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Star Wars: Galaxy of Fear #10
The Doomsday Ship
Bug swarms, space slugs, brains on legs, mad Imperial scientists--Zak has had enough! He's glad to be on board the luxury space yacht, Star of Empire, where at last, there's peace and quiet.
Until--"Abandon ship! Critical meltdown!" As a blaring siren sounds, panic-stricken passengers rush to get off the ship. Everyone evacuates...except Zak and Tash. But to their relief, nothing happens. There's no meltdown, no explosion. Everything is fine. Except that the ship's exits are sealed and all communications have been shut down. Zak and Tash are trapped. And they are not alone.
Until--"Abandon ship! Critical meltdown!" As a blaring siren sounds, panic-stricken passengers rush to get off the ship. Everyone evacuates...except Zak and Tash. But to their relief, nothing happens. There's no meltdown, no explosion. Everything is fine. Except that the ship's exits are sealed and all communications have been shut down. Zak and Tash are trapped. And they are not alone.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 12, 2025
Star Wars: Legends: Galaxy of Fear 10 The Doomsday Ship by John Whitman
3.5 Stars
challenging emotional funny reflective tense
Fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters are a main focus: Yes
I am NOT the target audience for this book. I'm nearing 60 years old, and this is a Middle Grade (though it is touted as YA, nah) series in the Star Wars: Legends: Galaxy of Fear series.
The main characters are Zak and Tash, and their uncle. They find themselves on a ship that is getting ready to explode...and they are rushing to find an escape pod.
Everything that could go wrong, does. The clues are given the entire story hold the key, but sadly the main characters are young, and terrified, and are not thinking clearly (which is obvious to the reader who keeps yelling at the book to NOT trust someone, that they keep trusting. Ugh.
It is a fast paced story, that (to me) seemed like artificial obstacles...just thrown at them...from the author, and not from the real villain in the story.
I will probably forget about this story, by the time the day is over.
Again, if I was 12 years old, reading this...it would've been gripping, but for me...it was frustrating, to say the least.
Next novella in the series is Galaxy of Fear 11 Clones. I just cannot wait to get out of this "little kid" story...and get back to the main novels. Ugh.
3.5 Stars
challenging emotional funny reflective tense
Fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters are a main focus: Yes
I am NOT the target audience for this book. I'm nearing 60 years old, and this is a Middle Grade (though it is touted as YA, nah) series in the Star Wars: Legends: Galaxy of Fear series.
The main characters are Zak and Tash, and their uncle. They find themselves on a ship that is getting ready to explode...and they are rushing to find an escape pod.
Everything that could go wrong, does. The clues are given the entire story hold the key, but sadly the main characters are young, and terrified, and are not thinking clearly (which is obvious to the reader who keeps yelling at the book to NOT trust someone, that they keep trusting. Ugh.
It is a fast paced story, that (to me) seemed like artificial obstacles...just thrown at them...from the author, and not from the real villain in the story.
I will probably forget about this story, by the time the day is over.
Again, if I was 12 years old, reading this...it would've been gripping, but for me...it was frustrating, to say the least.
Next novella in the series is Galaxy of Fear 11 Clones. I just cannot wait to get out of this "little kid" story...and get back to the main novels. Ugh.
June 29, 2024
Still choppy and messy, and a luxury cruise plot feels like a weird time for Dash Rednar to guest star (would have been great for Lando had they not already used him), but once things go wild and a surprising amount of people start to die, it's a pretty steady thrillride of clever setpieces and suspenseful turns.
January 28, 2024
We return to the Galaxy of Fear as we start to close the gap. Yes, we only have 2 left after this. I'll be able to see the series ends this year. Until then, we have a Doom Ship.
This back half has felt a tad weaker without a clear direction. While this wasn't free of weak spots, it was better than the last few.
Hoole has booked a cruise so they can escape the Empire in style. They can finally avoid possible danger. Zak is sick of people since they can't trust anyone si he stays in his room, hanging out with tech such as the ship's computer.
But eventually there is an alarm blaring that forces everyone on the ship to evacuate, as it it is about to blow up. The kids sadly can't make it out in time…but it turns out to be false.
Now they are stuck on the ship alone, with someone up to no good.
So the villain here is an AI. Yep, we got a relevant one. They explain AI to us and SIM, the computer, is the Big bad. It clearly but it takes them too long to figure it out.
Still, it's fun. There are still some similar situations but in general it mixes things up. Instead of a planet we have this ship where they deal with all these dangers. There's even a body count, with SIM having Hal 9000 vibes.
They meet this Dash Rendar guy who are. fun addition. There is a thing here where Zak is sick of being betrayed everywhere they go and prefers to trust machines. The SIM stuff feeds into that.
While it's not deep and the ending being abrupt means it doesn't get a big rap up, it works in giving him in arc. They bear you over the head with some of it at times though.
It can feel basic but I found that refreshing. It's more unique than the last few and takes ad advantage of the setup. It has those minor drawbacks, so it's not top tier but it did win me back somewhat.
That's basically what I got for this one. Next, we have my beloved Strange Matter with a sea monster I think. See ya then
This back half has felt a tad weaker without a clear direction. While this wasn't free of weak spots, it was better than the last few.
Hoole has booked a cruise so they can escape the Empire in style. They can finally avoid possible danger. Zak is sick of people since they can't trust anyone si he stays in his room, hanging out with tech such as the ship's computer.
But eventually there is an alarm blaring that forces everyone on the ship to evacuate, as it it is about to blow up. The kids sadly can't make it out in time…but it turns out to be false.
Now they are stuck on the ship alone, with someone up to no good.
So the villain here is an AI. Yep, we got a relevant one. They explain AI to us and SIM, the computer, is the Big bad. It clearly but it takes them too long to figure it out.
Still, it's fun. There are still some similar situations but in general it mixes things up. Instead of a planet we have this ship where they deal with all these dangers. There's even a body count, with SIM having Hal 9000 vibes.
They meet this Dash Rendar guy who are. fun addition. There is a thing here where Zak is sick of being betrayed everywhere they go and prefers to trust machines. The SIM stuff feeds into that.
While it's not deep and the ending being abrupt means it doesn't get a big rap up, it works in giving him in arc. They bear you over the head with some of it at times though.
It can feel basic but I found that refreshing. It's more unique than the last few and takes ad advantage of the setup. It has those minor drawbacks, so it's not top tier but it did win me back somewhat.
That's basically what I got for this one. Next, we have my beloved Strange Matter with a sea monster I think. See ya then
September 22, 2025
I was slow reading this one because I distract easily, but I think it may be the tightest book in the series so far. I'm tempted to give it 5-stars but worry that may be overselling it. It's unlikely to be anyone's favorite book ever, but it is a solid adventure.
I was very happy to see the Dash Rendar cameo. He's an underutilized character and well done here.
The themes about AI probably make this the most currently relevant book in the series.
It does a good job of maturing the characters in a way that feels natural to what the kids have gone through, but I think you could also read it independent of the rest of the series and still enjoy it.
I was very happy to see the Dash Rendar cameo. He's an underutilized character and well done here.
The themes about AI probably make this the most currently relevant book in the series.
It does a good job of maturing the characters in a way that feels natural to what the kids have gone through, but I think you could also read it independent of the rest of the series and still enjoy it.
February 19, 2022
This book in the Galaxy of Fear trilogy was not particularly exciting to my taste. The essence of the book has already been revealed in the description of the novel: rogue AI getting hold of a spaceship and trying to kill the protagonists. Besides, some situations and traps in which those protagonists ended up were not very believable from the logical point of view, even for Star Wars. Overall, the novel is OK to give it a go, but one should not expect any excitement and surprising plot twists from it.
January 7, 2018
Whitman is still reaching to include as many cameo appearances from other media in this series. This time, Dash Rendar from Shadows of the Empire shows up on a luxury space yacht where Zak and Tash are taking a break from their adventures. Of course, this being Star Wars, nothing is ever as simple as taking a relaxing cruise through space, and when they're the last passengers left on the ship after an "Abandon ship!" claxon, another adventure begins.
The series falters a bit here, as what's happening seems pretty obvious from outside the story, but the main characters don't get it. They continue to make poor choices, mostly to keep the story moving, when if they would stop and think about it for a moment, they would realize the truth and stop making stupid decisions. The whole series goes back and forth with this dilemma, with some stories being done well, and others done poorly. These were published pretty quickly, though, so maybe some kinks in the series should be expected.
The story is still easy and fun to read, but it's hardly the best in the series. At this point, I might be hard-pressed to pick the best, but they've all been entertaining to some degree, and fun. Maybe I shouldn't look any more deeply than that.
The series falters a bit here, as what's happening seems pretty obvious from outside the story, but the main characters don't get it. They continue to make poor choices, mostly to keep the story moving, when if they would stop and think about it for a moment, they would realize the truth and stop making stupid decisions. The whole series goes back and forth with this dilemma, with some stories being done well, and others done poorly. These were published pretty quickly, though, so maybe some kinks in the series should be expected.
The story is still easy and fun to read, but it's hardly the best in the series. At this point, I might be hard-pressed to pick the best, but they've all been entertaining to some degree, and fun. Maybe I shouldn't look any more deeply than that.
May 17, 2024
This book is a lot of fun and even as an adult I found sections of it to be quite tense. I was amused by the 2001: A Space Odyssey and WarGames references, which I suppose might annoy some people but I have a nostalgic streak. Sometimes you just want to read an entertaining book about a computer AI going rogue. And who can be mad about a Dash Rendar appearance?
November 12, 2022
This one was fine. Strangely it’s the rarest book in the series, not sure why. Curious if this outcome will effect the last two books or be forgotten.
Oh and there’s lots of violent deaths in this one.
Oh and there’s lots of violent deaths in this one.
July 24, 2024
More like Sim Shitty, folks. Dash Rendar's really scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of cameos. I thought being freed of the overall plot would've helped John Krav Maga but he's reverting to the mean here.
June 20, 2017
Once again the same formula as before. The AI is a nice twist, but the final unraveling follows the established pattern.
Still decent (easy) reading.
Still decent (easy) reading.
November 30, 2020
So, this probably my favorite of the series. I'm a sucker for a ghost ship-type story, and the guest star is an underrated favorite of mine.
Pretty sure Whitman got a certain ship's name wrong...
Pretty sure Whitman got a certain ship's name wrong...
December 29, 2025
Pretty mundane and predictable.
May 19, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #267
Background: The Doomsday Ship was written by John Whitman and published in May 1998. It is the tenth in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
The Doomsday Ship takes place 11 months after the Battle of Yavin, shortly after Spore (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda and their adoptive Uncle Hoole, along with Dash Rendar. The story takes place aboard the luxurious Star of Empire, which was also a setting for the Kyle Katarn novella Soldier for the Empire.
Summary: When Uncle Hoole books them passage aboard a glamorous space yacht, the Arrandas expect to finally be able to relax for once. But then, a sudden alarm sends everyone to the escape pods, leaving Zak and Tash trapped on-board with the ship's captain, a few of the crew, and a mysterious, shady character named Dash Rendar. Then, the survivors begin to get picked off one by one. They aren't alone on the ship, and something wants them dead!
Review: This book is a significant improvement over the last few in the series, and really it only takes a couple of tweaks to get there. It's not as though the writing is terribly different, but the concept is a lot more fun, and a lot more effectively written. Dash Rendar is well-used here, though his presence really feels like Whitman is nearing desperation as he casts around for established characters to feature.
What worked best was that the story actually progressed through a series of distinct phases, and each one held up well. Also, though there were few major surprises, the twists were well-done and didn't rely on the characters being stupid to not figure things out sooner. I loved the setting, a giant, mostly-abandoned star cruise liner . . . very spooky. The series is still fairly light on character growth, but if it can at least deliver what it promises on the cover, then that's got to count for something.
B
Background: The Doomsday Ship was written by John Whitman and published in May 1998. It is the tenth in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
The Doomsday Ship takes place 11 months after the Battle of Yavin, shortly after Spore (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda and their adoptive Uncle Hoole, along with Dash Rendar. The story takes place aboard the luxurious Star of Empire, which was also a setting for the Kyle Katarn novella Soldier for the Empire.
Summary: When Uncle Hoole books them passage aboard a glamorous space yacht, the Arrandas expect to finally be able to relax for once. But then, a sudden alarm sends everyone to the escape pods, leaving Zak and Tash trapped on-board with the ship's captain, a few of the crew, and a mysterious, shady character named Dash Rendar. Then, the survivors begin to get picked off one by one. They aren't alone on the ship, and something wants them dead!
Review: This book is a significant improvement over the last few in the series, and really it only takes a couple of tweaks to get there. It's not as though the writing is terribly different, but the concept is a lot more fun, and a lot more effectively written. Dash Rendar is well-used here, though his presence really feels like Whitman is nearing desperation as he casts around for established characters to feature.
What worked best was that the story actually progressed through a series of distinct phases, and each one held up well. Also, though there were few major surprises, the twists were well-done and didn't rely on the characters being stupid to not figure things out sooner. I loved the setting, a giant, mostly-abandoned star cruise liner . . . very spooky. The series is still fairly light on character growth, but if it can at least deliver what it promises on the cover, then that's got to count for something.
B
September 24, 2016
This is the best GoF book. The only issue I had was that Dash Rendar was in it. But his behavior was in character. The book overall was better written with fewer squabbles (and better ending to the chapters).
Zak does not want to be around people or go on a trip, especially on a star cruiser. It's completely understandable, considering all he, Tash, and Uncle Hoole have been through. When a meltdown occurs on the ship, he knows his first thoughts were correct. The siblings are stuck after saving a child, and the lifepods all leave.
SIM is the computer system and Whitman does a fantastic job in showing the absolute danger of having Artificial Intelligence.
Zak does not want to be around people or go on a trip, especially on a star cruiser. It's completely understandable, considering all he, Tash, and Uncle Hoole have been through. When a meltdown occurs on the ship, he knows his first thoughts were correct. The siblings are stuck after saving a child, and the lifepods all leave.
SIM is the computer system and Whitman does a fantastic job in showing the absolute danger of having Artificial Intelligence.
March 26, 2012
So utterly brilliant.
Honestly it was incredibly well written for such a young age group.
It actually reminded me of Doctor Who more than Star Wars.
So it had my two favourite things in it really.
I had no chance of not liking it.
I was only 11 years old and it blew my mind now I am 21 and it still does.
So, so good.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews