Star Dust

By Ann O'Bannon

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1904492827
• ISBN13: 9781904492825
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Bewrite Books
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.8" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Star Dust

Zara Darien is a commander of Starship Command on the planet Shimura and her father Raymond is a vice-admiral. Zara was very young when her mother and 500 other Shimuran women were killed by Morian pirates firing on their spacecruiser. This occurred at a time of a passing comet, and Zara ever since has considered comets to be heralds of catastrophe and change. After pilot training, her father arranges for her to be the first Shimuran female to command a spaceship, which she names Star Dust in commemoration of falling stars, wishes, lost dreams, and hopeful futures. In yet another attack by Morian pirates, Star Dust and the accompanying flagship Xaviour are knocked into another quadrant of space where a missile blast disrupts the worm-hole which they are using for directional guidance, and Xaviour crashes on Saturn's moon, Titan. Zara's father and his companions on the Xaviour are killed in the ensuing crash; now Zara has lost both her parents and her adopted uncle to the Morian marauders. Captain David Alexander of the USS Space Shuttle Independence has spent the past seven years in cryogenic stasis, as the ship has approached orbit around Saturn. He awakens to find himself in terrible pain and near death since Earth technology isn't sufficiently advanced enough to protect the human body during a lengthy period in stasis. He nearly does not awaken. While unconscious, David is approached and healed by Arianna, an angel, who whispers to him of his approaching destiny. Once awake, he witnesses the crash of Xaviour, and then the Earth probe orbiting Saturn's moon. Titan is fired upon by a missile from Zara's alien vessel. The artificial intelligence computer powering Zara's ship determines the Independence to be a threat, and attacks it, causing it to crash. Zara is able however to rescue David and return him to her ship. Zara has unknowingly been given a very significant and planet-altering destiny, one involving the prophecy of the Shimuran Legacy. Star Dust is an intriguing space opera, which also entwines threads of love, romance, xenophobia, and the supernatural. I enjoyed both the futuristic and science-fiction aspects of this novel, but especially intriguing was the interweaving of the supernatural and fantasy elements in the form of the angel, Arianna, bringing healing and guidance to two so disparate characters as an Earth human in space and an alien from another quadrant beyond the Solar System. I am hoping that this is only the first installment in a new series. Annie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Great story.

The story begins on December 3, 2018. Captain David Alexander of NASA awakens after seven years of cryogenic stasis. His ship has finally reached Saturn. NASA is thrilled to learn that David survived cryo. Yet before David could begin his work, his probes detect two unknown ships. Due to the Morian pirates, a missile has detonated within a bore-hole, causing Commander Zara Darien's ship, the Stardust, to change directions. She ends up stranded in an uncharted area of space. Worse, the ship that had also been with Stardust has crashed. Zara's father and crew have died. Zara is alone, except for a small monkey-like creature and MAI, the ship's artificial intelligence. When MAI's warning shot goes bad, Zara must rescue David from his doomed ship. Her law demands she protect his life, which means returning him to Earth, his planet. However, her law also demands that she not interfere with his planet's natural growth. To keep the first law, she must break the second. Zara must handle first contact with the sentient beings. This causes lots of problems. It becomes more complicated when Zara and David begin to learn about each other, and let their mutual attraction of each other grow. As the two communicate, David learns that the Morian and Dacron races have hunt down most of Zara's people. The Shimurans are near extinction. David and Zara soon realize that their two planets can help each other. But not everyone feels this to be a GOOD idea. **** There is more going on, involving an angel and a ghost, but I cannot elaborate without giving something vital away. Therefore, you must read the story to find out what I am referring to. One thing is for certain, you will never get bored. An excellent debut for author Ann O'Bannon. I look forward to the next book in this series. **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Maureen

STAR DUST is a terriffic read that captivated my imagination on many levels. A romantic futuristic fantasy, it swept this reader away to a world populated by totally believable and sympathetic characters as well as a life-like computer with a great sense of humour. As a reluctant heroine, Zara is wonderful and who wouldn't fall in love with the hunky and charming David? Zara and David overcome issues of trust in the most sensual ways imaginable. Can't wait to read the next books in the series.

Other reviews for STAR DUST

Rating: 5 blue ribbons "STAR DUST is a refreshing and breathtaking trip into a possible future for Earth. Zara and David are wonderful lead characters that overcome impossible odds to find a love that transcends space and vast distances. The details and descriptions in the book were so life-like and real that I felt like I was in space with Zara and David and was experiencing the story first hand..." Reviewed by: Char, Romance Junkies. Rating: 5 beacons "This is an excellent story that brings out so many actual issues. Trust, friendship, love, deceit, prejudice and faith are all dealt with. The characters are very well-developed and share feelings and thoughts the reader can easily relate to." Reviewed by: Ramona, Lighthouse Literary Reviews. "It's sexy, futuristic, reflective, and if you have any interest at all in sci-fi, space exploration, I'm telling you: You have GOT to read this book! I joined the Air Force because of my fascination with space (amongst other things) and even once dreamed of being an astronaut, but since I didn't continue in that area, this book is as close as I'll ever get, other than the simulators I've had an opportunity to "play" in." Tee C. Royal, Founder of RAWSISTAZ Literary Group.

Wonderful first book

"Captain David Alexander of the NASA space shuttle Independence, awoke after seven years in cryogenic stasis to discover he wouldn't survive the trip home. That is until a UFO was sighted in the vicinity of the Titan moon. To his surprise, Commander Zara Darien, of the Shimuran Starship Command and spoils his `First Contact' when she shoots his shuttle from the stars. Who is this person and what is she doing here? What follows is an adventure in trust and romance. David and Zara must come to an understanding about the way things are going to work, but will their own stubbornness get in the way? How can two people from two different worlds find that even though they are so different, they really aren't `that' different? The love they find transcends any galaxy, near or far. But will it be enough to alter and save Earth's future and in doing so, they will fulfill a thousand year old prophecy - The Shimuran Legacy has begun. This is a wonderful first attempt by an author who has a bright, shining future, in this galaxy or any other! Ann's imagination is so vivid that the reader is left with not having to figure anything out. Everything is painted, in words for the reader's mind. Her characters are full of life and very believable. The story concept is fresh and fun. I predict wonderful things for Ann O'Bannon. Keep an eye on this author, her star is shining bright!!" Debbie from A Romance Review