Journey Beyond the Sea

Benteen is a colony planet, cut off from Earth for the last 300 years. The colonists have done their best to keep what technology they were left with, operational.

Young Jem is a hunter from the uplands of Northern New Australia. He has reached the age of adulthood and goes to seek his adventure on an orx hunter ship, down in Nocksic Bay.

There he meets several people who become friends and one who becomes more than just a friend. Along the way to learning how to hunt orx, Jem and the crew discover a mystery no one ever dreamed of finding.

Once again the fertile mind of Geron Kees weaves us another enticing tale!

Another imaginative tale from the @Geron Kees that introduces us to what might be.  A young boy on the cusp of adulthood joins an adventure that he has longed for only to find what his destiny might really be.  

As always, the writing and pacing along with the character development is first rate.  But it is the way the story weaves it's magic on each of us in different ways that makes this so special.

Even when no longer on Earth, what does it mean to be human and how does that translate into how we deal with not only each other, but the unexplained.  

What does it mean to protect someone?  What would you give up to do so?

Begin the adventure and let's find out.  

Once again, we are treated to an amazing tale of world building and discovery by a master craftsman and superb wordsmith. I won't repeat what other reviews have noted, they are all spot on, what I will tell you...read this and embark on a fantastic adventure!!!

Another masterpiece from the mind of @Geron Kees.

We follow Jem a young man from Benteen, who has long dreamed of going out to sea.

He suddenly finds his dream come true when he joins an orx hunting ships. He meets Nico on the ship and they soon establish themselves as important members of the crew.

But not everything is plain sailing for Jem, Nico and crew as they encounter a new mystery, that will cause big changes.

The crew are forced to adapt to everything that they have ever been told and learnt as they discover much more about this new mystery.

You need to read this masterpiece to learn what this mystery is.

I think Geron Kees is one of the best writers on this site. His Charlie Boone series is a sprawling delight, but his other stories are just as strong, and Journey Beyond the Sea might be his best yet. From the incredibly original world building (which should come as no surprise if you've read any of the other stories by this author) to characters you quickly grow to care deeply about to a rollicking adventure story reminiscent of (and drawing inspiration from) 19th century high seas tales. It's a coming of age story with romance and high stakes. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

One more brilliant and captivating story by Geron Kees, who is long and firmly in the list of my favorite authors overall, not only on GA, and ranked high.
Another setting, another — and plausible this time! — twist of physics and biology. Yet another set of charismatic characters and serious enough challenges. Frankly speaking, I would really like to see human civilization governed by the law that is pivotal for Jem-verse. Indeed I want to read more stories from this world. Little chance of crossovers with Booniverse and Magick-verse, but the latter could be possible.

It is very interesting what happens next, and there’s enough material for at least one sequel, let alone a cliffhanger that begs for it.

An anime series would be great as well, but that, alas, is a wishful thinking.

This is an excellent story well worth reading, in spite of suffering from very necessary --  "J R R Tolkien syndrome" -- meaning that the first two chapters, especially, seem to move a bit more slowly as the necessary-yet-fascinating world-building takes place.  But in each following chapter, the story continues to build and grow as Jem, Nico, Nita, and the others learn more puzzling facts.

I was reminded of the second Door tale by this story; in that one Difris told Mike that (paraphrasing) "Earth would probably now be invited to join the Empire.  It might be surprising what the Empire tolerated in the way of bad manners."  (End of paraphrasing.)

Sometimes, what seems to be a bad or questionable thing is understandable when one has more facts to interpret.

I would give this six stars out of five -- but the system will not let me.  It is THAT good.

Over the coming years, I look for sequels.

Woot another new world, great story!  Will there be a sequel(s)? 

I really enjoyed this story. I hope you will continue it on. 
Thanks

Awesome story.

Especially the bit about New Australia.

Thanks for writing this unique adventure.

Q

I love this story and Geron’s storytelling never fails to bring a warmth to me. Jem is a likable protagonist from the first page, one not afraid to embrace the wonder of his truly remarkable world.  

Once Jem-kind meets Bzup the tale truly takes off. The patient unfolding of how the little alien grows to understand the big ideas of what the humans, and Jem in particular, are about is as compelling as I could possibly imagine a first contact between species could play out.  

Although the stakes are higher and the world view and tone are quite distinct from his marvelous Booniverse, Geron makes the twists unfold logically and wraps up this story not only at a satisfying point, but leaves me begging for more set in this world.  

And If ever you were hoping for the science in science fiction to be grounded in plausibility and not just interchangeable with magic, his writing is for you.