Planet Janitor: Custodian of the Stars

by Chris Stevenson (aka Christy J. Breedlove)

Captain Zachary Crowe and the crew of Planet Janitor Corporation are adept at handling environmental clean-ups and close system jumps to collect precious ores and space trash. The problem is they have yet to complete an assignment without a mishap to add to their not so stellar record. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, Orion Industries contracts Planet Janitor for a clandestine operation that no one else wants, offering them more money than they could spend in three lifetimes. The mission entails a 12 light-year trip to a newly found habitable planet in the Tau Ceti system. The crew will lose 26 years on Earth due to the cryo jump, but that is the least of their problems. What they find on Tau Ceti will rattle their wits, test their courage, and threaten their very survival.

Genres: Science Fiction

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2011

About the author

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About me
Gender Male
Industry Science
Occupation Novelist and Science Writer
Location Fyffe, Alabama, United States
Links Wishlist
Introduction Been writing for 42 years, publishing novels, non-fiction books, radio horror plays, short stories, reviews, interviews, poetry and thousands of non-fiction automotive articles. I'm on my third agent, and have had 10 books and twenty-two short stories published, beginning in 1988. Writing Credits and History BOOK CREDITS: Auto Repair Shams and Scams (Forward--Ralph Nader), 1990, Price Stern & Sloan, Los Angeles--226 pages, non-fiction, consumer warning book. Garage Sale Mania, 1988, Betterway Publications, Crozet, Virginia--190 pages, non-fiction book—1988. Word Wars, a SF novel, to Rain Publishing, Canada—May, 2007. Once Upon a Goddess, a Fantasy novel, to Rain Publishing, Canada—January, 2008 Planet Janitor—Custodian of the Stars, a SF novel sold to Engage Books, May 2009 Gate Walker, a Paranormal Fantasy, sold Lyrical Press—January, 2009. The Wolfen Strain, a fantasy thriller sold to LBF Books, February 2009
The Girll They Sold to the Moon, Intrigue Books
Blackmailed Bride to Melange Satin Romance. Screamcatcher: Web World by Melange Books.

Interests Hiking, paleontology, Ufos, cryptozoology, bigfoot, astronomy, lake monsters, ancient Egypt, archeology, geology

Favorite Movies Blade Runner, Time Cop, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Logun's Run, Transformers, The Time Machine, Kickass
Favorite Music REM, Abbaa, When in Rome, Steve Miller Band, SF and fantasy soundtracks.
Favorite Books Icerigger, Virgin Planet, Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Lord of the Flies, Black Marble, Close Encounters, The Island, Black Marble, Dune, Riverworld, The Mote In God's eye

How many books have I published? 18 to date, with three out on agent subs, and five more in the wings ready to go.

Reviews

[Gigi Sedlmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Read the first and the second short story of the Planet Janitor crew, as they are included into this book, and loved it, I now moved to the next, a full book story.
The next story is a book, where Zaz, the captain of his ship, is taking a job no one else would, but it would pay all his debt including better fittings on his very old ship. But it would take them to a far away planet and it would take them roundtrip 24 years. They would sleep on the way.
They been told, that the planet is uninhabited and they should prepare it for colonisation.
But while they were sleeping, something must have struck the hull of the ship and damage something vital, because when they wake up to land on the planet, nothing worked. so they crash land his ship, burying it halfway into the sand of the planet.
As they start to build a fence around the perimeter, they were attacked by vicious Jack Lions, as they called them, in the thousands.
Surviving that attack, they believed, they haven't seen enough of them and prepare for the next attack. The crew always works together as one, in love and unity and were l0yal to each other and gave them each other courage in everything they did.
Also they found out, that the planet is inhabited.
What comes next, well, i won't say more details.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a thrill and action on every page.

[Jeremy Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed... entertaining space adventure.

[Rachel Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ended up being a lot more of a mystery/thriller than I thought it would be. The mystery of the dangerous creatures and revelation of their background really threw me for a loop. And those creatures were also incredibly scary. There were some scenes that left a strong enough impression to make me hesitate to turn off the lights. All without any really gruesomely detailed scenes. There is mention of blood and guts, but nothing to really churn the stomach.

The cast of characters were equally engaging. Everyone had their place, their role to play, even the seemingly useless stowaway. The crew interact well together, with one or two exceptions that were stress induced. The characters are creative and intelligent and, most importantly, know how to get themselves out of bad situations.

When I was first contacted about Planet Janitor, I was told about its strong comparisons to Firefly. Admittedly, it was difficult not to picture Carl, the self-proclaimed doctor of pyrotechnics, as Jayne and Zaz certainly shares several of Mal's noble attributes, but I feel like this book/world is strong enough to stand on its own. Especially since, in this world, there was no major war (Alliance vs Independents) and much of this book takes place on the same planet.

I really enjoyed reading this book. There is humor, mystery, scares and more. If you're interested in Sci-Fi Survival stories, this is definitely the book for you. I highly recommend giving Planet Janitor a read.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story might have a b-movie title, but at its heart, Planet Janitor is a thrilling roller-coaster ride of pure adrenalin. Zachary Crowe and his motley crew take on what seems a relatively straight-forward assignment...go to a distant planet and clear it so an industrial company can settle on it.
But from the moment they arrive, nothing goes right. The crew certainly didn't reckon on being besieges by the most feral and blood-thirsty monsters they've ever seen. They lurch from one life-threatening crisis to another. But will they ever get to go home again? I have to say this was one of the most exciting and suspenseful books I have ever read. More than a sci-fi novel, this is a book that anyone who likes suspense will enjoy.

[Chris Breedlove) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it's mine so there's no comment on that.

[Jim Melvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Stevenson is at the top of his game -- and genre -- in this highly entertaining yet also thought-provoking novel. It's the kind of book you won't put down once you've picked it up.