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Lt Leary commanding
556 pages
A swashbuckling, deeply satisfying space opera built on the bedrock of an extraordinary platonic partnership and tactical brilliance.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping onto the bridge of a well-run ship, surrounded by a crew you would trust with your life. It captures the distinct, thrilling flavor of Age of Sail naval adventures seamlessly translated into the vacuum of space. The narrative moves at a brisk, purposeful clip, balancing explosive, high-stakes tactical engagements with the quiet, wry moments of connection between a charismatic commander and his brilliantly ruthless intelligence officer. There is a profound sense of competence porn here; the joy comes not just from the action, but from watching highly skilled people outmaneuver bureaucratic incompetence and impossible odds. It is a triumphant, deeply satisfying ride that will delight fans of military sci-fi and historical naval fiction alike.
- Mood
- thrilling
- camaraderie-filled
- tense
- satisfying
- Tone
- adventurous
- pragmatic
- wry
- triumphant
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- loyalty and found family · competence under pressure · duty versus bureaucracy · the burden of command
- The writing
- Direct, action-oriented, and historically flavored, focusing on tactical precision and sharp character dynamics.
- The arc
- Moves from the tense anticipation of a daunting assignment to the deeply satisfying triumph of a hard-won, unconventional victory.
- Who it's for
- Fans of military science fiction and naval historical fiction who love hyper-competent characters and deep platonic partnerships.
Content notes
- military violence
- space combat
- political assassination
About the book
To me, a good book that keeps one's interest all the way through and ends with a contented glow for the reader is a treasure beyond par. Master Author David Drake provides that in spades. This is the second book of the Leary series (With the Lightnings precedes it) where Lt. Leary retains command of his vessel and is assigned a mission which would daught many of his superiors. With his crack crew, Adele Mundy, Hogg and Tovera he proceeds to accomplish his mission in ways that the Commodore he is assigned to would never imagine. This, as referenced above, is a good book well worth reading.
Description from Open Library.
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