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The Helmsman #3
THE TROPHY
The Trophy was, is, and always has been, a futuristic, Military-Science-Fiction novel about intra-galactic competition and conflict. Originally published in 1990, it is third in a series of seven novels about the adventures of StarSailor and expert Helmsman Wilf Brim during an epoch of discord and outright war among various star-nations—within a galaxy that could be a far-future version of the one in which we live.
This special, “Director’s Cut” Edition is heavily re-written, a la George Lucas’ rewrite of the Star Wars Trilogy, to bring it more in line with later novels in the series, as well as the first two “Director’s Cut” Editions of The Helmsman and Galactic Convoy. This edition also answers a question from thousands of readers: “What happened to Anna Romanoff,” a love-interest character in the novel who, previously, never quite made it to the next in the series
The novel begins just as Brim—once a fast-rising First Lieutenant in the Imperial Fleet—has been thrown out the service during a post-war reduction in force (RIF), along with thousands of other warriors by a Imperial Government that all-too-easily forgets how much it relied on them only a short time previously.
The change devastates Brim; like so many other young men, from humble beginnings, he bases much of his self-worth on his success in his occupation. For a short while, he hangs on piloting worn-out third-rate spaceliners, but when that operation fails, Brim has nowhere to turn. As a last resort, he works passage to on one of the grand liners as a baggage-handler to the City of Atalanta on the planet Hador-Haelic where, eventually, old friends involve him in the great Mitchell Trophy astroplane races, and he ends up piloting for the Imperial Starflight Society.
Anyone familiar with the history of air racing will instantly recognize The Trophy as my personal tribute to one of the grand fascinations of my life: the Schneider Trophy Races that began in 1913 with fragile Bleriot biplane racers on floats and ended in 1931 with Reginald Mitchell's early masterpiece, the Supermarine S.6B, that retired the trophy for all time. In addition, its twelve-cylinder engine was the prototype for the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Griffin engines that years later powered Mitchell's superb Spitfire, the U.S. Mustang, the British Lancaster bomber, and most of the unlimited Gold Cup hydroplane racers of the late 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, and the early 1970s.
ON THE "DIRECTOR'S CUT" VERSION: Turned out that Trophy was a pivotal book in the Helmsman Saga, because in the original version, the prototype Starfury was a destroyer-sized starship, but by the time The Defenders came along, it had shrunk to something a fraction of its original size--and made the intervening Mercenaries extra difficult to bring into line with the later books.. It took a lot of rewriting.
This special, “Director’s Cut” Edition is heavily re-written, a la George Lucas’ rewrite of the Star Wars Trilogy, to bring it more in line with later novels in the series, as well as the first two “Director’s Cut” Editions of The Helmsman and Galactic Convoy. This edition also answers a question from thousands of readers: “What happened to Anna Romanoff,” a love-interest character in the novel who, previously, never quite made it to the next in the series
The novel begins just as Brim—once a fast-rising First Lieutenant in the Imperial Fleet—has been thrown out the service during a post-war reduction in force (RIF), along with thousands of other warriors by a Imperial Government that all-too-easily forgets how much it relied on them only a short time previously.
The change devastates Brim; like so many other young men, from humble beginnings, he bases much of his self-worth on his success in his occupation. For a short while, he hangs on piloting worn-out third-rate spaceliners, but when that operation fails, Brim has nowhere to turn. As a last resort, he works passage to on one of the grand liners as a baggage-handler to the City of Atalanta on the planet Hador-Haelic where, eventually, old friends involve him in the great Mitchell Trophy astroplane races, and he ends up piloting for the Imperial Starflight Society.
Anyone familiar with the history of air racing will instantly recognize The Trophy as my personal tribute to one of the grand fascinations of my life: the Schneider Trophy Races that began in 1913 with fragile Bleriot biplane racers on floats and ended in 1931 with Reginald Mitchell's early masterpiece, the Supermarine S.6B, that retired the trophy for all time. In addition, its twelve-cylinder engine was the prototype for the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Griffin engines that years later powered Mitchell's superb Spitfire, the U.S. Mustang, the British Lancaster bomber, and most of the unlimited Gold Cup hydroplane racers of the late 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, and the early 1970s.
ON THE "DIRECTOR'S CUT" VERSION: Turned out that Trophy was a pivotal book in the Helmsman Saga, because in the original version, the prototype Starfury was a destroyer-sized starship, but by the time The Defenders came along, it had shrunk to something a fraction of its original size--and made the intervening Mercenaries extra difficult to bring into line with the later books.. It took a lot of rewriting.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
13 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 18, 2017
I am finding this series of space opera science fiction to be addictive. The war is over and the Emperor has been exiled. But is this to be reality or akin to the Peace of Amiens between Britsin and France in 1802
August 7, 2017
This was always my favorite book of the series. It is obviously modeled after the period of time between WWI and WWII when everyone could see another war coming but so many were in denial.
Some good description of aerial racing, but not much space combat in this book. A lot of character development as Wilf learns some hard lessons, and matures. Wilf also learns what a true friend is, as compared to the fair weather friends.
One of the saddest books too because Wilf writes off Margot as a drug-addicted loss from his life. Meets Anna and falls head over heels for her. The original paperback from the early '90s because of ham fisted editing, just dropped Anna from the book.
The expanded reprint from 2004 offers some explanation as to Anna's disappearance where this book details it exactly. I just cannot believe someone could have such bad luck with women.
I always thought Margot might have been modeled after Princess Diana, and several other tragic princesses who sacrificed everything and had the worse happen to them.
Some good description of aerial racing, but not much space combat in this book. A lot of character development as Wilf learns some hard lessons, and matures. Wilf also learns what a true friend is, as compared to the fair weather friends.
One of the saddest books too because Wilf writes off Margot as a drug-addicted loss from his life. Meets Anna and falls head over heels for her. The original paperback from the early '90s because of ham fisted editing, just dropped Anna from the book.
The expanded reprint from 2004 offers some explanation as to Anna's disappearance where this book details it exactly. I just cannot believe someone could have such bad luck with women.
I always thought Margot might have been modeled after Princess Diana, and several other tragic princesses who sacrificed everything and had the worse happen to them.
July 2, 2020
Magnificent and Engaging Story
This 3rd novel in the helmsman series was truly a pleasure to read. Set in an uneasy period of peace, very reminiscent of the 1920s, with a touch of Napoleonic history thrown in, the book follows Wilf Brim as he goes through failures, triumphs, and challenges. Of course new loves occur as well. But the intrigue, the interaction between old enemy's and new villains, as well as the races themselves, is what really sets this book apart. It's hard to put it down. I highly recommend it.
This 3rd novel in the helmsman series was truly a pleasure to read. Set in an uneasy period of peace, very reminiscent of the 1920s, with a touch of Napoleonic history thrown in, the book follows Wilf Brim as he goes through failures, triumphs, and challenges. Of course new loves occur as well. But the intrigue, the interaction between old enemy's and new villains, as well as the races themselves, is what really sets this book apart. It's hard to put it down. I highly recommend it.
September 11, 2024
Niektoré typy zbabelcov, politikov a riťolezcov sa nájdu v každej dobe, v každom vesmíre. Akurát nie vždy máme proti nim vhodnú obranu. Séria si neustále drží svoj level príčetnosti a pútavosti.
February 5, 2016
Cheese, Gromit! CHEEEEESE!
April 7, 2018
Well, I quite like this book. But again, I also like greasy potatoes in a thick gravy. Point is... this could be a great movie. On par of a classic Star Wars trilogy, I think.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews