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Black Ocean #16.5
For Old Time's Sake
20 pages, Unknown Binding
About the author
J.S. Morin
199 books626 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 4, 2021
I have read several of J S Morin’s Black Ocean series, and on the whole I have enjoyed them a lot. His particular choice of space opera tropes and high fantasy always blends together in an intriguing and fun mixture. Alongside the full-length books he has also written a bunch of shorter stories which sit alongside the main series books which are offered for free to subscribers of Morin’s newsletter. This one is a short snippet of Carl and the team trying to earn their keep in a rough outpost bar.
The Mobius and its crew, who at this point in the journey have young children with them and so are trying to keep everything legitimate, find themselves stranded on a remote outpost and needing to build up some cash before heading out into the Black Ocean again. Carl approaches an old friend who runs a spaceport bar and proposes that they sign on as a house band.
The band are not a s competent as they might be, but things limp along until Carl finds he can’t avoid the lure of the space dogfight simulator in the now, as well as struggling though some old Earth classic music, they offer to take on the winners each night to act as a draw for customers. It’s all working well until they face a much tougher challenge than they were expecting from local cadets and barge pilots.
This was a fun little book, which took me back to the days when I was reading the Black Ocean series. It was nice to get another glimpse of the metal behind the happy-go-lucky surface of Carl and the Mobius crew.
If you like the Black Ocean series, I’m sure you’ll enjoy these short books too.
The Mobius and its crew, who at this point in the journey have young children with them and so are trying to keep everything legitimate, find themselves stranded on a remote outpost and needing to build up some cash before heading out into the Black Ocean again. Carl approaches an old friend who runs a spaceport bar and proposes that they sign on as a house band.
The band are not a s competent as they might be, but things limp along until Carl finds he can’t avoid the lure of the space dogfight simulator in the now, as well as struggling though some old Earth classic music, they offer to take on the winners each night to act as a draw for customers. It’s all working well until they face a much tougher challenge than they were expecting from local cadets and barge pilots.
This was a fun little book, which took me back to the days when I was reading the Black Ocean series. It was nice to get another glimpse of the metal behind the happy-go-lucky surface of Carl and the Mobius crew.
If you like the Black Ocean series, I’m sure you’ll enjoy these short books too.
April 29, 2026
My Slightly Sarcastic But Ultimately Honest Book Rating System:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars): This book achieved legendary status in my personal library. I will likely reread it until the pages fall out (or my e-reader spontaneously combusts). Consider this my enthusiastic endorsement – you should probably read it unless you actively dislike joy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars): A truly excellent read! I enjoyed it immensely and would heartily recommend it to fellow bookworms. You might even catch me subtly pushing it into their hands.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars): Yep, it was a book I read. I turned the pages, absorbed the words, and emerged...unchanged. It was a pleasant enough journey, like a scenic detour that you wouldn't necessarily take again, but didn't regret.
⭐️⭐️ (2 Stars): This book existed. I finished it. That's about the highest praise I can offer. If you're looking for something truly captivating, maybe keep scrolling. This one's more of an "it filled the silence" kind of experience.
⭐️ (1 Star): Oh dear. This book and I did not get along. It was a literary tumbleweed in the vast desert of good books. Consider this a strong "do not recommend," unless you're conducting research on what not to do in storytelling.
Disclaimer: My enjoyment of the narrator is based on my listening speed. I only leave 5 stars for books I've read/listened to or will read/listen to multiple times. If you like this review please consider giving it a Helpful Vote below.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars): This book achieved legendary status in my personal library. I will likely reread it until the pages fall out (or my e-reader spontaneously combusts). Consider this my enthusiastic endorsement – you should probably read it unless you actively dislike joy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars): A truly excellent read! I enjoyed it immensely and would heartily recommend it to fellow bookworms. You might even catch me subtly pushing it into their hands.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars): Yep, it was a book I read. I turned the pages, absorbed the words, and emerged...unchanged. It was a pleasant enough journey, like a scenic detour that you wouldn't necessarily take again, but didn't regret.
⭐️⭐️ (2 Stars): This book existed. I finished it. That's about the highest praise I can offer. If you're looking for something truly captivating, maybe keep scrolling. This one's more of an "it filled the silence" kind of experience.
⭐️ (1 Star): Oh dear. This book and I did not get along. It was a literary tumbleweed in the vast desert of good books. Consider this a strong "do not recommend," unless you're conducting research on what not to do in storytelling.
Disclaimer: My enjoyment of the narrator is based on my listening speed. I only leave 5 stars for books I've read/listened to or will read/listen to multiple times. If you like this review please consider giving it a Helpful Vote below.
December 9, 2020
Carl Ramsey and crew are trying to put their criminal past behind them. They have formed families...and a BAND! And, while making ends meet has become a day to day struggle, it's much easier living in a universe where they aren't being constantly pursued and hunted.
Now the crew finds themselves on the Delos colony where Carl visits an old friend who is the proprietor of Duster's Dogfight Diner. After a little - well a lot of - negotiating. The band gets a gig. Soon, they find themselves expanding their playing outside simple music and begin participating in a "Beat the Band and get Meals for a Month" scheme that brings them head to head against old acquaintances and comrades.
One of the best of Jeff Morin's writing and story spinning talents is his ability to create characters who his readers truly fall in love with. These could be your brother or sister, best friend, long lost uncle or aunt, and each of them feel like they just stepped out your living room and a huge family gathering that makes you laugh out loud and shake your head in disbelief.
Morin continues to bring new and more exciting stories and hopefully fans will never tire of being entertained and always wanting more.
Now the crew finds themselves on the Delos colony where Carl visits an old friend who is the proprietor of Duster's Dogfight Diner. After a little - well a lot of - negotiating. The band gets a gig. Soon, they find themselves expanding their playing outside simple music and begin participating in a "Beat the Band and get Meals for a Month" scheme that brings them head to head against old acquaintances and comrades.
One of the best of Jeff Morin's writing and story spinning talents is his ability to create characters who his readers truly fall in love with. These could be your brother or sister, best friend, long lost uncle or aunt, and each of them feel like they just stepped out your living room and a huge family gathering that makes you laugh out loud and shake your head in disbelief.
Morin continues to bring new and more exciting stories and hopefully fans will never tire of being entertained and always wanting more.
November 9, 2023
Still trying to get regular gigs, the Mobius crew and their musical band have returned to a certain café featuring typhoon simulator tournaments. This time, Carl is hoping they can install themselves as the in-house entertainment feature. Without much of a reputation to stand by, the owner and old acquaintance of Carl's reluctantly gives them a chance, though they'll only get paid in meals and gas money. Carl eventually comes up with an idea: his band plays music, and then patrons can challenge the band to a typhoon sim battle. The winner gets free food for a month. It's a success and it draws a certain number of challengers and accompanying crowds interested in watching the battles go down. It seems they've found their gig, until some familiar faces make their way into the restaurant and start destroying all of the other teams. Carl and his crew will have to fight it out once more to keep food on the table, literally!
Another fun little story in the post main Black Ocean world.
Another fun little story in the post main Black Ocean world.
April 18, 2021
Was this a cheeseball ending? YES! But I suppose it worked given the direction everyone started headed towards late in this series. So this is what you're kind of "stuck with". Anyway, this helped save us from the torture a large portion of mission 16 very likely could have ensured the encapsulation of ptsd even regarding the whole rest of the 80 hours of this series. Note I said it saved us. Can't say it was anything amazing. Hell. Can't pull that off in a novella in this regard. So F it. BUT it was a corny way to help the reader feel good. A feel-good end. Thank goodness for such.
April 2, 2021
Short story showing how Carl and the team have survived for the last six years.
January 24, 2024
2.5 stars.
June 10, 2025
This didn't seem like a full story. Loved seeing the characters doing well, just let down a bit by how little happened in this one.
May 12, 2026
Top banana vibes
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews