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The Traveler #5
Neanderthal Planet
A nuclear attack in the Persian Gulf wrongly implicates Jake Bayard. Everyone seems to be hunting for him.
Bayard flees to Garm, an ice age world full of sabertooths, dire wolves, mammoths and Neanderthals.
Unfortunately, Institute Homo habilises are also extraterrestrial, crafty, small and deadly hominids. They’ve enslaved the Neanderthals to mine for dreaded alibite.
It’s a Spartacus moment for Bayard. The Institute hominids hate him for what he did in the Chaunt System last journey. He’s as good as dead unless he can lead the Neanderthals in a successful slave revolt.
But how do you defeat an enemy far smarter than you, more ruthless and holding all the cards?
Bayard is about to show the brainy creeps.
NEANDERTHAL PLANET is the fifth tale of a gung-ho Terran taking on the masters of an insidious and ancient alien conspiracy.
Bayard flees to Garm, an ice age world full of sabertooths, dire wolves, mammoths and Neanderthals.
Unfortunately, Institute Homo habilises are also extraterrestrial, crafty, small and deadly hominids. They’ve enslaved the Neanderthals to mine for dreaded alibite.
It’s a Spartacus moment for Bayard. The Institute hominids hate him for what he did in the Chaunt System last journey. He’s as good as dead unless he can lead the Neanderthals in a successful slave revolt.
But how do you defeat an enemy far smarter than you, more ruthless and holding all the cards?
Bayard is about to show the brainy creeps.
NEANDERTHAL PLANET is the fifth tale of a gung-ho Terran taking on the masters of an insidious and ancient alien conspiracy.
- GenresScience Fiction
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2023
97 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn Heppner
134 books570 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 20, 2025
Jake Bayard arrives at a new destination to discover a planet seemingly encased in ice in "Neanderthal Planet," the fifth in Vaughn Heppner's Traveler series. At least he has his Antarctic gear and doesn't freeze to death. However, danger awaits at every turn. Jake is a versatile former Marine who so far has been able to handle every challenge. Yet, Garm presents something new — an enslaved population ruled by a faction of the Institute. Jake seeks out the free neanderthals and attempts to find some allies and at the same time figure out what he's expected to accomplish on a planet that operates more like a prison with no hope. The adventure continues in Heppner's breathless style. I read this while on a trip to Madison, Wisc. to see my niece graduate from med school. It and the next installment kept me mentally busy on the plane and during down times. And way better than any television show.
August 31, 2023
Neanderthal Planet is a somewhat exciting read
Neanderthal planet is a somewhat exciting read but I found it disappointing for several reasons. The protagonist Jake is again slow to determine what path or strategy he will follow and he is always worried about who to trust and the plot development is fairly slow and boring. I also found it difficult to empathize with Jake or care if he succeeded in helping the Neanderthals. The book ends with a slight cliffhanger. Though the book isn't as entertaining as previous books in the series I still recommend it because it does advance the plot and is a fairly quick read
Neanderthal planet is a somewhat exciting read but I found it disappointing for several reasons. The protagonist Jake is again slow to determine what path or strategy he will follow and he is always worried about who to trust and the plot development is fairly slow and boring. I also found it difficult to empathize with Jake or care if he succeeded in helping the Neanderthals. The book ends with a slight cliffhanger. Though the book isn't as entertaining as previous books in the series I still recommend it because it does advance the plot and is a fairly quick read
May 21, 2023
Jakes saga continues…
Female betrayal, male denseness, and a new world complicate Jake’s arc. This book was exciting, but more of a internal struggle for Jake to accept his responsibility and path. The mysteries surrounding the why, who, and where of all the different races and aliens is getting pretty complicated. Jake turning his thoughts to God and the Bible in the middle of the adventure on Garm is interesting too. Would you have faith to pray after Traveling to other worlds and discovering there are aliens? Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Female betrayal, male denseness, and a new world complicate Jake’s arc. This book was exciting, but more of a internal struggle for Jake to accept his responsibility and path. The mysteries surrounding the why, who, and where of all the different races and aliens is getting pretty complicated. Jake turning his thoughts to God and the Bible in the middle of the adventure on Garm is interesting too. Would you have faith to pray after Traveling to other worlds and discovering there are aliens? Looking forward to the next book in the series!
June 25, 2023
Other men need women too
can Bayard deliver prosperity to the planet of Garm? Read this story of a hero and the friends he encourages to rescue a ancestor of mankind. If you like genealogy you enjoy this tale of bravery, endurance and technology vs greed! Put on your reading glasses an div into this story. Look for the sequel, cause the joy doesn't ent end here. Look forward to weddings and soul mates, and much more.
Well done!
can Bayard deliver prosperity to the planet of Garm? Read this story of a hero and the friends he encourages to rescue a ancestor of mankind. If you like genealogy you enjoy this tale of bravery, endurance and technology vs greed! Put on your reading glasses an div into this story. Look for the sequel, cause the joy doesn't ent end here. Look forward to weddings and soul mates, and much more.
Well done!
January 4, 2026
there is so much bad about this book that is saved by some big fighting scenes.
some highlights of writing:
She hated me because I’d caused the death of her only daughter Mei, her only child.
We ate rations and melted snow, drinking plenty of water. Therefore, we were always stopping to take whizzes.
Therefore, I was going to hold my fire until I saw the whites of their eyes, so to speak.
some highlights of writing:
She hated me because I’d caused the death of her only daughter Mei, her only child.
We ate rations and melted snow, drinking plenty of water. Therefore, we were always stopping to take whizzes.
Therefore, I was going to hold my fire until I saw the whites of their eyes, so to speak.
May 11, 2023
Rating and review is for entire series
Excellent Author! All his books are good. No editing issues! Great descriptions of alien tech, and worlds, and beasts! Cliffhangers, of course.. I suspect the Muse of Andre Norton....I believe this author joins the Rank!...
Excellent Author! All his books are good. No editing issues! Great descriptions of alien tech, and worlds, and beasts! Cliffhangers, of course.. I suspect the Muse of Andre Norton....I believe this author joins the Rank!...
June 11, 2023
This is another exciting series from. Heppner
This Traveler series is great Science Fiction. The Traveler a worthy hero. After reading the first 5, I am excited to read number 6. A great read.
This Traveler series is great Science Fiction. The Traveler a worthy hero. After reading the first 5, I am excited to read number 6. A great read.
April 13, 2024
same author same sneaking in religion
The author sneaks more and more religion in as the series continues. One with solid convictions would not need to sneak them into the story line I would think
The author sneaks more and more religion in as the series continues. One with solid convictions would not need to sneak them into the story line I would think
May 18, 2023
Book 5
An excellent book with an open ending!
I hope there is more to come, Jake has become a favourite of mine.
Awaiting the news of the series continuing!
Thank you Vaughn
An excellent book with an open ending!
I hope there is more to come, Jake has become a favourite of mine.
Awaiting the news of the series continuing!
Thank you Vaughn
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews