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The Screaming Void
Can a criminal crew of space junk salvagers really save the universe? Jay Jordan and his crew travel the Domain, bending the law like a pretzel and sneaking their loot past wormhole security. The crew gets hired to retrieve a ship lost in the Screaming Void, the most dangerous place in space. Everyone wants the homicidal space gangsters, the tyrannical interstellar government, even the otherworldly Architect Church. Can the crew keep the ship from falling into the wrong hands? Are the Architects really guiding Jay, or are they just a myth? And what’s so important about one junk ship?
137 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2022
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
D.N. Schmidt
9 books19 followersD.N. Schmidt began performing magic shows at age thirteen. While his friends were earning extra cash with paper routes or mowing lawns, he was on stage telling jokes, reading minds, and walking on broken glass.
After a few years, he decided that writing was more fun than performing, and presented much less risk of being heckled. (This was before he found out about internet trolls.) He turned to writing stories. He writes science fiction, horror, urban fantasy, anything weirder than real life.
Although D.N. Schmidt mostly writes speculative fiction, his first novel was a mystery. “They Ate the Waitress?” is the story of a murder at a restaurant for wealthy cannibals. After that came a collection of science fiction short stories called The Doom Tapes, and then The Screaming Void and The Stolen Planet, two space opera novels. He also wrote Inspiration Overdose, a writing prompt generator.
Interested readers can find free stories and writing tips at https://dnschmidt.com.
After a few years, he decided that writing was more fun than performing, and presented much less risk of being heckled. (This was before he found out about internet trolls.) He turned to writing stories. He writes science fiction, horror, urban fantasy, anything weirder than real life.
Although D.N. Schmidt mostly writes speculative fiction, his first novel was a mystery. “They Ate the Waitress?” is the story of a murder at a restaurant for wealthy cannibals. After that came a collection of science fiction short stories called The Doom Tapes, and then The Screaming Void and The Stolen Planet, two space opera novels. He also wrote Inspiration Overdose, a writing prompt generator.
Interested readers can find free stories and writing tips at https://dnschmidt.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 19, 2025
The Screaming Void is a fantastic Sci-Fi, with complex characters, and witty dialogue.
Right from the start, it throws you right into the action. The world-building is effortlessly woven within the narrative, unfolding organically, as the rag-tag group of criminals take on their most ambitious venture yet. The characters were all really interesting, with complex backstories, and were different alien species. I instantly warmed to this group of characters, who find themselves frequently on the wrong side of the law.
I also really appreciated the species guide at the end. I find it difficult to keep track of descriptions, whilst remembering character names, and focusing on the plot. So it was really useful to have the guide at the back to quickly flip to for reference.
It's a relatively short book, but it tells a comprehensive and well-thought out narrative, without overstaying its welcome.
I really enjoyed this one.
Right from the start, it throws you right into the action. The world-building is effortlessly woven within the narrative, unfolding organically, as the rag-tag group of criminals take on their most ambitious venture yet. The characters were all really interesting, with complex backstories, and were different alien species. I instantly warmed to this group of characters, who find themselves frequently on the wrong side of the law.
I also really appreciated the species guide at the end. I find it difficult to keep track of descriptions, whilst remembering character names, and focusing on the plot. So it was really useful to have the guide at the back to quickly flip to for reference.
It's a relatively short book, but it tells a comprehensive and well-thought out narrative, without overstaying its welcome.
I really enjoyed this one.
August 1, 2023
You can’t go wrong with space salvage, fighting, and humor
The Screaming Void reads like an exciting sci-fi season crafted by the creators of Firefly, The Expanse, and Killjoys working together. D.N. Schmidt’s world building effortlessly paints every scene in vivid color without drowning the reader in unnecessarily flowery description.
Starting from the first page, you’re emersed in non-stop, well orchestrated action…and that action continued through to the end. There was never a dull moment in this book. Schmidt’s attention to the smallest of details made me wonder if he actually lives in the universe he created.
The fight and battle scenes were well written and didn’t stumble over confusing back-and-forth cuts like I’ve read and seen in so many other books, and shows. More of Jay and his crew in episode form would be awesome.
The Screaming Void reads like an exciting sci-fi season crafted by the creators of Firefly, The Expanse, and Killjoys working together. D.N. Schmidt’s world building effortlessly paints every scene in vivid color without drowning the reader in unnecessarily flowery description.
Starting from the first page, you’re emersed in non-stop, well orchestrated action…and that action continued through to the end. There was never a dull moment in this book. Schmidt’s attention to the smallest of details made me wonder if he actually lives in the universe he created.
The fight and battle scenes were well written and didn’t stumble over confusing back-and-forth cuts like I’ve read and seen in so many other books, and shows. More of Jay and his crew in episode form would be awesome.
February 18, 2024
The Screaming Void is a fun adventure packed with plenty of action and wit.
Jay Jordan is the captain of a patch-work spacecraft named the Dolos. Together with his crew of motley misfits, Jay scavenges the Domain in search of any salvage of value. But when mobsters offer millions of vim to retrieve a missing vessel, Jay and his crew choose to venture into the Screaming Void, a volume of the emptiest space that can tax even the strongest psyches. What they find is troubling, and soon they are the targets of every powerful faction in the Domain.
A quick read, The Screaming Void is entertaining with plenty of tension and chuckles. The story kept me turning the pages. The characters are colourful—from Magnus the robot to Nyx the cat to a yurg named Bone Eater. And if you just so happen to be a harpoon enthusiast, then this is the perfect novel for you.
Jay Jordan is the captain of a patch-work spacecraft named the Dolos. Together with his crew of motley misfits, Jay scavenges the Domain in search of any salvage of value. But when mobsters offer millions of vim to retrieve a missing vessel, Jay and his crew choose to venture into the Screaming Void, a volume of the emptiest space that can tax even the strongest psyches. What they find is troubling, and soon they are the targets of every powerful faction in the Domain.
A quick read, The Screaming Void is entertaining with plenty of tension and chuckles. The story kept me turning the pages. The characters are colourful—from Magnus the robot to Nyx the cat to a yurg named Bone Eater. And if you just so happen to be a harpoon enthusiast, then this is the perfect novel for you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews