Amazon Editors' favorite summer reads
$2.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Glynn Stewart
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Pulsar Race: A Starship's Mage Universe Novella Kindle Edition

by Glynn Stewart (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 941 ratings
A retired Mage with no plan
An old friend with no hope
A ship built on a daring dream

Mage-Captain Ivan Halloway has retired from the Royal Martian Navy and the service of the Mage-King of Mars. He has returned to his homeworld to rest, but his only real plan is to avoid the war he sees coming to the Protectorate.

Captain Karl Charpentier is his oldest friend—Captain and pilot of an interstellar jump-courier. Crewless and drowning in debt due to a series of mistakes, Karl turns to his newly unemployed friend with a desperate plan to solve all his problems.

To save his friend’s ship and career, Ivan must help him take his courier into an illegal race through a deadly region of space—a race run by the very people Karl Charpentier owes money to.

How could it possibly go wrong?

The audio edition of this includes the bestselling novella Excalibur Lost.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    109 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 15, 2020
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

From the Publisher

starship's mage magic science fantasy space opera sci-fi military

Starship’s Mage Universe

blend science fiction and science fantasy jn chaney

Science Meets Magic in this Unique Magic System

In the science fantasy Universe of Starship’s Mage, humanity never cracked the lightspeed barrier with technology. The only tool allowing humans to spread to the stars is the magic of the elite Jump Magi who now transport ships between the stars.

action litrpg gamelit magic science

How the Legend Started

Starship’s Mage was originally released as a serialized space fantasy adventure in the style of the pulp magazines of old. The novella-length episodes were compiled in book 1, and popular demand led to a series of full-length space opera novels.

honor-bound characters

Let the Galactic-Scale Mysteries Take You Away

Explore the Protectorate of Humanity, overseen by the roving warrior judges of the Mage-King of Mars—as their worlds crack at the seams!

Starship's Mage Series

starship's mage damien mage king of mars

Starship’s Mage (Books 1-5)

Start the journey with Damien Montgomery. Damien begins as a novice Jump Mage in a galaxy where his abilities put him at risk—and take him to a place beyond his wildest expectations.

mountain of mars alien conspiracy

UnArcana Rebellion (Books 6-9)

Roslyn Chambers and Damien Montgomery both serve the Protectorate as tensions with the Republic of Faith and Reason hit a breaking point. And underneath lies the framework of a greater conspiracy.

rise the ranks marine mage commander

Mage-Officer of Mars (Books 10-13)

The adventure continues with Mage Roslyn Chambers as she hunts conspiracies and averts disaster in the aftermath of a devastating war. But the people who stoked the fires of war are still out there...

Starship's Mage
Interstellar Mage
Raven's Peace
The Terran Privateer
Space Carrier Avalon
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars 6,683
4.6 out of 5 stars 2,435
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,665
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,930
4.4 out of 5 stars 4,600
Price $4.99 $3.99 $3.99 $4.99 $4.99
Series Starship's Mage Starship's Mage Universe: Red Falcon Peacekeepers of Sol Duchy of Terra Castle Federation
Complete Series? Ongoing Completed Trilogy Ongoing Completed 9 Book Series Complete 6 Book Series (Universe Ongoing)
Genre Science Fantasy Science Fantasy Military Space Opera Military Space Opera Military Space Opera
Political & Diplomatic Intrigue ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Honor & Duty ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Space Battles ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Marines or Ground Combat ✓ ✓ no data ✓ ✓
Starfighters no data no data ✓ no data ✓
Transhumanism Elements no data no data ✓ no data ✓
All Glynn Stewart stories include... space opera science fiction

All Glynn Stewart Stories Feature...

  • Honorbound characters aiming to do the right thing
  • Diverse, realistic casts
  • Complex villains
  • Unique high concepts
  • Optimistic views of the future

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08H3JV5BN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Faolan's Pen Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 109 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 941 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Glynn Stewart

Glynn Stewart

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Glynn Stewart is the author of Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible–but only because of magic. His other works include science fiction series Peacekeepers of Sol, Scattered Stars, and Castle Federation, as well as the urban fantasy series ONSET and Changeling Blood.

Writing managed to liberate Glynn from a bleak future as an accountant. With his personality and hope for a high-tech future intact, he lives in Alberta with his partner, their cats, and an unstoppable writing habit.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
941 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good sci-fi...and magic?
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A well written treatment of a standard plot. Fairly standard science fiction, but needs the magic to make it implausibly plausible. A fun read
    Helpful
     Report
  • John Ashmore
    4.0 out of 5 stars More Than Just An Illegal Race Around A Binary Pulsar
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A different and entertaining tale from the Starship’s Mage Universe. Ivan is a recently retired RMN Jump Mage, deciding what he wants to do in retirement. He knows he doesn’t want to join his system’s reserves. He senses a war is brewing and he just spent his 30 year career carefully selecting postings that gave limited potential for conflict. When an old friend asks for Ivan’s help in an illegal race that will allow his friend to payoff his considerable debt, Ivan quickly realizes he didn’t ask nearly enough questions about his friend’s situation. When the race takes multiple unexpected turns, Ivan has to decide whether he will fall back on old habits or surprise himself. An entertaining story.

    I received an ARC for my review. I enjoyed the story enough to buy my own copy to support the author.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • George
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This was a very good read. I liked this book a lot and will read more books like it when I find them
    Helpful
     Report
  • Takeyabue
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another novella that crosses genres
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Glynn Stewart has recently been releasing short novellas that cross genres by bringing the tropes of one genre into another. For example, Wardtown, brought western themes of travel by horseback and bounty hunting into a magical fantasy setting. Pulsar Race, while set in Stewart's own Starship's Mage universe, has a distinctly different feel as the main characters have a more nuanced approach to the mage powers and Martian society in general.

    Captain Karl Charpentier is at the end of a long series of poor decisions, both personal and financial. Beyond his son, the Restoya, a modified high speed courier ship is all that brings meaning to his life. Deep in debt to the mob he reaches out to his his oldest friend, Mage-Captain Ivan Holloway. who is just beginning to understand the unending monotony of retirement, to join with him and save Restoya by winning an illegal space race run by the very mobsters Charpentier is in debt to.

    A classic caper plotline with many of the twists and turns associated with that trope is only made stronger by the familiarity the reader has with the Starship's Mage universe, the frisson of danger, and a dusting of magic. Will they or won't they? Download today and find out.
    10 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Laura Stephenson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable race novella
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting story about a messed-up racer and his Jump Mage friend who has the choice of betrayal or winning a race for amazing profits. It was very male-heavy and too short to develop the characters more, but it was an enjoyable read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Samantha Campbell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Need a quick, fun read, set in space?
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Then this is your book!

    I am an ARC reader, so I could have downloaded this for free in exchange for an honest review on release day. I didn't bother getting my free copy because I knew this was a novella and Glynn's books are always worth paying for.

    If you have read any of the Starship's Mage world novels, you will appreciate this novella greatly. It's not imperative that you have read the other novels, though. Glynn doesn't get in depth about the world in this short book but it doesn't feel like that's detrimental.

    I appreciated the fact that Ivan (the main character) isn't a cut and dried hero type like many of Glynn's normal main characters are. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to root for Damien and the rest of the gang, but this novella shows us something different. Adds a little variety to the Starship's Mage universe.

    Don't hesitate to pick this one up!
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • James M Basl
    3.0 out of 5 stars A enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was an enjoyable read. The storyline and characters were well written and had significant depth. Would love to read a full length novel with these characters.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jonathan A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highlight of my day!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a long way from my favorite Starship's Mage Universe story, but this has still been playing through my daydreams since I read it. I enjoyed this story and ready it voraciously like I do all of GS's stuff. I am never disappointed with either money or time invested in reading any Starship's Mage book ... or any of Glynn's other stuff either.

    I don't want to spoil anything for you, but if you like the Starship's Mage universe you will probably like this. If you are on the fence about the other Starship's Mage books then this is probably not they one that will hook you.

    Any book by Glynn Stewart pretty much makes my day!

    I received a free electronic review copy in exchange for my honest review. ... then I preordered this novella because not paying to support the author would feel wrong.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Book wyrm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice intermezzo in the Starship Mage universe
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I love how the author managed to write an impressive and believable character development for a retired main character. And in a novella no less. As all the books in this universe, the book is fast paced, with action and high speed chases. It's about friendship, and fighting for each other. And it great. It's a novella, so relatively short, but it's a complete story.
    Report
  • AinYVR
    5.0 out of 5 stars A short story that fits in perfectly with its literary universe
    Reviewed in Canada on September 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This novella meets all the criteria I expect from a short story. First, it is a good length, long enough to provide rich character development while still respecting the novella format. Second, it fits in perfectly in the sci-fi/fantasy world that the author has built throughout several other book series, without demanding that the reader be fully conversant in that universe in order to appreciate the novella itself. In the end, I was very satisfied with how the story concluded, feeling both like it was enough, while still wishing there were more.
    Report
  • Alex
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top way to spend an evening!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Pulsar Race is a novella set in the Starship's Mage universe. The book is set just ahead of the war between the Protectorate and the Republic and follows the story of recently retired Mage-Captain Ivan Halloway and his oldest friend Captain Karl Charpentier. Ivan helps Karl in an illegal starship race to clear the debts Karl has gotten himself in. The story is engaging and has the normal good balance between character development and story pace. It was an enjoyable evenings read and I would definitely recommend.

    Note: I received a free electronic copy in exchange for an unbiased review (but liked it enough to buy a copy anyway)
    Report
  • Daleaus
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tight short story
    Reviewed in Australia on September 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The story was fine. I did not gel with the main character though or his friend. Prefer people i can invest in.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer Baz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another story from the Starship Mage Universe Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Great storylines about the mage helping a friend win an illegal starship race, he has to win to pay off the Mafia who have bought all his debt to steal his ship. Said ship being the fastest thing in space thanks to all the not-so-legal upgrades and with a mage with this much power they can't lose or can they? Engrossing read looking forward to the next book, Baz.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report