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North American Confederacy #5
Tom Paine Maru
NO-WIN SITUATION
For the promise of a commission, Corporal Whitey O'Thraight had become Ship's Armorer on the first interstellar flight launched by the planet Vespucci.
But the _Asperance_'s maiden voyage was also its last. And just a few hours after the crash landing, the crew was overrun by armored savages. Only Whitey and a badly wounded lieutenant survived, and they were prisoners of the local Baron.
But before the Baron's Chief Torturer could finish them off, Whitey and the lieutenant were freed by a group of oddly combative monks. Soon the two survivors had to choose between loyalty to their homeworld and to their new friends--and siding with their rescuers would mean the destruction of Vespucci as they knew it!
For the promise of a commission, Corporal Whitey O'Thraight had become Ship's Armorer on the first interstellar flight launched by the planet Vespucci.
But the _Asperance_'s maiden voyage was also its last. And just a few hours after the crash landing, the crew was overrun by armored savages. Only Whitey and a badly wounded lieutenant survived, and they were prisoners of the local Baron.
But before the Baron's Chief Torturer could finish them off, Whitey and the lieutenant were freed by a group of oddly combative monks. Soon the two survivors had to choose between loyalty to their homeworld and to their new friends--and siding with their rescuers would mean the destruction of Vespucci as they knew it!
274 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 1984
3 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
L. Neil Smith
39 books69 followersL. 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 12, 2012
Definitely one of Neil's best! I particularly recommend getting the updated "author's cut" version, which I purchased via Smashwords. I also own the original mass market paperback release, but I find what was excised from the edited version adds texture and depth. Imaginative, philosophical and funny, with the feel of later Heinlein novels.
March 25, 2025
This is one of my favorites of the series. Although the next two in the series are very good too.
May 8, 2015
1985 grade B
2013 abandoned
series book A4
2013 abandoned
series book A4
June 29, 2023
Probably most people, except perhaps new readers, grab books by L. Neil Smith because of the philosophy, because of the portrayal of worlds where human rights and individual liberty reign supreme.
But after one's first experience, one will -- or should -- also be a fan of Neil's style.
Granted, he respects his readers and expects us to know as much as he does, and we -- especially I -- don't always. (Since I am sort of a hermit, some of Neil's cultural references go right past me.)
That is not a criticism of Neil or his books. It just allows people like me to re-read them because at least some parts will be new, or new again.
"Tom Paine Maru" is an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable book in part because there are new characters, some related, as in kin, to his stock company of previous characters.
His narrator/protagonist is not the advocate of human rights and individual liberty we want, so we sit on the proverbial edge of our seats wanting him to get smart, and faster.
But, realistically, since he has been so thoroughly indoctrinated -- much, I regret to say, like our school children and, worse, perhaps ourselves -- of course he doesn't make any instantaneous change.
In fact, it's questionable if he will, he is that thoroughly indoctrinated. I mean, how do you get a fish to realize he is inundated, that he is (sorry) all wet?
Some reviewer, well, an almost-reviewer, bemoaned a scene of "date rape." Shame on him: He didn't read the story. The mis-characterized rapee could have and would have whupped the mis-characterized rapist good if he had tried. That reviewer was just looking for something to criticize, but he admits he stopped reading quickly. I hope millions of others will grab this book and read it all.
But after one's first experience, one will -- or should -- also be a fan of Neil's style.
Granted, he respects his readers and expects us to know as much as he does, and we -- especially I -- don't always. (Since I am sort of a hermit, some of Neil's cultural references go right past me.)
That is not a criticism of Neil or his books. It just allows people like me to re-read them because at least some parts will be new, or new again.
"Tom Paine Maru" is an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable book in part because there are new characters, some related, as in kin, to his stock company of previous characters.
His narrator/protagonist is not the advocate of human rights and individual liberty we want, so we sit on the proverbial edge of our seats wanting him to get smart, and faster.
But, realistically, since he has been so thoroughly indoctrinated -- much, I regret to say, like our school children and, worse, perhaps ourselves -- of course he doesn't make any instantaneous change.
In fact, it's questionable if he will, he is that thoroughly indoctrinated. I mean, how do you get a fish to realize he is inundated, that he is (sorry) all wet?
Some reviewer, well, an almost-reviewer, bemoaned a scene of "date rape." Shame on him: He didn't read the story. The mis-characterized rapee could have and would have whupped the mis-characterized rapist good if he had tried. That reviewer was just looking for something to criticize, but he admits he stopped reading quickly. I hope millions of others will grab this book and read it all.
January 13, 2011
I wanted so desperately to love this book. I am a libertarian anarchist and the state-less society described in this book is my ultimate fantasy, plus I'm a huge scifi fan. Unfortunately, 80% of the way through the book I had to give up. I just didn't find the plot gripping enough. The first half of the book just didn't get me interested in what happened in the second half (which was a bit of a non-sequitur and introduced new characters I wasn't committed to). I don't like spoilers so I won't go into detail, but if there had been a better progression in the book building toward more of a climax maybe I would have cared how it ended enough to finish the book. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention, so I'm not saying don't try to read it yourself, just that I lost the thread somewhere and couldn't make it to the end.
July 6, 2015
Entertaining political fiction
Kept me engaged. I may well be easily amused but this is just the sort of alternative universe fiction I find easy to recommend. Romance, action and a wildly imaginative setting.
Kept me engaged. I may well be easily amused but this is just the sort of alternative universe fiction I find easy to recommend. Romance, action and a wildly imaginative setting.
February 20, 2009
More libertarian fiction from L. Neil Smith. Not bad at all, a good read, but I've enjoyed some of his other books more.
December 3, 2013
interesting. story sticks with you long after you have finished
November 29, 2015
Libertarian is one thing but drifting into date rape is another. Had to drop it, like a turd.
December 28, 2007
read 07.29.85
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews