help his fellow fighters as they face the greatest threat they have ever seen. He opts to save his colleagues, but events take an unexpected turn and the danger of the battlefield is soon felt closer to home.
Aided by SAS trooper Jimmy Mackenzie, and MI6 officer Steven Stringer, Lock fights to stay one step ahead of the enemies who want to put them all out of action.
The Shifter Dimension is the second book in J M Johnson’s Starbirth series: fantasy adventures set within a contemporary military basis.
Lock has a choice – stay at home and develop a team of enhanced-ability operatives like himself, or help his fellow fighters as they face the greatest threat they have ever seen. He opts to save his colleagues, but events take an unexpected turn and the danger of the battlefield is soon felt closer to home.
Aided by SAS trooper Jimmy Mackenzie, and MI6 officer Steven Stringer, Lock fights to stay one step ahead of the enemies who want to put them all out of action.
The Shifter Dimension is the second book in J M Johnson’s Starbirth series: fantasy adventures set within a contemporary military basis.
- GenresScience Fiction
318 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2012
2 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Johnson
6 books39 followersJ M (Jackie) Johnson is a freelance writer and e-book author based in the United Kingdom (Britain). She has published four books in the Starbirth science fiction and fantasy series:
Starbirth Assignment Shifter (updated 2019)
The Shifter Dimension (updated 2019)
Shadow Team GB (2015, updated 2018)
Shadow Unleashed 2020
J M previously worked in a professional capacity as a podiatrist in the National Health Service but always had a desire to be an author.
She belonged to a spiritual group for eight years, following a particular spiritual lifestyle and making three pilgrimage trips to India. Her involvement fostered a lifelong fascination with powers of the mind. Two decades later she had the opportunity to join a group run by British ex-Special Forces and was a civilian member for six years. During that time she did extensive research into the military and intelligence worlds. These background experiences helped in the creation of her books.
Starbirth Assignment Shifter (updated 2019)
The Shifter Dimension (updated 2019)
Shadow Team GB (2015, updated 2018)
Shadow Unleashed 2020
J M previously worked in a professional capacity as a podiatrist in the National Health Service but always had a desire to be an author.
She belonged to a spiritual group for eight years, following a particular spiritual lifestyle and making three pilgrimage trips to India. Her involvement fostered a lifelong fascination with powers of the mind. Two decades later she had the opportunity to join a group run by British ex-Special Forces and was a civilian member for six years. During that time she did extensive research into the military and intelligence worlds. These background experiences helped in the creation of her books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 29, 2015
This book was a step outside my usual comfort zone of reading as I’ve not read many works of this nature. J.M.Johnson’s The Shifter Dimension 3 is categorized as Science Fiction> Genetic Engineering, Fantasy > Paranormal & Urban. It is all those and was a great introduction into that detailed realm.
I began this series with book three and I was able to follow the story. I will be picking up and reading books 1 and 2. It’s an interesting story.
I began this series with book three and I was able to follow the story. I will be picking up and reading books 1 and 2. It’s an interesting story.
March 25, 2018
Having read the first in the Starbirth series, which I loved I was looking forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed.
Although, I found the beginning a bit slower this time, I enjoyed the read nevertheless. Lock and the gang are shifting (teleporting) all over the place, doing their thing, which ends up making a very entertaining Military SciFi romp, and a good stand alone.
The author knew what they were talking about when they wrote this. The dialogue was well thought out and written. The military aspect felt very genuine.
If you like military scifi you may want to consider reading this.
Although, I found the beginning a bit slower this time, I enjoyed the read nevertheless. Lock and the gang are shifting (teleporting) all over the place, doing their thing, which ends up making a very entertaining Military SciFi romp, and a good stand alone.
The author knew what they were talking about when they wrote this. The dialogue was well thought out and written. The military aspect felt very genuine.
If you like military scifi you may want to consider reading this.
March 12, 2019
The Shifter Dimension by J. M. Johnson is the second book in the Starbirth trilogy. It picks up where the first book Starbirth Assignment left off.
Lock Harford (teleporter) and his family are under threat by Maria Zamora (transmute) who wrongly blames him for killing her boyfriend. He fights the restrictions of the SAS and Ministry of Defence would impose on him, but eventually rejoins SAS soldier Jimmy (James Mackenzie) and the D-squadron in Afghanistan to fight terrorists who can both shift (teleport) and have access to powerful weapons of mass destruction.
The Shifter Dimension is a well-written book with high-octane action and a strong hold on military and intelligence operations in the theatre of war. It explores the murky world of espionage and some of the outcomes and issues raised by the sudden rise of people with psychic superpowers.
While Harford features strongly in this story, the threat posed by Maria was largely tangential to the story and it felt in many ways more like Jimmy's story. While it includes a romantic subplot (mostly from Jimmy's point of view), the majority of the characters are male (as in the first novel). With the title, I was hoping for a greater exploration of the nature of the 'shifter dimension' (there are a few additional hints and perhaps that will become clearer in the third book). A few passages felt more like reportage (with lots of indirect speech), but they were few and far between and overall, the book held my interest and kept me engaged in the action and the characters.
A solid second book with the promise of more to come.
Lock Harford (teleporter) and his family are under threat by Maria Zamora (transmute) who wrongly blames him for killing her boyfriend. He fights the restrictions of the SAS and Ministry of Defence would impose on him, but eventually rejoins SAS soldier Jimmy (James Mackenzie) and the D-squadron in Afghanistan to fight terrorists who can both shift (teleport) and have access to powerful weapons of mass destruction.
The Shifter Dimension is a well-written book with high-octane action and a strong hold on military and intelligence operations in the theatre of war. It explores the murky world of espionage and some of the outcomes and issues raised by the sudden rise of people with psychic superpowers.
While Harford features strongly in this story, the threat posed by Maria was largely tangential to the story and it felt in many ways more like Jimmy's story. While it includes a romantic subplot (mostly from Jimmy's point of view), the majority of the characters are male (as in the first novel). With the title, I was hoping for a greater exploration of the nature of the 'shifter dimension' (there are a few additional hints and perhaps that will become clearer in the third book). A few passages felt more like reportage (with lots of indirect speech), but they were few and far between and overall, the book held my interest and kept me engaged in the action and the characters.
A solid second book with the promise of more to come.
November 2, 2016
I judge a book on its ability to hold my attention and keep me hooked until the very end. The Shifter Dimension did this for me. I had never read this type of book before so at first I found the world of Shifters intriguing and as I read on I became absorbed in the credible alternate world Jackie Johnson had created. Lock Harford, is forced back onto active duty to protect his family. Working with the Secret Service and British Special Forces he sets out to track down terrorists who have a new deadly weapon. As Lock utilizes his special talents what follows is a different type of pacy thriller with lots of twists and turns as the mystery/adventure unfolds. The read is made all the more satisfying with the addition of a number of well rounded characters, goodies and baddies. An enjoyable read and highly recommended.
October 1, 2017
One of the best bargains I have read in a long time. Very well written and lightning fast storyline. I loved the concept of being able to listen to the cells in your body and make them respond to you. It's not often I find plots with such original concepts. I also loved.how timely the theater of battle was; the Middle East being steeped in color and intrigue ala Homeland.
Excellent projection of tension. Takes great skill to make a reader get the same headache the character gets. The author is a women BTW. Pretty amazing considering the expert level of tech speak mixed with bio science.
Let me suggest you not make the same mistake I did. This was book two in a series. I missed book one. So I missed some of the backstory of these unique characters. I guess I have some catching up to do.
Excellent projection of tension. Takes great skill to make a reader get the same headache the character gets. The author is a women BTW. Pretty amazing considering the expert level of tech speak mixed with bio science.
Let me suggest you not make the same mistake I did. This was book two in a series. I missed book one. So I missed some of the backstory of these unique characters. I guess I have some catching up to do.
December 18, 2016
The Shifter Dimension, the second book in The Starbirth Series by J.M. Johnson is a fast-paced science fiction thriller that kept me guessing at every turn. Set against the backdrop of war and terrorist threats, the danger is complicated by the presence of villains with enhanced abilities. Fortunately, Lock Harford uses his skills as a Shifter to try to keep the world safe. This second book picked up where the first one left off, and the ending definitely made me eager to read the next installment. The Shifter Dimension is an excellent sci-fi thriller and is highly recommended. Five enthusiastic stars!
August 22, 2018
An action-packed military sci-fi paranormal mash-up with lots of interesting tid-bits to keep readers turning the pages.
I recommend reading the first books in the series (I have not)
What i loved was the unique ideas including the disgusting yet appealing making of warts and the information on what it feels like to become a shifter - those two things alone make this a must read.
I recommend reading the first books in the series (I have not)
What i loved was the unique ideas including the disgusting yet appealing making of warts and the information on what it feels like to become a shifter - those two things alone make this a must read.
November 25, 2017
A paranormal military thriller.
It's a bit hard for me to classify this book, as it's not in a genre I've read much in; I think the closest descriptor would be military science fiction, but of the near-future variety rather than military space opera. Lock Harford is a Shifter (i.e., teleporter) with other psychic powers including aura detection. He makes use of these abilities to lead a Special Forces team dedicated to protecting Britain from threats at home and abroad, which means sometimes going against the will of his handler, Stephen Stringer.
I liked the paranormal angle in this book. It was a bit reminiscent of the X-Files and helped set the book apart from a standard military thriller. That said, Johnson clearly knows her stuff in that department, and the seemingly realistic use of military lingo and terminology provides verisimilitude without devolving into impenetrable MilSpeak. The recap of what happened in Book 1 is also skillfully done, such that even though this was the first book in the series I read, I quickly got up to speed.
However, I did have some issues with the pacing, especially in the first third of the book before the team sets off for Afghanistan. There were a few too many instances where conversations between characters were summarized when I would have liked to see the dialogue written out. A couple characters like Spooky Nick and Bilton also drop out of the picture without much explanation. The characters in general aren't super-strong in this book; they're mostly crafted to play various roles, which is fine, but as a character-driven reader I could have done with a bit more.
All in all, this was a pretty good military SF read; I had fun with it.
It's a bit hard for me to classify this book, as it's not in a genre I've read much in; I think the closest descriptor would be military science fiction, but of the near-future variety rather than military space opera. Lock Harford is a Shifter (i.e., teleporter) with other psychic powers including aura detection. He makes use of these abilities to lead a Special Forces team dedicated to protecting Britain from threats at home and abroad, which means sometimes going against the will of his handler, Stephen Stringer.
I liked the paranormal angle in this book. It was a bit reminiscent of the X-Files and helped set the book apart from a standard military thriller. That said, Johnson clearly knows her stuff in that department, and the seemingly realistic use of military lingo and terminology provides verisimilitude without devolving into impenetrable MilSpeak. The recap of what happened in Book 1 is also skillfully done, such that even though this was the first book in the series I read, I quickly got up to speed.
However, I did have some issues with the pacing, especially in the first third of the book before the team sets off for Afghanistan. There were a few too many instances where conversations between characters were summarized when I would have liked to see the dialogue written out. A couple characters like Spooky Nick and Bilton also drop out of the picture without much explanation. The characters in general aren't super-strong in this book; they're mostly crafted to play various roles, which is fine, but as a character-driven reader I could have done with a bit more.
All in all, this was a pretty good military SF read; I had fun with it.
February 13, 2022
I've felt, that nothing happened in this book. There was no tension, it was like a string of small sidequests from an unprepared dungeon master.
May 20, 2024
This book is really awesome.
February 2, 2018
Projection for the Future
‘The Shifter Dimension’ by J M Johnson, Book 2 in the ‘Starbirth’ series, is one of the better novels in a somewhat over-populated genre. It is very well written by an author who creates a completely authentic, realistic setting and who has a considerable flair for description, which cannot be said for many writers of action books.
The storyline is very successful and is bound to interest readers of military and secret service operations, especially those who enjoy technological details. There are many details of technology, both already existing and those which come from the author’s speculative imagination and provide the slight world-building content of the book.
In some instances, the narrative falls into the trap of over-explanation. There is perhaps too much description; the details of the teleportation process, for example, while fascinating at first appearance, are somewhat overdrawn when continued throughout the book.
There is excellent development of some characters, but others tend to be flat and almost stock-character in nature. Perhaps the reason is that such a complex and extremely well-controlled storyline takes over from the full presentation of human action and motivation.
‘The Shifter Dimension’ is a substantial novel, containing a great deal of direct narration, which sometimes becomes a little ponderous. This is probably necessary, because the book is part of a series, and the back story and forward projection are built into its structure.
However, it is a technically accomplished, very readable book, well worth the purchase price and highly recommended.
‘The Shifter Dimension’ by J M Johnson, Book 2 in the ‘Starbirth’ series, is one of the better novels in a somewhat over-populated genre. It is very well written by an author who creates a completely authentic, realistic setting and who has a considerable flair for description, which cannot be said for many writers of action books.
The storyline is very successful and is bound to interest readers of military and secret service operations, especially those who enjoy technological details. There are many details of technology, both already existing and those which come from the author’s speculative imagination and provide the slight world-building content of the book.
In some instances, the narrative falls into the trap of over-explanation. There is perhaps too much description; the details of the teleportation process, for example, while fascinating at first appearance, are somewhat overdrawn when continued throughout the book.
There is excellent development of some characters, but others tend to be flat and almost stock-character in nature. Perhaps the reason is that such a complex and extremely well-controlled storyline takes over from the full presentation of human action and motivation.
‘The Shifter Dimension’ is a substantial novel, containing a great deal of direct narration, which sometimes becomes a little ponderous. This is probably necessary, because the book is part of a series, and the back story and forward projection are built into its structure.
However, it is a technically accomplished, very readable book, well worth the purchase price and highly recommended.
September 20, 2016
Things are getting interesting, a very nice follow-up of the first one!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews