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Terminus (Fringe Worlds #1) Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,275 ratings

Master Sergeant Gant Maker was a highly-decorated and well-respected Marine - until his last mission left him as the sole survivor of an encounter with a vicious race called the Vacra. Served up as a scapegoat and drummed out of the military, he has since lived a life of seclusion with only an adopted alien as a companion.

Now the Vacra have returned. As the only person to have ever faced them and survived, Maker is reinstated in the Corps and given the onerous task of finding this enemy on a world located at the edge of known space. Assisting him is an unlikely band of military rejects, including a blind sharpshooter, an unstable psychic, and a genetically-engineered killing machine who refuses to fight.

Given that the Vacra have superior weapons and technology, Maker recognizes that his team is at a distinct disadvantage. But Marines are nothing if not resourceful, and Maker has an audacious plan that just may level the playing field – if it doesn’t get them all killed.

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From the Publisher

The hero, in futuristic battle armor, faces off against enemies with advanced weaponry.

Sci-Fi Adventure at the Edge of Known Space!

Picturesque view of a massive ship in outer space with other craft and planets in the background.

Books in the Series

  • Terminus (Fringe Worlds #1)
  • Efferus (Fringe Worlds #2)
  • Ignotus (Fringe Worlds #3)

More Coming Soon

About the Series

Being the sole survivor of humanity’s first bloody encounter with the alien Vacra had cost Gant Maker his military career. But upon the Vacra’s return, Maker is reinstated and ordered to hunt this enemy down at the far feaches of space, assisted only by a band of military rejects, including a blind sharpshooter, an unstable psychic and a genetically-engineered warrior who refuses to fight.

More by Kevin Hardman

Kid Sensation series (Superhero Action)

The Warden series (Fantasy/Horror)

Three horizontal images showing, respectively, an armored space marine and two ships in deep space.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00PIAD0V8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ I&H Recherche Publishing (November 11, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 11, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 413 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,275 ratings

About the author

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Kevin Hardman
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The sixth of seven children, Kevin Hardman grew up with a love of all things fantastical: comics, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. If it was unreal or imaginary, he could relate to it. Over the years, he has found employment in a wide variety of professions, including - among other things - a stint in the military, working for UPS, in a research lab, as a waiter, and as a telephone survey taker. Somewhere in between all that, he found time to earn 3 degrees and foster his love of reading and writing.

He has always been a voracious reader, but recently crossed trade lines to become an author. Since then, he has published the Kid Sensation novels (superheroes), the Warden books (fantasy/dark fantasy), and the Fringe Worlds series (sci-fi). His titles are available in all formats: ebook, audiobook, paperback and hardcover. He is currently hard at work on the next book in each series, as well as the ongoing serial "Glimmerblade" - a dark fantasy story that's available on Kindle Vella.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,275 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-crafted. They describe the book as an enjoyable, fast-paced read with vivid characters and a captivating plot. Readers praise the writing quality as excellent and creative, with good composition and editing. The alien species are well-developed, with plausible and interesting characteristics. Overall, customers consider the book a great start to the series.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

80 customers mention "Story quality"77 positive3 negative

Customers find the story engaging with a great plot and interesting characters. They describe it as an exciting sci-fi adventure novel with plenty of action and intrigue to keep readers hooked. Readers recommend it for sci-fi enthusiasts.

"...people like Kevin Hardman are keeping it alive and well with superbly crafted plots and exquisite character development. Worth every word and page." Read more

"...Good story line and good characters. I read it in one sitting. Keep up the great work and I will continue purchasing and reading your books...." Read more

"Suprising plot line, this went places that I did not see coming and is very well written and the editing is superb...." Read more

"...action held together by plot and genre, with a few mystery odds and ends to keep things interesting. It could make a good anime...." Read more

70 customers mention "Readability"70 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the well-paced action and good editing. Readers describe the story as old-school sci-fi with wonderful characters and interesting aliens. While some found it too lightweight for their tastes, others found it enjoyable enough to finish.

"...Worth every word and page." Read more

"...Good story line and good characters. I read it in one sitting. Keep up the great work and I will continue purchasing and reading your books...." Read more

"...Great story, extremely captivating and entertaining.I highly recommend this book and this talented author...." Read more

"...That would be a shame too, because this is some good stuff...." Read more

42 customers mention "Character development"38 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They find the characters wonderful, captivating, and easy to visualize. The descriptions help readers distinguish between good and bad aliens, humans, and places.

"...keeping it alive and well with superbly crafted plots and exquisite character development. Worth every word and page." Read more

"...Good story line and good characters. I read it in one sitting. Keep up the great work and I will continue purchasing and reading your books...." Read more

"...Love the world building, well developed characters, (my favorite is a very unique creature that is in the care of the main character), great action,..." Read more

"Great plot, great characters, great universe. Two problems though. 1. To short. 2...." Read more

26 customers mention "Pacing"26 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it well-paced and entertaining, with an action-packed story that keeps readers hooked until the end. The book starts slowly but quickly picks up speed and maintains their interest throughout.

"...That would be a shame too, because this is some good stuff. Lots of fast-paced action held together by plot and genre, with a few mystery odds and..." Read more

"...This is sci-fi adventure and the action starts right away and doesn't end until the book does!..." Read more

"Starts out walking but hits it stride and keeps the pace going pretty good it's the first book in the series and I look forward to reading..." Read more

"...I enjoyed this book and felt that it moved along at a nice clip...." Read more

23 customers mention "Writing quality"19 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the storyline interesting and captivating, with good composition and editing. The author is creative, and the technical details are believable. The writer makes it easy to visualize the action, making the science sound plausible.

"...plot line, this went places that I did not see coming and is very well written and the editing is superb...." Read more

"...The crew is a weird version of Firefly! Lol! Loved it! The narrator was excellent in performing all the various voices and emotions!..." Read more

"A great beginning for the series with a well written storyline and an interesting and captivating cast...." Read more

"This is a fine sci-fi adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the pet. I anxiously await the sequel." Read more

10 customers mention "Aliens"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the aliens in the book. They find the characters, species, and characters well-developed. The book also features a unique creature.

"...(my favorite is a very unique creature that is in the care of the main character)..." Read more

"Not earthshaking writing, but great plot, aliens, marines, enemies, and action...." Read more

"...which makes it easy to visualize the characters, places, and alien creatures...." Read more

"Well developed alien species. Detailed analysis of environment and alien characteristics...." Read more

8 customers mention "Start"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's start. They found the storyline well-written and interesting, with an acceptable premise. However, some felt the author got lost in space.

"A great beginning for the series with a well written storyline and an interesting and captivating cast...." Read more

"The initial premise was acceptable; however, the author got lost in space somewhere and quickly lost my interest...." Read more

"Great start to a series, action packed with good characters and a fine storyline...." Read more

"This book is a good start to a new series. I enjoyed it enough to add to my collection after reading it on KU." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025
    Heinlien’s “Starship Troopers” was published 65 years ago and thus was born the genre. You would think after that long plots would start to get repetitive, but people like Kevin Hardman are keeping it alive and well with superbly crafted plots and exquisite character development. Worth every word and page.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2018
    I give this book a very strong 4. I hardly ever give a 5 to any book so, from me this is high praise. I really enjoyed it. It was one of those books that once I started, I couldn't put it down. Good story line and good characters. I read it in one sitting. Keep up the great work and I will continue purchasing and reading your books. It is nice to read a sci-fi book that is not only interesting but actually has some humor in it as well. and also doesn't waste a lot of words on what is in the mind of each and every character in the book. Overall a great little read that I enjoyed very much. Wish I could give it a 5 but, i will tell everyone I know to read this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022
    Suprising plot line, this went places that I did not see coming and is very well written and the editing is superb. No spoilers here but a particularly nasty and deadly alien race on the outer fringes of known space, secret mission out to investigate and a tough, but fair protaganist that I would follow into battle myself. This is the first of a series evidently. Could be a standalone book and thankfully does not end on a cliffhanger- ugh, I hate those. Great story, extremely captivating and entertaining.I highly recommend this book and this talented author. I look forward to reading more in this series.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2019
    If you pick up this book thinking it will be different from the review title, you’ll be disappointed. That would be a shame too, because this is some good stuff. Lots of fast-paced action held together by plot and genre, with a few mystery odds and ends to keep things interesting. It could make a good anime.

    If all that sounds good then by all means give it his a go; you’ll like it. Definitely recommended.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019
    Terminus by Kevin Hardman and narrated by Mikael Naramore is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. This is sci-fi adventure and the action starts right away and doesn't end until the book does! Love the world building, well developed characters, (my favorite is a very unique creature that is in the care of the main character), great action, the science fiction aspects, and plot. The crew is a weird version of Firefly! Lol! Loved it!
    The narrator was excellent in performing all the various voices and emotions! Made me feel like I was there!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2017
    Filled with well established archetypes, memes, and tropes, this over the top sci-fi action adventure fits the pulp pocket book market rather well. There is absolutely nothing glaringly wrong in the writing, editing, or publishing whatsoever. There's also nothing particularly great either. So long as the price point stays reasonable this tale is sufficiently entertaining to be worth the time to read. I would read follow-up books, knowing that ultimately they will be forgettable and never worthy of a cult following.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
    Starts out walking but hits it stride and keeps the pace going pretty good it's the first book in the series and I look forward to reading
    more going forward.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2015
    Great plot, great characters, great universe. Two problems though.
    1. To short.
    2. Protaganist is an idiot and doesn't match his reputation. He frequently gets distracted and daydreams in conversations. This supposedly decorated and veteran marine gets distracted in the middle of fights and needs to be snapped back to reality by others. This supposedly decorated and veteran marine gets tricked by a simple and common two pronged attack. This supposedly decorated and veteran marine needs a brand new marine on his first assignment to see through a disguise. He is supposed to be their leader but he has no command presence or confidence. He constantly demonstrates to his soldiers how not in control he is. He completely confides all his secrets in two civilians he barely knows, and when they show themselves to have no honor and be complete fools he does nothing, not even yell at them. They use the excuse of following orders to excuse not using their brains.
    21 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Edward Bell
    5.0 out of 5 stars great ending, a stunning read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2024
    I am no writer unlike Kevin Hardman. This book is true space opera in the manner of Heinman and Clark. A great read and a refreshing story with shocking twists.
  • Mary Conlon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story
    Reviewed in Australia on December 30, 2022
    This story is very much character centric and the characters are great. The main character Gant Maker is everything a good marine should be. The crew he gathers around him are all fab characters in their own right. There is plenty of action but we are not awash in details about armour and weapons, or explanations about how the tech works, which can get tedious. It’s just a good shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up yarn. There is plenty of spacefaring aliens and humanities own ‘hub’ of planets. Again not bogged down in detail of how we got there. Just this is where we are not let’s have an adventure. I am looking forward to the next book.
  • Vera Poirier
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2023
    Recommend.
  • Richard Adelt
    4.0 out of 5 stars good one
    Reviewed in Australia on December 21, 2014
    Most enjoyable, good story, interesting characters. Well written, looking forward to reading the next book. Hope to se it soon.
  • Marc's list
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stupid a good story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2023
    First book in a series, not my normal genre but was only 99p. A great find, fast paced and great story line with a range of characters that can grow as the tale continues. Well worth reading.

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