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The Messenger #11
The Black Gate
The Cygnus Realm has found peace. Now, spreading among the new worlds of the Unseen gates, Dash and his people are building new lives, free of war and destruction.
Until one of the former Unseen planets shifts in orbit—a small thing, but worth looking into.
Close to this erratic world, something incredible opens, revealing a connection to stars so distant that they have no name on the Cygnus charts.
The Black Gate pulses in and out of existence, and when a massive pair of alien warheads comes through and destroys an entire orbital facility, Dash is left with no choice but to pick up the mantle of Messenger and fight once more.
He must go through the gate, find out who is responsible, and eliminate the threat at any cost.
But this is beyond anything he and his people have faced before... and it will take everything they have to stand against it.
Until one of the former Unseen planets shifts in orbit—a small thing, but worth looking into.
Close to this erratic world, something incredible opens, revealing a connection to stars so distant that they have no name on the Cygnus charts.
The Black Gate pulses in and out of existence, and when a massive pair of alien warheads comes through and destroys an entire orbital facility, Dash is left with no choice but to pick up the mantle of Messenger and fight once more.
He must go through the gate, find out who is responsible, and eliminate the threat at any cost.
But this is beyond anything he and his people have faced before... and it will take everything they have to stand against it.
- GenresScience Fiction
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2020
303 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 14, 2022
In the eleventh entry of J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert’s The Messenger science-fiction series, the Cygnus Realm, headed by the franchise’s eponymous mech pilot, Newton “Dash” Sawyer, is at peace after its victory over the genocidal Golden. The titular Black Gate appears with a new threat known as the Deepers threatening human civilization again, against whom the Cygnus Realm is initially victorious. Indeed, one of the Deeper ships proves formidable, although some of their remnants they take aboard the Forge, with revelation that their missiles are organic and their vessels capable of self-repair.
Dash and the Realm seek Dark Metal once again, as it somehow proves crucial to the Deepers, although he ponders stepping down as the Messenger and having someone replace him. However, he reconsiders once the Deeper threat makes itself better-known. A taskforce called the Black Watch Dash establishes so that they can keep an eye on the Deepers, who have capabilities such as the ability to stuff themselves into missiles, even well more than one at a time, so that they can infiltrate adversarial vessels that they strike. The book concludes with the formulation of a virus to use against the Deepers, along with the research of a bug-like entity among them.
Generally, book eleven of Chaney and Maggert’s The Messenger series proves enjoyable, with plenty of science-fiction action that includes well-described battles and occasionally, alien races, and a satisfactory continuation of the books after the conclusion of the previous plot arc involving the conflict with the Golden. Granted, it does have a few issues such as the resemblance to other sci-fi works such as many videogame series involving giant martial mechs, and some stylistic issues abound such as the usage of “(character/pronoun) said” several sentences into quoted dialogue, but otherwise, these are negligible matters in an otherwise solid read.
Dash and the Realm seek Dark Metal once again, as it somehow proves crucial to the Deepers, although he ponders stepping down as the Messenger and having someone replace him. However, he reconsiders once the Deeper threat makes itself better-known. A taskforce called the Black Watch Dash establishes so that they can keep an eye on the Deepers, who have capabilities such as the ability to stuff themselves into missiles, even well more than one at a time, so that they can infiltrate adversarial vessels that they strike. The book concludes with the formulation of a virus to use against the Deepers, along with the research of a bug-like entity among them.
Generally, book eleven of Chaney and Maggert’s The Messenger series proves enjoyable, with plenty of science-fiction action that includes well-described battles and occasionally, alien races, and a satisfactory continuation of the books after the conclusion of the previous plot arc involving the conflict with the Golden. Granted, it does have a few issues such as the resemblance to other sci-fi works such as many videogame series involving giant martial mechs, and some stylistic issues abound such as the usage of “(character/pronoun) said” several sentences into quoted dialogue, but otherwise, these are negligible matters in an otherwise solid read.
June 29, 2022
I might have been premature in calling the end to the series. I am really glad its not over.
So Dash is semi retired and gone fishing. When trouble come calling. The Cygnus Realm identifies another major problem and the Messenger is back on the job. They cross a gate (wormhole) and travel to a distant part of the Milky Way. They are surprised to discover humans. Yep, H-U-M-A-N-S damn it we are like mosquitoes it seems hard to kill and we spread like the flu. Anyway.
The Cygnus Realm is now helping the humans against the Deeper race. (Yeah, not my favorite name either) But they are villanous without a doubt. More battles ... yes, glorious battles! Bring me mead! Can't wait for "Thor Love and Thunder". Getting back to the book. It has ton of action and loads of battles what else do you need to know.
So Dash is semi retired and gone fishing. When trouble come calling. The Cygnus Realm identifies another major problem and the Messenger is back on the job. They cross a gate (wormhole) and travel to a distant part of the Milky Way. They are surprised to discover humans. Yep, H-U-M-A-N-S damn it we are like mosquitoes it seems hard to kill and we spread like the flu. Anyway.
The Cygnus Realm is now helping the humans against the Deeper race. (Yeah, not my favorite name either) But they are villanous without a doubt. More battles ... yes, glorious battles! Bring me mead! Can't wait for "Thor Love and Thunder". Getting back to the book. It has ton of action and loads of battles what else do you need to know.
December 2, 2020
The Black Gate. J.N. Chaney. Terry Maggert
Peace has finally come to Dash and his followers. The Golden, their arch enemy defeated. Life is peaceful , good, they can finally relax. Wrong, a new alien enemy has surfaced called Deepers. Their organic and inorganic and have the ability to rejuvenate if wounded. They have to be totally destroyed to kill them. Their warships are the same. They are not built but they grow probably from the organic materials. They do not communicate as individuals, but as a group or mass communication. An enemy far deadlier then any group Dash has faced. An epic sc_fi thriller. Enjoyed immensely!!
Peace has finally come to Dash and his followers. The Golden, their arch enemy defeated. Life is peaceful , good, they can finally relax. Wrong, a new alien enemy has surfaced called Deepers. Their organic and inorganic and have the ability to rejuvenate if wounded. They have to be totally destroyed to kill them. Their warships are the same. They are not built but they grow probably from the organic materials. They do not communicate as individuals, but as a group or mass communication. An enemy far deadlier then any group Dash has faced. An epic sc_fi thriller. Enjoyed immensely!!
October 14, 2021
Ok so Dash and crew think they have finished with war and can kick back. Wrong, Dash. An unknown gate appears to fade in and out of existence near one of the new planets they have moved to and trouble comes pouring out. The Cygnus realm is dragged back into war and against a truly inexplicable foe.
Again they must make alliances and navigate unknown technology against those who have no interest in diplomacy or negotiation. Will Dash and his people be able to defeat this new threat?
The Messenger series is a great read and you will love the characters as more layers of their growth happens. Rooting for Team Dash, including the AIs.
Again they must make alliances and navigate unknown technology against those who have no interest in diplomacy or negotiation. Will Dash and his people be able to defeat this new threat?
The Messenger series is a great read and you will love the characters as more layers of their growth happens. Rooting for Team Dash, including the AIs.
October 13, 2021
After the dramatic end to the conflict with the Golden, I kept thinking, “ This is the end to the series.” But once again the amazing authors behind all of the great book series that they crank out at amazing rates pulled through again. And they still figured out a way to make an interesting storyline to the new conflict with the Deepers. With edge-of-your-seat battles and extremely detailed explanations of pretty much everything, this is the kind of series that will have you burning the midnight oil to figure out what happens next.
January 12, 2021
The saga continues ...
Just when we thought the war was done with the golden, a new enemy emerges to ruin Dash's retirement. They're even more alien than a fusion of meat and tech like the golden! The team comes together and learns about them, their capabilities and their extra galactic origins ... Once more Chaney and Maggert take us along for a great ride as we explore with Dash and the team. Truly a good read!
Just when we thought the war was done with the golden, a new enemy emerges to ruin Dash's retirement. They're even more alien than a fusion of meat and tech like the golden! The team comes together and learns about them, their capabilities and their extra galactic origins ... Once more Chaney and Maggert take us along for a great ride as we explore with Dash and the team. Truly a good read!
February 3, 2021
The gang of characters are all back to face new bad aliens (pretty much like the other books) :-) The storyline is interesting enough to pull you along and you really want to find out more about the aliens and why they are attacking - that part never gets revealed and is part of what I'm hoping gets found in the next book #12. If you like light hearted characters and lots of action with techno-babble mixed in you'll enjoy this series.
December 16, 2020
A short break then back to war
Well Dash and the Cygnus Realm had a couple of years off but when a new alien threat appears from a gate and destroys a construction base, (the Deepers) or friends in the realm have to battle a different type of technology in a different way.
A fun book to continue the Messenger series.
Well Dash and the Cygnus Realm had a couple of years off but when a new alien threat appears from a gate and destroys a construction base, (the Deepers) or friends in the realm have to battle a different type of technology in a different way.
A fun book to continue the Messenger series.
December 6, 2020
Great Storyline
Well that was a great start to a new storyline. Great to see Dash has not post his will to fight after 2 years of peace and loving lol. Looking forward to reading more of the Messenger series well worth 5 stars
Well that was a great start to a new storyline. Great to see Dash has not post his will to fight after 2 years of peace and loving lol. Looking forward to reading more of the Messenger series well worth 5 stars
December 6, 2020
Renewed Series
It’s the characters we’ve come to know gathered together and starting off in a different direction. New foes, new battles, and new worlds and tech to discover. Good development and plot resolution for this book, and a soft lead into the next.
It’s the characters we’ve come to know gathered together and starting off in a different direction. New foes, new battles, and new worlds and tech to discover. Good development and plot resolution for this book, and a soft lead into the next.
December 11, 2020
Nice!
Yup! Our defenders of humanity are back saving us again! Quite a bit of thought went into this new book to bring a fresh new perspective of an unknown enemy that doesn’t conform to our thoughts and ideas of what we think we should expect in a new alien. Nicely done!
Yup! Our defenders of humanity are back saving us again! Quite a bit of thought went into this new book to bring a fresh new perspective of an unknown enemy that doesn’t conform to our thoughts and ideas of what we think we should expect in a new alien. Nicely done!
December 11, 2020
I love this series, can't wait for the next one.
September 7, 2021
Great read
This book takes you through the complete story of another alien group trying to wipe out the human race but we turned the table on them
This book takes you through the complete story of another alien group trying to wipe out the human race but we turned the table on them
September 24, 2021
As good as the rest
As good as the rest, slightly predictable but still a good read and like the rest of dashs adventures you struggle to put the book down
As good as the rest, slightly predictable but still a good read and like the rest of dashs adventures you struggle to put the book down
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews