Put simply: Spinward Fringe is a long running series of Space Opera Books by author Randolph Lalonde. The origin story behind the series is in the First Light Chronicles trilogy, now collected in Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins (Also known as the First Light Chronicles Omnibus).
The story is set in the far flung future and follows two crews as they make their way through a complicated galaxy in decline. At the core of the story is a ship, a constant fight for survival and the sometimes complex situations that come up personally and on a broader scale.
This series often crosses sub-genres between Hard SciFi, Cyberpunk, Noir SciFi, and a few other styles. Through it all the characters are our eyes and ears, providing context and a real emotional connection to events both personal and galactic in scale.
Written like a television series, these books are made for people who don't have much time to sit down and read a hundred pages before they feel they've experienced a significant portion of the story. Someone can often read for ten to fifteen minutes and feel that they've seen into the world and lived there vicariously.
While the books are a series, the author also maintains that each book or trilogy should be good enough to stand on its own, regardless of how much of the story remains to be told in the next. As an independent author Randolph Lalonde realizes that his readers determine the longevity of the series and his overall quality of life. He writes full time, spending most of his efforts on the Spinward Fringe series.
Here are the books in chronological order accompanied by a brief synopsis:
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: ORIGINS -Includes all the First Light Chronicles Books
Also known as The First Light Chronicles Omnibus
First Light Chronicles: Freeground
Freeground station houses an entire civilization of humans and it’s under siege. Low on manpower and allies, they discover a group of friends with original thinking who can defeat cadets and trainers alike in detailed virtual combat simulations. Fleet Command has no choice but to send them on a very real, very dangerous mission: to go into the galaxy and acquire allies and technology on their behalf.
First Light Chronicles: Limbo
The First Light crew have emerged from hyperspace into a war zone. Forced to choose a side, Captain Jonas Valent commits them to a fight for freedom against an unknown enemy. The Vindyne Corporation is hell bent on taking the agricultural jewel of the Gai-Ian solar system, Concordia. How Captain Valent and his crew weather this storm will change the crew, the ship and their mission forever.
First Light Chronicles: Starfree Port
The First Light crew enjoy their first safe harbour while repairs are conducted. The consequences of their encounter with Vindyne are becoming apparent. They are being hunted. With enemies circling they're pressed to continue their mission. The crew are faced with their most daunting challenge yet: to balance personal desires with what they must do for the Freeground Nation.
Spinward Fringe: Resurrection
Captain Jacob Valance has no memory. Left on a strange ship on the fringe of the galaxy, he was forced to begin a new life. Years pass. He’s been joined by a ragtag crew of fringers and become a man who can recover lost property, hunt down hardened criminals and go where others fear to tread. Little does he know his search for clues to his past is about to bear fruit.
The Samson crew are caught in their Captain’s problems as his past catches up with him. As new allies start to fall in line old enemies come out of the shadows. While they struggle to deal with their own problems, Regent Galactic starts putting a plan in motion that could bring about the fourth fall of man and position themselves as the saviors. Their ambition could spell disaster for the entire galactic fringe
After narrowly escaping a brush with an old enemy Captain Valance and his crew reach out to their allies for help. Meanwhile, allies and enemies from his past are set to reveal themselves in unexpected ways, changing his life and the galaxy forever.
Captain Valance and his crew are finally learning to work as a unit. Oblivious to the grander designs of the Order of Eden, they are drawn into a brutal conflict over a planet the Order is depopulating so they can use it for themselves. Who will survive the encounter?
Part One Of The Rogue Element Trilogy
The crew of the Triton is making their way to Ossimi Station, a safe haven for independent ships and traders. In a galaxy gripped by conflict and teetering on the verge of chaos, Captain Jacob Valance and his crew will be faced with the unexpected, the unknown, and an opportunity to save thousands of lives. Will their sympathy be their undoing?
Part Two Of The Rogue Element Trilogy
The crew of the Triton continue their misadventure near Ossimi Ring Station. They are forced down different paths and a fight for freedom that will cost them dearly begins. New opportunities, dangers and experiences await them all, as the Order of Eden stirs, advancing their own agenda.
The Expendable Few - A Spinward Fringe Novel
Commander Clark Patterson and several other officers in the Freeground Military are ejected from regular service when a desire to look beyond Freeground Nation’s borders is proven by an oppressive government. They are assigned dangerous missions by a special Intelligence Oversight Group.
If Commander Patterson and his people complete these missions, they’ll gain their freedom from Oversight and have the opportunity to start over in a tumultuous galaxy. Patterson’s fascination with another crew who left Freeground years before and managed to survive serves as a destination, but will they survive to reach it?
*** This book takes place between and during Spinward Fringe Broadcasts Six and Seven. If you've never heard of Spinward Fringe Before, begin with the free novel: Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins, available here. ***
This anthology chronicles events that take place in the universe first developed in the Spinward Fringe series and focuses on characters that deal with problems from a perspective separate from the characters central to the Spinward Fringe books. This is a living document and stories are added to the anthology regularly. This work is open to reader submissions. It's suggested that readers engage in this anthology after reading the regular Spinward Fringe series. [NOTE: We're currently focusing our efforts on the main Spinward Fringe series, which has forced us to put this on the back burner. It will return with much more content in the future, and we're still accepting submissions, keep your eyes peeled.]
Broadcast Numbers
When in doubt, look at the Broadcast Number. On the cover of every Spinward Fringe book is imprinted a Broadcast Number on the right hand side, starting with Broadcast 1 on Spinward Fringe Resurrection. On some websites The First Light Chronicles Omnibus cover is branded as Broadcast 0 since it's the origin trilogy, the place where it all began.
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