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Astral Prime #1
Shadow Planet: Mission 1
A space station at the edge of the galaxy just found a planet that’s slipping off the edge entirely.After losing control of his magic, wizard Cedric The Brown blew up his boss and nearly crashed a space station into a planet. Determined to make amends, he pledges to help the mining station negotiate with the nearby planet's mysterious magical inhabitants.With nothing but the bankrupt station as severance pay, Director Fujita Hiroko moves to the edge of the galaxy to keep the station afloat as an independent mining operation. When the nearby planet vanishes with her and her survey team still on the surface, hopes of mining are quickly replaced by a more pressing finding a way back to her station.Shadow Planet is the first book in the Black Astral Prime series. It hearkens back to location-based space sci-fi classics like Babylon 5 and Star Deep Space Nine. Astral Prime builds on the rich Black Ocean universe, introducing a colorful cast of characters for new and returning readers alike.Come along for the ride as a minor outpost in the middle of nowhere becomes a key point of interstellar conflict.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2018
13 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Morin
193 books612 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 24, 2018
4.5 stars. Yet to gel with these new characters and the humor was not at the same level as the Mobius crew. Enjoyed the new storyline in the Black Ocean line.
June 22, 2018
Finally a new book in the Black Ocean series.
This time following Morts son and giving us a better look at the rest of the galaxy. Definately worth reading!
This time following Morts son and giving us a better look at the rest of the galaxy. Definately worth reading!
March 25, 2019
On a good day, Maho Saigai Mobile Excavating Station YF-77 was probably... MAYBE …60% functional. Not enough engineering staff - ONE... and not enough support from corporate. JUST...Not enough of anything. Station Chief Fujita Hiroko was determined to keep it running and not be an embarrassment and lose face with her clan megacorp back home. But, that all ended the day she received notice that the megacorp itself had declared bankruptcy and they were pretty much abandoned and left on their own to survive...or not. To make matters even worse, the planet they were circling was pretty much played out and there would not be any more significant resources they could mine and sell to keep them from becoming another dead, floating piece of space junk.
In desperation, Hiroko forms a plan, with the help of their resident star drive wizard, Calvin Black to move the station to another planet. One that was not necessarily going to be safe...or close by. Unfortunately, the star drive was one of that 40% that wasn't functioning and, as Calvin knew, would take weeks and more money than they would be able to put together, to repair. But...Calvin has a secret and, beyond all hope manages to get the station under way as they hurtle across the galaxy on their journey to their hoped for salvation. A journey that is abruptly ended when they encounter an unheard of discovery...a planet floating in the mists of the astral depths. Could this celestial miracle be their salvation...or will it end all of them?
J.S. Morin, who has created the universe of the BLACK OCEAN, joins once again with author M.A. Larkin who, together, cowrote the SINS OF ANGELS 5 book space saga, to craft this first entry into a whole new dark region of space. The universe of BLACK OCEAN: ASTRAL PRIME has all the great thrills and adventure of the original and introduces you to new people and worlds that will take you spinning off into the depths. Both Morin and Larkin are extremely adept at building complex worlds and crafting characters that are fully formed...love them or hate them... who you'll be pulling for as well as others that you only want to kick into a near by airlock.
While it's not necessary to have read any of the other 16.5 books in the main BLACK OCEAN story arc, there are a few Easter eggs that you will enjoy uncovering and have you smiling as you wind your way through the story. And the good news is...if you are looking for a series that will entertain you and will provide you with dozens of books to immerse yourself in, the universe of the BLACK OCEAN is at 27.5 books with many more to come.
In desperation, Hiroko forms a plan, with the help of their resident star drive wizard, Calvin Black to move the station to another planet. One that was not necessarily going to be safe...or close by. Unfortunately, the star drive was one of that 40% that wasn't functioning and, as Calvin knew, would take weeks and more money than they would be able to put together, to repair. But...Calvin has a secret and, beyond all hope manages to get the station under way as they hurtle across the galaxy on their journey to their hoped for salvation. A journey that is abruptly ended when they encounter an unheard of discovery...a planet floating in the mists of the astral depths. Could this celestial miracle be their salvation...or will it end all of them?
J.S. Morin, who has created the universe of the BLACK OCEAN, joins once again with author M.A. Larkin who, together, cowrote the SINS OF ANGELS 5 book space saga, to craft this first entry into a whole new dark region of space. The universe of BLACK OCEAN: ASTRAL PRIME has all the great thrills and adventure of the original and introduces you to new people and worlds that will take you spinning off into the depths. Both Morin and Larkin are extremely adept at building complex worlds and crafting characters that are fully formed...love them or hate them... who you'll be pulling for as well as others that you only want to kick into a near by airlock.
While it's not necessary to have read any of the other 16.5 books in the main BLACK OCEAN story arc, there are a few Easter eggs that you will enjoy uncovering and have you smiling as you wind your way through the story. And the good news is...if you are looking for a series that will entertain you and will provide you with dozens of books to immerse yourself in, the universe of the BLACK OCEAN is at 27.5 books with many more to come.
July 3, 2018
Oh man. So, when I heard that there were going to be more Black Ocean books coming out, I was positively giddy. I'd followed the hijinks of Carl Ramsey and his crew through their four mission packs and enjoyed them thoroughly, not to mention the brilliant world (universe?) their stories are set in. That being said, I also knew the new books would be following a different set of characters, which left me a little more cautiously optimistic. I've been hurt before, you understand.
I had no reason to worry. Authors J.S. Morin and M.A. Larkin absolutely delivered, and I look forward to seeing the further adventures of this (mostly) new cast of characters. The writing is solid, as is the storytelling, and I felt that we even got a better glimpse into the workings of this universe with its magic and its tech and I can hardly wait for more. Astral Prime was a little darker and grittier than the stories from the first Black Ocean series, but the universe takes to it well and I'm inclined to argue that it's going to give these stories a chance to sink their teeth into some deeper themes.
My biggest complaint (if you could call it that) is that I don't yet feel the same connection with the new cast as I did with the old one. Though even as I say that, I recognize that it's not necessarily a fair charge-- the old crew had sixteen missions in which to lure me in. That being said, if this new gang captures my heart, I could easily see myself liking this new series even more than the first.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I had no reason to worry. Authors J.S. Morin and M.A. Larkin absolutely delivered, and I look forward to seeing the further adventures of this (mostly) new cast of characters. The writing is solid, as is the storytelling, and I felt that we even got a better glimpse into the workings of this universe with its magic and its tech and I can hardly wait for more. Astral Prime was a little darker and grittier than the stories from the first Black Ocean series, but the universe takes to it well and I'm inclined to argue that it's going to give these stories a chance to sink their teeth into some deeper themes.
My biggest complaint (if you could call it that) is that I don't yet feel the same connection with the new cast as I did with the old one. Though even as I say that, I recognize that it's not necessarily a fair charge-- the old crew had sixteen missions in which to lure me in. That being said, if this new gang captures my heart, I could easily see myself liking this new series even more than the first.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
December 18, 2023
A fun continuation of the Black Ocean universe with this spin-off centering around a mining space station that is down on its luck. Very, very down on its luck. The discovery of a movable planet changes everything.
I enjoyed plunging back into the space opera world of Black Ocean. Morin spins a ripping good yarn.
I enjoyed plunging back into the space opera world of Black Ocean. Morin spins a ripping good yarn.
October 6, 2018
Great beginning
Space opera at its best. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The concept of gravity stones is mind boggling. Would they really existed.
Space opera at its best. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The concept of gravity stones is mind boggling. Would they really existed.
June 18, 2019
Following Mort's son.
These definitely aren't great literary works, but I thoroughly enjoy them.
Great narration.
These definitely aren't great literary works, but I thoroughly enjoy them.
Great narration.
June 28, 2018
J.S. Morin and M.A. Larkin know how to produce great scifi tales that are also well plotted, well written and loads of fun. That was certainly the case with her latest, Shadow Planet: Mission 1 in their new Black Ocean: Astral Prime series. This is loads of pure fun. It had just what I wanted, was well written, and had a great plot full of perfectly mix of adventure, magic and scifi. I love the concept of a minor space station outpost in the middle of nowhere becoming a key point of interstellar conflict, and love how it was handled here. Perfect casting, perfect world (universe) building, perfect plot (and story arc start), perfectly written. The result is something that is (no surprise here) perfectly enjoyable. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - this book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
July 2, 2018
I was practically giddy reading this book! Cedric The Brown back in the flesh as Calvin Black. Acting as a meek star drive mechanic on a derelict space station.
While the crew of the Mobius is present, working as a band, on said station, they have not acknowledged his presence since he is in hiding from the Convocation.
When the Director of the space station needs the station dropped down into astral for it to be moved to a new mining planet, the only way that's going to happen is for Cedric/Calvin to use magic.
He practically reverts into being his father, Mort. Using black magic to contort the universe to his whim. This is where I start getting really giddy.
Let's just say this story has a whole lot more great plot and wizardary up it's sleeve and I would recommend you give it a read. Even if you didn't follow the previous Black Ocean tales this is easy to follow.
I look forward to the next book.
I was given a review copy for an unbiased review. my opinions are my own. I want to thank J.S. Morin and Matt Larkin for the opportunity.
While the crew of the Mobius is present, working as a band, on said station, they have not acknowledged his presence since he is in hiding from the Convocation.
When the Director of the space station needs the station dropped down into astral for it to be moved to a new mining planet, the only way that's going to happen is for Cedric/Calvin to use magic.
He practically reverts into being his father, Mort. Using black magic to contort the universe to his whim. This is where I start getting really giddy.
Let's just say this story has a whole lot more great plot and wizardary up it's sleeve and I would recommend you give it a read. Even if you didn't follow the previous Black Ocean tales this is easy to follow.
I look forward to the next book.
I was given a review copy for an unbiased review. my opinions are my own. I want to thank J.S. Morin and Matt Larkin for the opportunity.
July 5, 2018
Their worst nightmare. Their last chance for a profit.
I'm so happy to have a new Black Ocean book to read. Morin's style of strong characters, witty banter and deadly peril seems to shine brightest in his space opera series. At the opening of this new four-book arc, a bankrupt deep-space mining platform happens across something in the astral that couldn't possibly be there... except it is. Dire threat, or opportunity?
I admit, I'm reading this extensive series out of order (16+1/2 volumes precede this one, or maybe 20, depends on how you count), but Morin seems to be breaking in a new set of main characters for this quadrilogy. Although I miss Capt. Ramsey and company, these new faces are fun and intriguing. I grew to care about them in no time.
This series is a joint effort with Morin's occasional co-author Matt Larkin. They did great work on Larkin's Sins Of Angels series, so I'm not surprised that this set is firing on all boosters, too.
Highly recommended! Short review, because I'm diving straight into the next book!
I'm so happy to have a new Black Ocean book to read. Morin's style of strong characters, witty banter and deadly peril seems to shine brightest in his space opera series. At the opening of this new four-book arc, a bankrupt deep-space mining platform happens across something in the astral that couldn't possibly be there... except it is. Dire threat, or opportunity?
I admit, I'm reading this extensive series out of order (16+1/2 volumes precede this one, or maybe 20, depends on how you count), but Morin seems to be breaking in a new set of main characters for this quadrilogy. Although I miss Capt. Ramsey and company, these new faces are fun and intriguing. I grew to care about them in no time.
This series is a joint effort with Morin's occasional co-author Matt Larkin. They did great work on Larkin's Sins Of Angels series, so I'm not surprised that this set is firing on all boosters, too.
Highly recommended! Short review, because I'm diving straight into the next book!
November 8, 2020
Now that is how your suppose to write about a wizard with N interesting backstory G.S. Denning.
I stumbled across the Black Ocean books a while back, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. First book or two was interesting, but the characters quickly grew on me and I read through the whole series in short order. I followed Esper into her Mercy for Hire series, which wasn't as good as the original, bit still managed to keep me entertained. Now I'm follow Cedric the Brown in this Astral Prime series and so far I'm not disappointed.
This first book was quite scant bit not lacking in character development or universe cat fur tasting colors building. I suspect it's low page count was due to the series being more of an experiment than a fully flushed out ecosystem. Curious to see where the story goes and seeing is complete and short, I should be able to digest all the books in a matter of days, schedule permitting.
I stumbled across the Black Ocean books a while back, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. First book or two was interesting, but the characters quickly grew on me and I read through the whole series in short order. I followed Esper into her Mercy for Hire series, which wasn't as good as the original, bit still managed to keep me entertained. Now I'm follow Cedric the Brown in this Astral Prime series and so far I'm not disappointed.
This first book was quite scant bit not lacking in character development or universe cat fur tasting colors building. I suspect it's low page count was due to the series being more of an experiment than a fully flushed out ecosystem. Curious to see where the story goes and seeing is complete and short, I should be able to digest all the books in a matter of days, schedule permitting.
June 15, 2019
Still in the wonderful world of the Black Ocean, Shadow Planet introduces us to many new characters, ones you'll like, and others you like to loathe. We see Cedric trying to escape his past only to have his altruistic nature rise to the fore and demand he use his formidable powers to save what we can see as the beginnings of his new 'family' aboard a mining station in trouble and forced to skirt the grey edges of the law and polite society in order to survive catastrophe.
A very enjoyable start to this spin-off Black Ocean quartet.
A very enjoyable start to this spin-off Black Ocean quartet.
November 13, 2022
Brilliant opener, excitement unlimitef
Raw characters, conflicted staff, withdrawn and disguised Terramancer, Dragons, warped dimensional space adventures, a thrilling opener to Space but not as ee know it or expect it to be. Inspirational, drawing on the groundbreaking themes expounded by the true greats of early science fiction. From the 1940's to 1960's. Space, Danger, Threats, fearsome creatures of legend and of course he who is one of untold mystery. More please!!!! Definitely.
Raw characters, conflicted staff, withdrawn and disguised Terramancer, Dragons, warped dimensional space adventures, a thrilling opener to Space but not as ee know it or expect it to be. Inspirational, drawing on the groundbreaking themes expounded by the true greats of early science fiction. From the 1940's to 1960's. Space, Danger, Threats, fearsome creatures of legend and of course he who is one of untold mystery. More please!!!! Definitely.
July 2, 2018
While having a bit of a different flavor than the original Black Ocean stories (a little darker, less high jinks) , it still has all the enjoyment. While I miss the old crew, this promises to be a lot of fun. This story brought out some of my favorite elements of the Black Ocean universe (powerful wizards arguing with the universe and breaking tech) and wove it into a story that promises to keep on giving.
January 10, 2019
This spin-off starts out a little darker than the original series, but it has the same solid world-building and storytelling, the same wit and occasional snark, and characters you want to root for (or against, in some cases).
Following a crew of mostly new(-ish) characters, you don't need too much of the orginal series' backstory to enjoy Shadow Planet.
Following a crew of mostly new(-ish) characters, you don't need too much of the orginal series' backstory to enjoy Shadow Planet.
April 22, 2022
Mort is at it again this time in the body of Clive. After the last adventure where esper almost destoryed a mining station. Clive joins on to fix the damage. Only to run into a planet that is coasting through the astral. He saves the day as the crew of the station work to find someone to eek out a living from the shadow world.
September 18, 2022
Wow!
Hoo boy this book is not messing around! I know it's a spin off but I have not read the main series, so imagine my surprise when I'm reading a space station story and magic comes smashing through the wall like the KoolAid man. Great little read, totally worth it, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!
Hoo boy this book is not messing around! I know it's a spin off but I have not read the main series, so imagine my surprise when I'm reading a space station story and magic comes smashing through the wall like the KoolAid man. Great little read, totally worth it, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!
January 4, 2020
An excellent addition to the legends of the Black Ocean. It answers the question of "When is Hiroko's mining station not a station?" Then answer is of course when Cedric the Brown makes it move through the astral! And for some, through the astral may have a deeper meaning.
June 12, 2024
With a few silent nods to the Mobius crew, Carl, Mort's son joins the crew of a mining station and discovers a planet where none should be. This series has far less comedy, but is similar enough to the original series to be interesting.
July 13, 2018
Review
A cracking start to what we all hope will be a whole new series set in the Black Ocean universe!
A cracking start to what we all hope will be a whole new series set in the Black Ocean universe!
May 24, 2019
A really well done spinoff. As of yet I have not finished all the Mobius missions but I really enjoyed this. Liked the characters and I really liked the setting.
June 14, 2019
Solid writing as always, hope the character development in this series is as great as the other in Morin's series at large
Read
March 27, 2020Really liked this audiobook. Good story, pacing, continuing events.
November 24, 2020
Bit of a slower start, but you feel the potential, and you know this will work out.
July 20, 2023
Great book love the story and the book narration can’t wait to listen to the next one I highly recommend this book 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 8, 2025
I found it hard to get into this story.
June 15, 2019
This is the first in the spin-off series to the main Black Ocean series. After the events that involved Mining Space Station YF-77, Calvin Black (better known as Cedric the Brown), has gone into hiding aboard Mining Space Station YF-77, trying to make up for what he did when he nearly caused the Station to crash (which is now known as Crash Day aboard the station), and doing significant damage to the stations systems in the process.
No one knows it was him, just that a Wizard did it. He is basically giving his services for nearly free, but he is also lying about the extent of his abilities.
This book picks up several months after the events of ‘Crash Day’, and the station is still in bad shape. They are desperate to try and find a new mining project, for a new revenue source and to fix the station.
Just when things look really bad, the Mega-Corporation that owns them goes under, and the Woman who runs the station, Fujita Hiroko, suddenly becomes the owner of it.
Desperate to keep things going, Hiroko authorises Black to use magic to move the station rather than using the Stations broken drive. Black, being far more powerful than any of them know, drops them deep into the Astral, and there they find a mysterious planet, and this is when things really begin to become interesting.
A small group goes to the planet for a quick look – as the Planet should not really exist, certainly with atmosphere.
On the planets surface, they discover a Dragon like creature that could hold the answer to all their problems.
However, the Planet moves between normal space and the Astral, so is difficult to keep track of.
This is the introductory book to the series, introducing us to the main characters on the station, letting us get to know the station and how everyone fits in, the relationships, both good and bad, the players and the desperation of the situation.
As with all the Black Ocean stories the quality of the Characters and the world building is just beyond exceptional. The incredible depth that goes into the background the Authors build for the story to be told is just incredible.
The character work is just masterful. Calvin is brilliant as the Wizard on the run, trying to play it down, hide his background, and at times having to unleash Cedric. Hiroko is written so well as the overworked and stressed station commander, and everybody has met or seen the overly enthusiastic executive assistant who is actually so much more such as Kendra is. Roland Kane is perfect as the annoying but likeable pain in the engineering department.
There are numerous other characters – all of them equally outstanding, as is this start to the next Black Ocean series.
If you have read the Black Ocean Series, you will love this, if you haven’t, you can probably easily get away without having read it, and enjoy this as a stand-alone story (although you should really go read/listen to Black Ocean as it is just the best Sci-Fi series out there). Either way – don’t miss out!!
No one knows it was him, just that a Wizard did it. He is basically giving his services for nearly free, but he is also lying about the extent of his abilities.
This book picks up several months after the events of ‘Crash Day’, and the station is still in bad shape. They are desperate to try and find a new mining project, for a new revenue source and to fix the station.
Just when things look really bad, the Mega-Corporation that owns them goes under, and the Woman who runs the station, Fujita Hiroko, suddenly becomes the owner of it.
Desperate to keep things going, Hiroko authorises Black to use magic to move the station rather than using the Stations broken drive. Black, being far more powerful than any of them know, drops them deep into the Astral, and there they find a mysterious planet, and this is when things really begin to become interesting.
A small group goes to the planet for a quick look – as the Planet should not really exist, certainly with atmosphere.
On the planets surface, they discover a Dragon like creature that could hold the answer to all their problems.
However, the Planet moves between normal space and the Astral, so is difficult to keep track of.
This is the introductory book to the series, introducing us to the main characters on the station, letting us get to know the station and how everyone fits in, the relationships, both good and bad, the players and the desperation of the situation.
As with all the Black Ocean stories the quality of the Characters and the world building is just beyond exceptional. The incredible depth that goes into the background the Authors build for the story to be told is just incredible.
The character work is just masterful. Calvin is brilliant as the Wizard on the run, trying to play it down, hide his background, and at times having to unleash Cedric. Hiroko is written so well as the overworked and stressed station commander, and everybody has met or seen the overly enthusiastic executive assistant who is actually so much more such as Kendra is. Roland Kane is perfect as the annoying but likeable pain in the engineering department.
There are numerous other characters – all of them equally outstanding, as is this start to the next Black Ocean series.
If you have read the Black Ocean Series, you will love this, if you haven’t, you can probably easily get away without having read it, and enjoy this as a stand-alone story (although you should really go read/listen to Black Ocean as it is just the best Sci-Fi series out there). Either way – don’t miss out!!
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