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Norman Turrell
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Generational: A starship adventure Kindle Edition

by Norman Turrell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.7 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

'...this is what a good speculative fiction story should do.'


'Excellent book - vivid imagination.'



Earth is desperately troubled by ecological disasters and political unrest. Five years ago, the generational star-ship, Eos--an arc in space--was constructed.

But when Leyton arrives to complete his college study of its inhabitants, he finds himself hopelessly confused. A priest with a harem of breeders? The conspiracy theories of the head technician?

Can he discover the truth, the real purpose of the ship and the plans of the powerful Victorians?


A starship mystery adventure from best selling British author, Norman Turrell.
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  1. Print length
    150 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 7, 2017
  4. File size
    1.8 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075GX13RS
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 150 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

About the author

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Norman Turrell

Norman Turrell

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Norman Turrell is a commercial writer/editor and best-selling Amazon author of science-fiction, fantasy, horror and just strange stories. He produces printed local publications, runs live and online writer critique groups, and other interest groups.

He studied Mathematics at college, obtaining a 2.1 Hons and later a MSc (Merit) in Artificial Intelligence. He has diplomas in NLP, CBT, Meditation, Mindfulness, Hypnotherapy, and relaxation therapies.

In his spare time, he runs a ukulele group, enjoys sketching, and reads as much as he can. He also has a full-time job as a Software Department Manager, which includes programming systems in C++.

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
88 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's storyline unusually thoughtful and engaging, with good pacing and vivid world building. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as quick prose. However, the character development receives mixed reactions, with some praising it while others find the main character dumber than a rock.

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8 customers mention "Storyline"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storyline of the book, describing it as unusually thoughtful, with one customer noting its clear message and another mentioning its potential as a weekly radio drama.

"...scale of the novella, motives are largely unexplored, but events are fascinating and the author’s fast, smooth style engages the reader’s attention..." Read more

"...While some motivations and questions are left unanswered; this is a novella, and an interesting one at that." Read more

"...I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to other lovers of distopian futures." Read more

"...not the middle or end like most very interesting idea and room for many stories I will be watching for them" Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read, with one customer noting that it maintains interest throughout.

"...are fascinating and the author’s fast, smooth style engages the reader’s attention throughout...." Read more

"Generational is a quick and engrossing read-full of potential. The protagonist arrives on Eos, convinced that all is not as it seems...." Read more

"...The book kept a good pace and it stayed interesting. Must read for sci-fi readers! Buy this book!" Read more

"I found this to be a great read. Sort of a merge of Asimov and Brunner, a glittering city in space, with a dark underbelly...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pace"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pace.

"...motives are largely unexplored, but events are fascinating and the author’s fast, smooth style engages the reader’s attention throughout...." Read more

"Generational is a quick and engrossing read-full of potential. The protagonist arrives on Eos, convinced that all is not as it seems...." Read more

"...I was impressed with the vivid world building and pace for the length of this quick read!..." Read more

"...Maybe there will be a sequel? The book kept a good pace and it stayed interesting. Must read for sci-fi readers! Buy this book!" Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as well written and thoughtful.

"Norman Turrell is a thoughtful writer - and Generational is a tale that asks questions of our future...." Read more

"...Turrell writes accomplished prose, and he delivers fully-rounded and authentic characters, each carrying some single point of reference to human..." Read more

"...Turrell energizes the story line with quick prose and keeps the reader flicking the pages...." Read more

"...Oh, it was somewhat well written, but the story did not follow the book title...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with its vivid world building, and one customer specifically mentions the glittering city in space.

"...Turrell writes with great insight, highlighting not only class and power struggles, but also the power of truth...." Read more

"...I was impressed with the vivid world building and pace for the length of this quick read!..." Read more

"...Sort of a merge of Asimov and Brunner, a glittering city in space, with a dark underbelly...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some praising it while others find the main character dumber than a rock.

"...writes accomplished prose, and he delivers fully-rounded and authentic characters, each carrying some single point of reference to human behaviour...." Read more

"Main character dumber than a rock, sci-fi because the author says space a lot and a plot that went no where." Read more

"...into a seamless whole, and do it while building complex and evolving characters. I am ready for more." Read more

"...Because of the unlikable protagonist, I’m not sure that I enjoyed reading Leyton’s story in Generational, but I was impressed at how well Mr...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A society in microcosm aboard ship
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Norman Turrell is a thoughtful writer - and Generational is a tale that asks questions of our future.

    Set aboard a colony ship orbiting Earth and preparing for its voyage, the story dwells less on the nuts and bolts of the science of the ship, and more on the social science of the humans aboard it.

    An early, off-kilter encounter introduces lead character Leyton to a young woman whose role is, as she puts it, a breeder. Or more colourfully a "ghetto-ho" or "ship's bike". She seems unstable, and Leyton is whisked away from her - an early sign that not all is well aboard the ship.

    Leyton becomes the explorer guiding the reader as the slightly twisted society on board is revealed - freed from the structures of society down below, the ship has developed its own paths, becoming possibly a powder keg ready to blow... or the only hope of Earth's survival.

    It's an unusual story - and I think of that as a good thing. What shape will our future be, what route will our philosophies take us? These are the questions at the heart of Generational - a tale that asks the unexpected.
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  • Judith Rook
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Disturbing World for the Future
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    “Adventure” may be a slight misnomer in the case of Norman Turrell’s ‘Generational – A Starship Adventure’. The book certainly contains adventurous material, but overall it is more of a miniature odyssey—a wandering, eventful journey—although it takes place in one setting, on the edge of space, and over only three days. It is an unusually thoughtful storyline, exploring the theme of power and class separation.
    The understanding and personal growth of the protagonist appears through the unfolding of events. And when the protagonist is a naïve young man, engaged in demographic research, the author has cleverly set the stage for the unexpected and strange. In no way does the book achieve the bizarre tone of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, but there is a slight and very attractive structural similarity.
    Completely unaware of the social and political depths he has stepped into, the young scholar from Earth tries to make sense of the people he meets. But the author does not make it easy for the reader. He only hints that all may not be well among the waiting colonists.
    He develops the storyline through suggestion and inference. He cleverly controls the full revelation of the purpose of the starship so that when the climax arrives, it has all the highly satisfactory force of a classic dénouement.
    Turrell writes accomplished prose, and he delivers fully-rounded and authentic characters, each carrying some single point of reference to human behaviour. Because of the smaller scale of the novella, motives are largely unexplored, but events are fascinating and the author’s fast, smooth style engages the reader’s attention throughout. Perhaps there is a slight incidence of over-writing, although it does not seriously reduce the impact of the text.
    Despite its comparatively small scale, this is a book of substance. Within a strong, futuristic setting, Turrell has created a disturbing possible world. The narrative holds a clear message, and if in the end the main character raises questions for the reader, this is what a good speculative fiction story should do.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Ducky
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good premise
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2018
    The good: This story was technically well written. It is a beautiful travelogue through the main character's eyes as he boards a massive generational ship.

    The bad. The stereotypes in the story are presented as caricatures. The reader can infer why the bombastic politician is a puppet, but not really who the puppet master is or why. The power behind the scenes is mysterious and ruthless, but again not explained and the end shows that wealth could not be the motivation. The totally repressed, introverted main character who only lets go under the influence of drugs is hard to relate to because he doesn't seem to grow, just starts taking mood enhancers.

    In the full scope of the story, nothing really happens until the end and when that happens there is little to no reason to it.

    I personally think this book could be very good if it was expanded: to bring in more of what is happening with the Japanese side of the ship, to explore more of the workers' story, to have more background that leads up to the end of the story, and to have more reason explained to the reader for why the characters do what they do.
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  • Rachael
    4.0 out of 5 stars Modern-Day Questing
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Generational is a quick and engrossing read-full of potential. The protagonist arrives on Eos, convinced that all is not as it seems. Everyone from the High Chancellor to the lowly worker living in squalor has secret motives. Turrell writes with great insight, highlighting not only class and power struggles, but also the power of truth.

    Turrell energizes the story line with quick prose and keeps the reader flicking the pages. While some motivations and questions are left unanswered; this is a novella, and an interesting one at that.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Shane
    5.0 out of 5 stars I was impressed with the vivid world building and pace for the length of this quick read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Leyton is an Oxford student who gets the opportunity to tour the generational starship Ios as part of his research. Antonia is a feisty redhead resident who volunteers to give an interview and take Leyton under her wing. His interviews leave Leyton with some disturbing questions about the ship’s true mission.

    I was impressed with the vivid world building and pace for the length of this quick read! Turrell did a fair amount of world building to pull this off. I’m especially intrigued by the religious and political interplay at work in the story.

    I love scifi that involves an artificial ecosystem in space travel. As a grade school kid I had the pleasure of touring the Biosphere 2 lab in Tucson, Arizona, shortly after it’s main experiment. There were still a great deal of experiments being conducted and to this day, seeing a whale swim over me as I stood in the tunnel that ran under the ocean is a vivid memory. I think such a system would be the only way people would thrive in a generational adventure to other star systems.

    The cool thing about the plot is that you aren’t really aware of the mystery until it is coming apart in Leyton’s hands.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Janet Gogerty
    4.0 out of 5 stars Strap your magnetic pads on and be propelled into an adventure story that could well happen.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is the sort of science fiction I enjoy and can understand. I could picture Eos well and got into the story quickly, we soon realise Eos is not going to be what poor young Leyton expects; this is not a long story, but one that incorporates themes that are all too realistic. What is happening on Eos is alas all too believable.
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  • W A
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read - Keep 'em coming.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Generational : A starship adventure.

    I’ve just read Generational : A starship adventure by Norman Turrell

    Leyton Taymore journeys to Eos a starship community in the making; his visit is designed to give him a better insight into the workings of the future star ship. He very swiftly becomes embroiled with Earth and space politics; one half of the ship’s population live well and the other half live in poor conditions. In addition, the Japanese half have declared UDI from the other half. (That make four halves but who’s counting) There is also a suspicion that Eos might never leave Earth orbit.
    Leyton also becomes the attention of alluring women seeking out his company. He is also pounced on by Mechs (humanoid robots) at various times

    Good ending but can’t divulge it here!

    A good read 4 out 4
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  • EddieB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy, fun and full of young dreams.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    An easy, exiting and entertaining read. He gets the beautiful girl and all the action despite being portrayed as perhaps a slightly nerdy character, perfect escapism!!! It’s fun to read and it doesn’t ask too many questions from the reader, what more could one want? Especially after being rejected time after time on dating apps??? 😂😂😂
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  • Gerard Spicer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I fell into the storyline and kept reading. Characters I grew to care about brought to a perilous situation in more ways than one. I recommend this as a good read to anyone who likes speculative fiction.
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  • Motoguzzibob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book - vivid imagination
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book - vivid imagination. Definitely worth trying out this author
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