In Ashes Born

A Seeker’s Tale #1

by Nathan Lowell

An old friend. A new course. A deadly ship with a secret cargo. Ishmael Wang returns to Port Newmar but ghosts from his past have followed him. His old shipmate, Phillip Carstairs, offers him the opportunity to track down the man who killed his lover. The catch? He must take command of the Chernyakova, a ship that still stinks of death and haunts Ishmael’s nightmares. Together, Phillip and Ismael begin a journey into unknown reaches of the Deep Dark to bring back the man who killed Greta.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fiction, Audiobook, Space, Science Fiction Fantasy, Amazon

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2015

About the author

Nathan Lowell has been a writer for more than forty years, and first entered the literary world by podcasting his novels. His sci-fi series, The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper grew from his long time fascination with space opera and his own experiences shipboard in the United States Coast Guard. Unlike most works which focus on a larger-than-life hero (prophesized savior, charismatic captain, or exiled prince), Nathan centers on the people behind the scenes--ordinary men and women trying to make a living in the depths of space. In his novels, there are no bug-eyed monsters, or galactic space battles, instead he paints a richly vivid and realistic world where the "hero" uses hard work and his own innate talents to improve his station and the lives of those of his community.

Dr. Nathan Lowell holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology with specializations in Distance Education and Instructional Design. He also holds an M.A. in Educational Technology and a BS in Business Administration. He grew up on the south coast of Maine and is strongly rooted in the maritime heritage of the sea-farer. He served in the USCG from 1970 to 1975, seeing duty aboard a cutter on hurricane patrol in the North Atlantic and at a communications station in Kodiak, Alaska. He currently lives in the plains east of the Rocky Mountains with his wife and two daughters.

Awards & Recognition
2008 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for Full Share
2008 Podiobooks Founder's Choice Award for Double Share
2008 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for South Coast
2009 Podiobooks Founder's Choice Award for Captain's Share
2009 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for Double Share
4 out of 10 Books on Podiobooks.com Top Overall Rated by Votes (2. Double Share, 3. Quarter Share, 5. Full Share, 8. Half Share) -- as of Jan 4, 2009
6 out of 10 Books on Podiobooks.com Top Overall Rating (1. Ravenwood, 2. Quarter Share, 3. Double share, 4. Captain's Share, 5. Full Share, 7. South Coast) -- as of Jan 4, 2009

Reviews

[Zoe's Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I couldn't put down. My only disappointment was finishing it too soon. Now I can't wait for the next in this series.

[JasonA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new series begins a few months after the end of Owner's Share. Ishmael is still dealing with the events of the previous book and returns to Port Newmar to try to heal. Some familiar faces return to the series and a new adventure begins.

This whole trilogy are probably my favorite Ishmael books, so far. This whole series is pretty solid. It brings the best parts of the original series and leaves out the things that didn't work so well. The only real issue I have is that Lowell changes some of the terminology introduced here in future books, so it always throws me a little when reading this one. I keep hoping for an update to correct it.

[DWR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so relieved!

I admit it. I ranted and railed against the ending of Owners Share. I wrote mean reviews. I was angry. I've come to love these books, the characters and the wonderful writing style. Owners's Share was a depressing conclusion to that story line. This book was clearly a return to the magical formula that made the other books so special. If you've read this far in the series, I suspect you know what I mean. There's really nothing more to be said than thank you Mr. Lowell. Well done.

[Teresa Carrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up late to finish the same day I started the book. Sooooooo nice to have Ishmael Wang back, and several other familiar faces too.

This is space opera, but it focuses on characterization and cleverness, not battles. You do not need to have read the other Solar Clipper books, but if you haven't read Quarter Share yet it is also five stars, and is the first book about Ishmael Wang. If I have counted correctly, this makes the seventh book about Ish. Quarter Share is in my set of comfort books, and In Ashes Born is joining it. Highly recommended.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad to have another Ishmael Wang series starting. The thing about Ishmael is that he is just so likeable. You can't help but root for him.

There isn't much action in this, but there is some conflict and a few real surprises. And of course, Ish deals with them both with his normal understated brilliance.

My only complaint is that this is definitely the first of a series. Not quite what I'd call a cliffhanger, but it leaves you strongly wanting more.

Also, if you haven't read the first Ish series, starting with Quarter Share, I would strongly recommend that you read that series first. It's six books, but most of them go really quickly.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyable. Nathan Lowell makes the mundane day to day life as crew, or captain, of a trading star ship come alive. And makes it interesting. Great characters, very positive outlooks, good camaraderie, humanity in a soft light. 2020 re-read: I re-read it in two sessions, separated by the need for some sleep! So good!

[Debrac2014 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it! It was good to see familiar characters again!

11/20 reread! I enjoyed the story, especially the tour of the ship!

2022 reread! It's still a favorite!
2025 reread! Ish is getting his act together!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally wonderful story.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"First thing, feed the crew." I think I am a little grateful that Nathan has taken some time between his books. When I get drawn into his universe, I usually forget to eat at least once if not several meals...

Was it worth the wait? DEFINATELY! Was it everything I had hoped? No. Like some of the characters in his stories, Nathan tends to give us what we need, not what we ask for. Once I realized this was the case with Ashes, I settled down to enjoy the ride.

We get to see a lot of the original crew twenty years grown. The change has been good for almost everyone. Ishmael meets up with Pip again and Pip has a plan (doesn't he always?) Only this plan involves the Chernykova (the death ship from "Captain's Share") and Ishmael will need to confront those demons along with the others he still faces if he wants to be involved. Like so many of Nathan's stories; this feels complete but leaves me wanting so much more...

**Update 4.25.2019**
Has it really been three and a half years? I'm not sure if this was my second or third time through but I still enjoy this story. I like the old friends who return and I still get choked up over #1 Sponge.
I've got my son reading these now. It's wonderful to share such a great story with him.

[Bluecobras09 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ishmael is back!!! Ishmael and Pip are back together for the first time in 20 stan years. With the horrible events that happened to Ishmael, he sold off his company and returned to Newmar where he an Pip went to the officers academy to try and find himself. His normal confidence broken and his ability to pick the direction of his life gone. Pip leads him is to a new chapter of his life that may be just what he needed.

Nathan has gone places with the Ishmael that I just cannot get enough of. The stories are so well written and they just seem to grab me and not let go. I can't wait for the next book.

Start with the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper if you have not read it already, this is a must read.

[The Man from DelMonte · Rating 2 out of 5]

The love child of Clifford Simak and Fred Pohl

The thing that grates is that this supposed to be set 350 years in the future. Sure there's some rockets and stuff but otherwise 2370 just feels like contemporary America. Try winding the clock 350 years in the other direction and you get to 1670. Bit different from 2020. There's nothing in this tale to indicate that three and a half centuries have passed.
The opening third of the book just about drowns in folksiness but the tempo picks up a bit after that, and it reads smoothly enough to the end, but it's all just scene setting for the inevitable sequel(s)
This was also suggested to me as space opera. "Zirn left unguarded …" (Robert Sheckley) is space opera, "In Ashes Born" is not.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wonderful, another Nathan Lowell book! A good read - it had felt a bit in the previous book like the series was getting away from him, but here it feels more like he's taking it back to its origins, and does a good job. I enjoyed it, and there just have to be more, from where it ends.

The worst part of a Nathan Lowell book - finding you've come to the last page. I look forward to the next one. I got this one through Kindle Unlimited, but I'm going to go back and buy the ebook so I'll have it permanently.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy to be back in the world of the Solar Clippers and Ishmael Wang. Along with the wonderful Captain Wang, Nathan Lowell brings us a glimpse of other characters we have loved and Pip! This is a great set up for the new series, but please start at the beginning and read Quarter Share to get the full effect.

[Bernard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series that I have read. It was almost all background, with little action. It seemed to me that most of the text set the background...

The entire book goes from the main character trying to recover from a personal issue to the main character getting ready for the next book in the series.

It was not exciting.

[Andrew Jeffree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prodigal son returns!

This is really fantastic. I'm so excited that Ishmael Wong is back! I think the only bad thing I can say is now I have wait for the next one and I don't like waiting.

[Rich Van Ollefen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Traders Tales books. This first of the next Chapter of Ishmael's journey did not disappoint. I'm not a fan of ebooks, only bought a couple, all by Nathan Lowell.

Read it, you'll like it

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I thought the tales of Ishmael Wang were over but I'm so glad I was wrong! I can't stop reading these books, and I don't care. They are comforting as all hell, like coming home after a long time away.

[Enemymind · Rating 1 out of 5]

RIP Nathan Lowell.

the only explanation for this book is that he died mid way through writing it, and his publisher just slapped on a two-page ending and called it a day.

[Red Tide]

I finished the book out of curiosity. Rating: minus 5

As I rewrite these book reviews, I wonder if any will read them. I originally scribbled quick notes to myself as a roadmap through the Amazon fiction swamp. I was surprised that my reviews were noticed and that my thoughts disturbed a number of anti-socialist, anti-human, fascistic snowflakes. In their honour I am making them more readable. Must support the fans, lest they return to assaulting the homeless for entertainment. This book is a blandly disturbing non-story. It describes the terrible ennui with which the rich are burdened.

Before continuing I will visit YouTube which is an admittedly flawed site but orders of magnitude less toxic than this. This was made possible by the channels - Acollierastro, Sailing Melody, SK Media, Told in Stone, Jay Exci, The Juice Media, A Day of Small Things, Jessie Gender, Bobbing Along, Nomadic Crobot, Princess Weekes, The Little Platoon, Lily Simpson, Dungeons and Discourse, The Dadvocate, ThePrimeChronus, Owen Jones, The Shades of Orange. Lady Knight The Brave, Silicon Curtain, May Moon Narrowboat, Honest Trailers, Anna from Ukraine, KernowDamo, 2 Steps from Hell, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, May, Trae Crowder, Dark Docs, Deerstalker Pictures, Atun Shei, Ro Ramdin, Council of Geeks, Mia Mulder, Honest Ads, Beau of the Fifth Column, Philosophy Tube, Tara Mooknee, RecklessGirl100, DinsArt Design, Library Ladder, Terrible Writing Advice, Bernadette Banner, Up and Atom, Geo Girl, Gutsick Gibbon, Planarwalker, Physics Girl, Kelly Loves Physics and History, Adiemus - Carmina Slovenica, Sarah Millican, Times Radio, Ponderful, The Caspian Report, Annie's Literary Empire.

I wanted to refer you to other reviewers but Amazon/Goodreads no longer "Allow" me to see other reviews and have begun erasing comments from both my many anti-socialist fanboys and the six or seven sane members. This book is all message and I have seen this story better written at least six times.

An example of Goodreads discourse. Eighteen months ago, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth, a badly written salute to the sociopathic January 6, 2021 hero by Travis Corcoran. He is a self-described libertarian and vocal advocate for the return of chattel slavery, a US veteran and supporter of Putin's Russia, an employee of an unnamed US agency. The writer and six friends went on a year long tear with comments demanding I respond, as if I would to these cowardly self-described libertarian and white nationalist thugs.

Finally Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710 (he is a long time fan) wrote a comment (erased recently as well as those of two friends who took issue with this madness) declaring that They had "won" (?). I discovered that They had launched a year long campaign of flooding channels which I mention with vile sexual and racist comments. While They did not impress the Oxford astrophysicist, the particle physicist, the historical essayist, the cultural essayist or the many other female creators, They did deliver a splendid self-portrait to a broad multinational audience of the twisted American middle class man-child. Increasing the world's store of unpleasantness was I assume, considered a bonus effect to their little minds, assuming they do in fact possess such. USA! Yay ??

This book has no world building, which is true of all these Neoliberal and Libertarian tracts. This book and the many others like it have no story. There is no context for character description, Interactions or plot nor do these books ever pretend to create characters. To do so when the characters are simply delivery vehicles for his talking points, a true attempt at character work would run into the plausibility barrier. His audience wants to see this message and this vision, which is probably a class based preference. Despite the occasional complaint, his audience rated this book a 4.5 which by itself gives the lie to the membership being a yardstick for the good, as opposed to the comfortable for several select groups of readers.

Of course the writer has put on the page his politics and was never looking to write any of the things which he neglected to include. Since this is a political work, he used the least effort to create a setting for his Neoliberal/libertarian fantasy. A necessary admission. My working class desire is to see working class characters. I also expect working class characters who are not sociopathic copies of their social superiors. Better that we be invisible as usual.

The plot consists of a string of more or less related scenes, in which resting from non-existent work and plans to increase wealth are discussed. It could easily be a Beverly Hills soap opera. The book includes two or three non-Anglo named characters, so that is worthy of points. Unfortunately there seem to be no Western European, East Asian, South Asian, African or other presence in human space. It was not surprising, this is an american writer. The parochial (ethno supremacist, might be more accurate) sameness of these books is mind numbing.

I need another YouTube break from this work. This next was brought to you by - Alizee, Brittany Page, Red Plateaus, Real Time History, Olly Richards, Popcorn in Bed, Autumn's Boutique, Whitney Avalon, Two Bit DaVinci, Smack the Pony, Sarah Z, The Octopus Lady, Renegade Cut, Horses, Daisy Viktoria, Kat Blacque, Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, The Take, Cynthia Zhou, Extinction Rebellion UK, Engineering Knits, Nerd Cookies, Jake Broe, TriAngulum, Kaz Rowe, ConeofArc, Lisa Walton, Jess of the Shire, Part Time Hobbit, Cinzia Dubois, The Green Wrapper, Kristine Vike, Dr Becky, Ukraine Matters, Times Radio, The Thought Spot, Jay Exci, Make Better Media, Kiko1006, Siobhan McCarthy, Dr Alexander Clarke, The Closet Historian, Honest Ads, Eleanor Morton, Jose, The Trans Atheist.

The book details the adventures of an Old Boys network. The main character was inducted into this world of influence and wealth as a child. Without any influence from his wealthy friends, wealthy adopted family, 😀 he rose to the pinnacle of his profession. He became wealthy, as a matter of course. He had a bad experience boarding a derelict space ship, by which memory he is haunted years after the fact. The anguish is not written but mentioned in passing. It seems not to be a factor in his decision making or hinder his lifestyle. He is written as a smart, attractive, rich young playboy enjoying his fame. He is vain and self-absorbed on most pages, then lost as to what to do next on others. I could not remember why he was famous halfway through the book.

The entire background has been laid out. That includes the entirety of the universe in this book. There are the very poor with little by way of services, exemplified by the orphaned main character. The reason for his orphan status is never mentioned. I do not remember his age at adoption and do not believe that it was mentioned. His birth family are never mentioned. He does not acknowledge or miss them. He does not think of his adopted parents or mention them. His childhood and personal history are neither explained nor explored. How damaged must this character be or is it the self-involved perspective of the privileged? It is not clear whether his adopted parents are alive. Is this a real boy?

The only appearance of the working class is at a demonstration against some governmental regulation of the wealthy. The workers defending the wealthy because they are deserving, talented, smart and attractive is the Neoliberal "happy place". As long as they do not approach too closely with their coarse bodies and cheap clothing, of course. We exist not invisibly but as clowns. Some of us might live to bask in the light of our betters but I have to believe that most sane people want good services and to not carry the entire burden of funding the state. Organizing to prevent the non-tax paying wealthy being offended is my worst nightmare.

There is a vaguely described interstellar government with no defined reach or powers, with only one agency apparently, a revenue service. Libertarian enough yet? The overlap between the Neoliberal elite and the libertarian elite is always a wonder. That anyone not of the oligarchic or nearby classes imagine that they will ever be admitted to the billionaire class, seems to me impossible. To rise to the level of an unrecognized flunky, that is attainable with luck. That describes the total ambition of some "libertarians" found on this site.

You and I will never be billionaires, nor do we want to, I think. To be accorded dignity at our employment and elsewhere, the opportunity to develop our interests and passions, to be assured of the basics of human existence (food security for all, universal comfortable modern housing, guaranteed high quality medical care, free access to education at all levels, inexpensive public transport, protection of a livable environment (from the manufacturing, financial or other machinations of the wealthy) and the human rights outlined by the UN are quite enough, I believe. We can take it from there. 😎 The wealthy can take care of themselves and good riddance, I say. Besides that is the one thing that they have proven to be very good at.

In this book, the wealthy are always kind. Poor orphan boy is noticed by a wealthy couple during a stroll through a mall, while waiting for their space yacht to be polished. Identifying him as deserving through the orphanage display window, he is immediately adopted at the wife's insistence. Seriously, that or something very, very close. He is raised in the upper levels of society. Being of the deserving poor, he excels at all his endeavours, from business to trainings. We know how thoughtful he is, because the writer says so so least once in every other chapter.

His friends are owners of entire planets (yet humble), sons of wealthy shipping families (yet down to earth) or highly certified spacers who just refuse to make the jump to captain (for "personal reasons"). He conveniently intersects with all the above and the adventure begins. Not really. They sit in luxurious surroundings talking about various ways to increase their wealth, while drinking copious amounts of beer. I never realised that the wealthy enjoyed beer so much. If you are a Proud Boy or UKIP member dreaming of regular dinners with Bezos, Branson, the Kochs, the Waltons or Musk as a result of your inherent but heretofore unrecognized genius and other traits too numerous to mention, this might be the book that you seek.

This may be the most ridiculous world building and cast that I have seen in a bad fiction. That includes Ringo, Chaney and Anderle among others, so the bar was high. Labelling the cast of characters flat does not do it justice. Star Wars has a vibrant cast by comparison. Suggesting that it is a libertarian fantasy will force a "You think?"

This is supposedly based on the age of Clipper ships. Life for those sailors was fairly grim for the crews and that of non-owner captains was not great. There is one mention of the poor to highlight how wonderful the life of the main character and the wealthy as a group is.This proves that government are not necessary because every good boy achieves his heart's desire effortlessly. Well if he has the foresight to be orphaned, when he discovers that his parents are not up to snuff. Even then he only has to be on orphanage display awaiting appropriate parents. The rules for this world are.

The wealthy are all so very nice.
Avoid choosing poor parents or
Make a good impression in the window of Orphans R Us.
Do not ever acknowledge poverty.
Characters are only wealthy because of their exceptional talent.
A working class person is happy with his lot or he would be wealthy.
Workers always defend the rich against the awful government.
The drink of choice for the elite is always beer.
Government exist only to make difficulties for the abused rich.
The sole utility of government is their protecting the wealthy.

Many readers on Goodreads love this narrative and it falls into the US publisher standard for low end US fiction of No Effort, Insulting, Abhorrent. This book seems to straddle the Insulting/Abhorrent divide. I favour "Insulting" but I am certain that others would vote "Abhorrent". The bulk of low end US science fiction seems to be this bad, based on more than 1200 attempts to read a science fiction book in the last four or five years. Anecdotal evidence but s very large sample. Publishers print this drivel and Amazon/Kindle/Goodreads direct readers to this quality of book. As a result of these books, I have lost much interest in reading science fiction at the moment. The streaming services still provide decent and/or interesting stories, the worst of which are better written than the print.

I only began using YouTube a bit more than two years a ago. In my search for good recommendations from science fiction channels, I found the many other special interest channels. The best find was the book channels. 😍 These are awesome communities of readers, who are thoughtful, curious, cosmopolitan and above all love the world of books. I recommend a visit to several book channels for any reader and have listed some below. Through sponsor spots on essayist and educational channels, I was introduced to Nebula and other dedicated educational video sites, which all seem interesting and modestly priced.

My YouTube picks of the moment.
Red Plateaus, BensBoatBramble, Mia Mulder, Smack the Pony, Fortress of Lugh, Tom Nicholas, Ben and Emily, Munecat, Book Furnace, Noah Samsen, Alt Shift X, Big Train, Andrewism, Abney Park, Space 1889.

As for Amazon/Kindle/Goodreads, please consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 😐

Ominous music begins. 😊 The above was a bit more extreme than most comment clouds but I have seen worst on other readers' reviews. The Kindle interruptions and Goodreads harassment may be a first but I doubt it. Besides "That done once, is more easily done again." is still true.

Sharing my meagre message history with third parties, led to Australian Intelligence attempting to interrogate a friend for my personal information. It was a favour done for a US secret clearance holder through Pine Gap apparently. Illegal, yes. Bizarre, yes. Normal to Americans, possibly. Hopefully you will never be targeted but consider that your temporary immunity is dependent on the whims of deranged libertarian/white nationalist/Nazi man-children. To Travis Corcoran/JP and Claes Rees Jr/cgr710 - Slava Ukraini !!

I suggest some small precautions to make your exposure to this site safer. Minimise profile information, remove lurkers (those friends who monitor but never post), never use Kindle for email, calendar or other personal information, minimise site messaging, screenshot the odd and ugly, use a single use email address for all of Amazon/Kindle/Goodreads. To implement these will not cost anything but to not might well do. Never forget that employees and members alike include snowflakes devoid of morality or humanity and they are American. Ominous music ends. 😊

Be well friend and may we all find Good Reading! 🤗

I am not the best advisor for the quality YouTube channels but these are some of my favourite channels.

Agro Squirrel Narrates, Bobbing Along, Narrowboat Pirate, No Justice MTG, Eleanor Morton, Munecat, Noah Samsen, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, Tulia, Second Thought, May Moon Narrowboat, OrangeRiver, Harbo Wholmes, The Present Past, Deco Art, Lady of the Library, Books and Lala, Sabine Hossenfelder, What Vivi did next, (Dis) Honesty by Daniel Ariely, The Leftist Cooks, Tibees, Chloe Stafler, Iilluminatii, Autumn's Boutique, Clockwork Reader, Kings and Generals, Tom Nicholas, Hello Future Me, Dr Becky, Sarah Z, Jed Herne, Austin McConnell, Merphy Napier, Jack Edwards, Double Down News, Between the Wars, Viva La Dirt League, Squire, The Great War, Natasha's Adventures, Prime of Midlife, Cruising Alba, Cruising the Cut, Prime of Midlife, Lily Simpson, Spacedock, Big Think, Elena Taber, Rebecca Watson, We're in Hell, The Templin Institute, Useful Idiots, Sort of Interesting, Holly the Cafe Boat, Brittany the Bibliophile, World of Antiquity, Certifiably Ingame, The Welsh Viking, Useful Idiots, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Alt Shift X, Event Horizon, Engineering with Rosie, I'm Rosa, Lily's expat life, Kathy's Flog in France, All Shorts, The Juice Media, Real Engineering, Filaxim Historia, Ancient Americas, Cruising Crafts, Travelling K, Camper Vibe, Jessie Gender, Casual Navigation, Smack the Pony, Lore Reloaded, Overly Sarcastic Productions, Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, Luciana Zogbi, Karolina Zebrowska, Jill Bearup, Abby Cox, Celtica, Lindsey Stirling, The Paranormal Scholar, Hakim, Three Arrows, Steve Shives, Patrick is a Navajo, Half as Interesting, Verilybitchie, Fiction Beast, Kidology, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Military Aviation History, The Confused Adipose, Invicta, Paleo Analysis, Practical Engineering, Vlad Vexler, Owen Jones, Philosophy Tube, Cold Fusion, Jabzy, IzzzYzzz, Books with Emily Fox, The Gravel Institute, Brandon F, Timeline, UA Courage, Denys Davydov, Depressed Russian, HBomberGuy, Big Maj Studios, BensBoatBramble, The Mindful Narrowboat, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, TVP News.

I wish you a bright morning, a glorious afternoon, a pleasant evening, a wonderful night and may we all continue learning.

Censorship is criminal, Self-Censorship is tragic.
Joseph Stalin

[Dan Absalonson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how he does it. These books are like no Sci-Fi I've ever read. They are more akin to classical literature where not much happens externally in these quiet beautiful stories, but a lot is going on internally in the main character. This book was written with heart. I really enjoyed the many quiet scenes and descriptions of good meals among old friends. It's certainly a treat for those of us who set off on our first voyage with Ishmael when he was but a kitchen rat who knew how to make good coffee. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next book in the series. Time to set sail once again with some of the old crew and some new friends. Nathan's done it again.

[Sotolf Flasskjegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, just wow, this book was a blast, I just love the universe that Nathan Lowell has created, the characters that lives in it. The whole world just feels more real than I have had books give me in a long time. I can't really come up with anything bad to say about it. I loved it, if you're reading this, just do yourself a favour and read at least the first book of the series. just so it.

if the next one in the series is half as good as this one it will still be one of my favourites. But I'll stop praising right now, the next one in the series is waiting for me!

[Scott Somerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when you have everything and have lost everything?

Six books ago, we met an 18-year-old named Ishmael Horatio Wang who had nowhere to go but the stars. By the end of the “Traders’ Tales” series, Captain Wang owned his own ship and lost his true love. Where does an author go from there?

I am happy to report that our author, Nathan Lowell, goes deep. Captain Wang is back in action, and he isn’t just buying another ship and slipping on his captain’s stars again. Well, he is buying another ship and he is back in the captain’s chair, but it’s anything but “just.”

[Sind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to this book was like catching up with an old friend. I am happy the story continues after the devastating end of the previous book.
But most of all, I am happy to get lost in the relaxing slow pace of Nathan’s storytelling.

[Dan Kenkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a new series but in actuality I think it's just a continuation of the Trader's Tales series, which I really enjoyed. This book was easy to get into and a really enjoyable listen. However I think I'm looking to explore a bit more before committing to a new series using old characters.

[Bety Cajica · Rating 4 out of 5]

De mis primeras lecturas oficiales en Space Opera.
Un poco pesado el arranque, pero conforme avanza, se pone todo muy interesante.

[Jason Braida · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ashes Born. A Seeker’s Tale by Nathan Lowell (Solar Clipper #7)

Rating Clarification: 4.5stars

I have been a fan of Nathan Lowell’s for a number of years now so when I received an e-mail last week announcing the publication of a new book in his Solar Clipper series I moved it to the top of my “To Be Read” list and immediately started it. Given that at any point in time I have between 20 and 25 books on that list, to jump one to the head of the line is a big deal (for me at least). For those who are not familiar with Mr. Lowell’s Solar Clipper series, this is science fiction about the work-a-day man. His main character, Ishmael Wang, was orphaned as a young man. Unfortunately he happened to be living on company world where his deceased mother had been an employee and having lost his mother thus lost his right to live there. In desperation and facing deportation for not having gainful employment with the planetary corporation, he signed aboard a solar clipper, essentially the 24th century’s interstellar equivalent of an ocean going bulk carrier, as a very junior crewmember. The first five books in the series chronical his advancement through the ranks of the merchant service and in the sixth he becomes the owner of his own vessel.

If it sounds boring…well it isn’t. While it is true that there are no space battles or grand political intrigues, there is enough human drama to keep the stories moving. But what these books offer, more than anything else, is a glimpse of the lives of the worker bees of the 24th century. Nathan Lowell’s characters are, for the most part, members of the 99%, not the 1%.

In Owner’s Share, the up until now last and 6th book of the series, Ishmael’s world came crashing down around him as the kind of events which are featured in most science fiction are introduced into the stories. He emerged from that book a rich man but one that is deeply troubled following the murder of his girlfriend and a harrowing experience as the leader of a salvage team aboard a derelict solar clipper which had a serious malfunction resulting in the death of its crew. This is where we meet him at the beginning of In Ashes Born, having fled back to Port Newmar, the merchant services officer training academy, to heal and recuperate. There Mr Lowell reintroduces into the story some familiar characters from Ishmael’s past including one Phillip “Pip” Carstairs, and while I won’t give too much of the plot away, needless to say Pip makes Ishmael an offer he can’t refuse.

I enjoyed In Ashes Born. It did seem to drag a little in spots but in the end this was a book about a new beginning for the main character and, it has to be noted, Ishmael had a lot of emotional baggage to sort through and purge in the book’s opening chapters. This process does not happen particularly quickly and I must admit there were a few moments when I wanted to shake Ishmael and tell him to snap out of it and get back to the deep dark. In Ashes Born is also the first in a new series, “A Seeker’s Tale”, featuring Ishmael Wang and the Solar Clipper universe. So I think Mr Lowell can be forgiven for taking his time setting the stage for what will hopefully be a number of entertaining novels to come. In terms of the story line, In Ashes Born does pick up where Owner’s Share left off. Mr. Lowell’s focus on the day to day workings of life aboard a solar clipper has gradually been replaced by the kind of plots that are more familiar to science fiction readers, featuring contact with shadowy criminal organizations operating outside of the law and settled space, contact that eventually led to Ishmael’s girlfriend being killed by an assassin who was attempting to murder a fellow crew member. In Ashes Born continues this plot transformation as Ishmael and Pip prepare to take their new ship out into the dark away from the law and established order of settled space in hopes of finding and taking revenge on the man and organization who was responsible for this crime.

So all in all I highly recommend In Ashes Born to those who are already fans of the Solar Clipper universe. For those who are looking for a different space opera experience I highly recommend that you download a copy of Quarter Share from Kindle, the first in the Solar Clipper series, and follow the exploits and career of Ishmael Horatio Wang from the very beginning.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, the series continues in a new series. I feel releaved. I love the feel to his stories they are just so mundanely beautiful.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

While billed as the start of a new series, this book is a direct sequel to the Trader's Tales From the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series. The break has its logic in the new direction for the life of our protagonis. At the end of the previous book, Ishmael Wang had achieved his goal of becoming a captain. He is a independently wealthy and does not need to work ever again. This leaves him feeling at loose ends, so he returns to the academy for some soul searching and perhaps the discovery of a new purpose. His very old friend Pip shows up to drag him along in a new venture, and maybe find some closure regarding the events in Owner's Share.

For fans of the series, this book will feel familiar. Ishmael and Pip may be older and wiser but they remain an entertaining pair. Mr. Lowell has developed a high skill in writing dialogue. The events in this book, as in previous ones, are far from epic, but they are as ever quietly entertaining. And while certainly one could criticize the author for creating a future where culture everywhere is a ludicrously homogeneous American idyll, or for ignoring quite a few logical fallacies in the economic model of society, that would just take away from the fun.

http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1976

[Jesse Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the hell did I just read!?

360 pages and no plot. No conflict. Why does this book have an average rating of 4.5 stars? Did we get different versions of the book? 3/4 of the way through the book and there are 3 chapters on designing a logo. A. Logo. I've never experienced a book like this. Endless conversations about beer and coffee. Not like interesting conversations... Conversations about cleaning coffee urns and how much coffee you'll need for a whole crew. Pages and pages and pages. And when something does happen ( and I mean barely ) it doesn't even make sense. Why is any of this happening? This book only has one antagonist. And he only appears in the last quarter of the book. And he doesn't really do anything. And he's defeated easily. That's the only source of conflict in the entire book. I guess I just don't get it. You people who are rating this 4 and 5 stars. Why? What do you see in this book? What am I missing? The prose is fine, except for the extremely irritating affection of the word sir (sar). I even actually liked the characters, as they walked around doing nothing. This book could have been 60 pages and covered everything in a more appropriate amount of detail, and functioned as the first act of the actual story; which never came.

[Dave Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues, but feels more like fiction
In the main series, Quarter Share - Owner's Share This world feels so real. It has that ring of truth.
This addition picks-up almost where the main series left it, but there has been an element of drama added that changes the tone.
-UPDATE- I've now read this book for the forth time and I love it a little more each time. I think part of the reason I didn't like this one as much the first time is that it deals with subjects I wasn't ready to handle when I first read it. The more I re-read this book the more impressed I am with the skill & delicacy Nathan Lowell uses to tell a nuanced story of the enduring human spirit.