Marc Alan Edelheit (https://www.maenovels.com) is the author of 10 books. Off Midway Station was published last September and is the first book in his Guardians of the Dark series. It is the 80th book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

The novel is set in the far future where humanity has colonized several star systems. As humans have stretched their range, they have encountered aliens that have become known as the Push. Every 50 years they attack human colonies, slowly pushing back the range of human settlement. The nature of the aliens is unknown, but their goal seems to be the elimination of humanity.

The next onslaught by the Push should be around five years in the future. Unexpectedly they change tactics and attack early, taking the Confederation Navy by surprise. The Push emerges in the star system where Midway Station is located. It is one of the Confederation’s forward Navy bases.

For many years Jim Garrett has served the Navy Construction Command at Midway, overseeing many different projects. He has been relegated there because of an incident early in his career. He has always had command of a starship as his goal, but one that seems likely out of reach. He has been an outstanding worker for Construction Command and now holds the rank of Captain.

Garrett’s current assignment is overseeing the completion of a new starship. The largest vessel ever built by humans. It has been called the Mothership and is intended to revolutionize warfare. The enormous ship is designed to take the war to the Push. The ship is armed with state-of-the-art weapons and is the first Confederation ship capable of jumping through space without using the normal jump gates.

At first, Garrett is told to scuttle the ship, but he convinces the admiral that he can get her to safety. After some consideration, the admiral agrees and assigns Garrett as Captain and promotes him. Garrett names his ship Surprise, and the admiral immediately commissions her. The next several hours are chaos as the ship is loaded with all of the supplies they can gather. Thousands of civilians on Midway also board as refugees.

The Surprise leaves the dock on schedule and begins a long journey to a rear position and temporary safety. The Push blocks the jump gate, obstructing any vessel from leaving the area of Midway. The Surprise must employ her untested weapons to save itself and other Confederation ships. It does not go unscathed and is attacked by a swarm of boarding vessels.

Will the Surprise survive? Where will they now head?

I enjoyed the 11 hours I spent reading this 428-page science fiction novel. I have always enjoyed a good space opera novel. This book did not disappoint! The novel was a little slow at the beginning spending over 25% building the backgrounds of the three principal characters. The novel did come to an exciting conclusion, and it left a clear path for sequel novels. I give this novel a rating of 4.8 (rounded to 5) out of 5.

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I finished this book half an hour ago and I'm still rethinking everything that happened during the last 25%.

Until a few months ago, I wasn't particularly interested in sci-fi, but I'm more and more becoming a fan. Especially when it comes to books like this - military fantasy in space with extremely well written characters and a lot of detail in regard to how the ships, the military hierarchy, the process of getting the ships ready, etc work.

Right from the start, I liked the main character, Captain Garrett, a lot and his POV was my favorite in the book. I liked his integrity, his hands-on attitude and his way of thinking on the spot. A character I'd love to chat with over a beer.

Tabby and Stroud are also brilliantly written, so are the side characters, who made this story feel real.

Let's mention the action: there's a lot! The book starts with a lot of action, then tunes down and introduces the characters, let's the reader get to know the situation, the crew, the story... and BAM, the last 25% go by in a heartbeat. Action, fights, death and survival.

Can't wait for the next book and highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys action-packed stories.

Upfront I'll state, this is a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and am looking forward to the next in the series.

The Story
Garrett begins the book as a soldier who becomes mired in controversy for a tactical decision that costs lives. Fast forward several years and he is working in the construction yard of the naval fleet. He is constructing a special ship to help in the coming war against a relentless enemy, one who attacks in set cycles every 50 years.

To say more would entail spoilers to some degree, but Garrett's story from the start is engaging, interesting, and had me rooting for him from very early on in the story.

Writing
The author's writing style tends to be a bit wordy though it does improve markedly towards the end when the action really kicks into high gear.

My main gripe is that Mr Edelheit likes to spend a lot of time describing the scene, thoughts and background of nearly every PoV character throughout the book. Even taking detours that last several pages midway through a conversation!

That singular gripe aside, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this slice of military sci-fi. The characters were well written, especially Garrett.

Now I just eagerly await the second book in the series! Well done!

This book was great! Kept me hooked from the first page. A lot of unexpected twists. The characters were what really made the story though. I felt like they were realistic and well fleshed out. Definitely looking forward to reading more from this author. Cant' wait to find out what happens in the next book.

TL;DR Review – Slow-burn beginning that builds to an action-packed climax. A fascinating look at the construction and launch of a brand new spaceship.

Full Review:

There’s a special place in my heart for underdog stories like this, stories of people called to rise to the occasion and do the impossible even when outmatched or outclassed.

Off Midway Station follows Jim Garrett, a naval officer who has been relegated to captaining ships under construction after a difficult choice cost him any chance at a career future. Politics in the armed forces ensures he’ll never rise higher in the ranks, but that doesn’t stop him from doing the best job he can to guarantee that every ship built under his command is turned out in tip-top shape and ready for the war everyone knows is coming.

Only that war comes early, with a surprise attack that rocks Midway Station, the space station that serves as both military dry-dock and home for hundreds of thousands of civilians. When the enemy rips through their defenses and sets their sights on destroying the station itself, it’s up to Garrett and his crew to launch their not-yet-complete vessel to save the civilians and fight back.

One thing this book does very well is offer insight into the construction and deployment of a ship. It’s something I’ve never read in any sci-fi book before—most spaceships are high-tech, top-of-the-line, and fully armed and ready for battle, but definitely not this one. This ship is in its final stages of construction, and we learn a great deal about its construction in a fascinating way, but we also get to see its first launch and how much goes into that process. I found it a really fun and fresh take on the typical “cutting edge spaceship” trope. We only get to see a fraction of its full capabilities, but boy, does it deliver.

The beginning of Off Midway Station is slower; it takes its time to introduce us to all the characters, set the stakes, develop the world, and give us a look at the technology to be deployed. It’s never boring—quite the opposite, I found the insight into the ship itself fascinating—but maintains a steady pace of building the character and the ship that will be our home for the series.

But once the attack comes, that’s when things kick into high gear. It’s setback after setback, challenge after challenge, with the entire crew rushing to launch the ship, then try to hit back against the enemy that has come to destroy them. The last 25% was a wild ride that ended in truly epic fashion and the promise of great things to come.

Off Midway Station has all the military and sci-fi flavor I’ve loved in David Weber and Tom Clancy novels, and I absolutely enjoyed it from start to finish. I can’t wait for Book 2 to find out what comes next, and how THAT AMAZING TWIST deployed at the 85% mark is going to be resolved.

The first book is in the Guardians of the Dark series. Off Midway Station is a military sci-fi/space opera novel by an author whose work I haven't read before. I have, however, read a few sci-fi space opera books, so I knew I would enjoy this one.

I was right. The reader is pulled right into the action and adventure from the start. Marc Alan Edelheit sets his scenes and builds the world. This book is set in so well. Captain Jim Garrett, a man who has taken a fall in his career. Finding himself captaining ships that are under construction, he still excels at ensuring each and every ship is in the correct condition needed for a war that could be coming.

An attack on Midway station takes out the defences and leaves Jim and his crew needing to launch a half finished ship to defend everything and every person in the vicinity.

I appreciated the way Off Midway Station has been written. There are quite a few details about the ship, and they really helped me to feel like I was there. Sci -fi and fantasy usually always need vivid world building, and this was over and above what was needed.

The adventure and tension poured out of the pages as I read. This is definitely a one more chapter book! I will certainly be looking out for more of Marc Alan Edelheit's books now.
Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for my gifted widget to write my honest review for the book tour.

The book has the feel of directors notes for a movie. I found it hard to follow as there was to much information to absorb. I really like how the action starts right up at the beginning. I believe the book has good bones, just way to much detail.

A mysterious alien race attacks and seizes star systems within the human expansion into space every fifty years. They attack, seize star systems, and then disappear before coming back. Captain Jim Garrett joined the Navy to fight this force but took the blame for a mission gone wrong and lost his career. His only command now is the construction of a ship at Midway Station. When the aliens attack early, every ship will be needed. Garrett is now thrust into command of the half-built ship and a motley crew.

We open with the attack that disabled the ship where he was a lieutenant and the actions he took to save civilians that made him persona non grata. He wasn't wrong, which helped him get a job afterward within the navy, but not as a fleet captain as he previously hoped. He still takes this job seriously, as he's a captain and carries the weight of that rank even if it's in a shunted-off area of the navy. He still meets with his friends, which gives us a view into the rest of the navy, the war in the outer rim, and how devastating it can be on the captains and the ships they command. We also meet Tabby, leader of her own crew about to get some R&R on the station before they depart for the front, and many of the station crew.

The first third of the novel slowly introduces the characters, the naval command structure, the ships, and their capabilities, and even more slowly drips in mention of the war. We get to almost halfway through the book before news of an early Push comes in, and then multiple warnings and failures on the station. I was impatient to get the action, which kicks up in the second half. Everyone scrambles for resources, and we see the best and worst in people before the battle actually breaks out. That part is exciting, and this sets up the world for the characters to fight in. I'm sure future novels won't need as much world-building and can dive right into the action.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Off Midway Station (Guardians of the Dark, Book 1) by Marc Alan Edelheit
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 427 / Genre: Sci-Fi

This sci-fi thriller features Captain Garrett and his revolutionary brand-new ship engaged in a terrifying battle at Midway Station. I loved the action and the characters in this epic tale. But there were bouts of mind-numbingly boring details about the ship and its various systems and capabilities. And long drawn-out praise to the captain’s dedication to his work and the ship and its crew were repeated over and over again. He’s dedicated. We got it.

Let’s just say I did a lot of skimming in this book, but the action was worth it in the end.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @SecondSkyBooks, @Bookouture for my gifted copy.

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!

This book was action-packed from beginning to end and I sometimes felt like I needed a breather - just like the characters. I liked the story it was telling, especially about the imminent war and how humanity is preparing to save itself from extinction. I did have a feeling about the enemy though, something just kept on hinting at their revelation.
Some of the things I did, however, find quite boring was the two-page description about how the ships functioned - this is a personal matter as I am not a huge sci-fi person, so I don't care how the ship works, and I knew some people would like to read about that.
Overall, very good writing that really had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for sending me an ARC for my honest review.

Jim Garrett's career is not off to an auspicious start. After firing the deciding shot to stop a space mutiny, he is simultaneously commended and punished: lauded for his loyalty, but unlikely to ever lead a ship of his own as he dreamed. Years later, he prides himself on his technical work. But his luck may be about to change.

Once every 50 years, an alien threat known as the Push launches an attack. But this time, they're early. And the only defense is an experimental ship, the Surprise. With lives on the line and time no longer on their side, Garrett and his peers must combat enemies both within and without to save lives. But what they discover as they fight could change the course of this battle forever.

Off Midway Station is an intriguing story hobbled by messy pacing. The first chapter, and many chapters in between, are compelling. The late-stage discovery about the Push is a game-changer. However, the majority of the book is taken up with very long play-by-plays of launching procedures, characterization that is told directly after being shown, and long-form worldbuilding. (Note that I am a huge proponent of worldbuilding; however, much of this book read less like a book and more like the Edelheit's worldbuilding notes.) The moments of intrigue and action were there, and were good, but were hidden amongst long chapters in which the entire action consisted of Garrett buying a drink and getting on a train. I respect the author's dedication to realistic worldbuilding; however, I hope that later entries in the Guardians of the Dark series allow the world and character to speak for themselves and flow from scene to scene more naturally.

Off Midway Station, A Book Review

Off Midway Station, Book 1, Guardians of the Dark. Marc Alan Edelheit. 2024.

Your stomach churns. You are fighting to make sense of your world. Then there’s the unrelenting pain and nauseating disorientation.
Once the fog lifts from your brain, you realize where you are and that you are under attack in the cold, unforgiving, blackness of space.

It was a trap!

Lasers, masers and missiles are on a mission to destroy your vessel. Bodies without heads, and missing limbs are floating around you.
More of the dead are everywhere. You are on the bridge of the ship. Your captain is seriously injured but trying to contain the situation.

As the bad actors retreat, the captain will soon make a serious mistake. As a bridge officer you are about to make a decision that can adversely affect the rest of your life.

Marc Edelheit’s Off Midway Station, starts with harbingers of death lighting up the darkness within the cold silence of space. Destruction… The death of thousands... And chaos, slap you in the face.

As a reader you note that the action seldom stops. You do not get to breathe. You do not get to rest.

When a moment of peace finally comes; when you can now take that breath; you know that as soon as you turn the page; it will hit you again with full force. Your adrenaline will be pumping throughout your body. You blood pressure will rise and you won’t put this story down for very long before you feel the need to pick it up once again.

Yes, this is one of those books you will find hard to put down.

This page turner will be released on September 13th. Preorder it now. You can thank me later.

Marc Alan Edelheit is known for his fantasy series of novels and is now building on this to bring you into the wonders of science fiction action.

As far as his fantasy novels go, please plan on reading his Stiger series (Chronicles of an Imperial Legionary Officer, The Karus Saga Books and Tales of the Seventh) and Edelheit’s other books as well. I’ve read them all and was never disappointed.

Preorder here: https://www.amazon.com/Off-Midway-Station-action-packed-adventure/dp/1835259863

Edelheit’s Books in Order: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/marc-alan-edelheit/

#OffMidwayStation
#dmbookreview
# MarcAlanEdelheit

20% into this book and it was entirely exposition and describing on and on and nothing had happened. Also the main woman character was weirdly feminized and I didn’t like that.

I really enjoyed the first chapter and expected the book to just be a crazy fast paced wild ride, however after the first chapter or two I felt the world building and the character building was far too over explained and it felt like it was dragging on. A lot of the time it felt like I was re-reading the same event or explanation again but with slightly different words. I also had forgotten the main characters first name was Jim and was confused when he was referred to as Jim since the chapter headers and most of the time he was referred to as Garret.

I was pretty bored reading until about 45% when things finally picked up which made the read much more enjoyable, and I also started to enjoy the authors writing much more. I especially enjoyed the witty banter between Stroud and Burns, as well as the slight twists twords the end!

Off Midway Station by Marc Alan Edelheit is a novel for people who like science fiction and especially the military aspect. You will find a lot of words like maser, laser, LIDAR and so on. The heroes are all military people, straightforward, good, good-looking and pretty much without flaws – except for the few ones that aren’t to give the story more flavor. The enemy is the enemy and that’s it. It is an enteraining read, but don’t expect any hard science fiction. I would like the story to move faster than it does, but that is my own personal preferance and perhaps this is the correct approach for the first books in a series. The series is called Guardians of the Dark and it should be interesting to see where it goes.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and Second Sky for sending me a DRC to review!

I'm lucky enough to have gotten an advanced peek at "Off Midway Station". If you are a fan of Marc Edelheit and are familiar with the Stigerverse/Karusverse; then you expect some intense action, blood, sweat, and maybe some tears. This story has all that... in space.

Midway Station is a vast shipyard and fleet staging area, our Captain Garrett is stationed here as a "Job" Captain, meaning the Job is the construction and commissioning of a new warship. His latest project is known as a Mothership. Designed to carry both military and science personnel, while operating deep in hostile territory, and she's nearing completion.

The action begins on the first page, and while it tapers off enough to catch a breath, it doesn't let up for long. There's a point where I realized that I wasn't going to get any sleep (just one more page... just one more page).

As a sailor in the USN, and an Airedale, there was plenty to love here too. The Mothership has her own recently assigned air (space?) contingent, and they will be needing to earn their keep (even though the ship isn't really complete). When describing the Mothership's interior, the hangar spaces, the sights and sounds of the flight deck, I'm not just reading words on a page... I'm there. Watching flight ops. Watching the Marine Detachment jog. Bumping my shoulder on a frame of the ship as I move by someone in the passageway.

This is some great military science fiction. If you are a fan of the genre, then there's something here for you. It's a hell of a ride.

This is an exciting start to a new series by one of my favorite all-time authors!! What sets Marc's books apart from others is how relatable the characters are and how detailed and realistic the action is.

In "Off Midway Station", we meet the main character who perseveres through a military career on the sidelines in an era where an unstoppable enemy returns periodically to chip away at his home territory. Through a series of assignments that others would have turned down, he may now be the only one who can actually stop the enemy advance and save his people from this galactic juggernaut!

I love a good military Science Fiction novel and Off Midway Station seemed as if was going to tick all of the boxes for me. The book opens brilliantly with our main character third in command of a spaceship which has been despatched to deal with a mutiny on a space station. It’s an action packed beginning which sets the scene of space warfare brilliantly.
Then we skip forward 12 years and the author just gets bogged in providing far more detail than anyone could possibly need. There is a whole POV chapter for one of the secondary characters where all she does is check that her ship is working correctly. I understand the need for world building but this just felt excessive and although we were given lots of detail about ship procedures, the author didn’t actually give the reader that much information about the wider situation.
About half way through, everything changed again and we are catapulted into an emergency situation for Garrett and his ship and then the story really takes off. I really enjoyed the second half of the book and was intrigued by the situation between humanity and the enemy that they were fighting.
I will look out for the next in the series and hope that the author resists the temptation to over describe things that really don’t add to the story.
My thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Second Sky, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It appears I'm in the minority here in not feeling the love for Off Midway Station by Marc Alan Edelheit. Which is disappointing, because it's a great premise and where there's action, the story and writing really deliver. But overall, it suffers from over-explanation of details that don't seem to matter to the overall story.

Although there's some build up and tension, the action doesn't really start until the 50% mark. Before that there's a lot of set up and world building, except... I still don't feel like I know a lot about the world! The science and the station, sure, but beyond that? I'm just not invested because I have no idea what's going on in the broader sense of what happened to humanity and Earth. I think this would benefit from some serious editing to keep the story engaging and properly set up for future books. (Chapter 8 for example, which I would title 'Garrett rides a train.' There's no purpose to this that I can find.)

Stars for the action in. the last half of the book and the twist at the end, but it's not a series I'll continue.