Backyard Starship

Backyard Starship, Book 1

By: J.N. Chaney, Terry Maggert

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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 best-selling author J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert in this galactic quest for glory.

©2021 J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert (P)2021 Podium Audio

holy smokes

If you're in the mood for classic adventure-style scifi, this is what you've been waiting for. It feels like classic scifi. The humor and worldbuilding are top notch. No dumb politics or messaging. Just good old fashion scifi with fun characters. It's exactly what we need right now. Classic escapism. Thank you.

Story had potential... then comes the narration

The narration of this story should win a prize for the most gravely monotone voice of the year. it was so bad that there was a conversation involving an AI, a woman and a man... I thought it was a weird monolog.
killed the story for me

Mishmash of Intergalactic Mehhhh!

Nothing all that novel to be found in this title. Boy finds spaceship = boy finds space allies = boy becomes space cop = boy fights space bad guys = boy finds corruption in own organization= etc etc...

Okay that much I can deal with since it seems to be the set-up for many of the books in this genre. But, the lack of humor, compelling plot, characters I could root for, or wonderment (minus a few compulsory, "can't believe I'm in space lines and earth is a flea in the greater scheme of things" sentences) just made this a meh offering.

It's my fault since I bought close to 21 titles during one of audible's sales, many from this author and others in a similar vein. I was on a J..N Chaney kick after enjoying the Ruins of the Galaxy series.

So, I ventured deeper into his prolific library. Chaney writes a ton, so kudos on knocking them out. Some are gonna be better than others. What really killed this listen for me, was the narrator. He just made the main character seem pissed off all time. All of the dialogue coming off as sarcastic and disdainful. Robbed the book of any lightness or "hey, I'm in space solving mysteries with freaky creatures, isn't this awesome?!". Rather, the main character came off as a d*ck, I was hoping would cut off his own leg with his uber sharp moonsword, by accident. Narrating is incredibly hard and I don't want to be too harsh but this rendition did the story no favors.

Backyard Starship

Backyard Starship tells the story of a guy who finds a spaceship in his grandpa's barn. A simple premise that proves to be anything but.

It's a story you probably think you already know, but it's far more interesting than that. The initial premise is just to lure you in, but the longer story is full of worldbuilding and awesome characters. If you ever saw the Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers shows, this is a lot like that, with a hero you love to read or watch exploring and witnessing stuff you could only ever dream of. It is pure wish fulfillment, but it is done well.

Give it a shot and see what you think. It is well worth the credit.

Juvenile drivel

This could have been such a good story.
Unfortunately it never manages to grow any wings and escape the fan fiction level. I have read better stories on PBE boards.

The narration and the pain of having wasted money on this drivel are the only motivation to muck through to the end.

My favorite scifi book of the year

Hands down, best story I've seen all year. I read it first on kindle and then picked up the audio as soon as it released. Holy cow, the narrator knocked it out of the park. Great stuff, guys.

More please

I have read nearly everything J.N Chaney and Terry Maggert have written but “Backyard Spaceship” is, in my opinion, their best collaboration yet.

not for me.

this seemed like the author was trying to write a slapstick comedy for television. I think if he would have left out much of the humor what was supposed to be humor anyways and move the story along a little bit faster I could have hung on. but by chapter 8 I was done and deleted it from audible.

Very good book

This is a fun listen. I enjoyed it a lot. I think it is a fantastic start to a series and I am excited to listen to the rest of the series.

this one exceeded all my expectations.

this was recommended to me by a friend and at first I thought it sounded kinda cheesy. but I was wrong this is a good story with an interesting plot and good characters I am glad I didn't snooze on it if you have got this on your "to get" list you should totally grab it its a credit well spent.

ehhh almost....

I think I might get this to read instead of listening to it on here as the story sounds good but the Narrator is bland as hell. Everyone speaks in the same voice so following any conversation is difficult and it constantly pulls you out of the story.

gentle space opera

ok for young teenagers, but a found it a bit wanting for adult consumption - sorry

story and charactes are very much lacking.

love these types of books and listen to alot of them. honestly felt like I wasted a credit on this though and can't bring myself to possibly wast another to see if it gets better in book 2.
I remember thinking half way through if the main character got killed it wouldn't make a difference. just couldn't buy in to it. not for me.

Start modeled after the video game genre that st

Only in the first hour or so of this story but it's very obvious the story is a rip off the space adventure/shooter video game genre started by Elite - you suddenly get a fairly weak space ship and have to do missions/ fight / trade to gain credits to upgrade so not looking promising. However the characters seem fairly engaging so not hopeless.

Excellent Space Opera Style series.

Great first book in a very entertaining series. One of my new favourite listens. Recommend

I Enjoyed IT - A good start for the Series to come.

It provides a good start and grounding for the new series to expand on. This first book I enjoyed; though I did feel it was leaning more towards young adult rather than adult.
I will read the next book.

Interesting listen

Good concept, unfolds well to open up the plot ready for more in the series

I just couldn't get into this story

I just couldn't get into this story maybe I am too adult in any case it's not for me

up to book 5 and it is going strong

It's a little bit of a shaky start but the series gets better and better as you go through the books. There are moments where you will be sad, moments you won't be able to stop laughing and where you hang on every word the narrator says.

I can 100% recommend this book.

Fun Adventure

What I liked best were the characters because they made it possible to relate to situations that were totally imaginative. The storyline resembles others that I've read but it retains a freshness about it thanks to the author's universe much less unfamiliar. I look forward to reading another.