Androids used to mingle among us, pretending to be human. Then an alien puppet-master altered their programming. Unknown to us, androids began leaving human society, burning their clothes and peeling off their skin to reveal the chrome-colored bodies underneath.
They gathered in a system were a star had exploded, blowing away the atmosphere of a Jupiter-like planet. The supernova had hurled heavy metals against the remaining core. The androids are mining supermetals that can turn ordinary ship weapons and shields into invincible armaments.
The altered programming includes human genocide, which will start with a murderous attack on Earth.
Luckily, Captain Maddox finds the enemy system. But during a space battle, something happens to hurl Victory thousands of light-years away into the Scutum-Centaurus Spiral Arm. The crippled starship will take years to reach home again. Long before that, Earth will be a radioactive ruin.
Now begins a desperate journey in hostile space that will stretch everyone as Maddox strains to reach the Lord High Admiral in time with knowledge about the coming android attack.
I was born in Canada and remember as a small boy crawling in my snow-fort. I closed my eyes, and when I tried to open them, they were frozen shut. I didn't panic, but wiped away the ice crystals, unglued my eyes and kept on building my tunnel. Those were great days! I moved to Central California before seventh grade and couldn't believe I lived in a land where oranges grew on trees and you could pick grapes from the vine.
I used to wonder what I wanted to do with my life, what kind of work specifically. I was miserable not knowing and bordering on desperate. Then one day a friend gave me his typewriter. I began working on a novel. A different person told me it was much easier on a computer, so I bought one and began getting up at 4:30 A.M. each morning before work, writing for three hours. My eyes were unglued once again as the pang of misery left my gut. I knew exactly what I wanted to do: write. So now that's what I do, I write, and write, and write, and I love it.
Early on in "The Lost Supernova," the 10th installment of the Lost Starship series, author Vaughn Heppner tosses Captain Maddox in a precarious position. He's gone rogue, rebelling against his once-beloved Star Watch to seek personal glory and power. Or at least that's what his enemies want the authorities to believe. Turns out there's a Methuselah woman, a beautiful yet deadly conspirator who appears more deadly and dangerous than her long-living and super-intelligent compatriots Strand and Professor Ludendorff. However, Maddox being Maddox means he discerns the threat and seeks to limit the damage. His crew, the little Adok artificial intelligence Galyan, Keith the crazy pilot, Riker the grizzled sidekick, Meta his wife and Valerie his Star Watch compatriot, provide his support and the reason for his purported luck and continued success. The beginning just sets the scene for battles with androids, discovery of hidden bases and continued difficulties reining in Ludendorff. The threats remain huge, and Earth is threatened. Despite near constant setbacks, Maddox and the alien starship Victory must find ways to overcome challenges and nullify the bad actors. Supernova is classic Heppner. It has all the elements of his swashbuckling style. But he adds some pretty thought-provoking concepts. And the bad guys have multi-layered strategies to undermine Maddox and company. Heppner adds enough twists and turns to keep his fans happy. I'm on a roll. After ignoring Maddox for what must have been several years, I'm back and determined to finish the remaining books by one of my favorite, and very prolific, authors.
I thought that after the second or third book that this series would’ve played itself out like most other series tend to do. But that hasn’t happened and I thank God for that! The series is akin to a comic title like Batman or Superman where the years pass but you always look forward to another “issue”.
Ideally, start with the first novel so you get a clue as to who the New Men are and the relationship Captain Maddox has to them. Although each novel makes that clear it’s a good read. It helps you understand the relationship between Driving Force Galyan and Maddox as well.
If all those previous novels are too much to read then listen to the Audible versions. My habit is to read each novel and then listen to it on Audible with Mark Boyett’s excellent narration. The “Lost Starship” universe is one I like to visit quite often.
The worst part about the series? The fact that a novel takes months to write. So I spend an inordinate amount of time checking Kindle to see if a new novel in the series is available!
Check out the author’s AI series. It’s another one of my favorites that I look forward to. He weaves Christianity into his novels in a way that makes it reasonable sounding but not “preachy”. He doesn’t write Christian novels but he does get you to think about Christian things in an interesting way.
Still kicking along, but maybe the heels are starting to dig in
Still a good series. Still formulaic, I say this in every review.
But this time round, they are much less verbose formulaic miracles performed by the amazing Captain Maddox. Also, a little odd, that after 10 books in the series, our hero finally starts to develop a conscience, challenge his own behaviour, even bite his own tongue.
The plot gaps were a bit more than usual. But combined with the more restrained dialogue, and inner monologues, and the attempt to humanise more of the characters, the author is starting to get to a nice level with the characters. This means the plot has suffered a little in this book, and wanders constantly.
The last ship series just gets better and better with every book. Find yourself unable to put the book down whether it’s a kindle or paperback you will just be engrossed with the story. My only complaint is that you find the number of chapters seem to step back to explain the reason for something happening. It’s not needed in the story if you’re reading closely and the first time then you don’t need to repeat you three or four times afterwards. But that is my only complaint so kick off your shoes find a comfortable seat grab a coffee or a beer And start reading
The story is compelling and moves along at a fast pace. Familiar characters and doomsday heroism as we have come to expect from the series. Mr. Heppner, please reread your book, there are passages whose sentence structure need work and sentences missing words which would help make sense of Your written passages-for example go through Chap. 91, there are some sentences missing connecting words to make the passages coherent. Overall, really liked the book.
This is more of the same in a different setting. We have New Men, Spacers, Androids, and Captain Maddox and his pals, doing the same things, always winning beating incredible odds. Some scenes are even duplicates from previous books, an android intent to kidnap Maddox in a flitter after leaving Star Watch HQ; that happened before. Another book is coming, Lord Drakos is on the loose and Maddox has got to deal with him. Why is the book titled the Last Supernova?
The title of this one was a stretch, but I get it, something has to be lost so it fits the convention. I liked the adventures and meeting new species that happened in this book, it's almost getting like Star Trek, everywhere they go, there's new species that they can communicate with. At least this book has a much more plausible explanation for why they're there and can communicate. Anyway, the book, I continue to enjoy the series, I feel like this book was fine, but it really felt like it was setting things up for future books more than anything.
I have loved the characters of the story line from the beginning and this addition added to the whole wonderfully. Every page was better than the one before as it all unfolded. The Lost Starship Series has given me hours of reading adventure and intrigue page by page. I await each new book in the series with the expectation of reading at its finest. I'm patiently waiting for the next book Mr Heppner. Don't keep me waiting to long!
This was a good read very similar to others books in this series. It leaves you hanging in the end and you know what trouble is coming in Book #11 :-) I'm always amazed at what is thrown at Maddox and how he and his team get out of the craziest predicaments. Maddox reminds me of the super hero called Doc Savage from the late 30's (most of you are wondering who there'll is Doc Savage). At any rate he always digs deep and manages to stay one step ahead of defeat.
The way the captain rallied his merry band of misfits is spotlighted in this edition.
I enjoyed the slight change in Maddox where he actually followed orders. He and Meta even had a real discussion about his heritage. The action was excellent as always, but it felt like there was real character growth in this book. Good stuff...
I’ve mostly enjoyed these Lost Starship books despite the chronic lack of good editing. But this one just struck me as downright childlike in its writing. It was painfully bad in many areas. The story itself wasn’t that bad, though I think it’s becoming convoluted as a series. But the quality of the writing just seems to be falling apart here!
I liked this series. I read it months ago and read it again. Now I would like to read the next one, book 11
My review, well this series makes you stay up late when you should sleep, also makes you skip or put off jobs that need to be done. In other words a good read. Thank you vaughn.
I'm glad Maddox and the crew of Victory has given humanity a reprieve.
I don't usually write reviews because I'm a reader instead of writer. I have really enjoyed this entire sieres and hope that it will continue. Although I do think the crew of Victory do deserve a chance to live life.
Another good book in the continuing saga of Maddox and friends and revolving enemies. Vaughn Heppner keeps the story interesting with plots and subplots that keep you guessing who to believe and trust. If you haven’t read this series, start from the beginning. You won’t regret it,,
I do not want the series to end. Captain Maddox and his Victory Starship crew are all interesting characters, and with their unique abilities and faith in their unusual captain, fight to keep the human space worlds safe from many enemies, as part of Star Watch Intelligence. You will love this series and will want to see the next adventures.
It’s a fact. In fact there’s so many ideas in this book that it can easily be materials for several series. Best yet is that I learn something about the space and the stars in every book in the series and this is no exception. Waiting for the next iteration in bated breath.
I like this particular series as it develops the characters more and more and the storyline does not get stale and moves along well. I was already ready for the next book in the series before I finished and that should tell you all you need to know. If you haven't read the series start from the beginning I think you'll be glad you did.
Seriously, such a well written book. So many things going on and so many twists. It makes my head spin sometimes but that's why I enjoy this series. Keep it up, please!
I have enjoyed the entire Lost Starship series. From finding the ship in book 1 through this book, it has been an enjoyable journey following the crew and there many adventures.
Another solid entry in the Lost Starship Series. A fun ride following the continued exploits of the Captain, as he takes on threats to the Commonwealth. I am already looking forward to the next one.
This has been my least favorite lost starship novel to date. Characters radically changed, Maddon emotional? Cook falling asleep and c ok medically snoring himself awake? Wtf.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about Maddox’s adventurous exploits, and in particular how he is faithful to his wife. He is always striving to do the right thing for his people and Earth, not always an easy task.
The continuing story of Maddox and crew has, as all the previous books, sets the team in tense situations with the odds stacked against them. It makes for an exciting fast paced read. I can not wait for the next book!
The plot lines are consistent as are the twists, keeping us interested to see what happens next. Some new players and possibilities have emerged and I wonder how they will influence the next chapters of this saga.
This is book number 10 in The Lost Starship Series by Vaughn Heppner and I'm still engaged in the story. I look forward to number 11 and the continuing story of Captain Maddux. In my humble opinion, this is science fiction at its best.
This is just good old fashioned sci-fi story telling. Maddox and the crew of the Victory have taken me on an incredible voyage around our sector of the galaxy. Book ten wraps up in such a way that I am pacing as I wait for book eleven.