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The Soldier #1
The X-Ship
After endless years of fighting in a galaxy-wide war, the most decorated super-soldier of the Old Federation was granted leave, sliding into a stasis tube aboard a sleeper ship. The ship never reached its port, while the soldier woke up a thousand years later on an operating table.
The Old Federation was gone, most planets hurled back into the Stone Age. A devastated Earth used spies instead of spaceships to compete against the tougher richer worlds.
The Director of Earth had doctors suppress the super-soldier’s memories, giving him an undercover identity and mission: grab advanced technology from a prohibited planet before anyone else could and bring it back to Earth.
The soldier turned spy felt desperately lost, alone and out of place. There were no familiar faces. But an intense sense of duty drove him headlong into danger. And yet…and yet…there was something more, something missing that he increasingly wanted to know.
So began The Soldier’s odyssey in a future time that would change the destiny of the universe.
The Old Federation was gone, most planets hurled back into the Stone Age. A devastated Earth used spies instead of spaceships to compete against the tougher richer worlds.
The Director of Earth had doctors suppress the super-soldier’s memories, giving him an undercover identity and mission: grab advanced technology from a prohibited planet before anyone else could and bring it back to Earth.
The soldier turned spy felt desperately lost, alone and out of place. There were no familiar faces. But an intense sense of duty drove him headlong into danger. And yet…and yet…there was something more, something missing that he increasingly wanted to know.
So began The Soldier’s odyssey in a future time that would change the destiny of the universe.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2020
502 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn Heppner
147 books569 followersYou can visit Vaughn at www.vaughnheppner.com
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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 8, 2021
Meh at best
The plot and characters are from one of the old cartoons, the super soldier is anything but super, and while he constantly mumbles about tactics he is dumb as a rock, the androids have emotions, sweat, have woman's intuition, panic, but somehow are supposed to make logical decisions, adn the space physics are idiotic: lasers are for short range battles because they difuse (in what? the atmosphere of vacuum? ) . Pretty lame.
The plot and characters are from one of the old cartoons, the super soldier is anything but super, and while he constantly mumbles about tactics he is dumb as a rock, the androids have emotions, sweat, have woman's intuition, panic, but somehow are supposed to make logical decisions, adn the space physics are idiotic: lasers are for short range battles because they difuse (in what? the atmosphere of vacuum? ) . Pretty lame.
October 15, 2021
What a slog. I didn't stop, I made it through. I found I could not read the book in large stretches, only a few pages a day were all I could handle. I'm really not sure what to say in this review. I didn't dislike the book, I sort of, kind of liked it. I've enjoyed some of Heppner's other books, and they were pretty easy and pleasant reads. This one felt like an effort. The twists and turns, with few exceptions, weren't really exciting and intriguing, more ponderous and "what else now?" sigh-inducing. I haven't decided if I am intrigued enough by the protagonist to move on to the next book in the series. Though I am wont to say this, in this case, there might have been justification for doing the abominable trick that so many authors are doing these days breaking novels down into segments and calling those segments books in their own right. Or maybe serialize it. I love novels with large, expansive frames, and have read more than my share of extremely long novels. This isn't a long novel, but it sure feels like one, however it doesn't give me the satisfaction, the payoff I need to justify the time and effort spent. Heppner explores some interesting themes and moral/ethical questions, so it's not without merit. As always, YMMV.
April 8, 2021
This book was average. I read about 86 pages before I couldn't continue anymore. The book isn't bad. It's just not that interesting.
There are two main characters, Jack Brune the supersoldier placed in stasis 1,000 years ago and whose brain was implanted with a chip containing someone else's false memories, and Dr. Halifax, the man who woke him up out of his slumber.
The characters weren't interesting. Nor were they necessarily boring.
The editing was alright. I don't remember seeing any typos. However, some of the phrasings are a little long or not descriptive enough, so descriptions and the way the story is told could have been tightened up a little.
I think less time could have been spent on Dr. Halifax's viewpoint and the mystery surrounding his job, and more on Jack Brune, the supersoldier. That way I would care about Jack Brune more.
The main character is supposed to travel to this planet that nobody can travel to, because they get shot down if they try to get near, but I had hoped this story was paced much faster.
If the pacing was a little faster and less time was spent on Dr. Halifax, who I didn't feel was that important to the story, we could have seen more fight scenes in this book. I understand this isn't a full-blown military conflict book, but even the fight scenes that do happen feel more like I'm hearing someone tell me what's happening instead of feeling like I'm experiencing the fights myself. Perhaps the writing style is more passive than I'd like it to be.
There are two main characters, Jack Brune the supersoldier placed in stasis 1,000 years ago and whose brain was implanted with a chip containing someone else's false memories, and Dr. Halifax, the man who woke him up out of his slumber.
The characters weren't interesting. Nor were they necessarily boring.
The editing was alright. I don't remember seeing any typos. However, some of the phrasings are a little long or not descriptive enough, so descriptions and the way the story is told could have been tightened up a little.
I think less time could have been spent on Dr. Halifax's viewpoint and the mystery surrounding his job, and more on Jack Brune, the supersoldier. That way I would care about Jack Brune more.
The main character is supposed to travel to this planet that nobody can travel to, because they get shot down if they try to get near, but I had hoped this story was paced much faster.
If the pacing was a little faster and less time was spent on Dr. Halifax, who I didn't feel was that important to the story, we could have seen more fight scenes in this book. I understand this isn't a full-blown military conflict book, but even the fight scenes that do happen feel more like I'm hearing someone tell me what's happening instead of feeling like I'm experiencing the fights myself. Perhaps the writing style is more passive than I'd like it to be.
December 6, 2020
Interesting storyline, not sure about the series, but will give the next book a chance.
I enjoyed the premise of the book very much. I have several questions one why can’t a hero have somebody at his back who is not a double dealing backstabbing son of a gun. This seems to be something prevalent in certain authors books don’t like it. Two if this gentleman is a super soldier he doesn’t seem to be very super. Maybe extraordinary but he definitely is not super maybe his abilities will come forward in the next book i’m glad the The protagonist of the series got his memory back, don’t like series where a person is wandering around throughout the entire book trying to figure out who he is in reality a person like that cannot function. This is the first book by this author I have finished, I will give the next one a chance.
I enjoyed the premise of the book very much. I have several questions one why can’t a hero have somebody at his back who is not a double dealing backstabbing son of a gun. This seems to be something prevalent in certain authors books don’t like it. Two if this gentleman is a super soldier he doesn’t seem to be very super. Maybe extraordinary but he definitely is not super maybe his abilities will come forward in the next book i’m glad the The protagonist of the series got his memory back, don’t like series where a person is wandering around throughout the entire book trying to figure out who he is in reality a person like that cannot function. This is the first book by this author I have finished, I will give the next one a chance.
November 14, 2020
This was an interesting book even though I found the writing kind of strange. It could use some better editing and the syntax just didn’t seem right, but I’m just a reader so I’m no expert on syntax. I’m not sure why the author refers to his main character as “The Soldier” all the time when he clearly has a name, ie., Marcus Cade, Force Leader Marcus Cade. Yes, he used to be a soldier during the Cyborg War, but that was over a thousand years ago. Now Marcus floats in a life-sustaining glass tube.
He’s about to be revived by a Dr. Halifax. He works for Earth Intelligence and they need to find out what is on Avalon IV. That planet is a “proscribed” planet, which really means you can’t go explore it for any reason. Yet, the Director of Group Six (sounds like a spy organization, doesn’t it!) wants it explored and whatever is found there to be recovered. So, Marcus. Cade has been chosen to be re-activated and sent on this mission. Except, things aren’t jus that easy.
Group Six needed the talents of one Jack Brune, an investigator. He lived in modern times and was pretty successful at finding things. He had been met by three subjects, one of which is Rohan Mars. He was thought to be a cyborg and his two associates were later found out to be advanced robots or androids. They also wanted Jack Brune to go to Avalon IV and, as Jack had been trained as an Anza Drop Trooper, he had the skills to avoid the dangerous orbital weapon systems and successfully drop from space to the planet. Unfortunately, Jack Brune didn’t want to break the law and he told Rohan Mars such which caused a deadly separation between him and Rohan Mars. Deadly, in that Jack Brune was killed.
So, it appears that modern medicine has questionable advanced where the memories of a person could, under specific circumstances, be transplanted into another persons brain. Dr. Halifax was an expert at this and Marcus Cade, remember him, was his next patient. Next we find Marcus Cade awaking, but he’s got some very conflicting things going on in his brain. While he believes he’s somebody else, Dr. Halifax attempts to convince him that he is Jack Brune. Marcus gradually begins sorting out who and what he is, but he does know that he needs to cooperate with Dr. Halifax since there may be other former soldiers like him still in “stasis”. One of those could possibly be his wife! If he successfully completes this mission for Dr. Halifax and Group Six, maybe he could be reunited with his wife even though they both should have die a thousand years ago.
Completing the mission isn’t going to be easy. And, while a lot of his former military training comes back to him, that alone doesn’t signify that he’ll be successful. He is an enhanced soldier. He’s bigger than normal, faster than normal and probably smarter than a normal human. Still, he is mortal and there are a number of ways he can be killed during this mission. One way, in particular, is how he’s going to get on the planet surface. Using a drop capsule is not the most pleasant thing and there’s a big chance it could be detected once it starts heading for the planet. He’ll also have to leave his ship and start his automate drop from a very, very long distance. His plan doesn’t go as far as deciding how he’s going to get off the planet after he finds what Group Six wants him to find. That part of the plan wasn’t considered essential since absolutely no-one believed he even get on the planet to begin with!
I haven’t read a Vaugh Heppner book in quite some time. This one is the first of a new series, and it might be pretty good, but this story was just so-so. I don’t know if there just wasn’t much empathy built for Marcus Cade or something. It seems that the Cade story will only continue because he wants to find his wife. That’s a nice thought, but I'm not so sure it’s compelling enough for readers to continue with the story. I might give the second book, “The Soldier: Escape Vector”, a read, but I really don’t know.
He’s about to be revived by a Dr. Halifax. He works for Earth Intelligence and they need to find out what is on Avalon IV. That planet is a “proscribed” planet, which really means you can’t go explore it for any reason. Yet, the Director of Group Six (sounds like a spy organization, doesn’t it!) wants it explored and whatever is found there to be recovered. So, Marcus. Cade has been chosen to be re-activated and sent on this mission. Except, things aren’t jus that easy.
Group Six needed the talents of one Jack Brune, an investigator. He lived in modern times and was pretty successful at finding things. He had been met by three subjects, one of which is Rohan Mars. He was thought to be a cyborg and his two associates were later found out to be advanced robots or androids. They also wanted Jack Brune to go to Avalon IV and, as Jack had been trained as an Anza Drop Trooper, he had the skills to avoid the dangerous orbital weapon systems and successfully drop from space to the planet. Unfortunately, Jack Brune didn’t want to break the law and he told Rohan Mars such which caused a deadly separation between him and Rohan Mars. Deadly, in that Jack Brune was killed.
So, it appears that modern medicine has questionable advanced where the memories of a person could, under specific circumstances, be transplanted into another persons brain. Dr. Halifax was an expert at this and Marcus Cade, remember him, was his next patient. Next we find Marcus Cade awaking, but he’s got some very conflicting things going on in his brain. While he believes he’s somebody else, Dr. Halifax attempts to convince him that he is Jack Brune. Marcus gradually begins sorting out who and what he is, but he does know that he needs to cooperate with Dr. Halifax since there may be other former soldiers like him still in “stasis”. One of those could possibly be his wife! If he successfully completes this mission for Dr. Halifax and Group Six, maybe he could be reunited with his wife even though they both should have die a thousand years ago.
Completing the mission isn’t going to be easy. And, while a lot of his former military training comes back to him, that alone doesn’t signify that he’ll be successful. He is an enhanced soldier. He’s bigger than normal, faster than normal and probably smarter than a normal human. Still, he is mortal and there are a number of ways he can be killed during this mission. One way, in particular, is how he’s going to get on the planet surface. Using a drop capsule is not the most pleasant thing and there’s a big chance it could be detected once it starts heading for the planet. He’ll also have to leave his ship and start his automate drop from a very, very long distance. His plan doesn’t go as far as deciding how he’s going to get off the planet after he finds what Group Six wants him to find. That part of the plan wasn’t considered essential since absolutely no-one believed he even get on the planet to begin with!
I haven’t read a Vaugh Heppner book in quite some time. This one is the first of a new series, and it might be pretty good, but this story was just so-so. I don’t know if there just wasn’t much empathy built for Marcus Cade or something. It seems that the Cade story will only continue because he wants to find his wife. That’s a nice thought, but I'm not so sure it’s compelling enough for readers to continue with the story. I might give the second book, “The Soldier: Escape Vector”, a read, but I really don’t know.
March 15, 2021
Lots of intrigue, action, plot twists, fascinating protagonist. Moved along briskly through several locations yet a nice, tight story
Kept my interest all the way. The protagonist grows as he learns more about what he's up against and His own lost past. There's enough mystery to keep you intrigued yet mist is resolved within the internal logic of the story. This book begs for a sequel and I'm eager to read it
Kept my interest all the way. The protagonist grows as he learns more about what he's up against and His own lost past. There's enough mystery to keep you intrigued yet mist is resolved within the internal logic of the story. This book begs for a sequel and I'm eager to read it
September 25, 2020
Good story, well written
The story line is introduced slowly and methodically with moderate attention to character development until the end when it becomes clear the soldier and doctor will carry i the next novel and additional attention is paid. Edited well, especially compared to Jay Allan's latest atrocity in Blood on the Stars series.
The story line is introduced slowly and methodically with moderate attention to character development until the end when it becomes clear the soldier and doctor will carry i the next novel and additional attention is paid. Edited well, especially compared to Jay Allan's latest atrocity in Blood on the Stars series.
December 20, 2020
Very good read
This story ,for the most part, keeps the reader in suspense and lures him/her to turn the next page. Except for a few inconsistencies, such as using a communicator /phone and keeping it in Cases pocket with no concern about being traced/located, this book was a very intertwining read.
This story ,for the most part, keeps the reader in suspense and lures him/her to turn the next page. Except for a few inconsistencies, such as using a communicator /phone and keeping it in Cases pocket with no concern about being traced/located, this book was a very intertwining read.
August 30, 2020
Good Read
Overall a very suspenseful SCI-FI, it felt slow at first but was really defining the players and the setting (timelines). I really liked the plot and the action. More books would great!
Overall a very suspenseful SCI-FI, it felt slow at first but was really defining the players and the setting (timelines). I really liked the plot and the action. More books would great!
August 31, 2020
Entertaining
Didn't put this book down. I truly appreciate Heppners writing style. I enjoyed his extinction wars series and this is looking as good of not better. Anxiously waiting for more.
Didn't put this book down. I truly appreciate Heppners writing style. I enjoyed his extinction wars series and this is looking as good of not better. Anxiously waiting for more.
September 5, 2020
I Think We're Back!
Oh, so glad to be back in this universe again. Great story and only the first thin layer of brain tissue\onion has been peeled back. Really love this author for his ability to weave a great tale. Always a cut above!
Oh, so glad to be back in this universe again. Great story and only the first thin layer of brain tissue\onion has been peeled back. Really love this author for his ability to weave a great tale. Always a cut above!
September 8, 2020
Good
I'm ambivalent about this one. I think I went into it expecting too much or something different, but I ended up liking parts of the story and thought that parts could have been better.
I'm ambivalent about this one. I think I went into it expecting too much or something different, but I ended up liking parts of the story and thought that parts could have been better.
September 16, 2020
Surprisingly good!
Finally a well written & well thought out "Soldier" series! I was hooked from the first chapter, and cannot wait for the next book......Cade is complex, interesting and smart. The plot is unique and the characters unexpected. This is worth a read!!!!
Finally a well written & well thought out "Soldier" series! I was hooked from the first chapter, and cannot wait for the next book......Cade is complex, interesting and smart. The plot is unique and the characters unexpected. This is worth a read!!!!
September 19, 2020
Great read. Enjoyed the sci fi
Always a easy fun read. The story and writing were great. Enjoyed the character development, storyline and potential for another world and time created by Heppner.
Always a easy fun read. The story and writing were great. Enjoyed the character development, storyline and potential for another world and time created by Heppner.
October 5, 2020
Excellent read. More!
Thank you for an engaging “first book. Would you be so kind as to continue? I really enjoyed the action and personalities involved.
Thank you and fervently waiting!
Thank you for an engaging “first book. Would you be so kind as to continue? I really enjoyed the action and personalities involved.
Thank you and fervently waiting!
November 2, 2020
Good read
Great premise with a well written storyline that introduces characters and sets the stage for moves, counter moves, and doubles crossing. This book keeps you guessing as the author builds the builds the characters, storyline and intrigue.
Great premise with a well written storyline that introduces characters and sets the stage for moves, counter moves, and doubles crossing. This book keeps you guessing as the author builds the builds the characters, storyline and intrigue.
January 18, 2021
Laying the Scene
Pretty good space adventure, mildly convoluted plot. IMO it would benefit from a bit more editing to tighten the story line. Still interesting enough to make me interested too continue in the series.
Pretty good space adventure, mildly convoluted plot. IMO it would benefit from a bit more editing to tighten the story line. Still interesting enough to make me interested too continue in the series.
May 20, 2021
3 star story. Would be a 5 star if the MC wasn’t such a loser who is supposedly a super solider who yet has refused to kill people who have tried to kill him, manipulated him and his soldier brothers and spouse
July 25, 2021
A nice read
This book has an interesting character named Cade that will have you wanting to keep reading just to see what happens next. As well as wanting to see if the doctor helps him or hinders him
This book has an interesting character named Cade that will have you wanting to keep reading just to see what happens next. As well as wanting to see if the doctor helps him or hinders him
November 19, 2021
not the best
I wound up finishing this but honestly almost stopped several times. Very disjointed plot and uninteresting characters. Not up to this author’s normal standards. I’ll skip the 3rd book.
I wound up finishing this but honestly almost stopped several times. Very disjointed plot and uninteresting characters. Not up to this author’s normal standards. I’ll skip the 3rd book.
August 24, 2020
Loved it!
Great start to this new series. Really enjoyed. Interesting that it ties in with the AI wars. A series about the ancients would also be fun.
Great start to this new series. Really enjoyed. Interesting that it ties in with the AI wars. A series about the ancients would also be fun.
August 25, 2020
Pretty good start
Good start. Could have used a little more back story to evolve the MC. Halifax needs to become a better foil.
Good start. Could have used a little more back story to evolve the MC. Halifax needs to become a better foil.
September 1, 2020
Very good story
This was a great story. I found it very hard to put down. Looking forward to the next book in this series
This was a great story. I found it very hard to put down. Looking forward to the next book in this series
September 5, 2020
Awesome story
A edge of your seat book with suspense. I love every book ever written by Mr. Heppner. Highly recommend Adam anxious for the next book in the series.
A edge of your seat book with suspense. I love every book ever written by Mr. Heppner. Highly recommend Adam anxious for the next book in the series.
September 6, 2020
The book is a very good read. Really The Halifax character. Cade is good also. Hope to see more in this story line.
September 19, 2020
Amazing start of another series. Loved it. Gives Captain Maddox vibes while being something completely different.
October 5, 2020
Nice read
Enjoyable story. Plot kinda almost get lost However he goes it all together.I am looking forward to Cafe seeking his wife
Enjoyable story. Plot kinda almost get lost However he goes it all together.I am looking forward to Cafe seeking his wife
October 8, 2020
Good book read in two dittingd
Good pace . Great main character. Enjoyable sci fi yarn and a bit different from the rest ... left me looking forward to the next episode
Good pace . Great main character. Enjoyable sci fi yarn and a bit different from the rest ... left me looking forward to the next episode
October 10, 2020
Good story
Great addition to the neighbor universe. Hopefully more to come. Strong storyline and good characters make for a very good read.
Great addition to the neighbor universe. Hopefully more to come. Strong storyline and good characters make for a very good read.
October 11, 2020
Good read
Good book, there is action. Sometimes author goes to deep into explaining scientific things. I hope more books to follow.
Good book, there is action. Sometimes author goes to deep into explaining scientific things. I hope more books to follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews