Voyage of the Starwolf

by David Gerrold

Paperback, 1990

Status

Available

Call number

PS3557.E69 V695

Collection

Publication

Spectra (1990), Edition: First Edition, Mass Market Paperback, 292 pages

Description

The first work in David Gerrold's Star Wolf trilogy, this tale pits the human members of the Star Wolf space vessel against the superhuman Morthan crew. Captain Jonathan Korie, hampered by the loss of most of the human fleet to the Morthans and a nearly disabled ship of his own, faces the Morthan threat driven by the need for survival and the desire for revenge. A classic of military science fiction, the Star Wolf trilogy combines rapid action with powerful studies of military character.

User reviews

LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
This is solid military sf with the emphasis more on characters than on whiz-bang space battles. In fact there is only one space battle, that too right at the beginning of the book, and that definitely lacks the whiz-bang element because the starship on which our protagonists are based is hit and
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crippled right at the beginning of the battle and spend the rest of it trying to limp away with their lives. In its own way their desperate struggle to survive is as engaging as any action-packed battle scene.

The story follows a small ship on its maiden voyage - the LS-1187. Her mission is to join up with a massive convoy on escort duty. However the convoy is attacked and wiped out. The LS-1187 barely managed to survive and limp home thanks to the superhuman efforts of its surviving crew. But they return home only to be branded cowards, deserters and a jinx, bringing back luck on the rest of the fleet. The rest of the story is about how the crew struggles with this label and eventually how the redeem their honour and that of their ship.

Overall its above standard fare for military sf. The main character is well drawn, though I do feel the secondary characters rang a little hollow (particularly the women), but all in all they're fair enough for a light read like this. The book is the first in a 3 part series, but seems to have been originally written as a stand-alone, with sequels added later. Certainly the ending is satisfying enough and it can be read on its own. This is the first book I've read by David Gerrold, a veteran SF writer and screenwriter, and it was engaging enough to make me want to read more by him.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
Can't say I remember this one well at all, so it must not have made much of an impression. I'll post a better review when I've re-read it.
LibraryThing member DeborahJade
I was a bit disappointed with my re-read as it is a very light-hearted book and doesn't go as deep into character development as I would like.

Language

Original publication date

1990

Physical description

292 p.; 6.7 inches

ISBN

0553264664 / 9780553264661

Local notes

OCLC = 294
Google Books
0 local

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