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Lost Starship #9
The Lost Star Gate
The Swarm is coming!
This time, enemy science vessels study us as Hive Masters gather hundreds of thousands of starships for an avalanche invasion.
Instead of facing massed bug fleets in hopeless battle, we have a desperate plan: use a Builder nexus, create a hyper-spatial tube and send suicide-ships thousands of light-years into Swarm territory. There, our ships must find and destroy the nexuses that are the only way back home, all in order to stop the bugs from using the nexuses to reach Human Space.
Despite the grim mission, Captain Maddox is determined to bring his people back. But deep in the Sagittarius Spiral Arm, disaster strikes. All alone in the stellar night, the crew must face a primordial alien that even the Builders feared and the Swarm avoids.
Now begins a deadly battle as Maddox, the crew and Galyan are pitted against a horror of legendary evil as a Swarm battle fleet waits to annihilate the victor.
This time, enemy science vessels study us as Hive Masters gather hundreds of thousands of starships for an avalanche invasion.
Instead of facing massed bug fleets in hopeless battle, we have a desperate plan: use a Builder nexus, create a hyper-spatial tube and send suicide-ships thousands of light-years into Swarm territory. There, our ships must find and destroy the nexuses that are the only way back home, all in order to stop the bugs from using the nexuses to reach Human Space.
Despite the grim mission, Captain Maddox is determined to bring his people back. But deep in the Sagittarius Spiral Arm, disaster strikes. All alone in the stellar night, the crew must face a primordial alien that even the Builders feared and the Swarm avoids.
Now begins a deadly battle as Maddox, the crew and Galyan are pitted against a horror of legendary evil as a Swarm battle fleet waits to annihilate the victor.
605 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
791 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn Heppner
147 books569 followersYou can visit Vaughn at www.vaughnheppner.com
I was born in Canada and remember as a small boy crawling in my snow-fort. I closed my eyes, and when I tried to open them, they were frozen shut. I didn't panic, but wiped away the ice crystals, unglued my eyes and kept on building my tunnel. Those were great days! I moved to Central California before seventh grade and couldn't believe I lived in a land where oranges grew on trees and you could pick grapes from the vine.
I used to wonder what I wanted to do with my life, what kind of work specifically. I was miserable not knowing and bordering on desperate. Then one day a friend gave me his typewriter. I began working on a novel. A different person told me it was much easier on a computer, so I bought one and began getting up at 4:30 A.M. each morning before work, writing for three hours. My eyes were unglued once again as the pang of misery left my gut. I knew exactly what I wanted to do: write. So now that's what I do, I write, and write, and write, and I love it.
I was born in Canada and remember as a small boy crawling in my snow-fort. I closed my eyes, and when I tried to open them, they were frozen shut. I didn't panic, but wiped away the ice crystals, unglued my eyes and kept on building my tunnel. Those were great days! I moved to Central California before seventh grade and couldn't believe I lived in a land where oranges grew on trees and you could pick grapes from the vine.
I used to wonder what I wanted to do with my life, what kind of work specifically. I was miserable not knowing and bordering on desperate. Then one day a friend gave me his typewriter. I began working on a novel. A different person told me it was much easier on a computer, so I bought one and began getting up at 4:30 A.M. each morning before work, writing for three hours. My eyes were unglued once again as the pang of misery left my gut. I knew exactly what I wanted to do: write. So now that's what I do, I write, and write, and write, and I love it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 2, 2021
Very enjoyable!
March 6, 2019
A Massively Entertaining Series, Highly Recommended!
I love reading The Lost Starship series of Heppners novels. The plots are rich with twists and turns, the characters well developed, and the story is extremely hard to put down at the end of the day. I was hooked when the 1st book came out, and every book after has never disappointed. The beauty of a series like this one is its ability to go on for many years of pure enjoyment. I hope and pray that it continues! Maddox isn't done yet!
I love reading The Lost Starship series of Heppners novels. The plots are rich with twists and turns, the characters well developed, and the story is extremely hard to put down at the end of the day. I was hooked when the 1st book came out, and every book after has never disappointed. The beauty of a series like this one is its ability to go on for many years of pure enjoyment. I hope and pray that it continues! Maddox isn't done yet!
December 24, 2018
Headache inducing episode
My head throbbed from the convoluted concept yet it was such a satisfying read because this is exactly how sci-fi adventures should be.
An added bonus is the gradual character developments throughout the series as the main characters perform soul searching giving the reader the opportunity to connect with them and understand their choices.
The end though, appears a little rushed. Maddox was supposed to receive heighten intelligence. Yet his plan to capture Drakos seemed to simple and he even had to scramble to Victory to chase his nemesis. He should have instead give up the chase and make a more elaborate trap.
My head throbbed from the convoluted concept yet it was such a satisfying read because this is exactly how sci-fi adventures should be.
An added bonus is the gradual character developments throughout the series as the main characters perform soul searching giving the reader the opportunity to connect with them and understand their choices.
The end though, appears a little rushed. Maddox was supposed to receive heighten intelligence. Yet his plan to capture Drakos seemed to simple and he even had to scramble to Victory to chase his nemesis. He should have instead give up the chase and make a more elaborate trap.
November 27, 2018
Well told story
Was very happy to see book 9 pop up the way it did, I wasn’t expecting it and was a great surprise to find it ready to download. Solid story line with twists and the action u grow to expect in these novels. I burned thru it way too fast and hope there’s a book 10 in the works somewhere!
Was very happy to see book 9 pop up the way it did, I wasn’t expecting it and was a great surprise to find it ready to download. Solid story line with twists and the action u grow to expect in these novels. I burned thru it way too fast and hope there’s a book 10 in the works somewhere!
November 15, 2018
Book was very good to the end. This ending felt different. The wrap up felt rushed. Almost feels like author is trying to make an ending to decide if he wants to continue the series: just enough closure that you feel partially satisfied, yet still open questions you want to know.
March 6, 2019
The (so far) final entry of author Vaughn Heppner’s Lost Starship series opens with a Swarm science fleet, two hundred and fourteen light-years from Earth, entering a haunted star system in the Sagittarius Spiral Arm. Meanwhile, in the Orion spiral arm of the Tau Ceti System, Brigadier Mary O’Hara, Chief of Star Watch Intelligence, visits an abandoned space station, wondering where Professor Ludendorff is, when she has an encounter that puts her life at stake and has the potential to transform her into a mind slave. Less than three months before, a hyper-spatial tube appeared a quarter light-year away from the Hydras System.
Ludendorff warns that humanity can’t defeat the Swarm head-on, and fifteen days later, a hundred and three light-years away, Captain Maddox strolls the streets of Usan III, the only inhabitable planet of the Usan System, when someone attacks him. A casino-goer named Ajax Clanton confronts Maddox in the casino where he’s staying, with the Captain ultimately having to come up with a plan with his cohorts to escape the planet. A secret base controlled by the antagonistic Spacers exists in the Nerva Corporation Tower on the world, with Lieutenant Keith Maker tasked with rescuing Maddox and his allies.
In the Captain’s absence, Valerie Noonan runs the ancient alien Adok starship called the Victory, with Star Watch, in conjunction with Professor Ludendorff, plotting to break his fellow antediluvian Methuselah Man Strand out of his Throne World prison. Maddox suspects that the Brigadier is compromised, with the Professor wondering sporadically if his thoughts, particularly of his love, Dr. Dana Rich, are manufactured. The Captain soon finds himself fighting through the corridors of the spaceship Moltke, where a mutiny occurs.
Professor Ludendorff, in the meantime, finds himself by an ancient Builder object that plays a role in the eponymous nexuses allowing for quick conveyance across the universe. Other adversaries known as the Bosks come into play, especially towards the end of the novel, with a Spacer named Mako 21 finding himself drifting in a lifepod drifting in the Usan System, as well, and learns a lesson from an entity termed the Visionary. The protagonists in the book’s latter portion spend a hefty amount of time manipulating one fo the eponymous star gates, which they yearn to destroy.
The heroes ultimately battle the mysterious Nay-Yog-Yezleth, and the final chapters deal with Captain Maddox’ wish to capture Lord Drakos, and a final conflict against the Spacers. Overall, the ninth entry of Heppner’s series is definitely enjoyable like its predecessors, with plenty of action, although some details such as the enigmatic entities with hyphenated names are left in the air, the book still uses odd terminology such as “the New Men,” and the ending feels slightly anticlimactic. Those who haven’t read a book in the series would best start from the very beginning.
Ludendorff warns that humanity can’t defeat the Swarm head-on, and fifteen days later, a hundred and three light-years away, Captain Maddox strolls the streets of Usan III, the only inhabitable planet of the Usan System, when someone attacks him. A casino-goer named Ajax Clanton confronts Maddox in the casino where he’s staying, with the Captain ultimately having to come up with a plan with his cohorts to escape the planet. A secret base controlled by the antagonistic Spacers exists in the Nerva Corporation Tower on the world, with Lieutenant Keith Maker tasked with rescuing Maddox and his allies.
In the Captain’s absence, Valerie Noonan runs the ancient alien Adok starship called the Victory, with Star Watch, in conjunction with Professor Ludendorff, plotting to break his fellow antediluvian Methuselah Man Strand out of his Throne World prison. Maddox suspects that the Brigadier is compromised, with the Professor wondering sporadically if his thoughts, particularly of his love, Dr. Dana Rich, are manufactured. The Captain soon finds himself fighting through the corridors of the spaceship Moltke, where a mutiny occurs.
Professor Ludendorff, in the meantime, finds himself by an ancient Builder object that plays a role in the eponymous nexuses allowing for quick conveyance across the universe. Other adversaries known as the Bosks come into play, especially towards the end of the novel, with a Spacer named Mako 21 finding himself drifting in a lifepod drifting in the Usan System, as well, and learns a lesson from an entity termed the Visionary. The protagonists in the book’s latter portion spend a hefty amount of time manipulating one fo the eponymous star gates, which they yearn to destroy.
The heroes ultimately battle the mysterious Nay-Yog-Yezleth, and the final chapters deal with Captain Maddox’ wish to capture Lord Drakos, and a final conflict against the Spacers. Overall, the ninth entry of Heppner’s series is definitely enjoyable like its predecessors, with plenty of action, although some details such as the enigmatic entities with hyphenated names are left in the air, the book still uses odd terminology such as “the New Men,” and the ending feels slightly anticlimactic. Those who haven’t read a book in the series would best start from the very beginning.
June 20, 2022
With my review of book 8 of the series, I'd already expressed my waning interest. Book 9 didn't fare any better, and in fact, may have finally put me off the series, at least for a while. Heppner is a talented enough writer, who has, in the books of his I've read, explored interesting ideas, and addressed philosophical issues, paradoxes, and more. He has developed an interesting universe for this series, but though he has sketched out some broader elements of it, the stories continue to revolve around one protagonist and a merry band that follows hima round, and engages, every so often, in saving each other's asses. He has always hinted a broader, unknown forces at work in that universe, but, in this book, that's where he finally lept off the cliff. As talented as Vaughn Heppner is, he's just not in the same league as the truly great authors who have created truly fascinating and fleshed out universes - like those of LeGuin, Asimov, Herbert, Zelazny, Pohl and other giants of the genre. Or for more recent fare, Ann Leckie's universe from the "Ancillary" series. Heppner's slow unwrapping of the onion of the layers of his universe's older civilizations, each with amazing powers that truly push the borders of a reader's willing acceptance of disbelief is just not accomplished with the finesse (or logic) of the masters of universe-building in sci-fi (or other genres.) Too many times while reading this book, I found myself saying "Oh, c'mon. That's just unbelievable" (or substitute silly, ridiculous, or similar words.) It all begins to feel like an author who has painted themselves into a corner and is scrambling to find a way out, damn the logic and believability. Oops, let's create another etiology here to explain why things are now the way there are. Heppner's solutions to these dilemma appear, to me, to be more like the whitewashes and apologetics used by religious authorities when challenged by serious criticism of the sacred texts. I am not opposed to prolific writers like Mr. Heppner, or Douglas E. Richards, who, with skills perhaps just a notch above the general schlock-writers of the digital distribution era, work the system to their advantage in order to earn a living. I'm not some snob who insists that print books are inherently superior, and I don't believe that the digital book era represents the decline of civilization. That said, the book arena, like the music arena, is now plagued with thousands of hacks churning out sequel after sequel in a never-ending stream of garbage. I willingly wade through that stream because you do come across the gem here and there, and the author with more talent, better skills, etc. Heppner appeared to be a cut above the average. I worry that the appeal of success has lured him into preferring quantity over quality. I may come back to finish the series one day, just to see where Mr. Heppner took it, but I'm no longer as hopeful as I was that he really knew where he was going from the beginning and thatit would be worth the ride and it would all come together in the end. I have tried to create this review without spoilers, so if you are looking for more specifics, please feel free to reach out to me.
February 10, 2019
Despite everything Captain Maddox has done for humanity, he's only as good as his latest success. His crew realized what they signed up for. They didn't throw in their lot with the most famous of the Star Watch operatives for the retirement. Few likely believe they'll live long enough to enjoy anything but a view from a camera into deep space. In his ninth outing in the Lost Starship Series, writer Vaughn Heppner focuses on the Methuselah man, the Professor, rather exclusively. The Professor has the answers locked up in his big brain, but there are challenges at every turn. This is classic Heppner. Maddox, a loner who gets results, must battle threats from every angle. He must maintain his scrutiny and question everything and everyone. Conflict comes from the Spacers, a race that has embraced technology and odd ritual only they know, and from a sect of the New Men who have teamed with another group. Of course, there remains the overwhelming force of insect-powered death and destruction from the Spiral Arm. The Hive has learned how to use the star gates, leftover from the race of Builders, to get anywhere they want in space. And they want to end the human threat. Their goal is destruction of all other species. This one starts with an action-packed sequence but slows down as Maddox and the Professor sort all their issues and work to neutralize threats. The climax is as intense as any and got me fired up to get current again with Heppner's catalog. The guy writes like a madman.
November 15, 2018
I've been reading this series since the beginning. To be honest, it started to drag really bad in the last several books, mainly because I typically forget who some of the characters are and some of the events of the previous books (since its been stretched out for so long). I was mainly just trudging through the books since I've been with the series so long. This book is a welcome surprise. Not only is the plot not overly convoluted and full of characters from several books ago, it brings it a tight knit group of core actors that the plot focuses on. This book also introduces some new enemies and antagonists that drive the story, instead of focusing entirely on the same old war involving the New Men, Swarm, and Spacers. Overall, this book was very action packed and kept my interest up. I hope the next book in the series is just as good!
February 22, 2022
I'm not really sure why I've made it through 9 books but this author's writing is pretty bad and I've felt that way from the beginning, although I did think he'd gotten better since the beginning. I guess I read a lot and my standards are low and I like these kinds of space books. But most of the dialog feels forced and the characters don't behave like normal people. They feel jerky like they pause, think, and suddenly burst forth with some amazing insight that's not believable.
December 23, 2018
Another one
Always hard to keep a series fresh. As the team gets more poweful the stakes need to keep rising....and this book is no different. Still he keeps it fairly fresh and unpredictable which is fun...its goodd...but at as fun exciting and fresh as the early books in the series.
Always hard to keep a series fresh. As the team gets more poweful the stakes need to keep rising....and this book is no different. Still he keeps it fairly fresh and unpredictable which is fun...its goodd...but at as fun exciting and fresh as the early books in the series.
March 21, 2019
Captain Maddox is indeed human!
This was once again a great read. We find out many things..not to present spoilers for the readers ..I will say this...we humans are better than we think..and the good Captain and crew show that that's not too bad at all!
Read this one..ask for more sequels....I look forward to many more.
BTW..Victory is ours!
This was once again a great read. We find out many things..not to present spoilers for the readers ..I will say this...we humans are better than we think..and the good Captain and crew show that that's not too bad at all!
Read this one..ask for more sequels....I look forward to many more.
BTW..Victory is ours!
May 4, 2019
Excellent book as exceptional as all the others in the series
My mind can not comprehend the depth of creativity and imagination this author possesses. I have never read books with so much depth to the characters and the twist and turns that keep you at the edge of your seat. Beyond my wildest dreams. Highly recommended.
My mind can not comprehend the depth of creativity and imagination this author possesses. I have never read books with so much depth to the characters and the twist and turns that keep you at the edge of your seat. Beyond my wildest dreams. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2019
Excellent series!
I just re-read this book to refresh my memory so I can read the next. I enjoyed it all over again as if I had never read it. I didn't rate it the first time as every book this author writes is 5 star. Some new alien tech concepts were presented here, along with ancient Galactic history and mysteries. I think a interesting and scary futurist writes these books.
I just re-read this book to refresh my memory so I can read the next. I enjoyed it all over again as if I had never read it. I didn't rate it the first time as every book this author writes is 5 star. Some new alien tech concepts were presented here, along with ancient Galactic history and mysteries. I think a interesting and scary futurist writes these books.
October 7, 2019
I've given up on the series now. Nine books of everyone telling each other how brilliant and superior they are but behaving like spoiled idiot children.
There were two sentences in the book that hit home both along the lines of "I'm fed up listening about how brilliant you are, please get to the point"
And, yeah, that pretty much mirrors how I feel about how the series has gone
There were two sentences in the book that hit home both along the lines of "I'm fed up listening about how brilliant you are, please get to the point"
And, yeah, that pretty much mirrors how I feel about how the series has gone
Read
November 2, 2019I love reading print as much as the next half New Man but if you want to experience the full effect of the different annoying characters...Ludendorf, Strand, and most of the New Men, you have to go the audible route. And don't get me wrong...I love the annoying characters; if not for them I'd have no Starship and nobody to fight.
September 14, 2025
This book felt bigger than some of the previous ones. I was glad that some of our main characters were back on friendly terms with each other but sad that one of our characters (Keith) was celebrating with champagne (it seemed out of place that they didn't make a bigger deal about that). I'm still enjoying the series, there is still enough story that it seems that it isn't stale or boring.
November 18, 2018
Excellent addition to the series.
Well written, with enough plot twists to keep you glued to it until the end. This author has both an amazing imagination and superb research skills. You won't be disappointed with any of the books in this series.
Well written, with enough plot twists to keep you glued to it until the end. This author has both an amazing imagination and superb research skills. You won't be disappointed with any of the books in this series.
November 20, 2018
It only gets better
Heppner combines great creativity with a good balance of other fundamental characteristics of a good story. This last one is great both in terms os action, characters and how the bits and pieces of this universe come into place. I highly recommend it!
Heppner combines great creativity with a good balance of other fundamental characteristics of a good story. This last one is great both in terms os action, characters and how the bits and pieces of this universe come into place. I highly recommend it!
December 3, 2018
Great Sci-fi Series
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's nice to see characters and a good plot develop over time. The characters have come a long way and have more to do to keep our worlds safe! Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's nice to see characters and a good plot develop over time. The characters have come a long way and have more to do to keep our worlds safe! Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
December 4, 2018
Well Done
Another captivating and well written story continuing awesome series. A truly likable lot of characters interwoven with fresh new ideas and challenges to surmount. Can’t wait for the next one!
Another captivating and well written story continuing awesome series. A truly likable lot of characters interwoven with fresh new ideas and challenges to surmount. Can’t wait for the next one!
December 10, 2018
A galaxy full of ancient danger
Excellent continuation of the series. The book expands upon the galaxy as a far more dangerous place than just New Men and the Swarm. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Excellent continuation of the series. The book expands upon the galaxy as a far more dangerous place than just New Men and the Swarm. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
December 15, 2018
Not as good as the other books
Found this one hard to read to the end. It's too repetitive of the previous books and no character developments. Not sure I will bother with anymore if these.
Found this one hard to read to the end. It's too repetitive of the previous books and no character developments. Not sure I will bother with anymore if these.
December 23, 2018
Woke up at 2am finished at 6am.
This book had everything I like in a good so fi story, well not everything. Because I like so many so fi genres, so thank you! Keep doing what you do.
This book had everything I like in a good so fi story, well not everything. Because I like so many so fi genres, so thank you! Keep doing what you do.
December 28, 2018
Great series of books
I'm totally riveted by the characters, but the way the story is told and the writing style is the best. I've been a fan of Vaughn Heppner for a long time, and he's never disappointed me once.
I'm totally riveted by the characters, but the way the story is told and the writing style is the best. I've been a fan of Vaughn Heppner for a long time, and he's never disappointed me once.
January 10, 2019
Unwilling Corporation!
The end result sure justified the means. All those twisted stories and hints really culminated in to the grilling action pack danger and suspense fill ending. All the enemies was drawn together and join u suspecting forces to destroy the enemie.
The end result sure justified the means. All those twisted stories and hints really culminated in to the grilling action pack danger and suspense fill ending. All the enemies was drawn together and join u suspecting forces to destroy the enemie.
January 30, 2019
Nice Read
Cook, The Iron Lady, Maddox, Meta, Valeria, The Ace, Dana, the Professor and the Driving Force make a formidable group. The adventures are fast paced, and the main characters believable.
Cook, The Iron Lady, Maddox, Meta, Valeria, The Ace, Dana, the Professor and the Driving Force make a formidable group. The adventures are fast paced, and the main characters believable.
February 18, 2019
The lost Starship series is a great read
I just finished the last book in the lost Starship series. The science fiction is very interesting. The author weaves creative stories around scientific theories that make you think, wow, I wonder where we’ll be in 200 years.
I just finished the last book in the lost Starship series. The science fiction is very interesting. The author weaves creative stories around scientific theories that make you think, wow, I wonder where we’ll be in 200 years.
March 5, 2019
Yet again we have a great book in this series. Captain Maddox and his crew find themselves in the thick of things. The swarm are coming and they need to get ready to end this once and for all. But they will have to team with some that they would not have expected. Looking forward to more.
April 1, 2019
Another good one
A good addition to the story and this was the first one that had me wondering what was next. Standard spelling errors from this author but I'm getting used to them now.
A good addition to the story and this was the first one that had me wondering what was next. Standard spelling errors from this author but I'm getting used to them now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews