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Sometimes in the Fall
If someone gave you all the money in the world, just what would you do with it?
Finally free of Earth and all of his connections to it, David can now focus on his and Kacey’s fledgling cargo company, and start considering his future goals as an engineer. There is still the small matter of the agreement he made with his grandfather, one of the richest men in the solar system, but Dave knows his brother won’t be solving the FTL issue anytime soon.
So he’s got time.
However, there are forces on Earth that while David may believe he is done with them, are by no means done with David. An escalating tit-for-tat is about to begin, over issues that will one day be worth far more money and power than heor anyone else can imagine. An escalation that will soon spiral out of all control, and David will find himself with no choice but to unleash the horrors of war on an unsuspecting populace. A war that will exact a price from his own flesh and blood before it is over.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise for Summer’s
“. . . the action keeps the pages turning. Readers with a fondness for old style coming-of-age sci-fi will appreciate the rapid rise of Dave Walker.” —Publishers Weekly
John Van Stry is a United States Air Force veteran who worked in robotics and as a flight test engineer as well as a quality and test engineer in the medical devices industry. He is a collector of motorcycles and big cats. Van Stry is a star of the indie publishing world. Summer’s End was his first novel with Baen Books and a Prometheus Award nominee.
Finally free of Earth and all of his connections to it, David can now focus on his and Kacey’s fledgling cargo company, and start considering his future goals as an engineer. There is still the small matter of the agreement he made with his grandfather, one of the richest men in the solar system, but Dave knows his brother won’t be solving the FTL issue anytime soon.
So he’s got time.
However, there are forces on Earth that while David may believe he is done with them, are by no means done with David. An escalating tit-for-tat is about to begin, over issues that will one day be worth far more money and power than heor anyone else can imagine. An escalation that will soon spiral out of all control, and David will find himself with no choice but to unleash the horrors of war on an unsuspecting populace. A war that will exact a price from his own flesh and blood before it is over.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise for Summer’s
“. . . the action keeps the pages turning. Readers with a fondness for old style coming-of-age sci-fi will appreciate the rapid rise of Dave Walker.” —Publishers Weekly
John Van Stry is a United States Air Force veteran who worked in robotics and as a flight test engineer as well as a quality and test engineer in the medical devices industry. He is a collector of motorcycles and big cats. Van Stry is a star of the indie publishing world. Summer’s End was his first novel with Baen Books and a Prometheus Award nominee.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 8, 2025
About the author
John Van Stry
50 books369 followersI've had a very varied life. I grew up in New York, on Long Island.
I went to school to become an Engineer, then joined the Air Force.
After that I worked first in Robotics, then in Aerospace as a Flight Test Engineer. I moved into the medical fields, then into more Technical markets working for a number of high tech companies where I became a Contractor.
I used to own and raise big cats. I love motorcycles and old cars. I'm a pilot and former martial arts instructor. I'm a fan of the Reno Air Races.
Then there's the stuff I'm not supposed to talk about, but that's another story.
I've seen a lot of interesting stuff go by, met a lot of interesting, wonderful, strange, or sometimes just psychotic people. I've had the opportunity to work on some truly game changing technologies. And while I've had some very bad things happen to me in my life, I've never let it stop me.
Keep smiling.
-John
I went to school to become an Engineer, then joined the Air Force.
After that I worked first in Robotics, then in Aerospace as a Flight Test Engineer. I moved into the medical fields, then into more Technical markets working for a number of high tech companies where I became a Contractor.
I used to own and raise big cats. I love motorcycles and old cars. I'm a pilot and former martial arts instructor. I'm a fan of the Reno Air Races.
Then there's the stuff I'm not supposed to talk about, but that's another story.
I've seen a lot of interesting stuff go by, met a lot of interesting, wonderful, strange, or sometimes just psychotic people. I've had the opportunity to work on some truly game changing technologies. And while I've had some very bad things happen to me in my life, I've never let it stop me.
Keep smiling.
-John
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 17, 2025
I would like to thank Baen publishers for this eARC in return for an honest review. This is the second book by John Van Stry in this series and is a fast paced (fast read) space opera. Earth is divided between elites, proles, and doles. The cities are crime ridden. There are communities on Mars, Jupiter, Ceres, and more remote sites. The protagonist, David, is an engineer and much of the plot includes engineering concepts. The attitude of the book is that peace can only come about as the result of a muscular defense which may include aggressive responses. There is a real focus on the importance of families and relationships.
One of the things that I particularly liked was that some of the crises in the books were engineering in basis. For example, Ben, the protagonist's brother is developing a new ship drive, and problems during the testing which threaten to kill everyone on the ship have to be solved by nonreactive problem solving (and not by fights or battles). I recommend this book, but suggest reading in tandem with the first volume ( Sumer's End). The book ends with the promise of more adventures to come.
One of the things that I particularly liked was that some of the crises in the books were engineering in basis. For example, Ben, the protagonist's brother is developing a new ship drive, and problems during the testing which threaten to kill everyone on the ship have to be solved by nonreactive problem solving (and not by fights or battles). I recommend this book, but suggest reading in tandem with the first volume ( Sumer's End). The book ends with the promise of more adventures to come.
April 30, 2025
David Doyle survived the attacks on him in Summer's End (paper) where he tried to work as a ship’s engineer in a crowded solar system. He also managed to rescue his stepbrother Ben, a very bright man with a published theory that could create FTL travel. Sometimes in the Fall (paper) starts with him rescuing Ben again from one of the ruling Earth families. Over time this leads to an attack on his home of Ceres by manic Venusians which. His very rich Grandfather wants him to build a shipyard in Ceres in case the FTL drive is perfected, and, oh yes, Dave starts a family with his wife and business partner Kacey. John Van Stry tells his tale over years, and I found it a warm and pleasant excursion.
March 10, 2025
Very good read looking forward to part 2
Mike and Ben continue with their plan to build Interstellar ships. Ben is designing the engine while Mike designs and builds the ships and infrastructure for all of it. This while dealing with an interplanetary war started by the fanatics on Venus.
Mike and Ben continue with their plan to build Interstellar ships. Ben is designing the engine while Mike designs and builds the ships and infrastructure for all of it. This while dealing with an interplanetary war started by the fanatics on Venus.
September 30, 2025
Solid suspense and drama
Alternate universe, SF advanced technology, business building
Dave and his family continue to build his business and leading-edge starship designs and improvements. Fascinating and absorbing. Excellent editing. Looking forward to book 3 in this dramatic series.
Alternate universe, SF advanced technology, business building
Dave and his family continue to build his business and leading-edge starship designs and improvements. Fascinating and absorbing. Excellent editing. Looking forward to book 3 in this dramatic series.
April 30, 2026
Growing up and becoming responsible can be bland, but not for David. His version of becoming responsible not only includes developing a better relationship with his maternal grandfather, it also includes dealing with pirates, building shipyards and running black ops. I wonder if fatherhood is going to be any less exciting for him.
May 4, 2025
Characters?
The book as a reading exercise is good and well written but the characters still don’t inspire me. I have trouble relating to them. I don’t feel moved by their situations or laugh out loud when they say something funny.
The book as a reading exercise is good and well written but the characters still don’t inspire me. I have trouble relating to them. I don’t feel moved by their situations or laugh out loud when they say something funny.
March 17, 2025
Excellent read
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great follow up to Summer End. I hope there will be a third, or maybe more books to follow.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great follow up to Summer End. I hope there will be a third, or maybe more books to follow.
March 17, 2025
Great
Loved the book. I hope it is continued as I had been waiting for this release for months. Good job
Loved the book. I hope it is continued as I had been waiting for this release for months. Good job
March 18, 2025
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June 15, 2025
good story
Another good series and story similar to so of the authors series. Good MC slightly anti-hero. Worth the time to read.
Another good series and story similar to so of the authors series. Good MC slightly anti-hero. Worth the time to read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews