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The Science Officer #3
The Gilded Cage
Javier still tinkers with his machines, and tends his gardens and his chicken, despite being a slave, held by pirates. Who are just starting to realize how important the Science Officer is becoming.When Wilhelmina returns, with news that the ship's Dragoon, Djamila Sykora has been kidnapped, all bets are off regarding who survives.And who doesn't.The Gilded Cage explores relationships, honor, the meaning of evil, as well as the importance of blowing shit up.This is the third novella in the Science Officer series. Part of the Alexandria Station universe.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2015
About the author
Blaze Ward
357 books90 followersBlaze Ward writes science fiction in the Alexandria Station universe as well as The Collective. He also write fantasy stories with several characters and series, from an alternate Rome to epic high fantasy in the desert. You can find out more at his website www.blazeward.com, as well as Facebook, here, and other places.
Blaze’s works are available as ebooks, paper, and audio, and can be found at a variety of online vendors (Kobo, Amazon, and others). His newsletter comes out quarterly, and you can also follow his blog on his website. He really enjoys interacting with fans, and looks forward to any and all questions—even ones about his books!
Blaze’s works are available as ebooks, paper, and audio, and can be found at a variety of online vendors (Kobo, Amazon, and others). His newsletter comes out quarterly, and you can also follow his blog on his website. He really enjoys interacting with fans, and looks forward to any and all questions—even ones about his books!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 27, 2022
4 One Silent Ping For Mankind Stars
The Gilded Cage is the third book in The Science Officer series by Blaze Ward.
Gilded Cage filled the absence that Mind Field left. In character development mostly. Where Javier and Syroka straddle this crater of intense, and confusing, hatred. I can understand his loathing. Hers seems to be more so self manifestation, that organically transitioned into reality. She convinced herself it was the only truth, and he very naturally confirmed it for her. Seems like a survival mechanism.
Javier is slowly unraveling a weave of intricate personalities that unmistakably resembles split-personality-disorders. With at least a dash of PTSD. Somewhere inside of his careful Javier, quirky, Science Officer veneer lives a man who committed unspeakable deeds in the name of righteousness and futuristic patriotism. This amalgamation of assassin, Captain, and more.
I'm happy with Willhemina's reappearance. Not entirely comforted by the circumstances that brought her return. I wouldn't have wished these experiences on Sykora. Even if she allows her own internalized issues to hue reality and create magnificent problems, easily of avoided. Hopefully there will be more Mina in this tales future. Her companionable relationship with Suvi supports this eventuality. And I personally agree with the confined AI, Navarre could benefit from her influence.
The Gilded Cage is the third book in The Science Officer series by Blaze Ward.
Gilded Cage filled the absence that Mind Field left. In character development mostly. Where Javier and Syroka straddle this crater of intense, and confusing, hatred. I can understand his loathing. Hers seems to be more so self manifestation, that organically transitioned into reality. She convinced herself it was the only truth, and he very naturally confirmed it for her. Seems like a survival mechanism.
Javier is slowly unraveling a weave of intricate personalities that unmistakably resembles split-personality-disorders. With at least a dash of PTSD. Somewhere inside of his careful Javier, quirky, Science Officer veneer lives a man who committed unspeakable deeds in the name of righteousness and futuristic patriotism. This amalgamation of assassin, Captain, and more.
I'm happy with Willhemina's reappearance. Not entirely comforted by the circumstances that brought her return. I wouldn't have wished these experiences on Sykora. Even if she allows her own internalized issues to hue reality and create magnificent problems, easily of avoided. Hopefully there will be more Mina in this tales future. Her companionable relationship with Suvi supports this eventuality. And I personally agree with the confined AI, Navarre could benefit from her influence.
December 7, 2020
I think this is my favorite of all the Science Officer books so far (through Book 8). Wilhelmina 'Mina' was introduced in the second book and now she's back with a vengeance. Some interesting dynamics develop between Javier, Djamila and Mina. She sometimes acts as gasoline and other times as ice water in the match-and-tinder relationship that the Djamla and Javier share.
This book is a bit darker and more 'adult themed' then the first two; but not all pirates are good people. Most interesting is we start to get glimpses of a much darker past to Javier then his goofy prankster façade suggests. I also want to put in a mention for Suvi. She really shines in this story as well. We needed the first two books to build up to to this point, but "Gilded Cage" made me a forever fan!
This book is a bit darker and more 'adult themed' then the first two; but not all pirates are good people. Most interesting is we start to get glimpses of a much darker past to Javier then his goofy prankster façade suggests. I also want to put in a mention for Suvi. She really shines in this story as well. We needed the first two books to build up to to this point, but "Gilded Cage" made me a forever fan!
May 19, 2022
Much to my delight, Blaze Ward continues his high-quality writing in the third installment of his military scifi series, The Science officer.
Javier was captured by space pirates, who destroyed his scout ship and upset his life. He negotiates his way out of slavery and into a valuable officer on their ship, where he can pay off his slave debt.
But things change. The imperturbable captain Zolokov keeps generating new challenges for Javier. Once again, Javier must risk his life to save a crew member or three. One of them hate his guts. They're in a den of pirates. Oh my.
Oddly, Javier had been there before.
Read and find out what happens.
Javier was captured by space pirates, who destroyed his scout ship and upset his life. He negotiates his way out of slavery and into a valuable officer on their ship, where he can pay off his slave debt.
But things change. The imperturbable captain Zolokov keeps generating new challenges for Javier. Once again, Javier must risk his life to save a crew member or three. One of them hate his guts. They're in a den of pirates. Oh my.
Oddly, Javier had been there before.
Read and find out what happens.
September 1, 2021
In short: This is "Barbarella meets Jack Sparrow" instead of "The Martian vs Lost in Space"
The book is still good, but it feels more ...basic? The finesse is not entirely gone, but I was a bit disappointed. It felt like a holodeck episode in Star Trek. Plus James Bond. And Jack Sparrow. I wish I could give it 2.5 stars.
The book is still good, but it feels more ...basic? The finesse is not entirely gone, but I was a bit disappointed. It felt like a holodeck episode in Star Trek. Plus James Bond. And Jack Sparrow. I wish I could give it 2.5 stars.
December 20, 2023
Wooo boy - the author has opened a can of worms when it comes to adding depth to Javier's character. This novel turned out to be amazingly dark, with Javier showing himself as a morally-gray kinda-knight with a focus on the goal, not the means. Pirates might behave like this, but would naval officers? Aren't naval officers supposed to be gentlemen?
December 14, 2022
Wow Wow Wow
Fantastic! I think this is one of the best series I have read! Lots of action. Sometimes you can think oh yea they are going to do this next. But not here!! Lots of surprises.
Fantastic! I think this is one of the best series I have read! Lots of action. Sometimes you can think oh yea they are going to do this next. But not here!! Lots of surprises.
Read
April 25, 2021too sarcastic for me, sexual innuendo annoys me and bad language. storyline is good.
December 4, 2022
Hatred
Deals with devils, and then you know who you dance with. Remember to walk without rhythms you don't alert the worms, and then the sequel make much more since
Deals with devils, and then you know who you dance with. Remember to walk without rhythms you don't alert the worms, and then the sequel make much more since
January 13, 2023
Best o Far
Three books into the series, and this one is the best to date. Really enjoyable. The relationship between characters is entertaining.
Three books into the series, and this one is the best to date. Really enjoyable. The relationship between characters is entertaining.
March 16, 2016
Not as good as the first 2 but still quite good reading. Really enjoy the author's unique voice: sarcastic, detached yet focused. This story goes further into torture than I care for. Otherwise, an author worth following.
Do very much wish they would get a different reader for the audiobook. He drops into a cadence that actually obscures the text rather than revealing it. Often find myself just listening to the rhythm and not hearing the story. His delivery would be great if someone could just get him to tone it down.
Do very much wish they would get a different reader for the audiobook. He drops into a cadence that actually obscures the text rather than revealing it. Often find myself just listening to the rhythm and not hearing the story. His delivery would be great if someone could just get him to tone it down.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews