The Space Mavericks

The Space Mavericks #1

by Michael Kring

Renegade space pilots risk their lives to stay one orbit ahead of the interplanetary police!

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

192 pages

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Elentarri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

This is a slim, simple, but fun, action packed science fiction novel told from the perspective of freighter pilot, Fripp Enos. Together with his business partner, Kohn, they travel through interstellar space hauling cargo between inhabited planets. On the latest haul Enos manages to rescue a teenager and ends up being pursued by the interplanetary police across space, to a deserted forest planet with strange ruins, and on to home planet of the rescued teenager. Mayhem ensues. The most interesting thing about this novel is the depiction of warp and flying through space that is different from anything I have encountered before. The novel also introduces a mystery about a lost civilization and a ring found in the ruins. Unfortunately, this mystery is something that seems to be explored in the remainder of this trilogy, of which the author only published two novels. The prose may be a bit clunky in places, but on the whole this is a jaunty story that provided an lovely afternoon's entertainment.

[Jules Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in an early 1980s space opera series which was never completed. Trading ships are divided into those belonging to the big conglomerates, and independents known as mavericks, with no love lost between the two groups. Enough mavericks have been beaten or even killed that maverick pilot Fripp Enos has had himself modified -- an alien medical procedure that enhances the body's natural defences in some startling ways. Few people had the procedure done even before it was outlawed, so Fripp can usually win a fight against even an armed opponent. Which is useful, because even though Fripp doesn't look for trouble, trouble inevitably finds him.[return][return]Fripp rescues a teenage girl from a gang, and takes her to the police, only to find himself caught up in a government-sponsored kidnap plot. He and his partner rescue the girl again, and in the course of escaping and getting her back to her father, Fripp encounters a set of ancient ruins with active alien technology -- including a ring with strange powers. The novel wraps up the action-adventure plot involving the girl, but sets Fripp and Kohn on a course of trying to find out more about the source of the ring.[return][return]It's written in very purple prose, and it supplied more than its fair share of dubious gems for Thog's Masterclass in Ansible. It's also enormous fun, and not just in a "fun to poke holes in" way. The modification technology is well thought through with a believable downside to balance the advantages it gives Fripp, the book has an interesting take on the "ancient alien technology" theme, and it has my all time favourite description of hyperspace travel, with the concept of touching Spheres (actually of different shapes, not just spheres) which can only safely be crossed from one to another at the contact points, but where the foolhardy or desperate can slip along the interface to enter a new Sphere where they choose. And rather than being just the FTL needed to make interstellar travel feasible, the properties of Warp have a direct bearing on the plot. A happy teenage memory that's still fun to read, even if I recognise its flaws.

[Buzz Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a teenager

['peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read Space Mavericks book 1 and 2 ten or 15 times each over the years, first time was when i was 18, and before you ask i have read many many other books rangeing from almost all the Larry Niven, Asimov and many other well known Authors.
i think Michael Kring is one of the best science fiction writers of all time, as good as Larry Niven and thats saying somthing, some times think they may be one of the same person seeing the Author Michael Kring only ever released two books then no more word of him.
I found the flow was very much the same, only key difference between them is there was now sex in the Space Mavericks books, and did anyone notice how much the space police behaved like ARM from Larry Niven and other bullying police in other Larry Niven books ?
well anyway LOVED the books, wish book 3 would come out, and even if it wasn't done by Larry Niven i think he would be the next best person to write book 3.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've literally lost count of the number of times i have read this book, i love the story so much. Still not been able to get hold of the sequel yet though :(

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was quite young. It was a great book. I like the mystery of the main character and his implanted abilites to transform himself with bio adaptations. Sequal was :Children of the Night. Was disappointed that the author never published again. The story was left hanging.

['peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read Space Mavericks book 1 and 2 ten or 15 times each over the years, first time was when i was 18, and before you ask i have read many many other books rangeing from almost all the Larry Niven, Asimov and many other well known Authors.
i think Michael Kring is one of the best science fiction writers of all time, as good as Larry Niven and thats saying somthing, some times think they may be one of the same person seeing the Author Michael Kring only ever released two books then no more word of him.
I found the flow was very much the same, only key difference between them is there was now sex in the Space Mavericks books, and did anyone notice how much the space police behaved like ARM from Larry Niven and other bullying police in other Larry Niven books ?
well anyway LOVED the books, wish book 3 would come out, and even if it wasn't done by Larry Niven i think he would be the next best person to write book 3.

[Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a teenager and loved it! It certainly wasn't the best written (or best edited) SF book I have read but was a great book. I enjoyed it so much I set out to find the prequel (Children Of The Night) and spent years looking for a sequel only to find one was never written. Maybe some SF writer with time to spare can finish the trilogy. :D

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic a paperback I probably paid less than a $1 for in high school and just now getting pushed out of the den. It read easily and I loved the way the author handled the concept of Warp and a few people enhanced with special capabilities by one of the other raced "modified".

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun space romp

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, one of the first SciFi books I ever read.

[Craig Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly underrated book in my opinion.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

I'm finally going through my physical library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)


First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Nathan Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my secret shame.

Of the thousands and thousands of books I have read in my life, Space Mavericks by Michael Kring is hands down my number one favourite book of all time.

It is ridiculous and ludicrous and problematic (although the sole female character is actually strong and unwilling to put up with crap from anyone), but it is 100% of its short running time complete story.

And what a story. Two young spacers pick up scrap contracts discarded by the all-poweful Union. One is out seeing sights on an unfamiliar planet when he intervenes in an attempted kidnapping, revealing he is a genetically modified killing machine. He ruthlessly dispatches a small group of idiots and they flee for space, pursued from galaxy to galaxy by corrupt police.

It’s fantastic. So, so good.

I found a copy on my cousins floor when I was 11. I’ve read it at least twice a year since then. I do so with an amount of furtiveness and shame.

My greatest fear in my life is that I somehow become famous enough to be asked what my favourite book is. :/

[S. Naomi Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

A fun sci-fi romp that feels more like a role-playing session than an actual novel. I'm not going to lie, I remember thinking this one was a lot better when I first read it back in the eighties. That isn't to say it's a bad book, but it's not what I'd call a classic either. Still, it does read easily and raised more than a few smiles as it was being devoured.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars this was a super quick, fun, intriguing read. My edition holds the most typos I’ve ever encountered in a book before, but they added a certain je n sais quoi a certain charm let’s say. This could have been a normal good space opera, but the lost civilisation/magik ring element was really cool, I’ve bought book 2.

[Wade]

Loved this book as a kid. Playing a role playing game recently, the GM told me that my futuristic character could have any body modifications that I wanted. It was then that I remembered this book. My character is basically Fripp.

[Neil Patchett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in my teens in a charity shop, fully expecting to take it back after I had read it. I still have it (and the second one) all these years and dozens of reads later. Does anyone know what happened? It's like Stargate: Universe; I wanna know what happens!

[allanjdoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oldie but still good.

Started my love of reading many years ago.
Looking for the next two in the series to continue my nostalgia trip.

[Pandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really - nonsense Sci-fi at its best. Just enjoy and don't think about it too much!
This is very reminiscent of Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Space Mavericks by Michael Kring is classic 80s Space Opera. Although a bit dated it was a fast fun read. A romp through with two likable characters.

[Natasha Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun adventure, with likeable characters and an intriguing mystery.

The world they live in feels like something we are familiar with, and anything that needs explaining is done through the storytelling. Definitely worth reading

[Will · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had this book for years before I finally managed to get through all of it. Not sure why I still have it.