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Star Runner #2
Fire Fight
The colonies of the Faustian Chain have gone dark. No star freighters have come from the star cluster for decades.
Captain Bill Gorman, a smuggler on the Fringe, is one of the few who know the truth. He’s personally battled the alien invaders who’ve overrun the human colonies of the Chain. He and his crew are faced with a choice: will they fight the invaders, or will they run?
Captain Bill Gorman, a smuggler on the Fringe, is one of the few who know the truth. He’s personally battled the alien invaders who’ve overrun the human colonies of the Chain. He and his crew are faced with a choice: will they fight the invaders, or will they run?
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2021
205 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
B.V. Larson
134 books1,529 followersBrian Larson is an American science fiction and fantasy author
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 28, 2021
The second book in a new series by one of my favorite authors. Mr. Larson has written the "Undying Mercenaries" series and I really love those books. Lots of good, sarcastic humor and down-right fun to read. This book and this series isn't anywhere like that series!
In the first book, "Star Runner", Capt. William Gorman has died. He's a gun-runner and got caught in a bad situation and was killed. Since he died, he could no longer pay to have his clone kept in cryogenic storage so they kick it out. Except his clone didn't die! Yes, he survived the ordeal only to find out that he was a different person without any knowledge of who he formerly was. Still, his former associates knew who him and that almost got him killed again.
Now, move forward from that book and Capt. Gorman has done quite well. He's got a starship, Royal Fortune, and a pretty capable crew. They are currently on the planet Tranquility trying to get some much needed R&R. Suddenly, they are approached by an older man and a young lady who were nothing remarkable except their skins tone was a light shade of blue. The young woman called Morwyn, was quite attractive! This meeting greatly disturbed Capt. Gorman because the elderly man, named Darnel, asked if he was Capt. Gorman which he shouldn't have know about at all. Gorman had made every attempt to keep his existence hidden since there were former associates of the original Gorman that still wanted him dead, again! Anyway, once the old man started asking for confirmation of who he was, Gorman told the old guy to go away and stop bothering him. He then directed his crew to head back to their ship because they were immediately leaving. He was worried that if this old guy from out of nowhere knew who he was, then who else might know that he was on this planet? That ended their "vacation" immediately.
Well, it almost did. When Gorman and his crew were approaching their ship on the docking platform, there stood the old man and his daughter! It seems that the old man needed Gorman and his crew's services. They needed to arm their citizens on a planet called Vindar. His planet was about to be attacked by the Skaintz, a very veil and dangerous alien species that ate humans or most anything organic!
Of course Gorman had access to a treasure trove of weapons on the ice ball asteroid he found in the first book. These were Sardez rifles which were the finest weapons anyone could buy and represented a fortune to Gorman and his crew. If only they had a reason to get them. Last time they went to the vault, it almost cost them their lives. Gorman quickly realized that the Skaintz were the same creatures he had to fight on that deadly ice ball and barely got away. If he was going back there, he had to have a very good reason.
Then there was the problem of the Tulk! This was another alien species that was very nasty because it acted as a parasite requiring humans as hosts! They were becoming more and more of a problem since their seemed to be a large influx of them in reason years. Why did this matter to Gorman. Well, although he had weapons, the Vindari also needed an army and the only thing resembling an army that Gorman knew about was the Sword Worlds pirates. This was a collection of about nine planets each ruled by a pirate "Governor" with large followings. Gorman proposed to contact them and see if they would be willing to act as a mercenary army for the Vindari for a price, of course. The only problem with this is that these pirates were all infected with the Tulk!
So this is a pretty interesting story, but it's got nothing much in common with the first book other than the same main characters. The story is pretty straight-forward, but the fighting can be confusing as to who is doing what. It also seems that the Skantz are not the threat they appear to be, but that story-line isn't over. Then there's the hint that Earth was unknown to Gorman and the people of the Central Cluster, but the Vindari have the coordinates! I wonder where that will lead?
In the first book, "Star Runner", Capt. William Gorman has died. He's a gun-runner and got caught in a bad situation and was killed. Since he died, he could no longer pay to have his clone kept in cryogenic storage so they kick it out. Except his clone didn't die! Yes, he survived the ordeal only to find out that he was a different person without any knowledge of who he formerly was. Still, his former associates knew who him and that almost got him killed again.
Now, move forward from that book and Capt. Gorman has done quite well. He's got a starship, Royal Fortune, and a pretty capable crew. They are currently on the planet Tranquility trying to get some much needed R&R. Suddenly, they are approached by an older man and a young lady who were nothing remarkable except their skins tone was a light shade of blue. The young woman called Morwyn, was quite attractive! This meeting greatly disturbed Capt. Gorman because the elderly man, named Darnel, asked if he was Capt. Gorman which he shouldn't have know about at all. Gorman had made every attempt to keep his existence hidden since there were former associates of the original Gorman that still wanted him dead, again! Anyway, once the old man started asking for confirmation of who he was, Gorman told the old guy to go away and stop bothering him. He then directed his crew to head back to their ship because they were immediately leaving. He was worried that if this old guy from out of nowhere knew who he was, then who else might know that he was on this planet? That ended their "vacation" immediately.
Well, it almost did. When Gorman and his crew were approaching their ship on the docking platform, there stood the old man and his daughter! It seems that the old man needed Gorman and his crew's services. They needed to arm their citizens on a planet called Vindar. His planet was about to be attacked by the Skaintz, a very veil and dangerous alien species that ate humans or most anything organic!
Of course Gorman had access to a treasure trove of weapons on the ice ball asteroid he found in the first book. These were Sardez rifles which were the finest weapons anyone could buy and represented a fortune to Gorman and his crew. If only they had a reason to get them. Last time they went to the vault, it almost cost them their lives. Gorman quickly realized that the Skaintz were the same creatures he had to fight on that deadly ice ball and barely got away. If he was going back there, he had to have a very good reason.
Then there was the problem of the Tulk! This was another alien species that was very nasty because it acted as a parasite requiring humans as hosts! They were becoming more and more of a problem since their seemed to be a large influx of them in reason years. Why did this matter to Gorman. Well, although he had weapons, the Vindari also needed an army and the only thing resembling an army that Gorman knew about was the Sword Worlds pirates. This was a collection of about nine planets each ruled by a pirate "Governor" with large followings. Gorman proposed to contact them and see if they would be willing to act as a mercenary army for the Vindari for a price, of course. The only problem with this is that these pirates were all infected with the Tulk!
So this is a pretty interesting story, but it's got nothing much in common with the first book other than the same main characters. The story is pretty straight-forward, but the fighting can be confusing as to who is doing what. It also seems that the Skantz are not the threat they appear to be, but that story-line isn't over. Then there's the hint that Earth was unknown to Gorman and the people of the Central Cluster, but the Vindari have the coordinates! I wonder where that will lead?
May 19, 2022
The first book was fun, promising and interesting.
I dont really think the second book added much to it. I will stop the series here tbh.
A lot of the premises of the first book are put upside down. Characters act outside of what made sense for them in book one. It just feels logically inconsistent tbh. Half the character challenges are solved by daring people to do it or telling them that they are too coward.
One thing that got obvious halfway in but then by the end got really annoying is how in this book all women are essentially just decoration.
It's really weird to explain but essentially the have nothing unique to do. Barely own motivation apart of driving the narrative for the character ahead "here is your quest". The main character has literally a group of women on his board that all want to sleep with him and a good part of the book is just him discussing how they annoyed they act weird if he picks one or the other.
Apart of minor other auxiliary functions (fly the plane; join that fight) that's pretty much all they do.
I am not even screaming for perfect diversity here. This borderline power/hero fetish by the author. Hard to explain. Maybe i am over interpreting here but once you notice it in the beginning of the book it just gets weirder as you continue reading.
I dont really think the second book added much to it. I will stop the series here tbh.
A lot of the premises of the first book are put upside down. Characters act outside of what made sense for them in book one. It just feels logically inconsistent tbh. Half the character challenges are solved by daring people to do it or telling them that they are too coward.
One thing that got obvious halfway in but then by the end got really annoying is how in this book all women are essentially just decoration.
It's really weird to explain but essentially the have nothing unique to do. Barely own motivation apart of driving the narrative for the character ahead "here is your quest". The main character has literally a group of women on his board that all want to sleep with him and a good part of the book is just him discussing how they annoyed they act weird if he picks one or the other.
Apart of minor other auxiliary functions (fly the plane; join that fight) that's pretty much all they do.
I am not even screaming for perfect diversity here. This borderline power/hero fetish by the author. Hard to explain. Maybe i am over interpreting here but once you notice it in the beginning of the book it just gets weirder as you continue reading.
May 15, 2023
Help me read more books
Certainly a solid entry as a second in series. The story advances pretty well, though not always in directions I'd like myself, but as I keep saying, that's half the fun of reading a book, especially when it goes off in a direction you didn't expect. Anyway, lots of aliens, betrayal, space ships, exploration (though not as much as I'd like), and a few mysteries from the first book solved. It also presented more mysteries to be solved later, so I guess it's a fair exchange.
Anyway, if you're a scifi fan, and especially if you liked the first one, this second offering is a decent building upon that first offering. I'll read more in the series, mainly to finish the series, but also, because the story is interesting enough to make me want to see where it goes.
Certainly a solid entry as a second in series. The story advances pretty well, though not always in directions I'd like myself, but as I keep saying, that's half the fun of reading a book, especially when it goes off in a direction you didn't expect. Anyway, lots of aliens, betrayal, space ships, exploration (though not as much as I'd like), and a few mysteries from the first book solved. It also presented more mysteries to be solved later, so I guess it's a fair exchange.
Anyway, if you're a scifi fan, and especially if you liked the first one, this second offering is a decent building upon that first offering. I'll read more in the series, mainly to finish the series, but also, because the story is interesting enough to make me want to see where it goes.
September 16, 2021
Thrilling sequel!
I am a big fan of this author and read most of his books. This current installment is exciting and enthralling to the reader. The author’s imagination is captivating. I look forward to many more of his exciting works.
I am a big fan of this author and read most of his books. This current installment is exciting and enthralling to the reader. The author’s imagination is captivating. I look forward to many more of his exciting works.
February 7, 2023
This took me forever to finish because I kept losing interest, despite Mark Boyett's fabulous narration. Not a fan of the ending, but I know it sets up the next book well. Not sure I'll continue with the series but that's really about me and not the book.
December 11, 2023
A Fun Read
Started a little slow, but got interesting and enjoyable for the last 2/3. Good stuff on pirates vs soldiers vs leaders vs diplomats. I’d bet Larson could write a great spy novel.
Started a little slow, but got interesting and enjoyable for the last 2/3. Good stuff on pirates vs soldiers vs leaders vs diplomats. I’d bet Larson could write a great spy novel.
February 23, 2021
Good read
Good page Turner, a little predictable plot. Looking forward to next instalment . And possible of shoot plots and episodes
Good page Turner, a little predictable plot. Looking forward to next instalment . And possible of shoot plots and episodes
March 9, 2021
Hard to follow
Not sure this series is as good as his previous works. Forgettable characters. Lack of details and a good flow are the 2 big stand outs.
Not sure this series is as good as his previous works. Forgettable characters. Lack of details and a good flow are the 2 big stand outs.
May 1, 2021
BV is wasting his time and mine with that star runner..
May 18, 2021
Enjoyable read
Larson has introduced some nice twists the story, I am looking forward to how they resolve. Really enjoying the new characters and crew!
Larson has introduced some nice twists the story, I am looking forward to how they resolve. Really enjoying the new characters and crew!
May 27, 2021
Well written
Fun read with plenty of excitement and adventure. The new Gorman wrestles with his old thoughts and always seems to do what’s right.
Fun read with plenty of excitement and adventure. The new Gorman wrestles with his old thoughts and always seems to do what’s right.
October 11, 2022
Wonderful Larson read.
Great characters and fast paced action. Larson always comes up with imaginative plot lines and twist that make his stories hard to put down.
Great characters and fast paced action. Larson always comes up with imaginative plot lines and twist that make his stories hard to put down.
November 28, 2022
It's OK, not bad story, but like doubtful would be reading next one in the series as it doesn't add much either.
January 10, 2023
Meh. I didn't like the science and the characters were shallow. I didn't finish it.
February 22, 2024
Good second book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews