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DREAD RECKONING
THE STARSHIP IN THE STONE · Book 3

DREAD RECKONING


After daring escapes and narrow victories, Thomas finds himself not only as the commander of Excalibur, but a symbol of hope to a fledgling resistance movement determined to challenge Morgana’s tyrannical rule.

There’s a high price to freedom.

Hidden among the stars, Thomas and his crew must transform from fugitives into fighters, striking where the enemy least expects while gathering strength for the battles to come. Their quest will take them to ancient worlds where forgotten alliances wait to be rekindled, and secrets of both magic and technology lie guarded by those who remember Arthur's golden age.

As Morgana's elite hunters close in, Thomas must embrace a destiny larger than he ever imagined. For in a conflict where every victory demands sacrifice, even legendary starships and courageous hearts may not be enough to challenge a dark fate.

The resistance rises. The stars bear witness.

Comments (76)

Susanna Wells Jul 27, 2025

Just finished the first two books and have enjoyed the story enormously! From the start of the first book, I have been enthralled with the idea for this story, drawing on legends from the past yet still uniquely original. I am anxious for the next book and patient enough to wait for it. What a delightful treat!
I'm also waiting for all of the stories in this series to be made into movies! This adventure will be bigger than "Star Wars!" I'm 75 yo now. I'm going to have to live another 20 years to wait for the books to conclude & the movies to be made. Well, if that's what it takes, I'm committed to hanging on until I'm 95 or 100 years old! Thank you for these amazing, exciting, excellent stories!

Michael Forbes Aug 02, 2025

lol. Thanks so much, Susanna :D

Jim Clemmer Jul 09, 2025

I just finished the first two books and based on my enjoyment level,it’s a no brainer to order book three. Thanks for a great read!

Michael Forbes Aug 02, 2025

Thank you for reading!

Jim Grimes Jun 07, 2025

Loved the first two books. The story was full of adventure and suspense.

Michael Forbes Jun 24, 2025

Thanks so much, Jim. I hope you're still reading :)

John May 29, 2025

Well I have finished 2 books and they are like a drug as you cannot put the books down. Fast moving and well cnstructed. I guess I await the dragons standing up for themselves as happened at the end of book 2

Michael Forbes Jun 24, 2025

I'm glad you're enjoying it John :)

John Buist May 17, 2025

Both books are a fantastic read can’t wait to read the next one l only hope there’s more books to come

Michael Forbes May 25, 2025

Lots more :D Thank you for reading!

Brenda Lowry May 05, 2025

I really enjoyed the way you started the story in you first book. This book picked right, instead of saying a rehash of the previous books. Thank you for a very unique way of writing🍷

Michael Forbes May 25, 2025

Thank you for reading, Brenda!

Kerry May 04, 2025

I can’t imagine how you are so prolific and yet consistently captivating. Every series is innovative and distinctive enough that I go through them even when intending to limit and try something else. Thank you for yielding to your calling.

Michael Forbes May 25, 2025

Thanks so much, Kerry. It really is a calling for me. I've been telling stories since I was old enough to hold a pen. I'm glad you're enjoying the books.

Gino Mar 26, 2025

I hope it is completely satisfying knowing that everyone enjoys your work.
Thank you
Keep them coming

Michael Forbes Apr 01, 2025

Thank you. I appreciate that. Will do :)

Dennis Mar 21, 2025

I am very satisfied with the first two books. At first glance, I thought that it would be like a lot of the newer books that are coming out. But these books have depth. Instead of just hacking and slashing.

Michael Forbes Mar 21, 2025

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the books! :)

Damian Mar 20, 2025

This was very entertaining. I like the Kights of the round table the am. Can't wait to continue.

Michael Forbes Mar 21, 2025

Thank you for reading!

Jim Landry Mar 19, 2025

OMG ... so freaking good! I've read some of your other books, but this was the best so far. I am happy to see it is not the end. When can we expect the next installment? And thank you so much for this series!!!

Michael Forbes Mar 19, 2025

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying it. Next book is coming soon. Stay tuned!

James Schooley Mar 17, 2025

Great story line. I have really enjoyed these first two books and am looking forward to reading successive volumes. You rank right up there with my other favorite story tellers. Please keep writing, I intend to keep reading. Thanks for keeping me busy.
Jim

Michael Forbes Mar 19, 2025

Thanks so much, Jim. I'm glad you're enjoying the books.

Tim Mar 13, 2025

Read both books in 3 days. Delightful story. Looking forward to the series growing :-)

Michael Forbes Mar 19, 2025

Thank you for reading!

James k Skylstad Mar 11, 2025

Text
Amazing story. I can't wait for book #3

Michael Forbes Mar 11, 2025

Thank. you. I'm happy you're enjoying it so far. Next book is coming soon.

Henry Weems Mar 11, 2025

Great start to the new series.

Michael Forbes Mar 11, 2025

I'm glad you like it!

Paul Gregg Mar 08, 2025

Terrific story. Had me spellbound. So good that I forgot to have coffee!!

Michael Forbes Mar 09, 2025

Thanks, Paul. I'm glad you were able to stay awake on it without your coffee. Perhaps high praise, indeed. :D

Michael Hollon Mar 07, 2025

I like what you are doing here. We have Arthur on earth with the legend intact, but we’re also seeing this broader galactic struggle that, in broad strokes, mirrors those earth stories. Leaves me wondering how our legends came to be. Was Arthur just passing on his story in a way that locals could wrap their head around, or did Arthur attempt to re-create what he lost in our past and fate chose to mirror events in our own little pocket of the galaxy? Going further, did this attempt have the effect of instilling these ideals in our society that ultimately shaped our protagonist to be able to return these 100 years later to take up the fight?

Michael Forbes Mar 09, 2025

Interesting questions. They touch on part of what I was thinking about when the idea for this series was born. Thanks for reading, Michael.

Sam Edwards Mar 07, 2025

Fantastic story! Reading these after the whole Starship for Sale series. But this particular series beautifully postulates a very different and intriguing story to well-known characters. I'm loving every page!

Michael Forbes Mar 07, 2025

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you like it :)

ian hinsley Mar 04, 2025

Enjoyable reading
Very well written can’t wait for the next instalment

Michael Forbes Mar 05, 2025

Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Susanna Wells Jul 27, 2025

Just finished the first two books and have enjoyed the story enormously! From the start of the first book, I have been enthralled with the idea for this story, drawing on legends from the past yet still uniquely original. I am anxious for the next book and patient enough to wait for it. What a delightful treat!
I'm also waiting for all of the stories in this series to be made into movies! This adventure will be bigger than "Star Wars!" I'm 75 yo now. I'm going to have to live another 20 years to wait for the books to conclude & the movies to be made. Well, if that's what it takes, I'm committed to hanging on until I'm 95 or 100 years old! Thank you for these amazing, exciting, excellent stories!

Michael Forbes Aug 02, 2025

lol. Thanks so much, Susanna :D

Jim Clemmer Jul 09, 2025

I just finished the first two books and based on my enjoyment level,it’s a no brainer to order book three. Thanks for a great read!

Michael Forbes Aug 02, 2025

Thank you for reading!

Jim Grimes Jun 07, 2025

Loved the first two books. The story was full of adventure and suspense.

Michael Forbes Jun 24, 2025

Thanks so much, Jim. I hope you're still reading :)

John May 29, 2025

Well I have finished 2 books and they are like a drug as you cannot put the books down. Fast moving and well cnstructed. I guess I await the dragons standing up for themselves as happened at the end of book 2

Michael Forbes Jun 24, 2025

I'm glad you're enjoying it John :)

John Buist May 17, 2025

Both books are a fantastic read can’t wait to read the next one l only hope there’s more books to come

Michael Forbes May 25, 2025

Lots more :D Thank you for reading!

Brenda Lowry May 05, 2025

I really enjoyed the way you started the story in you first book. This book picked right, instead of saying a rehash of the previous books. Thank you for a very unique way of writing🍷

Michael Forbes May 25, 2025

Thank you for reading, Brenda!

Kerry May 04, 2025

I can’t imagine how you are so prolific and yet consistently captivating. Every series is innovative and distinctive enough that I go through them even when intending to limit and try something else. Thank you for yielding to your calling.

Michael Forbes May 25, 2025

Thanks so much, Kerry. It really is a calling for me. I've been telling stories since I was old enough to hold a pen. I'm glad you're enjoying the books.

Gino Mar 26, 2025

I hope it is completely satisfying knowing that everyone enjoys your work.
Thank you
Keep them coming

Michael Forbes Apr 01, 2025

Thank you. I appreciate that. Will do :)

Dennis Mar 21, 2025

I am very satisfied with the first two books. At first glance, I thought that it would be like a lot of the newer books that are coming out. But these books have depth. Instead of just hacking and slashing.

Michael Forbes Mar 21, 2025

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the books! :)

Damian Mar 20, 2025

This was very entertaining. I like the Kights of the round table the am. Can't wait to continue.

Michael Forbes Mar 21, 2025

Thank you for reading!

Jim Landry Mar 19, 2025

OMG ... so freaking good! I've read some of your other books, but this was the best so far. I am happy to see it is not the end. When can we expect the next installment? And thank you so much for this series!!!

Michael Forbes Mar 19, 2025

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying it. Next book is coming soon. Stay tuned!

James Schooley Mar 17, 2025

Great story line. I have really enjoyed these first two books and am looking forward to reading successive volumes. You rank right up there with my other favorite story tellers. Please keep writing, I intend to keep reading. Thanks for keeping me busy.
Jim

Michael Forbes Mar 19, 2025

Thanks so much, Jim. I'm glad you're enjoying the books.

Tim Mar 13, 2025

Read both books in 3 days. Delightful story. Looking forward to the series growing :-)

Michael Forbes Mar 19, 2025

Thank you for reading!

James k Skylstad Mar 11, 2025

Text
Amazing story. I can't wait for book #3

Michael Forbes Mar 11, 2025

Thank. you. I'm happy you're enjoying it so far. Next book is coming soon.

Henry Weems Mar 11, 2025

Great start to the new series.

Michael Forbes Mar 11, 2025

I'm glad you like it!

Paul Gregg Mar 08, 2025

Terrific story. Had me spellbound. So good that I forgot to have coffee!!

Michael Forbes Mar 09, 2025

Thanks, Paul. I'm glad you were able to stay awake on it without your coffee. Perhaps high praise, indeed. :D

Michael Hollon Mar 07, 2025

I like what you are doing here. We have Arthur on earth with the legend intact, but we’re also seeing this broader galactic struggle that, in broad strokes, mirrors those earth stories. Leaves me wondering how our legends came to be. Was Arthur just passing on his story in a way that locals could wrap their head around, or did Arthur attempt to re-create what he lost in our past and fate chose to mirror events in our own little pocket of the galaxy? Going further, did this attempt have the effect of instilling these ideals in our society that ultimately shaped our protagonist to be able to return these 100 years later to take up the fight?

Michael Forbes Mar 09, 2025

Interesting questions. They touch on part of what I was thinking about when the idea for this series was born. Thanks for reading, Michael.

Sam Edwards Mar 07, 2025

Fantastic story! Reading these after the whole Starship for Sale series. But this particular series beautifully postulates a very different and intriguing story to well-known characters. I'm loving every page!

Michael Forbes Mar 07, 2025

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you like it :)

ian hinsley Mar 04, 2025

Enjoyable reading
Very well written can’t wait for the next instalment

Michael Forbes Mar 05, 2025

Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it.