A Friendship Forged in Hell!
Daniel Leary is a lieutenant in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy with no money and no prospects since he quarreled with his ruthless, politically powerful father.
Adele Mundy is a scholar with no money and no prospects since her family was massacred for conspiring against the Government of Cinnabar.
Kostroma is a wealthy planet which depends on diplomacy to stay independent in a galaxy whose two great powers, Cinnabar and the Alliance, battle for supremacy.
In a few hours, diplomacy is going to fail Kostroma. Daniel, Adele, and the scratch crew they gather aren't much to stand in the way of a powerful invasion fleet, but just possibly they're enough.
Men and women who hold courage cheap and honor more dear than life itself face impossible odds in a novel of color, intrigue and slashing action. From the corridors of a treason-ridden palace through the perils of unknown seas and hellish jungles to a final blazlng climax in space, the heroes never bow and the action never flags.
They have nothing on their side but each other—and heaven help whatever tries to stand in their way!
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Product ReviewNot the strongest of the series but an excellent read anyway and an indispensable beginning to a story full of lovable and interesting characters, believable settings and plenty of great action.
Reading this is worth it as an introduction to one of the most interesting modern series of "space-opera"/political fiction blend out there.Posted on
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Product ReviewThe beginning of Drake's most addicting series. If you took two parts Master and Commander to one part Hammer's Slammers and put them in a blender with a dash of Kirk and Spock, that would be this series. Not only does it have a smart, well-plotted, rather ruthless adventure, it also has vast quantities of heart. The fact that we get to know Daniel, Adele and the crew well, and come to care about them makes the adventures all the richer. As long as Drake keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them. A strong start to a great series.
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Product ReviewWorthy of six stars.
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Product ReviewBefore I came over to 'Young Leary' I was a fan of Hammers Slammers, since I dig gritty Military Scifi. So, with Hammer as a background I came wholly wrong prepared for this series. With the Lightnings is so different from my favorite tank lords as is a butterfly from an angry hornet.
First, it starts off quite slow, describing this and that on a planet that reminded me a bit of steampunk - a mixture of space faring and wood&brick houses. I was very much missing the action I came here for and instead was suddenly reading acounts of the protagonist studying the local insect life and philosophing about it.
So as usual, it took me quite long to read this. But, I tend to finish what I begun and a good thing it was, too!
In the second half of the book, the story picks up pace, the main characters have been introduced, their main agenda made known to the reader and so the ride can actually start.
I must say, I thoroughly enjoy reading this side of Dave's fiction, with much deeper characters and their little quirks and a very nice and compelling description of the surroundings.
What I was so far missing ( I have just read the first two of the series so far ) is a bit more of an explanation of the history which lead to this strange misture of space travel and people living in medieval political settings (nobles and such).
Overall, this is yet another example of David Drakes excellent, compelling and gripping writing style. Even with the slow start, the five stars are more than justified.Posted on
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