Daring (Kris Longknife Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ninth in the series of military science fiction novels centred around the exploits of Kris Longknife.

Whilst there's a reasonable amount of exposition early on in this one, and new readers to the series might be able to get into it, there's still a lot of back story so you are far better off starting with book one.

Regular readers, read on.

This one runs for three hundred and fifty six pages and is divided into sixty three short chapters.

And there's a note from the writer at the beginning which promises that it's the book where it all changes.

Can he deliver on that promise?

Well...

This does pick up the plotline that began two books back about the mysterious alien force that threatens the race of aliens called the Iteeche. And it sees Kris leading an expedition out into uncharted space to try and find more about the nature of the threat.

The book starts in the thick of the action though, with Kris and Jack about to come to grief, and then flashes back to show us how they got to that point.

That's by having to put together this expedition. Which brings in various disparate humans forces, including one time family enemy but now almost friend Vicky Peterwald. With all the planning and the various actions of all the characters including the regulars on Kris' team, the pages do fly by very pleasantly enough, in the style that regular readers who enjoy these books will be accustomed to.

New planets are seen and a few mysteries result.

Then aliens are encountered. And Kris has to make a fateful choice.

Even bigger ones await..

The second of these comes halfway through and at this point the book really does shift up a gear and the writing delivers on the promise in the introduction. Space battles and drama and powerfully emotional moments await - as ever the wounds of past battles loom large here, making for some very strong character scenes - and the decisions Kris makes really are life changing ones.

This is one chapter in a bigger story, and thus the book ends in a manner that will leave you even more desperate than usual to know what happens next. There are also questions still to be answered.

This moves the big story along very nicely, and really does develop a few things. It also contains some very powerful and gripping moments that you won't forget in a hurry. A very good entry in a good series. Roll on book ten.

Kris Longknife is one of my guilty pleasures. It is about one of those Longknifes. Kris always gets into trouble usually on her grandfather's instigation. She usually gets out of it by herself with the help of a few colorful friends. This time she teams up with her new frenemie Vicky who brings a few battleships to the alien exploration that Mike has teased us with the last two three books.

This is a turning-point novel in many respects in Kris life with her family, with society and with love. What I like with this series are the colorful characters and their bickering. That is me, I like bickering and colorful. Mike leaves the formula a bit with most of the novel taking place in space and out exploring in force. Earlier books usually contained a large planet bound (or station bound) cast.

Another fun thing is Nelly Kris sentient computer and her children. I know it is a gimmick but I love it. Kris also gets three long potent toys to play with. You will love it.

The whole alien mystery gets explored and we learn a bit of what is going on but the door is open for a lot more exploring and development in forthcoming books. The next book is named Furious (Ace October 2012) probably due to Kris state of mind.

I would place Daring above average in the series and well worth reading if you like this kind of thing.

This is the ninth paperback in the very popular Kris Longknife series. Mike Shepherd again works his excellent formulae of interstellar adventure, laced with humour, dark undertones and a pace that does not let up. As readers of the Longknife adventures know when you associate with Kris Longknife, it's one dam' thing after another and don't you just feel sorry for those who get caught up in her world, trying to keep her alive? If you've not read any of these books, please consider starting from the first `Mutineer' and follow the sequence, that way you get the true sense of narrative.
This outing refers back to the events in then sixth book `Undaunted' and Kris' meeting with the dread Iteeche and seemingly Humanity's mortal foes. It would seem there is still the unresolved business of Iteeche scout ships being destroyed by `something' `out there' and with the business the previous book `Redoubtable' all sorted out Kris is chafing to scout beyond the borders of the Human empire into Iteeche territory and find out why. Politics being what it is in this neck of Human space other confederations and small empires apart from her own native US want to be in on this, if only because they believe The Longknife clan are up to something. So despite the presence of the other groupings admirals and battleships she is the effective leader of the expedition by virtue of being in command of her own fast patrol squadron. Most of the action in this book takes places in space and there are many indications of just how dangerous and vast this environment is; some nice parallels with fleets in the Age of Sail.
Once into unknown regions it's not long before the fleet is confronted by unidentified aliens whose policy is shoot first and shoot often and death before defeat, even more intriguing is that these are human in appearance but not related to Human stock. Deeper in and upon finding the remains of a recently dead insectiod civilisation the evidence is that these human-like beings are a brutal, resource stripping, genocidal race.
Of course there is conflict within the Fleet on the next course of action, particularly when observations reveal this dangerous race travels through space in a moon size mother ship with hosts of smaller ships a substantial number of which dwarf even the fleet's battleships. Some are for a rapid withdrawal and warn what's coming; Kris of course is for getting in closer. When circumstance offer her fleet the choice to take on the monstrous invasion in defence of one apparently innocent planet of birdlike civilised beings or retreat then things become very, very tense indeed. I will reveal no more, Shepherd's readers do not like spoilers and I've said enough. The following is mostly opinion and observation.
Now we have tended to become used to Kris always getting her own way and identifying her with taking the right course of action no matter how tough that might be. Well in this book you might well be thinking `Kris? Did you do the right thing here? Was this worth it?' Congratulations to Mike Shepherd for allowing his hero's actions to be questionable and allowing the reader to be possibly drawn into the other side of the argument. We also might be used to Kris coming back to a mixed, but generally exasperated hero's welcome. Maybe not so in this book. The tension with her great-grandfathers and effective rulers is particularly sharp in this book. This one ends with several interesting question marks. Oh by the way there is that obligatory attempt on someone's life... but... Kris or Vicky?
As regards the colour and depth so important to these tales, there are the usual cast of characters all intent to keep Kris alive, and carry out her commands, but their way. This includes the ever developing Nellie the Computer and her `children'. Vicky of the Peterwald dynasty is here but not taking up so much of the tale, although when she does things are intense and there's more back story as to why she feels safer in a battle fleet than back on her home world. We also have Ron the Iteeche who always brings an interesting perspective on humanity. In this saga there is quite a high toll of minor characters some of whom were becoming familiar. This is war, but Kris suffers; theirs deaths weighing heavily upon her. There are times when she does appear very alone, distraught and afraid; a very human hero.
Just one small spoiler, we finally have the Kris and Jack romantic interlude, but sorry folks no underthings flying off in zero-gravity, it's all very restrained and tenderly dignified.
So plenty of witty one-liners, lots of diplomatic subterfuge, much thrilling action, and a great deal of...'Hang on! You can't leave it there!' (Don't we just love it?) This is vital to your Longknife Collection, it's another quality work but also a departure, Mike Shepherd has tightened up Kris' world.