Off Midway Station (Guardians of the Dark #1), by Marc Alan Edelheit
14 Sept 2024The Book
Synopsis:
Humanity is on the brink of annihilation. Only one man can turn the tide.
For centuries, we explored the stars and settled new worlds. But a mysterious alien threat emerged, launching devastating attacks and seizing entire star systems. Every fifty years they come, silent and relentless, before disappearing again into the dark. And as they close in on humanity’s home worlds, one more defeat could mean total extinction.
Captain Jim Garrett joined the navy to fight back. But when a delicate mission ends in madness and mutiny, Garrett takes the blame and his career is left in ruins.Now, the only thing he commands is a construction site. The CNS Surprise is an experimental warship, half built in the dockyards of Midway Station. Garrett knows the ship inside out, but the navy brass would never let him take the helm, let alone lead her in battle.
But when the aliens strike early, with unexpected ferocity, it’s clear that every ship in the fleet will be needed. And the Surprise could be the only hope of slowing the enemy onslaught.Garrett is thrust into command for the first time, launching straight into combat. He must unite a maverick crew and master new technologies, as he leads a desperate counterstrike that will decide mankind’s future.
Off Midway Station is a military SF adventure of high-stakes space warfare, nail-biting action, and characters you would gladly follow into battle. A monumental journey of courage, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of survival, it’s perfect for fans of Jack Campbell, David Weber, and Marko Kloos.
My Review
Off Midway Station is the first book in the military sci-fi series Guardians of the Dark, written by Marc Alan Edelheit, and published by Second Sky Books. A story about people that are forced to act under pressure, an underdog that will need to unite his crew to survive an attack, and a unique view into the construction of a spaceship.
A story that starts twelve years before, showing us how Jim Garrett, our main character, is relegated after having to take a difficult decision in order to save the lives of civilians; a career that is neutered before starting. The impossibility of rising doesn't stop him from trying to do his best, commanding the construction of spaceships in order to prepare for the Pulse (an attack that each 50 years is unleashed against humanity).
However, when the attack comes before than expected, Garrett will be forced to take the control of this new spaceship, and learn how to unite the crew in order if they want to keep humanity's hope.
We have a novel with two different parts: a first one that is slow-burned, more centered on the worldbuilding and introducing us to the characters; the construction of this new spaceship takes the focus in what is the slower section of the book, with more technical explanations. In comparison, the second one is really frenetic, putting that action component that characterizes military SF; you will fly through these pages.
Off Midway Station is a great starter to a series that promises much if you like military SF, with a more technical approach at the first half, putting the focus on how that ship is built; Garrett is a total underdog you want to cheer for, and definitely, if you want a really cinematic read, I would recommend this one!
The Author/s
Marc Alan Edelheit
Marc is an avid reader and accomplished author that spends his days – and nights – dreaming and writing about all things fantasy and sci-fi. In 2015 he decided to make his dream a reality and self-published his first fantasy novel... the rest is history!
Marc has a Bachelor's Degree in Science and obtained a Masters in Education as a Reading and Writing Specialist along with a Masters in Administration. After several years of moonlighting as a writer, he applied his experience as a business leader in the healthcare industry to his writing career to become a full-time author in 2018.
Marc has traveled the world, from Asia to Europe, even at one point crossing the border at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin toward the end of the Cold War. He is the ultimate history fan and incorporates much of that passion into his work to bring greater realism to his books.
Marc devours several print and audiobooks a week, ranging from history to science fiction and fantasy. In 2021, he moved to a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina to gain further inspiration after raising his family in Eastern Pennsylvania, just miles from where Washington crossed the Delaware.