Phoebus Krumm

Coordinated Arm #4

by L. Neil Smith, Scott Bieser (Illustrator)

Pirate and privateer Phoebus Krumm, is brought out of retirement and into action for a mission to thwart a deadly new threat from the same interstellar empire that had destroyed his home and killed his wives. He is joined by friends Bretta Islay (aka the dread pirate Bretta Martyn) and Hanebuth Tarrant on a mission that will change the balance of power in the Saggitarius Cluster.This graphic novel is the third story set in L. Neil Smith's Henry Martyn universe.

Genres: Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2010

About the author

L. Neil Smith was a Libertarian science fiction author and gun rights activist.Smith was born in Denver, Colorado.

Smith began publishing science fiction with “Grimm’s Law” for Stellar 5 (1980). He wrote 31 books, including 29 novels, and a number of essays and short stories. In 2016, Smith received the Special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement for his contributions to libertarian science fiction.

He was editor of LEVER ACTION BBS [now defunct], founder and International Coordinator of the Libertarian Second Amendment Caucus, Secretary and Legislative Director of the Weld County Fish & Wildlife Association and an NRA Life Member.

Smith passed away on August 27, 2021 in Fort Collins, Colorado at age 75 after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease. Smith is survived by daughter Rylla Smith and wife Cathy Smith.

Reviews

[Ronald Tobin · Rating 4 out of 5]

PHOEBUS KRUMM takes place in the Henry Martyn universe. As such, to fully enjoy this book, one really ought to read WARDOVE, HENRY MARTYN and BRETTA MARTYN. At least the last one, otherwise one might wonder about the interplay between Bretta and another major character. As the book opens, Phoebus Krumm is called out of retirement by the CEO of the Hanoverian Monopolity. He gets a new tachyon sail starship from said CEO and goes on a mission to destroy a new super dreadnaught starship built by the sinister Jendyne Empiry-Cirot. The Hanoverians remind me of a far more libertarian English empire and the Jendynes remind me of a twisted caricature of the French under Louis XIV. The Jendyne CEO shooting peasants (not Pheasants, peasants) was hilarious.

Phoebus picks up Bretta Martyn on the way to destroy this dreadnaught and then the game really begins. As a graphic novel, there is a lot of action, and it truly is a swashbuckling adventure. Fans of the Henry Martyn series will definitely not be disappointed.

This is a good book for a lazy afternoon. Very entertaining, solid plot, moves quickly. Scott Bieser and 3 are outstanding illustrators. If you like graphic novels with a libertarian bent, this one is for you.

[Steven Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is the fourth entry in L. Neil's "Coordinated Arm" series, sequel to three prose novels, The WarDove, Henry Martyn and Bretta Martyn. The Martyns are father and daughter, actually nobles whose true family name is Islay; they moonlight as pirates. Phoebus Krumm, the title character, is a privateer of their acquaintance. This isn't really Krumm's story, though, it's Bretta's. She's seventeen, feisty and adorably drawn by Bieser. If you're a fan of Smith or this particular series, this is a treat. Even if you're not, it's a perfectly good jumping-on point. I actually have yet to read its direct predecessor, Bretta Martyn, but I was still able to enjoy it. A quick, funny, swashbuckling adventure.