First Principles: Samair in Argos: Book 3

by Michael Kotcher

Tamara Samair, Engineer and former Naval officer, and now head of First Principles, Inc, faces off against the government of the company's home system in a dispute over territory and perceived dominance. Having beaten back one assault already, Tamara and her allies must face off against the system's strongest warship, the battlecruiser Leytonstone, which has been sent to subdue First Principles' defenses and secure their assets at any cost.

Elsewhere in the Argos Cluster, a pirate lord is consolidating his gains in Argos, looking to expand and dominate, even if that means challenging the Republic military forces who reside here.

Conquest, defense and expansion: moves in a game all are engaged in to assert their dominance.

Genres: Science Fiction

730 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2015

Reviews

[Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's always sad to see a series fall apart. This book does a decent job of carrying the larger story along, but it doesn't stand alone. This book feels rushed and much less polished than the first two. There are many, many errors in text and continuity that really just make the story fall apart. Kotcher also tries to build more 'battle' scenes into this book and he just can't carry them off. Sure the action flows well but it doesn't fit into the universe he created. If sensors are so week that you can't see ship coming until they are 90 minutes away, why don't you have a sensor net of satellites to give early warning? Actually with travel so slow and sensors so useless, it really makes absolutely no sense to have anything as big as a destroyer, let alone a capital ship. What good can a capital ship do if it can't get to the action until a week after the fact? Better off to have a hospital ship... The gas mine was attacked once already in book two but instead of improving sensor coverage, adding shields, or even heaven forbid any defense weapons the characters build more destroyers and frigates. Even a rail-gun or a missile battery would be of more use than a ship that can't be where you need it until well after the fighting is done.
There are four squadrons of fighters (or is it just two?) and that makes a little sense.

The plot wholes and inconsistencies really hurt this book. Where is the Legacy? So much of the sub-plot involved the Legacy's travels and following the trail of the Grania Estelle and then nothing. If Kotcher thinks he can have the Legacy pop up to save the day against the pirates, the ship would have had to enter the system a week before the pirates just to have a chance of being close. Then there is the whole question of the trade mission. What is the point of building up a system defense force if you are going to send 3/4ths of your ships and almost all your fire power off to another system on a 'mission of peace'. That goes well beyond any suspension of disbelief. The whole book is rushed, contrived and riddled with errors.

[Fadswaffer Mc Truffles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great business building and action

Some grammer issues, but I am honestly surprised that this book isn't bigger than it is. There is a great story, the pace is very fast, and the characters are fun.
Yes, the bad guys are bad, the government is usually short sighted, but that isn't different from the government now.
Overall, 5 stars to the series as a whole so far.

[Bluecobras09 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamara and Captain Eamonn continue to build their business First Principles in Seylonique. Unfortunately the system Admin's see them as upsetting their little kingdom and a couple of them set out to take First Principles fuel processing station with mercs and send the Leytonstone, a battle cruiser to "rectify" the situation so the government can take over claiming First Principles can not keep their employees safe so the government needs to step in. Since the Leytonstone is barely functional, First Principles manages to disable it and sends it back to the Admins with it's tail between it's legs. Unfortunately for Seylonique though, the pirates now have their eyes on them and Seylonique's ability to win in an engagement with them is in question.

With each book the story smooths out and the characters become more polished. I am liking the story more with each book, and I am looking forward to the next.

[Fiannawolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halp! Honor Harrington level addiction to this series. SOS: moar *annoying seagull sounds*

Dude...no matter how many books you write Mr. Kotcher, your on my official "always insta-buy list."

Have mercy on my wallet.

I YIELD!