Jim Curtis is back to remind us that storylines never die, they just fade away for a little while so the author can think.  He’s put out a short work, Generations, that extends the Grey Man series beyond the present day.

A new generation carries on the legacy of service in the latest Grey Man novella…

Marine Corporal Jace Cronin, a scout/sniper, survived insurgents in the Philippines, only to be handed an even greater challenge: the Naval Academy. He won’t be headed in alone, though. Esme Carter got her own slot and is ready to go head to head with him over who’s the best. They’ve got their eyes on lieutenant’s bars and pilot slots, and woe betide anyone who gets in the way!

We first met Jace in earlier Grey Man books.  When Curtis left off the John Cronin saga, he was but a toddler who continued the Cronin name and legacy.  Now, he’s back as a warrior cut from the same cloth as his father and grandfather.  Curtis has done an excellent job of keeping most of the old cast around, while finding a way to flesh out Jace and Esme, Felicia and Matt Carter’s daughter, into intriguing, engaging main characters.

This story has a bit of action in it, but mostly, Generations good character driven fiction.  Jace and Esme grow and mature as they work their way through first Annapolis, then flight training.  The story moves quickly, and even though it’s not a thriller, Curtis draws you in and makes you want to know what’s on the next page.

This is definitely a great weekend read, and fans of the Grey Man series will love Generations.  I sincerely hope this leads to more stories from Jace and Esme.