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The Traveler #2
Sleeper Ship
Alvor the Sleek—a Krekelen shape-shifter—hates Jake Bayard because the Galactic Marine slew the others of his plotting brood. Bayard wants to wring Alvor’s neck because the alien tricked him into teleporting to deadly Canopus instead of Saddoth to help his friend.
Bayard’s teleportation opens the way for Alvor to reach Canopus so he can board an ancient, orbital sleeper ship and collect a cargo that should give the Krekelens ultimate victory everywhere.
Well, that’s fine. After dealing with prehistoric supercrocs, kamikaze air-cyclists and 900-pound hominoids with .75 caliber six-shooters, Bayard just needs a minute alone with Alvor to fix everything. First, though, he’s going to have to find the devious alien who can literally look like anyone.
SLEEPER SHIP is the second tale of a gung-ho Terran taking on the masters of an insidious and ancient alien conspiracy.
Bayard’s teleportation opens the way for Alvor to reach Canopus so he can board an ancient, orbital sleeper ship and collect a cargo that should give the Krekelens ultimate victory everywhere.
Well, that’s fine. After dealing with prehistoric supercrocs, kamikaze air-cyclists and 900-pound hominoids with .75 caliber six-shooters, Bayard just needs a minute alone with Alvor to fix everything. First, though, he’s going to have to find the devious alien who can literally look like anyone.
SLEEPER SHIP is the second tale of a gung-ho Terran taking on the masters of an insidious and ancient alien conspiracy.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2022
282 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn Heppner
146 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 15, 2025
In "Sleeper Ship," Jake Bayard uses his newfound traveler skills and ends up on Canopus, where he meets giant hominids and learns that the battle to master travel between planets includes even more players with conquest on their minds. Author Vaughn Heppner sends Jake ill equipped to deal with all the dangers he encounters. But Jake's a marine. He's trained to fight, lie and trick his opponents. And he does. Jake collects some allies and tries to figure out why he's been sent to his second celestial destination in such a short time. Turns out the why doesn't really matter when a massive character who looks like a monster neanderthal challenges him for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Again, Heppner moves the story along. Jake tracks down the shape shifting aliens to try and determine what they're up to and stop them before they can harm Earth. The final task involves the connection to the title and a space battle that Jake experiences in freefall, clad only in a bulky suit. I plowed through this episode, excited to learn the outcome.
June 20, 2022
great read!
Gripping plot with multiple story arcs. As a traveler, Baylor firsthand accounts from the perspective of a seasoned marine, ready for retirement, gets a surprising insertion in the other worldly imaginations of Heppner without it be implausible. We actually start thinking and reasoning in this new universe and are left at the end of book two wishing for Baylor’s next adventure as a traveler, who knows maybe to discover the planet of his father or fight alongside those unearthly comrades in arms he made in his journey. It even has several potential love interests in his future. Can’t wait for more!
Gripping plot with multiple story arcs. As a traveler, Baylor firsthand accounts from the perspective of a seasoned marine, ready for retirement, gets a surprising insertion in the other worldly imaginations of Heppner without it be implausible. We actually start thinking and reasoning in this new universe and are left at the end of book two wishing for Baylor’s next adventure as a traveler, who knows maybe to discover the planet of his father or fight alongside those unearthly comrades in arms he made in his journey. It even has several potential love interests in his future. Can’t wait for more!
April 28, 2022
Smoking hot action but hilarious situations all around!
Funny and hilarious situations abound but the action is deadly serious. The story keeps taking a "left turn clyde" yet the action is simultaneously hilarious fast paced yet so funny you find yourself laughing at all the situations the hero keeps finding himself dealing with.
I keep laughing and snorting my coffee all over my tablet at the same time.
This is what one calls "A Hoot of aqride...Please keep it coming!!
Funny and hilarious situations abound but the action is deadly serious. The story keeps taking a "left turn clyde" yet the action is simultaneously hilarious fast paced yet so funny you find yourself laughing at all the situations the hero keeps finding himself dealing with.
I keep laughing and snorting my coffee all over my tablet at the same time.
This is what one calls "A Hoot of aqride...Please keep it coming!!
August 25, 2023
Another exciting entry in The Traveler series
Another exciting entry in The Traveler series.b this book isn't as exciting as the first but picks up its pace in th second half of the book Jake the main protagonist is less mentally sharp and less sure of himself but like I noted before his abilities and heroics pick up to a suitable pace by the end of the book .I recommend the , and for me going for the next book in the series right now!
Another exciting entry in The Traveler series.b this book isn't as exciting as the first but picks up its pace in th second half of the book Jake the main protagonist is less mentally sharp and less sure of himself but like I noted before his abilities and heroics pick up to a suitable pace by the end of the book .I recommend the , and for me going for the next book in the series right now!
June 8, 2023
This is some classic episodic pulp fiction stuff. Brings in all the fun alien conspiracy theories, pre-history ideas and wraps it all in some God is my savior, creationism, good ole boy, super overly simplistic Trump voting like ideology and messages. Part of me thinks its a joke by the author cause this hero is dumb as a box of rocks. If you ever met a pickup driver with a Trump Won flag flying out the bed of his overly loud pos truck ... but isn't actually a minute by minute **shole, actually a nice person just uneducated and proud of his ideas ... then you'd have a good handle on this hero. His views are so ridiculously erroneous but backed up by "logic" and "rational thinking" that the author has to be spoofing such types.
Is it great? no. Is it fun summer fare? Yes ... if and only if you can handle a Trump Won type of hero.
Is it great? no. Is it fun summer fare? Yes ... if and only if you can handle a Trump Won type of hero.
April 5, 2022
Four stars within this genre (My highest award level). Smooth transition from book one without being repetitive and imaginative and compelling story line continuation. Will definitely read the next installment.
April 9, 2022
Reminds me of John Carter
I really enjoyed this one as well. This series reminds me of one of my favorites, the John Carter of Mars. Not that it takes place on Mars, but that it’s a world hopping adventure story.
I really enjoyed this one as well. This series reminds me of one of my favorites, the John Carter of Mars. Not that it takes place on Mars, but that it’s a world hopping adventure story.
April 24, 2022
Yes,yes,yes need more in this series
Please continue the series. As usual this author leaves you wanting more no what what book you are reading written by him. He is one of my p 5 @authors of all time.
Please continue the series. As usual this author leaves you wanting more no what what book you are reading written by him. He is one of my p 5 @authors of all time.
May 31, 2022
Good story line, fast paced.
This is a big storyline. Lots of books can come out and not repeat. Bid guys are powerful but not invincible, good guys? Are there good guys... Don't know yet. We now move on to book 3, and start a new adventure while learning about the first one.
This is a big storyline. Lots of books can come out and not repeat. Bid guys are powerful but not invincible, good guys? Are there good guys... Don't know yet. We now move on to book 3, and start a new adventure while learning about the first one.
December 23, 2022
Great Non Stop Military Sci-fi Action
I get bored easily, but the adventures of ex Marine Bayard kept me engaged. If you like aliens, alien hunters, interstellar teleportation, psi-masters, inter-galactic war, etc this series is for you.!
I get bored easily, but the adventures of ex Marine Bayard kept me engaged. If you like aliens, alien hunters, interstellar teleportation, psi-masters, inter-galactic war, etc this series is for you.!
April 24, 2022
not as good as previous books, very poor editing
This one struck me as more pop sci-fi and the editing was obviously poor - word choice and typos were distracting
This one struck me as more pop sci-fi and the editing was obviously poor - word choice and typos were distracting
May 12, 2022
Keep them coming!
Happened delivers a fresh adventure worth your time and better yet worth paying for. I am looking forward to the next book!
Happened delivers a fresh adventure worth your time and better yet worth paying for. I am looking forward to the next book!
May 19, 2022
love this series
It’s not complicated, just a fun read. The main character shoots those people that need to be dead, which I totally approve of.
It’s not complicated, just a fun read. The main character shoots those people that need to be dead, which I totally approve of.
May 21, 2022
Fun read
Great read for escaping from the daily grind . Typical Heppner writing style with solid character and story development and exciting action
Great read for escaping from the daily grind . Typical Heppner writing style with solid character and story development and exciting action
June 13, 2022
Not great
Book was to spacey and hard to follow. Was pretty boring made me lose interest. Some people might find it okay.
Book was to spacey and hard to follow. Was pretty boring made me lose interest. Some people might find it okay.
June 20, 2022
Bob
Keep the traveler going we need him loved the marine references please keep the series going I love action sci fi
Keep the traveler going we need him loved the marine references please keep the series going I love action sci fi
November 9, 2022
Enjoyable read
Great entertainment among the stars with good action and character's. Now I'm going to go ahead and read book 3 😀
Great entertainment among the stars with good action and character's. Now I'm going to go ahead and read book 3 😀
November 24, 2022
A good read.
A good read in the end. I did find it a little harder than normal to start the book but once I did I couldn't put it down. Give it a go I did and enjoyed it.
A good read in the end. I did find it a little harder than normal to start the book but once I did I couldn't put it down. Give it a go I did and enjoyed it.
December 21, 2022
as good as the first
This book is just as interesting as the first book. With intriguing characters and an interesting storyline it will keep you wanting more
This book is just as interesting as the first book. With intriguing characters and an interesting storyline it will keep you wanting more
May 14, 2023
Sleeper Ship
An absolutely great follow up book!
Some excellent characters, and an ripping good
Book!
Casting my eyes around for Number 3.
An absolutely great follow up book!
Some excellent characters, and an ripping good
Book!
Casting my eyes around for Number 3.
June 25, 2023
amazing imagination
Banyard is Hepner’s new hero. He is a regular human type and doesn’t possess ‘ new man’ qualities but Hepner makes him enthralling, nevertheless.
Banyard is Hepner’s new hero. He is a regular human type and doesn’t possess ‘ new man’ qualities but Hepner makes him enthralling, nevertheless.
March 3, 2025
scifi fantastic
Book 2 was a great addition. Cant wait for book 3. It’s well with your time to read and enjoy.
Book 2 was a great addition. Cant wait for book 3. It’s well with your time to read and enjoy.
August 6, 2025
Pageturner
Another great series getting going. Can't wait to start the next one. Highly recommend for any age group of space action fans.
Another great series getting going. Can't wait to start the next one. Highly recommend for any age group of space action fans.
May 1, 2022
Has a lot of potential
The story is now into it's 2nd book and promises so much, yet seems to deliver
The basic premise is good it just seems to me that the overall delivery is lacking
The story is now into it's 2nd book and promises so much, yet seems to deliver
The basic premise is good it just seems to me that the overall delivery is lacking
May 9, 2022
Great Series!
Vaughn, This is a good story. Continue the series please. Lots of action, some background sexual tension, a good hero and plenty of interesting characters!
Keep going. Great adventure!
Thanks
Vaughn, This is a good story. Continue the series please. Lots of action, some background sexual tension, a good hero and plenty of interesting characters!
Keep going. Great adventure!
Thanks
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews