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Milijun #2
Amidst Alien Stars
They have awoken as far away from home as it ever gets…
Laura and Jason Sinclair did not want to be transported from Earth, but their alien hosts have plans to take them even further beyond their comfort zone.
They are on a space station, orbiting a mysterious planet in a strange new galaxy. And they must battle for the future of a group of humans who are being used in a breathtaking scheme of cosmic survival—for both aliens and humans alike. And in the process, they will determine the future of Earth.
To succeed, they must solve the puzzle of extraterrestrial races in the throes of a perplexing and historic conflict.
But who can they really trust as they struggle to understand the challenging and hostile environment that holds them in a grip of iron?
If you like Close Encounters, Contact, and Arrival, then you’ll love Amidst Alien Stars, the standalone second novel of a gripping new alien interaction series from Clayton Graham.
"There is world building of such depth and lush detail that you could almost feel it." Kay Mack TOP 1000 REVIEWER
"Not only is this an exciting, action-packed page turner - I love the intelligence reflected, the witty dialogue, and the genuine depth in the characters’ emotions." Meenaz Lodhi
"Admirable world-building and the unsurpassable, indefatigable, drive of the human spirit to not just survive, but to thrive, power this engrossing sequel to the author's debut science fiction novel, Milijun." Mallory A Haws
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2019
39 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Clayton Graham
10 books298 followersAs a youngster Clayton read a lot of science fiction. He loved the ‘old-school’ masters such as HG Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov, and John Wyndham. An award-winning author of science fiction novels, he has received many book awards including Author’s Show ‘50 great writers you should be reading’, Readers’ Favorite International Award finalist, and Book Excellence Awards finalist.
A background in aerospace engineering encourages his thoughts to surge skyward well beyond our universe. He delights in creating fantastic new worlds and the intriguing beings that inhabit them.
Clayton loves animals, including well-behaved pets, and all the natural world. He would likely love well-behaved alien animals, too!
You can follow Clayton on Facebook, X or Bluesky and check out his books and blog on his website.
A background in aerospace engineering encourages his thoughts to surge skyward well beyond our universe. He delights in creating fantastic new worlds and the intriguing beings that inhabit them.
Clayton loves animals, including well-behaved pets, and all the natural world. He would likely love well-behaved alien animals, too!
You can follow Clayton on Facebook, X or Bluesky and check out his books and blog on his website.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 13, 2019
When I read “Millijun,” book one in this series, I was intrigued by the idea of aliens coming to Earth, not to conquer, but to locate good breeding stock for creating hybrid beings. In book 2 - “Amidst Alien Stars” – we see that goal carried out. But the action has moved from Earth to a far-off planet where different “races” of aliens appear to be battling each other for the right to explore the universe, in addition to using human DNA to create hardy hybrids capable of withstanding interstellar travel. While Laura and her teenage son Jason are still the main characters, there are lots of other characters to keep up with, including some of their hybrid offspring.
There’s a lot of fear, trepidation and gnashing of teeth as Laura, Jason and their band of humans try to figure out what their role is, and whether they’ll ever become true partners with these aliens. And it’s not like they can just go home to Earth. They’re at the mercy of their hosts.
That the human women are forcibly impregnated by robots that can “phase” into another being’s body is disturbing, as is the use of one man’s DNA – Jason’s – to create the hybrids.
Interesting scenario for an imagined first contact that seems to validate decades of UFO sightings that were summarily dismissed by government authorities.
There’s a lot of fear, trepidation and gnashing of teeth as Laura, Jason and their band of humans try to figure out what their role is, and whether they’ll ever become true partners with these aliens. And it’s not like they can just go home to Earth. They’re at the mercy of their hosts.
That the human women are forcibly impregnated by robots that can “phase” into another being’s body is disturbing, as is the use of one man’s DNA – Jason’s – to create the hybrids.
Interesting scenario for an imagined first contact that seems to validate decades of UFO sightings that were summarily dismissed by government authorities.
January 16, 2020
This book is the second of a series, and there are several references to book 1 (which I have not read). I think it is sufficiently self-contained that it can be read as stand-alone, although the several references back to book one happenings that were not really relevant to the present issues were a little annoying. The background is that a number of Australians were abducted by an alien ship and sent to the planet Glieze, or more accurately, a space station above the planet that has a number of sections, each one devoted to one of the "nations" on the planet below. It turns out that the natural people of the planet cannot survive going "there and back" through space, but they had developed sentient robot-life forms to do that. What the humans were abducted for was to make hybrids; half-human half-Gliezan, to do that space travel. It was not clear to me why the Gliezans cared, as robots would be just as good as hybrids. However, the Gliezans were also scrapping between each other, and there was a fear the hybrids might be soldiers. The hybrids grew to the equivalent of 18 year-olds in tanks in a matter of weeks. Another oddity of these hybrids is they have a genetic human mother and father, so what was the alien part? That is not explained.
The level of science is fairly low, although the aliens are claimed to be able to access additional dimensions and some of what they do complies well with that. Well done there. The descriptions of the space station, the aliens and the planet are good. The humans gradually discover that the aliens have this conflict, at least between two lots of them, and the way the aliens try to hide this is well depicted. Gradually the aliens are drawn into the conflict, and they try to draw the humans in also. The characters are quite well-drawn. The action is well-described, but the action is also somewhat mild, and it is also a little repetitive in nature, i.e. the same sort of thing tends to repeat, and resolution tends to be "off-stage". The aliens tend to be enigmatic, especially the Gerb who have a very truncated way of expressing themselves. Overall, a very imaginative story, if with a somewhat slow-moving reflective plot and with well-drawn characters in nature and emotion. My grading is somewhere between four and five stars, but I am starting the new year feeling generous.
The level of science is fairly low, although the aliens are claimed to be able to access additional dimensions and some of what they do complies well with that. Well done there. The descriptions of the space station, the aliens and the planet are good. The humans gradually discover that the aliens have this conflict, at least between two lots of them, and the way the aliens try to hide this is well depicted. Gradually the aliens are drawn into the conflict, and they try to draw the humans in also. The characters are quite well-drawn. The action is well-described, but the action is also somewhat mild, and it is also a little repetitive in nature, i.e. the same sort of thing tends to repeat, and resolution tends to be "off-stage". The aliens tend to be enigmatic, especially the Gerb who have a very truncated way of expressing themselves. Overall, a very imaginative story, if with a somewhat slow-moving reflective plot and with well-drawn characters in nature and emotion. My grading is somewhere between four and five stars, but I am starting the new year feeling generous.
January 20, 2020
“Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.” -Nelson Mandela.
Surprise after surprise! I was utterly confounded! This premise is so intriguing, so many riddles..I love it! The writing is smart, clear, and, at moments, really lovely. Extremely well written and chock full of intrigue, suspense, spies, murder and wonderfully descriptive characters, places and events. This novel is fast paced, exciting and edge of your seat stuff! Not only is this an exciting, action-packed paged turner - I love the intelligence reflected, the witty dialogue, and the genuine depth in the characters’ emotions. This is an impeccable, perfectly-paced, emotional and gripping read, with a fantastic world building. I hope there’s a sequel to this series, to see how the different types of aliens and humans interact in a devastated Earth.
Surprise after surprise! I was utterly confounded! This premise is so intriguing, so many riddles..I love it! The writing is smart, clear, and, at moments, really lovely. Extremely well written and chock full of intrigue, suspense, spies, murder and wonderfully descriptive characters, places and events. This novel is fast paced, exciting and edge of your seat stuff! Not only is this an exciting, action-packed paged turner - I love the intelligence reflected, the witty dialogue, and the genuine depth in the characters’ emotions. This is an impeccable, perfectly-paced, emotional and gripping read, with a fantastic world building. I hope there’s a sequel to this series, to see how the different types of aliens and humans interact in a devastated Earth.
December 29, 2019
I’m actually giving this a little better rating than my enjoyment would suggest. Let me start with my issues. This is the second in a series and I haven’t read the first book. I started out lost and stayed that way for more than half of the book. Secondly, the story relies on a lot of lore. Names and relations are extremely complex and it requires really digging into the history of the series to understand a lot of it. I like well developed characters, but I don’t have to go back to the primordial mud when the first single celled organism arose that would become the Rbuzen. (Yes, there is a little hyperbole in that last sentence.) Finally, the names of the races and individuals were similar enough that, already lost, I had a hard time of keeping track of the characters. I was never sure if the character was an alien, or robot. I realize that the naming convention is part of the lore and very important. I just didn’t want to put that much work into it.
With that said, there will be some (many) readers who will love those things I disliked. There is as much here as you care to dig for. If you like these complex worlds, with loads of trivia, then this is a book for you. Surely you should start with the first book in the series. I’m pretty well certain it will make the second book more enjoyable. For you folks, this is likely a 5 star story.
The prose is good and the imagery vivid. Somewhere around sixty percent of the way through, I found myself actually enjoying the story. If you like complex series with a lot of underlying lore, you will love this series. Like I said though, start with book one.
With that said, there will be some (many) readers who will love those things I disliked. There is as much here as you care to dig for. If you like these complex worlds, with loads of trivia, then this is a book for you. Surely you should start with the first book in the series. I’m pretty well certain it will make the second book more enjoyable. For you folks, this is likely a 5 star story.
The prose is good and the imagery vivid. Somewhere around sixty percent of the way through, I found myself actually enjoying the story. If you like complex series with a lot of underlying lore, you will love this series. Like I said though, start with book one.
December 7, 2019
Amidst Alien Stars: Milijun Book 2 - a review by Rosemary Kenny
A modern version of old-style classic sci-fi stories, Amidst Alien Stars by Clayton Graham continues on from Book 1, where a human family - Laura Sinclair and her son Jason were abducted by aliens.
Now in Book 2 of the Milijun series, they learn that they're not the only prisoners among the stars. Alien masters control their lives completely and only pooling all their skills and knowledge can bring even a sliver of light and hope into their doom-laden existence.
Why do the aliens perceive Earth as their enemy?
What is intended for the mutant hybrid children born from the forced breeding program?
How can Laura and the others send a warning to Earth to prepare for the Armageddon their captors are preparing to enact?
A fascinatingly terrifying what if...? future scenario that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Get your copy of Amidst Alien Stars by Clayton Graham today - and wait for lift off!
A modern version of old-style classic sci-fi stories, Amidst Alien Stars by Clayton Graham continues on from Book 1, where a human family - Laura Sinclair and her son Jason were abducted by aliens.
Now in Book 2 of the Milijun series, they learn that they're not the only prisoners among the stars. Alien masters control their lives completely and only pooling all their skills and knowledge can bring even a sliver of light and hope into their doom-laden existence.
Why do the aliens perceive Earth as their enemy?
What is intended for the mutant hybrid children born from the forced breeding program?
How can Laura and the others send a warning to Earth to prepare for the Armageddon their captors are preparing to enact?
A fascinatingly terrifying what if...? future scenario that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Get your copy of Amidst Alien Stars by Clayton Graham today - and wait for lift off!
February 13, 2021
Rjebnigerrsel
No, I didn't sneeze...that's just one example of the creativity proffered in this expansive Sci-Fi Fantasy of aliens and humans. Names aren't the only thing author Clayton Graham does so well; there's detailed technologies to discover, foreign landscapes to explore, and of course, aliens to meet.
Although a fairly comprehensible stand-alone, I would recommend reading the first book first, as I lacked understanding of some of the nuances between characters and history. It wasn't difficult to catch up though, as I came to realize the two lead characters, Laura and Jason, have been abducted by aliens. Not for the typical per-conceived reasons however (no probes here!) The aliens are hoping to create a hybrid race that will be capable of space exploration on a scale that is beyond the ability of either species presently.
It's a grand notion, (although it may have been less forced if the humans had been recruited willingly), yet it's not without obstacles. As ever, mistrust, misperceptions, and misplaced loyalties stand in the way of true partnership on any scale, setting the stage for intense action and tangled mysteries. Great fodder for any reading enthusiast!
Alien meets The Arrival, with a hint of The Expanse, the Milijun Series holds as much promise as the coalition it characterizes. I could easily be drawn into a NetFlix Mini Series!
No, I didn't sneeze...that's just one example of the creativity proffered in this expansive Sci-Fi Fantasy of aliens and humans. Names aren't the only thing author Clayton Graham does so well; there's detailed technologies to discover, foreign landscapes to explore, and of course, aliens to meet.
Although a fairly comprehensible stand-alone, I would recommend reading the first book first, as I lacked understanding of some of the nuances between characters and history. It wasn't difficult to catch up though, as I came to realize the two lead characters, Laura and Jason, have been abducted by aliens. Not for the typical per-conceived reasons however (no probes here!) The aliens are hoping to create a hybrid race that will be capable of space exploration on a scale that is beyond the ability of either species presently.
It's a grand notion, (although it may have been less forced if the humans had been recruited willingly), yet it's not without obstacles. As ever, mistrust, misperceptions, and misplaced loyalties stand in the way of true partnership on any scale, setting the stage for intense action and tangled mysteries. Great fodder for any reading enthusiast!
Alien meets The Arrival, with a hint of The Expanse, the Milijun Series holds as much promise as the coalition it characterizes. I could easily be drawn into a NetFlix Mini Series!
December 20, 2019
When we left Laura Sinclair and her son, Jason, at the end of Milijun their lives were being bounced as though tennis balls between an unknown alien agenda and unsuspected human agendas. Now, we find Laura, Jason and other survivors of Milijun to be prisoners aboard an alien space station in the planetary system of the star Gliese, the Gliesan agenda still unknown. Jason is known to the aliens as “The first seen” and is important to them for an undisclosed reason. The remainder of the survivors has become breeding stock to produce alien-human hybrids, again for an undisclosed purpose.
What follows is a tale of double-dealing and hidden agendas among races of Gliesans extending far back into Gliesan history. The Rbuzen Gliesans, their captors, have a distinct reason for creating Gliesan-human hybrids and their agenda has placed both the human survivors and the hybrids squarely in the middle of what could become a Gliezan civil war. Jason, as “First Seen”, must find a way to reconcile Gliesan differences in order to ensure the survival of both humans and Gliesans, while Laura and the other survivors continue to be manipulated by both factions. The end result is nothing I would have ever predicted.
Amid Alien Stars has a cast of characters sufficiently developed for their roles in the story. The alien characters are interesting but focused on their agenda to the exclusion of other considerations. Rather than being malevolent, they are being pressured in different ways than humans. The story contains several different players and factions and the humans are never quite sure who their most recent captors are. The aliens certainly never give them a straight answer.
All in all, Amid Alien Stars is a fine sequel to Milijun and a very entertaining, although somewhat lengthy, read for sci-fi fans. It’s doubtful, though, that many readers will guess the end before they read it.
What follows is a tale of double-dealing and hidden agendas among races of Gliesans extending far back into Gliesan history. The Rbuzen Gliesans, their captors, have a distinct reason for creating Gliesan-human hybrids and their agenda has placed both the human survivors and the hybrids squarely in the middle of what could become a Gliezan civil war. Jason, as “First Seen”, must find a way to reconcile Gliesan differences in order to ensure the survival of both humans and Gliesans, while Laura and the other survivors continue to be manipulated by both factions. The end result is nothing I would have ever predicted.
Amid Alien Stars has a cast of characters sufficiently developed for their roles in the story. The alien characters are interesting but focused on their agenda to the exclusion of other considerations. Rather than being malevolent, they are being pressured in different ways than humans. The story contains several different players and factions and the humans are never quite sure who their most recent captors are. The aliens certainly never give them a straight answer.
All in all, Amid Alien Stars is a fine sequel to Milijun and a very entertaining, although somewhat lengthy, read for sci-fi fans. It’s doubtful, though, that many readers will guess the end before they read it.
September 6, 2020
This book transports you to another world
Amidst Alien Stars thrusts readers into a foreign otherworldly setting where humans confront feelings of captivity by the Gliezan alien race while being housed on a space station orbiting an alien home planet known as Glieze. The story kickstarts readers into the confusions and tribulations of the humans being housed, allowing readers to slowly assess the backstory of situation that the humans currently find themselves in. Through a third person point of view, readers follow the story’s first protagonist, Laura Sinclair, and learn of the human’s perceived role in an alien-human hybridization program of which we find the humans to be extremely skeptical of to say the least. We discover that Sinclair’s son Jason, the story’s second protagonist, is what the alien race has termed as, “The First Seen,” and how this mother-son duo play distinct and significant roles in mediating between the interaction and dissemination of knowledge amid the humans and aliens while the human space survivors complete their purported mission of collaboration in galactic exploration with the Gliezans, set for an unsuspected amount of time before they are returned to Earth. The mystery of truth and trust between the spiritually advanced alien races and human race poses a conundrum throughout, while readers gain a deeper sense of character development as the plot thickens and the pressure is placed on the development of the hybrid children to be both physically and spiritually compatible to prove the experimentation and the future of human survival a success.
The author, Clayton Graham, does a fine job in writing a compelling story with interchanging parts bathed in suspense and speculation with a New Age twist. Envisioning the different groups of characters - aliens, robots, and humans alike - was fascinating and I especially enjoyed the way that Graham portrayed the foreign entities as believable alien characters with a historical account of their own civilization. Although this is the second book in the Milijun series, I greatly appreciated Graham’s succinct preface and opening chapters which I felt was intelligently crafted to allow for the second book to hold strong as a standalone novel. The quality of writing in this book sparks enough intrigue and enjoyment to considering going backwards into the story and read the first book. I was impressed by the fact that while reading, my mind was begging for the storyline to be adapted into a motion picture. Graham’s descriptive writing in this outer-space Sci-Fi novel had me imagining how each scene, and the characters within, would look while interacting on the big screen. Thoroughly enjoyed, I highly recommend this novel especially if you are keen on being transported into another dimension.
Amidst Alien Stars thrusts readers into a foreign otherworldly setting where humans confront feelings of captivity by the Gliezan alien race while being housed on a space station orbiting an alien home planet known as Glieze. The story kickstarts readers into the confusions and tribulations of the humans being housed, allowing readers to slowly assess the backstory of situation that the humans currently find themselves in. Through a third person point of view, readers follow the story’s first protagonist, Laura Sinclair, and learn of the human’s perceived role in an alien-human hybridization program of which we find the humans to be extremely skeptical of to say the least. We discover that Sinclair’s son Jason, the story’s second protagonist, is what the alien race has termed as, “The First Seen,” and how this mother-son duo play distinct and significant roles in mediating between the interaction and dissemination of knowledge amid the humans and aliens while the human space survivors complete their purported mission of collaboration in galactic exploration with the Gliezans, set for an unsuspected amount of time before they are returned to Earth. The mystery of truth and trust between the spiritually advanced alien races and human race poses a conundrum throughout, while readers gain a deeper sense of character development as the plot thickens and the pressure is placed on the development of the hybrid children to be both physically and spiritually compatible to prove the experimentation and the future of human survival a success.
The author, Clayton Graham, does a fine job in writing a compelling story with interchanging parts bathed in suspense and speculation with a New Age twist. Envisioning the different groups of characters - aliens, robots, and humans alike - was fascinating and I especially enjoyed the way that Graham portrayed the foreign entities as believable alien characters with a historical account of their own civilization. Although this is the second book in the Milijun series, I greatly appreciated Graham’s succinct preface and opening chapters which I felt was intelligently crafted to allow for the second book to hold strong as a standalone novel. The quality of writing in this book sparks enough intrigue and enjoyment to considering going backwards into the story and read the first book. I was impressed by the fact that while reading, my mind was begging for the storyline to be adapted into a motion picture. Graham’s descriptive writing in this outer-space Sci-Fi novel had me imagining how each scene, and the characters within, would look while interacting on the big screen. Thoroughly enjoyed, I highly recommend this novel especially if you are keen on being transported into another dimension.
March 20, 2020
Amidst Alien Stars: Milijun Book 2 is nothing short of action, drama, suspense, and an entertaining plot. Humans have been abducted by the aliens and sent to the planet Glieze. The humans, unfortunately, encounter bigger challenges than just trying to survive. The aliens abducted the humans to make hybrids that would be half human and half Gliezens. I was fascinated by the product that would be the hybrids, as they grew to be mature in a matter of weeks among other oddities they possessed. We follow the adventure of Laura Sinclair and her brave son Jason as they try to survive on a planet that is dominated by threatening aliens.
The aliens not only pose as a menace to Laura and her people but also everyone else on the planet. This new setting is hard to live in. Everyone has to endure complexities and save the next person if possible. The mystery builds up as you read about the aliens and the hybrids. The characters are superbly developed with the main characters being solid and definite. The author is engaging in his writing as he describes the events that happen on the planet. The reader is drawn into the action, following every bit of the plot, as the author was generous with the details.
‘Amidst Alien Stars: Milijun Book 2’ is a great science fiction book that has a rousing plot and well-defined characters. The conflict between humans and aliens was thrilling to follow as each group tried to outdo the other. The themes in the book include power, family, loyalty, love, and humanity. Seeing how different groups join forces to push an agenda tells how every specie thrives when working together. The reader learns that during a crisis, it is difficult to trust everyone even when they pose as allies.
The aliens not only pose as a menace to Laura and her people but also everyone else on the planet. This new setting is hard to live in. Everyone has to endure complexities and save the next person if possible. The mystery builds up as you read about the aliens and the hybrids. The characters are superbly developed with the main characters being solid and definite. The author is engaging in his writing as he describes the events that happen on the planet. The reader is drawn into the action, following every bit of the plot, as the author was generous with the details.
‘Amidst Alien Stars: Milijun Book 2’ is a great science fiction book that has a rousing plot and well-defined characters. The conflict between humans and aliens was thrilling to follow as each group tried to outdo the other. The themes in the book include power, family, loyalty, love, and humanity. Seeing how different groups join forces to push an agenda tells how every specie thrives when working together. The reader learns that during a crisis, it is difficult to trust everyone even when they pose as allies.
March 13, 2020
Amidst Alien Stars is a book by Clayton Graham. It’s about Laura and her son Jason residing in a space station. This space station is occupied by various entities, but the book focuses on an alien race known as Gliezans. They instituted her as a space station worker, with the aliens making human-gliezan hybrids. The pair soon after become suspicious of the plans of their captors, with them slowly finding out about the historic conflicts the Gliezans have. It’s up to our heroes Laura and Jason to find a way to come out of this conflict victorious. The book itself is expertly written, with the prose flowing very well. You get a very good amount of action too, especially in later chapters. The beginning of the book caught my attention very well, what with the descriptions of the tubes and the Gliezans. Laura’s relationship with her son is tested throughout the book, and the author takes care to develop the relationship. Speaking of people, Graham does an amazing job describing things. Not only does he describe the characters well, but the surrounding environments too. The players in this story are not 2 dimensional, but each have their own hopes, dreams, and perspectives on the events happening around them. The book feels immersive with its descriptions and combines these into an amazing sci-fi book. One thing that I feel a bit neutral to is how little science there is, but I think the other aspects of the book outweigh this minor oversight. The worldbuilding in the book really ropes you in with all the interesting locales. Overall, I thought this was a rioting read and I give it 5 out of 5 starts.
May 27, 2020
Amidst Alien Stars by Clayton Graham is a futuristic sci-fi novel about intergalactic aliens who abducted a group of humans to procreate a more sturdy hybrid species. It starts off a little confusing; the prologue introduces the storyline/does an overview of the first book in the series, however, the author is doing this with invented names/terms that are difficult to follow.
The novel follows mother and son Laura and Jason Sinclair, as well as other humans who have been taken for the purpose of creating this new race and who long to return to earth, as imperfect as it is. While the aliens tell the humans that this durable new species is meant to create harmony and give them the ability to travel through space, the humans are suspicious of their hosts and and mistrust their motives.
I stuck with this novel in the hopes it would get less confusing, but overall I found it extremely difficult to follow. The alien names, continents, peninsulas, characters, it was all very confusing. It also seemed like the characters asked a lot of questions; I understand maybe the author was trying to create that sense of confusion and tension, the problem is it felt like the characters never got answers, therefore, neither did the reader.
It was an interesting premise, well-written, and presents the idea/possibilities of what else is “out there” but it lost me a lot along the way. I usually like the sci-fi genre but this was a little beyond my grasp—maybe others will feel differently.
The novel follows mother and son Laura and Jason Sinclair, as well as other humans who have been taken for the purpose of creating this new race and who long to return to earth, as imperfect as it is. While the aliens tell the humans that this durable new species is meant to create harmony and give them the ability to travel through space, the humans are suspicious of their hosts and and mistrust their motives.
I stuck with this novel in the hopes it would get less confusing, but overall I found it extremely difficult to follow. The alien names, continents, peninsulas, characters, it was all very confusing. It also seemed like the characters asked a lot of questions; I understand maybe the author was trying to create that sense of confusion and tension, the problem is it felt like the characters never got answers, therefore, neither did the reader.
It was an interesting premise, well-written, and presents the idea/possibilities of what else is “out there” but it lost me a lot along the way. I usually like the sci-fi genre but this was a little beyond my grasp—maybe others will feel differently.
September 27, 2020
I will say from the start, I should have read the first book in the series before launching straight into the second book. It has a great premise and as a science fiction lover I really appreciated the refreshingly different concepts, however I found the level of detail daunting and I struggled to get into the characters and plot. I do think if I had read the first book I would have enjoyed this book so much more.
The idea that an alien race had created hybrid beings on a space station set a long way from Earth, with the aim of the human strengths complimenting the strengths of their race was interesting. Rather than the usual alien v human, to think that there could be partnership was really good. However, the humans, trapped on the space station and longing to return home, are seeking meaning and purpose as they fear for their role in the future where the aliens seem to hold all the cards. The adventure deepens as they seek answers and the stakes are raised.
As I said, I wish I had read the first book as I may have engaged better with the main characters, Jason & Laura. I may have understood more of what they had already gone through and I may have felt less like I was wading through an overly complex narrative where I felt confused and lost. It often felt like I was jumping into the middle of something where everyone else knew the back story but me. So my strong recommendation is to start with book 1 to get the most out of this excellent premise and high quality writing.
The idea that an alien race had created hybrid beings on a space station set a long way from Earth, with the aim of the human strengths complimenting the strengths of their race was interesting. Rather than the usual alien v human, to think that there could be partnership was really good. However, the humans, trapped on the space station and longing to return home, are seeking meaning and purpose as they fear for their role in the future where the aliens seem to hold all the cards. The adventure deepens as they seek answers and the stakes are raised.
As I said, I wish I had read the first book as I may have engaged better with the main characters, Jason & Laura. I may have understood more of what they had already gone through and I may have felt less like I was wading through an overly complex narrative where I felt confused and lost. It often felt like I was jumping into the middle of something where everyone else knew the back story but me. So my strong recommendation is to start with book 1 to get the most out of this excellent premise and high quality writing.
June 1, 2020
Science fiction is one of my favorite genres (after horror and fantasy), and any such story that does its best to justify the “science” within the fiction is okay in my book. Clayton Graham manages to do this fairly well in this second part of his Milijun series. The premise behind the original book (and, by extension, this book) is to give an ostensibly real look at what an alien “invasion” might look like. It’s a well-tread subjected in sci-fi, but Mr. Graham manages to find a bit of fresh water in this otherwise dry well.
This book finds a number of humans that have been abducted from Earth as the story begun in the first book continues to expand. Graham does a great job of presenting two fairly reasonable perspectives which cast the alien abductors as not-really-villains; you are sympathetic to their point of view, even if you can’t agree with their means. Indeed, there are a number of alien races involved, and they don’t all get along. Our human characters have most definitely not been pulled into the idyllic future of Star Trek.
While their abductors see them as a critical part of their ambitious plans, our human characters struggle with who to trust and what to make of all this. Taken unwillingly from a home they might never see again and being pulled into this grand scheme (not to mention the women who are forced to mate with the aliens and create hybrid children) is all just a bit too much to handle. The ensuing conflict is fascinating, on both sides.
This book finds a number of humans that have been abducted from Earth as the story begun in the first book continues to expand. Graham does a great job of presenting two fairly reasonable perspectives which cast the alien abductors as not-really-villains; you are sympathetic to their point of view, even if you can’t agree with their means. Indeed, there are a number of alien races involved, and they don’t all get along. Our human characters have most definitely not been pulled into the idyllic future of Star Trek.
While their abductors see them as a critical part of their ambitious plans, our human characters struggle with who to trust and what to make of all this. Taken unwillingly from a home they might never see again and being pulled into this grand scheme (not to mention the women who are forced to mate with the aliens and create hybrid children) is all just a bit too much to handle. The ensuing conflict is fascinating, on both sides.
September 1, 2020
While technically the second entry to Clayton Graham’s ‘Milijun’ series, ‘Amidst Alien Stars’ is a beautifully-written, highly-imaginative standalone novel that checks all the boxes for a classic science-fiction story.
When Laura and her son, Jason, are abducted from their base in Australia, they are unwittingly thrust into the midst of an extra-terrestrial conflict that ultimately threatens the future of mankind. While they are initially treated as diplomatic guests, the Sinclairs quickly grow suspicious of their quarreling hosts' shrouded intentions. What follows is an epic ‘stranger in a strange land’ tale of divided loyalties and a quest for survival.
For his part, Graham hits it out of the park when it comes to the all-important job of ‘world-building,’ offering readers a vivid glimpse into a wholly-realized alien world that, not unlike our own, is rife with complication.
Additionally, like all good science fiction, Graham explores a bevy of ‘human’ issues, including racism, through the lens of an alien species. The U.K.-based author is clearly a fan of this genre, as he takes great-care to cleverly offer a fresh take on a myriad of tropes.
Featuring a cast of nuanced, well-written characters and an air-tight, thought-provoking plot, Clayton Graham’s ‘Amidst Alien Stars’ is a brilliant novel—fans of classic sci-fi (Asimov, Clarke, etc.) will not be disappointed.
When Laura and her son, Jason, are abducted from their base in Australia, they are unwittingly thrust into the midst of an extra-terrestrial conflict that ultimately threatens the future of mankind. While they are initially treated as diplomatic guests, the Sinclairs quickly grow suspicious of their quarreling hosts' shrouded intentions. What follows is an epic ‘stranger in a strange land’ tale of divided loyalties and a quest for survival.
For his part, Graham hits it out of the park when it comes to the all-important job of ‘world-building,’ offering readers a vivid glimpse into a wholly-realized alien world that, not unlike our own, is rife with complication.
Additionally, like all good science fiction, Graham explores a bevy of ‘human’ issues, including racism, through the lens of an alien species. The U.K.-based author is clearly a fan of this genre, as he takes great-care to cleverly offer a fresh take on a myriad of tropes.
Featuring a cast of nuanced, well-written characters and an air-tight, thought-provoking plot, Clayton Graham’s ‘Amidst Alien Stars’ is a brilliant novel—fans of classic sci-fi (Asimov, Clarke, etc.) will not be disappointed.
December 21, 2019
Laura Sinclair and her son Jason, plus a group of desperate humans abducted from Earth in the previous book awake among the alien stars somewhere else where they are trying to forge a new future both for themselves but also for those back home on Earth. However, they are not with the one alien race and so have to solve the riddle of the group of races they are encountering and try not to become embroiled in their historic conflict that seems to be as valid now as it was many years before. The problem is who should they trust (if anyone) and what is the real plan for the hybrid children that have been brought into existence? Add to that there is a constant worry in the back of their minds - will they ever see Earth again and get home?
This is once again a complex story with many layers for you to dig through as you read this second book in the series - although you could get away with not reading the first one I really do think you need to read the first one to make sense of the events in this book as early as you can. I enjoyed the way they were sometimes working independently but were always working towards a common goal that would make sense of what was happening to them all. I enjoyed the mini-stories within stories that were very enjoyable. Well written it was very clear and easy to understand.
This is once again a complex story with many layers for you to dig through as you read this second book in the series - although you could get away with not reading the first one I really do think you need to read the first one to make sense of the events in this book as early as you can. I enjoyed the way they were sometimes working independently but were always working towards a common goal that would make sense of what was happening to them all. I enjoyed the mini-stories within stories that were very enjoyable. Well written it was very clear and easy to understand.
November 4, 2020
Laura and Jason Sinclair are stranded on an alien space station orbiting planet Glieze. They have a mission to accomplish, but can they trust anyone?
When they are separated to accomplish their respective missions and hopefully return to Earth with the rest of their team, they do not know what expects them. Treason, war, death, pain, lies, and much more. Will the Rbuzen, the alien who abducted them, keep their word and return them home? And who are the mysterious Gerb? And why do the Rkem keep interfering but claim to be neutral? It is not until the end that you will find the answers to these question in this action-packed science fiction story by Clayton Graham.
Amidst Alien Stars hooked me from page one even though it is the second in a series, and I did not read book one. There is enough data to understand all situation, and therefore it can work as a stand-alone.
Characters well fleshed out and alien places' amazing descriptions, in addition to several plots and subplots, give this story a quick pace. I do believe sometimes the author let himself take away by long descriptions. As a matter of fact, they slowed down my reading, especially at the end, but that is only a matter of personal taste.
All in all, I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading adventure science fiction.
When they are separated to accomplish their respective missions and hopefully return to Earth with the rest of their team, they do not know what expects them. Treason, war, death, pain, lies, and much more. Will the Rbuzen, the alien who abducted them, keep their word and return them home? And who are the mysterious Gerb? And why do the Rkem keep interfering but claim to be neutral? It is not until the end that you will find the answers to these question in this action-packed science fiction story by Clayton Graham.
Amidst Alien Stars hooked me from page one even though it is the second in a series, and I did not read book one. There is enough data to understand all situation, and therefore it can work as a stand-alone.
Characters well fleshed out and alien places' amazing descriptions, in addition to several plots and subplots, give this story a quick pace. I do believe sometimes the author let himself take away by long descriptions. As a matter of fact, they slowed down my reading, especially at the end, but that is only a matter of personal taste.
All in all, I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading adventure science fiction.
January 31, 2020
Having read Milijun, the first book in this excellent series, I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to review the follow-up, Amidst Alien Stars.
Abducted from Earth by an alien race at the end of the previous book, Laura and son Jason are now on a space station orbiting the planet Glieze. They've unwittingly become part of the aliens' plan to produce human-Gliezan hybrid children using Jason's DNA. Suspicions of a hidden agenda cause tensions to escalate as the humans become increasingly unsure of who to trust. They discover they're part of a wider plan involving opposing factions on the alien planet.
Amidst Alien Stars is a superb sequel. The author's world building is second to none — I could almost reach out and touch the unfamiliar alien terrain. Characters are fully developed and each played their role perfectly; I felt deeply invested in the outcome of their situation.
The alien technology described isn't so outlandish as to be unbelievable; flying saucers, incubation tanks and interstellar space travel are all part and parcel of growing up in the Star Trek, Dr Who and Space: 1999 era. The menacing undercurrent was never too far away and this, combined with a couple of unpredictable twists in the closing chapters, made for a very satisfying read.
Book Source: Review copy from the author
Read my review on my blog: https://bit.ly/2RM3hoA
Abducted from Earth by an alien race at the end of the previous book, Laura and son Jason are now on a space station orbiting the planet Glieze. They've unwittingly become part of the aliens' plan to produce human-Gliezan hybrid children using Jason's DNA. Suspicions of a hidden agenda cause tensions to escalate as the humans become increasingly unsure of who to trust. They discover they're part of a wider plan involving opposing factions on the alien planet.
Amidst Alien Stars is a superb sequel. The author's world building is second to none — I could almost reach out and touch the unfamiliar alien terrain. Characters are fully developed and each played their role perfectly; I felt deeply invested in the outcome of their situation.
The alien technology described isn't so outlandish as to be unbelievable; flying saucers, incubation tanks and interstellar space travel are all part and parcel of growing up in the Star Trek, Dr Who and Space: 1999 era. The menacing undercurrent was never too far away and this, combined with a couple of unpredictable twists in the closing chapters, made for a very satisfying read.
Book Source: Review copy from the author
Read my review on my blog: https://bit.ly/2RM3hoA
November 8, 2024
This 2nd book in the "Milijun" series was every bit as good as the first one. The humans have been taken, without being asked, to a space station orbiting Glieze, the aliens' homeworld in a distant galaxy. They are part of a mysterious project with their captors/hosts but they discover that there is more than they are being told. There is intrigue and adventure as the humans try to find their place in this new environment, complete with even more non-human beings.
The new world is astounding and the alien technology is exciting. The aliens are intriguing and the plot is filled with twists and turns as the humans try to sort out the true intentions of the aliens, and what their part will be in the aliens' grand scheme.
While this book is purported to be a standalone novel, I strongly suggest reading "Milijun" first, in order to have a much better grasp of the situation and understanding of the characters. I'm anxious to start the third and, what I believe is the last book of this series, "Alien Whispers".
The new world is astounding and the alien technology is exciting. The aliens are intriguing and the plot is filled with twists and turns as the humans try to sort out the true intentions of the aliens, and what their part will be in the aliens' grand scheme.
While this book is purported to be a standalone novel, I strongly suggest reading "Milijun" first, in order to have a much better grasp of the situation and understanding of the characters. I'm anxious to start the third and, what I believe is the last book of this series, "Alien Whispers".
February 25, 2020
This book tells about a future where an alien race has been monitoring earth and its residents for many years. After learning much, there was an apparent discovery and skirmish that resulted in several humans dying. A number of females were taken to a space station in orbit around the alien plant and used as surrogate mothers to offspring that were 1/2 human and 1/2 alien (and raised in growth acceleration chambers). The mothers are told that this is to create beings that can better withstand the radiation of space travel. We find out that this may not necessarily be true...I enjoyed many of the characters and the story flowed well.
May 28, 2020
Amidst Alien Stars: Milijun Book 2 is a fascinating story and a fun look at aliens with lives and problems not all that different than ours. While we have all certainly met our share of alien races, this story is fresh, and I don’t think I've heard it before. There are plenty of great characters to watch for including Laura, Jason, and Susan, that are fun to learn about, and there’s plenty of action and plot twists to keep you reading.
I wish I read the first book first, and I’m putting on my list to read in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good alien story.
I wish I read the first book first, and I’m putting on my list to read in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good alien story.
Read
December 1, 2019Admirable world-building and the unsurpassable, indefatigable, drive of the human Spirit to not just survive, but to thrive, power this engrossing sequel to the author's debut science fiction, MILIJUN. On an orbiting compound above a vastly alien planet, abducted humans must discern with the old X-FILES precept: "Trust No One."
April 12, 2020
I would have preferred to read Book 1, Milijun, first due to the many references in this book. So much detail included, almost overdone. I stumbled frequently due to British spelling of words such as “realize” instead of “realise.” The story itself is amazing! A very imaginative, thrilling, clean, mysterious, adventure with aliens and the future. Would make an excellent movie.
December 29, 2019
I have to admit I prefer hard science in my SciFi reading, but this was an excellent foray into the more speculative side of the genre. The story continues with the survivors of Milijun and encapsulates elements of warring alien species, bio-engineering and intense action. A good read.
January 29, 2025
Amidst Alien Stars (Milijun Bk2).
Book 2 takes place mainly on Gliertz the home planet of RNais where Laura, Jason and the surviving mothers of the hybrid experiment have been located.
Insightful and incisive with a wealth of interesting characters.
Book 2 takes place mainly on Gliertz the home planet of RNais where Laura, Jason and the surviving mothers of the hybrid experiment have been located.
Insightful and incisive with a wealth of interesting characters.
December 1, 2019
Very fun read I got this book early
December 17, 2019
Loat
As I h as not read previous book s I was lost.I could not get into it. Sure it is well written but not
As I h as not read previous book s I was lost.I could not get into it. Sure it is well written but not
November 23, 2020
Not as good as book 1 because of the completely different setting. I enjoyed it but found some of the characters annoying.
February 27, 2024
Earth's Future?
This book was a great read. New concepts and alien contacts. Disturbing and thought provoking, with an undertone of hope.
This book was a great read. New concepts and alien contacts. Disturbing and thought provoking, with an undertone of hope.
September 22, 2020
MY THOUGHTS ... Wow! Just Wow!
Having read Milijun I had such high hopes for this, the second book in the series (a series that by the way really is best read from the beginning in order to get the best out of it). High hopes that thankfully weren't to be dashed; not only is Amidst Alien Stars every bit as good as its predecessor, its better.
I'm not generally hugely into this genre and given that I had thoroughly enjoyed both books in the series (this, the second one, in particular) I naturally found myself puzzling over just what it was that I found so compelling.
Having seen aliens come to Earth not just to study/abduct us earthlings but rather to gather a breeding stock with the aim to creating alien-human hybrids in book one, here in book two, the action having moved from Earth to a galaxy far, far away far off planet, the reason for the need of these hybrid children unfolds in a story that leaves you wondering just who, if anyone, is to be trusted ...
Trust me though when I say that the author tells a cracking story ...
There are what I thought of as mini stories within 'the story' ... and it all made perfect sense ... something in itself to be applauded.
The world building, wonderfully imaginative, wholly realised and so vivid, is (excuse the pun) out of this world.
And as for the characters ...
Multi faceted; the aliens maybe not as alien as you might expect. That their history too is evidenced something I took much delight in.
That at some point or other I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and, yes, even crying, I think it fair to say that it was the emotional depth (something that in my experience is rarely to be had in Science-fiction) that truly set this book apart for me; making it such a pleasure and delight to read.
SUMMED UP IN A SENTENCE ... With enough Sci-Fi that it will impress fans of the genre but with more than sufficient a 'human interest' aspect to it that it will appeal to those who aren't.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry
Disclaimer ... My sincere thanks to the author for not only entrusting me to honestly share my thoughts on his 'first baby' but also, this, his second. Please note, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
Having read Milijun I had such high hopes for this, the second book in the series (a series that by the way really is best read from the beginning in order to get the best out of it). High hopes that thankfully weren't to be dashed; not only is Amidst Alien Stars every bit as good as its predecessor, its better.
I'm not generally hugely into this genre and given that I had thoroughly enjoyed both books in the series (this, the second one, in particular) I naturally found myself puzzling over just what it was that I found so compelling.
Having seen aliens come to Earth not just to study/abduct us earthlings but rather to gather a breeding stock with the aim to creating alien-human hybrids in book one, here in book two, the action having moved from Earth to a galaxy far, far away far off planet, the reason for the need of these hybrid children unfolds in a story that leaves you wondering just who, if anyone, is to be trusted ...
Trust me though when I say that the author tells a cracking story ...
There are what I thought of as mini stories within 'the story' ... and it all made perfect sense ... something in itself to be applauded.
The world building, wonderfully imaginative, wholly realised and so vivid, is (excuse the pun) out of this world.
And as for the characters ...
Multi faceted; the aliens maybe not as alien as you might expect. That their history too is evidenced something I took much delight in.
That at some point or other I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and, yes, even crying, I think it fair to say that it was the emotional depth (something that in my experience is rarely to be had in Science-fiction) that truly set this book apart for me; making it such a pleasure and delight to read.
SUMMED UP IN A SENTENCE ... With enough Sci-Fi that it will impress fans of the genre but with more than sufficient a 'human interest' aspect to it that it will appeal to those who aren't.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry
Disclaimer ... My sincere thanks to the author for not only entrusting me to honestly share my thoughts on his 'first baby' but also, this, his second. Please note, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
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