Space Opera Fans discussion
![Backyard Starship (Backyard Starship, #1)](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628910800l/58764394._SX50_.jpg)
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Backyard Starship
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Jan 2022 LIMITED Backyard Starship by Chaney
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![Richard | 60 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1353978545p1/14941458.jpg)
Thanks!
There’s no Reader Pick for January because none of the qualifying books were seconded. None of the books on the Limited nominations thread were seconded either, so Backyard Starship as the only book seconded was our only possible pick of whatever kind. Yes it’s confusing.
![Richard | 60 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1353978545p1/14941458.jpg)
What’s even worse is nominating a book that gets seconded and chosen but then multiple people comment about how bad it is. Luckily that doesn’t happen often - most of us go by “if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all”.
Getting this thread back on track:
I started reading Backyard Starship yesterday. It’s readable but not holding my attention very well. This is not something wrong with the book just with the type of book that appeals to me. It might improve so I’ll continue a while longer. I’m at 23%.
I started reading Backyard Starship yesterday. It’s readable but not holding my attention very well. This is not something wrong with the book just with the type of book that appeals to me. It might improve so I’ll continue a while longer. I’m at 23%.
This series was recommended by Nathan Lowell in his latest newsletter. I might try it later, but at the moment it's not tempting me.
![Dan | 89 comments](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_25x33-8a3530ed95c3dbef8bf215b080559b09.png)
I started reading Backyard Starship yesterday. It’s readable but not holding my attention very well. This is not something wrong with the book just with the type ..."
It's funny I actually finished the book yesterday and am already a third of the way through book 2.
Probably for the first third of this book I was kind of trudging through, and thinking "this is going to end up on my can't finish shelf"
And then I started laughing out loud and I've already bought book 3 in the series.
So I really enjoy this book, but really slow start. I will say I think it's fairly original, although we do have some of the usual tropes, the whole concept is unique.
I will say I've come to really like Perry -- although he gets snarkier in the second book. There's a definite focus on how the AIs are more ruthless than other sentient beings.
I also like the interaction with Torina and Van and like how she appears to be an actual character and not just a romantic foil.
What I do wonder though is JN Chaney is a prolific author and it feels like he releases a new book every month or two. I wonder if he is acting as an editor / rewriter with some of these books with less productive authors. That to me would explain the way the books play.
The first chunk is clearly the author trying to get his feet under him to tell the story.
But once he gets in the groove it's really enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to completing the series...
![Mattias Sandström](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1698564809p1/132532325.jpg)
However, at the same time I am listening to Pandoras Star on Audible and I see the differences between space opera and Space Opera. The confidence PFH has in spending a chapter describing the fly over the volcanoes on Far Away and the minute details is stunning.
Backyard Starship completely lacks these details so the universe doesn't feel complete. Anyway, keeping fingers crossed!
![Richard | 60 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1353978545p1/14941458.jpg)
![Lizzie | 303 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1627628566p1/39446933.jpg)
Maybe as mentioned above by Dan, there are other authors contributing or maybe I am just not his target audience.
Books mentioned in this topic
Backyard Starship (other topics)Authors mentioned in this topic
Nathan Lowell (other topics)J.N. Chaney (other topics)
Terry Maggert (other topics)
Official description:
When Van Tudor returns to his childhood home, he inherits more than the family farm.
His grandfather used to tell him fantastic stories of spacemen and monsters, princesses and galactic knights. Little did Van realize, the old man's tales were more than fiction. They were real.
Hidden beneath the old barn, Van’s legacy is waiting: a starship, not of this world.
With his combat AI, an android bird named Perry, Van takes his first steps into the wider galaxy. He soon finds that space is far busier and more dangerous than he could have ever conceived.
Destiny is calling. His grandfather's legacy awaits.