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Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Durandus
Description
When the home office adds an unexpected crew member to the environmental section of the Lois McKendrick, Ishmael Wang faces being put ashore at the next port. Not even his multiple division ratings can save him because he refuses to bump someone else in his place. In just a few days, Ishmael will lose both his friends and the home he has made for himself while traveling through the Deep Dark. Just when he thought matters could not get any worse, an EMP damages the ship and threatens the lives of everyone on board. Gone are the days when Ish's biggest challenge was making a good cup of coffee. Now he must use his wits and rely on the ingenuity of his shipmates just to survive.
User reviews
LibraryThing member TadAD
This series reminds me of those like Forester's stories about Captain Hornblower, where the life of a crewman is chronicled at the rate of one rank per volume. However, I read a comment by Mr. Lowell that he wanted to do something a bit different than the usual stories of this type by focusing on
I find this an interesting comment because I see nothing significantly commoner about Ishmael than is usual for such a protagonist. So far, we've learned that he's exceptionally gifted at pure academics, an absolute magnet for beautiful women, eerily good a social relationships, level-headed way beyond his years, extremely competent at almost anything he tries, etc. In fact, our paragon seems to make everyone around him look rather ordinary.
I'm going to give it the full five-book run since I picked them all up as a group, but it's not impressing me.
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the common person. I find this an interesting comment because I see nothing significantly commoner about Ishmael than is usual for such a protagonist. So far, we've learned that he's exceptionally gifted at pure academics, an absolute magnet for beautiful women, eerily good a social relationships, level-headed way beyond his years, extremely competent at almost anything he tries, etc. In fact, our paragon seems to make everyone around him look rather ordinary.
I'm going to give it the full five-book run since I picked them all up as a group, but it's not impressing me.
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LibraryThing member JosephLYoung
Further adventures of Ish and Pip on the Lois McKendrick traversing space and dealing with the challenges of youth as they find their way up the ladder. The crew of the Lois is Family and as Ish garners additional ratings and qualifications, he continues to impress his shipmates and ships officers
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with his inventive mind, willingness to help out and kindness to others. Ish has gained a family that has been missing most of his life especially following his mothers accidental death. I find the story with the kindnesses shown between mates and officers alike to be a warming story that is a pleasure to read if for no other reason than the kind personal thoughts it inspires and the smiles it leaves on your face. We need more stories that focus on the goodness in people and the warmth that expressing this goodness elicits. I strongly recommend this story for the loving and humorous interplay between the characters. I think the success of right thinking, ambitious young people just leaves a good taste in your mouth! I can hardly wait for the sequel. Show Less
LibraryThing member skraft001
The third book in the Trader's Tale Series. It was a fast read and although light on real substance, was generally enjoyable being better written than the first wo; although I still classify the series as adolescent science fiction. Given that the year is 2352 it is incomprehensible that the tech
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is so 2011 --really now, have to write a program to automate a data download. The first part made for a better story than the romance novel part at the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member DWWilkin
Finally, Lowell finished the first book. Oh wait, this is the third book, so you have to purchase the other two to make one complete book.
Lowell has problems, as I have pointed out in the other reviews. He had a beginning, and then the first two books were clearly the middled and here we have more
With our hero amongst a crew of idiots, and placing every women that is in the series on a pedestal, then you get the idea that this series, which should have adult themes is really masquerading as a childrens story. There is no danger, Will Robinson, so there is no conflict and thus no drama.
You know that everything will be alright in the end. You know that despite all the people that Ishmael meets, he will be smarter than they are.
(Note Spoilers regarding adult concepts) I seriously wonder if Lowell remembers what it was like to be in his late teens and think about having sex, not only for the first time, but any time. Ish does not have the longing that we had, the desire, the need for sex. He is better than a perfect gentleman and probably has no idea that you can masturbate to relieve the pressure. This is fiction at its definition. People with working parts do not act like Ish.
Nor do adults who are in the midst of a lifestyle of merchant traders forget to use their own adult intelligence and find that a 17/18 year old is so much brighter than not only themselves, but everyone collectively that they know in the same business. Well, at least Lowell brings the arc to a close and for the price of three books, you get one. Want a better read, look up some of the books by Lee and Miller, or Poul Anderson.
Lowell has problems, as I have pointed out in the other reviews. He had a beginning, and then the first two books were clearly the middled and here we have more
Show More
of the middle and an end.With our hero amongst a crew of idiots, and placing every women that is in the series on a pedestal, then you get the idea that this series, which should have adult themes is really masquerading as a childrens story. There is no danger, Will Robinson, so there is no conflict and thus no drama.
You know that everything will be alright in the end. You know that despite all the people that Ishmael meets, he will be smarter than they are.
(Note Spoilers regarding adult concepts) I seriously wonder if Lowell remembers what it was like to be in his late teens and think about having sex, not only for the first time, but any time. Ish does not have the longing that we had, the desire, the need for sex. He is better than a perfect gentleman and probably has no idea that you can masturbate to relieve the pressure. This is fiction at its definition. People with working parts do not act like Ish.
Nor do adults who are in the midst of a lifestyle of merchant traders forget to use their own adult intelligence and find that a 17/18 year old is so much brighter than not only themselves, but everyone collectively that they know in the same business. Well, at least Lowell brings the arc to a close and for the price of three books, you get one. Want a better read, look up some of the books by Lee and Miller, or Poul Anderson.
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LibraryThing member rmagahiz
The pace picks up a bit as the main character cycles through a couple of postings and the focus is off of the trading activity for the most part. It's all a cozy low-key kind of drama in the confines of the Lois, with the underlying theme squarely on the upbringing of Ishmael through it all, and
By the end of the story, one might wonder how the Lois Mckendrick is ever going to be able to make up the loss of so many hands at one time. Also it seems like there's quite a bit more in the way of fraternization among the secondary characters than would have felt appropriate in earlier installments.
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the puzzles mainly serve to highlight the relationships between characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member KateSherrod
Was not ready for this ending. Gah!
(That's in a good way. Mostly.)
(That's in a good way. Mostly.)
LibraryThing member jamestomasino
Wow, things actually happened in this book! I mean, not a lot of things, but compared to the rest of the series thus far this book was action packed.
I'm still a fan of the series and its lightheartedness.
I'm still a fan of the series and its lightheartedness.
LibraryThing member kevn57
I love this series, 4 1/2 stars can't wait to get to the next book
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Sex is now _everywhere_, but it's still mostly about the relationships. And Ish shows off, yet again, his grasp of another field useful on the ship...saving the ship in the process, nicely done. Then things get complicated, or more complicated. And just which woman was it he was looking at in the
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last scene - the one he loves? Hmmm. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmvilches
A nice quiet read, if only Ish wasn't such a Gary Stu and inexplicable chick magnet. Wish-fulfillment in space.
Original publication date
2007
Local notes
Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, 3
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Lowell |
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