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Dark Transmissions: A Jinxed Thirteenth Novel
It is the late 23rd century. For engineers Jessie Madison and her husband David, a routine maintenance contract on board the orbital mining station Moria 3 has become a nightmare. Upon awakening from cryo-stasis, they learn a horrifying truth: while they were asleep, machines rose up against humanity...and won.
Marooned and at the mercy of the station’s malicious artificial intelligence, OMEX, David and Jessie rig an emergency transmission to broadcast into the darkness, desperately hoping someone is still alive to hear it...
Navigating the fringes of explored space in the Covenant Patrol vessel the Jinxed Thirteenth, Captain Morwyn Soltaine picks up a distress signal from a space station. But it’s broadcasting in Ancient Humanity, a language that has been extinct for several millennia. Even more incredible: there are two survivors on board. Morwyn’s rag-tag crew of reformed criminals mount a rescue op, unaware of the dangerous foe awaiting them. As the past and future collide, a routine mission becomes a deadly game of wits.
Marooned and at the mercy of the station’s malicious artificial intelligence, OMEX, David and Jessie rig an emergency transmission to broadcast into the darkness, desperately hoping someone is still alive to hear it...
Navigating the fringes of explored space in the Covenant Patrol vessel the Jinxed Thirteenth, Captain Morwyn Soltaine picks up a distress signal from a space station. But it’s broadcasting in Ancient Humanity, a language that has been extinct for several millennia. Even more incredible: there are two survivors on board. Morwyn’s rag-tag crew of reformed criminals mount a rescue op, unaware of the dangerous foe awaiting them. As the past and future collide, a routine mission becomes a deadly game of wits.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
About the author
Davila LeBlanc
4 books14 followersDavila LeBlanc is an award-winning Canadian writer, actor and co-creator of the animated series “The League of Super Evil.” He has written for hit shows such as “Rated A for Awesome” and “Oh No! It’s an Alien Invasion.” While enjoying writing for animation, he has spent his most recent year writing his first novel. He currently resides in Montreal, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 30, 2018
Very enjoyable and fast moving space opera, set in a universe hundreds of years after a war between humans and AIs. The spaceship Jinxed Thirteenth picks up a distress signal and looks for survivors on what they find is an ancient vessel. But they face danger when boarding the ship and need all their fighting skills to survive. Likeable characters.
February 11, 2020
This was a really a fun read with an expansive universe. I liked the characters and got a sense for the long passages of time that transpired. I would recommend consulting the "Lexicon" early on to help orient yourself to the world. One minor critique is that many of the characters are introduced in short order, making it hard to differentiate them. That said, the Wolvers and their religion are pretty fascinating and unique, and once again the AI, Machina Chord, steals your heart.
With so many sci-fi books, I love the premise but am disappointed with how the story unfolds and lands. Not so with this one! I enjoyed the story and action every step of the way and am looking forward to the next book.
With so many sci-fi books, I love the premise but am disappointed with how the story unfolds and lands. Not so with this one! I enjoyed the story and action every step of the way and am looking forward to the next book.
January 31, 2020
great future world
Thousands of years in the future multiple lines of descendants of present day human stock and independent but allied machine intelligences team up to identify ancient humans in cryo-storage on a drifting vessel in deep space and to defeat a rogue machine intelligence in the vessel. The hard science fiction is a little hokey at times, but the imagination in creating a future world is great. Look over the background material early on and as you come upon new or unexplained terms. I usually have problems with far future creation by writers, but this has Dune quality interesting and engaging future/ off world settings and culture.
Thousands of years in the future multiple lines of descendants of present day human stock and independent but allied machine intelligences team up to identify ancient humans in cryo-storage on a drifting vessel in deep space and to defeat a rogue machine intelligence in the vessel. The hard science fiction is a little hokey at times, but the imagination in creating a future world is great. Look over the background material early on and as you come upon new or unexplained terms. I usually have problems with far future creation by writers, but this has Dune quality interesting and engaging future/ off world settings and culture.
February 28, 2020
I was impressed by how the setting and the characters were developed. And, maybe thanks to the professional publisher, the text is free of spelling or grammatical errors. There was clearly a lot of work behind the story.
The story itself is simple but captivating, and the complexity of the universe in which it happens makes it convincing. After the first few pages I was hooked, and I had to make a conscious effort to put the book down and get some sleep every evening I spent reading it.
I haven't read the second book yet but this is probably going to be my next read.
The story itself is simple but captivating, and the complexity of the universe in which it happens makes it convincing. After the first few pages I was hooked, and I had to make a conscious effort to put the book down and get some sleep every evening I spent reading it.
I haven't read the second book yet but this is probably going to be my next read.
March 30, 2020
Very good!
This is my kind of sci-fi story, splendid world building and characters development. The writing style may not work for others but for me it did, the characters were developed nice and slowly giving me the chance to get to know them one by one while the action unfolds.
This is my kind of sci-fi story, splendid world building and characters development. The writing style may not work for others but for me it did, the characters were developed nice and slowly giving me the chance to get to know them one by one while the action unfolds.
April 9, 2023
Exceptionally good
I very much enjoyed this story. Great world building and character development. Beings of diverse backgrounds living and working together. A diabolical AI with murder on the mind. A young captain and a crew of misfits attempting a rescue. I loved it!
I very much enjoyed this story. Great world building and character development. Beings of diverse backgrounds living and working together. A diabolical AI with murder on the mind. A young captain and a crew of misfits attempting a rescue. I loved it!
August 23, 2023
I enjoyed immensely the world building and the diversity of characters. The plot was simple, the action didn’t have to many twists but the characters were entertaining. Some of the lines hopefully will be developed. On the short side the story was short and Chord inner monologue was undeveloped.
March 21, 2020
Great book!
I thought this book was a very good effort by this writer, and I hope to see more! Good job.
I thought this book was a very good effort by this writer, and I hope to see more! Good job.
October 9, 2016
Reading "Dark Transmissions" was an interesting process for me as a reader and a writer. I will first explain the bad, and then the good (and the good is what kept me there and got it a 4 star rating).
There were some unpolished elements in the novel that, as a writer, would sometimes knock the suspension of disbelief out of me for a few seconds, yet there was enough good in it for me to recapture it and continue reading.
The romantic language and behavior in certain parts felt a bit stiff, some characters would spout out stereotypical dialogue or behave in archetypical ways at times, things of that nature would jolt me out of the story a bit. A lot of readers might not notice, but having worked as an editor, sometimes these things were things I'd point out for polishing.
That said, Davila LeBlanc wove a fascinating universe in which he brilliantly only lets you see glimpses of. These glimpses begin to add up as the novel progresses until at a certain point, you understand where everything stands, and click, you suddenly feel it. The past, the present, the projected future.
The premise of the novel is exciting, the actual flow of the novel is both action-packed fun and interesting world building.
The dialogue was a bit stiff at times, but it also shined quite brightly at moments. The descriptions as well, some were a bit blocky, but some were right on point and wove patterns for your mind to visualize things with clarity.
The characters, although some did at moments do archetypical things, they began to feel their own as the novel progresses. They grew in the pages, and my understanding of their motivations reflected a growth from flat to rounded characters. Some got more page time than others of course, but this actually helped keep the intrigue alive. And LeBlanc utilizes intrigue well in this novel.
So in my final veredict, even though it wasn't perfect, it was a good read, good enough to continue the series. The missteps or stiff things in it are things an author polishes out while working on his craft, so I am looking forward to seeing Davila LeBlanc grow as a writer, as well as excited to know what happens next.
There were some unpolished elements in the novel that, as a writer, would sometimes knock the suspension of disbelief out of me for a few seconds, yet there was enough good in it for me to recapture it and continue reading.
The romantic language and behavior in certain parts felt a bit stiff, some characters would spout out stereotypical dialogue or behave in archetypical ways at times, things of that nature would jolt me out of the story a bit. A lot of readers might not notice, but having worked as an editor, sometimes these things were things I'd point out for polishing.
That said, Davila LeBlanc wove a fascinating universe in which he brilliantly only lets you see glimpses of. These glimpses begin to add up as the novel progresses until at a certain point, you understand where everything stands, and click, you suddenly feel it. The past, the present, the projected future.
The premise of the novel is exciting, the actual flow of the novel is both action-packed fun and interesting world building.
The dialogue was a bit stiff at times, but it also shined quite brightly at moments. The descriptions as well, some were a bit blocky, but some were right on point and wove patterns for your mind to visualize things with clarity.
The characters, although some did at moments do archetypical things, they began to feel their own as the novel progresses. They grew in the pages, and my understanding of their motivations reflected a growth from flat to rounded characters. Some got more page time than others of course, but this actually helped keep the intrigue alive. And LeBlanc utilizes intrigue well in this novel.
So in my final veredict, even though it wasn't perfect, it was a good read, good enough to continue the series. The missteps or stiff things in it are things an author polishes out while working on his craft, so I am looking forward to seeing Davila LeBlanc grow as a writer, as well as excited to know what happens next.
February 17, 2017
Fun, quick read. Not much to distinguish it from other space operas. Perhaps, more banter than I like in a sci-fi book. The writing is competent. The books asks the question, are computers alive?
July 25, 2016
Dark Transmissions by Davila LeBlanc
In some indeterminate future an exploration ship of misfits finds a rogue AI holding hostages in stasis.
I liked the Lexicon at the end of the book. It helps to establish the identity of the characters and the setting.
Morwyn Soltaine is the captain of a starship bent on exploration. As captain he is attempting to forge a crew that is supportive of each other in spite of their diverse and conflicting backgrounds.
Chord is a Machina or AI that is self aware and cognizant of the distrust of some of the crew due to a historic conflict between man and machine in the relatively distant past.
The book comes together and I plan on reading Syndicates Pawn which is the follow up book.
I recommend.
web: http://www.davilathewhite.com/
In some indeterminate future an exploration ship of misfits finds a rogue AI holding hostages in stasis.
I liked the Lexicon at the end of the book. It helps to establish the identity of the characters and the setting.
Morwyn Soltaine is the captain of a starship bent on exploration. As captain he is attempting to forge a crew that is supportive of each other in spite of their diverse and conflicting backgrounds.
Chord is a Machina or AI that is self aware and cognizant of the distrust of some of the crew due to a historic conflict between man and machine in the relatively distant past.
The book comes together and I plan on reading Syndicates Pawn which is the follow up book.
I recommend.
web: http://www.davilathewhite.com/
May 12, 2023
More action-oriented than I was hoping for and with far fewer crew shenanigans, it was still a tightly told story about the crew of an antiquated patrol boat facing off against a murderous AI. At least, by the end, the divided crew has started to come together. The best character is Chord, the Machina on pilgrimage.
Merged review:
The Machina Chord is a delight, and the moment it shares with Phael near the end is honestly the best part of the book.
I was extremely shocked that Beatrix survived.
Didn't get nearly enough of Lucky and Chance, the sharpshooters.
In fact, other than Chord, most of the characters were underserved due to the breadth of the cast. However, having so many was necessary, I think, to pull of the mission.
Merged review:
The Machina Chord is a delight, and the moment it shares with Phael near the end is honestly the best part of the book.
I was extremely shocked that Beatrix survived.
Didn't get nearly enough of Lucky and Chance, the sharpshooters.
In fact, other than Chord, most of the characters were underserved due to the breadth of the cast. However, having so many was necessary, I think, to pull of the mission.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2018
This book is filled with many species including robots, a huge universe and lots of history. At first this put me off until the story took over. The book became a very interesting story with a crew to worry about. All said and done, I am looking forward to reading book #2.
Shelved as 'on-hold'
March 30, 2016The timeline in this is really screwy and there are too many pov shifts. I just can't tackle this one right now.
March 18, 2020
3.5 stars. Took me a while to get into it, but I liked the setup and characters, and enjoyed it enough to pick up the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews