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Fractured Stars #0.5
Junkyard
McCall Richter works as a skip tracer, tracking down criminals, con men, and people who stop making payments on their fancy new spaceships.
Her job description says nothing about locating vast quantities of stolen maple syrup, but thanks to her helpful new android employee, she finds herself tramping through a “sugar house” on a frosty moon full of suspicious characters. The only witness to the crime? The junkyard dog next door.
Junkyard is a stand-alone novella set two years before Fractured Stars.
Her job description says nothing about locating vast quantities of stolen maple syrup, but thanks to her helpful new android employee, she finds herself tramping through a “sugar house” on a frosty moon full of suspicious characters. The only witness to the crime? The junkyard dog next door.
Junkyard is a stand-alone novella set two years before Fractured Stars.
92 pages, ebook
First published January 5, 2019
301 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Buroker
199 books6,262 followersI'm a full-time indie fantasy and science fiction author. When I'm not writing, I'm ferrying my dogs to hiking trails for adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
August 17, 2020
"Frost edged the mossy crack in the pavement in front of the Maple Moon warehouse"
Junkyard is a Sci-Fi novella featuring an autistic main character - Captain of the Star Surfer, McCall Richter - with her robot sidekick, Scipio, and a dog friend solving a maple-syrup heist at Maple Moon. Set on terraformed Mars, there are spaceships and a healthy dose of snark. It was a fun, quick read that didn’t take itself too seriously and made me laugh. It’s also a prequel to Fractured Stars, but can equally be read standalone. Did I mention there’s a dog friend?
Thank you to the author for making the eBook free via her website
Junkyard is a Sci-Fi novella featuring an autistic main character - Captain of the Star Surfer, McCall Richter - with her robot sidekick, Scipio, and a dog friend solving a maple-syrup heist at Maple Moon. Set on terraformed Mars, there are spaceships and a healthy dose of snark. It was a fun, quick read that didn’t take itself too seriously and made me laugh. It’s also a prequel to Fractured Stars, but can equally be read standalone. Did I mention there’s a dog friend?
Thank you to the author for making the eBook free via her website
January 25, 2019
I first read Lindsay Buroker’s Junkyard when it was posted on the author’s website months ago. For anyone who is a fan of her fabulous Fractured Stars universe, this novella is pure catnip. It tells how McCall (key Fractured Stars character) gets together with Junkyard, by far the best big mutt in science fiction. It’s also a pretty darn great mystery tale in itself. No surprise considering the author here, one of the best writers of sci-fi (and other genres) there is. 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. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.
April 24, 2025
SF mystery novella starring an alienated, autistic, female skip tracer
McCall Richter is in her late thirties. She has worked for the past 15 years as a skip tracer and is so successful, she was able to purchase an expensive spaceship and be completely self-employed. Her only friend is her recently acquired android employee, Scipio, who has grown increasingly sentient since she helped him escape from an android factory. He loves wearing fancy clothes and shoes, even in the most grimy situations.
McCall accepts a contract to figure out who stole 200 tons of maple syrup. Most of this novella is spent with her tracking down clues. I found that part of the novella rather boring. The most interesting part of the story to me was her relationship with the titular Junkyard, a 150-pound mongrel dog who is hanging out at a junkyard where McCall is searching for clues for the missing syrup. The other interesting part of the story is her relationship with Scipio, who demonstrates just as much intriguing personality as McCall and the dog.
McCall Richter is in her late thirties. She has worked for the past 15 years as a skip tracer and is so successful, she was able to purchase an expensive spaceship and be completely self-employed. Her only friend is her recently acquired android employee, Scipio, who has grown increasingly sentient since she helped him escape from an android factory. He loves wearing fancy clothes and shoes, even in the most grimy situations.
McCall accepts a contract to figure out who stole 200 tons of maple syrup. Most of this novella is spent with her tracking down clues. I found that part of the novella rather boring. The most interesting part of the story to me was her relationship with the titular Junkyard, a 150-pound mongrel dog who is hanging out at a junkyard where McCall is searching for clues for the missing syrup. The other interesting part of the story is her relationship with Scipio, who demonstrates just as much intriguing personality as McCall and the dog.
October 2, 2023
I haven't read anything by Buroker for quite a while, but I've enjoyed everything I have read. This was no exception. I finished this story, which is a prequel to a series, and then went and bought book one of the series.
June 18, 2025
this was cute! felt like a nice and easy 50 minute movie special. i enjoyed mccall and scipios friendship and the flow of events felt natural and worked well. a short and sweet kind of low-stakes read
June 8, 2019
Lindsay always delivers a dandy story and this one does not disappoint.
Another successful novella. Nothing more needs to be said.
McCall is a good protagonist, Scipio a nice foil of a sidekick. Any more would be a spoiler.
Another successful novella. Nothing more needs to be said.
McCall is a good protagonist, Scipio a nice foil of a sidekick. Any more would be a spoiler.
January 30, 2020
Great introduction to a series I hadn't come across before, I'll be picking up book one to read soon!
October 11, 2025
I honestly enjoyed this short story. The author is trying to have some neurodivergent representation with the main character. I don’t know if I am the most qualified to weigh in on the accuracy or how good the representation is. I also don’t know if the author is neurodivergent and if this is reflective of some of her experiences or friends. I think this is a balance of some accurate depictions of burnout and exhaustion as well as perhaps some stereotypes but the stereotypes aren’t so strong they make the representation fall flat.
I absolutely love when you have a human and robot friends trope in sci-fi and the dog element adds to it. Buroker does banter in a way that I enjoy and is funny. I love the relationships between her characters. Overall this was highly enjoyable.
I absolutely love when you have a human and robot friends trope in sci-fi and the dog element adds to it. Buroker does banter in a way that I enjoy and is funny. I love the relationships between her characters. Overall this was highly enjoyable.
February 27, 2019
Okay, this was a fun little heist...err, well, actually, the story isn't about the heist. It's about McCall figuring out who heisted a metric crap-ton of maple syrup. And finding her loyal canine companion in the process.
No lie, McCall's a big softie when it comes to that dog. She might have problems relating to human people, but she does just find with animals. Androids, too. Scipio, Junkyard, and McCall are a pretty stellar team, in fact. Because they're all a little different.
No lie, I'm always down for some animal saving. Especially if it's on a distant planet with a slightly off kilter crew. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
No lie, McCall's a big softie when it comes to that dog. She might have problems relating to human people, but she does just find with animals. Androids, too. Scipio, Junkyard, and McCall are a pretty stellar team, in fact. Because they're all a little different.
No lie, I'm always down for some animal saving. Especially if it's on a distant planet with a slightly off kilter crew. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 20, 2019
82 pages or so? A fun short story to introduce an autistic ship captain and her dubiously liberated android partner. And their new large dog. They are gonna travel the stars! I think she's basically a bounty hunter.
March 1, 2019
I grabbed this book when I noticed it was free. I already had a few of this author's other books, but I eventually decided to start with this series. I started with Junkyard as it sounded like it would work as a prequel and I already had bought book 1 as well. I think it works great either as prequel or later in the series as it gives a bit of backstory about how McCall gets her dog Junkyard.
Junkyard tells the story of a mission McCall gets hired for .They have to find the missing maple syrup that's been stolen from a warehouse. McCall has her android Scipio by her side, who she rescued a while ago. And together they try and figure out what happened to the maple syrup.
I liked this novella, it was the perfect length for this bit of backstory. I felt for the dog Junkyard immediately and I am glad McCall decides to take him in. It also was fun to see how they tried to find out who stole the syrup. I wasn't sure who had done it, but in the end the person who stole it makes a move that reveals them. It wasn't a very intricate mystery or plot line, but it was still fun to read and it did a good job giving me a feel for the main characters and the type of story I can expect from this series.
I liked McCall, she an autistic captain who likes her freedom and doesn't like interacting with other people. I thought she was a likable character. It's clear she cares about Scipio and quickly the dog as well. And she is friendly enough even tough human interaction isn't really her thing. I thought her autism was well done, it felt realistic how that was handled and added an unique twist to her character. I also really liked Scipio and his love for expensive clothing, it really gave him an interesting personality. Junkyard seemed like a fun dog and I am looking forward to see more of him. Although we never find out part of his backstory and I wonder if we even will.
To summarize: This was a fun novella that made me even more excited for the first book in this series. And I started Fractured Stars right after I finished this one. This novella provides a bit of backstory for McCall and how she finds her dog Junkyard. As well as a short mystery involving stolen maple syrup they have to solve. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing them solve the mystery. I liked McCall and her autism felt handled realistically and added an unique touch to her character. I also liked Scipio with his taste for expensive clothing. All in in all this was a fun introduction to the series.
Junkyard tells the story of a mission McCall gets hired for .They have to find the missing maple syrup that's been stolen from a warehouse. McCall has her android Scipio by her side, who she rescued a while ago. And together they try and figure out what happened to the maple syrup.
I liked this novella, it was the perfect length for this bit of backstory. I felt for the dog Junkyard immediately and I am glad McCall decides to take him in. It also was fun to see how they tried to find out who stole the syrup. I wasn't sure who had done it, but in the end the person who stole it makes a move that reveals them. It wasn't a very intricate mystery or plot line, but it was still fun to read and it did a good job giving me a feel for the main characters and the type of story I can expect from this series.
I liked McCall, she an autistic captain who likes her freedom and doesn't like interacting with other people. I thought she was a likable character. It's clear she cares about Scipio and quickly the dog as well. And she is friendly enough even tough human interaction isn't really her thing. I thought her autism was well done, it felt realistic how that was handled and added an unique twist to her character. I also really liked Scipio and his love for expensive clothing, it really gave him an interesting personality. Junkyard seemed like a fun dog and I am looking forward to see more of him. Although we never find out part of his backstory and I wonder if we even will.
To summarize: This was a fun novella that made me even more excited for the first book in this series. And I started Fractured Stars right after I finished this one. This novella provides a bit of backstory for McCall and how she finds her dog Junkyard. As well as a short mystery involving stolen maple syrup they have to solve. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing them solve the mystery. I liked McCall and her autism felt handled realistically and added an unique touch to her character. I also liked Scipio with his taste for expensive clothing. All in in all this was a fun introduction to the series.
June 6, 2019
What Amazon Says
McCall Richter works as a skip tracer, tracking down criminals, con men, and people who stop making payments on their fancy new spaceships.
Her job description says nothing about locating vast quantities of stolen maple syrup, but thanks to her helpful new android employee, she finds herself tramping through a “sugar house” on a frosty moon full of suspicious characters. The only witness to the crime? The junkyard dog next door.
Junkyard is a stand-alone novella set two years before Fractured Stars.
My Review
Main Characters are:
McCall – a skip tracer. Perhaps with a touch of social phobia of one kind or another.
Scipio the android – a freed slave of some kind, with implications that it/he may have been freed illicitly and have entered into a life of outlandish personally symbolic clothing.
Junkyard – a rather large big woofing scary cuddly guard dog.
The plot involves a mysterious theft of a massive amount of valuable syrup, and McCall and Scipios endeavours to locate and reclaim the missing booty. Along the way, meeting, befriending and ultimately . . . Well, there is no need to do spoilers beyond the absolutely necessary.
What were my conclusions
• A light plot, but easily readable.
• As a prequel to further tales in the Fractured Stars series, (which I haven’t read) it is an adequate scene setter for future adventures for a loosely formed (at this point) band of colleagues.
• The characters have the potential for development from here. We get light touches of it here – Scipio has a personality that might bloom, McCall has hints of perhaps social phobia, perhaps an autistic background, Junkyard is clearly going to be a presence in future books within the series.
• I found I could read it through. This is not always the case in my rather random and eclectic reading. I think that merits a star in its own right.
Overall
I think this was worth reading and as a prequel, it does its job. I’m not certain I’m going to follow up with a dip into the Fractured Stars world, but if the opportunity arises, nothing in this novella would discourage me.
Rating
4 stars
McCall Richter works as a skip tracer, tracking down criminals, con men, and people who stop making payments on their fancy new spaceships.
Her job description says nothing about locating vast quantities of stolen maple syrup, but thanks to her helpful new android employee, she finds herself tramping through a “sugar house” on a frosty moon full of suspicious characters. The only witness to the crime? The junkyard dog next door.
Junkyard is a stand-alone novella set two years before Fractured Stars.
My Review
Main Characters are:
McCall – a skip tracer. Perhaps with a touch of social phobia of one kind or another.
Scipio the android – a freed slave of some kind, with implications that it/he may have been freed illicitly and have entered into a life of outlandish personally symbolic clothing.
Junkyard – a rather large big woofing scary cuddly guard dog.
The plot involves a mysterious theft of a massive amount of valuable syrup, and McCall and Scipios endeavours to locate and reclaim the missing booty. Along the way, meeting, befriending and ultimately . . . Well, there is no need to do spoilers beyond the absolutely necessary.
What were my conclusions
• A light plot, but easily readable.
• As a prequel to further tales in the Fractured Stars series, (which I haven’t read) it is an adequate scene setter for future adventures for a loosely formed (at this point) band of colleagues.
• The characters have the potential for development from here. We get light touches of it here – Scipio has a personality that might bloom, McCall has hints of perhaps social phobia, perhaps an autistic background, Junkyard is clearly going to be a presence in future books within the series.
• I found I could read it through. This is not always the case in my rather random and eclectic reading. I think that merits a star in its own right.
Overall
I think this was worth reading and as a prequel, it does its job. I’m not certain I’m going to follow up with a dip into the Fractured Stars world, but if the opportunity arises, nothing in this novella would discourage me.
Rating
4 stars
July 11, 2021
A fun sci-fi cozy mystery with a delightful autistic protagonist.
I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, and I enjoy reading science fiction books, so whenever I see a sci-fi cozy mystery I snap it up, especially when it is on a promotion, as this one was.
This is a relatively short book, around 22,000 words in length, but it manages to tell a whole story while introducing characters and setting the scene for the rest of the Fractured Stars series.
The story begins with main character McCall Richter, who normally works tracking down missing people, usually ones who have skipped out on debts and other commitments, standing on a small, cold planet. Her android assistant has arranged a job to find some missing maple syrup and she is not comfortable with the assignment. It quickly becomes apparent that McCall is somewhat autistic. This is an oddity in the bureaucratic and centrally controlled stellar empire, which does its best to “normalise”, by force if necessary, anyone who does not fit their idea of a standard human. Interviewing suspects and attempting to gauge their emotions and motivations is especially hard for McCall, so she delegates as much of that as she can to her assistant, and tries to solve the theft with the same technical approach that she would use to locate a missing person. This does not pay off immediately, so McCall is forced to resort to investigating in person, both at the maple syrup factory and the neighbouring junkyard. During the story we learn about the history between McCall and her fastidious android Scipio, and also meet a lovable lump of a dog that they call Junkyard.
Unlike some prequel novellas, everything in this story is set up and resolved in a satisfying way. The characters and their motivations are believable, and the shadow of the star empire setting is everywhere which gives the story the feel of being part of a much bigger one, even though it all takes place within one area of a small planet. I really enjoyed this book, the characters and the writer’s style, so it is highly likely that I will pick up some more soon.
I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, and I enjoy reading science fiction books, so whenever I see a sci-fi cozy mystery I snap it up, especially when it is on a promotion, as this one was.
This is a relatively short book, around 22,000 words in length, but it manages to tell a whole story while introducing characters and setting the scene for the rest of the Fractured Stars series.
The story begins with main character McCall Richter, who normally works tracking down missing people, usually ones who have skipped out on debts and other commitments, standing on a small, cold planet. Her android assistant has arranged a job to find some missing maple syrup and she is not comfortable with the assignment. It quickly becomes apparent that McCall is somewhat autistic. This is an oddity in the bureaucratic and centrally controlled stellar empire, which does its best to “normalise”, by force if necessary, anyone who does not fit their idea of a standard human. Interviewing suspects and attempting to gauge their emotions and motivations is especially hard for McCall, so she delegates as much of that as she can to her assistant, and tries to solve the theft with the same technical approach that she would use to locate a missing person. This does not pay off immediately, so McCall is forced to resort to investigating in person, both at the maple syrup factory and the neighbouring junkyard. During the story we learn about the history between McCall and her fastidious android Scipio, and also meet a lovable lump of a dog that they call Junkyard.
Unlike some prequel novellas, everything in this story is set up and resolved in a satisfying way. The characters and their motivations are believable, and the shadow of the star empire setting is everywhere which gives the story the feel of being part of a much bigger one, even though it all takes place within one area of a small planet. I really enjoyed this book, the characters and the writer’s style, so it is highly likely that I will pick up some more soon.
January 4, 2023
I'll admit it, I read one other book by this author and wasn't especially impressed by it. But this novella looked like fun, and I figured I could give the author another chance. And I'm glad I did -- "Junkyard" is quirky and fun, and I loved its characters and hope to see more of them in the future.
McCall is a skip tracer, making a living tracking down criminals from her ship, the Star Surfer. But her latest assignment is an odd one -- searching for a missing shipment of valuable maple syrup and finding who's responsible for stealing it. McCall is up for the challenge, however, and she and her meticulous android partner, Scipio, launch the investigation... and get some unlikely help from the junkyard dog next door.
A lot of science fiction can get repetitive in feel if one isn't careful, so it was nice to read a sci-fi novella that allowed itself to be a little different from the norm. It gives us an entertaining mystery, and manages to incorporate enough worldbuilding to give us a feel for the universe and our characters' places in it without resorting to huge chunks of exposition. And let's face it, I never thought I'd read about tapping for maple syrup IN SPACE before, and that was fun.
The characters also help this novella stand out from the crowd. I enjoyed reading about McCall, and like that we get a sci-fi detective story with a neurodivergent main lead. I also like that her autism diagnosis isn't the be-all and end-all of her character, and that she has personality beyond being neurodivergent. Her partner, Scipio, was likewise a good character, and I enjoyed the bits of backstory we got regarding him -- again, just enough to get a feel for him without bogging things down with huge chunks of expospeak.
"Junkyard" serves as the introduction to a larger series, and it does its job well -- it gives a good taste for the series proper, and I'm definitely willing to continue reading about McCall and Scipio.
McCall is a skip tracer, making a living tracking down criminals from her ship, the Star Surfer. But her latest assignment is an odd one -- searching for a missing shipment of valuable maple syrup and finding who's responsible for stealing it. McCall is up for the challenge, however, and she and her meticulous android partner, Scipio, launch the investigation... and get some unlikely help from the junkyard dog next door.
A lot of science fiction can get repetitive in feel if one isn't careful, so it was nice to read a sci-fi novella that allowed itself to be a little different from the norm. It gives us an entertaining mystery, and manages to incorporate enough worldbuilding to give us a feel for the universe and our characters' places in it without resorting to huge chunks of exposition. And let's face it, I never thought I'd read about tapping for maple syrup IN SPACE before, and that was fun.
The characters also help this novella stand out from the crowd. I enjoyed reading about McCall, and like that we get a sci-fi detective story with a neurodivergent main lead. I also like that her autism diagnosis isn't the be-all and end-all of her character, and that she has personality beyond being neurodivergent. Her partner, Scipio, was likewise a good character, and I enjoyed the bits of backstory we got regarding him -- again, just enough to get a feel for him without bogging things down with huge chunks of expospeak.
"Junkyard" serves as the introduction to a larger series, and it does its job well -- it gives a good taste for the series proper, and I'm definitely willing to continue reading about McCall and Scipio.
March 4, 2019
A mystery of a massive syrup theft within a world where space travel and androids are commonplace, Junkyard: A Fractured Stars Novella by Lindsay Buroker features an adventure that brings an unlikely crew together.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
McCall Richter is adept at finding people and deducing potential actions from analyzing their previously noted habits and connections, but she’s less keen on actually interacting with people. Fortunately for her she has an android assistant, Scipio, who helps to interview and manage people. Deciding to accept on her behalf, Scipio takes on a job for them to find a large quantity of extremely valuable maple syrup that has been stealthily stolen and replaced with water. With no firm way to determine when the theft occurred, the job requires deeper investigation, leading them to the adjacent junkyard, which serves as a home to a rather rambunctious dog. As McCall’s curiosity about the dog is piqued, more details that could solve the case come together along with McCall’s softness toward the abandoned animal.
As a concise tale that serves to establish the backstory for characters involved in a larger series, this narrative addresses elements of world and character building in an effective way such that any reader (including me) who hasn’t read Fractured Stars are quickly and easily able to follow the rules governing the world. The brevity of this novella is surprising when reflecting upon the amount of information that is presented in both general character development as well as providing some misdirection for the case. McCall is a refreshing representation of an adult on the autistic spectrum navigating her way through the world in ways that work for her; Scipio is an intriguing character as an android with a penchant for fashion while overcoming his horrific past; and Junkyard the dog is an adorable addition to the story as he is an example of the power of building and gaining trust and he helps to inject some humor into the more standard mystery the story offers.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
McCall Richter is adept at finding people and deducing potential actions from analyzing their previously noted habits and connections, but she’s less keen on actually interacting with people. Fortunately for her she has an android assistant, Scipio, who helps to interview and manage people. Deciding to accept on her behalf, Scipio takes on a job for them to find a large quantity of extremely valuable maple syrup that has been stealthily stolen and replaced with water. With no firm way to determine when the theft occurred, the job requires deeper investigation, leading them to the adjacent junkyard, which serves as a home to a rather rambunctious dog. As McCall’s curiosity about the dog is piqued, more details that could solve the case come together along with McCall’s softness toward the abandoned animal.
As a concise tale that serves to establish the backstory for characters involved in a larger series, this narrative addresses elements of world and character building in an effective way such that any reader (including me) who hasn’t read Fractured Stars are quickly and easily able to follow the rules governing the world. The brevity of this novella is surprising when reflecting upon the amount of information that is presented in both general character development as well as providing some misdirection for the case. McCall is a refreshing representation of an adult on the autistic spectrum navigating her way through the world in ways that work for her; Scipio is an intriguing character as an android with a penchant for fashion while overcoming his horrific past; and Junkyard the dog is an adorable addition to the story as he is an example of the power of building and gaining trust and he helps to inject some humor into the more standard mystery the story offers.
July 8, 2021
Talk about a sticky situation!
It only took me a few scenes to find McCall endearing. She was an independent person who knew exactly what she wanted out of life. I was intrigued by the quirkier aspects of her personality, too, and was eager to get to know her better. The short introduction to her was more than enough to whet my appetite for more from this character and series.
I would have liked to see more time spent developing the mystery elements of the plot. The basic structure of it was there, but it was so simplistic that I didn’t have to put much effort into sorting everything out at all. There was a lot of space here to add nuance to the question of what happened to the maple syrup and who might have been responsible for the theft of it. This was the only thing preventing me from giving this tale a higher rating.
Some of my favourite scenes were the ones that showcased McCall’s relationships with Scipio and the other non-human creatures she spent a lot of time around, especially given how much she struggled to relate to other humans at times. It was marvellous to see her relax and enjoy the company of a select few companions who understood her so well. I’d love to see more of this later on in this series if it happens to be included there.
Junkyard would be a good read for fans of both the science fiction and mystery genres.
It only took me a few scenes to find McCall endearing. She was an independent person who knew exactly what she wanted out of life. I was intrigued by the quirkier aspects of her personality, too, and was eager to get to know her better. The short introduction to her was more than enough to whet my appetite for more from this character and series.
I would have liked to see more time spent developing the mystery elements of the plot. The basic structure of it was there, but it was so simplistic that I didn’t have to put much effort into sorting everything out at all. There was a lot of space here to add nuance to the question of what happened to the maple syrup and who might have been responsible for the theft of it. This was the only thing preventing me from giving this tale a higher rating.
Some of my favourite scenes were the ones that showcased McCall’s relationships with Scipio and the other non-human creatures she spent a lot of time around, especially given how much she struggled to relate to other humans at times. It was marvellous to see her relax and enjoy the company of a select few companions who understood her so well. I’d love to see more of this later on in this series if it happens to be included there.
Junkyard would be a good read for fans of both the science fiction and mystery genres.
July 29, 2021
~Sci-Fi Adventure at its finest
~This is a novelette, it is a short story, it is the prequel, it is the lead-in for the series…so that means that it will not be a full-length story. After reading this, I was excited to move on to the next book!
~The main characters…McCall Richter as the captain, Scipio her sidekick mech, and of course, Junkyard their dog…all fit together nicely. I can see that they will work as a team in the future, they share loyalty as well as friendship.
~I though the writing was good. Enjoyed Buroker’s style. The book was filled with vivid descriptions of what was taking place. Reminded me very much of an older “space opera” style of story. Not so much big massive intergalactic battles with warships that were as large as a small planet…but, the rugged individual dealing with life and adventure on her own terms. I will admit, I love a story with a female lead character. It was hinted at that McCall may have some baggage, some issues that she will need to deal with in future stories.
~This was a very quick read, due to it being a ‘novella’…which was just perfect for in-between other full-length books. I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates Sci-Fi adventure.
~This is a novelette, it is a short story, it is the prequel, it is the lead-in for the series…so that means that it will not be a full-length story. After reading this, I was excited to move on to the next book!
~The main characters…McCall Richter as the captain, Scipio her sidekick mech, and of course, Junkyard their dog…all fit together nicely. I can see that they will work as a team in the future, they share loyalty as well as friendship.
~I though the writing was good. Enjoyed Buroker’s style. The book was filled with vivid descriptions of what was taking place. Reminded me very much of an older “space opera” style of story. Not so much big massive intergalactic battles with warships that were as large as a small planet…but, the rugged individual dealing with life and adventure on her own terms. I will admit, I love a story with a female lead character. It was hinted at that McCall may have some baggage, some issues that she will need to deal with in future stories.
~This was a very quick read, due to it being a ‘novella’…which was just perfect for in-between other full-length books. I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates Sci-Fi adventure.
August 5, 2025
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 Stars (rounded up). Prequel novella JUNKYARD whet my appetite but left me wanting more (so on to Fractured Stars).
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good & might or might not read it again; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; & might read it again; 4= I liked it a lot & would read it again; 5= I Loved this; it was great! & most likely will read again (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
Comments ~
I enjoyed Buroker’s 7bk Space Opera Mandrake series (written under Ruby Lionsdrake) and decided to look through her other titles. JUNKYARD is the first I have read. I enjoyed it enough to check out the next book in the series, Fractured Stars, before moving onto one of Buroker’s longer Sci-fi series. JUNKYARD grabbed my attention, kept me interested and I found myself caring about the characters - autistic human, android and junkyard dog. JUNKYARD is a prequel novella which whet my appetite for adventure but I found myself wanting more. I hope Fractured Stars will fully satisfy. JUNKYARD was quick reading. I bought the book on sale and found it worth my time. It successfully pulled me away into another time and place for awhile.
READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used.
VIOLENCE - PG.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good & might or might not read it again; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; & might read it again; 4= I liked it a lot & would read it again; 5= I Loved this; it was great! & most likely will read again (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
Comments ~
I enjoyed Buroker’s 7bk Space Opera Mandrake series (written under Ruby Lionsdrake) and decided to look through her other titles. JUNKYARD is the first I have read. I enjoyed it enough to check out the next book in the series, Fractured Stars, before moving onto one of Buroker’s longer Sci-fi series. JUNKYARD grabbed my attention, kept me interested and I found myself caring about the characters - autistic human, android and junkyard dog. JUNKYARD is a prequel novella which whet my appetite for adventure but I found myself wanting more. I hope Fractured Stars will fully satisfy. JUNKYARD was quick reading. I bought the book on sale and found it worth my time. It successfully pulled me away into another time and place for awhile.
READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used.
VIOLENCE - PG.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
January 11, 2021
McCall is an autistic bounty hunter/investigator. She's an expert in tracking down people who've eluded capture. Only … her new personal assistant, Scipio, has signed her up for a job tracking down 200 tons of missing maple syrup.
Part whodunnit and part science fiction. Think Asimov's Caves of Steel with the (very welcome) addition of a 150-pound adorable failure of a guard dog.
If Goodreads allowed half stars, I'd take half a star off for failure to include a content warning that there would be reference to horrible animal cruelty. Go ahead and kill all the fictional people you want, but if you harm one hair on a dog's head, I will never forgive you. If the dog had died, I'd have put the author straight onto my never-again list. I'm happy to report, she's going on my favourites list instead.
Part whodunnit and part science fiction. Think Asimov's Caves of Steel with the (very welcome) addition of a 150-pound adorable failure of a guard dog.
If Goodreads allowed half stars, I'd take half a star off for failure to include a content warning that there would be reference to horrible animal cruelty. Go ahead and kill all the fictional people you want, but if you harm one hair on a dog's head, I will never forgive you. If the dog had died, I'd have put the author straight onto my never-again list. I'm happy to report, she's going on my favourites list instead.
January 25, 2019
I first read Lindsay Buroker’s Junkyard when it was posted on the author’s website months ago. For anyone who is a fan of her fabulous Fractured Stars universe, this novella is pure catnip. It tells how McCall (key Fractured Stars character) gets together with Junkyard, by far the best big mutt in science fiction. It’s also a pretty darn great mystery tale in itself. No surprise considering the author here, one of the best writers of sci-fi (and other genres) there is. 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. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.
May 8, 2021
Amazing story about PI
McCall is a captian of a spaceship and PI investigating missing people. She was hired to find a substantial amount of maple syrup worth millions. An android named Scipio is her assistant.
Junkyard is a living, you guess it,, in a junkyard. McCall renders Junkyard first when she finds him injured. Has they found the maple syrup?
The characters are unique, funny, and puzzling detectives. The fast paced mystery is entertaining and charming story. I loved the characters of this science fiction, suitable even for older children who likes the genre without overly violent tendency. I brought the next book because I enjoyed this one so much.
Most delightful and highly recommended book.
bookwormsuzy
McCall is a captian of a spaceship and PI investigating missing people. She was hired to find a substantial amount of maple syrup worth millions. An android named Scipio is her assistant.
Junkyard is a living, you guess it,, in a junkyard. McCall renders Junkyard first when she finds him injured. Has they found the maple syrup?
The characters are unique, funny, and puzzling detectives. The fast paced mystery is entertaining and charming story. I loved the characters of this science fiction, suitable even for older children who likes the genre without overly violent tendency. I brought the next book because I enjoyed this one so much.
Most delightful and highly recommended book.
bookwormsuzy
June 1, 2021
Unusual Characters Make A Great Read
This was not what I expected! I started reading, figuring that this would be another bland sci-fi story but it really surprised me. And I mean that in a GOOD way!
Almost all of the primary characters are unexpected. One is an Android. One is a dog. Two have a similarity that sets them apart, yet they're quite different. The object of interest is also out of the ordinary. I would never have thought of it!
If you're looking for something both different and a VERY good read (how could it not be, it's by Lindsay Buroker), definitely give this one a shot!
This was not what I expected! I started reading, figuring that this would be another bland sci-fi story but it really surprised me. And I mean that in a GOOD way!
Almost all of the primary characters are unexpected. One is an Android. One is a dog. Two have a similarity that sets them apart, yet they're quite different. The object of interest is also out of the ordinary. I would never have thought of it!
If you're looking for something both different and a VERY good read (how could it not be, it's by Lindsay Buroker), definitely give this one a shot!
December 22, 2018
Junkyard is a prequel to Fractured Stars, where McCall Richter and her android personal assistant Scipio take a job to find tons of maple syrup that have been stolen and replaced with water. There’s no telling how long ago the theft occurred since all the barrels have been in place the whole time, just filled with water instead of syrup. During the investigation, they encounter the junkyard dog next door and in the course of the story we see how Junkyard came to be part of McCall’s crew. I love quirky McCall and her unusual crew and hope there are more stories to come.
April 3, 2019
This is only a short space opera novella, and as such it's basically just giving a little background for the main book that's now out. Having said that it's got some real promise. Yes its simplistic and a tad predictable, BUT, the main character is quirky and likable, as is her companion. The author keeps the story moving at a nice pace so you don't get bored. The editing, as with all of her books is faultless as usual. All in all, well worth a read if you are thinking of buying the main book and want a little background history - which is what I'm now off to do.
Read
April 18, 2020Junkyard is a short, but entertaining book. I liked the two main characters. The female lead cried a little too often. The author did this to get us to like her by showing how sympathetic she was for the powerless in this society. The male main character’s major personality trait was compliance. He was an android, so that is understandable. He also had an obsession for clothes, which is unusual. The mystery of the missing syrup did seem a little easy to solve. If you want a short diversion this might be worth your time and it is currently free.
June 19, 2025
This was a 2 1/2 hour audiobook designed to show the reader how the lead female character met and decided to keep “Junkyard” the dog that she saved. It also explores how an android that she gave a job to a few months before that date was promoted to a full partner. Autism has a pretty big role in the story and I really appreciated the unbiased view of prejudice against the autistic as well as showing that they are capable of achieving a lot given the opportunity. This book is 0.5 of the Falling Stars series.
February 11, 2023
I wanted to go back and read this series since I understand this is a prequel to The fallen Empire series I'm currently reading and apparently these characters may make an appearance and I want to be ready forthat ! Love Junkyard and I love these characters just wish we had a story of how McCall and Scipio first met, the author said she planned to write something about it but I couldn't find it if she had. This is good stuff!
July 21, 2024
Wait up - that ship is not purple. [it’s a story point]
A face blind autistic woman is our MC - neat. She has chosen to do PI work - so she is super reliant upon the android she rescued earlier to help her ID people. daw, she has her own murderbot?
It seems he used to be a butler and sex slave, so perhaps not…
But he chose this particular job, and it is to locate missing maple syrup.
blinks.
okay.
3 stars
A face blind autistic woman is our MC - neat. She has chosen to do PI work - so she is super reliant upon the android she rescued earlier to help her ID people. daw, she has her own murderbot?
It seems he used to be a butler and sex slave, so perhaps not…
But he chose this particular job, and it is to locate missing maple syrup.
blinks.
okay.
3 stars
March 3, 2019
Unexpected
This book was not what I expected from the blurb, It starts pulling you in from the first page. The main characters are fascinating I'll be interested to see how they develop in future books and there must be more as this is too good to stop at one. If I had to pick one thing that makes it stand out, it would have to be the very, very unusual storyline.
This book was not what I expected from the blurb, It starts pulling you in from the first page. The main characters are fascinating I'll be interested to see how they develop in future books and there must be more as this is too good to stop at one. If I had to pick one thing that makes it stand out, it would have to be the very, very unusual storyline.
July 14, 2019
Dog's Dinner with Maple Syrup
Lindsay Buroker's JUNKYARD (a Fractured Stars novella) is a prequel to the series. McCall is a female autistic PI who usually tracks people, but is hired to track thousands of gallons of maple syrup stolen from sugar house located Nextdoor to a junkyard.
Lindsay Buroker's JUNKYARD (a Fractured Stars novella) is a prequel to the series. McCall is a female autistic PI who usually tracks people, but is hired to track thousands of gallons of maple syrup stolen from sugar house located Nextdoor to a junkyard.
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