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Rissa Kerguelen #2
Rissa and Tregare
Living a desperate life in the Total Welfare Center, the orphan Rissa discovers she has won the lottery and takes a chance to shape her own destiny. After she escapes from Earth with the help of a space pirate who may be more trouble than she expected, she soon discovers that together they might have a chance to shape Earth's destiny as well.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
15 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
F.M. Busby
69 books27 followersFrancis Marion Busby
see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._M._B...
see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._M._B...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 22, 2021
I really like Busby and Rissa, but this second book in the Saga of Rissa Kerguelen is a clunker. In the first volume, we followed Rissa from her childhood to the hidden colonies in space, where in the end she fought a duel with a nasty guy and killed him. RAT takes place all on a hidden colony where Tregare hopes to assemble an 'outlaw' fleet to attack the UET-- the hated and fascist corporation that controls the space lanes and most of Earth.
So, this middle volume really is just a place holder before Rissa, Tregrare and friends leave to assault the UET. RAT involves endless meals and personal dynamics; trials and tribulations refurbishing the ships; dealing with problematic crew members, yada, yada, yada. This really should have been a short story and Busby drags it out way past its due date. Rissa is a great character- a tough action heroine that was quite novel in 1976 when this was first written. I remember the finale being quite something (The Long View) and the first volume Young Rissa was fun, but this was like pulling teeth. I am tempted to advise fellow readers to skip this one and just move on to The Long View, but to each their own. 2 flaccid stars.
So, this middle volume really is just a place holder before Rissa, Tregrare and friends leave to assault the UET. RAT involves endless meals and personal dynamics; trials and tribulations refurbishing the ships; dealing with problematic crew members, yada, yada, yada. This really should have been a short story and Busby drags it out way past its due date. Rissa is a great character- a tough action heroine that was quite novel in 1976 when this was first written. I remember the finale being quite something (The Long View) and the first volume Young Rissa was fun, but this was like pulling teeth. I am tempted to advise fellow readers to skip this one and just move on to The Long View, but to each their own. 2 flaccid stars.
March 19, 2022
Hidden Worlds heads for Earth
Rissa and Tregare is only the second in the sweeping space opera saga of F. M. Busby's Rissa Kerguelen series but it is a powerful book.
As Rissa grows closer to Bran Tregare, she also becomes a part of his complicated and dangerous operation to seize control of Earth from the UET or United Energy and Transport conglomerate that rules most of the world's government.
Rissa and Tregare, both survivors of the vicious Total Welfare system are heavily motivated to free both Earth, and the Hidden Worlds that have managed to flourish outside of UET's reach.
Busby leans on his own background in Intelligence in weaving together the intrigues involved in bringing diverse cultures in compliance to achieve a mutual goal.
I found it fascinating to be rereading this book in 2022 and recognizing the influences of the sexual revolution of the 60's and 70's. The character's relationships are varied and sometimes confusing.
I'm sad to get to the end of this book because I can't find any of the other ones still in print. Rissa Kerguelen will always be my favorite space opera.
Rissa and Tregare is only the second in the sweeping space opera saga of F. M. Busby's Rissa Kerguelen series but it is a powerful book.
As Rissa grows closer to Bran Tregare, she also becomes a part of his complicated and dangerous operation to seize control of Earth from the UET or United Energy and Transport conglomerate that rules most of the world's government.
Rissa and Tregare, both survivors of the vicious Total Welfare system are heavily motivated to free both Earth, and the Hidden Worlds that have managed to flourish outside of UET's reach.
Busby leans on his own background in Intelligence in weaving together the intrigues involved in bringing diverse cultures in compliance to achieve a mutual goal.
I found it fascinating to be rereading this book in 2022 and recognizing the influences of the sexual revolution of the 60's and 70's. The character's relationships are varied and sometimes confusing.
I'm sad to get to the end of this book because I can't find any of the other ones still in print. Rissa Kerguelen will always be my favorite space opera.
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March 12, 2025At five, they slaughtered her parents and doomed her to slavery.
At seventeen, she was an exile from Earth, learning new and forbidden worlds.
At eighteen, she commanded an army in space.
Bran Tregare.
To most he was a ruthless space pirate, but to Rissa he was what no man had ever been - her match in love and battle. Together they will build an armada to free Earth, but first they must conquer the Hidden Worlds...
At seventeen, she was an exile from Earth, learning new and forbidden worlds.
At eighteen, she commanded an army in space.
Bran Tregare.
To most he was a ruthless space pirate, but to Rissa he was what no man had ever been - her match in love and battle. Together they will build an armada to free Earth, but first they must conquer the Hidden Worlds...
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October 23, 2025Living a desperate life in the Total Welfare Center, the orphan Rissa discovers she has won the lottery and takes a chance to shape her own destiny. After she escapes from Earth with the help of a space pirate who may be more trouble than she expected, she soon discovers that together they might have a chance to shape Earth's destiny as well.
January 15, 2018
One of the best
Space Opera has always been my absolure favorite. I met FM Busby at a sci fi convention in the 2970s and was completely charmed by him and his books. The vivid likeanle characters bring me back to read their stories again and again. Thank you,, Buzz.
Space Opera has always been my absolure favorite. I met FM Busby at a sci fi convention in the 2970s and was completely charmed by him and his books. The vivid likeanle characters bring me back to read their stories again and again. Thank you,, Buzz.
May 5, 2018
Great second book
The characters grow more interesting again in this book. And the wish for many more books in this series grows. I read this series as it was published many years ago and it still is a fascinating world that F. M. Busby created!
The characters grow more interesting again in this book. And the wish for many more books in this series grows. I read this series as it was published many years ago and it still is a fascinating world that F. M. Busby created!
May 19, 2019
Classic science fiction, well-written and interesting.
July 25, 2020
A good plot, but the dialogue is a bit stilted.
November 19, 2021
Wonderful gritty story of a pair of well matched UET survivors who go on to build an space fleet to free Earth from UETs rule.
March 5, 2022
The middle book of a trilogy, and it shows it in many ways, but still an enjoyable reread. Happy to have this one in ebook format. Very annoying that the third one (The Long View) isn't.
June 7, 2021
It's true that one cannot return to the past.
September 13, 2015
On re-reading for the first time since probably the 1980s, I've realized this is a pretty awful book. If you are reading the series, I'd advise you consider skipping it and moving straight into the next volume.
Partly it suffers from middle volume syndrome. While the first volume zipped along, this one drags. We hear every bit of prep as Tregare tries to gather a small fleet of spaceships to invade Earth. Much of this is prep only of interest to engineers, as Rissa spends days marking with chalk where struts need to be welded to space ships to support new gun turrets.... It's a dull job to anyone not doing it, and I didn't need 50 pages of this sort of activity leavened only by the characters breaking for lunch and dinner, etc.
And partly, it suffers from mid-century male writer syndrome. Although F M Busby was trying to be a feminist like crazy, with various female ship captains, etc, some of his missteps are wince worthy. These include fat shaming, glib incest, and even aliens intent on sticking penis-like extrusions into human women.
Also, the heroine is just too lovey dovey with and committed to her new husband (a man who insisted she be his "doxie" for nine months in the recent past when she was not in a position to easily refuse him.) Given their characters, I can see how they would ultimately fall for each other, but it's just way too fast. Several other new relationships also occur way too quickly, as in the romantic partners only knowing each other for a few hours before making a commitment. It's insta-love at its worst and in one case very uncomfortable for the reader because one man says a young woman looks like she could be his daughter by his former long term lover who looked just like her. And then he proposes. ICK!
Lastly, sex, while not detailed at all, is so clearly written though a 20th century male viewpoint. When the heroine has a problem coming, it's 100% her problem and her responsibility. Her partner doesn't have to do anything but show up and keep on doing his usual thing to help her out of it. You definitely get the feeling that her partner, who we have already have been told has far less sexual expertise than she does, may not be that great in bed. The funny thing is, although this is obvious to the female reader, I'll bet anything the male author didn't know or intend it.
All of these things aside - the dull parts, the missteps, etc - I still very much like all the characters and and excited to read on to the conclusion in the next volume.
So, yeah, this book has problems. But it's strengths are enough to keep me going.
Partly it suffers from middle volume syndrome. While the first volume zipped along, this one drags. We hear every bit of prep as Tregare tries to gather a small fleet of spaceships to invade Earth. Much of this is prep only of interest to engineers, as Rissa spends days marking with chalk where struts need to be welded to space ships to support new gun turrets.... It's a dull job to anyone not doing it, and I didn't need 50 pages of this sort of activity leavened only by the characters breaking for lunch and dinner, etc.
And partly, it suffers from mid-century male writer syndrome. Although F M Busby was trying to be a feminist like crazy, with various female ship captains, etc, some of his missteps are wince worthy. These include fat shaming, glib incest, and even aliens intent on sticking penis-like extrusions into human women.
Also, the heroine is just too lovey dovey with and committed to her new husband (a man who insisted she be his "doxie" for nine months in the recent past when she was not in a position to easily refuse him.) Given their characters, I can see how they would ultimately fall for each other, but it's just way too fast. Several other new relationships also occur way too quickly, as in the romantic partners only knowing each other for a few hours before making a commitment. It's insta-love at its worst and in one case very uncomfortable for the reader because one man says a young woman looks like she could be his daughter by his former long term lover who looked just like her. And then he proposes. ICK!
Lastly, sex, while not detailed at all, is so clearly written though a 20th century male viewpoint. When the heroine has a problem coming, it's 100% her problem and her responsibility. Her partner doesn't have to do anything but show up and keep on doing his usual thing to help her out of it. You definitely get the feeling that her partner, who we have already have been told has far less sexual expertise than she does, may not be that great in bed. The funny thing is, although this is obvious to the female reader, I'll bet anything the male author didn't know or intend it.
All of these things aside - the dull parts, the missteps, etc - I still very much like all the characters and and excited to read on to the conclusion in the next volume.
So, yeah, this book has problems. But it's strengths are enough to keep me going.
April 21, 2010
Try finding a kickass heroine in science fiction before 1980, the year before this novel's publication. Particularly try finding a kickass action heroine of that date, one written by a male writer that doesn't make you, a woman, cringe. Rare.
So, in Rissa you have a strong heroine in a space opera of the kind you find in Robert Heinlein, David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Elizabeth Moon. For me, this really hit the spot. And this is one of those old-fashioned tales about someone who starts at the very bottom of life only to rise to heights on smarts and gumption--and more than a little luck. And believe me, it's not as if Bran Tregare, a space pirate that could give Han Solo a run for his money, doesn't have his own appeal.
This is only the second book in the Rissa trilogy, so you should really start with Young Rissa (aka Rissa Kerguelan)--if you can. I can't remember how I discovered this series, I think I must have been lent one by a friend, because I do remember reading The Long View which I don't own. But I do remember then hunting used book stores trying to find more--and alas I only have three on my book shelves--and Young Rissa isn't one of them. Fortunately this novel can stand alone, even if there are tantalizing references to what must have happened in other books. Thes Rissa and Tregare books are a pleasure, and I'm only sorry they're not easily available--and that there aren't more.
So, in Rissa you have a strong heroine in a space opera of the kind you find in Robert Heinlein, David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Elizabeth Moon. For me, this really hit the spot. And this is one of those old-fashioned tales about someone who starts at the very bottom of life only to rise to heights on smarts and gumption--and more than a little luck. And believe me, it's not as if Bran Tregare, a space pirate that could give Han Solo a run for his money, doesn't have his own appeal.
This is only the second book in the Rissa trilogy, so you should really start with Young Rissa (aka Rissa Kerguelan)--if you can. I can't remember how I discovered this series, I think I must have been lent one by a friend, because I do remember reading The Long View which I don't own. But I do remember then hunting used book stores trying to find more--and alas I only have three on my book shelves--and Young Rissa isn't one of them. Fortunately this novel can stand alone, even if there are tantalizing references to what must have happened in other books. Thes Rissa and Tregare books are a pleasure, and I'm only sorry they're not easily available--and that there aren't more.
November 16, 2007
The front cover boldly claims "A BLOCKBUSTER -- Seattle Times." I do not know what timescape Seattle is in, but it is certainly not aware of the actual dimension in which we live. Rissa is some sort of human "female" that was born in wilderness of "Idaholand." Idaholand is a mythical planet off the port bow of Pluto. Considering Pluto has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, this sorely dates this book. There are lots of turrets that are spoken of in this book. It seems F.M. Busby (if that's his/her real name) is turret-crazy. Maybe he/she was born inside of a turret and that's their source of spite and dismay. It's hard to tell since I am not a psychoanalyst of any accredited sort. Busby also speaks of paying men to touch parts of dead animals just for the sheer pleasure of it. The character Tregare is barely in the book seeing as he's killed before the book starts. His backstory has the most expletives and made-up adverbs. Just because you add -ly to a word doesn't make it an adverb. This book also goes on a tangent about Mario 64 being the leader of a cult, but it never says what happened to the cult. I would like to think it ran a successful 7-11 in a New England suburb. But I digress. There is a lot of card playing in this book. I think that Busby is an anonymous Jokers Wild fanatic. And that begs the question, "who isn't?"
September 13, 2011
This book is the second of a trilogy by FM Busby. I have read this, the complete trilogy and associated books. I read these books many years ago (decades), and re-read them. Rissa and Tregare are strong characters during a dark possible future on earth and in space. North America, and parts of the world are run by UET (United Energy and Transport), are large corpoation. UET has bacially enslaved as many people as possible by putting them into Total Welfare. When I had orignally read the books, they appealed to my youth. The story of Total Welfare now is thought provoking to my age and experienc level. With the greed of big companies today and the wide spread between those that have and have not, the premise the book is based on is not so far-fetched anymore.
Rissa and Tregare are major characters in the subsequent books, The Long View (last of the trilogy), Alien Debt and Rebel's Seed (last book in whole series). I made the mistake of lending my books to someone who did not return them, and now am in the process of re-acquiring them.
FM Busby wastes little time with unnecessary discriptions, and jumps right into the story. I am a fast reader, and tend to skip useless words, sentences and paragraphs. Not so with these books. I have enjoyed them for years, and will continue to do so.
Rissa and Tregare are major characters in the subsequent books, The Long View (last of the trilogy), Alien Debt and Rebel's Seed (last book in whole series). I made the mistake of lending my books to someone who did not return them, and now am in the process of re-acquiring them.
FM Busby wastes little time with unnecessary discriptions, and jumps right into the story. I am a fast reader, and tend to skip useless words, sentences and paragraphs. Not so with these books. I have enjoyed them for years, and will continue to do so.
January 22, 2021
This is one of my favorite SciFi books. I got the ebook mostly for nostalgia. I give the book a 5 star rating but this ebook is full of errors. If I rated the book based on the it would be at best a 3 star. If you don’t mind error and typos and want a good character driven SciFi go for it.
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January 9, 2010Fictionwise multiformat ebook
June 23, 2014
One of my all time favorite authors and one of my Top 10 Book Series!
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January 8, 2010Fictionwise multiformat ebook
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews