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The Deep Black #1
Parallax
In the deep black of space, there are no rules. Only pirates. And Rangers.
A space opera in the deep black of space from #1 Bestselling author James David Victor
Captain Drummond Bayne is a Navy Ranger tasked with bringing order to the lawless reaches of space. When a simple mission turns deadly, Bayne and his crew must embrace a rogue mentality if they want to make it out alive. Can they escape the pirates with their lives and their convictions?
Parallax is the first book in the exciting Deep Black space opera. If you like fast paced space adventure, rogue pirates, and stories more complex than good vs. evil, you are going to love your visit to the Deep Black.
A space opera in the deep black of space from #1 Bestselling author James David Victor
Captain Drummond Bayne is a Navy Ranger tasked with bringing order to the lawless reaches of space. When a simple mission turns deadly, Bayne and his crew must embrace a rogue mentality if they want to make it out alive. Can they escape the pirates with their lives and their convictions?
Parallax is the first book in the exciting Deep Black space opera. If you like fast paced space adventure, rogue pirates, and stories more complex than good vs. evil, you are going to love your visit to the Deep Black.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2018
155 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
James David Victor
199 books92 followersJames David Victor is the pen name used by science fiction and fantasy author David J. VanBergen Jr. for co-authored projects. It is his way of sharing more stories with you than he could write by himself.
If you would like to check out all of his books, under both pen names, and get a free short story, be sure to sign up for his Science Fiction newsletter by visiting:
fairfieldpublishing.com/sci-fi-newsle...
If you would like to check out all of his books, under both pen names, and get a free short story, be sure to sign up for his Science Fiction newsletter by visiting:
fairfieldpublishing.com/sci-fi-newsle...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 27, 2018
Firstly I must add that I have enjoyed other works by this author, especially the Jack Forge series. So I was optimistic about this series which seemed to tick a few of those boxes for a bit of Sci-Fi action.
But this really didn’t work for me at all. The main character, is the captain of a deep space vessel policing the outer fringes of the galaxy. His background as an ex “ranger” makes him a bit edgier and not a rule follower. It also makes him, as a character, hard to like as he is unprofessional and arrogant. It was hard to feel any empathy or concern about him and the other characters are not really fleshed out either.
So a bit of nonsense about pirates and Captain Drummond Bayne’s background. But it was hard to invest in this and in the end I didn’t care. Not a series I will continue with.
But this really didn’t work for me at all. The main character, is the captain of a deep space vessel policing the outer fringes of the galaxy. His background as an ex “ranger” makes him a bit edgier and not a rule follower. It also makes him, as a character, hard to like as he is unprofessional and arrogant. It was hard to feel any empathy or concern about him and the other characters are not really fleshed out either.
So a bit of nonsense about pirates and Captain Drummond Bayne’s background. But it was hard to invest in this and in the end I didn’t care. Not a series I will continue with.
January 15, 2019
Lazy
I bailed early on (within ten pages), as it was boring. The opening pages lost me with the nearest naval base being 100,000 light years away. That's the length of the Milky Way, so there's one base for the whole galactic navy or the writer hasn't bothered to research basics. Wikipedia will do for something like that and it took me about 20 seconds to look up. That told me how much craft the writer brought to the book.
The naval ship has a crew of what (8 or 10) and the captain goes onto an away mission. The naval ship is a converted pirate ship, captured previously. From a Star Trek imitation to a badly stretched navy that can only afford a tiny crew and a tiny ship to cover 100,000 light years, the story shows little attention to a background (thin, implausible, sketchy or even contradictory) and the characters were just what you'd expect.
It might not be as boring as it promises to be but I decided not to waste the effort proving it one way or the other.
I bailed early on (within ten pages), as it was boring. The opening pages lost me with the nearest naval base being 100,000 light years away. That's the length of the Milky Way, so there's one base for the whole galactic navy or the writer hasn't bothered to research basics. Wikipedia will do for something like that and it took me about 20 seconds to look up. That told me how much craft the writer brought to the book.
The naval ship has a crew of what (8 or 10) and the captain goes onto an away mission. The naval ship is a converted pirate ship, captured previously. From a Star Trek imitation to a badly stretched navy that can only afford a tiny crew and a tiny ship to cover 100,000 light years, the story shows little attention to a background (thin, implausible, sketchy or even contradictory) and the characters were just what you'd expect.
It might not be as boring as it promises to be but I decided not to waste the effort proving it one way or the other.
January 14, 2019
7/10: Good solid read, something to get your teeth into.
“Just once, I’d like to do something without a member of my crew telling me how stupid I am for doing it.”
I think I like Bayne. It wasn't insta-love or anything, but I think I can get attached to this guy and his reckless yet honourable behaviour. His character is showing some depth; it still needs a little more investigation, but at least, with this one, I'm with the protagonist long enough for him to start to grow on me.
This one has potential.
“Just once, I’d like to do something without a member of my crew telling me how stupid I am for doing it.”
I think I like Bayne. It wasn't insta-love or anything, but I think I can get attached to this guy and his reckless yet honourable behaviour. His character is showing some depth; it still needs a little more investigation, but at least, with this one, I'm with the protagonist long enough for him to start to grow on me.
This one has potential.
October 18, 2025
Parallax (The Deep Black, Book 1) Short on science, this is a character/story controlled military space adventure. Controlling Pirates in the Outer Fringes of occupied space, Captain Bayne is not your normal Navy Captain. Normal means sticking to protocol and Bayne will break protocol in a heartbeat to keep his crew safe. Quite a swashbuckling story, put it on your TBR list. I received a copy for free on a promotion and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
February 2, 2019
Action Sci-fi
Great book so far love the way it jumped right into the character and storyline looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series will bring. Brings a lot of curiosity as to what will happen with the main character as the story unfolds. Great start a new Sci-Fi series.
Great book so far love the way it jumped right into the character and storyline looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series will bring. Brings a lot of curiosity as to what will happen with the main character as the story unfolds. Great start a new Sci-Fi series.
November 14, 2018
Bayne Drummond is captain of the royal blue which has been tasked with clearing an area of space of pirate's. However things don't quite go to plan there's plenty of action in this first installment of a new series.
November 18, 2018
A new and very interesting series. Captain Bayne and his crew kept me very entertained as they tried to capture the Pirates in the Deep Black of space. Will be very exciting going along on their adventures. Another great series by this author.
February 18, 2021
Good start for a series
A reformed pirate now a member of the governor who is sent to check on things and discovers the the enemy controls all.
A reformed pirate now a member of the governor who is sent to check on things and discovers the the enemy controls all.
October 1, 2025
Loved it‼️
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really like the main character & his sense of honor. I’m looking forward to reading about his next adventure.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really like the main character & his sense of honor. I’m looking forward to reading about his next adventure.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews