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Temporary Duty
Two enlisted sailors are sent to an alien spaceship to help prepare for the real human delegation. Once they arrive, they find out there's a little more to the assignment than that.
Alien worlds and friendly aliens, exploding spaceships and many that don't, a little sex, and the Internal Revenue Service. Oh, and janitorial supplies. Truly there are Wonders Out There.
Alien worlds and friendly aliens, exploding spaceships and many that don't, a little sex, and the Internal Revenue Service. Oh, and janitorial supplies. Truly there are Wonders Out There.
541 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2011
51 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 29, 2012
Some time back, I reviewed Nathan Lowell’s novel Quartershare. Lowell’s book was of the “merchants in space” subgenre of SF, and so Amazon kept recommending that I buy Ric Locke’s novel Temporary Duty. When I learnt that Ric Locke had terminal cancer and was soliciting donations for an oxygen machine, I decided to spend the three bucks and buy his book. (I also kicked in a few bucks to the tip jar.) Buying Locke’s book proved to be a great investment.
I’ve talked on my personal blog about how writing is more than having the same basic idea. Two books, in this case Temporary Duty and Quartershare, can both be summarized as “enlisted men join merchant starship” but the execution of the idea leads to radically different stories. The world of Quartershare is peaceful and alien-free, leading to a surprisingly calm book. The world of Temporary Duty is rather the opposite.
The protagonist of Temporary Duty is John Peters, a Petty Officer Second Class in the US Navy of the mid-21st Century. An alien spaceship arrives at Earth, making first contact with the aircraft carrier USS Barack H. Obama. After some backstage maneuverings, the aliens agree to take two squadrons of US fighters onboard the ship for a two year trade mission. Peters, by sheer luck, gets assigned in advance of the main US body to the alien ship. In one of the more insightful parts of the book, this immersion into alien culture forces Peters to become a resident expert on the aliens, which proves continually useful.
The world of Temporary Duty is not at total war, but neither is it totally at peace. As a result, our carrier wing (with planes converted to fly in space) sees some action, and Peters, as defacto alien expert, has a number of opportunities to advance personally, which he seizes. Locke, the author, appears to have been ex-Navy himself, and uses that to good advantage.
One of the things I like about the book is that Locke captures the peculiar dynamic between Navy aviators (officers) and enlisted. I was an officer in the Navy, although not a pilot, and I noticed that pilots tended to have the most distant relationships to their enlisted subordinates of any officers in my experience. This was due to a number of factors, the discussion of which is for another essay, but Locke captures that dynamic perfectly.
Temporary Duty is very action-packed, and quite a gripping read. I stayed up way too late reading it! There’s adult language and sex, (including inter-species) and some violence, but only the most sensitive readers should have an issue with that. I did find the last couple of chapters a bit over the top, but that’s a quibble. It’s not Space Opera, but fans of space operas, science fiction or just good storytelling should enjoy reading Temporary Duty.
I’ve talked on my personal blog about how writing is more than having the same basic idea. Two books, in this case Temporary Duty and Quartershare, can both be summarized as “enlisted men join merchant starship” but the execution of the idea leads to radically different stories. The world of Quartershare is peaceful and alien-free, leading to a surprisingly calm book. The world of Temporary Duty is rather the opposite.
The protagonist of Temporary Duty is John Peters, a Petty Officer Second Class in the US Navy of the mid-21st Century. An alien spaceship arrives at Earth, making first contact with the aircraft carrier USS Barack H. Obama. After some backstage maneuverings, the aliens agree to take two squadrons of US fighters onboard the ship for a two year trade mission. Peters, by sheer luck, gets assigned in advance of the main US body to the alien ship. In one of the more insightful parts of the book, this immersion into alien culture forces Peters to become a resident expert on the aliens, which proves continually useful.
The world of Temporary Duty is not at total war, but neither is it totally at peace. As a result, our carrier wing (with planes converted to fly in space) sees some action, and Peters, as defacto alien expert, has a number of opportunities to advance personally, which he seizes. Locke, the author, appears to have been ex-Navy himself, and uses that to good advantage.
One of the things I like about the book is that Locke captures the peculiar dynamic between Navy aviators (officers) and enlisted. I was an officer in the Navy, although not a pilot, and I noticed that pilots tended to have the most distant relationships to their enlisted subordinates of any officers in my experience. This was due to a number of factors, the discussion of which is for another essay, but Locke captures that dynamic perfectly.
Temporary Duty is very action-packed, and quite a gripping read. I stayed up way too late reading it! There’s adult language and sex, (including inter-species) and some violence, but only the most sensitive readers should have an issue with that. I did find the last couple of chapters a bit over the top, but that’s a quibble. It’s not Space Opera, but fans of space operas, science fiction or just good storytelling should enjoy reading Temporary Duty.
January 20, 2014
So bittersweet to discover a new favorite author only to find that he has passed away before he could finish the sequel.
Thank goodness it was 500 pages. So chock full of wry humor and smart writing, I look forward to re-reading it and wondering where the sequel could have taken things.
I had the worst book hangover when I finished, and then to learn Mr. Locke had succumbed to lung cancer 2 years ago, just made it worse.
Can you miss someone you've never met?
I love Space Opera books, but they are hard to pull off and if the reader sees the author straining, It has to flow, be effortless, let some of the cleverness and humor sneak up on you and make you laugh days afterwards.
Dont be daunted by the length, or that it's a stand-alone book. It's chock full of all the small details that flesh out worlds, characters and multiple plot arcs.
Thank goodness it was 500 pages. So chock full of wry humor and smart writing, I look forward to re-reading it and wondering where the sequel could have taken things.
I had the worst book hangover when I finished, and then to learn Mr. Locke had succumbed to lung cancer 2 years ago, just made it worse.
Can you miss someone you've never met?
I love Space Opera books, but they are hard to pull off and if the reader sees the author straining, It has to flow, be effortless, let some of the cleverness and humor sneak up on you and make you laugh days afterwards.
Dont be daunted by the length, or that it's a stand-alone book. It's chock full of all the small details that flesh out worlds, characters and multiple plot arcs.
January 6, 2019
This has been on my TBR for years, and finally I sat down to read it...
This was a delightful story reminiscent of later Heinlein and more recent Nathan Lowell, where an average Joe finds himself in the most amazing situations an accidentally saves the universe. Perhaps a bit of Forest Gump as well. Strong female characters, the power of Chiefs, the absurdity of aristocratic affectations, etc. Aliens who look like us, strange beings who are more human than we are.
The story wanders, but with purpose, and finishes complete. There are some leaps and gaps that allow others to tell the story in retrospect - well done but sometimes jarring, especially at the end.
Unfortunately, the author died before completing the next in this series. This universe is ripe for additional stories, and perhaps his estate could find someone to carry on.
This was a delightful story reminiscent of later Heinlein and more recent Nathan Lowell, where an average Joe finds himself in the most amazing situations an accidentally saves the universe. Perhaps a bit of Forest Gump as well. Strong female characters, the power of Chiefs, the absurdity of aristocratic affectations, etc. Aliens who look like us, strange beings who are more human than we are.
The story wanders, but with purpose, and finishes complete. There are some leaps and gaps that allow others to tell the story in retrospect - well done but sometimes jarring, especially at the end.
Unfortunately, the author died before completing the next in this series. This universe is ripe for additional stories, and perhaps his estate could find someone to carry on.
January 4, 2013
Ric Locke has written something really unique in that the story is told from the perspective of a man from the "lower decks"....
Most military Sci Fi is told from the officer's perspective, with them being the hero or the main protagonists. Mr. Locke did us 'blue jackets' a real solid by portraying 2 young junior petty officers as the main characters, who in the end, become the most important people to the human community serving on an alien starship hundreds if not thousands of light years from Earth.
Their common sense approach to life, problem solving and willingness to adapt in the face of the situations was a true representation of how real sailors are forced to respond to issues like close confinement, conflicting orders, lack of cooperation or understanding from superiors as well as the likelihood of dealing with those officers who see those in the enlisted ranks as nothing but uneducated, unenlightened peons rather than the skilled technical specialists they truly are.
This story is a classic "fish out of water" saga that places our two young sailors into the situations that are interesting, culturally confusing (how does a human male "interface" with a humanoid alien female"?), and deadly (can you say 'space pirates'!). Their willingness to 'go with the flow' by learning the language and culture of their alien hosts as well as making themselves generally more useful than strictly necessary endears them to many. The officer class are portrayed for the most part in a 2 dimensional way. Some are right out of literary central casting, acting like martinets who lack any imagination or willingness to adapt to the new environment. There is even an instruction given that learning the language of their hosts would not be necessary. Some of the officers and chief petty officers are caricatures of real life officers and chiefs every enlisted sailor has served under. Many of the khaki clad leaders of the navy's first deep space expedition finally come to understand the advantages of changing their attitudes toward their hosts by the example set by our two protagonists.
I truly hope Mr. Locke writes a sequel to this book as the end leaves us wondering where humanity's least likely interstellar ambassador/robber baron will end up.
NOTE: I was just informed by the author's website that Mr. Locke has passed away from a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer.... I am sorry for both his family for their loss and for us who were looking forward to see what was in store from him as a writer.
Most military Sci Fi is told from the officer's perspective, with them being the hero or the main protagonists. Mr. Locke did us 'blue jackets' a real solid by portraying 2 young junior petty officers as the main characters, who in the end, become the most important people to the human community serving on an alien starship hundreds if not thousands of light years from Earth.
Their common sense approach to life, problem solving and willingness to adapt in the face of the situations was a true representation of how real sailors are forced to respond to issues like close confinement, conflicting orders, lack of cooperation or understanding from superiors as well as the likelihood of dealing with those officers who see those in the enlisted ranks as nothing but uneducated, unenlightened peons rather than the skilled technical specialists they truly are.
This story is a classic "fish out of water" saga that places our two young sailors into the situations that are interesting, culturally confusing (how does a human male "interface" with a humanoid alien female"?), and deadly (can you say 'space pirates'!). Their willingness to 'go with the flow' by learning the language and culture of their alien hosts as well as making themselves generally more useful than strictly necessary endears them to many. The officer class are portrayed for the most part in a 2 dimensional way. Some are right out of literary central casting, acting like martinets who lack any imagination or willingness to adapt to the new environment. There is even an instruction given that learning the language of their hosts would not be necessary. Some of the officers and chief petty officers are caricatures of real life officers and chiefs every enlisted sailor has served under. Many of the khaki clad leaders of the navy's first deep space expedition finally come to understand the advantages of changing their attitudes toward their hosts by the example set by our two protagonists.
I truly hope Mr. Locke writes a sequel to this book as the end leaves us wondering where humanity's least likely interstellar ambassador/robber baron will end up.
NOTE: I was just informed by the author's website that Mr. Locke has passed away from a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer.... I am sorry for both his family for their loss and for us who were looking forward to see what was in store from him as a writer.
July 29, 2024
This was a great book. Very unique viewpoint of space. Very sorry that the author has passed.
September 22, 2016
Re read:
I don't know what I was thinking last time I read this! At first it was harmless fluff - the scifi version of romance, but from 75% it went totally ridiculous. Among other stupidities, the female characters lost all their oomph and became giggling flirting hugging girly-women where they had earlier been self confident, respected, reserved and somewhat self important. The theme of "American federal government wrecks everything and officers are idiots and only the common man knows anything" got old very quickly. How on earth was this my favourite of 2011? Must have been a bad year for reading. Not recommended at all!
Original review:
My favourite book of the year. Engaging story not overshadowed by politics or too much "message" as these types of books can tend to be. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.
I don't know what I was thinking last time I read this! At first it was harmless fluff - the scifi version of romance, but from 75% it went totally ridiculous. Among other stupidities, the female characters lost all their oomph and became giggling flirting hugging girly-women where they had earlier been self confident, respected, reserved and somewhat self important. The theme of "American federal government wrecks everything and officers are idiots and only the common man knows anything" got old very quickly. How on earth was this my favourite of 2011? Must have been a bad year for reading. Not recommended at all!
Original review:
My favourite book of the year. Engaging story not overshadowed by politics or too much "message" as these types of books can tend to be. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.
January 21, 2019
Nice story about coming of age on a spaceship. Starts out with wide eyed sailors on a spaceship where you see an alien spacefaring culture through their eyes. It's a comfortable adventure, exploring similarities and differences until it takes a turn and the main character goes through a significant event which adjusts his perspective. A good amount of world building, shown through experiences. Unfortunately the author died before completing book 2. This would be a lovely beginning of series.
April 25, 2012
I enjoyed reading this ... to a point. It isn't quite fair to say that nothing happens in the book, but not far from the mark. It has no coherent overarching plot. In that it reminds me (superficially) of Nathan Lowell's Trader Tales of the Solar Clipper series. It's not a novel so much as a description of all these things that happen to these regular guys. And like any other novel of this type, it depends on how interesting those things are, and how entertaining the characters are. On those points, I can only give mixed praise.
Taken for what it is, the book is usually entertaining. But the length is a problem: I imagine most readers will get bored with this quickly, especially if you're waiting for the plot to kick in. It never does. Lowell's books work in part because they're breezy reads. But Temporary Duty is easily twice as long, without as much immediate payoff. It could have used a more coherent plot, more interesting interpersonal conflicts, and maybe a third of its length chopped off. But then it wouldn't be what it is--which is, honestly, quite interesting in its own way.
This review makes it sound like I didn't like the book. I actually did, despite the long list of things I found disappointing. If you go into this book expecting anything more than a diary of everyday ship life (with a few more interesting events sprinkled in), you'll likely enjoy it. But it's not a traditional novel. For some readers, this will no doubt be a major obstacle. For others, perhaps it will offer something uniquely entertaining.
Taken for what it is, the book is usually entertaining. But the length is a problem: I imagine most readers will get bored with this quickly, especially if you're waiting for the plot to kick in. It never does. Lowell's books work in part because they're breezy reads. But Temporary Duty is easily twice as long, without as much immediate payoff. It could have used a more coherent plot, more interesting interpersonal conflicts, and maybe a third of its length chopped off. But then it wouldn't be what it is--which is, honestly, quite interesting in its own way.
This review makes it sound like I didn't like the book. I actually did, despite the long list of things I found disappointing. If you go into this book expecting anything more than a diary of everyday ship life (with a few more interesting events sprinkled in), you'll likely enjoy it. But it's not a traditional novel. For some readers, this will no doubt be a major obstacle. For others, perhaps it will offer something uniquely entertaining.
February 16, 2015
Endless, vapid, wish-fulfillment
This is an amateur effort. The premise is interesting; to see the story through the eyes of the two lowest people on the totem pole. Unfortunately, there are so many gaping plot holes, missing scenes, underdeveloped characters, atrocious dialogue and absurd situations that any value in the premise is lost. Every character is dangerously ignorant and naive, including the hero. I got the impression that the author thinks his readers are equally dim. For example, we are forced to read a lengthy discourse of why the hero is a hero, in case we didn't get it from simply reading of his marvelous exploits. The author should have stopped about 2/3 of the way through the book. By the end, the seemingly endless and increasingly rapid stream of vapid, puerile, wish-fulfilling scenes reached a truly breathless pace, culminating with the painful and laughable coffee scene with the President. I order to finish the book, I had to assume it was intended as a comedy. Sadly, I believe it was not.
I'm truly baffled by those who would give this book 5 stars. What possible measuring system could you use that would have that result? In my system, this book would normally rate 2 stars since I did finish it as I normally reserve 1 star for those books I can't finish. I've made an exception in this case.
This is an amateur effort. The premise is interesting; to see the story through the eyes of the two lowest people on the totem pole. Unfortunately, there are so many gaping plot holes, missing scenes, underdeveloped characters, atrocious dialogue and absurd situations that any value in the premise is lost. Every character is dangerously ignorant and naive, including the hero. I got the impression that the author thinks his readers are equally dim. For example, we are forced to read a lengthy discourse of why the hero is a hero, in case we didn't get it from simply reading of his marvelous exploits. The author should have stopped about 2/3 of the way through the book. By the end, the seemingly endless and increasingly rapid stream of vapid, puerile, wish-fulfilling scenes reached a truly breathless pace, culminating with the painful and laughable coffee scene with the President. I order to finish the book, I had to assume it was intended as a comedy. Sadly, I believe it was not.
I'm truly baffled by those who would give this book 5 stars. What possible measuring system could you use that would have that result? In my system, this book would normally rate 2 stars since I did finish it as I normally reserve 1 star for those books I can't finish. I've made an exception in this case.
May 24, 2017
Great adventure story
I could hardly put this down. Each episode starts out in routine but takes unexpected Ted twists and turns. Never repetitive never unbelievable once you accept the premise of the first contact. This has a look of real life navy savvy and atmosphere (from the enlisted point of view) the most realistic part is how basic human motivations remain constant in spite of the space and alien presence. Elements of TaiPan and the clippers voyages of the 19th century seem to be the framework. Highly recommend not starting this unless you have some free time. It is very addictive
I could hardly put this down. Each episode starts out in routine but takes unexpected Ted twists and turns. Never repetitive never unbelievable once you accept the premise of the first contact. This has a look of real life navy savvy and atmosphere (from the enlisted point of view) the most realistic part is how basic human motivations remain constant in spite of the space and alien presence. Elements of TaiPan and the clippers voyages of the 19th century seem to be the framework. Highly recommend not starting this unless you have some free time. It is very addictive
September 20, 2015
Story is about two U.S. Navy grunts working on a trader alien spaceship, prepping it for a military detachment to arrive later, then to tour the galaxy. First 1/3 is the grunt work of getting the ship ready for the soldiers and is stretched too long. The middle 1/3 is a solid adventure story visiting planets and encountering different species. The last 1/3 is sort of a male fantasy with beautiful space women throwing themselves at the main character.
It's OK but the first part is dull and goes on too long, and the ending is juvenile.
It's OK but the first part is dull and goes on too long, and the ending is juvenile.
March 15, 2019
This novel is long but well worth reading. The main characters are great and you connect with Peters and Todd right from the start. Peters starts out in the US Navy as low man on the pole and gets a chance to be the first with Todd to be on a space ship but it is only to clean up things for the officers who will be coming aboard to later give these two orders. One thing this whole exciting Space Opera has going for it is that although Peters a beating he always gets back up and the story is always exciting. I totally recommend it.
November 6, 2020
Excellent Mil SF from the point of view of the enlistedcharactet
I read and return to this book often. It is one of my favourites.
The story feels true to life given its premise as a detachment of US Navy personnel are sent off aboard an alien spaceship to demonstrate Earth tech in order to earn sufficient funds. There are misunderstandings and culture shock.
The hero and POV character is a petty officer second class who learns the language of the crew.
I read and return to this book often. It is one of my favourites.
The story feels true to life given its premise as a detachment of US Navy personnel are sent off aboard an alien spaceship to demonstrate Earth tech in order to earn sufficient funds. There are misunderstandings and culture shock.
The hero and POV character is a petty officer second class who learns the language of the crew.
March 21, 2013
I like the idea of telling a story from the lower ranks, but this book was really a poor effort. The characters were cardboard cutouts, the setting, from a technological aspect made no sense (for example, you can navigate between stars, but don't even have a concept of radios?), and the sexual aspects we extremely junior high-school-ish.
January 30, 2015
this book started out with a really interesting premise. There are some genuine questions to be answered and the characters are likeable -- until everything jumps the shark about two-thirds in.
Suddenly, instead of a military-space-alien story, it's an alien sex-harem-government conspiracy story.
It really goes off the rails. it's like two different books.
Suddenly, instead of a military-space-alien story, it's an alien sex-harem-government conspiracy story.
It really goes off the rails. it's like two different books.
September 4, 2013
Started off good but deteriorated towards the end. The lack of any real adversity in the final stages of the book made for a boring read at the end. The main character is flat and uninteresting, albeit ridiculously lucky. Had a hard time finishing this. Would not recommend.
July 4, 2012
This book was listless and foolish. The author was artless in his attempt on social commentary and boring otherwise.
Avoid.
Avoid.
April 7, 2012
This would have been a great book with some serious editing. As it was it was far too long and rambley, but set in a very interesting universe.
July 26, 2017
Great start
But I didn't particularly care for the final 20%. Good characters, not much battle, mostly good plot arc. The ending seemed tracked on, and rather fantastical at best.
But I didn't particularly care for the final 20%. Good characters, not much battle, mostly good plot arc. The ending seemed tracked on, and rather fantastical at best.
January 17, 2019
Story follows the ship life of two enlisted sailors on an alien spaceship! Not much action, lots of cleaning! Unexpected ending.
December 27, 2017
I bought this book by accident and for whatever reason didn’t try to return it. Several years later, going through my digital to-be-read pile, I started it up. Unfortunately, it is written for an audience of an 8th grade boy and was very juvenile and I quit reading at the 4% mark. Save your money and time, and don’t make the mistake I did.
June 4, 2017
Rejoice Sci Fi Lives!
This is the most imaginative well written bit of sci fi I have read in a long time. I had almost given up on the genre. Now I will scour Amazon for more of Mr. Locke's work!
This is the most imaginative well written bit of sci fi I have read in a long time. I had almost given up on the genre. Now I will scour Amazon for more of Mr. Locke's work!
February 8, 2018
Good start on an interesting space opera
Whats not to love about an underdog story?
Trade rules the stars but red tape rules the states, not to mention damsels in distress stolen from pirates and slavers!
Whats not to love about an underdog story?
Trade rules the stars but red tape rules the states, not to mention damsels in distress stolen from pirates and slavers!
October 27, 2019
Enjoyable
The story supposes a world ravaged, by circumstances and by the wealth/power distribution gone wild, when one ‘nobody’ goes to space by chance- and RUNS with that chance !
I hope for a second book, soon !
The story supposes a world ravaged, by circumstances and by the wealth/power distribution gone wild, when one ‘nobody’ goes to space by chance- and RUNS with that chance !
I hope for a second book, soon !
November 7, 2019
Great growing up story
The species has tried nuclear suicide. Now outsider's challenges to the dystopian govt structures are unendurable so the commoner comes through in an uncomfortable manner.
The species has tried nuclear suicide. Now outsider's challenges to the dystopian govt structures are unendurable so the commoner comes through in an uncomfortable manner.
January 1, 2021
Well written Heinlein meets Nathan Lowell
This book was recommended in another author's FB page and I throughly enjoyed the mix of US Navy carrier fighter group aboard a tramp alien trader ship. Good characterizations but the sexual dynamics were a litle skewed. Recommended.
This book was recommended in another author's FB page and I throughly enjoyed the mix of US Navy carrier fighter group aboard a tramp alien trader ship. Good characterizations but the sexual dynamics were a litle skewed. Recommended.
October 23, 2017
Good read
This is an entertaining book. You can read as long as you want and lay it down. Then pick it up an start again. You don't lose your place easily.
This is an entertaining book. You can read as long as you want and lay it down. Then pick it up an start again. You don't lose your place easily.
March 21, 2018
Good book, but a lot of things felt "skipped over" in the last 10% (kind "jumpy").
July 28, 2018
Enjoyed the read
This is a re-read for me. That should say something that I took the time to enjoy it again. Thanks.
This is a re-read for me. That should say something that I took the time to enjoy it again. Thanks.
September 6, 2021
I have read this book 5 or 6 times and always enjoy it. It was the beginning of a series I was looking forward to. Sad to find the author passed away and I won’t find out what comes next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews