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Stories of the Pelted Military
Stormfront
Captain Isidore Wyatt, new transfer to the Alliance Fleet from the Terran Space Navy, is still getting used to having engineered aliens for officers when he's called to investigate a possible pirate vessel. Except not everything is what it seems, and these pirates have ambitions above and beyond the norm.... Originally published in PseudoSF magazine.
17 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2010
25 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
M.C.A. Hogarth
145 books387 followersDaughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 22, 2014
A science fiction (space opera) short story, set in a sort of Star Trek world, possibly closer to the original animated series than any of the others. There's a human captain with a mixed alien crew (some talk of genetic or biological engineering in the background), a little starship taking on the bad guys (a much bigger merchant ship turned slaver), with nacelles and a sort of star drive, and if the author had thrown in a tribble, I'd've laughed. There were even two high-ranking officers arguing. As a former Trekker, I felt right at home here.
The captain's leap in logic at the climax felt a bit stretched, but hey, I guess that's why he's in the center seat and I'm not. All in all, it's a good, well written, well edited, well proofed romp. Thanks for the read, Ms Hogarth.
The captain's leap in logic at the climax felt a bit stretched, but hey, I guess that's why he's in the center seat and I'm not. All in all, it's a good, well written, well edited, well proofed romp. Thanks for the read, Ms Hogarth.
November 30, 2016
Great read!!
Very cool short short story. Whaa whaa....whaaaa!! I love short stories in almost every genre, but I think I might have to start cutting back on them for a while. Just when your getting really into it...your pulse rate gets up and you start reading faster and trying not to jump ahead and you flick the page and.....damn it's over. It's like trying to have an intimate moment with your special friend and out of nowhere your religious grandma that you haven't seen in ten years suddenly barges into the room! Well maybe not that ad...but can you dig where I'm coming from? I recommend this book and give it four stars for leaving me hangin! I will be sure to check out Hogarth's other books.
Very cool short short story. Whaa whaa....whaaaa!! I love short stories in almost every genre, but I think I might have to start cutting back on them for a while. Just when your getting really into it...your pulse rate gets up and you start reading faster and trying not to jump ahead and you flick the page and.....damn it's over. It's like trying to have an intimate moment with your special friend and out of nowhere your religious grandma that you haven't seen in ten years suddenly barges into the room! Well maybe not that ad...but can you dig where I'm coming from? I recommend this book and give it four stars for leaving me hangin! I will be sure to check out Hogarth's other books.
January 13, 2018
What is it with Space Opera and cats/feline..? I don't know, but it sure makes great science-fiction adventure. As an introduction to the Pelted universe of M.C.A. Hogarth this story gave me enough reason to dive in: space fleet battle, interesting alien crew/relation, well written and well pace storytelling. I found the writing a bit convoluted, but you definitely sense that the author his talented and can pull it off. I will read Earthrise (the first book of the series) very soon.
March 27, 2023
A good introduction to Wyatt and his command crew. Through this intro, his ship, the SpiralWhite, encounters a pirate vessel. As the scene ends, the broader conflict is partially acknowledged. Worth reading whether you only have a few minutes or are planning to follow up with more from the Pelted universe.
Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Tragic. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Tragic. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
October 7, 2019
A short story that without the context of the other Pelted works will probably feel rather flat, but it in a piece of the greater political puzzle that is good to see for those who have been following the other Pelted series.
March 10, 2020
I wish there would’ve been more to the story. It was an interesting little read. I would like to see how the crew came together and how they all got along with each other if they stayed on the same ship or got another ship.
April 14, 2021
Excellent sci fi adventure short in a fascinating universe
The story is riveting, and the taste of this universe is fascinating. I have enjoyed other stories set in this universe and highly recommend Hogarth's books.
The story is riveting, and the taste of this universe is fascinating. I have enjoyed other stories set in this universe and highly recommend Hogarth's books.
September 18, 2011
Despite me giving only 3 stars for this one, this is actually a *good* introduction to the universe -- the viewpoint character is a human, and seeing his Pelted crewmembers through his eyes provides some of the context that the others may lack.
There's a bit of space battle. There's an exciting twist. There's some universe introduction and building. It's told smoothly, without huge infodumps. I'm curling up and anticipating something nice and juicy with the buildup... And it stops, and I fall splat on my face and wail, "But... Where's the REST of it?!?!"
If there is later a sequel (and I hear rumors that there may be one), this would probably pull up to four stars, easy, and likely even a full five. On its own, it rings a little hollow as a story.
But it's a bargain at the price, a good introduction to the universe if you haven't read the others, and it fills out some universe-building and technology if you *have* read the others, so it's perfectly worthwhile to pick up.
There's a bit of space battle. There's an exciting twist. There's some universe introduction and building. It's told smoothly, without huge infodumps. I'm curling up and anticipating something nice and juicy with the buildup... And it stops, and I fall splat on my face and wail, "But... Where's the REST of it?!?!"
If there is later a sequel (and I hear rumors that there may be one), this would probably pull up to four stars, easy, and likely even a full five. On its own, it rings a little hollow as a story.
But it's a bargain at the price, a good introduction to the universe if you haven't read the others, and it fills out some universe-building and technology if you *have* read the others, so it's perfectly worthwhile to pick up.
November 7, 2014
This was a very good space opera/military sci-fi short story.
The story starts with the author’s strength: immersing the reader in a unique setting without either overwhelming them or resorting to an infodump, and then quickly gets going with the plot, which moves at a brisk pace.
I was also especially pleased that the author posits Christianity surviving into the future. I’m tired of all atheist futures.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t give this story five stars because my enjoyment was marred by not understanding how the captain arrived at the conclusion he did at the climax, and because the story felt a bit more like a piece of something larger than a standalone work.
The story starts with the author’s strength: immersing the reader in a unique setting without either overwhelming them or resorting to an infodump, and then quickly gets going with the plot, which moves at a brisk pace.
I was also especially pleased that the author posits Christianity surviving into the future. I’m tired of all atheist futures.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t give this story five stars because my enjoyment was marred by not understanding how the captain arrived at the conclusion he did at the climax, and because the story felt a bit more like a piece of something larger than a standalone work.
July 20, 2015
A solid short story that introduces some interesting characters, and hints at some of what's going on in the Pelted universe. There's a neat little space battle, and a surprising little twist...and an abrupt ending that comes absolutely out of nowhere.
So in that respect, a bit disappointing. It's free on Amazon right now, though, and it makes for a pretty good taste-test of Hogarth's writing and her world.
So in that respect, a bit disappointing. It's free on Amazon right now, though, and it makes for a pretty good taste-test of Hogarth's writing and her world.
February 6, 2015
A short read which chronicles the details of one spaceship's approach upon another. It's not a terrible read at all, if you like sci-fi. There's plenty of action and you get to know the main character well. I feel that the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger, so be prepared for unanswered questions.
December 8, 2016
Military SF short
This is an introduction to several characters of various species', a self-contained "episode" which features a hard-choices battle with no absolute certainties possible in the aftermath. It can serve as a sample of MCAH's Pelted universe writing, for anyone who may be considering Earthrise et al.
This is an introduction to several characters of various species', a self-contained "episode" which features a hard-choices battle with no absolute certainties possible in the aftermath. It can serve as a sample of MCAH's Pelted universe writing, for anyone who may be considering Earthrise et al.
December 28, 2014
Stormfront
I enjoyed this short story. A new captain in a scouting ship for the Alliance faces a large pirate ship trafficking in human slavery. The battle was quick. The pirate ship self destructed. Why? The answer to that question can be found in the series.
I enjoyed this short story. A new captain in a scouting ship for the Alliance faces a large pirate ship trafficking in human slavery. The battle was quick. The pirate ship self destructed. Why? The answer to that question can be found in the series.
January 14, 2015
A taste of the series
An extremely short story, well written, but could have been fleshed out more. Very sci-fi action and a glimpse of interesting people. Definitely a small part of the Alliance series by M. C. A. Hogwarts. I especially liked the cover.
An extremely short story, well written, but could have been fleshed out more. Very sci-fi action and a glimpse of interesting people. Definitely a small part of the Alliance series by M. C. A. Hogwarts. I especially liked the cover.
April 4, 2013
Interesting concept. Well written, intriguing characters. I want to play in this universe some more.
March 1, 2021
Very short and not really connected to the other Alysha Forest books, although it is set in the same universe and para-military fleet. Decent story for the length.
January 19, 2020
Hard choices , quick thinking
Getting used to new Co workers has never been easy. Doing it while taking on bully's twice your size ?
Getting used to new Co workers has never been easy. Doing it while taking on bully's twice your size ?
February 9, 2012
Not really my cup of tea.
February 5, 2019
Short story detailing a galactic battle between a small shop with a new pilot and a slave trader/battleship. Not a bad story but not a lot to it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews