Just Joe by Phillip Murrell

The Astro Alliance is the pinnacle of civilization within the Milky Way. Poverty, hunger, illness, and waste are all banished to the past in part thanks to the intrepid volunteers of the military. The most cherished of protectors is Captain Loryan Kirpicsiskway of the majestic class starship the Crowntrotter. His crew routinely defeats pirate armadas, analyzes space anomalies, welcomes new civilizations into the AA, and travels through time. It’s all in a day’s work for a ship full of elite professionals. People never describe Joe Odoemene as elite. So, when Captain Kirpicsiskway handpicks Joe to helm the Crowntrotter the day he’s commissioned at the Academy, Joe feels trepidation more than gratitude. For good reason. No sooner than Joe assumes his undeserved position, he confirms he’s woefully unprepared. While his new crewmates end a war, relocate space orphans, and play cat and mouse with the infamous Sean Connor, Joe only bemoans constantly working double shifts and failing at simple tasks. When surrounded by living legends, what’s an average Joe supposed to do?

Young Adult • Science Fiction/Space Opera • Science Fiction/Comic and Light SF • Science Fiction/Military SF