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The Magnetar
A second chance… at life.
When a natural disaster destroys Charlie’s planet, she almost survives the carnage, dying just a few minutes before a rescue crew would have saved her.
When she wakes up again, a number of surprises await her, not the least of which is that she’s been brought back to life. In addition to that unlikely event, she’s also been taken to another planet and drafted into the Combined Service, a service composed of all the allied races—octopods, gu’ul, avians, and the upstart humans, who the others aren’t sure they can trust.
Being drafted does serve one purpose, though: it allows her to get off the planet on which she finds herself, giving her the only chance she has to get back to the planet of her birth, where she hopes to find her missing family. When she’s offered the chance to serve aboard the Magnetar, the first jointly operated cruiser of the Combined Service, she seizes the chance.
But the Magnetar is on a dangerous mission: to return an octopod terrorist, Praetori, to the home world of the octopods. No one has ever successfully held an octopod captive, and the only thing found of the last ship that tried—the Roggewein—were tiny pieces.
Will Charlie and the Magnetar see the prisoner transfer to its successful conclusion, or will they suffer the same unexplained and disastrous fate as the Roggewein?
When a natural disaster destroys Charlie’s planet, she almost survives the carnage, dying just a few minutes before a rescue crew would have saved her.
When she wakes up again, a number of surprises await her, not the least of which is that she’s been brought back to life. In addition to that unlikely event, she’s also been taken to another planet and drafted into the Combined Service, a service composed of all the allied races—octopods, gu’ul, avians, and the upstart humans, who the others aren’t sure they can trust.
Being drafted does serve one purpose, though: it allows her to get off the planet on which she finds herself, giving her the only chance she has to get back to the planet of her birth, where she hopes to find her missing family. When she’s offered the chance to serve aboard the Magnetar, the first jointly operated cruiser of the Combined Service, she seizes the chance.
But the Magnetar is on a dangerous mission: to return an octopod terrorist, Praetori, to the home world of the octopods. No one has ever successfully held an octopod captive, and the only thing found of the last ship that tried—the Roggewein—were tiny pieces.
Will Charlie and the Magnetar see the prisoner transfer to its successful conclusion, or will they suffer the same unexplained and disastrous fate as the Roggewein?
490 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2022
6 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 14, 2022
That is a really, really good book.
It is full of mysteries, yet does a good job introducing us to an interesting Universe, where four races have reached the stars and cooperate together.... first and foremost, through the Combined Service.
Yet it is not all roses and not everybody is happy with the way things are in the Galaxy...
Of the 4 races, the octopods seem the most advanced technologically and have in their midst some hardcore believers that sharing the universe with other races is a mistake, well, fanatics as they are, rather a sin, actually.
Add to that Charlie, a mysterious young human woman who managed to survived a planetary annihilation event... almost... and then got reborn...
Add to that Praetori, one of those xenophobic octopods.
Add to that the Magnetar, flagship of the combined Service...
Add to that a kind doctor, an avian chaplain, a gu'ul best friend. (and now you know the 4 races... :)), a nasty complot...
And you are in for a wild ride!
Can't wait for book 2, if only due to the cliffhanger in the epilogue!
Continue like this Jo Boone!
It is full of mysteries, yet does a good job introducing us to an interesting Universe, where four races have reached the stars and cooperate together.... first and foremost, through the Combined Service.
Yet it is not all roses and not everybody is happy with the way things are in the Galaxy...
Of the 4 races, the octopods seem the most advanced technologically and have in their midst some hardcore believers that sharing the universe with other races is a mistake, well, fanatics as they are, rather a sin, actually.
Add to that Charlie, a mysterious young human woman who managed to survived a planetary annihilation event... almost... and then got reborn...
Add to that Praetori, one of those xenophobic octopods.
Add to that the Magnetar, flagship of the combined Service...
Add to that a kind doctor, an avian chaplain, a gu'ul best friend. (and now you know the 4 races... :)), a nasty complot...
And you are in for a wild ride!
Can't wait for book 2, if only due to the cliffhanger in the epilogue!
Continue like this Jo Boone!
June 27, 2024
A great read...old-school science fiction with strong character development. Have just started book #2, and have every reason to expect more excellence.
January 22, 2022
Fantastic sci fi adventure
I hate gushing in my reviews because I worry people won't take them seriously, but Magnetar deserves all the gushing. I laughed and cried and reread the awesome parts. The worldbuilding is detailed and believable. The aliens are fascinating, and the supporting characters feel real. I devoured Magnetar in too short a time and had a massive book hangover afterward. Charlie is a wonderful main character, and her adventures appear to be just starting. I look forward to book 2! I read Magnetar in KU but bought it to reread.
I hate gushing in my reviews because I worry people won't take them seriously, but Magnetar deserves all the gushing. I laughed and cried and reread the awesome parts. The worldbuilding is detailed and believable. The aliens are fascinating, and the supporting characters feel real. I devoured Magnetar in too short a time and had a massive book hangover afterward. Charlie is a wonderful main character, and her adventures appear to be just starting. I look forward to book 2! I read Magnetar in KU but bought it to reread.
August 11, 2024
Brilliant Space Adventure! Loved it!
Don’t miss this exquisitely plotted and compelling space opera with convincing characters, pan-galaxy adventures and interspecies intrigues. Hooked by from the very first page by the main character’s death, this wonderfully expansive novel gives us insight into a newly formed four species combined space force’s faster-than-light vessel, the C.S.S. Magnetar. Modern press gangs, terrorists and prisoners, military drama and a young girl trying to find her place while discovering her mysterious past all combine with interesting hard science possibilities and captivating multiple character storylines. This is an amazing work and highly recommended.
Author Jo Boone writes with a singular voice and deep vocabulary with a talent for multi-threaded plots, great pace and a fulfilling resolution. I loved the imaginary and thorough world building from the “Caliban” robots (a little nod to the bard) to the subtle communications of the Octopods, Gu’ul and Avians, and the idea of the first “transgenic organism.” This book is made all the better by the little details such as the civilians who “ship spot” and unexpectedly make an important contribution. I found Charlie’s predicament convincing and enjoyed the wide array of characters from her smarmy supervisor Spivak to the Gu’ul Captain Chalk to the chaplain commander Arrek.
I truly enjoyed this book, devouring it in only a few days’ free time. I highly recommend it and I am looking forward to reading the next series installment.
Don’t miss this exquisitely plotted and compelling space opera with convincing characters, pan-galaxy adventures and interspecies intrigues. Hooked by from the very first page by the main character’s death, this wonderfully expansive novel gives us insight into a newly formed four species combined space force’s faster-than-light vessel, the C.S.S. Magnetar. Modern press gangs, terrorists and prisoners, military drama and a young girl trying to find her place while discovering her mysterious past all combine with interesting hard science possibilities and captivating multiple character storylines. This is an amazing work and highly recommended.
Author Jo Boone writes with a singular voice and deep vocabulary with a talent for multi-threaded plots, great pace and a fulfilling resolution. I loved the imaginary and thorough world building from the “Caliban” robots (a little nod to the bard) to the subtle communications of the Octopods, Gu’ul and Avians, and the idea of the first “transgenic organism.” This book is made all the better by the little details such as the civilians who “ship spot” and unexpectedly make an important contribution. I found Charlie’s predicament convincing and enjoyed the wide array of characters from her smarmy supervisor Spivak to the Gu’ul Captain Chalk to the chaplain commander Arrek.
I truly enjoyed this book, devouring it in only a few days’ free time. I highly recommend it and I am looking forward to reading the next series installment.
July 5, 2024
Jo Boone creates an interesting universe and story about the first combined service for multiple sentient species, with some interesting and likeable (but not perfect) main characters. I found it hard to put the book down.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews