Jump Gate Omega

Star Lawyers #1

by Tom Shepherd

Without Jump Gate Omega, the Terran Commonwealth may not survive.

Tyler shook his head. “Specify, Dad. What do you want us to do?”
His father glared at him. “Go to the Rim, sue those amphibious bastards for everything they’ve got, and get Jump Gate Omega on track again!”

If the new Matthews Corporation Jump Gate fails to span 2.5 million light years to the Andromeda galaxy, the heavily invested star-faring civilization of the Milky Way will face economic ruin and brutal war.

The Star Lawyers must run a gauntlet to the Rim, dodging pirates, politicians, prelates, and predatory star nations intent on seizing the new Gate to Andromeda.

Rollicking sci-fi fun, packed with humor, romance and deep space adventure, punctuated with courtroom battles on alien worlds. Readers have dubbed the Star Lawyers series “Trek meets Law & Order.”

Without Jump Gate Omega, the Terran Commonwealth may not survive.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Space Opera, Aliens

279 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2018

About the author

Tom Shepherd flew medical evacuation helicopters in Vietnam, where he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. He has worked as a Japanese linguist, public school teacher, and graduate school instructor. Shepherd is originally from Reading, Pennsylvania, but lived in Alaska, Germany, Indochina, and the Republic of Korea. He spent the balance of of his professional career working with churches in the Deep South, California, and the Midwest and serving as Professor of Religious Studies at Unity Institute near Kansas City, Missouri. Author of a wide array of
articles and nonfiction books, plus more than twenty plays and two novels for the middle grades, Dr. Shepherd “retired” in 2016 to write novels full time.

Star Lawyers is his new series, which readers have described as “Star Trek meets Law&Order.” Tom Shepherd lives with his wife, Carol-Jean, and their genial pit bull, Riley, in Tucson, Arizona.

Reviews

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
When I read the short prequel Knife Fight at Olathe I was totally hooked, and fallen for the Lawyer brothers! A very original and creative plot, never read quite like it before! The cover is fantastic!
It’s a Colourful and tumultuous history, full of action, fun, hilarious, the universe creation is exceptional. The story building is outstanding and fast paced, with great characters and their backgrounds adding to the adventure, the famous first travel Gates are a mystery, technology is very explicit. It’s an exciting and explosive start to a wonderful series! If you like Space Team series, The Darklanding you’ll love this one too!
I am voluntarily giving a review of an advance copy I received from the author.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawyers for a galactic cooperation. Touchable hologram, and death. Worth the read!

[William Howe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was going so well

Nice little SF tale with. Good guys and space ships and bad guys and aliens. Even an assassin and some pirates. A decent plot and some interesting, if quirky, characters. Then...it all started going to shit.

First, add to the plot a shape changing alien creature - okay. A bit weird, but as a plot device it could work.
Next, have a character use astral projection to ‘read’ the past - because cameras aren’t a thing in the far future, I guess.
Now, add a secret super ninja killer - ...and I’m done.

I’m not even halfway through the book yet, and there are so many extra plot devices it’s getting clanky. The characters are still largely superficial stereotypes, but instead of developing them further...here’s another odd thing/alien/power to further complicate things.

[Red Tide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Childish

I didn't finish, though I got to the page 130 or so. The MC is a self-indulgent, pampered, man-child scion of the wealthiest family in the human sphere. I don't see how it can generate a great story from that beginning.

The family aren't really worthy of the terms: shallow; stereotypical; thin; laughable. This is the Koch brothers in space or the Gates dynasty controlling human space. Throw in an interstellar version of "Dynasty" and you've covered the character range. The dialogue follows the characters of necessity.

The background universe of a collapsed galactic empire is interesting. The human civilization is the fever dream that generates a U.S. ruling class with capitalism unregulated, yet keeping democratic forms that controls humanity. How does this economy work. It's obvious that this is just just a popular U.S. view of the present. This isn't very imaginative. Chinese, Indian and non-Irish Europeans either don't exist or have no visibility.

This feels like the product of a white, teenage boy without any writing talent. It seems that it's supposed to be a serious future history not a bad spoof, so there isn't any explanation for nasty cartoon characters leading a U.S.-centric civilization. No creativity. No decent writing style. Junk.

[John Shrek Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome Aboard The Patrick Henry

30 Avril 2018@1918 to 14 May 2018@0340.

Jump Ship Omega (ARC) Tom Sheppard

Possibly far into the future.

Terran governments are mostly gone and large corporations act as the rule of the world. They have starships, FTL as well as sub-FTL drives, military, and lawyers.

Somehow this seems to work -like lawyers of today- some steal in the name of legal justice. Some just creatively acquire, and some work for their family(ies).

Some planetary systems are still ruled by a large variety of governments.

3 lawyers head out to culminate a project that s 4 generations in the making.

Just prior to departure one of the lawyers who would ve been a futuristic Indiana Jones discovered a new habital planet and was “adopted” by a local planetary shifter/chameleon. This being keeps showing up periodically throughout the book.

Roughly half way through the book they finally start to figure out that they have a shape shifter.

{Why do higher class citizens of whatever time they re in: hesitate? They hire security professionals and then fail to respond to their orders. Why?!?}

Not just in books, in real life as well. I ve reacted to situations instantly, seen militaries react instantly, and yet anyone who thinks that they are “someone” will drag their feet, demand explanation, and/or dawdle. Invariably it almost always causes problems!

It s nice to see that the group can learn to think outside the box while dealing with this story.

Yes there is a cliffhanger at the end of the book.


Knife Fight at Olathe-5 by Tom Shepherd

Start 14 May 2018 @0613 to 14 May 2018 @0931.

Nice little story of how a star lawyer acquired his unique toy and in what shape it was in when he first got it.

Ignoring the fact that it was only a single specific incident rather than a true battle, this prequel lets you see that Tyler can think on his feet and can even figure out how to build goodwill for his family.

He smooths things over for both his attacker and the local police/repair shop where he picked up his small scout ship. And by paying the price set fee of 150K and sending the attacker home to his wife and family.

Throughout the first part of the book: *Jump Gate Omega *, we learn about how she was fixed/repaired into the sleeper starship/starcraft she became.

[David Brevik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jump Gate Omega is a refreshing sci-fi that explore a new angle in the genre. Instead of the average space explorer or soldier, we get Tyler Matthew- space lawyer who bring alien empires to their knees by exploiting their court of laws. Of course, there is some classic exploration of worlds and space battles. It wouldn’t be sci-fi without it.
Yet the author went through much effort of setting up a rather interesting situation. Far too many stories focus on how war or invasion as the main plot line. In this one, we see how the perfect storm economics and law can make or break civilizations. War might be the death blow of nations, but it’s money- or lack of- wither away civilizations. All of this is set in a well-thought out universe with plenty of unique cultures and creatures.
A colorful cast of characters from the more roguish, adventurous Tyler to his introvert, but firm brother helps draws one in. he Interactions are fun, organic, and flow well. There a full range of cast that I think anyone can relate to.
If there are any complaints, I find the romance a bit rushed. Certainly not the worse I ever read and well-written. I just find it a bit creepy when the love interest literally morphs into the Tyler’s fantasy girl. Other then that, there little to complain about.
Overall, a great sci-fi and with plenty of potential for future the series. I need to buy the next book as soon as possible.

[Marcus Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, but an unsatisfying ending.

I really enjoy this author's writing, good characters, but the story ends abruptly. None of the three plot points are resolved. I also made the mistake of reading another book by this author (in the same universe) which I loved far, far more. That was pure sci-fi humor, this is just sci-fi, albeit with some humor... so I was a little disappointed. But that's not the author's fault. What IS his fault is not giving us the other two thirds of this book!

[Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cleverly crafted story, with some exceptional character work, that will not only leave you guessing, it will leave you wanting more.
I have to admit, that Jump Gate Omega is a bit different to a lot of the stories I have read in this genre. The story revolves around Lawyers and legal battles, court rooms a lot more than the normal Sci-fi story, you normally find this sort of material in a crime/mystery type of book, which to some extent, this is. It is just that in this case, the main story is about the fate of the rights to a Jump Gate that allows travel between two galaxies, and the subsequent trade routes that will be established.
Whilst this story does have a fair amount of legalese, it still has a fair amount of starship combat, a good amount of personal combat, and the technology is not only remarkable, but just stunning.
At the start of the book, we are introduced to the youngest son of the Matthews Family, Tyler Noah Matthews IV, who, is a young (26yrs roughly), cocky, arrogant, egotistical narcissist. He also has a Law Degree and is highly intelligent, as well as having several other skills, including a very cunning mind, and a mouth that can get him out of trouble, just as quickly as it gets him into it. He is also one of the funniest Characters I have read in a long time.
We also meet his brother J B Matthew (Jeremiah Berechiah), but the J.B. has this habit of standing for a variety of different things in the story, and it is rather amusing trying to keep track of all the different variants. JB, for all his physical presence, is rather shy, until you get to know him, but is actually a really lovable character, and those that do know him tend to make friends for life. JB suffers from a rare illness, a personality disorder, that can cause him to become quite angry, something that he can’t control, and makes it difficult for him to actually practice the law degree he holds. He is a brilliant lawyer though.
After a brief introduction to Tyler, and a short escapade, the story moves to Noah – or more correctly, Tyler Noah Matthews III, the Father of Tyler and JB, who goes by Noah, rather than Tyler, and is the current Patriarch of the Matthews Industries Company, and the richest man in the Galaxy.
He has called the two boys as he has a job for them, he wants them to go to the Suryadivan home world, and once there, argue in their legal system, to regain control of the space in which the Matthews Legacy Project sits – a Jump Gate that will allow connection from the Milky Way Galaxy to the Andromeda Galaxy. The Suryadivan High Pontiff has ruled that the space is currently no longer allowed to be entered by anyone other than Suryadivan’s, which is in breach of the contract that they signed.
The Gates are due to go online soon, and if they don’t have control of the space, and the gates, it will be a huge disaster, and cost a lot of money, as well as destroy a lot of companies, and potentially, could start a war between Companies – Companies actually have their own space Navies – Matthews Industries has one of the largest, which is run by Noah’s Wife, Bianca Matthews an Admiral with a fearsome reputation.
And so, this is where the story starts, Tyler and JB, joined by their sister Rosalie, who is a Linguist and knows multiple languages, off to Suryadivan space, to try and win a legal battle that is basically unwinnable.
This is just the main story though. There are so many substories, and additional plot lines that I could seriously fill another several pages discussing them (but I would also give away too much – and I don’t want to give away spoilers!!)
This is just an incredible story, this is so much depth to this book, at every single facet of the story. The Author has put so much thought into every aspect.
One of the really captivating, and truly awe-inspiring aspects of this series is the Galaxy-Building. From the very onset, you get an understanding of just how huge the Matthews Empire is, but it isn’t until you start delving into the various parts of the story, that you really get a feel for just how much detail and depth the Author has put into each little facet of each trait of each of the Characters, or the different Planets, or Races. There is so much detail backing up each and every attribute and feature of the Authors creations that Wikipedia would be put to shame.
Not only does it give you this incredibly multi-dimensional view of the Authors Universe, one with exquisite detail that in a world full of Lawyers, investigators and Criminals, makes for a far more comprehensive read, it just adds this level of reality that you don’t get in most stories – in fact, you don’t get this level of complexity in real life. It is just wonderful.
Because the Author hasn’t just used it to make sure that all of his story is factually correct, or to make sure that everything plays out nicely – but he uses it in every aspect of the descriptive work in his scenes, or in describing his characters, or the space battles, or the legal battles. Everything in this story has so much detail, it is just beautiful.
I have to say though, that he doesn’t overwhelm you, it isn’t like there is just the constant sensory overload, it is just that he never misses the opportunity to make sure that something has a full description.
The Galaxy(World) building is just exquisite, and with such complexity I have not seen in a book before, it is truly masterful, and makes this book, and this series something truly special.
The Character work is just as exceptional, with each and every character having a rich, and full background, making them not only very realistic, but clever, captivating, and incredibly gritty.
This book has just so many characters, and this is part of the reason it is actually so impressive. Sometimes a book that has so many characters can lose the integrity of the main characters, they get lost within all the additional characters.
However, given that each member of the Matthews family are such Powerful Entities within their own right, it is actually impossible for them to get lost within the story, or the slew of other Characters.
Tyler and JB are just brilliant, and Rosalie is just something special. Noah is exactly what you expect from the Patriarch of the biggest Commercial Empire in the Galaxy, although, to give him some credit, he has moments where he is almost human.
Another really remarkable thing about this book(and series), is the incredible range of aliens. Whilst there are a lot that fit into the 2 armed, 2 legged variety, there is also a lot that don’t. Tyler even discusses WHY there are so many species that have evolved in this galaxy with similar traits to Humans, allowing the Author to actually provide some of the theories that have been proposed as to why if we find life, they may not be all that different to us. It is a very clever bit of writing, and it just provides for that additional realism.
Overall, this is just a magnificent book, and start to the series, there is just so much to love about it, the characters, the mind-blowing Galaxy-Building and Tech, but most of all, just this wonderful story, told so well, that will have you laughing again and again. Tyler is just hilarious, and you will love JB, not to mention Rosalie, and, I don’t want to give away spoilers, but when you meet the other characters, you will not want to put this down.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this racist? Yes.
Was it sexist? Yes.
Was it theme appropriate? Also yes.

Jump Gate Omega is from the genre of books that takes a very specific modern day archetype and throws them 1000 years into the future. We take a Catholic lawyer from the Midwest and transport that archetype far into the future, with no real explanation of how that archetype has survived largely intact over the intervening years, and end with quite a few unexplained quirks. For example: apparently the entire human race is now Catholic, but not particularly devout, or at least it makes up enough of the population that everyone understands fairly specific bits of Catholicism. We also have, for no apparent reason, the largest company in the human confederation headquartered in Kansas City, MO.

Which leads in to why the sexism and racism seem to fit. In the same way that brutal sexism, rape, and the like is considered setting appropriate in Game of Thrones, having your hotshot 20-something midwestern lawyer main character be fairly sexist and a little bit racist seems entirely theme appropriate. What you end up with is a story where the majority of the female characters are either related to the MC or are a love interest for one of the male characters, and at multiple points we have a side character described simply as being "Asian" or "Korean" with no other description about them.

Outside of all that, it seems to be fairly run of the mill sci-fi story. The interesting bit: that lawyers in the far future will be able to have as much effect as military might is interesting, although a pretty heavy level of suspension of disbelief is required. Our primary plot involves our main characters figuring out a large scale conspiracy and putting a stop to it using the legal system in an entirely different culture, one with drastically different rules than the one they are experienced in. Somehow winning this legal battle will result in everything working out, despite the fact that the conspirators commit mass murder resulting in at least thousands of deaths trying to stop our rambunctious crew.

Overall: reasonably entertaining, with a premise that stretches but doesn't break my suspension of disbelief.

[Geoff Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawyers to the stars.... the idea intrigued me, and the description was good enough and peaked my interest enough so that I bought it. When I was looking for something fun and not too deep or too military, I really wanted to give this a shot. I also read the short story prequel Knife Fight at Olaffe 5, and it was really good. Good enough so that I dove right in to Jump Gate Omega, and I'm glad I did.

Tom Shepherd really delivers the goods in this book. Funny, light, serious, deep, I kept wanting Tyler to do the right thing, and he kept NOT doing the right thing. I can only imagine how this whole thing with Suzie is going to evolve and work out... but I can't wait to find out what happens. And who is Naca Jen? She's a great character.

So the point, the counterpoint, the two brothers JB and Tyler, Suzie, the changeling cat, Rosalie... these are all great characters and I love watching them evolve and emerge. It's just rolicking good space lawyer fun that I found I could not put down once I picked it up. Just what I needed for good old science fiction escapism at the right time when I'm studying for a certification and I need a break.
And the whole concept of the Patrick Henry... being crewed by holograms that used to be call girls... who could possibly think of that? And bumbling Blue! Love him.

So this one gets 5 stars from me, and I have already started book 2, which I am sure I will inhale like a Hoover run amok. Kudos and great writing for Tom Shepherd, please keep delivering them, I'm hooked!

[T.S. Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter the Star Lawyers! Men and women trained to unravel alien legal systems derived from ancient cultures, baffling laws and bizarre religions. Only Thomas Shepherd could envision such a universe without going mad—and only he could be devious enough to toss his beloved characters into a galactic meat grinder of ruthless space pirates, cunning assassins, vile oligarchs and pious fanatics.

The lives you experience in these adventures—the wily Tyler Matthews and his straightforward brother J.B., their sweet sister Rosalie, a sexy hologram Suzie, the blue alien Quirt-Thymean and even a shape-shifting cat—will become your friends and heroes. Together, they will face hard decisions and hysterical happenings while humans and aliens try to exploit, enslave, seduce or butcher them.

What more could you want?

[Loretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look, when a series called "Star Lawyers" is brought to my attention, how can I not give it a shot?

I gave it a shot. And nope. It's been a while since I've read a sci-fi book this traditionally dude-bro sexist full of annoying tropes poorly done. I gave it 2 stars because I did finish it, the narration was decent, and there is a plot that moves along. But OY the main character is an utter dick, and the fact that every other character calls him that, including the woman/sentient embodied AI he sleeps with, knows that and calls him out on it does not make it better. He's a charming sexist dick and the fact that he's a lawyer is just...sigh.

Also, all the law stuff is bad in the way law stuff is usually bad in popular fiction.

Do not recommend.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining space listening 🎶🔰

Another will written fantasy Sci-Fi space opera adventure thriller novel by Tom Shepherd (Star 🌟 Lawyers book one). A very rich family law attorney practice must get jump hate Omega operational. The owner's children, two bothers and a sister with a cousin, are given the task half way across the galaxy. They are lawyers who set up a space practice as they fight against aliens 👽 in worlds 🌎 where being human is wrong. I would highly recommend this series to readers of space operas looking for something different. Enjoy the adventure of reading all kinds of different types of novellas, novels 👍🔰, and books 📚 or something different. 2022 😮👒

[Iain Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great new series to come I think. Many a time you think oh another standard sci-fi pot boiler. Well think again, this storyline has great potential. A powerful corporation who are beholden to no-one, planets whose governments who fear the corporation and then the villain who wants to destroy the corporation. The heroes of the book are the "children" of the head of the corporation. The Matthews kids (youngest is in their "20's" are a magnet for trouble. Follow their exploits as the storyline sets itself up for the start of a great series.

[W.D. County · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jump Gate Omega is the first volume in a series of galactic adventures featuring two lawyers, both sons of an extremely wealthy galactic tycoon. While defending their family’s corporate interests against space pirates, interplanetary eminent domain, assassination attempts, and financial rivals, they encounter a fascinating array of alien creatures, climates, and cultures. Through cleverness (and a certain healthy disregard for the rules) they manage to defend the wealthy and the underdog alike in a quest for justice in an almost lawless frontier.

[Logan Horsford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual, interesting.

I liked some of the characters.

There is some weird stuff - like they took over a brothel spaceship that was staffed only by females. Either they are freaky prudish in the distant future or the author has never heard of women going to a brothel or so called 'rent boys'. Or 'pan sexuals'. So that's a strike.

There are also some weird powers that seem to pop up now and then (time travel through meditation WTF is that crap) that don't seem to fit in but whatever.

Overall, a decent read. Not wonderful, but decent.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 3 out of 5]

kindle unlimited, this one had a prequel, not sure how got it, but not listed on amazon {neither is 2 at this time}, and while I like 0.5/prequel well enough book 1 didn't really seem to be much like the prequel so assuming book 2 won't be either.

Without Jump Gate Omega, the Terran Commonwealth may not survive. Tyler shook his head. “Specify, Dad. What do you want us to do?” His father glared at him. “Go to the Rim, sue those amphibious bastards for everything they’ve got, and get Jump Gate Omega on track again!”

If the new Matthews Corporation Jump Gate fails to span 2.5 million light years to the Andromeda galaxy, the heavily invested star-faring civilization of the Milky Way will face economic ruin and brutal war. The Star Lawyers must run a gauntlet to the Rim, dodging pirates, politicians, prelates, and predatory star nations intent on seizing the new Gate to Andromeda.

Knife Fight at Olathe-5 (.5)
Jump Gate Omega (Star Lawyers Book 1)
Forbidden Sanctuary - Star Lawyers Book 2)

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, crazy lawyers, insane assassins and always on the move.

So, we meet Tyler first, doing a large kid thing of going skinny-dipping in an ocean on a planet he knows nothing about. You go on to meet more of the Matthew's family, but and pieces about them and the mission they are going on.

Read and enjoy!!!

[unknown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun, quick read with lots of character dialogue.

I bought the narration by Scott Aiello and he went above and beyond to make it interesting. Each character, and there we're quite a few diverse characters, had their own voice. The story is good but the narrator made it come alive! I look forward to reading the rest of the series

[TnTaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing I can say about this fun book is that it is exactly like the description says. Readers call this a cross between Star Trek and Law & Order. The main characters are very clearly delineated and entertaining. I have read way too many books where I had to keep a running list of the characters and their relationships with each other. I can't wait to get to #2!

[Éric Kasprak · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read. This rollicking space adventure is told from a fresh perspective; lawyers! Yes lawyers. You still get all the spaceships chase/battle, evil pirates, weird looking aliens, blaster fight and planet-hopping shenanigans as in a regular Space Opera, but you get a legal/economic side that oversees all that action. Oh! and did a mention a spaceship full of beautiful prostitutes holograms. Well it's in there too. All hail the Star Lawyers.

[Donald Jr Whitted · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has become a favorite of mine!

Like nothing you've ever read. Completely entertaining. In another favorite of mine, "The Number of the Beast", it was put forth that every book published becomes an universe in it's own right. If so I very much want to visit this one.

[Ian Denner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good

Enjoyed the book although it was not what I was expecting when I bought it. I expected a strai9up science fiction story and not a rebellious rich boy rebel teenager in the first few chapters. That was strike 1 for me.

[shelly north · Rating 5 out of 5]

Law and order in space

I started this, couldn’t make it past the first chapter. Then I found it again, once I made it past the first chapter I didn’t put it down until I finished it. It’s got a bit of slow start but it is definitely worth reading

[Steve Lill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining space opera!

This is not your usual battling with Ray guns in space story. It is a good blend of action and court room drama. The lead character is quite the jerk but the rest make up a good team and it leads to a fun story.

[Walter Wartenweiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't finish yet but definitely a page turner!

[Dcdfn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genre is SciFi and the series really is SciFi but it is also a great who-done-it. How the author sprinkled the hints and facts throughout the stories and then pulled it all together is quite amazing. It’s fun and fast, and has great memorable characters.

[Martin Bruno · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF uncontrolled f bombs shows writer wants to impress without working at it 🤔🙄.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has some of the best lines. I love the humor.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satisfying

After reading the two prequels to this I was not disappointed. Every bit as page turning and riveting as ever.