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Star Risk #1
Star Risk Ltd.
A mercenary outfit struggling for recognition, Star Risk contains a ragtag bunch of misfits, including an alien willing to invest his life savings into the company. Now if only they can succeed with their first mission: to spring a dangerous supersoldier trapped in a maximum-security prison.
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
26 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Chris Bunch
86 books129 followersChristopher R. "Chris" Bunch was an American science fiction, fantasy and television writer, who wrote and co-wrote about thirty novels.
Born in Fresno, California, he collaborated with Allan Cole on a series of books involving a hero named Sten in a galactic empire. (Cole married Bunch's sister, Kathryn.) He served in Vietnam as a patrol leader. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes. He died in his hometown of Ilwaco, Washington, after a long battle with a lung ailment.
Born in Fresno, California, he collaborated with Allan Cole on a series of books involving a hero named Sten in a galactic empire. (Cole married Bunch's sister, Kathryn.) He served in Vietnam as a patrol leader. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes. He died in his hometown of Ilwaco, Washington, after a long battle with a lung ailment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 14, 2012
A good example of military SF typical of the United States, Star Risk Ltd. concerns a bunch of retired military spooks who grow tired of trying to survive on freelance work and form a mercenary company. Many critics of the military SF sub-genre complain that it is so quintessentially "American:" while celebrating the military, the story is really about people overcoming obstacles in business through violence. UK readers and authors often chafe at this sub-genre because the violence is "cartoonish" and incidental - characters are introduced only to be shot, to which you can easily contrast celebrated British authors like Banks, whose violence is always very personal and twisted. Several others here have likened the book to the "A-Team," which is useless to people like me who've never seen the TV show. Aside from the warfare, Bunch's style here reads a good deal like Asimov, so I was a little surprised to see that this book was published so recently - it really feels like 60s or 70s science fiction.
The beautiful ex-Marine M'Chel Riss is hired from a disappointing series of muscle jobs by handsome ex-Marine (and swindler) Frederich von Baldur, to form Star Risk Ltd. They are joined by fantastically beautiful and smart Jasmine King, ex-intelligence officer from a competing mercenary outfit. She convinces the giant and pugnacious equipment expert, the alien Grok, to invest some money in the company and join them. Jasmine finds their first prospective employer, a mining company that's been hit hard by pirates, and they concoct a complicated plan to work their way into the favor of a company executive in order to ensure that they get the contract, rather than the competition. The plan involves springing the executive's brother, the handsome and cybernetically gifted ex-Black Ops spook Chas Goodnight, from death row. They do this, get the contract, and convince Chas to join their team, and with the stipend the mining company provides them, they purchase a fleet of ships and hire the bookish, tea-drinking ace pilot Redon Spada to be their admiral. He hired scads of pilots to man the fleet, and the rest of the book involves this group investigating the mystery of the attacks on the miners. There's a lot of ship-to-ship space and aerial combat, as well as a lot of small unit tactical combat with M'Chel and Chas on the ground.
It's a fun read and a cute mystery story, though the prose does seem fairly antiquated and stilted at times.
The beautiful ex-Marine M'Chel Riss is hired from a disappointing series of muscle jobs by handsome ex-Marine (and swindler) Frederich von Baldur, to form Star Risk Ltd. They are joined by fantastically beautiful and smart Jasmine King, ex-intelligence officer from a competing mercenary outfit. She convinces the giant and pugnacious equipment expert, the alien Grok, to invest some money in the company and join them. Jasmine finds their first prospective employer, a mining company that's been hit hard by pirates, and they concoct a complicated plan to work their way into the favor of a company executive in order to ensure that they get the contract, rather than the competition. The plan involves springing the executive's brother, the handsome and cybernetically gifted ex-Black Ops spook Chas Goodnight, from death row. They do this, get the contract, and convince Chas to join their team, and with the stipend the mining company provides them, they purchase a fleet of ships and hire the bookish, tea-drinking ace pilot Redon Spada to be their admiral. He hired scads of pilots to man the fleet, and the rest of the book involves this group investigating the mystery of the attacks on the miners. There's a lot of ship-to-ship space and aerial combat, as well as a lot of small unit tactical combat with M'Chel and Chas on the ground.
It's a fun read and a cute mystery story, though the prose does seem fairly antiquated and stilted at times.
September 11, 2023
STAR RISK LTD is a fantastic sci-fi adventure about a crew of mercenaries that is about as oddball as you can get. They include a master thief, a possible android, a beautiful spy, and a guy who claims to be an admiral but most certainly is not. They even have an alien member who is richer than Croesus. It's a fun story and entertaining from beginning to end with very lovable characters. A lot of A-Team energy but more XX chromosomes among the cast. Highly recommended.
May 23, 2024
Bunch, Chris. Star Risk, Ltd. Star risk No. 1. Roc, 2002.
I liked the beginning of this tale of a band of merry mercenaries—think the A-Team on an Interstellar scale. We have a couple of ex-marines, an alien with some special skills, an aging conman with a gift of gab, and a woman who so excelled at her job as a data analyst and looked so perfect that her previous employer fired her because they thought she might be a robot. That is an issue that is never resolved. I could not help but be reminded of Jeri Ryan as Star Trek Voyager’s Seven of Nine. The banter as the team gets to know one another is lively and funny. Then, sadly, the plot starts, and the novel quickly devolves into a standard military caper story. I will give the rest of the series a pass.
I liked the beginning of this tale of a band of merry mercenaries—think the A-Team on an Interstellar scale. We have a couple of ex-marines, an alien with some special skills, an aging conman with a gift of gab, and a woman who so excelled at her job as a data analyst and looked so perfect that her previous employer fired her because they thought she might be a robot. That is an issue that is never resolved. I could not help but be reminded of Jeri Ryan as Star Trek Voyager’s Seven of Nine. The banter as the team gets to know one another is lively and funny. Then, sadly, the plot starts, and the novel quickly devolves into a standard military caper story. I will give the rest of the series a pass.
May 8, 2020
По-наглите обикновено печелят: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/z...
”Звезден риск” е предприятие с непредвидим изход от самото начало. За щастие, след един не твърде легален щурм на затвор те спасяват кожата на ловък крадец, който пък има брат на висок пост във фирма, която разработва едно астериодно поле. А точно те имат много голяма нужда от сериозна охрана, защото някой систематично тормози техните миньори и застрашава дейността им. Нашите хора се изсипват с целия си наличен капитал, обърнат в оръжия, които да продадат със сериозна надценка на миньорите – но скоро установяват, че противникът им е много по-сериозен от обикновени космически джебчии. Точно обратното, добре организиран е и малко по малко звезднорисковите са с двата крака в много сериозна каша с политически оттенък.
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/z...
”Звезден риск” е предприятие с непредвидим изход от самото начало. За щастие, след един не твърде легален щурм на затвор те спасяват кожата на ловък крадец, който пък има брат на висок пост във фирма, която разработва едно астериодно поле. А точно те имат много голяма нужда от сериозна охрана, защото някой систематично тормози техните миньори и застрашава дейността им. Нашите хора се изсипват с целия си наличен капитал, обърнат в оръжия, които да продадат със сериозна надценка на миньорите – но скоро установяват, че противникът им е много по-сериозен от обикновени космически джебчии. Точно обратното, добре организиран е и малко по малко звезднорисковите са с двата крака в много сериозна каша с политически оттенък.
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/z...
July 8, 2017
Meh. Had good reviews and wanted to try something different. Passable story, but poorly written with irritatingly banal dialogue. At least notable for some stronger female characters. Don't think I'll be back for more.
July 26, 2011
Readable but dull. His writing style lends itself to excitement, but the presence of instantly forgettable characters that seem to glide through the story resolving every "challenge" without breaking a sweat makes for easy and unstimulating reading. I can safely say that I wont be seeking out the sequels....
The Seer King, Demon King, Warrior King Trilogy is orders of magnitude better - both in style and characterisation.
The Seer King, Demon King, Warrior King Trilogy is orders of magnitude better - both in style and characterisation.
June 15, 2015
Средностатистическа военна фантастика. Дойде ми идеално в неделния следобед. Нищо не сте пропуснали, ако не сте я прочели. Не е "Стен".
December 5, 2024
Lots of:
-- Closely described tactical combat, both in space and on the ground;
-- Very nonspecific descriptions of staggeringly beautiful women (think PG not PG-13 and certainly not R or X-ratings);. Starting with the description of one of the lead characters, M'Chell Riss, how hot she looked, and how small her bathing suit is ... in the very first sentence of the novel.
-- Implied sex (again, PG);
-- Smarmy patter. Other reviews have compared it to the A-Team. I had Moonlighting more in mind, specifically the Bruce Willis character from that show ... and to be honest, most of his screen career. But what makes Willis' characters work is the presence of other strong characters to tell him to shut the f*** up, and that is lacking here because most of the book is narrated in the same, slightly smug tone and dear god it wears thin long before the story is complete.
-- Plot holes
Very little:
-- Plot;
-- Characterization;
-- Suspense.
Overall the pacing isn't toooo slow, but mostly because there is the minimum of depth between missions. Except even more of that "clever" patter.
Recommended for young teenage boys who are military sci-fi fans in strict households where Mom will confiscate any books with detailed anatomical or erotic content.
-- Closely described tactical combat, both in space and on the ground;
-- Very nonspecific descriptions of staggeringly beautiful women (think PG not PG-13 and certainly not R or X-ratings);. Starting with the description of one of the lead characters, M'Chell Riss, how hot she looked, and how small her bathing suit is ... in the very first sentence of the novel.
-- Implied sex (again, PG);
-- Smarmy patter. Other reviews have compared it to the A-Team. I had Moonlighting more in mind, specifically the Bruce Willis character from that show ... and to be honest, most of his screen career. But what makes Willis' characters work is the presence of other strong characters to tell him to shut the f*** up, and that is lacking here because most of the book is narrated in the same, slightly smug tone and dear god it wears thin long before the story is complete.
-- Plot holes
Very little:
-- Plot;
-- Characterization;
-- Suspense.
Overall the pacing isn't toooo slow, but mostly because there is the minimum of depth between missions. Except even more of that "clever" patter.
Recommended for young teenage boys who are military sci-fi fans in strict households where Mom will confiscate any books with detailed anatomical or erotic content.
October 2, 2020
Star Risk LTD by Chris Bunch
Star Risk is a mercenary outfit. The staff are those who really haven’t fit in other place or have been let go for being too independent. The premise launched a five book series and this is book one. The diverse group gets a job due to nepotism or perhaps not. The job is to track down who is claim jumping in an asteroid belt mining venture.
M’chel Riss, a former Alliance Marine (there are no ex-marines) and Chas Goodnight, a bester, are the primary protagonists. A bester is an enhanced special operations agent that goes into overdrive when a battery is shoved, ahh placed in what no doubt the author determined was humorous. (I found it humorous anyway.)
The group gels into a team and solves their problem with more action to come.
I enjoyed the book.
Star Risk is a mercenary outfit. The staff are those who really haven’t fit in other place or have been let go for being too independent. The premise launched a five book series and this is book one. The diverse group gets a job due to nepotism or perhaps not. The job is to track down who is claim jumping in an asteroid belt mining venture.
M’chel Riss, a former Alliance Marine (there are no ex-marines) and Chas Goodnight, a bester, are the primary protagonists. A bester is an enhanced special operations agent that goes into overdrive when a battery is shoved, ahh placed in what no doubt the author determined was humorous. (I found it humorous anyway.)
The group gels into a team and solves their problem with more action to come.
I enjoyed the book.
February 16, 2020
Добра книга. Не е кой знае какво. Както казаха по-долу става за разтоварване и отбиване на времето, особено в някой мрачен и зимен уикенд, какъвто сме сега.
Закупих си и втората част, но смятам да я оставя за по-нататък. Следващите фантастики, които обмислям да подхвана са някои от класиките.
Колкото до тази книга - хареса ми динамиката. Има екшън. Случват се разни действия, пътуванията из космоса винаги са били интересни и романтични за мен, но на моменти се чудех защо изобщо я чета. Оценката ми е 4 и то не защото книгата е лоша, а защото не мисля, че се задълбава достатъчно в героите. Което от една страна е добре, защото така можем на базата на техните действия да си изградим представа какви са персонажите, но така пък трябва да гадая сам...
Едит:
Според мен при пътуването на различните планети можеше да се наблегне повече върху описанието на самите планети, на околната среда, на сградите, на екстериорите... Ако трябва да дам пример с подобна книга - това е на Жюл Верн - Капитан Немо. Там в почти всяка глава описанието на всичко беше изключително задълбочено и до най-малката подробност. По принцип от една страна това може и да дразни на моменти, защото се разтягат излишни локуми, но ако автора е достатъчно умел да съчетае историята с едни такива подробности, би било много по-добре.
Такива моменти имаше само на определени моменти, а в тази книга се пътува на не малко планети.
Закупих си и втората част, но смятам да я оставя за по-нататък. Следващите фантастики, които обмислям да подхвана са някои от класиките.
Колкото до тази книга - хареса ми динамиката. Има екшън. Случват се разни действия, пътуванията из космоса винаги са били интересни и романтични за мен, но на моменти се чудех защо изобщо я чета. Оценката ми е 4 и то не защото книгата е лоша, а защото не мисля, че се задълбава достатъчно в героите. Което от една страна е добре, защото така можем на базата на техните действия да си изградим представа какви са персонажите, но така пък трябва да гадая сам...
Едит:
Според мен при пътуването на различните планети можеше да се наблегне повече върху описанието на самите планети, на околната среда, на сградите, на екстериорите... Ако трябва да дам пример с подобна книга - това е на Жюл Верн - Капитан Немо. Там в почти всяка глава описанието на всичко беше изключително задълбочено и до най-малката подробност. По принцип от една страна това може и да дразни на моменти, защото се разтягат излишни локуми, но ако автора е достатъчно умел да съчетае историята с едни такива подробности, би било много по-добре.
Такива моменти имаше само на определени моменти, а в тази книга се пътува на не малко планети.
May 24, 2022
Great sci fi adventure
So, Risk is violent with a high body count, but the worldbuilding is good, and the Star Risk team is an interesting group of people with some fascinating interactions. Although the story wasn't what I was looking for, the characters kept me reading.
So, Risk is violent with a high body count, but the worldbuilding is good, and the Star Risk team is an interesting group of people with some fascinating interactions. Although the story wasn't what I was looking for, the characters kept me reading.
November 23, 2022
Good humor, easy to follow plot, and unique characters. An excellent "read on the beach" type space opera.
January 24, 2025
Quite pulpy but entertaining enough... Doesn't trouble the little grey cells too much...
December 6, 2015
I first found Chris Bunch when I stumbled across his Last Legion series, of which I’ve now read the first two and of which I’ve enjoyed immensely. So I had no qualms about picking this book up. And I’ve got to say, I pretty much enjoyed it too. Except for … the ending, which was strangely unsatisfying. Perhaps that’s to set up a sequel, since this is evidently intended to be the first in a new series, but it doesn’t sit too well with me when the mystery of the book and the action in the book isn’t at least partially explained by the end of the book. Very few writers can get away with that and still be read. David Weber comes to mind. No one else. You have to be a special writer to accomplish that. I’m not convinced Chris Bunch is that type of writer.
Whatever the case, Bunch is pretty good with action and with military sci fi. Nowhere as close as Weber, but then no one else is either, so he’s a good option. The plot revolves around a new team of mercenaries looking for work. The beautiful ex-Marine M'Chel Riss is hired from a disappointing series of infrequent jobs by another older ex-Marine, Frederich von Baldur, to form Star Risk, Ltd. They have no money and must figure out how to generate some soon. Ironically, they are soon joined by even more beautiful and smart Jasmine King, ex-intelligence officer from a large competing mercenary company. Her friend and colleague and gigantic alien, Grok, joins them as a wealthy investor (influx of capital, thank God!) and electronics expert.
Jasmine finds their first potential client, a mining company that's been hit hard by pirates, and they devise a fairly complicated plan to get the contract over the competition by working their way into the favor of a company executive by springing the man’s brother, former special ops and cybernetically enhanced thief, Chas Goodnight, from death row. They accomplish this with minimum effort, convince Chas to join their team, take him to his brother, and win the contract. Then the action really begins! The pirates are well armed, well funded, are vicious killers, don’t seem to actually want to steal from the miners – just to kill them, and no one knows where they come from, and they come in serious numbers. Star Risk, Ltd hires men to pilot a series of small fighter space ships they get to patrol the sector they’re trying to secure and the fight is on. And it gets personal.
The ending is partially surprising, but I suppose not all that surprising. When I thought about it for a second, I did see it coming early on. I just had to think about it. There really weren’t too many other options. Bunch wrote a lot of snappy lines of dialogue for his characters, perhaps too much at times, and he tried a bit too hard to go for romance angles, but thank God, he didn’t go overboard on that, so that was good. He does in The Last Legion. I liked the book enough to look for the second one in the series and look forward to reading it. It could turn out to be a good series, although I’m not convinced it’s better than The Last Legion. Still, it’s enjoyable and pretty action packed. And it’s a quick read, which is nice. I just plodded through a John Ringo book, which I actually didn’t finish, it was so slow, dying on me halfway through. I simply lost interest with all of the hard science info dumps. I can only take so much of that. You don’t have to prove you have four degrees in physics to be a decent sci fi writer for me to like your work, dammit!
So, pretty decent book. A good start to what will hopefully be a good series. I like Bunch. He’s no Weber, but no one is and he’ll do when I need decent military sci fi. Definitely. Four stars because the ending brings it down due to an unsatisfying conclusion. Nonetheless, recommended.
Whatever the case, Bunch is pretty good with action and with military sci fi. Nowhere as close as Weber, but then no one else is either, so he’s a good option. The plot revolves around a new team of mercenaries looking for work. The beautiful ex-Marine M'Chel Riss is hired from a disappointing series of infrequent jobs by another older ex-Marine, Frederich von Baldur, to form Star Risk, Ltd. They have no money and must figure out how to generate some soon. Ironically, they are soon joined by even more beautiful and smart Jasmine King, ex-intelligence officer from a large competing mercenary company. Her friend and colleague and gigantic alien, Grok, joins them as a wealthy investor (influx of capital, thank God!) and electronics expert.
Jasmine finds their first potential client, a mining company that's been hit hard by pirates, and they devise a fairly complicated plan to get the contract over the competition by working their way into the favor of a company executive by springing the man’s brother, former special ops and cybernetically enhanced thief, Chas Goodnight, from death row. They accomplish this with minimum effort, convince Chas to join their team, take him to his brother, and win the contract. Then the action really begins! The pirates are well armed, well funded, are vicious killers, don’t seem to actually want to steal from the miners – just to kill them, and no one knows where they come from, and they come in serious numbers. Star Risk, Ltd hires men to pilot a series of small fighter space ships they get to patrol the sector they’re trying to secure and the fight is on. And it gets personal.
The ending is partially surprising, but I suppose not all that surprising. When I thought about it for a second, I did see it coming early on. I just had to think about it. There really weren’t too many other options. Bunch wrote a lot of snappy lines of dialogue for his characters, perhaps too much at times, and he tried a bit too hard to go for romance angles, but thank God, he didn’t go overboard on that, so that was good. He does in The Last Legion. I liked the book enough to look for the second one in the series and look forward to reading it. It could turn out to be a good series, although I’m not convinced it’s better than The Last Legion. Still, it’s enjoyable and pretty action packed. And it’s a quick read, which is nice. I just plodded through a John Ringo book, which I actually didn’t finish, it was so slow, dying on me halfway through. I simply lost interest with all of the hard science info dumps. I can only take so much of that. You don’t have to prove you have four degrees in physics to be a decent sci fi writer for me to like your work, dammit!
So, pretty decent book. A good start to what will hopefully be a good series. I like Bunch. He’s no Weber, but no one is and he’ll do when I need decent military sci fi. Definitely. Four stars because the ending brings it down due to an unsatisfying conclusion. Nonetheless, recommended.
January 1, 2014
This book feels like an attempt to create something similar to A-Team in space. I say similar since A-Team it is not. Yes, it is a bunch of scoundrels taking on assignments against bad guys which they get through with a good deal of improvisation not to mention violence. However, this team is not really doing it to help the ones in need. They are in it for the money and they are not exactly on the run hiding from a crime they are unjustly accused of.
Having said that, it is a decent enough attempt though. The book was an enjoyable read but again, A-Team it is not. A-Team had a certain amount of humor in it and this one falls rather flat in that area. Not that it is devoid of any humor but is certainly not one of the books strong points. It is still a fairly nice book to read.
The book describes the creation of Star Risk Ltd. and the team as well as their first mission. There is a fair amount of action, quite a lot actually and in general the book is okay written. It feels like it never really took off though. The author never manages to create any real wow-this-is-good feeling which really makes you care about the characters.
It is the first in the series though so I will probably have a go at the next one as well to see how it goes. Oh, and one more thing, the cover for my Kindle version, and I would assume the printed ones as well, states that this is “military science fiction”. That is just so much BS. Some of the main characters may be former military but this is NOT military science fiction as far as I am concerned!
Having said that, it is a decent enough attempt though. The book was an enjoyable read but again, A-Team it is not. A-Team had a certain amount of humor in it and this one falls rather flat in that area. Not that it is devoid of any humor but is certainly not one of the books strong points. It is still a fairly nice book to read.
The book describes the creation of Star Risk Ltd. and the team as well as their first mission. There is a fair amount of action, quite a lot actually and in general the book is okay written. It feels like it never really took off though. The author never manages to create any real wow-this-is-good feeling which really makes you care about the characters.
It is the first in the series though so I will probably have a go at the next one as well to see how it goes. Oh, and one more thing, the cover for my Kindle version, and I would assume the printed ones as well, states that this is “military science fiction”. That is just so much BS. Some of the main characters may be former military but this is NOT military science fiction as far as I am concerned!
June 13, 2013
A typical undertaking by 'Bunch' in the 'American Military Sci-Fi Genre', with a 'bunch'(pun intended) of original ideas/concepts thrown in for good measure. The main flaw about this book is that it is not something you would want to 'reread'.
Regarding some of its original ideas, one of them ,regarding the mercenary group 'Cerberus'-a sort of 'money no problem' mercenary group loathed by many in the book for its treachery and backstabbing its own agents let alone its direct interference- is an awful lot similar to the 'Cerberus' Group in Mass Effect (Video-Game), even though the book was written in 2001 I believe, way before the video-game. Can anyone else confirm this similarity? As regards to my earlier comment ,that this book is not something that can easily be reread, my point concerns the written style. While certainly 'readable' in a sense, it is also sometimes tedious in the sense certain dull elements. I'm not complaining about the length here, what I mean is that the book feels antiquated in style. It has its ups and downs. The ending was also something of a let down to me, too abrupt.
Despite its flaws, Star Risk LTD. is an original, take on the Sci-Fi Genre. One can certainly appreciate the content here, even if not necessarily always the written style. RIP Chris Bunch!!!
Regarding some of its original ideas, one of them ,regarding the mercenary group 'Cerberus'-a sort of 'money no problem' mercenary group loathed by many in the book for its treachery and backstabbing its own agents let alone its direct interference- is an awful lot similar to the 'Cerberus' Group in Mass Effect (Video-Game), even though the book was written in 2001 I believe, way before the video-game. Can anyone else confirm this similarity? As regards to my earlier comment ,that this book is not something that can easily be reread, my point concerns the written style. While certainly 'readable' in a sense, it is also sometimes tedious in the sense certain dull elements. I'm not complaining about the length here, what I mean is that the book feels antiquated in style. It has its ups and downs. The ending was also something of a let down to me, too abrupt.
Despite its flaws, Star Risk LTD. is an original, take on the Sci-Fi Genre. One can certainly appreciate the content here, even if not necessarily always the written style. RIP Chris Bunch!!!
July 23, 2014
This is an interesting book to me - I have heard of Chris Bunch and know him for his military science fiction - however I also know he has written a lot more than just that. He has written general science fiction and fantasy as well and this I am not so conversant with. So we are with Star Risk the first of a series of 4 books (5 if you include The Gangster Conspiracy) which really does have a lot of military over tones and style which is not surprising since for me its like all those semi military rag tag teams trying to survive and make money the while hiding their morals and principles - I guess in a sense its like the A-team in space. Well I guess that is a little harsh but when you read the dialogue between the characters and how they approach situations and you cannot help but think it. That said the story line is fast paced and you have to like he characters since everyone else you like even less. The series has promise but also has the danger of falling in to its own cliche - i guess the next book will tell
September 2, 2013
Fast-pased, full of snappy dialogue and action, this is a perfect book for readers looking for a quick military science fiction to read.
From a craft standpoint, I feel as though the narration should have been in first person rather than third person. It would have also behooved the story if there was more background and description interspersed throughout the novel. While the protagonist, Riss, was a tour-de-force, I had very little sense of her background. Her partner-in-crime Von Baldur was also intriguing, but I wished there was a little more. The furiously fast pacing got me through the book in a day or two, but I wished that it would have slowed down so the readers can take a look around at the universe they are touring through.
From a craft standpoint, I feel as though the narration should have been in first person rather than third person. It would have also behooved the story if there was more background and description interspersed throughout the novel. While the protagonist, Riss, was a tour-de-force, I had very little sense of her background. Her partner-in-crime Von Baldur was also intriguing, but I wished there was a little more. The furiously fast pacing got me through the book in a day or two, but I wished that it would have slowed down so the readers can take a look around at the universe they are touring through.
Read
October 7, 2013M'chel was good - she'd even gotten a spoiled brat out of a highly guarded room. Unfortunately, the mother's payment hadn't cleared, so now M'chel sat starring at a croissant in a busy café, waiting for her next job. The courier job's a no show - but Baldur, another ex-soldier - sits down, buys her breakfast, and offers her a job: as partner for Star Risk Ltd. Together, they recruit a few other oddball misfits, and soon their company's complete.
Now, all they need is a job.
What they get might be more than they can handle, though: to spring a dangerous prisoner from a maximum security cell. Why should they take on such an insane mission with all the odds stacked against them? Money, fame, glory....but mostly the money. Yup. Definitely the money.
Now, all they need is a job.
What they get might be more than they can handle, though: to spring a dangerous prisoner from a maximum security cell. Why should they take on such an insane mission with all the odds stacked against them? Money, fame, glory....but mostly the money. Yup. Definitely the money.
July 23, 2013
This is the first book of a quartet of Chris Bunch SF novels about a small can-do group of…problem solvers? I’m not really certain what to call their jobs, but what our heroes do is fix unusual problems for wealthy benefactors. In this book, they sign on with a cartel of asteroid miners to stop someone from killing off their employees. Before you know it, they are putting together a fleet of space ships and dropping operatives under cover and mixing it up on both macro and micro levels. The book feels less plausible that The Seer King but it was still an awful lot of fun.
August 28, 2015
In short the book tries to be the A-Team in space which is not a bad premise but due to the lack of well rounded characters it fell slightly short of being good to me.
Bunch writes the action and the plot well but rarely describes the environment. This trait is at best helps the pacing of the book but at its worse ends up being confusing. It was a nice idea, a group of mercenaries having a romp across space could be fun but this book doesn't quite realise it unfortunately.
All in all it was ok but I don't think I will carry on with the series as I have other things to read.
Bunch writes the action and the plot well but rarely describes the environment. This trait is at best helps the pacing of the book but at its worse ends up being confusing. It was a nice idea, a group of mercenaries having a romp across space could be fun but this book doesn't quite realise it unfortunately.
All in all it was ok but I don't think I will carry on with the series as I have other things to read.
August 5, 2016
I grabbed a copy of this book because I was looking to read anything I could on space pirates or mercenaries - don't ask, just assume it was a noble calling. Sadly, this just didn't do it for me. Chris is clearly a successful author and a great storyteller but his writing style felt too staged and I just wasn't a fan of the setting. It's possible this is a read better suited for young adults.
In the book, a has been soldier with plenty of skills is desperate for work and joins up with another has-been. Together they form a space security contracting firm and take on the universe.
In the book, a has been soldier with plenty of skills is desperate for work and joins up with another has-been. Together they form a space security contracting firm and take on the universe.
May 13, 2009
A pretty enjoyable book. The author doesn't take too long developing the characters thankfully and the story really takes off. This book is about the beginning of a group of mercs who are setting up a brand new business. They are a sort of group of misfits, but nothing too bad in that department. While the action in this book isn't the best (and it is short lived) there is enough of it to keep the book interesting.
I look forward to the other books in the series.
I look forward to the other books in the series.
November 11, 2008
I bought this book as one of Powell's recommended reads. It was...OK. Not bad, but a bit dry, and for some reason it never really reached out and grabbed me. I often found it difficult to keep track of who was saying what, and who some of the characters were, and the ending left too much unresolved for my tastes. I'd actually give it 2.5 stars, if that rating were possible.
July 13, 2010
The A-team was funny and full of action (even if they fired more shots without hitting anything than any other series ever).
This book was not funny, it did not have great characters such as Mr. T or the crazy guy, and the "action" was a real yawn. I don't believe I will be reading the rest of this series.
This book was not funny, it did not have great characters such as Mr. T or the crazy guy, and the "action" was a real yawn. I don't believe I will be reading the rest of this series.
started_finish_later
February 22, 2013trying again, maybe this time works better; a while ago thought it was big time junk but now I am the mood for an over the top sf series and Chris Bunch's Star Risk may or may not be the one; will see
December 14, 2009
If you like Science Fiction, you will love this. New small business mercenaries up against the man! In SPACE. I cannot wait to find the next book to read! I especially want to hear more on the Jasmine ?robot? storyline….
May 2, 2011
This was a great, action filled book. An easy read, it's the perfect book to take on a flight or to the beach.
It is about the start up of a new mercanary company trying to make a space for themselves in a market being monopolized by one large company.
It is about the start up of a new mercanary company trying to make a space for themselves in a market being monopolized by one large company.
September 3, 2016
A fun read
I enjoyed reading Chris Bunch's Shadow Warrior trilogy, so I gave this book a try. I had a good time reading it. The action was exciting and the interactions if the team kept me guessing. Overall a good book, and worth the time to read.
I enjoyed reading Chris Bunch's Shadow Warrior trilogy, so I gave this book a try. I had a good time reading it. The action was exciting and the interactions if the team kept me guessing. Overall a good book, and worth the time to read.
November 16, 2007
I like Bunch from the Sten novels and this was passable entertainment.
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