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Kris Longknife #12
Tenacious
There’s no rest for a Longknife—even if you’re a newlywed. Vice Admiral Kris Longknife’s honeymoon gets cancelled when she hears that the space raider’s home world may have been discovered. Finding where the raiders came from could be the key to saving humanity. If only uncovering their secrets was that easy…
As Kris returns home, she ends up tangling with a mutinous crew determined to take off on their own. The dissident group leads Kris straight into a new mess—a system filled with strange, deadly enemies poised to wipe another sentient civilization out of existence. Kris and her squadron are ready to prevent total annihilation, but the mutineers have other plans…
As Kris returns home, she ends up tangling with a mutinous crew determined to take off on their own. The dissident group leads Kris straight into a new mess—a system filled with strange, deadly enemies poised to wipe another sentient civilization out of existence. Kris and her squadron are ready to prevent total annihilation, but the mutineers have other plans…
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 28, 2014
60 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Mike Shepherd
78 books563 followersA pseudonym used by Mike Moscoe.
Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.
Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.
Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.
Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.
Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.
Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.
Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.
Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.
Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.
Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.
Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.
Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.
Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.
Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.
Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.
Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.
Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.
Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 2, 2016
This is more of what we've come to enjoy about the series. So I'm going to mostly leave it at that. The lower-than-usual rating is that I'm a little tired of the enemy that has taken over this series. Kris has been stuck in Alwa territory for a few books, now, and it's becoming more than a little tedious. I miss the human intrigue and all the setup in human space.
And I'm more than a little tired of the enemy, while we're at it. Shepherd has crafted an implacable foe with little reason and no emotional payload. They're relentless, unthinking, and completely evil and while that ramps up the urgency, it also kills every other possible plot avenue besides battle. There's some sign of mitigating that as Kris explores the history of the race but so far it just means they're every bit as bad as we thought they'd be.
So yeah, I may be winding down on the series. Still, I've already checked out the most recent one so I'll probably at least read one more...
And I'm more than a little tired of the enemy, while we're at it. Shepherd has crafted an implacable foe with little reason and no emotional payload. They're relentless, unthinking, and completely evil and while that ramps up the urgency, it also kills every other possible plot avenue besides battle. There's some sign of mitigating that as Kris explores the history of the race but so far it just means they're every bit as bad as we thought they'd be.
So yeah, I may be winding down on the series. Still, I've already checked out the most recent one so I'll probably at least read one more...
November 26, 2014
It was unfortunate that I read this just after a rather well written book, the authors weaknesses became pretty glaring. The parts involving battle, discovering new planets or people, are entertaining and goes fast, but whenever they stop to talk too much, it just falls apart. The dialogue is just not very good.
November 25, 2014
The books in this series just get better and better.
June 6, 2015
It seems Kris goes from one mess into another one in each edition of the series. Penny has returned after finding the home world of the raiders. Kris and squadron are off to uncover their secrets. Sampson and a group of mutineers steal a ship and set off on their own with Kris in pursuit. Kris is lead into a new mess, a system with a planet with cat people with nuclear weapons and several opposing clans are being attacked by what Kress calls “the bug eyed aliens” with the goal of wiping another sentient civilization out of existence. Kris and Squadron are ready to prevent total annihilation.
The book has lots of action including ship maneuvering and fleet combat. Kris’s role has changed with her promotion to Vice Admiral; she now controls the entire squadron rather than just one ship. As the book ends King Raymond sends more ships to help and a promotion for Kris to full Admiral. Nellie is still my favorite and she is as sassy and smart as ever in this story. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Dina Pearlman narrates the series.
The book has lots of action including ship maneuvering and fleet combat. Kris’s role has changed with her promotion to Vice Admiral; she now controls the entire squadron rather than just one ship. As the book ends King Raymond sends more ships to help and a promotion for Kris to full Admiral. Nellie is still my favorite and she is as sassy and smart as ever in this story. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Dina Pearlman narrates the series.
July 5, 2017
Three and a half stars actually.
Good descriptions. Main characters to care about. Good action. Good plots with twists but some things you know ahead of time. Still it's on my second level. That doesn't stop me from recommending it or wanting to read the next one.
Good descriptions. Main characters to care about. Good action. Good plots with twists but some things you know ahead of time. Still it's on my second level. That doesn't stop me from recommending it or wanting to read the next one.
June 19, 2015
I truly liked the other parts of this series, but:
This novel disappointed in so many ways I actually started taking notes. It is the worst part so far and doesnt rate more than two stars at the best of times.
Several reasons:
SPOILER WARNING
- A huge lack of respect vs Kris Longknife.
All her subordinates give her constant lip in front of everyone . This would kill the respect in any organization fast. Characters who act like a child or get treated like one repeatedly cannot command fleets. Anything else just feels construed, it completely destroys any suspension of disbelief.
- What I totally didnt get: The whole crew cries for some faceless, nameless, characterless creatures which arent even described properly, no emotional context at all. Do you do that everytime you go to a pre-historic museum, too?
- Now don't misunderstand the following criticism. I was raised and live my life fully emancipated. Yet I noticed, that ever more characters around Kris, pretty much the whole inner circle are women. That in itself might be refreshing or a good story setting. Sadly, Mike is totally missing the realities of such constellations. Mostly women driven parties tend to heavy backstabbing actions and jealousies in work related settings. That is, at least, my experience of twenty years of working life in many big companies and the military life. As a man I try to avoid any department consisting of more than 50% women due to this reason.
Nonetheless, Mike Shepherd completely negates this whole area of plot-relevant characterization as in all his protagonists are paragons of human behaviour.
- And in turn: Jack is reduced to some bland aye-sayer. His character never was the brightest bulb in this sea of light, but this time he's reduced to an almost burnt-out candle stub. Boring and bland isnt catching it at all.
- repeatedly Vengeance is sworn publicly vs a race that so far hasnt hit a single human planet . Pre-emptive, extreme prejudice. Bit hard to believe. Why fight something that wasnt even aware of you until short time ago? Why go so overboard with the posturing and hate? I wasnt able to shake the feeling Mike has some personal axe to grind somewhere and this finds reflection in the novel.
- Same old: Repeatedly Kris hates or swears hate or promotes it. Why?
- Sentences, story parts and most if not all dialogues are on a teenager level (made a nasty face, sees love eternal etc.) clicheed beyond the pain threshold. Honestly, this annoyed me to hell. I know Mike has had a better writing style so why do I get the feeling this book caters for the teenage crowd?
- The description of breast feeding lacks actual biological fact and research. It simply doesnt work that way. Read it up.
- Major gripe: Neither Admirals, nor rear admirals nor vice admirals and least of all governors lead from the front and there are a thousand good reasons for it. You grew up Navy, Mike, and yet you coem across with such lame notions on leading from the front. Is that supposed to be the anti-thesis to armchair generals? If so, you make the weakest point ever.
Demote Kris quickly or let her do the planning. Doing both is ridiculous, unrealistic and impossible. For alot of good reasons which can be discussed in proper form, but not here. If you know this topic, you know what I mean. Its a topic which is regularly included in military sci fi but always on Lieutenant-Captain level. Once you reach the management level your swashbuckling days are OVER.
If you dont want that for Kris, hell, don't write it that way.
- Do we REALLY have to have a stupid court martial in every book? Really?
- Cat people ... 20th century humans with fur (and super dangerous claws!!). No more can be said about this whole brand new race of aliens they discover. Do I actually need to go into why this is uninspired, boring and lame? I cannot honestly say I have ever read about a more boring new alien race than in this book. Totally exchangeable.
- I found the easter egg rant against paper media. Could have left that one out, since you also left out the pro and cons. So why bother at all.
- Major gripe: There is no reason whatsoever to land on Sasquan and talk to the cat people. No reason what-so-friggin-ever. Yet they not only land there, but have to talk to them in person and get shot at. Been some time since I read such a (badly!) construed interlude in a scifi novel. Especially since they had already decided not to share tech with them.
Any military worth its cannons and his orders would have wiped out the raiders and moved on, catnips none the wiser.
The reader doesnt even get a construed deus-ex-machina reason why they talk to the catnips. What a waste of words.
- Major gripe: AI. You don't even scratch the surface of AI morals, AI problems, fears and whatnot. Instead you give us the self aware AI super nanny. Gratulation, thats the worst depiction of AIs I ever read. I was so hoping through the books leading here that this would take on some steam along the way in regards to AIs.
Instead we get Nelly the super nanny. Honestly, destroy this piece of deus ex machina junk please. It impacts negatively on your story.
- alot of overly long winded description of the festivities and daily business. I skipped whole pages missing nothing of the actual plot but useless descriptions of the forward lounge and what crewman x had for breakfast.
- Major gripe: The Longknife rants. We get it. Gods, we got it five books ago. Even the cross-eyed guy in the dark corner over there got it. The bad Longknifes (or is it BAD(tm) LongkniVes?). Those awful Longknifes. The Longknifes again. Honestly, skip these repetitions. We got it the first couple hundred times and its simply annoying nowadays. Instead of actually WRITING about what is awful, you keep saying it. And its annoying and boring. And totally not funny anymore. And annoying. And boring. And stupid. And annoying. See what I mean? Same with the anti-Longknife rants.
- The useless ruminations about being unable to take a trip home to Wardhaven. Sorry, but did I miss some unwritten law that heads of state don't travel? Oh, yeah, I get it. she is indispensable because she has to lead from the front, do all the research, plan all the battles, do all the planetfalls and sit on the weapon controls. AKA Micromanage everything because the author has to paint the picture of the super heroine. Skip that please or at least come up with some actual reason for her not to travel.
- The constant banter of the core crew might be funny if the characters get a more adult overworking. The way they are now I most of the time think I am reading about a bunch of teenagers.
- Names do not get translated, you translated Friedrich der Grosse to english. thats a no go so cut it out.
- Major gripe: the constant promotions. Powergaming at its best, again. It took several books to make her a captain in her own right and in one book she gets two promotions in the highest level in about as many weeks. Thats horrible style. Thats not character development, thats pushing and deus ex machina. You can do and did better than that. E.g. Capt.J.L.Picard of the Enterprise was a captain for decades and had more clout than this upstart chick. He never needed a promotion. why does Kris unless you write so badly that its the only way to continue your story.
Last but not least: Love eternal? And what is it with you and the constant sex scenes between Kris and Jack? Over ten books without C-Movie niveau sex and all of a sudden we have to listen to some teenager wet dream fantasies? If you have to include them, for gods sake, at least write some decent, mature scenes (mind you, DECENT, not x-rated).
That all said, this whole book is just an interlude, a filler. Nothing remarkable happens with the sole exception of the raider home planet which was totally inconclusive and more or less just a byplay. And why again did they have to kidnap mongrel neanderthals from its surface again?? Same reason they landed on Sasquan aka to fill some more pages with irrelevant chatter?
I am very happy for having been able to finish this book. It was boring, long-winded, construed, unlogical and absolutely not able to build any suspense. There wasnt a single piece of action where it was unclear that our heroes are wouldn't win.
I dont think I will be looking for the next installment, maybe when its on promo offer for a buck or when I have trouble getting to sleep.
Even to hardcore fans I give the advice to skip this one and wait for the next in which she will probably fight against the raiders full time. Spare yourself the waste of time called "A day in the life of an administrator" respectively Kris Longknife: Tenacious.
This novel disappointed in so many ways I actually started taking notes. It is the worst part so far and doesnt rate more than two stars at the best of times.
Several reasons:
SPOILER WARNING
- A huge lack of respect vs Kris Longknife.
All her subordinates give her constant lip in front of everyone . This would kill the respect in any organization fast. Characters who act like a child or get treated like one repeatedly cannot command fleets. Anything else just feels construed, it completely destroys any suspension of disbelief.
- What I totally didnt get: The whole crew cries for some faceless, nameless, characterless creatures which arent even described properly, no emotional context at all. Do you do that everytime you go to a pre-historic museum, too?
- Now don't misunderstand the following criticism. I was raised and live my life fully emancipated. Yet I noticed, that ever more characters around Kris, pretty much the whole inner circle are women. That in itself might be refreshing or a good story setting. Sadly, Mike is totally missing the realities of such constellations. Mostly women driven parties tend to heavy backstabbing actions and jealousies in work related settings. That is, at least, my experience of twenty years of working life in many big companies and the military life. As a man I try to avoid any department consisting of more than 50% women due to this reason.
Nonetheless, Mike Shepherd completely negates this whole area of plot-relevant characterization as in all his protagonists are paragons of human behaviour.
- And in turn: Jack is reduced to some bland aye-sayer. His character never was the brightest bulb in this sea of light, but this time he's reduced to an almost burnt-out candle stub. Boring and bland isnt catching it at all.
- repeatedly Vengeance is sworn publicly vs a race that so far hasnt hit a single human planet . Pre-emptive, extreme prejudice. Bit hard to believe. Why fight something that wasnt even aware of you until short time ago? Why go so overboard with the posturing and hate? I wasnt able to shake the feeling Mike has some personal axe to grind somewhere and this finds reflection in the novel.
- Same old: Repeatedly Kris hates or swears hate or promotes it. Why?
- Sentences, story parts and most if not all dialogues are on a teenager level (made a nasty face, sees love eternal etc.) clicheed beyond the pain threshold. Honestly, this annoyed me to hell. I know Mike has had a better writing style so why do I get the feeling this book caters for the teenage crowd?
- The description of breast feeding lacks actual biological fact and research. It simply doesnt work that way. Read it up.
- Major gripe: Neither Admirals, nor rear admirals nor vice admirals and least of all governors lead from the front and there are a thousand good reasons for it. You grew up Navy, Mike, and yet you coem across with such lame notions on leading from the front. Is that supposed to be the anti-thesis to armchair generals? If so, you make the weakest point ever.
Demote Kris quickly or let her do the planning. Doing both is ridiculous, unrealistic and impossible. For alot of good reasons which can be discussed in proper form, but not here. If you know this topic, you know what I mean. Its a topic which is regularly included in military sci fi but always on Lieutenant-Captain level. Once you reach the management level your swashbuckling days are OVER.
If you dont want that for Kris, hell, don't write it that way.
- Do we REALLY have to have a stupid court martial in every book? Really?
- Cat people ... 20th century humans with fur (and super dangerous claws!!). No more can be said about this whole brand new race of aliens they discover. Do I actually need to go into why this is uninspired, boring and lame? I cannot honestly say I have ever read about a more boring new alien race than in this book. Totally exchangeable.
- I found the easter egg rant against paper media. Could have left that one out, since you also left out the pro and cons. So why bother at all.
- Major gripe: There is no reason whatsoever to land on Sasquan and talk to the cat people. No reason what-so-friggin-ever. Yet they not only land there, but have to talk to them in person and get shot at. Been some time since I read such a (badly!) construed interlude in a scifi novel. Especially since they had already decided not to share tech with them.
Any military worth its cannons and his orders would have wiped out the raiders and moved on, catnips none the wiser.
The reader doesnt even get a construed deus-ex-machina reason why they talk to the catnips. What a waste of words.
- Major gripe: AI. You don't even scratch the surface of AI morals, AI problems, fears and whatnot. Instead you give us the self aware AI super nanny. Gratulation, thats the worst depiction of AIs I ever read. I was so hoping through the books leading here that this would take on some steam along the way in regards to AIs.
Instead we get Nelly the super nanny. Honestly, destroy this piece of deus ex machina junk please. It impacts negatively on your story.
- alot of overly long winded description of the festivities and daily business. I skipped whole pages missing nothing of the actual plot but useless descriptions of the forward lounge and what crewman x had for breakfast.
- Major gripe: The Longknife rants. We get it. Gods, we got it five books ago. Even the cross-eyed guy in the dark corner over there got it. The bad Longknifes (or is it BAD(tm) LongkniVes?). Those awful Longknifes. The Longknifes again. Honestly, skip these repetitions. We got it the first couple hundred times and its simply annoying nowadays. Instead of actually WRITING about what is awful, you keep saying it. And its annoying and boring. And totally not funny anymore. And annoying. And boring. And stupid. And annoying. See what I mean? Same with the anti-Longknife rants.
- The useless ruminations about being unable to take a trip home to Wardhaven. Sorry, but did I miss some unwritten law that heads of state don't travel? Oh, yeah, I get it. she is indispensable because she has to lead from the front, do all the research, plan all the battles, do all the planetfalls and sit on the weapon controls. AKA Micromanage everything because the author has to paint the picture of the super heroine. Skip that please or at least come up with some actual reason for her not to travel.
- The constant banter of the core crew might be funny if the characters get a more adult overworking. The way they are now I most of the time think I am reading about a bunch of teenagers.
- Names do not get translated, you translated Friedrich der Grosse to english. thats a no go so cut it out.
- Major gripe: the constant promotions. Powergaming at its best, again. It took several books to make her a captain in her own right and in one book she gets two promotions in the highest level in about as many weeks. Thats horrible style. Thats not character development, thats pushing and deus ex machina. You can do and did better than that. E.g. Capt.J.L.Picard of the Enterprise was a captain for decades and had more clout than this upstart chick. He never needed a promotion. why does Kris unless you write so badly that its the only way to continue your story.
Last but not least: Love eternal? And what is it with you and the constant sex scenes between Kris and Jack? Over ten books without C-Movie niveau sex and all of a sudden we have to listen to some teenager wet dream fantasies? If you have to include them, for gods sake, at least write some decent, mature scenes (mind you, DECENT, not x-rated).
That all said, this whole book is just an interlude, a filler. Nothing remarkable happens with the sole exception of the raider home planet which was totally inconclusive and more or less just a byplay. And why again did they have to kidnap mongrel neanderthals from its surface again?? Same reason they landed on Sasquan aka to fill some more pages with irrelevant chatter?
I am very happy for having been able to finish this book. It was boring, long-winded, construed, unlogical and absolutely not able to build any suspense. There wasnt a single piece of action where it was unclear that our heroes are wouldn't win.
I dont think I will be looking for the next installment, maybe when its on promo offer for a buck or when I have trouble getting to sleep.
Even to hardcore fans I give the advice to skip this one and wait for the next in which she will probably fight against the raiders full time. Spare yourself the waste of time called "A day in the life of an administrator" respectively Kris Longknife: Tenacious.
July 31, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
If you have stuck by the series this long (12 books in) then you know not to look too closely, challenge the science, or expect deep dialogue. The Kris Longknife series is bubble gum space opera that you just enjoy as mindless entertainment when you want to turn off your brain. I continue to use it as a nice diversion - it is especially great as an audiobook because you don't need to give it your full attention.With this book, we are full in the middle of the Alwa defense arc. Kris is continually promoted, has managed to create valuable logistics and manufacturing infrastructures, and the colonists/fleet are no longer starving. Best of all, beer is being produced again!
Story: Penny brought valuable information back: using the star charts found in ruined alien ships, her team found the homeworld of the aliens. Kris sets out on a mission of discovery - to find out more about the aliens and learn how to deal with them. What she finds is horrifying - and she will return to Alwa with that knowledge only to discover a stolen fleet by mutineers. In tracking them down, she will find yet another world of sentients - this time one paralleling 1950s America. She soon realizes she will have to make contact with them and warn them of the coming threat: there is a fleet of alien death ships poised in the next system over.
With this book, we get a bit of Lara Croft as Kris sets out to learn more about the aliens. Cue pyramids, traps, and tomb raiding. At the same time, her sociologists will interact with a strangely primitive set of people on the planet. After that, she will also have to deal with mutineers who steal several ships. The head of the mutiny will be an individual that Kris has already dealt with in the past.
Note: I listened to the audio version, narrated by Dina Pearlman. She does a fine job.
November 10, 2014
3.5 not currently rounded up
Hmmm. There's always problems with military characters - as they are promoted up the ranks their roles change and inevitably the action becomes less front and centre. That's only to be expected and is I think better handled by David Weber with Honor Harrington than is done here. Point one - Kris is now vicereine of the planet Alwa, the only rear admiral (and thus leader) of the combined military defence sector in that space, chief shareholder of the monopolous human enterprise currently operating in the locale. . . yet deems it suitable for herself to take an exploratory mission to reconnaissance a potentially hostile planetary base. .
So ignoring the antics enabling Kris to keep in the middle of things there was the exploratory mission itself. I'm not sure what we were getting at with Jacques anthropological shenanigans. In fact there was an oddly smirky sexual overtone throughout the book. I'm not sure if it arose because Kris and Jack are now married but it was odd - especially in it's vagueness. There was no outright mention of sex per se just a lot of innuendo and hint. It was out of character for the series. But back to Jacques. We've had the aliens' insularity and xenophobia hammered into us, including zero contact even between tribes. Yet on his first foray down a female attempts to initiate sex with him. Was there any point to this particular incident? I haven't the foggiest since it lead nowhere that I could tell. He and his wife had no argument so it wasn't to bring about a conflict there. I'm just bewildered.
Then there's the humanisation of the aliens, particularly the religious spiritual aspect. *rolls eyes* Of course! The aliens need to find God! Then they will be compassionate and stop destroying everything! Forgetting that part of it, the part of the aliens I found most disturbing and alien was the utter lack of comparative understanding and communication between humanity and them. With that gone they're just extremist zealot humans. Boring.
There were also a lot of "It would be", "Later she'd" and "She'd have more" type sentences all placed strategically at the end of chapters in a suggestive and knowing manner. It's good here and there but it was overdone and I felt oddly patronised and condescended to. Instead of thrilling me on after a bit I was left going "yeah, yeah" as I turned the page. And when the whole book ended like that I couldn't even be bothered getting interested or annoyed or anything. Which is a crying shame because when you check my reread reviews from earlier this year I gave the series near enough consistent 4-5 stars.
I feel quite disappointed by this book.
Hmmm. There's always problems with military characters - as they are promoted up the ranks their roles change and inevitably the action becomes less front and centre. That's only to be expected and is I think better handled by David Weber with Honor Harrington than is done here. Point one - Kris is now vicereine of the planet Alwa, the only rear admiral (and thus leader) of the combined military defence sector in that space, chief shareholder of the monopolous human enterprise currently operating in the locale. . . yet deems it suitable for herself to take an exploratory mission to reconnaissance a potentially hostile planetary base. .
So ignoring the antics enabling Kris to keep in the middle of things there was the exploratory mission itself. I'm not sure what we were getting at with Jacques anthropological shenanigans. In fact there was an oddly smirky sexual overtone throughout the book. I'm not sure if it arose because Kris and Jack are now married but it was odd - especially in it's vagueness. There was no outright mention of sex per se just a lot of innuendo and hint. It was out of character for the series. But back to Jacques. We've had the aliens' insularity and xenophobia hammered into us, including zero contact even between tribes. Yet on his first foray down a female attempts to initiate sex with him. Was there any point to this particular incident? I haven't the foggiest since it lead nowhere that I could tell. He and his wife had no argument so it wasn't to bring about a conflict there. I'm just bewildered.
Then there's the humanisation of the aliens, particularly the religious spiritual aspect. *rolls eyes* Of course! The aliens need to find God! Then they will be compassionate and stop destroying everything! Forgetting that part of it, the part of the aliens I found most disturbing and alien was the utter lack of comparative understanding and communication between humanity and them. With that gone they're just extremist zealot humans. Boring.
There were also a lot of "It would be", "Later she'd" and "She'd have more" type sentences all placed strategically at the end of chapters in a suggestive and knowing manner. It's good here and there but it was overdone and I felt oddly patronised and condescended to. Instead of thrilling me on after a bit I was left going "yeah, yeah" as I turned the page. And when the whole book ended like that I couldn't even be bothered getting interested or annoyed or anything. Which is a crying shame because when you check my reread reviews from earlier this year I gave the series near enough consistent 4-5 stars.
I feel quite disappointed by this book.
November 29, 2014
Another winner in the series the now vice-admiral and Viceroy and US (United Sentients) Representative And Her Highness Princess Kris Longknife is in charge of defending the Alwa colony and world from those disturbingly human looking aliens. All Kris wants to do is enjoy some belated honeymoon time with Jack but that is not to be when Penny comes back from her voyage of exploration looking for the alien home world. When Kris gets out there what they find sets off another seat of the pants adventure that kept me turning the pages from start to finish.
July 31, 2017
Book#12 in a series I read for the Endeavour Award. Basically military sf starring a young smart attractive Mary Sue. And yet the ideas around the big bad aliens are kind of interesting and different. And some of the technology choices are a bit different. Not a huge fan of the plot or the characters. The ideas themselves are a bit better whether it is the AIs or Smart Metal (and what you can do with it) or the all-body-combat-sock.
November 2, 2014
The monsters have learned new tricks and Kris Longknife must again take on their ships to defend others from their cruelty. This was another great book in the series and I can hardly wait to see what is thrown Kris way.
November 23, 2014
Not sure if this was not up to the standard of the rest of the series, or if the fact I read the rest of the series in quick succession made it seem better than it was. This installment just didn't engage me, although it was a quick easy read.
April 6, 2023
Having beaten back the alien attack on Alwah, Kris takes a small fleet to search for the home planet of the alien raiders. There they discover a large pyramid which holds trophies - 412 different planets the raiders have conquered and sterilized. They also find and capture some remnants of the aliens. Kris has always wanted to be able to talk with them, but they have chosen suicide over talk every time Kris has encountered them.
She brings her captured survivors back to Alwah only to arrive just as a ship is fleeing to get back to human space under the command of one of her bitter rivals. While chasing the ship, they discover a new race of beings and an outpost of the aliens.
Kris's small contingent of ships manages to defeat the aliens at the outpost but with heavy losses. Again they capture a small number of the aliens before they can commit suicide. Kris learns just how relentless the enemy is.
She decides to send a couple of ships back home carrying all they have learned about the aliens and a new discovery from Alwah which has great scientific potential, while she waits for the potential alien invasion.
This was entertaining space opera.
She brings her captured survivors back to Alwah only to arrive just as a ship is fleeing to get back to human space under the command of one of her bitter rivals. While chasing the ship, they discover a new race of beings and an outpost of the aliens.
Kris's small contingent of ships manages to defeat the aliens at the outpost but with heavy losses. Again they capture a small number of the aliens before they can commit suicide. Kris learns just how relentless the enemy is.
She decides to send a couple of ships back home carrying all they have learned about the aliens and a new discovery from Alwah which has great scientific potential, while she waits for the potential alien invasion.
This was entertaining space opera.
December 11, 2022
The action remains the same in this series, however the way the lead is addressed is becoming jarring. Although Kris is an admiral, her now husband addresses her in very familiar terms - and she returns it - even in professional settings. Her closest friends/advisors do the same, while she bemoans them not being professional enough. She thinks she needs to correct it, but then never does.
The author has also pulled a vague philosophical idea for the other's motivation to wipe out all living things, but never goes into detail about it. Maybe the next book?
And for the pedants: a new proofreader is needed - it's not plain of the planetary system, it's plane.
The author has also pulled a vague philosophical idea for the other's motivation to wipe out all living things, but never goes into detail about it. Maybe the next book?
And for the pedants: a new proofreader is needed - it's not plain of the planetary system, it's plane.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2017
These last two Kris Longknife books have been good, but the Alwa setting is getting old. One of the things I liked about this series was the constant movement of the MC and entourage finding new problems. The author does a good job not mimicking Star Trek in its many forms, while still moving the MC around the galaxy. I hope that we see more of Granny Rita in the next books. I am wondering if Rita will ever return home and straighten her husband King Ray out.
August 7, 2023
Kris is stationed on Alwa, set to defend it from the "bug-eyed aliens". Penny thinks she found their homeworld, and Kris goes to check it out. There's a lot about the Alwa society and they find another new alien society as well.
This was not the first time I read this one, but I don't know that it's one of the better ones.
This was not the first time I read this one, but I don't know that it's one of the better ones.
March 20, 2025
Another accurate title!
Kris is busier than ever, trying to upgrade the new additions to her small but growing fleet. Besides the Alwans she discovers new potential allies along with the new insights into the BEM enemies. They are also keeping quite busy with growing & harvesting whatever they can to feed their larger fleet.
Kris is busier than ever, trying to upgrade the new additions to her small but growing fleet. Besides the Alwans she discovers new potential allies along with the new insights into the BEM enemies. They are also keeping quite busy with growing & harvesting whatever they can to feed their larger fleet.
November 7, 2017
Lots of action again! This time Kris learns more about the alien attackers and finds another sentient species about the be erased by the aliens. There is also rather a bit about logistics, and he doesn't make it dull. After all, it's not just armies that move on their stomachs.
November 21, 2017
I actually hate this series now and I've come to personally hate the author. It's been a long time since I read the early books but god almighty these books have deteriorated to the point of being absolute garbage.
April 19, 2018
This continues the saga of that damn Longknife and it is full of twists and turns. For my friends that care, there is just enough sex in an otherwise good science fiction book for your tastes. I am ready for the next in the series.
January 25, 2019
Recent Reads: Kris Longknife Tenacious. Kris is on the trail of the alien berserkers, and their almost abandoned home world unveils secrets. That's not all. Humans are getting the hang of first contact, saving yet another race in Mike Shepherd's ongoing space opera.
April 20, 2019
The horror of war, learning more about your enemy while gaining new allies.
July 20, 2020
It is an arc book, with good and bad. The alien/ animal theme still going. A small battle and long conversation.
July 30, 2022
More background story in this and not quite as enthralling as previous volumes. Still it is part of an overall storyline and so is worth the pursuit to finish.
November 9, 2014
I have to excuse myself before starting this review. My reviews are normally fairly short and I have never pretended to be a professional reviewer but I finished this book shortly before attending the funeral of a close family member back in Sweden and now it has taken me a few days before I got around to write anything so my memory might not be the best nor my attention during my reading the last few days.
Anyway, I found this installment of the Kris Longknife series fairly enjoyable. Enough to place it slightly above average. To me this series have been a bit of a bumpy ride and the first one that got an above average rating was the previous installment in the series. I think the main reason I gave this one the rating I gave it is because it is really a nice space adventure as opposed to many of the previous books that took place down on planets and focused on petty politics between the main power blocks.
This one follows fairly straight on from the previous book. Kris won the first major engagement against the space raiders but more is to come and Kris has to build up their defenses…again. As the book blurb states, a mutiny complicates things for Kris and although the mutineers are promptly disposed of, their actions do indeed have some consequences.
Kris is still the Longknife we have come to know during what now amounts to 12 books and I at least like the character. She is now an admiral but that does not mean that she is not going out on various adventures in person although a number of her entourage does their best to dissuade her from taking risks.
There are quite a few revelations concerning the space raiders in this book and although I have to give credit to the author for cooking together a depiction of aliens that was somewhat new and original, at least for me, I felt it was a bit over the top at times. The fanaticism of these guys makes the Taliban or Al Qaida look like quite moderate and reasonable political factions!
The space raiders and the aliens on Alwa are not the only aliens though. The book manages to throw in a first contact situation into the story as well. First contact for the aliens of course. I quite liked this alien race. I hope there will be more involvement from them in future books.
On the whole it was an enjoyable read though. Obviously the main story arc is far from finished so I certainly hope that the author plans to write more books in the series.
Anyway, I found this installment of the Kris Longknife series fairly enjoyable. Enough to place it slightly above average. To me this series have been a bit of a bumpy ride and the first one that got an above average rating was the previous installment in the series. I think the main reason I gave this one the rating I gave it is because it is really a nice space adventure as opposed to many of the previous books that took place down on planets and focused on petty politics between the main power blocks.
This one follows fairly straight on from the previous book. Kris won the first major engagement against the space raiders but more is to come and Kris has to build up their defenses…again. As the book blurb states, a mutiny complicates things for Kris and although the mutineers are promptly disposed of, their actions do indeed have some consequences.
Kris is still the Longknife we have come to know during what now amounts to 12 books and I at least like the character. She is now an admiral but that does not mean that she is not going out on various adventures in person although a number of her entourage does their best to dissuade her from taking risks.
There are quite a few revelations concerning the space raiders in this book and although I have to give credit to the author for cooking together a depiction of aliens that was somewhat new and original, at least for me, I felt it was a bit over the top at times. The fanaticism of these guys makes the Taliban or Al Qaida look like quite moderate and reasonable political factions!
The space raiders and the aliens on Alwa are not the only aliens though. The book manages to throw in a first contact situation into the story as well. First contact for the aliens of course. I quite liked this alien race. I hope there will be more involvement from them in future books.
On the whole it was an enjoyable read though. Obviously the main story arc is far from finished so I certainly hope that the author plans to write more books in the series.
May 3, 2016
This is the 12th book in the Kris Longknife series by Mike Shepherd. In this one Kris is on her honeymoon but it is cut short when word comes that the hostile aliens home world may have been found. Kris and her crew set out to explore this planet and try to find as much information on the hostile aliens as possible. On the way they find a completely destroyed planet with clues leading to the hostile aliens home world. Upon arrival at the hostile aliens home world they find a house of horrors in the shape of a huge pyramid. They also find several tribes of primitive aliens who have been abandoned there by the hostile aliens. They try to make contact with these tribes and after a disastrous first try they recruit a small group to come to their ship and return to Alwa with them. Upon return to Alwa they find that a group of mutineers are escaping in a stolen space ship. Kris and her crew give chase and finally capture them in a star system where they also find a planet with a race of intelligent feline's. They also find that the hostile aliens are verged to attack and destroy the feline's planet. Kris uses her ships to destroy the hostile aliens, but at great cost to her crews and ships. After making contact with the feline's, two of them return to Alwa with her. This book is action packed and a great read. I recommend to all fans of Military Science Fiction/Space Opera and fans of Mike Shepherd/Mike Moscoe.
February 27, 2023
4 stars.
Feb 2023 - re-listened. Dina Pearlman has been really good as the narrator of this series.
__________
May 2021
Kris takes a trip after Penny believes she has discovered the suicidal aliens' mother planet in the previous book Defender. We have some anthropological investigation conducted by one of the secondary characters that I found quite weird . They discovered something on that planet that's quite horrific but was again just in time to save another planet with sentient "cat" people from being annihilated.
There's another space battle and Kris learned that those crazy aliens are getting more clever and learning from their previous mistakes but they also managed to capture a few live ones this time around.
There are a few dangling threads at the end of the book with some new plant discovery, the arrival of more ships from Earth, the alliance with the new sentients and the threat of more crazy alien ships coming their way. So I guess we're going to see more space battles with those monster aliens coming up in the next book.
Feb 2023 - re-listened. Dina Pearlman has been really good as the narrator of this series.
__________
May 2021
Kris takes a trip after Penny believes she has discovered the suicidal aliens' mother planet in the previous book Defender. We have some anthropological investigation conducted by one of the secondary characters that I found quite weird . They discovered something on that planet that's quite horrific but was again just in time to save another planet with sentient "cat" people from being annihilated.
There's another space battle and Kris learned that those crazy aliens are getting more clever and learning from their previous mistakes but they also managed to capture a few live ones this time around.
There are a few dangling threads at the end of the book with some new plant discovery, the arrival of more ships from Earth, the alliance with the new sentients and the threat of more crazy alien ships coming their way. So I guess we're going to see more space battles with those monster aliens coming up in the next book.
November 6, 2014
Once again Shepherd has put Kris in more than one dangerous situation. You would think this would get old but each time there is a new twist and Kris and crew have to find a way to keep everyone alive and ready for the next challenge.
I love the characters in the Longknife series. Nelly the computer keeps everyone in line even as she develops a more human personality. Kris and Jack are very much newlyweds. Their sex life is portrayed the old fashion way. You know it is going to happen and then you know it has happened but you don’t have to witness the event. Thank you Mike Shepherd. There is a new alien race and this is one I really love. They are descended from felines and women rule the world. For cat lovers like me they are a big hit.
Some things are solved; some things are still hanging so there will be more of Kris and her crew. According to the note at the end of the book Kris Longknife: Relentless is already being written.
I love the characters in the Longknife series. Nelly the computer keeps everyone in line even as she develops a more human personality. Kris and Jack are very much newlyweds. Their sex life is portrayed the old fashion way. You know it is going to happen and then you know it has happened but you don’t have to witness the event. Thank you Mike Shepherd. There is a new alien race and this is one I really love. They are descended from felines and women rule the world. For cat lovers like me they are a big hit.
Some things are solved; some things are still hanging so there will be more of Kris and her crew. According to the note at the end of the book Kris Longknife: Relentless is already being written.
July 8, 2015
I do enjoy this series. It's nothing terribly unique, but it combines a lot of plot points and concepts of technology in a fairly interesting way. I'm enjoying the evolution of the ships, especially. The concept does read like it's StarGates Replicators early years, especially when you toss Nelly into the mix, though.
But why on earth did you have to introduce this moronic
But why on earth did you have to introduce this moronic
January 17, 2016
Mike Shepherd's "Kris Longknife" series, is some of the best military sci-fi out there. He's right up there with Elizabeth Moon, and Jack Campbell, when it comes to this genre. "Tenacious" is the 12th volume in the series, which is so good, that it has spun off a couple of other series, which I hope continue for a long while. In this volume, Kris is still searching for a way to reach the human-like aliens, who she's had to fight several times, that refuse to talk to her, and destroy themselves, rather than be captured. Oh, and she discovers yet another alien civilization(of cat-like people), that she has to save from the human-like aliens, who are also bent on wiping out, and destroying the planets, of anyone who isn't them. Written well, at a frenetic pace, "Tenacious" fits in well with all prior volumes in this series.
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