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The Space Mavericks #2
Children of the Night
A SUBTERRANIAN RACE, A POWERFUL DICTATORSHIP, AN ANCIENT SPACE SHIP EMBALMED IN COAL
All these and more await space mavericks Fripp Enos and Kohn Tarkosz on the planet Vespers as they continue their search for the source of Fripp's magic ring.
Drawn against their will into the rebellion of the Children of the Night against the forces of the tyrant Haics, Fripp and Kohn realize that even the ring's mighty powers might not be able to save them, as they battle for their very lives!
All these and more await space mavericks Fripp Enos and Kohn Tarkosz on the planet Vespers as they continue their search for the source of Fripp's magic ring.
Drawn against their will into the rebellion of the Children of the Night against the forces of the tyrant Haics, Fripp and Kohn realize that even the ring's mighty powers might not be able to save them, as they battle for their very lives!
- GenresScience Fiction
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 8, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars
This is the continuation of the science fiction story begun in Space Mavericks. Fripp Enos and Kohn Tarkosz arrive in the Vespers system with the intention of obtaining permission to visit one of the planets in that system. Due to foreseen circumstances (beating up the local police force is bound to land one in trouble), Fripp and Kohn become embroiled in a power play between the current dictator and an artificially modified oppressed subterranean people. There is also an ancient space-ship embedded deep underground in the coal... which opens on contact with Fripp's mysterious ring found off-planet in the previous installment. This is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed romp. It's unfortunate that Kring never finished the trilogy. I would have loved to find out how the story ends.
This is the continuation of the science fiction story begun in Space Mavericks. Fripp Enos and Kohn Tarkosz arrive in the Vespers system with the intention of obtaining permission to visit one of the planets in that system. Due to foreseen circumstances (beating up the local police force is bound to land one in trouble), Fripp and Kohn become embroiled in a power play between the current dictator and an artificially modified oppressed subterranean people. There is also an ancient space-ship embedded deep underground in the coal... which opens on contact with Fripp's mysterious ring found off-planet in the previous installment. This is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed romp. It's unfortunate that Kring never finished the trilogy. I would have loved to find out how the story ends.
April 15, 2016
Although this book is the second in an unfinished series, I actually read it first after coming across it in a charity shop back in the 80s.
What can I say? It has the feel of a self-published (or at least tiny publishing house) release. The storyline isn't particularly unique, the copy-editing is poor, some of the narrative is amongst the worst I have ever come across in this genre and it has the feel of someone who played way-to-many RPG games in his youth, trying to recreate his famous D20, 'Traveller' adventures in novel form.
THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT WORK!
But it does.
Children of the Night, like it's prequel, The Space Mavericks (which I only came across many years later), has something. After dozens of rereads, I still cannot pinpoint just what it is that has me returning to it. It's cheesy, hammy and many other pizza toppings rolled into one, but I love it. As a gangly youth, I ate it up, and as a portly 40-something, I still hold it in my hand with a strangely deep affection.
Was it the fact that I hunted for many years to see what happened earlier in the series? Was it because that it was only with the advent of the Internet, that I discovered that the author never completed the series and left us hanging. Or was it because this ludicrous space-yarn combined fun elements of films like Star Wars, my own table-top adventures and endless hours playing Elite into the early hours on my Atari ST?
I will probably never know, but this book has become a real gem in my collection of 'Books that make me feel warm and fuzzy'.
What can I say? It has the feel of a self-published (or at least tiny publishing house) release. The storyline isn't particularly unique, the copy-editing is poor, some of the narrative is amongst the worst I have ever come across in this genre and it has the feel of someone who played way-to-many RPG games in his youth, trying to recreate his famous D20, 'Traveller' adventures in novel form.
THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT WORK!
But it does.
Children of the Night, like it's prequel, The Space Mavericks (which I only came across many years later), has something. After dozens of rereads, I still cannot pinpoint just what it is that has me returning to it. It's cheesy, hammy and many other pizza toppings rolled into one, but I love it. As a gangly youth, I ate it up, and as a portly 40-something, I still hold it in my hand with a strangely deep affection.
Was it the fact that I hunted for many years to see what happened earlier in the series? Was it because that it was only with the advent of the Internet, that I discovered that the author never completed the series and left us hanging. Or was it because this ludicrous space-yarn combined fun elements of films like Star Wars, my own table-top adventures and endless hours playing Elite into the early hours on my Atari ST?
I will probably never know, but this book has become a real gem in my collection of 'Books that make me feel warm and fuzzy'.
April 5, 2013
I loved these books as a teen
February 21, 2020
There is no book 3??
From my youth to now... I've loved these books, rollicking action sci-fi!
From my youth to now... I've loved these books, rollicking action sci-fi!
October 16, 2013
A childhood favourite! Read it about 10 times.
April 29, 2020
So bad, it's great!
This (unfinished) series has become an underground cult book. The grammar is all over the place, the metaphor is sometimes ludicrous, but behind all that is a fairly decent space-opera that includes space-trading, an augmented human and a lost, ancient civilisation.
Just accept the prose, and sit back and enjoy the fun and frantic story.
This (unfinished) series has become an underground cult book. The grammar is all over the place, the metaphor is sometimes ludicrous, but behind all that is a fairly decent space-opera that includes space-trading, an augmented human and a lost, ancient civilisation.
Just accept the prose, and sit back and enjoy the fun and frantic story.
June 4, 2012
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.
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.
April 29, 2023
Had high hopes for this one, enjoyed The Space Mavericks #1, as my favourite book ever (believe it or not, and you are right to judge me for it lol) This sequel had a couple of high points, I liked the idea of the ship buried in the coal seam, but overall it was pretty damn dull. The best bit is sniggering at the unfortunately depicted thumb in the cover art. Go on, have a look at it. LOOK AT IT!
January 31, 2025
Not quite as fast paced as the first book, but advances the story well. You get a bit more tantalising information for the ancient race that built the ring, but it seems the major reveal would have been in the third book, which has sadly never been written.
Despite that, it is still worth reading this book and the one before, as they are fun stories
Despite that, it is still worth reading this book and the one before, as they are fun stories
May 23, 2019
Although this book is the second in an unfinished series, I actually read it first after coming across it in a charity shop back in the 80s.
What can I say? It has the feel of a self-published (or at least tiny publishing house) release. The storyline isn't particularly unique, the copy-editing is poor, some of the narrative is amongst the worst I have ever come across in this genre and it has the feel of someone who played way-to-many RPG games in his youth, trying to recreate his famous D20, 'Traveller' adventures in novel form.
THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT WORK!
But it does.
Children of the Night, like it's prequel, The Space Mavericks (which I only came across many years later), has something. After dozens of rereads, I still cannot pinpoint just what it is that has me returning to it. It's cheesy, hammy and many other pizza toppings rolled into one, but I love it. As a gangly youth, I ate it up, and as a portly 40-something, I still hold it in my hand with a strangely deep affection.
Was it the fact that I hunted for many years to see what happened earlier in the series? Was it because that it was only with the advent of the Internet, that I discovered that the author never completed the series and left us hanging. Or was it because this ludicrous space-yarn combined fun elements of films like Star Wars, my own table-top adventures and endless hours playing Elite into the early hours on my Atari ST?
I will probably never know, but this book has become a real gem in my collection of 'Books that make me feel warm and fuzzy'.
What can I say? It has the feel of a self-published (or at least tiny publishing house) release. The storyline isn't particularly unique, the copy-editing is poor, some of the narrative is amongst the worst I have ever come across in this genre and it has the feel of someone who played way-to-many RPG games in his youth, trying to recreate his famous D20, 'Traveller' adventures in novel form.
THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT WORK!
But it does.
Children of the Night, like it's prequel, The Space Mavericks (which I only came across many years later), has something. After dozens of rereads, I still cannot pinpoint just what it is that has me returning to it. It's cheesy, hammy and many other pizza toppings rolled into one, but I love it. As a gangly youth, I ate it up, and as a portly 40-something, I still hold it in my hand with a strangely deep affection.
Was it the fact that I hunted for many years to see what happened earlier in the series? Was it because that it was only with the advent of the Internet, that I discovered that the author never completed the series and left us hanging. Or was it because this ludicrous space-yarn combined fun elements of films like Star Wars, my own table-top adventures and endless hours playing Elite into the early hours on my Atari ST?
I will probably never know, but this book has become a real gem in my collection of 'Books that make me feel warm and fuzzy'.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews