Lost Among the Stars
All Corporal Jacy Lonigan wanted was to win the war against the alien invaders and go home. The half-Cherokee horse trainer was a thorn in the side of Ketchumal--leader of the “Uglies” who was determined to pin Lonigan's hide to the wall and then eat him. Transferred to the planet Papillon Lonigan found his Uncle Willy TwoFeather's ranch, redheaded Shona Gates and their little alien pets fascinating but the Uglies followed them to Papillion where the final battle with the colonists could leave them lost among the stars—or dead.
Dreamcatcher galloped through the grass, gradually slowing into a rocking chair canter he could keep up for miles. The starlit sky sparkled like diamonds on ebony. Jacy had never seen so many stars in one sky, on any world. He adjusted his night vision goggles slightly for the starshine. A familiar stench hit the air and Jacy swore softly. Uglies! The stallion started to bolt but Jacy soothed him with his mind and hands and voice.
“Easy boy, not yet.”
T’Chana held tightly to the pommel, her prehensile tail curled around the saddle horn. She was intent on something ahead while Jacy glanced behind them at the flitting black shapes. Jacy readied his laser rifle. Too many. He pulled his last sonic grenade from his utility belt and slowed Dreamcatcher until the stallion nearly cantered in place. Jacy pulled the pin and cast the grenade behind him into the shadows. . .
Vandover/Benefield/LATS/synopsis
Lost Among the Stars—synopsis
Jacy Longian's life is in shreds—half Cherokee, half Irish and all fighter--the former horsetrainer is drafted into the war against the Keltain alien invaders, better known as the Uglies. The Uglies are nasty man-eating aliens that resemble a mixture of feline and insect. Jacy and his buddy “Taz” are the only survivors of their unit on the New Erin colony. Jacy Lonigan finds map to the Keltain homeworld with the help of a small alien called a Shaku. Jacy and Taz help destroy the Uglies homeworld and are badly wounded. Jacy's Keltain foe, Katchumal, is determined to find Jacy and eat him. Jacy is “Dear Johned” by his fiancée. Then Taz and Jacy are sent to the Papillon colony to recuperate along with Private Brad Mason, who resents Corporal Jacy Lonigan for being a hero.
Earth is worried the Keltain will hit them next but has a small garrison on Papillon and another on its moon to protect the colonists. Not all the colonists appreciate this, especially the criminals who have their own racket to protect.
Jacy and Taz are given eight weeks leave and are taken by Jacy's Uncle Willy to Willy's ranch. Jacy meets the fiery Shona Gates and her “pet” symbiotic landhorse whom Jacy suspects is really a highly intelligent, telepathic native. The fuzzy green blend of seahorse and kangaroo with the golden mane and black button eyes is too cute and the look in its eyes is not that of an animal.
Katchumal the Keltain Ugly follows Jacy and the Uglies establish a post in the out lands.
Shona is kidnapped by Private Brad Mason and his cousin Ric, a local hoodlum. Jacy and Taz borrow mounts from Uncle Willy and track the missing girl and her captors through the outlands full of dangerous native beasts: wild yang--pony-sized omnivores resembling triceratops covered with sparkling fur, blue bees that shock, giant man-eating roc birds-- flightless runners with huge beaks, giant snakebats-- batwinged,swamp-dwelling manta rays with scaly long necks and reptilian heads, kindu--omnivorous deer-like mammals with fangs, sharp hooves and palmate antlers, chameleon cats--lion-sized brutes who change color to match their surroundings and wind devils—whirlwinds of purple lightning ridden by crocidilian scavengers.
The Keltain invaders take over Papillon's moon and destroy the outpost and garrison there. Papillon itself is cut off from Earth and under attack by the Keltain. The soldiers, colonists and their psi-powered “pets” must join together and drive these intruders from their world or be forever lost among the stars.
This review is from: Lost Among The Stars (Kindle Edition) :) I "liked" it! Actually I am reading it a second time.
I must really be weird... I race through a book and if I like the feeling/story/ending, then I read it again at a more leisurely pace. AND then I read it again for the spots that I liked the best. I love Sci Fi. Your book is more pleasant to read than many; much of what is out there is pretty blood-thirsty and gory or laced with graphic sex. This is a great story, believable characters and a good ending. When is the sequel? How about trilogy? Hazel C.
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Among-The-Stars-ebook/product-reviews/B0082IBM4A/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Dreamcatcher galloped through the grass, gradually slowing into a rocking chair canter he could keep up for miles. The starlit sky sparkled like diamonds on ebony. Jacy had never seen so many stars in one sky, on any world. He adjusted his night vision goggles slightly for the starshine. A familiar stench hit the air and Jacy swore softly. Uglies! The stallion started to bolt but Jacy soothed him with his mind and hands and voice.
“Easy boy, not yet.”
T’Chana held tightly to the pommel, her prehensile tail curled around the saddle horn. She was intent on something ahead while Jacy glanced behind them at the flitting black shapes. Jacy readied his laser rifle. Too many. He pulled his last sonic grenade from his utility belt and slowed Dreamcatcher until the stallion nearly cantered in place. Jacy pulled the pin and cast the grenade behind him into the shadows. . .
Vandover/Benefield/LATS/synopsis
Lost Among the Stars—synopsis
Jacy Longian's life is in shreds—half Cherokee, half Irish and all fighter--the former horsetrainer is drafted into the war against the Keltain alien invaders, better known as the Uglies. The Uglies are nasty man-eating aliens that resemble a mixture of feline and insect. Jacy and his buddy “Taz” are the only survivors of their unit on the New Erin colony. Jacy Lonigan finds map to the Keltain homeworld with the help of a small alien called a Shaku. Jacy and Taz help destroy the Uglies homeworld and are badly wounded. Jacy's Keltain foe, Katchumal, is determined to find Jacy and eat him. Jacy is “Dear Johned” by his fiancée. Then Taz and Jacy are sent to the Papillon colony to recuperate along with Private Brad Mason, who resents Corporal Jacy Lonigan for being a hero.
Earth is worried the Keltain will hit them next but has a small garrison on Papillon and another on its moon to protect the colonists. Not all the colonists appreciate this, especially the criminals who have their own racket to protect.
Jacy and Taz are given eight weeks leave and are taken by Jacy's Uncle Willy to Willy's ranch. Jacy meets the fiery Shona Gates and her “pet” symbiotic landhorse whom Jacy suspects is really a highly intelligent, telepathic native. The fuzzy green blend of seahorse and kangaroo with the golden mane and black button eyes is too cute and the look in its eyes is not that of an animal.
Katchumal the Keltain Ugly follows Jacy and the Uglies establish a post in the out lands.
Shona is kidnapped by Private Brad Mason and his cousin Ric, a local hoodlum. Jacy and Taz borrow mounts from Uncle Willy and track the missing girl and her captors through the outlands full of dangerous native beasts: wild yang--pony-sized omnivores resembling triceratops covered with sparkling fur, blue bees that shock, giant man-eating roc birds-- flightless runners with huge beaks, giant snakebats-- batwinged,swamp-dwelling manta rays with scaly long necks and reptilian heads, kindu--omnivorous deer-like mammals with fangs, sharp hooves and palmate antlers, chameleon cats--lion-sized brutes who change color to match their surroundings and wind devils—whirlwinds of purple lightning ridden by crocidilian scavengers.
The Keltain invaders take over Papillon's moon and destroy the outpost and garrison there. Papillon itself is cut off from Earth and under attack by the Keltain. The soldiers, colonists and their psi-powered “pets” must join together and drive these intruders from their world or be forever lost among the stars.
This review is from: Lost Among The Stars (Kindle Edition) :) I "liked" it! Actually I am reading it a second time.
I must really be weird... I race through a book and if I like the feeling/story/ending, then I read it again at a more leisurely pace. AND then I read it again for the spots that I liked the best. I love Sci Fi. Your book is more pleasant to read than many; much of what is out there is pretty blood-thirsty and gory or laced with graphic sex. This is a great story, believable characters and a good ending. When is the sequel? How about trilogy? Hazel C.
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Among-The-Stars-ebook/product-reviews/B0082IBM4A/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1