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The Galactic Wars #1

Starship Scorpion

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One aging destroyer must battle an entire alien armada to save mankind.


Captain Slade is a hero of the first Verge War. But with no sign of the enemy for 25 years, the Joint Planetary Operations Command decides to decommission the old destroyers. But when Slade senses an impending attack, she defies orders to return to base, and JPOC sends a lone assassin to terminate her wayward command.

But the Verge have returned, more powerful than ever. Their technology is more advanced. Their armor is indestructible. And they are determined to exterminate all human life.

A rogue captain, a misfit crew, and a decrepit destroyer are mankind’s only hope of survival. If JPOC’s assassin succeeds, humanity will perish.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2016

222 people are currently reading
125 people want to read

About the author

Tripp Ellis

137 books118 followers

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5 stars
164 (37%)
4 stars
149 (34%)
3 stars
86 (19%)
2 stars
28 (6%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Michael Pang.
74 reviews38 followers
December 28, 2016
Promising. Quick read and fast moving. The book was so short I get the sense we've only scratched the surface. Looking forward to book 2 to see where the author takes us.
Profile Image for C.M. Rutherford.
Author 3 books16 followers
June 24, 2018
For those who like a great space saga this is the book for you. Tripp Ellis has brought a entertaining world to life in the first book of "The Galactic Wars". I ripped through this book in no time. The action was fast paced and the characters were interesting and engaging. This is a great read for sci-fi fans.
496 reviews25 followers
August 16, 2016
Treehouse Level SciFi Done Poorly

"Starship Scorpion-The Galactic Wars Book 1," is barely readable SciFi, teetering on the brink of juvenile, treehouse level schlock.

The basic storyline: future humanity, after Earth's unexplained inhabitability, having colonized a contested area of star systems, has become complacent during the 25 years following a devastating war with the Verge (religious zealot humanoids), and accepting of the war's truce as peace. A heroine of the original Verge War, commands a destroyer, beyond the DMZ, in Verge space. A Special Operator is dispatched to terminate her command. While enroute he encounters violence, the Verge attack the destroyer "Scorpion," and a human DMZ bastion station.

Here are some of the issues with the eBook:

The editing and proofreading are substandard. Throughout the eBook, errors occur in grammar, syntax, and just wrong words. These mistakes are continual, making a difficult read.

The entire plot device at the eBook's beginning is "lifted" from "Apocalypse Now," and its inspiration, "Heart of Darkness." A Special Operator, assassin, is tasked by an admiral, along with an intelligence operative, to take a freighter to the fringes of human space, and terminate a wayward hero's command.

The author has a nervous "tic," and needs to use the word "shit" without pause. His syndrome is especially bad in the early parts of the eBook, but slightly abates during the end.

The author has one dimensional characterizations, with male characters apparently into sadistic sex, as they are sexually aroused by attractive women who have been wounded in combat and are bleeding and bruised. They further "check out" a shapely, alien queen, humanoid, but not human, following their surrender. In both instances, crew mates have just been killed or severely wounded. Really?

The technology of future humanity, other than a FTL "slide through space engine," and gravity generators, is basically all
existing tech, specialized and/or on steroids. "Wet" navy superimposed on the "space" navy-same weapons systems, techniques, and nomenclature. It is juvenile and shows both limited imagination and intelligence simultaneously.

Overall, if you are a SciFi reader with woefully low standards, maybe you will like the eBook.

The eBook was fully read via Kindle Unlimited and is not recommended.
Profile Image for Mick Bird.
833 reviews13 followers
November 13, 2016
Ali interesting read

I have enjoyed reading the first book to what I think will be a interesting series. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. The people of New Earth will need to prepare for the coming war.
Profile Image for Dwayne Auernheimer.
37 reviews
November 25, 2017
Good concept but only fair writing

Interesting concept mated by mediocre execution. Writing is a bit subpar and could use professional proofreading. Conversations are stilted and do not reflect how "real" people speak. Tries too hard with the "lingo".
79 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2018
It was ok

The book was ok, some of the drama seemed contrived. The ending romance was very forced and made little sense. The characters at times acted out of character. The capt would not have surrendered the second time.
Profile Image for M.D..
Author 7 books6 followers
February 12, 2018
A legendary captain goes rogue and takes her ship into the unknown, while an assassin is dispatched to stop her.
Not a bad setup and pretty solid execution, Starship Scorpion opens a lot of doors for Ellis' Galactic Wars series. The story reads quickly, but the conflicts along the way don't feel as involved or difficult as they could be. The writing balances a fine line between exhibition and action, with info dumps sprinkled throughout that lightly explain the technology while keeping the story moving. Combat scenes drift from brisk to simplistic, but altogether aren't bad.

On the technical side, the book needs a serious round of editing (new vs. knew, hanger vs. hangar) but nothing that can't be fixed with a little TLC.
205 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2018
Interesting

The storyline here is pretty interesting. The interplay between old line warriors and new battle hardened veterans was difficult. Add that to the oncoming aliens called the verge and you have an interesting interplay between species. Species that are very closely related to each other with the aliens being the more intelligent. The next book in the series should be interesting as the war part two continues.
Profile Image for Stefanos Kouzof.
136 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2021
The writer does not know anything about the science part of sci-fi - ships can jump to hyperspace, but if they don't, well they reach planets in a few hours or weeks. Space is small, obviously.
Guns can be heard firing through space, oh yeah. And a lifeboat with holes has enough air to reach a planet.
People behave erratically and situations are twisted to accommodate the plot. Should be good feeling like a god - or a soap opera writer.
Won't bother anymore.
Profile Image for Jack Stanley.
Author 48 books8 followers
December 5, 2017
Rollicking Good Tale

A first class adventure! I'm going to read the whole catelogue. Vivid images and engaging characters. A fun - fast and totally enjoyable read!
21 reviews
May 21, 2018
Pure escapism

Having just rediscovered my interest in Sci Fi I found the book really gripping, can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for David John Morgan.
100 reviews
May 26, 2018
Great book

Hooked at the very first page then all the way to the end can not wait to carry on the series keep them coming
Profile Image for Tom.
225 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2019
This is a great beginning to so much more when you follow the other books in the series.
626 reviews7 followers
June 17, 2020
Great Read!

Fun romp through an alien invasion! Lots of action, a little distracting to keep track of the characters in the start of the book, fun, exciting read, well done!
Profile Image for Sarah.
606 reviews6 followers
August 18, 2016
This was a short, fast, but enjoyable read. The action was great, although there's still no real logical explanation for why the captain was initially in enemy territory and her actions at times seemed too rash and risky for someone with her experience and at that level of command. She has the makings of a good character but her actions were at times disappointing and inconsistent (she won't risk going after her son so she can save the ship and crew, but then risks all of humanity to save him at another point in the book). All in all, not a bad read but some of the characters felt a little off - particularly the captain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Glenn W. Russell.
46 reviews
August 26, 2016
Learn to spell!

Except for the spelling, and an apparent ignorance of the fact that there is not enough oxygen in space to make tracers work with solid rounds, and that such battles as occur in space are at distances which would make tracers useless, it was an enjoyable little space opera.
5 reviews
September 11, 2016
Well written, and a storyline that keeps you interested

I was very impressed with the writing of this book. The story is very well presented, and I for one am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I don't write reviews very often, but thought highly enough of this author to hopefully get more readers interested in this series. Get this!
69 reviews
October 9, 2016
Not bad but I have read better.

There was to much left out from the start of the storyline. Thing's were dropped off at the start of the book and then it was a rush to get to an ending. Leaving a lot of wanting left in the area of character development when you reach the end of the story. I may try another but only on a night when I am really bored.
2 reviews
December 3, 2016
Good Story, weak characters.

The story is nicely written. There are lots of added details at the start of the book but as the book progresses the story has less details and it becomes a faster read. But it happens at the expense of good story telling. This with coupled with few plot mistakes makes me give 3 stars.
35 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2016
Enjoyed this book!

This is a fast paced science fiction book that doesn't overdo the technology. Sometimes you just want to read something with believable people in it! I would like to read/ more in/ this/ series!
83 reviews
November 15, 2016
Lots of action!

Let me introduce you to Captain Slade...she is tough, decisive and always makes the right tactical decisions--until her son is threatened. See what happens when she is put into one impossible situation after another and the fate of humanity is at stake.
168 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2016
Loved it

As you said it is a great read and well worth the investment of time. I hope you the author will write a another book continuing the saga.
157 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2016
Ellis hits another homer!

I've read two of Tripp Ellis books now, albeit in reverse order. They are fast moving, action packed, space operas. Read and enjoy!
Profile Image for Scott Holstad.
Author 132 books101 followers
April 11, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. A good start to a new series. Definitely looking forward to the rest of it. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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