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Starborn
Earth has expanded beyond its own Solar System. The newest planet discovered shows signs of “true” alien life. Excitement rippled across the known worlds as the first wave of colonisation was sent.
The native aliens had a legend. One day a people from the stars would come to their world. The prophecy foretold that amongst them would be one man who was not like the others, and this man would bring back their god from oblivion.
Shayne Forrester was meant to head the civilian physics division, but he suffered a rare degeneration that stripped him of his colonisation rights. The moment the native aliens met him they held no doubt that he was the one.
Forced between the prophecies of the new world and his duty to the colony Shayne embarks upon an adventure of discovery. With help from a native scholar he uncovers a world rich in culture and myths. A world that is vastly different from the one he came from, and constantly his understanding of the universe is tested as strange events unfold around him, forcing him into the prophecies and knowledge that his actions would affect not only the planet, but every colonised world.
The native aliens had a legend. One day a people from the stars would come to their world. The prophecy foretold that amongst them would be one man who was not like the others, and this man would bring back their god from oblivion.
Shayne Forrester was meant to head the civilian physics division, but he suffered a rare degeneration that stripped him of his colonisation rights. The moment the native aliens met him they held no doubt that he was the one.
Forced between the prophecies of the new world and his duty to the colony Shayne embarks upon an adventure of discovery. With help from a native scholar he uncovers a world rich in culture and myths. A world that is vastly different from the one he came from, and constantly his understanding of the universe is tested as strange events unfold around him, forcing him into the prophecies and knowledge that his actions would affect not only the planet, but every colonised world.
- GenresScience Fiction
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2021
About the author
D.M. Barnham
3 books18 followersD.M.Barnham is an autistic and dyslexic author from Australia
She studied Physics and Astrophysics in Melbourne, not the smartest move considering how little work there is in physics and astrophysics in Australia but she enjoyed it.
She studied Physics and Astrophysics in Melbourne, not the smartest move considering how little work there is in physics and astrophysics in Australia but she enjoyed it.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 25, 2022
Wonderfully realized and detailed, Starborn tells the tale of humanity arriving on a new world, traversing the stars to spread their knowledge and learn from all they encounter. The main character, Shayne Forrester, is a Starborn. His memories have not survived hibernation (which is such a fantastic premise, I really love this idea!), so in essence he has been reborn in space. While other Starborn are basically newborns when they are woken from stasis, Shayne possesses much of his intelligence, but without the memories of his life or experiences, making him unique among the Starborn.
The setting is so important to the story. The world is vast and crazy cool. Populated by a race of lionmen (not nearly as cheesy as it sounds, the main lionman character is the most enjoyable character in the whole story), it is broken up in many different regains each with their own politics and culture. I really liked this (I feel like sci fi often lumps the people of a whole planet into one homogeneous culture), and how they were slowly revealed to the reader. There are native humans here too, which makes for a bit of confusion at times (who is from space and who was here all along?) but it creates some interesting questions about humanity’s place in the universe.
Shayne is great as a main character. He starts as the ‘everyman’, but soon expands as he finds his voice. The first few chapters move back a forth, following Shayne on the planet learning with his fellow humans about their new home, and then jumping back to his time on the ship as they arrive at their destination. I liked experiencing this world along with him, learning as he learns. Yes, he has trouble forming relationships with his superiors (some are sketchy bastards, others are kind), but the bonds he does make are instantly meaningful.
The detail is heavy, but not in the small sense. Barnham doesn’t spend pages and pages describing trees or rocks or anything like that, but gently works in the history and mythology of the world and its people as events naturally unfold. The description for the story says it’s slow-paced, and while that is true in the sense there isn’t much combat, if you really sit with the story there is plenty of tension and political intrigue both with the lionmen and the commanders of the starships.
I have to admit that sci fi really isn’t my preferred genre, but this story and characters kept me engaged late into the night, eager to just run wild in this world and find out more of its history. The notion of the Starborn is great, and the rich detail for the history, languages, and culture was highly immersive. There is definitely more to come in this story, and I will wait eagerly to see what happens to Shayne after this impressive and epic beginning.
The setting is so important to the story. The world is vast and crazy cool. Populated by a race of lionmen (not nearly as cheesy as it sounds, the main lionman character is the most enjoyable character in the whole story), it is broken up in many different regains each with their own politics and culture. I really liked this (I feel like sci fi often lumps the people of a whole planet into one homogeneous culture), and how they were slowly revealed to the reader. There are native humans here too, which makes for a bit of confusion at times (who is from space and who was here all along?) but it creates some interesting questions about humanity’s place in the universe.
Shayne is great as a main character. He starts as the ‘everyman’, but soon expands as he finds his voice. The first few chapters move back a forth, following Shayne on the planet learning with his fellow humans about their new home, and then jumping back to his time on the ship as they arrive at their destination. I liked experiencing this world along with him, learning as he learns. Yes, he has trouble forming relationships with his superiors (some are sketchy bastards, others are kind), but the bonds he does make are instantly meaningful.
The detail is heavy, but not in the small sense. Barnham doesn’t spend pages and pages describing trees or rocks or anything like that, but gently works in the history and mythology of the world and its people as events naturally unfold. The description for the story says it’s slow-paced, and while that is true in the sense there isn’t much combat, if you really sit with the story there is plenty of tension and political intrigue both with the lionmen and the commanders of the starships.
I have to admit that sci fi really isn’t my preferred genre, but this story and characters kept me engaged late into the night, eager to just run wild in this world and find out more of its history. The notion of the Starborn is great, and the rich detail for the history, languages, and culture was highly immersive. There is definitely more to come in this story, and I will wait eagerly to see what happens to Shayne after this impressive and epic beginning.
April 27, 2022
Starborn is by all accounts an ambitious book. It's a space opera: a genre that relies on the difficult balance between scientific concepts and more imaginative elements. It chooses to delve in difficult themes, and the author does not shy away from the complexity.
Starborn is the story of Shayne Forrester - a physics professor enlisted in the colonization efforts of the alien planet Iraquis. Shayne suffers from the Starborn syndrome - a mysterious illness that erased most of his memories during space hibernation. As a result, he is left him emotionally stunted.
Most Starborn victims are exploited by the army, who sees them as convenient redundancies.
Shayne's situation is both more fortunate and complicated. The syndrome left most of his mental capacity intact, making him extremely perceptive. Plus, the native species of Iraquis - the alien Fa'Orians - took a strong liking to him, making him essential to the diplomatic efforts.
This is a book that tackles the issues of colonization, faith, and the heaviness of a fundamentally corrupt system. The reader is called to embark on a long journey in the deep lore of the planet Iraquis, much like Shayne himself. Admittedly, it takes time for the story to gain momentum; yet after the first seventy pages I was hooked and I often wondered what would happen next.
I would recommend the book for its themes to a fan of the genre. I also need to commend the author on his work on the side characters, who are often memorable and have distinctive voices and mannerism.
Starborn is the story of Shayne Forrester - a physics professor enlisted in the colonization efforts of the alien planet Iraquis. Shayne suffers from the Starborn syndrome - a mysterious illness that erased most of his memories during space hibernation. As a result, he is left him emotionally stunted.
Most Starborn victims are exploited by the army, who sees them as convenient redundancies.
Shayne's situation is both more fortunate and complicated. The syndrome left most of his mental capacity intact, making him extremely perceptive. Plus, the native species of Iraquis - the alien Fa'Orians - took a strong liking to him, making him essential to the diplomatic efforts.
This is a book that tackles the issues of colonization, faith, and the heaviness of a fundamentally corrupt system. The reader is called to embark on a long journey in the deep lore of the planet Iraquis, much like Shayne himself. Admittedly, it takes time for the story to gain momentum; yet after the first seventy pages I was hooked and I often wondered what would happen next.
I would recommend the book for its themes to a fan of the genre. I also need to commend the author on his work on the side characters, who are often memorable and have distinctive voices and mannerism.
December 12, 2025
I doubt I've read as good a debut nvel since Jonathan Livingston Seagull or maybe A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (which I'll get around to one of these days).
Shayne Forrester is one of the Starborn, humans who have come from Earth and other settled planets to colonise the planet Iraquis. Once the colonists land, Shayne goes on a journey with some of the Lionmen, the native race of leonine sapients who seem to have descended from the local equivalent of lions. This journey takes them through much of Lionman culture where he encounters mystical and magical things. Shayne seems to fulfill some Lionman prophecy, too.
That synopsis doesn't do this complex novel justice. The comlexity of the plot and the attention to detail kept me in mind of The Goblin Emperor although this is a much better book. What impressed me most is that the author, while writing what is essentially a journey fantasy, has taken some time to give it some scientific rigour. What debut SF novelist would even bother to find out that Alpha Centauri is actually two suns, let alone put it in their novel.
Consider this explanation:
The idea that this isn't technically correct threw me. It sounds perfectly accurate without getting into the curved space idea, although things do fall at different rates due to their shape because of aerodynamics. The explanation of the local moon's behaviour (p. 381) was a little less convincing. If it's constantly in the same part of the sky, because it's revolution of Iraquis matches Iraquis' rotation, why doesn't it fall down? I might be missing something.
Small parts of the book are derivative, in that I can find other SF or fantasy novels that might have inspired them. Iraquis sounds a bit like Arrakis to me, and Sayne's Lionman friend is called Kie'arathorne, but these are quibbles. I spotted very few typos for a 492-page manuscript (probably only Shadowbound had fewer) and, while occasionally there's an odd use of a word,
the uses are still technically correct if you squint a bit. (Maybe the author meant 'discern'.)
The diligence and attention to detail on so many aspects make this a hell of an effort. Now, onto the sequel
Shayne Forrester is one of the Starborn, humans who have come from Earth and other settled planets to colonise the planet Iraquis. Once the colonists land, Shayne goes on a journey with some of the Lionmen, the native race of leonine sapients who seem to have descended from the local equivalent of lions. This journey takes them through much of Lionman culture where he encounters mystical and magical things. Shayne seems to fulfill some Lionman prophecy, too.
That synopsis doesn't do this complex novel justice. The comlexity of the plot and the attention to detail kept me in mind of The Goblin Emperor although this is a much better book. What impressed me most is that the author, while writing what is essentially a journey fantasy, has taken some time to give it some scientific rigour. What debut SF novelist would even bother to find out that Alpha Centauri is actually two suns, let alone put it in their novel.
Consider this explanation:
‘Yes,’ Shayne replied. ‘We measure a planet’s influence by determining how fast an object falls to the ground from so high.’ He made a gesture of height with his hands. ‘All objects, regardless of shape, will fall at the same rate. That rate is determined by how heavy the planet is.’ Shayne knew this was not technically correct, but it would allow them to understand in terms he thought they could grasp (p. 298)
The idea that this isn't technically correct threw me. It sounds perfectly accurate without getting into the curved space idea, although things do fall at different rates due to their shape because of aerodynamics. The explanation of the local moon's behaviour (p. 381) was a little less convincing. If it's constantly in the same part of the sky, because it's revolution of Iraquis matches Iraquis' rotation, why doesn't it fall down? I might be missing something.
Small parts of the book are derivative, in that I can find other SF or fantasy novels that might have inspired them. Iraquis sounds a bit like Arrakis to me, and Sayne's Lionman friend is called Kie'arathorne, but these are quibbles. I spotted very few typos for a 492-page manuscript (probably only Shadowbound had fewer) and, while occasionally there's an odd use of a word,
Shayne’s education in Kadalian was coming along nicely. He was still not fluent due to the limited chances he had to learn, but he knew enough to communicate and to divulge the meanings of some of the people’s names (p. 388).
the uses are still technically correct if you squint a bit. (Maybe the author meant 'discern'.)
The diligence and attention to detail on so many aspects make this a hell of an effort. Now, onto the sequel
June 14, 2022
This review will reflect my opinions of the content of this story only and not the technical writing ability of the author. That having been said, there are obvious parallels with Dune here. I can see that the author is heavily influenced by Frank Herbert. Still, the story is different enough to have a personality of its own. I can also see a little influence from ROTJ in this story, which makes sense because Lucas was also heavily influenced by Herbert as well.
As far as the story goes, things seemed to pick up around chapter three. There is a discernable difference in tone and mood. It almost felt like someone different started writing there. I really started to get into it at that point. I immediately noticed that I liked the scenes on the spaceship a little more than what was happening planet-side. Perhaps that's just the space opera lover in me looking down its nose at the fantasy side though. That is where the ROTJ reference comes from, that mix of the two.
I liked the lead character, Shayne. You will see a lot of Paul Atreides in him. It's clear that he has special abilities, but I will not spoil anything for you. I thought the author did a commendable job illustrating how a less advanced civilization would respond to being colonized by aliens. The skepticism and apprehension seemed appropriate, although they (for the most part) accepted Shayne with open arms. I thought the culmination of events was somewhat predictable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Think Planet of the Apes, with Charleton Heston. Not from an apocalyptic standpoint, but in the way that alliances grow and dissolve. Kie plays the role of Dr. Zira in this novel.
If I have gripes about this book, they'd have to begin with the character names. They are polysyllabic, to put it mildly. I also don't feel like there was enough resolution to the story at the end, which made this entire novel feel like a setup for the next book. Lastly, the chapters are super long. I'm not a very focused reader, so this one almost took me out of the story. However, I do recognize that that is a matter of personal taste.
To tie a bow on this review, I'll comment on the world-building. It was great. That was absolutely my favorite part of this story, and I can tell that the author put a lot of thought into it. Everything was at least considered, and it showed. Good job there.
As far as the story goes, things seemed to pick up around chapter three. There is a discernable difference in tone and mood. It almost felt like someone different started writing there. I really started to get into it at that point. I immediately noticed that I liked the scenes on the spaceship a little more than what was happening planet-side. Perhaps that's just the space opera lover in me looking down its nose at the fantasy side though. That is where the ROTJ reference comes from, that mix of the two.
I liked the lead character, Shayne. You will see a lot of Paul Atreides in him. It's clear that he has special abilities, but I will not spoil anything for you. I thought the author did a commendable job illustrating how a less advanced civilization would respond to being colonized by aliens. The skepticism and apprehension seemed appropriate, although they (for the most part) accepted Shayne with open arms. I thought the culmination of events was somewhat predictable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Think Planet of the Apes, with Charleton Heston. Not from an apocalyptic standpoint, but in the way that alliances grow and dissolve. Kie plays the role of Dr. Zira in this novel.
If I have gripes about this book, they'd have to begin with the character names. They are polysyllabic, to put it mildly. I also don't feel like there was enough resolution to the story at the end, which made this entire novel feel like a setup for the next book. Lastly, the chapters are super long. I'm not a very focused reader, so this one almost took me out of the story. However, I do recognize that that is a matter of personal taste.
To tie a bow on this review, I'll comment on the world-building. It was great. That was absolutely my favorite part of this story, and I can tell that the author put a lot of thought into it. Everything was at least considered, and it showed. Good job there.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews