Backyard Starship Books
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. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with USA Today Bestselling Author J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert in this brand new science fiction series. If you're a fan of found spaceships and galactic quests for glory, this might just be the story you've been waiting for. ~2022 Dragon Award Nominee for Best Military Science Fiction~
Van left his old life behind, but some things remain the same. Even in space, crime still exists. After taking a Peacemaker job to find missing fuel, Perry finds something far more sinister than simple theft—a voice, crying out in a forge of heat and flame, and the discovery reveals a series of acts so vicious that nothing short of revenge will suffice. Following leads across the stars, Van, Perry, and Torina discover the wealthy elite are doing more than just taking fuel. They’re stealing lives. But it takes money to make justice, and Van has to work. Torina’s land must be restored, and the Dragonet needs new armor, and Van’s sword isn’t going to sharpen itself. So Van throws himself into the life of a Peacemaker, where he discovers that doing his job—and doing it well—makes him a target. He’s got the will. He’s got the sword. And he’s got help. Now all he needs is a little fuel. And maybe a gun or two.
The guild is under attack, and Van is right in the middle of it all. When Master Yewlo is abducted by unknown forces, the Peacemakers are thrown into chaos as the rescue mission begins. Finding Yewlo will be hard, but the search reveals secrets the guild might not survive—secrets about a system so corrupt, it will take Van and his team’s best efforts to untangle the truth. And they might not like what they find. On the grimy station known as Halcyon, Van will track and confront thieves who deal in stolen lives, all in order to save a Master who might not have the guild’s best interest at heart. With Sorcerers and Cloaks and every other kind of criminal, Van, Torina, Perry and Icky learn that friends come in all shapes and sizes—and so do enemies. From the depths of space to Iowa, join Van as he fights to save his guild, free stolen lives, and discover that money makes the universe go around—money and lies, that is. And Van will find the truth, no matter what the cost.
There are some things you simply can’t escape. For Van, it’s family. Out among the stars, his cousin, Carter Yost, drags Van and his team into a criminal ring run by the High Doctor- a dangerous con artist with delusions of grandeur. Working from the abandoned world of Pathway, the High Doctor has created a cult, stealing a fortune from the fearful, sick, and scared. If there’s one thing Van hates, it’s a bully, and the High Doctor has his full attention. But in order to crush the criminal cult, Van needs bigger, better armor—and that comes with a price. The rarest metals cost money, and that means doing a few dirty jobs in order to pay for the tools of his trade. Van’s got the will. His team has the skill. Now, he has to find a way. And the way will surely involve war.
When Van gains rank as a Peacemaker, he becomes a bigger target for the criminals scattered among the stars. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. On a distant world under an alien sun, hunters and their companions—the Rovan—bond in a ritual as old as their civilization. But one of the hunters is missing, and Van, along with his growing crew, knows where to look. Climbing up into the rarified air of the super-rich, Van uncovers a new enemy: The Fade. And they are as cruel as the stars are many. A gang of heartless killers, the Fade will stop at nothing in the name of profit. Which is fine with Van, as he’ll stop at nothing in the name of justice. Tracking his quarry across a dozen systems, Van, Torina, Perry and Icky—along with Zenophir, the new technician—will untangle a conspiracy of betrayal and death. As Van soon discovers, the Fade never lose. But they’ve never met Van and his crew. Experience the fifth entry in the best selling science fiction series of 2021 from USA Today Bestselling Authors J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert. If you're a fan of old school heroes and villains, a bustling galaxy full of unknowns, and lost civilizations, you're sure to love this epic scifi adventure.
Witness the beginning of the critically acclaimed Backyard Starship series with these two short stories. When an interstellar thief is pursued across the galaxy for his crimes, he turns to the only planet around for hiding: a tiny backwater world in the middle of nowhere that the natives call Earth. Unfortunately, he happens to land in the midst of the greatest war the world has ever known. An American Corporal by the name of Mark Tudor witnesses a special kind of justice that can only come from the stars. As a Peacemaker descends to wage battle against this invader, Tudor is thrown into the action, and his life is forever changed. Will he embrace his true destiny? Or will he succumb to the fear of the unknown? Experience the origins of the Backyard Starship universe with these two riveting short stories about a young Mark Tudor, grandfather to Van Tudor, and find out exactly how a young World War 1 soldier becomes a legendary Peacemaker.
The Universe is a bloody mess. Time to put on your cleaning gloves. During a routine arrest, Van discovers a stolen spacecraft, its importance far greater than it first appears. Fast, sleek, and beautiful, the ship is a cultural relic from Linulla’s people, and returning their property will set off a chain of events that reveals a new adversary. Rising in the ranks, Van’s confrontation with a pirate leader isn’t just a case of theft, but something far more sinister. And Van’s going to take this case personally . He and his crew will chase the Salt Thieves and their leader in a game that can only have one winner. Will Van rise to the challenge? Can Icky control her temper? Will Perry make Icky wear pants? The answer is more complicated than it seems. And far more dangerous, for that matter, than anything Van has ever done before. But he’s got a new edge on the Moonsword, a new rank, and a new crew as he takes his Dragon to the stars with one thing in mind... Justice . The #1 bestselling science fiction series of the year returns for its sixth entry with Distant Horizons. If you're a fan of classic adventure stories, relatable humor, and a hero that refuses to quit, you'll love the Backyard Starship series.
When the Fafnir responds to a desperate distress call, their act of kindness is turned against them, making Van the most wanted man in the known universe. Targeted by a vicious, charismatic politician and his shadowy partner, Van and his friends are faced with a decision that carries long term consequences—deliver justice. . . or run and hide. The choice is easy. The Fafnir will attack, and criminals will pay regardless of the bounty chasing them across the stars. But first, there’s a little business to take care of in the form of a social event at Milon Estates. Dress is formal, the atmosphere tense, and a choice must be made. And just like Van’s decision to fight, the event on Helso will change his life forever. The crew is willing, and the ship is ready. Now, all Van has to do is avoid the law, apply the law, and dive headfirst into a conspiracy that will play out on the largest stage of all: The Galaxy itself. Experience the seventh entry in the ongoing Backyard Starship series from USA Today Bestsellers J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert. Buckle up and grab your juicebox, because it's time to get out there and save the Galaxy.
Van is a veteran now, and the lessons are getting tougher. But so is he. When a ghost ship arrives in port, filled with the victims of a crime beyond imagination, Van and his crew will be drawn into a chase that goes beyond any star system the Peacemakers know. Beyond Guild borders, the Torus is a gateway to crime and profit beyond imagination. It’ a wild, lawless place with few connections to the civilized stars, but Van and Torina discover a thread that connects the past, the future, and the present in a web of violence that can only be purged by fighting fire with fire. Unfortunately for the enemy, Van has a torch, and he’s willing to use it. From the reaches of space where a secretive race ply their illegal trade, to the halls of Anvil Dark, Van will face his greatest step, and answer his most challenging question. After the Peacemakers, what comes next? And can Van survive it?
Van's next mission has begun, and at the heart of it is the power to save lives. Meanwhile, a hungry galaxy looks to a brilliant young scientist for answers, making her the most wanted person in known space. After years of research, Adayluh Creel perfects a resource to feed sixteen races--or more, all with one golden plant capable of growing on the most hostile worlds. For her efforts, she wants nothing, but savage forces will seek to possess what she would give away for free, thus controlling the food source for billions of people. But Adayluh has powerful allies who know what's at stake, and the fight is on as the Guild, GKU, and other shadowy powers converge on one point, with one goal--save Adayluh, save the people, and end the Sorcerers forever.
Get ready to experience two more origin stories in the Backyard Starship universe. Legendary Peacemaker Petyrn Groshenko wasn’t always on the good side of the law. As a young agent of the KGB, the murder of his father sets events in motion that begin with Petyr doing something beyond his wildest dreams. He leaves the earth. In a starship. And not of his own volition. Abducted by an alien con artist, Petyr Groshenko holds the key to a mystery worth millions—or billions—of bonds, thanks to an ancient secret that began in Russia, passed through Tunisia, and ends in the most unlikely place of all, thanks to a clever American soldier who kept a promise across the years and miles. To find the treasure, Petyr is going to need luck, and help, and the wits of an alien who is far more than she appears to be. Join Petyr as he begins the journey of a lifetime in this origin story from the Backyard Starship Universe. Even legends have to start somewhere, and for Petyr Groshenko, it begins here, in Red Agent. ----------------------- Before Van went to the stars, Mark Tudor was there-- but he wasn't alone. Perry was Mark's guardian, advisor, and friend, serving decades as they battled for the forces of good, solving cases and stopping crime of all kinds. But in-between Mark and Van, there was a gap in time where Perry was faced with a choice. Serve the Guild, do what's right and take the next step in a career measured in centuries, not years. In this thrilling look at Perry's history, find out what happens when an AI feels the greatest loss of all-- and moves on, honoring a duty that spans time and the stars themselves.
Van and his crew have killed an empire. The problem is the empire doesn’t know it’s dead. Moving among the stars, the Peacemakers are faced with their greatest challenge—removing an evil so vast, it has a presence in every known star system. To that end, they’ll need to move quickly. To do so, they must be mobile, and that means big changes in their tactics. . . and their crew. With the help of a shadowy figure known as the Body Thief, Van will continue his policy of justice and freedom for all citizens. Even if they began life on a computer chip. In the deepest reaches of known space, the Fafnir will seek new technologies from old sources, arming their ranks against enemies who use force before reason and weapons before words. And this time, they’ll have advice from a being who might be as old as the stars themselves—if they can come to an understanding about what it truly means to be alive. Get ready for the 11th entry in the bestselling Backyard Starship series from J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert.
Helem Gauss is gone, but his legacy lives on. Calamity, the digital plague, is spreading, and where it strikes is both ruthless and random. Fearful of the Earth being ravaged, Van and the crew go on high alert to keep his homeworld free of galactic influence. But that vision is shattered when Tony Burgess captures an alien ship. . . in Wisconsin. And the ship isn’t just a stray workboat. It’s the opening ploy of a group who sees humanity as a business opportunity too big to pass up. Advancing in rank, Van is torn between two duties—to his crew, and to his home. Since he isn’t willing to give up the safety of either, he’ll have to find a third way. Unfortunately for the forces against him, that path will include violence.
With his new rank, secrets begin to unfold for Van as war and politics become one and the same. The Fafnir is no longer a mere ship—it’s a force to be reckoned with, but it isn’t complete. One possible answer lies in deep space, in a secret facility funded by an array of allies. But this laboratory creates something far more deadly than a virus or a weapon. It produces ships. Null Stellarium is more than a shipyard. It’s a proving ground, steeped with science and engineering designed to push warships faster than ever before, and armed to confront the growing menace of a universe where everything is influenced by a hidden evil. As Van and his crew grow into their new roles, Perry unlocks a memory that reaches into the very beginning of the Tudor family’s service, nearly a century earlier. But sometimes, the truth is hidden for a reason, and Van must decide— How much does he really want to know? And how far can he take his ship, knowing there’s a price on his head?
Earth is no longer alone, and Van isn’t happy about it. When the Equal Grasp and other unsavory aliens launch their plot to open humanity up to the stars—in the name of profit, of course—Van and his crew spring into action, fearing the fallout of a world gone mad. With each passing event in his career, Van continues to unravel locked memories, held by Perry, that explain a family history that is far more violent than he ever imagined. And the memories aren’t focused on Van alone. They tell a tale of war in the stars—a war that left the Peacemakers in shambles, the GKU reeling, and three warrior races hiding among the deep. But first, there’s the small matter of aliens in Wisconsin... and they're playing games in Van's back yard.
Humans have been in the stars far longer than Van originally thought, and they’ve been busy . But not every visitor to or from Earth has good intentions, and the Peacemakers are faced with an uncomfortable reality. The Earth is about to meet aliens. Some of the aliens are bringing goods to trade. And among those items—are weapons. When a secret cabal of humans who want to exploit the Earth is revealed, Van has to decide how and where to fight this threat. Along the way, he reveals a secret history that began in the Great War—and ends with mass chaos on his home planet. Van won’t let that happen—at least not without a fight, and to hold back the gears of war, he’s going to need a lot of help. With Torina at his side, the crew faces a decision that will change the future of the stars themselves, and challenge the Guild, the Earth, and the Equal Grasp as the universe gets smaller with each contact between humans and aliens. How can Van manage the clash, save earth, and deliver peace? If he can, what will it cost him?
Awash with loss and surrounded by enemies, Van and his crew are faced with the same challenge Mark Tudor dealt with decades earlier. Does Van accept the crown, and become a Master? The Guild is in shambles. The 32 might be a myth. And an entire race has chosen Van Tudor as their enemy—and they’ll stop at nothing to end his life in the name of power and money. But the threat isn’t just among the stars. For the first time in his career, Van must protect his home planet from people who look at humans as a resource—and Peacemakers as the key to untold wealth. With Van’s decision comes long term effects, and an Earth that is no longer alone in the universe, but connected to the stars... And at risk from every danger in known space. The decision is now. The battle is now. And the crown is heavier than one Peacemaker might be able to carry--unless he has a little help from his friends.
For Van and his crew, danger is no longer just among the stars. On earth, the Fafnir has drawn the attention of the most dangerous predator known to humanity— Bureaucrats. Between human enemies and alien allies, Van finds himself on the edge of a powerful change in his career. From the depths of his own family history, an old enemy returns with plans for power at any cost. Just as his grandfather did fifty years earlier, Van will meet and challenge the threat of an ancient empire that spans deserts and stars and time. This enemy will force Van’s hand as he confronts a question at the heart of who is is— what does it mean to be alive, and who controls your life? But there’s more than just war and crime. There might be a wedding, and there will be cheese, and Funboy has a growing career as a television personality in the Midwest, but only if he can wear a tuxedo, of course. Join Van and the crew as they find that friendship never dies, and neither does greed—at least, not around the Guild.
In a clandestine meeting on earth, Van learns a critical bit of family history when he meets his secret benefactor. From the halls of power in Washington to the vastness of space, the Guild moves closer to outright war as shifting alliances force everyone—including Van—to pick a side, take up arms, and fight. But there are ghosts our there in the black, and some of them carry secrets that Mark Tudor and Petyr Groshenko refused to reveal. In the expanse of his memory, Perry finds an ancient ship, and an even older war—and neither of those things have truly gone away. Faced with power and responsibility unlike anything he can imagine, Van Tudor is about to learn a fact that few people have ever known-- The universe looks different when you’re wearing a Master’s badge. And those who don’t have one just might want you dead.
Van is proving that with power comes danger. From the shores of a secret planet to the halls of power in Washington, Van navigates a complex web of lies, law, and politics, all so that Earth can be saved from the clutches of ruthless criminals. But these people aren’t from Earth. In fact, they’re not even human, and they see Earth as a ripe fruit, ready to be picked. That doesn’t work for Van and his crew, so he begins fighting back with the dirtiest tactics of all: diplomacy. Since the aliens are among us, and they want money and power, Perry and Miryam will unleash their skills to craft a plan that uses Van, Icky, and Funboy to stop the exploitation of Earth cold, for the enemies are led by a new player in the galactic order. The Tsarina. She’s cruel, she’s heavily armed, and she’s coming for Earth—with a ship that can match anything the Guild has. With enemies at the door, Van finds out that Masters can fail, and secrets are hard to keep, and the Earth is worth saving. At any cost.
Awash with conflict and a building war, the known stars align against Van and his wing of the Guild in a fight for the ultimate control. But Van and his crew suspect there’s more to the Equal Grasp than just a band of thieves, and they begin their campaign at Bopul Station, a lonely outpost where corruption rules and Peacemakers are feared. To continue the fight, and the case, the crew and friends need more than just contacts. They need money. To that end, Van begins exploring an old mystery about his grandfather, which leads to the shocking discovery—the Earth is being stripped of her history, one object at a time, but that’s not the main purpose of the criminals. For their goals are bigger than just stealing art. Much bigger. One of their targets is nothing less than the end of the Fafnir, and Van, and everything he represents. Along the way, Icky learns about motherhood, and Funboy learns about grief, and everyone agrees that cheese is good and pants are bad— --sort of. There’s a time and place for everything. And Van will lead his crew for as long as he can. If he can stay alive. And that’s a pretty big if.
For the first time ever, Van has to deliver the remains of fallen comrades. At the Starsmith, he’s presented with an opportunity to change the face of the war, even as Torina and Van begin planning for the ultimate shift in their galaxy: Parenthood. But first, the crew must prepare for an unexpected gift-- a new, unknown fleet of ships, uncrewed and hidden deep out in the black. There’s just one problem. They have the ships, but they need pilots and a secret base to create their fleet. For that job, they’ll need an ally of unparalleled strength. The Schegith Protectorate. With friends, and a little time, Van and his AI friends create a plan so bold it will take them into the heart of Yotov’s web—and far from anyone who can help them. Earth hangs in the balance, and the fight for humanity’s future will take place among the stars.
When a running battle brings the Fafnir home to earth, it ends with the death of a trusted friend—and a new focus on what comes next for Van and his crew. The Guild is rotten. It must be changed. It must be healed. But to do that, Van will have to marshal resources on a scale he's never considered, and that means calling in favors from friends. With the Schegith fleet in training, and the Conoku itching to get back into the fight, Van has a clear plan for what he has to do—which is the one thing he doesn't want to do. The time for war is here. The time for change is now. A new leader is needed, and Van will discover if he can take control of Yotov's criminal empire—and save the victims across known space.
Get ready to experience two more origin stories in the Backyard Starship universe. CLEVER GIRL Icrul never fit in. From her awkward body to her clever mind, so full of questions, she stood out in a city where conformity ruled—and tradition kept creative minds in check. Abandoned by her scheming mother, Icky and her Da face a cruel teacher, a decaying ship, and financial ruin. They also face. . . a grasping hand that will use the law to strip them of everything they worked for. But Icky is smart, and her Da is tough, and between them, they'll stand up to a planet filled with people who make the ultimate error about the clumsy girl with big feet and endless questions. They underestimate her. And doing so is the last mistake they'll get to make, for Icky's destiny isn't in a stifling classroom. Her place is among the stars. And she'll use everything she knows to get there. THE CASE OF THE UNWASHED STILETTO When gifted medical graduate Funboy finishes his education, he's prepared for anything the stars can offer. Except the plans of his meddling cousin. With cunning and guile, she convinces the family to send Funboy to an activity that directly contradicts his pathological need for order, rules, and cleanliness. Funboy is going on a cruise. For twenty-one glorious days, he will live a dissolute life of luxury—right up until the moment a crime occurs. With the theft of a priceless piece of art, Funboy is asked to unravel a mystery that goes back decades, leaning on his skills in the areas of medicine, law— And the ways of love. Because this is no ordinary cruise. This is a voyage designed to put lovers of any and all species together, and Funboy, despite avoiding people whenever possible—well, Funboy has desires. Appetites. Can Funboy overcome his nature, solve the crime, and find love among the stars? He might. But first, he will ask you to wash your hands. You see, there are rules. Even out there, in the endless black of space. Travel with Funboy and his particular personality as he takes on his first case, and begins to understand that the stars are where rules are made to be broken.
The stars have come to Iowa, and the earth will never be the same. With the Nexus up and running, Van and crew become interstellar players in the fight for earth, but their enemies aren't just from out in the black. Sensing massive profits, the scramble to exploit humanity pits Van against his own people—and Yotov, whose plans have finally come to fruition. With political warfare, the Equal Grasp seeks to do what missiles cannot—remove Van from the picture. But he's a lot tougher than that, and Icky's hammer is swinging freely, and the crew are international stars, portrayed as the heroes of a world that reaches beyond the sky—into deepest space and beyond. With one last throw of the dice, Yotov will unleash the hidden reserve of power she's been hiding. If it works, Van will be dead. Or worse. Because Yotov and the Equal Grasp don't just want power. They want control of life itself, and they'll stop at nothing to get it.
The final enemy has been revealed, and it's more insidious than Van could ever imagine, spanning space and time with the patience of immortality—and an utter disregard for all forms of life. On the run and broken, the Equal Grasp faces elimination on earth and everywhere else, their leader gone, their mission a shambles, and with new agents of justice hard on their heels. But the fight isn't over. In fact, it's just begun, and Van knows that every decision he's made for the past decade will come to bear on who lives, and who dies— And who is meant to rule over a universe where freedom and justice are the ultimate pursuit. At any cost, Van and his crew will finish the job, but they're going to need a lot of help from people and beings who have been observers. Until now. The time for watching is over. The time for victory is now. But the cost might be more than anyone can pay, and Van is no longer merely an agent of justice. He's a father, a husband, and a friend—and he's going to need every connection in the stars to defeat the ultimate enemy and save his people.
It's all come down to this. A war for control of all civilization, pitting organic life against an ancient evil that knows no fear, no kindness, and no limits. Calamity is loose, and it's been busy learning—from its time with Netty to running wild among the stars, the ultimate evil seeks nothing less than complete dominion over all space and time. And for Calamity, life is in the way. Van and his crew will enlist old friends, new friends, and the very beings he sought to protect from his first days as a rookie Peacemaker, fighting for the dignity of those who had no voices during the dark years of a corrupt guild. It all comes down to this. And one way or another—it all ends here. From the fields of Iowa to deepest space, the final conflict will unfold with only one thing certain: Not everyone will survive, but Van will give his last breath to make certain that when future generations speak his name, they will always remember one fact. Until the end, he gave it all for justice, no matter the cost.
After two decades of learning at the Nexus, the children of Van and his crew are ready to take their first steps out in the big black. Aboard their new ship, the AnaDarko , the young officers begin unraveling a mystery that goes beyond the depths of time—where did Gabby’s people come from, and why does life, scattered across the gas giants, all sound so familiar to her? Under the capable guidance of Rab, a seasoned Peacemaker, the young crew pursues science and knowledge—even as Van and Torina push back against a threat that originates on earth itself. Politics is a dirty business, and with Constance Plowitz’ retirement, the scramble for control of earth’s future falls in the hands of someone who sees the Fist of Orion not as a partner— —but an enemy. But Van is two decades older, and wiser, and the crew, along with Perry and Funboy and Icky—are that much better at their specialty—dispensing justice. There are old friends, new faces, and a power struggle whose roots go back to when known space was young, empires were old, and war was the answer.
Reformed, repackaged, and re-engineered, the Stillness reveal that they never went away. They merely waited. Watching. Planning. And those plans will collide with the rising stars of an empire based on justice and action. Out in the deep black, Abel Tudor and his crew will fight to prove that command isn't given, it's earned—and their parents chose well, giving them the helm to a warship that could change history with one fateful journey. But they have allies who are proven veterans of a galaxy gone mad with violence. Van, Torina, and the crew aren’t retiring—they’re reloading, and with the Fafnir and crew come something the Stillness have never faced before. Van Tudor, the commander of it all. He’s older, wiser, and unwavering in his commitment to justice, but now, he’s got decades of experience in the trenches with his friends, family, and allies who share his vision for freedom and peace—at any cost. Along the way, Van, Abel, and their teams will meet old friends, new enemies, and discover that space isn't just crowded— It can be lethal. Especially for the young, no matter who their parents are.