Heroes Die Young

by T.M. Hunter

Space pirate Aston West has come across derelict freighters many times before. But this latest catch, fresh out of a recent battle, proves to be a little more than he expected. He can't fight the urge to pilfer a valuable cache of illegal contraband, but discovers one last stowaway who tries to kill him. Attack craft return to finish the ship off and Aston has no choice but to save her from certain destruction. Who is she? What was this cargo he just...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1502723395
• ISBN13: 9781502723390
• Release Date: November 2014
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Fun page-turning adventure!

T. M. Hunter presents a fun sci-fi trek with space pirate Aston West at the helm. This book makes for a excellent summer read and will leave you longing for the next great adventure.

Good read

Enjoyed the book! Characters and story are believable and flow together with some twists & turns for a really good read. Great "space opera", like Star Wars or Star Trek the characters in the story are first, & the technology and alien landscapes just provide the colorful back drop. Fun and interesting. Only 4 stars because it goes by too fast. More Aston West please :)

Reluctant Hero

I read Heroes Die Young with a sense of dread from the beginning, because I could tell from the size of the book that it wasn't going to take me nearly as far into the life of the main character--Aston West--as I wanted to go. Aston is such an engaging guy who keeps getting heroism dropped into his lap no matter how hard he tries to avoid it, and although he does his best to convince us that he's a cad, his true character shows through in everything he does. Heroes Die Young is a fast-paced trip into Aston's world of space in the future that is sure to make the heart of any fan of Star Trek or Star Wars beat with joy. The plot is easy to follow without being simplistic or predictable, and the author's attention to detail puts the reader right in the middle of the action. I just hope Mr. Hunter gets the sequel done in hyperspeed.

A memorable reluctant hero.....

Amidst a glut of forgettable fictional protagonists, why did I find Aston West to be memorable? He's a science fiction character, of all things, not my preferred genre, but I haven't stopped thinking about him since the last page of Heroes Die Young. West is a space scavenger, just short of being a pirate. He tries to slide by without exerting himself or getting involved, and the reluctant hero enjoys sipping Vladirian liquor a bit too much. In fact, if not for Jeanie, his personal onboard computer, West and his starship would have been blasted to space dust long ago. As the story begins, West is making a cargo run to the Toris system. His cargo hold is empty, except for one container of blue organic crystals he's being paid to deliver. When he encounters a disabled Rulusian freighter with a full cargo bay and no life signs, West imagines scavenged riches for the taking. West instructs Jeanie to upload the contraband cargo while he explores the freighter. Inside he finds horror, a crew dead from blasters, the scent of burnt bodies in the air, and a female warrior brandishing a disintegrator cannon. Rione Sc'lari is ship's captain and the lone surviving member of her crew. West reluctantly takes her aboard his ship and, from that point forward, all hell breaks loose. He's forced to deal with ruthless ambassadors, underhanded politicians, and attack cruisers bent on blowing him to bits. And yes, as he joins the battle to thwart forces determined to destroy the citizens of an entire system, Aston West becomes a quietly efficient hero. He goes on the attack because he has to, with self-effacing humor, Jeanie, and a handful of dissidents at his side. This book was great fun to read, exciting and believable. Aston West is an appealing character, and the plot engaging. Author T.M. Hunter is a name to remember for you sci fi fans out there.

Aston West is one of my heroes...

... but I hope he never 'Dies Young'. Todd Hunter has written a good guy's story here, but made him just bad enough to appeal to those of us who like their heroes realistic, no matter what their age. Aston's adventures are most entertaining, have twists and turns aplenty, and each one will send you in search of the next. The only reason I give 'Heroes Die Young' a 4 instead of a 5? I wanted it to go on for about another 200 pages!