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Brilliant
We all dream of discovering our superpower. For seventeen-year-old Jennifer Gallagher, that superpower is an IQ of 206. She has been captivated with the StarCruiser Brilliant movie franchise since she was five. Now, she has a chance to intern with the Hollywood studio that produces the series.
She knows that StarCruiser Brilliant is the key to finding out what happened to her father, but discovers that Brilliant will take her to the stars on her search.
The first book of the StarCruiser Brilliant series will thrill and excite you as you get to watch Jennifer grow from a precocious teen to a powerful, professional woman and discover her true superpower.
She knows that StarCruiser Brilliant is the key to finding out what happened to her father, but discovers that Brilliant will take her to the stars on her search.
The first book of the StarCruiser Brilliant series will thrill and excite you as you get to watch Jennifer grow from a precocious teen to a powerful, professional woman and discover her true superpower.
- GenresScience Fiction
340 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2018
155 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Rick Lakin
2 books7 followersRick Lakin is the Best-Selling Children’s Science Fiction Author of Brilliant, and the publisher at iCrewDigitalPublishing.com, Bringing New Authors to a Digital World. iCrew has published 35 books by 11 authors.
Rick has been an Optimist for almost two years and is the district webmaster at calso41.us and was a Toastmaster.
He is the founder of iCrew Digital Productions, A Community of Young Media Professionals and a member of the 1000 Club of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. Rick is an Advanced Communicator Silver in Toastmasters International and is a member of American Mensa. Rick works as a Sports Statistician for broadcast television and is a retired math teacher.
He lives in Southern California but his roots are in Columbus, Ohio, home of The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Singularity, Book Two of StarCruiser Brilliant, is on pre-sale at Amazon for release on April 10, 2019.
Rick has been an Optimist for almost two years and is the district webmaster at calso41.us and was a Toastmaster.
He is the founder of iCrew Digital Productions, A Community of Young Media Professionals and a member of the 1000 Club of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. Rick is an Advanced Communicator Silver in Toastmasters International and is a member of American Mensa. Rick works as a Sports Statistician for broadcast television and is a retired math teacher.
He lives in Southern California but his roots are in Columbus, Ohio, home of The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Singularity, Book Two of StarCruiser Brilliant, is on pre-sale at Amazon for release on April 10, 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 21, 2018
Excellent book
This is an excellent book. I can’t believe this author hasn’t written more books. When he does I’ll be waiting to read them. This is a futuristic book and the characters are excellent and well written.
This is an excellent book. I can’t believe this author hasn’t written more books. When he does I’ll be waiting to read them. This is a futuristic book and the characters are excellent and well written.
June 4, 2018
Fun read
Outstanding space opera. Enjoyed the different characters and easy, fun storyline. Hope they are more just as good as this one, thank you😺
Outstanding space opera. Enjoyed the different characters and easy, fun storyline. Hope they are more just as good as this one, thank you😺
May 25, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. Nice fast pace, keeps you interested,. well written and fairly easy to read once get use to time sequence.
Appears to be the first in a new series. I admit that I was not sure what to expect. Not my normal genre to read but then always very glad I did. Young adult Science Fiction
I like the fact that the main character's mother and the character herself were smart enough to keep her a likeable human being. I say this because she could be considered too smart. Could have given me a complex and i am an adult, lol. Although, I do feel bad for Pugs. what is his superpower? Dandy Lion has one so.......
I was really interested in the steveLearn at the end of the book. How much is story and how much is real. Based on some reality? I can see it being reality soon.
I did received this book as an ARC and this is my honest and freely given review.
Appears to be the first in a new series. I admit that I was not sure what to expect. Not my normal genre to read but then always very glad I did. Young adult Science Fiction
I like the fact that the main character's mother and the character herself were smart enough to keep her a likeable human being. I say this because she could be considered too smart. Could have given me a complex and i am an adult, lol. Although, I do feel bad for Pugs. what is his superpower? Dandy Lion has one so.......
I was really interested in the steveLearn at the end of the book. How much is story and how much is real. Based on some reality? I can see it being reality soon.
I did received this book as an ARC and this is my honest and freely given review.
May 12, 2018
Good atempt
The author claims this as his first book. Great start! I was a little out off by the time jumps, but got over it.
The author claims this as his first book. Great start! I was a little out off by the time jumps, but got over it.
May 4, 2018
This is two hundred and sixty-plus pages of mostly sheer action. It is well written, with clearly defined characters and the necessary tensions.
The future has a number of technical innovations, but they are not used ‘deus ex machina’ but are part of the story’s world. People interact and grow. You will find yourself liking most of the characters.
The scenes of conflict are very well done and I can’t easily show you with small quotes. But let me try.
“Well, at least you get to follow your dream this summer.”
Jennifer looked away and shrugged. “If I get in.”
“Come on. You're way over-qualified. You had a great interview,” Tayla smiled at her friend. “You’ll be starting that internship before you know it.”
Jennifer bit her lip. “Assuming Mom agrees.”
“Your mom understands you and trusts you. She’ll let you go.”
Jennifer looked Tayla in the eye. “I’m going to find him.”
Tayla paused and looked at Jennifer, “Your father?”
“Yes.”
“You think he's alive?”
“I know he is.”
“The vision thing?”
Now let me try again:
Jennifer remembered the day she found the file on her mother’s computer. Jennifer was surprised that her mother would keep a news story that was many years old. Then she looked at the date. December 10, 2049. Mom was pregnant with me then. Was he my father?
And again:
“Captain, they are running and hiding,” Hanna said.
“The ship is grounded. Lowering the ramp.”
“I, for one, am famished. It is almost noon. Let’s see if these filmmakers will invite us to lunch.”
The three time-travelers emerged and walked toward the movie set location.
I have not even tried to handle the battle scenes and the tennis matches. You will have to buy the book to read them. Now for my star count boilerplate.
My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. I have read a Lot of science fiction, and many novels. Five stars is my evaluation. Extremely recommended.
The future has a number of technical innovations, but they are not used ‘deus ex machina’ but are part of the story’s world. People interact and grow. You will find yourself liking most of the characters.
The scenes of conflict are very well done and I can’t easily show you with small quotes. But let me try.
“Well, at least you get to follow your dream this summer.”
Jennifer looked away and shrugged. “If I get in.”
“Come on. You're way over-qualified. You had a great interview,” Tayla smiled at her friend. “You’ll be starting that internship before you know it.”
Jennifer bit her lip. “Assuming Mom agrees.”
“Your mom understands you and trusts you. She’ll let you go.”
Jennifer looked Tayla in the eye. “I’m going to find him.”
Tayla paused and looked at Jennifer, “Your father?”
“Yes.”
“You think he's alive?”
“I know he is.”
“The vision thing?”
Now let me try again:
Jennifer remembered the day she found the file on her mother’s computer. Jennifer was surprised that her mother would keep a news story that was many years old. Then she looked at the date. December 10, 2049. Mom was pregnant with me then. Was he my father?
And again:
“Captain, they are running and hiding,” Hanna said.
“The ship is grounded. Lowering the ramp.”
“I, for one, am famished. It is almost noon. Let’s see if these filmmakers will invite us to lunch.”
The three time-travelers emerged and walked toward the movie set location.
I have not even tried to handle the battle scenes and the tennis matches. You will have to buy the book to read them. Now for my star count boilerplate.
My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. I have read a Lot of science fiction, and many novels. Five stars is my evaluation. Extremely recommended.
September 16, 2018
I wasn't sure that I would like the book but I got curious from the blurb and tried it. I only got a third of the way through before I gave up.
The characters could be interesting if he spent more time with them or on them. The action and passage of time moves the characters along at breakneck speed. These characters are all needlessly flat but all of them were promising at the start.
I'm a nobody and don't mean to presume but I think that this story would be so jazzed up by Zen DiPietro's involvement. She would slow the pace and move the characters to the front of the story. She has a talent for bringing her characters to life that I think is fantastic. She always seems to do that and she also seems to handle the details of the background well in everything she writes. I have had issues with some of her plots but she always delivers the above. It's just what she does.
If the writer adds a lot more substance to the story, he would really benefit from having Ann Christy join him in the series. She always writes real living characters and would look at the life of the main character from the character's point of view, not as a running narrative. She would definitely slow the pace, to take the time to tell the story. She has in everything of hers that I have read. Full disclosure, I am a big fan of Ann Christy but I think the above is still true.
That's a big weakness, characters are thinned out by the pace of the book. The flashbacks and the appearance of the real space ship were confusing to me. The writer doesn't spend much time in character development, so I had no insight into any of the characters, including the main character.
The space crew as creators of an american TV show that is still running fifteen years later? The characters turned into name soup. The dialogue is breezy and minimal, since the pace allows for nothing substantial.
The libertarian silliness is the book's underpinning. No one is not accorded the respect all residents should enjoy. Everyone is educated and well paid. The company always pays it's employees generously and would never try to steal someone's intellectual property. Unemployment is zero because this is a well organized business dominated society. The Dept of Defense doesn't seize and spirit away the time travelers forever, seize their craft and move it to Area 51 for immediate replication, shut down NASA involvement under some security Act and end of the story. No woman or man faces harassment for any reason in this movie town. There are no Walmarts, public libraries, gardeners, diners, car washes, fast food restaurants or public schools, hence no poor people (teachers, checkout clerks, librarians, waiters, etc). It is a wonderful life for the characters who are all industrious, deserving, etc. Maybe I'm the only person who finds this to be a sad little universe, I hope not.
The only thing missing is the government stepping in for some reason and trying to ruin everyone's good time. NASA getting access to technology that no one has, including and especially the Department of Defense (even in this reality, unimaginable to me) is too weird. NASA having authority over anything, based on what's been done to it in this timeline is again, too weird. The rest of the world is good with this arrangement? The aliens that are mentioned at the start, are not really explained and disappear soon after. Do the MC's mother, friend, doctor, any of the time travelers or the MC herself have an actual personality???
This is not a good book and there is no way that I can see the writer wanting to or able to salvage the last two thirds of it. I couldn't finish it. Unless you think "Leave it to Beaver", "Father knows best" or "Bewitched" are documentaries, I don't think you will either.
The characters could be interesting if he spent more time with them or on them. The action and passage of time moves the characters along at breakneck speed. These characters are all needlessly flat but all of them were promising at the start.
I'm a nobody and don't mean to presume but I think that this story would be so jazzed up by Zen DiPietro's involvement. She would slow the pace and move the characters to the front of the story. She has a talent for bringing her characters to life that I think is fantastic. She always seems to do that and she also seems to handle the details of the background well in everything she writes. I have had issues with some of her plots but she always delivers the above. It's just what she does.
If the writer adds a lot more substance to the story, he would really benefit from having Ann Christy join him in the series. She always writes real living characters and would look at the life of the main character from the character's point of view, not as a running narrative. She would definitely slow the pace, to take the time to tell the story. She has in everything of hers that I have read. Full disclosure, I am a big fan of Ann Christy but I think the above is still true.
That's a big weakness, characters are thinned out by the pace of the book. The flashbacks and the appearance of the real space ship were confusing to me. The writer doesn't spend much time in character development, so I had no insight into any of the characters, including the main character.
The space crew as creators of an american TV show that is still running fifteen years later? The characters turned into name soup. The dialogue is breezy and minimal, since the pace allows for nothing substantial.
The libertarian silliness is the book's underpinning. No one is not accorded the respect all residents should enjoy. Everyone is educated and well paid. The company always pays it's employees generously and would never try to steal someone's intellectual property. Unemployment is zero because this is a well organized business dominated society. The Dept of Defense doesn't seize and spirit away the time travelers forever, seize their craft and move it to Area 51 for immediate replication, shut down NASA involvement under some security Act and end of the story. No woman or man faces harassment for any reason in this movie town. There are no Walmarts, public libraries, gardeners, diners, car washes, fast food restaurants or public schools, hence no poor people (teachers, checkout clerks, librarians, waiters, etc). It is a wonderful life for the characters who are all industrious, deserving, etc. Maybe I'm the only person who finds this to be a sad little universe, I hope not.
The only thing missing is the government stepping in for some reason and trying to ruin everyone's good time. NASA getting access to technology that no one has, including and especially the Department of Defense (even in this reality, unimaginable to me) is too weird. NASA having authority over anything, based on what's been done to it in this timeline is again, too weird. The rest of the world is good with this arrangement? The aliens that are mentioned at the start, are not really explained and disappear soon after. Do the MC's mother, friend, doctor, any of the time travelers or the MC herself have an actual personality???
This is not a good book and there is no way that I can see the writer wanting to or able to salvage the last two thirds of it. I couldn't finish it. Unless you think "Leave it to Beaver", "Father knows best" or "Bewitched" are documentaries, I don't think you will either.
October 10, 2018
This was an impulse download as the story sounded interesting, unfortunately the start of the book nearly put me off, as the writer’s style was incredibly annoying.
He jumps around all over the place, from one character to another and even backwards and forwards in time. In the first chapter he introduces dozen of characters but you never find out who they really are before he jumps to somewhere else. I nearly gave up at this point, but as the story progresses the writing settles down a little and the jumps aren’t as frequent.
At times the story is over-the-top and it really doesn’t bare close scrutiny, but in the main it is fun to read. Jen is the main heroine of the story as she uses her massive intelligence to take control of any situation she finds herself in. The author makes a reference to Laurence Dahners’s Ell Donsaii books and in some ways Jen is quite similar to Ell.
The story has many inconsistencies, it is obviously targeted at a younger audience and I could happily do without the teen romance, but I still quite enjoyed the majority of the book and I would definitely read any follow-up.
He jumps around all over the place, from one character to another and even backwards and forwards in time. In the first chapter he introduces dozen of characters but you never find out who they really are before he jumps to somewhere else. I nearly gave up at this point, but as the story progresses the writing settles down a little and the jumps aren’t as frequent.
At times the story is over-the-top and it really doesn’t bare close scrutiny, but in the main it is fun to read. Jen is the main heroine of the story as she uses her massive intelligence to take control of any situation she finds herself in. The author makes a reference to Laurence Dahners’s Ell Donsaii books and in some ways Jen is quite similar to Ell.
The story has many inconsistencies, it is obviously targeted at a younger audience and I could happily do without the teen romance, but I still quite enjoyed the majority of the book and I would definitely read any follow-up.
June 19, 2018
Clever and unique
It's an unique sci-fi story that has the lead jumping through time, and it's a fun read. I quite enjoyed it as it ran through a great pace, and though it was long, it seemed to end too soon. Just saying I wished there was more. I enjoyed the story, especially where the superpower was intelligence. Something that is always intriguing and should be used more often. It's a very good book and well-written, where the characters a well-developed and it's a grand plot. I look forward to more from Mr. Lakin.
It's an unique sci-fi story that has the lead jumping through time, and it's a fun read. I quite enjoyed it as it ran through a great pace, and though it was long, it seemed to end too soon. Just saying I wished there was more. I enjoyed the story, especially where the superpower was intelligence. Something that is always intriguing and should be used more often. It's a very good book and well-written, where the characters a well-developed and it's a grand plot. I look forward to more from Mr. Lakin.
June 24, 2018
Very well written and edited
"is" is contracted ('s) in Every instance. Not a big deal, but it jumped out at me.
I did really enjoy the story. Reminded me of 'Tom Swift' books, but better. 🤓 (yeah, i'm That old)
No profanity, no sex and no violence! Very unusual. The author still kept the story interesting, emotional 😢 and exciting. I will read the next book if there is one!
- Thanks for the hours of entertainment Mr Lakin, 😁
"is" is contracted ('s) in Every instance. Not a big deal, but it jumped out at me.
I did really enjoy the story. Reminded me of 'Tom Swift' books, but better. 🤓 (yeah, i'm That old)
No profanity, no sex and no violence! Very unusual. The author still kept the story interesting, emotional 😢 and exciting. I will read the next book if there is one!
- Thanks for the hours of entertainment Mr Lakin, 😁
December 31, 2018
Not a bad beginning
This good series beginning. IMHO this was a very readable and entertaining book, both for YA readers and the older crowd. Other reviewers have brought up some nits, but once you get past those the story flows pretty well. Jennifer does some pretty amazing things, but hey that’s what superheroes do.
This good series beginning. IMHO this was a very readable and entertaining book, both for YA readers and the older crowd. Other reviewers have brought up some nits, but once you get past those the story flows pretty well. Jennifer does some pretty amazing things, but hey that’s what superheroes do.
January 24, 2023
What a joy!!
Rick Palin writes a fantastic book! Hard science but very understandable. So many buttons were pushed with all the tips and tricks that make up our memories of movies, music and memorabilia! And who could miss the mention of author Laurence Dahmers "Ell Donsaii" series. Rick, I'll be watching you. Congratulations.
Rick Palin writes a fantastic book! Hard science but very understandable. So many buttons were pushed with all the tips and tricks that make up our memories of movies, music and memorabilia! And who could miss the mention of author Laurence Dahmers "Ell Donsaii" series. Rick, I'll be watching you. Congratulations.
January 30, 2023
I really enjoyed it
This is a story about a very talented young woman that is a devote follower of a series of space movies that wants to incorporate disparate fields of writing and directing with advanced app development. The story is enjoyable, fast paced and raised questions for me to think about in the future.
This is a story about a very talented young woman that is a devote follower of a series of space movies that wants to incorporate disparate fields of writing and directing with advanced app development. The story is enjoyable, fast paced and raised questions for me to think about in the future.
August 22, 2018
Soo technical
There are some spots that has just to much detail... I don't need to know that much about 9year Olds playing tennis. Other then the very few spots like that it was an interesting read.
There are some spots that has just to much detail... I don't need to know that much about 9year Olds playing tennis. Other then the very few spots like that it was an interesting read.
November 12, 2018
Probably meant for a younger audience.
Everything fall nicely into place with no genuine struggle. The characters don't feel like real people and the main character often seems like she says things to be considered a nice person. Blah.
Everything fall nicely into place with no genuine struggle. The characters don't feel like real people and the main character often seems like she says things to be considered a nice person. Blah.
June 8, 2019
Awesome book!
An excellent story. Loved how the tech is so easily perceived as real time/real world. And how it transforms lives and learning and working and social environments! And an excellent mc and cast of characters!
An excellent story. Loved how the tech is so easily perceived as real time/real world. And how it transforms lives and learning and working and social environments! And an excellent mc and cast of characters!
August 12, 2018
Seems very interesting can’t wait to read this!
October 13, 2018
Very good
I loved this story and look forward to more. Some of the jumps in time were disorienting, but the story still was great. I want a steveLearn of my own. More please.
I loved this story and look forward to more. Some of the jumps in time were disorienting, but the story still was great. I want a steveLearn of my own. More please.
January 27, 2020
Not impressed with writing style this author, Very one dimensional
March 13, 2020
Loved it
Enjoyable characters. Good story. Happy ending. Look forward to reading more by this author. Maybe development of prequils for some of the older characters.
Enjoyable characters. Good story. Happy ending. Look forward to reading more by this author. Maybe development of prequils for some of the older characters.
Read
August 15, 2021DNF @ 10%
Writing style was weird for me.
Writing style was weird for me.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews