Mind Storms

by G. Michael Smith

Jayne Wu is an inexplicably lucky 13-year-old in a future Earth obsessed with its own survival. The Swarm, a meteor field billions of kilometers across, will soon smash through the solar system, destroying all life—and possibly the planet itself. The only hope for humankind’s survival are the twelve asteroid-sized escape vessels constructed in orbit to travel to and colonize distant worlds with the best Earth can offer.

Jayne (nicknamed Thirteen) wants only to leave the Nursery, train to be a Technical Electrical Mechanical Fixer, and become part of the “great adventure.” And, of course, play GravBall.

But Jayne’s mind is extraordinary, and she soon attracts attention from the organized crime Consortium, the Sentinels, the World Police, and the a cabal of ultra-rich who will stop at nothing to subvert society’s colonization plans to their own diabolical ends.

They all want to use her. To survive, Jayne must decide whom to trust.

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2022

Reviews

[Megan Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read with great world building. The story follows a young girl, who is nicknamed "Thirteen" who has a brilliant mind but also special abilities, that she chalks up as "luck". I really enjoyed the beginning and ending but felt like the story got a little lost in the middle. There were also some inconsistencies with dialogue formatting which would sometimes get confusing to follow the conversation initially. However, the overall story was interesting and the main character was very likeable. I enjoyed it and feel like it was a solid 3.5 stars for me!

[Carol Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is an intriguing science-fiction novel where the main character of Jayne Wu, aka Thirteen, is an extremely intelligent girl with more going on in her brain than most people think—even herself. She explains what she experiences by simply claiming she’s “lucky.” As a doomed Earth prepares to colonize other parts of the universe before being destroyed by a meteor storm, Jayne sets out to become educated as an electrical-mechanical fixer to help out where she can.

It was fun to see Jayne in situations where she excelled, and where she confused or astounded other people. In a couple of ways, this book reminded me of ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card, involving a young but brilliant child as he’s admired, despised, and feared. There’s also the similarity of Ender participating in gravity-simulation games; in this book, Jayne plays the team-sports game of GravBall. Despite those similarities, MIND STORMS contains plenty of other unique situations, with the plot constantly changing to keep things fresh and interesting throughout. The beginning is instantly engaging. The ending is surprising but appropriate; I liked it. It hints of problems to come in the sequel.

Content: no profanity or sex, some scenes of gore/violence. As a side note that has nothing to do with my rating, there were formatting issues where some paragraphs were repeated, new paragraphs of dialogue weren’t started with each change of character, and wordswerecrammedtogether frequently. This made for a distraction while reading, but luckily the storyline was compelling enough for me to push past these things.

[Alfred Basta · Rating 5 out of 5]

G Michael Smith has crafted an absolutely gripping opening to The Forevers series, and Mind Storms grabbed me from the very first page. Jayne Wu, nicknamed Thirteen, is one of the most compelling young protagonists I have read in a long time. Her extraordinary luck and even more extraordinary mind make her a fascinating character to follow, especially against the backdrop of a civilization racing against the clock to survive an apocalyptic meteor swarm. The concept of the biomes, massive asteroid sized vessels built to carry humanity's best hope to distant worlds, is such a fresh and imaginative twist on the classic survival story, and Smith builds this future world with impressive detail and believability.

What really elevates this book beyond typical sci fi fare is the tangled web of factions all vying for control of Jayne. Between the criminal Consortium, the shadowy Sentinels, the World Police, and the sinister ultra wealthy Forevers, the tension never lets up, and Jayne's struggle to figure out who she can actually trust kept me turning pages late into the night. It is part coming of age story, part political thriller, and part high stakes science fiction adventure, all blended together seamlessly. Fans of stories with strong young heroines navigating impossible odds and moral gray areas will find so much to love here. I finished the book desperate for the next installment and cannot wait to see where Jayne's journey takes her next. Highly recommend for teens and adults alike who love smart, fast paced sci fi with real heart behind it.

[Angel Giacomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This science fiction novel follows Jayne Wu, also known as Thirteen, a brilliant girl who downplays her abilities as “luck.” As Earth faces destruction from a meteor storm and prepares to colonize space, Jayne trains as an electrical-mechanical fixer to contribute where she can.

The book is engaging, showing Jayne both excelling and baffling others. It reminded me of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game with its young, brilliant protagonist who is admired and feared, and the gravity-simulation games in Ender’s Game are echoed in Jayne’s GravBall games. Despite these similarities, Mind Storms offers fresh and unique scenarios, keeping the plot dynamic and exciting. The beginning grabs attention, and the surprising yet fitting ending creates future conflicts.

However, formatting issues, such as repeated paragraphs and inconsistent dialogue formatting, were distracting but manageable due to the compelling storyline. If I were the author, I would contact my editor and publisher to find out where the problem was created.

[Brandee Slough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving the Storm: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller. Stepping into a meticulously engineered dystopian future where humanity races against cosmic extinction offers a thrilling ride filled with hidden conspiracies and extraordinary survival trials. The narrative expertly balances high-stakes institutional mystery with the intimate, gripping journey of a uniquely gifted young protagonist navigating a world that seeks to exploit her talents. Every chapter unfolds with steady pacing, clever obstacles, and an escalating sense of tension that prevents any dip in engagement. The world-building is vividly detailed, creating an immersive environment of orbital biomes and towering technological marvels that feels remarkably tangible. This complex, pulse-pounding speculative adventure rewards close attention and lingers in the mind long after the final page. It stands as an exceptional sci-fi opener that will easily captivate readers looking for smart world-building, fierce agency, and a deeply inventive plot.

[KATIEY SWAIM · Rating 5 out of 5]

G. Michael Smith’s book, Mind Storms delivers a powerfulthriller that is absolute high-octane sci-fi. The story brilliantly explores identity and survival through Jayne Wu, a genetically engineered teen that happens to be trapped in a dying future world. Smith brilliantly constructs a chilling world full of artificial biomes and disgusting corporate greed. This story is anchored by the terrifying premise of "The Forevers"—immortals who greedily steal bodies in order to live forever. The concept of dual consciousness adds great psychological depth to the fast-paced plot in this book. This is a gripping and thought-provoking debut that perfectly sets up the series. Fans of futuristic tech and intense chase stories will truly love it.

[Erin Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Sci-fi story

Loved this book. Reminiscent of The Martian, Seven Eves and I robot. Great story of Jayne a young space prodigy and the chaos that ensues around her as some try to save her and others destroy her.
Story tho is a bit choppy but otherwise great