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The Massive Planet
Captain Christopher Riley and his brave crew of the Earth Core United spaceship, Deep Contact, set out for adventure beyond the solar system. Their mission is to traverse space and discover new worlds for colonization; They represent humanity seeking to expand, explore, and search for alien life in any form. Alone and in the uncharted wilderness of the cosmos, they try to survive and complete the mission on behalf of Earth Core United.
#1 - The Massive Planet:
Deep Contact almost collides with a massive planet appearing out of nowhere. A Jupiter-like world that popped right into its main flight path. The crew try desperately try to figure out a way to break free of its gravity as it pulls them deeper inside. Even though the ship should have been crushed instantly the minute they came into its wake; It falls deeper into the atmosphere’s densely thick clouds, endangering them all to whatever doom awaits.
Captain Riley and his crew must race to figure out how to escape this huge world before they crash into its core, but do they have time to solve this riddle? Or will this be their one and only mission of failure?
#1 - The Massive Planet:
Deep Contact almost collides with a massive planet appearing out of nowhere. A Jupiter-like world that popped right into its main flight path. The crew try desperately try to figure out a way to break free of its gravity as it pulls them deeper inside. Even though the ship should have been crushed instantly the minute they came into its wake; It falls deeper into the atmosphere’s densely thick clouds, endangering them all to whatever doom awaits.
Captain Riley and his crew must race to figure out how to escape this huge world before they crash into its core, but do they have time to solve this riddle? Or will this be their one and only mission of failure?
- GenresScience Fiction
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2021
9 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Walker
25 books59 followersJeff Walker is a Canadian author of original science fiction adventures known for imaginative world-building, cinematic pacing, and compelling character-driven narratives. Writing under the imprint Jeff Walker Books, he creates expansive speculative universes that explore deep-space discovery, alien environments, and humanity’s resilience in the face of the unknown.
His works include the action-driven space opera Outer Red, the survival-focused planetary adventure The Jungle Planet, and the large-scale exploration epic The Massive Planet: The Adventures of Deep Contact, among a growing catalog of speculative fiction titles. Across his novels and serialized projects, Walker blends classic sci-fi sensibilities with modern storytelling energy, delivering accessible, engaging fiction for a wide range of readers.
His writing emphasizes clarity, momentum, and immersive settings that appeal to fans of adventurous science fiction.
His works include the action-driven space opera Outer Red, the survival-focused planetary adventure The Jungle Planet, and the large-scale exploration epic The Massive Planet: The Adventures of Deep Contact, among a growing catalog of speculative fiction titles. Across his novels and serialized projects, Walker blends classic sci-fi sensibilities with modern storytelling energy, delivering accessible, engaging fiction for a wide range of readers.
His writing emphasizes clarity, momentum, and immersive settings that appeal to fans of adventurous science fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 12, 2023
My first and foremost thought is that this reads a lot like a Star Trek pilot episode. You get a basic introduction to the crew and their circumstances, learn the overall mission and the major issues on the ship, and then something crazy happens.
The novella is short and fast paced, with a lot crammed into those 150 pages. There is nothing terribly unique about The Massive Planet but it’s a fun and engaging way to spend a few hours, and I enjoyed the bigger mystery going on. The crew is keeping quite a few secrets and have many issues to resolve; there’s a lot of potential material there.
Despite the author’s dubious use of semicolons in the book description, I had the audiobook and can’t speak for the editing of the actual text. If you look at the last sentence of the prior paragraph, that’s a correct semicolon. I felt pretty neutral towards the narrator who attempted quite a few different accents (for a diverse cast) and mostly did a decent job. He didn’t convey quite as much danger or enthusiasm as I like in a scifi action flick, but I wasn’t bored either.
Would I read more Adventures of Deep Contact? Sure thing. It’s quick and fun and there are a metric shit ton of things that Walker could write about going forward, and I hope he does!
The novella is short and fast paced, with a lot crammed into those 150 pages. There is nothing terribly unique about The Massive Planet but it’s a fun and engaging way to spend a few hours, and I enjoyed the bigger mystery going on. The crew is keeping quite a few secrets and have many issues to resolve; there’s a lot of potential material there.
Despite the author’s dubious use of semicolons in the book description, I had the audiobook and can’t speak for the editing of the actual text. If you look at the last sentence of the prior paragraph, that’s a correct semicolon. I felt pretty neutral towards the narrator who attempted quite a few different accents (for a diverse cast) and mostly did a decent job. He didn’t convey quite as much danger or enthusiasm as I like in a scifi action flick, but I wasn’t bored either.
Would I read more Adventures of Deep Contact? Sure thing. It’s quick and fun and there are a metric shit ton of things that Walker could write about going forward, and I hope he does!
September 13, 2021
«Mars and Earth were now in a ‘Cold War’ of greedy practices. To be born on Mars, means to be raised with privilege and wealth, but if you were from Earth, it meant living on a set income they defined for you»
The Massive Planet is a relatively short, but thrilling sci-fi story, that excellently balances the intimate relationships of a starship crew with an impressive scale of world-building.
It was exciting to follow the starship crew of Deep Contact as the ship descends toward a mysterious planet while they have no idea about the fate that awaits them.
As a fan of Star Trek, Mass Effect and Stargate SG-1, this was right up my alley.
I warmly recommend this for those looking for page-turners by up-and-coming sci-fi authors.
The Massive Planet is a relatively short, but thrilling sci-fi story, that excellently balances the intimate relationships of a starship crew with an impressive scale of world-building.
It was exciting to follow the starship crew of Deep Contact as the ship descends toward a mysterious planet while they have no idea about the fate that awaits them.
As a fan of Star Trek, Mass Effect and Stargate SG-1, this was right up my alley.
I warmly recommend this for those looking for page-turners by up-and-coming sci-fi authors.
July 10, 2022
This book is from a universe where Earth and Mars are in an adversarial relationship governed by the Earth Core United and a space intelligence agency, the Omega group. The story traverses the journey of a spaceship and the culturally diverse and eccentric crew it has on board. As the spaceship encounters an unexpected obstacle in its path, mayhem ensues as the team attempts to find a way around a waiting catastrophe. As the ship rockets towards the core of this abyss, readers are left wondering—is someone orchestrating this chaos, or is it all just by chance? From the beginning to the end, this science-fiction thriller successfully creates an atmosphere of constant intrigue. The story is fast-paced and interwoven with ‘cool’ scientific terminology. The novel isn’t solely about the crew dealing with a dangerous planet-sized object but also deals with the respective ambitions each character has and their interactions with each other. Also, the book has the most representation I have seen in literature in recent times—be it gender, race, cultural background or sexual orientation. The prose is written so vividly that an actual movie can be based on it. The only area where the book might falter is when the resolution of the conflict between characters that had been built up so incredibly happened a bit too simply. Irrespective, I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the science-fiction genre and those who swear against it because this novel will surely change your that perspective.
July 9, 2022
People who read my review, know how big of a sci-fi fan I am. So this book was a must-read for me. And this was a part of a series, that is even better. So here I am with my thoughts on the book, the plot, the characters, and the writing.
And you do not need to travel to space to escape spoilers since, in this review, there are none.
The plot is very nicely paced, and the loved the tension that the reader can experience during some phases, it is not written but if you read books you will notice it. This was refreshing for a sci-fi lover like me. Since most of the sci-fi books are now space, robot, fight, and what not. So, yeah, brilliant.
The characters are very well designed and honest in their roles. I loved their development through the book and their banters were especially enjoyable. Not much to say about the characters, it is meant to experience so yeah go read it.
Thanks to the author for producing and writing this beautiful book. If you, the reader, are a sci-fi fan then buy the book, read it and show the author some love and support.
Thank you
Regards
And you do not need to travel to space to escape spoilers since, in this review, there are none.
The plot is very nicely paced, and the loved the tension that the reader can experience during some phases, it is not written but if you read books you will notice it. This was refreshing for a sci-fi lover like me. Since most of the sci-fi books are now space, robot, fight, and what not. So, yeah, brilliant.
The characters are very well designed and honest in their roles. I loved their development through the book and their banters were especially enjoyable. Not much to say about the characters, it is meant to experience so yeah go read it.
Thanks to the author for producing and writing this beautiful book. If you, the reader, are a sci-fi fan then buy the book, read it and show the author some love and support.
Thank you
Regards
July 12, 2022
Exploration Begins . . .
Captain Christopher Riley and the crew of the spaceship, Deep Contact, move out beyond the solar system looking for new worlds to colonize. They almost collide with an enormous planet the size of Jupiter that just appears in front of them.
They become stuck in the gravitational pull and, instead of their being crushed from the pressure, they descend toward the surface and their doom if they cannot escape this huge world before they crash. Have they already failed their first mission? Or is the biggest adventure of their lives waiting below?
This is the perfect solution for sci-fi readers to spend some time musing about what awaits the Deep Contact crew. My favorite character was First Officer Yang who had a great sense of humor while inspiring confidence that he was great at his job. The banter with the Captain had me smiling and ready for more. Will there be life of some sort on this surprise planet? Or will they crash and die instantly? Let your imagination run wild as the story unfolds for you. Grab your copy and enjoy!
Captain Christopher Riley and the crew of the spaceship, Deep Contact, move out beyond the solar system looking for new worlds to colonize. They almost collide with an enormous planet the size of Jupiter that just appears in front of them.
They become stuck in the gravitational pull and, instead of their being crushed from the pressure, they descend toward the surface and their doom if they cannot escape this huge world before they crash. Have they already failed their first mission? Or is the biggest adventure of their lives waiting below?
This is the perfect solution for sci-fi readers to spend some time musing about what awaits the Deep Contact crew. My favorite character was First Officer Yang who had a great sense of humor while inspiring confidence that he was great at his job. The banter with the Captain had me smiling and ready for more. Will there be life of some sort on this surprise planet? Or will they crash and die instantly? Let your imagination run wild as the story unfolds for you. Grab your copy and enjoy!
July 25, 2022
( Format : Audiobook )
"Star Treck or Star Wars?"
A space ship crewed by a diverse group of people with the official task of finding potential new homes for humanity. They are two years out and so far nothing. Things are not going well between those aboard, the Captain does not interact and melodies and discontent are rife. Then suddenly, from nowhere, an huge gas giant planet appears in their pathway and relentlessly draws the starship Deep Contact into itself. How can they possibly survive?
Short but sweet, this story introduces the reader to several curious characters and the tensions exacerbated by unexpected danger. Clever, sparsely written and somehow very believable. Sadly, although he has a most pleasant voice, the narrator Caleb Collins struggles to provide individual voices for the several main characters and their conversations at times became choppy, difficult to easily understand, and this interrupted the flow of the story. A pity as the text was well performed.
A most enjoyable read - a short but intriguing story which promises to bring future excitement, diverse personalities intent on their own aggrandizement, good visual world building and some nice between character banter. Well worth the time invested but possibly better enjoyed in print than on audio.
"Star Treck or Star Wars?"
A space ship crewed by a diverse group of people with the official task of finding potential new homes for humanity. They are two years out and so far nothing. Things are not going well between those aboard, the Captain does not interact and melodies and discontent are rife. Then suddenly, from nowhere, an huge gas giant planet appears in their pathway and relentlessly draws the starship Deep Contact into itself. How can they possibly survive?
Short but sweet, this story introduces the reader to several curious characters and the tensions exacerbated by unexpected danger. Clever, sparsely written and somehow very believable. Sadly, although he has a most pleasant voice, the narrator Caleb Collins struggles to provide individual voices for the several main characters and their conversations at times became choppy, difficult to easily understand, and this interrupted the flow of the story. A pity as the text was well performed.
A most enjoyable read - a short but intriguing story which promises to bring future excitement, diverse personalities intent on their own aggrandizement, good visual world building and some nice between character banter. Well worth the time invested but possibly better enjoyed in print than on audio.
July 26, 2022
The Massive Planet: The Adventures of Deep Contact follows the story of Captain Riley as he and his crew navigate the deep reaches of space. During their journey they encounter and are sucked into a strange planet that seems to be damaging their ship. With the crew in jeopardy, they must figure out what is happening to their spacecraft and save the crew.
This book was a quick and enjoyable read. I enjoyed that Walker included such a diverse cast of characters. Though quite gruff and closed off, my favorite character was Captain Riley. I enjoyed his development throughout the book. The descriptive language and ‘realness’ of the characters made the story engaging.
There were quite a few grammatical errors, along with a capitalized letter after every semicolon which distracted a bit from the story. The book felt a bit messy because of this, but the story was still thrilling and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from this author.
This book was a quick and enjoyable read. I enjoyed that Walker included such a diverse cast of characters. Though quite gruff and closed off, my favorite character was Captain Riley. I enjoyed his development throughout the book. The descriptive language and ‘realness’ of the characters made the story engaging.
There were quite a few grammatical errors, along with a capitalized letter after every semicolon which distracted a bit from the story. The book felt a bit messy because of this, but the story was still thrilling and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from this author.
September 15, 2022
3.5 stars. This started out as a good space adventure but felt like an incomplete book. The ship falling into the planet was tense and exciting but it wasn’t enough. I felt like that just didn’t go anywhere and the reader was left adrift in space to await a future novel to finish the story. It felt like half a book to me or short story, perhaps a serial? Also, some name confusion—Amanda seemed to become Andrea and back to Amanda and same with Gonzalez/Rodriguez?? Anyway, disappointed not to have a full and complete adventure but will look forward to the next installment.
August 26, 2023
This is a Star Trek type story with an episode feel. Earths first deep space vessel encounters a strange massive planet where there should not be one. I liked the idea but there are too many cliches and not enough character development. A aloof captain with a past, crew on the verge of mutiny, a strange alien and a huge conspiracy that only becomes apparent at the end and is left open, along with many other questions. it feel like it is intended to be a series. My other issue is with the narration. Caleb Collins has a good range for the characters but fails to create any tension.
November 14, 2022
This feels very much like a self published book - the writing is stilted and cliched, the action has no segues, and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts.
If you were too binge Star Trek The Original Series for 10 hours straight, I feel like this is the book you would get as a novice writer. Not quite ready yet for prime time. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
If you were too binge Star Trek The Original Series for 10 hours straight, I feel like this is the book you would get as a novice writer. Not quite ready yet for prime time. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews