Voice of Reason

Black Ocean #12.5

by J.S. Morin

Short Story following the Mobius Crew

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Space Opera, Adventure, Crime, Fiction

22 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

I am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.

Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.

I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.

My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.

Reviews

[davidgonzalezsr · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Slightly Sarcastic But Ultimately Honest Book Rating System:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars): This book achieved legendary status in my personal library. I will likely reread it until the pages fall out (or my e-reader spontaneously combusts). Consider this my enthusiastic endorsement – you should probably read it unless you actively dislike joy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars): A truly excellent read! I enjoyed it immensely and would heartily recommend it to fellow bookworms. You might even catch me subtly pushing it into their hands.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars): Yep, it was a book I read. I turned the pages, absorbed the words, and emerged...unchanged. It was a pleasant enough journey, like a scenic detour that you wouldn't necessarily take again, but didn't regret.
⭐️⭐️ (2 Stars): This book existed. I finished it. That's about the highest praise I can offer. If you're looking for something truly captivating, maybe keep scrolling. This one's more of an "it filled the silence" kind of experience.
⭐️ (1 Star): Oh dear. This book and I did not get along. It was a literary tumbleweed in the vast desert of good books. Consider this a strong "do not recommend," unless you're conducting research on what not to do in storytelling.

Disclaimer: My enjoyment of the narrator is based on my listening speed. I only leave 5 stars for books I've read/listened to or will read/listen to multiple times. If you like this review please consider giving it a Helpful Vote below.

[Frank Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun caper for the Mobius crew, even without Carl

This is another short book which sits a little bit outside the books in one of JS Morin’s main series. This one takes place some way into the original Black Ocean series, now rebranded as “Black Ocean: Galaxy Outlaws” to avoid confusion with the other series. Carl Ramsey is away being schmoozed, Mort is enjoying the feel of a real planet, and the bored crew aboard the Mobius decide to take on a sweet deal all of their own. Of course, nothing ever goes as smoothly as they expect, and soon enough they end up convincing robot crewmember “Archie” (presumably not the same one from the 1960s Lion comics) to impersonate Carl to seal the deal. That’s where the “voice” from the title comes in, and they have lots of fun trying to get Archie to seem enough like Carl (when in a spacesuit, at least).

This is not a big story which affects the galaxy, or even the lives of any of the crew, just a haphazard diversion which doesn’t turn out quite as anyone expects, but I enjoyed it.

[Dale Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the boss is away...!!!

Passing time on New Garrelon isn't the most exciting ways to spend your day. Wake up...drink a beer...play a vid game...drink a beer...watch a vid show...drink a beer...go to bed...repeat (at least if your a certain Laaku engineer). So, when the opportunity to get out into the wild and make some credits while doing it, who are they to pass it up.

But, as all things in the Black Ocean and, with the crew of the Mobius, in particular, things never seem to go as planned. What starts out as a simple pick up and delivery soon turns into something much more deadly. And worst of all? They didn't get paid. Let's have a beer!!!

Another great Stowaway short story by author Jeff Morin to fill in the lulls between the full-blown journeys.

[Adam K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little episode where part of the crew are stuck waiting aboard the Mobius sitting in a star port while Carl, Esper, Amy, and Rai Kub are off running errands on the Stuunji planet. While they're kicking around wondering how to pass the time, a comm comes in to Carl's datapad. Someone has a job for them, and it seems pretty straight forward--maybe they can handle it themselves. As usual, it doesn't go as planned.

[Neznem (Trent) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really needed this short story after how I've been not liking the last few missions. This was a breath of fresh air. Short, fun, funny, and enjoyable. Nothing overwhelming or ground-breaking, but it felt like a return to form. I'm the next few missions follow suit.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story as Carl is away with Amy, the remaining crew organise there own deal. Which even without Carl along, still ends in disarray and failure.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars.

[Schvenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Carl is off the Mobius, some of the remaining crew get a bright idea for quick cash, which of course works about as well as any of their plans.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting set up then like of a fizzle ending to this story.

[Fred Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing special about this. But it does seem to make it clear that 2 new characters will be important (probably for remaining 4-1/4 books). That they are the newest additions to the Mobius. In earnest.