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The 1st Solar War #1
Cripple Squadron
From the Amazon Bestselling Author of the Prince of Britannia Series.
It's been twenty-five years since the United States and its European Allies won WWIII. There are now only two superpowers, and China is determined to reduce that to one. As part of a 1st strike, China launched an attack against the small allied fleet guarding Titan's hydrogen processing facility. Unless reinforcements can make it to Saturn's moon, that force will be destroyed, and the valuable fuel supply will be lost.
Vicki Buckner is a girl with an attitude. She only cares about two things, sex and flying. America's first space ace, Vicki, has to reinvent herself, both physically and mentally, after a test flight leaves her crippled.
When the call comes, Vicki and the pilots she's trained strap on their space fighters and head toward Saturn. The Chinese will never know what hit them because the Cripples are on their way.
It's been twenty-five years since the United States and its European Allies won WWIII. There are now only two superpowers, and China is determined to reduce that to one. As part of a 1st strike, China launched an attack against the small allied fleet guarding Titan's hydrogen processing facility. Unless reinforcements can make it to Saturn's moon, that force will be destroyed, and the valuable fuel supply will be lost.
Vicki Buckner is a girl with an attitude. She only cares about two things, sex and flying. America's first space ace, Vicki, has to reinvent herself, both physically and mentally, after a test flight leaves her crippled.
When the call comes, Vicki and the pilots she's trained strap on their space fighters and head toward Saturn. The Chinese will never know what hit them because the Cripples are on their way.
- GenresScience Fiction
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2023
329 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 2, 2024
Good story - Bad physics
The chief weakness is the same as most any military scifi written by ex-military or military historians . The technology and battles are just thinly disguised ripoffs of recent surface military action and technology. Here 40 years in future in space vacuum space fighters fly at similar top speeds, guns shoot at same velocity and radar ranges are limited to same range as US Navy. All that is even today governed by air resistance and curvature of earth. Twenty second of 6G acceleration adds 8000 mph. The space launches to low earth orbit are around 25000 mph. Railgun slugs do not have practical upper limits due to energy loss to air resistance at increasing Mach. Even now Navy rail guns prototype are way above 1600 fps. No need to voluntarily slow down in dogfights to avoid colliding with your own bullets (well it would be a lot more rare. Also single hits by railgun slugs would likely only cripple fight unless it hit precise component to collapse fusion magnetic containment. Fusion fuel supplies would be long running as it's basically fusion bomb released slowly. Again old military just assumes it burns at same rate as Jet fuel (wrong - micrograms per second unless used to superheat steam as actual propellent). The list goes on. One interesting side fact is that amputees can pull lots more Gs because blood no longer pools on feet and hands...similar to shorter pilots.
The chief weakness is the same as most any military scifi written by ex-military or military historians . The technology and battles are just thinly disguised ripoffs of recent surface military action and technology. Here 40 years in future in space vacuum space fighters fly at similar top speeds, guns shoot at same velocity and radar ranges are limited to same range as US Navy. All that is even today governed by air resistance and curvature of earth. Twenty second of 6G acceleration adds 8000 mph. The space launches to low earth orbit are around 25000 mph. Railgun slugs do not have practical upper limits due to energy loss to air resistance at increasing Mach. Even now Navy rail guns prototype are way above 1600 fps. No need to voluntarily slow down in dogfights to avoid colliding with your own bullets (well it would be a lot more rare. Also single hits by railgun slugs would likely only cripple fight unless it hit precise component to collapse fusion magnetic containment. Fusion fuel supplies would be long running as it's basically fusion bomb released slowly. Again old military just assumes it burns at same rate as Jet fuel (wrong - micrograms per second unless used to superheat steam as actual propellent). The list goes on. One interesting side fact is that amputees can pull lots more Gs because blood no longer pools on feet and hands...similar to shorter pilots.
October 1, 2023
PUTTING SCIENCE INTO SCI-FI
I love the story. I love that the cast of characters is more than just the opening to the story. I love the attention to detail when it comes to how a fight out past the atmosphere will work. My only complaint would be the overuse of the word “space”. I think that by the time we are building warships in space that we will not be calling them Space Carriers or Space Fighters. I think most will call them Carriers or Spacecraft Carriers. And, Fighter Planes have a linage from WWI to WW4.
Today the trend in eBooks is massive arcs and ten books isn’t considered extreme. Personally I love a Trilogy. I am ready for hopefully book two of three. Great job.
I love the story. I love that the cast of characters is more than just the opening to the story. I love the attention to detail when it comes to how a fight out past the atmosphere will work. My only complaint would be the overuse of the word “space”. I think that by the time we are building warships in space that we will not be calling them Space Carriers or Space Fighters. I think most will call them Carriers or Spacecraft Carriers. And, Fighter Planes have a linage from WWI to WW4.
Today the trend in eBooks is massive arcs and ten books isn’t considered extreme. Personally I love a Trilogy. I am ready for hopefully book two of three. Great job.
January 13, 2024
The combination of…
…technical jargon with various relationships creates a fairly realistic play. There were spots where the technical got a little nerdy—someone has a real love affair with armaments & tactical story telling—but overall the plot thickened at the right pace.
Making a known enemy the antagonist of the plot is clever, though extremely risky for future readers. However, the practices of the foreign powers mentioned make this assumption one which follows form rather than goes counter to past character displays.
Well, written and fun…
…technical jargon with various relationships creates a fairly realistic play. There were spots where the technical got a little nerdy—someone has a real love affair with armaments & tactical story telling—but overall the plot thickened at the right pace.
Making a known enemy the antagonist of the plot is clever, though extremely risky for future readers. However, the practices of the foreign powers mentioned make this assumption one which follows form rather than goes counter to past character displays.
Well, written and fun…
May 13, 2024
Physics and math are real
I enjoyed Mr. Hughes book, good characters, a good plot, and plenty of action. However, what he knows about space combat, tactics, movement and physics could be written with a very large crayon on a very small postage stamp. For example, over and over his space fighters are limited by life support measured in hours. Did Mr. Hughes never watch Apollo 13 ? Given A 100 liter tank of lox (liquid oxygen and some CO2 filters and a small amount of power to refresh the filters, life support is measured in weeks not hours.
I enjoyed Mr. Hughes book, good characters, a good plot, and plenty of action. However, what he knows about space combat, tactics, movement and physics could be written with a very large crayon on a very small postage stamp. For example, over and over his space fighters are limited by life support measured in hours. Did Mr. Hughes never watch Apollo 13 ? Given A 100 liter tank of lox (liquid oxygen and some CO2 filters and a small amount of power to refresh the filters, life support is measured in weeks not hours.
August 1, 2023
Excellent Story-Honor Harrington Fans Will Love
I started the story at night and finished the next day. It was THAT compelling.
Thoughtful plot, well laid out. Characters very interesting and fully developed.
I'm a VERY tough critic who has started and abandoned many books midway through due to what I perceived as flaws and yet I'm hopeful that this story line can continue.
I started the story at night and finished the next day. It was THAT compelling.
Thoughtful plot, well laid out. Characters very interesting and fully developed.
I'm a VERY tough critic who has started and abandoned many books midway through due to what I perceived as flaws and yet I'm hopeful that this story line can continue.
August 14, 2023
The science is crap!!!!
Wow,mining Hydrogen on Jupiter! Can anything be stupider than that!
And guns, missles,and rail guns with ONLY 100 mile range, WoW,just wow!
I won't even mention space fighters that can only hold a few days of oxygen.
I feel insulted by the lack of Science in this book!!!!!)
I feel I should rate this as -2 stars
WOW!!!!!
Wow,mining Hydrogen on Jupiter! Can anything be stupider than that!
And guns, missles,and rail guns with ONLY 100 mile range, WoW,just wow!
I won't even mention space fighters that can only hold a few days of oxygen.
I feel insulted by the lack of Science in this book!!!!!)
I feel I should rate this as -2 stars
WOW!!!!!
August 26, 2023
Not a Cripple
Very interesting book to read. A different kind of hero. This book takes some time to get to the meat of the story. But you have to get introduced to the people of the story. How they became who they are and will grow into.
What more can be written in this story line? I am not sure, but I am excited to read more!!!
Very interesting book to read. A different kind of hero. This book takes some time to get to the meat of the story. But you have to get introduced to the people of the story. How they became who they are and will grow into.
What more can be written in this story line? I am not sure, but I am excited to read more!!!
August 11, 2023
I couldn't put it down
Exceptional character development. The near future storyline is very believable and probable. I won't share more so as not to be a spoiler. There is a problem though, only a trilogy? Come on Fred, you can't leave us with only 3. 👍👍👍
Exceptional character development. The near future storyline is very believable and probable. I won't share more so as not to be a spoiler. There is a problem though, only a trilogy? Come on Fred, you can't leave us with only 3. 👍👍👍
January 12, 2024
Wow, another Honor Harrington-like heroine! I will admit to initially questioning where this story was headed, but it has turned into a well written sf military story. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the “cripples” story(ies). Well written Mr. Hughes!
July 21, 2024
Old memories.
This was an edge of your seat rollercoaster ride. Being former Navy and a carrier rat as well this was a great story. Looking forward to seeing where this story goes. I recommend it highly for all of its military humor and insight.
This was an edge of your seat rollercoaster ride. Being former Navy and a carrier rat as well this was a great story. Looking forward to seeing where this story goes. I recommend it highly for all of its military humor and insight.
October 20, 2024
a page turner
It starts with an interesting premise, a pilot with prosthetics takes less oxygen and therefore can fly longer. The characters are well-developed, and I could not put the book down.
It starts with an interesting premise, a pilot with prosthetics takes less oxygen and therefore can fly longer. The characters are well-developed, and I could not put the book down.
November 17, 2023
Great read
Loved the action this book had. Lots of snarky dialogue and suspense. Wonderful war time story. Liked that women were in position of power.
Loved the action this book had. Lots of snarky dialogue and suspense. Wonderful war time story. Liked that women were in position of power.
January 1, 2024
Great read!
I love the start of this series! Well plotted, interesting story line, some great battles in this book. Headed out for number 2!
I love the start of this series! Well plotted, interesting story line, some great battles in this book. Headed out for number 2!
January 16, 2024
WW2 buffs
So if you're still in love with the greatest generation, WW2 and dislike social programs for the poor, the sick and the homeless this series may be for you.
So if you're still in love with the greatest generation, WW2 and dislike social programs for the poor, the sick and the homeless this series may be for you.
August 15, 2024
What a great series
On a par with the Prince of Britannia series. The action and drama never lets up. Looking forward to next book.
On a par with the Prince of Britannia series. The action and drama never lets up. Looking forward to next book.
January 19, 2025
5 stars the whole series
Thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy. Well thought out science. A great story and characters that hook you. Will become a series I'll reread several more times.
Thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy. Well thought out science. A great story and characters that hook you. Will become a series I'll reread several more times.
July 26, 2025
I tried but …
I tried to flog through the book. But it just kept up its disjointed path. I could not recommend this book. I wish I had the time back that I spent on it.
I tried to flog through the book. But it just kept up its disjointed path. I could not recommend this book. I wish I had the time back that I spent on it.
January 20, 2026
The author would have made better use of his time listening to audio books and smoking cigars.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews