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"David Drake has distinguished himself as the master of the mercenary science fiction novel. He has developed a following for his Slammers just short of cult proportions". -- Rave Reviews
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Product Description
Lieutenant Daniel Leary of the Republic of Cinnabar Navy commands the corvette Princess Cecile; his friend Signals Officer Adele Mundy has the latest in spy apparatus and the skill to prowl the most tightly guarded database. All they lack are enemies, and fate is about to supply those in abundance! They and their crack crew must battle bureaucrats and traitors, the winds of a barren desert and the strains of a voyage never before attempted. Action, color and heroics merge with the gritty realities of war and politics in a story that never slows down. Indeed, how could it slow down, with Lt. Leary, Commanding?
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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First Sentence
Lieutenant Daniel Leary rolled his uncle's wheelchair to the end of the catwalk and paused, gazing back at the corvette Princess Cecile nestled in the center of the graving dock. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Lieutenant Daniel Leary rolled his uncle's wheelchair to the end of the catwalk and paused, gazing back at the corvette Princess Cecile nestled in the center of the graving dock. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I really enjoy this series with its black humour. The way the characters are described and act is rather different from most Sci-Fi space opera, full of faults and character deficiences.
Lt. Leary is a skilled tactician and very able on a ship but needs hidden assistance off it. With his freind Adele Mundy who is generally clumsy but able to break into any information system and a deadly shot as well(Actually a superspy) they deal with unwinnable situations.
This is a sci-fi version of Patrick O'Brians sailing ship sagas. Indeed the spaceships even sail through space with masts and sails to shift them through other universes.
Great fun.
Lt. Leary is a skilled tactician and very able on a ship but needs hidden assistance off it. With his freind Adele Mundy who is generally clumsy but able to break into any information system and a deadly shot as well(Actually a superspy) they deal with unwinnable situations.
This is a sci-fi version of Patrick O'Brians sailing ship sagas. Indeed the spaceships even sail through space with masts and sails to shift them through other universes.
Great fun.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The first book in the excellent 'Lt Leary' series - Leary himself is a junior officer, and in this book we get to met the ensemble cast who are such a major part of the appeal of the novels in the series. The novels are swashbuckling space navy tales in the 'Hornblower' tradition, and stand comparison against the Honorverse novels of David Weber. Recommended for those who like military space combat and small unit ground action told with wit and flair.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
28 reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
A worthy space opera
16 Jun 2000
Format:Hardcover
Drake can be a spotty author, with a tendency toward overly graphic violence and language and a sloppy sense of continuity. None of that detracts from this book, which is the best (along with companion novel "With the Lightnings" which should be read first) of recent space opera (meaning the last couple of Weber or Moon novels.) Engaging characters, interesting non-military themes (library and data science, natural history) running through the books, and rollicking adventure. Also the only really engaging space battle I have ever read. A homage to Aubrey and Maturin that works and is a great addition to Drake's canon.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A great night's entertainment
3 Jan 2003
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Very readable, as always with Drake, but less brutally descriptive of battle injuries than his early work. Action without angst if you will. Less obsessed with convincing us of the horror of war than was the younger Drake.
Without spoiling the plot, Lt Leary's success in the first episode of this series ("With The Lightnings") brings attention that makes him the intended pawn in a political scheme. Action is the essence of the book rather than debate about the issues. (If you care about the issues, they are sketched from actual historical conflicts, so pick up any non-fiction book about the period from 1500 to 1900 and meditate away. Drake assumes you took a history class or two and know where to find such discussions. This book entertains you with the people, not the issues.)
The characters are easy to enjoy, but not to understand, unless you read the first book in the series where their relationships are formed. Having done that makes evident the development in the characters. The earlier comparison to Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey and Maturin is apt. A good many references in POB novels are obscure if you haven't read the early books, and the interaction between the POB characters occasionally startles you, if you don't know their shared background.
The books of this Drake series offer a light meal from the same ingredients POB uses to create a banguet. I'd give POB five stars for most of his novels and I'm only rating this one four. I've read the POB books several times and still found more each time. I'm not sure that's a recommendation for POB if you just want a "cracking good yarn" to fill an evening. Drake provides that. Worth buying.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A Rip off of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series
7 Sep 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Normally, I can't stand Drake's writing because I can't get to know or like his characters. This series different, Lt Leary is perfect as the dashing shipmaster Capt Aubrey and Officer Mundy superb as the ingenious (and clumsy) Dr. Maturin. Drake remained true to Mr. O'Brians swashbuckling series set during Napoleonic Wars... I loved it and hope for many more books. Complicated plot, heavy on the action and weak on the character... just like O'Brian. I am really amazed at how the role of the communications officer was so integral to the mission! I think I'll start on Belisarius series next. Mr. Drake is growing on me.
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