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Medieval Space Setting
The Dangerous Shipment follows a seventeen-year-old Assistant Gearsman aboard the fastest ship in the Nebula on a mission to deliver medicine to New Diamond before Blue Death spreads too far. Where did the idea behind this novel come from?
The idea for writing this novella came, in part, from watching Star Trek for years, especially the Next Generation. I always liked the fact that the episodes of that series tended to go beyond a simple space adventure and went into deeper themes of characters, morals, and what it means to be human in space. I used those themes in creating the characters and the plot of The Dangerous Shipment. Also, I heard about Steampunk and fell in love with the idea of it, so that served as the inspiration for the style and technology behind the story.
What part of the world was the most enjoyable to create?
Creating the medieval space setting was one of the most enjoyable aspects of creating this world. Explaining how medieval people got to the Nebula in the first place and creating a timeline parallel to ours was exciting to me. Also, creating new ethnicities of people and their characteristics was also very enjoyable.
Godwin begins as someone who prefers not to be noticed. What interested you about telling the story through such a quiet protagonist?
For a while, I thought about a deaf protagonist in a space opera setting. When I finally began writing the cogs and gears of the cosmos, I wanted to make a deaf protagonist who was both as accurate as possible and respectful to the deaf community. Admittedly, this took research and effort. It was an interesting experience writing from a deaf protagonist’s point of view and not making it obvious until the second half of the book. He started out as a low-ranking crew member who hid his deafness because of prejudice from his homeworld and ended up as a senior officer who now refuses to hide it. My hope is that both the hearing and the deaf will view this story as respectful and unique.
Can you give us a glimpse inside the next book in The Cogs and Gears of the Cosmos series?
This series is currently four novellas. The next story is titled: The Secret Saboteur. The novella surrounds Godwin trying to identify an undercover saboteur intent on stealing confidential information from the Game Changer and selling it on the black market. At the same time, he struggles with being respected by the other senior officers. This is a cozy space mystery with high stakes and heart.
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In the vast reaches of the Nebula, the 21st century looks nothing like Earth.
There are no computers, no digital screens, and no artificial intelligence. Instead, humanity has conquered the stars with the hiss of steam, the roar of magma boilers, and the intricate perfection of clockwork gears. It is a universe where elememts of the ancient past and the far future collide—where starships run on clockwork and medieval societies navigate the deep space.
The Mission of a Lifetime
The Game Changer is a marvel of engineering—the first ship capable of crossing the cosmos at speeds that defy history. Its maiden voyage is a heart-stopping race against time: a devastating plague is devouring the population of New Diamond, and the life-saving medicine will spoil unless the Game Changer can prove its legendary speed.
A Prodigy with a Secret
Seventeen-year-old Godwin Dirteon is a brilliant new recruit among the ship’s Gearsmen. His mechanical knowledge is unparalleled, driven by a unique ability to “feel” the ship’s engines through vibrations. But his gift comes with a devastating cost.As the ship plunges into volatile nebula storms and the pressure of the mission mounts, Godwin carries a burden heavier than the ship’s massive engines. He is hiding a personal secret—a profound sensory impediment—that he believes would get him instantly exiled by the crew.To save ten million lives, Godwin must navigate a high-stakes deep-space service, survive a treacherous voyage, and keep his secret hidden from the most powerful Captain in the Nebula.Step onto the deck of the Game Changer for a spectacular display of grit, gears, and galactic wonder.
Perfect for fans of Jules Verne, classic space opera, and coming-of-age steampunk adventures.
The Dangerous Shipment
The Dangerous Shipment, by Simon Drayton, is a sci-fi adventure with a very specific flavor: medieval-descended space societies, gear-powered ships, analog technology, and a rescue mission that keeps the story moving. The book follows Godwin Dirteon, a seventeen-year-old aboard the Game Changer, the fastest ship in the Nebula. Its first mission sounds simple enough: deliver medicine to New Diamond before Blue Death spreads too far. But the trip quickly turns into a test of the ship, the crew, and Godwin himself.
A lot of the fun comes from the worldbuilding. This universe has its own measurements, histories, cultures, ship systems, and social customs, and the book spends real time making those details part of the story. The Game Changer feels less like a backdrop and more like a living machine, full of cogs, boilers, magnetic shields, bush rooms, sails, and crew members who all have a part to play. The story has a steady sense of curiosity, and it’s easy to see the author’s interest in classic adventure fiction coming through in the way space travel feels physical, risky, and hands-on.
Godwin is the heart of the book. At first, he’s cautious, anxious, and determined to stay unnoticed, but his talent with machines keeps putting him in situations where he can’t hide. His deafness and the way he’s been treated because of it give the story its emotional center. One of the most memorable lines comes from the poem he keeps close: “The cogs will turn in my favor one day.” That line captures Godwin’s quiet hope, and it pays off as the story shows him moving from fear and secrecy toward confidence and purpose.
The supporting cast gives the book warmth. Edmond brings humor, loyalty, and directness, while Citlali offers kindness without pushing too hard. Captain Joanne is controlled and practical, but she also grows in how she sees Godwin and his place on the ship. The action scenes build well, especially when the Game Changer faces storms, damaged systems, marauders, and impossible navigation problems. Godwin’s big moment works because the book has already shown how closely he understands the ship. When he finally tells the First Mate, “Don’t judge me by your limitations,” it feels earned.
The Dangerous Shipment is an imaginative, earnest space adventure about ability, prejudice, courage, and finding the place where you’re meant to serve. It’s very much a first book in a series, with a world that feels built for more voyages, more planets, and more danger. Readers who enjoy detailed fictional settings, unusual technology, and underdog heroes will find a lot to enjoy here. The book’s strongest quality is that it treats Godwin’s journey as both an adventure in space and a personal fight to be seen clearly.
Pages: 190 | ASIN : B0GZPBCZHT
