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Space Cruiser Musashi
A battered starship is reborn as the galaxy's greatest weapon vs. a horde of armored transhuman warriors...
The RCS Musashi is an antique ship—a last-chance posting for the unmotivated and undisciplined in the Fleet. But their captain, aging war hero Harrison Kane, believes that his crew of misfits can summon their talents to become the very best.
A disgraced XO…
an insubordinate bad-girl helmsman…
an arrogant and possibly psychotic telepath…
an engineer who relates emotionally only to machines…
a genetically engineered Marine Sergeant who strives to become a samurai warrior…
They will have to band together to stop the Valorian threat…
And stand together even when their own government stoops to betray them to appease the enemy.
The RCS Musashi is an antique ship—a last-chance posting for the unmotivated and undisciplined in the Fleet. But their captain, aging war hero Harrison Kane, believes that his crew of misfits can summon their talents to become the very best.
A disgraced XO…
an insubordinate bad-girl helmsman…
an arrogant and possibly psychotic telepath…
an engineer who relates emotionally only to machines…
a genetically engineered Marine Sergeant who strives to become a samurai warrior…
They will have to band together to stop the Valorian threat…
And stand together even when their own government stoops to betray them to appease the enemy.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
127 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 9, 2016
This was a good, entertaining story. Not full of deep meaning, but a solid plot that moved forward at a good clip, and showcased likeable, interesting characters and vivid action scenes. I went in thinking "eh, I'll give it a shot, though I don't expect much," mostly because of the kinda cheesy cover. But I became seriously captivated by the end. I'd like to read more of these people's adventures.
One thing to get past is the sexuality. I'm not offended by it, and the enlightened attitudes are a pleasant change from many stories, but I worry the author might be limiting the reach of the novel because of it.
In the society this story occurs in, nobody cares or even bothers to remark on who is gay, heterosexual, or other. That's a nice thing to see. The society is also very casual about sex, seeing it more as something to do for fun, and engaging in pairings, orgies, etc. on a regular basis. It makes sense in the world the author has created, and seems like a logical consequence of a society where sexuality isn't taboo. But it will make the more prudish sorts in our own world squirm.
Surprisingly, with all the mentions of casual sex, there is only one real sex scene in the novel, which really looked like it was added just for the sake of having a sex scene. It's kind of too bad, because the rest of the novel is really good, and I think the author may be limiting the audience that can be reached by advertising the novel as "sexy" in the first sentence of the description and by including that one scene.
But if nothing in those last two paragraphs makes you uncomfortable, then I'd recommend this book to you. It's a cut above many space operas you might read.
One thing to get past is the sexuality. I'm not offended by it, and the enlightened attitudes are a pleasant change from many stories, but I worry the author might be limiting the reach of the novel because of it.
In the society this story occurs in, nobody cares or even bothers to remark on who is gay, heterosexual, or other. That's a nice thing to see. The society is also very casual about sex, seeing it more as something to do for fun, and engaging in pairings, orgies, etc. on a regular basis. It makes sense in the world the author has created, and seems like a logical consequence of a society where sexuality isn't taboo. But it will make the more prudish sorts in our own world squirm.
Surprisingly, with all the mentions of casual sex, there is only one real sex scene in the novel, which really looked like it was added just for the sake of having a sex scene. It's kind of too bad, because the rest of the novel is really good, and I think the author may be limiting the audience that can be reached by advertising the novel as "sexy" in the first sentence of the description and by including that one scene.
But if nothing in those last two paragraphs makes you uncomfortable, then I'd recommend this book to you. It's a cut above many space operas you might read.
June 28, 2016
Some promise but ultimately disappointing
I nearly stopped reading this book before even getting through the first quarter. The only good thing I can say for it is that the universe the author created is interesting. Unfortunately everything else was unappealing. The use of the phrase "petite pilot" became entirely annoying by the end of the book. The characters are completely disjointed. It's a very "Star Trek" inspired array of people who serve no purpose other than to be that particular character trope. None of these characters show any capability of actually serving in a military environment, and they all lack any depth that would make them individually interesting. Dialogue is lacking any real emotion, the whole cast of characters feels like they're written for cheap TV. The biggest problem is that the whole thing feels like a fan fiction written by a comic-con goer that is obsessed with Japan but has no real knowledge of or respect for the culture. I grew up in Japan and when I moved back to America the most glaring thing I found was the "American otaku". I make no judgement of the author, but this book has the unnecessary sprinkling of Japanese references and (in my personal opinion) lack of understanding of the references that I attribute to that group. I only give it two stars because the universe around the events could be promising, but the story itself was one of the rare books I almost wish I hadn't read.
I nearly stopped reading this book before even getting through the first quarter. The only good thing I can say for it is that the universe the author created is interesting. Unfortunately everything else was unappealing. The use of the phrase "petite pilot" became entirely annoying by the end of the book. The characters are completely disjointed. It's a very "Star Trek" inspired array of people who serve no purpose other than to be that particular character trope. None of these characters show any capability of actually serving in a military environment, and they all lack any depth that would make them individually interesting. Dialogue is lacking any real emotion, the whole cast of characters feels like they're written for cheap TV. The biggest problem is that the whole thing feels like a fan fiction written by a comic-con goer that is obsessed with Japan but has no real knowledge of or respect for the culture. I grew up in Japan and when I moved back to America the most glaring thing I found was the "American otaku". I make no judgement of the author, but this book has the unnecessary sprinkling of Japanese references and (in my personal opinion) lack of understanding of the references that I attribute to that group. I only give it two stars because the universe around the events could be promising, but the story itself was one of the rare books I almost wish I hadn't read.
April 24, 2017
Much, much better than I expected.
June 24, 2016
Pretty inoffensive yet flat
Hey readers of reviews. This is an interesting concept novel, mind control and all that mixed with semi strong tech, mixed in with some sexy times. It just felt flat and formulaic. Yeah we have our scheming government head betraying humanity to the bad men, but are they really men anymore? Oh and we also have some efforts by the author to present some differing views on sex. Not entirely sure if our dear author is trying to be shocking, but orgies, or really just alluded to orgies, and lesbianism really isn't that shocking. Even first time lesbianism. No serious highs or lows in this, just a pretty flat narrative. The sexy times are not particularly sexy, the battle scenes are rather short of high drama and suspense, and the people are freakishly flat and undeveloped. Not completely impossible to read, the editing, spelling and mechanical presentation of the book is right on, but there is just a serious lack of meat to tear into that would bring this up to an average book. If you are bored to near death have at, but it really is not even good enough to maintain your full focus. Two stars because it is well formated, edited, and because it's difficult to write an entire novel that isn't complete trash.
Hey readers of reviews. This is an interesting concept novel, mind control and all that mixed with semi strong tech, mixed in with some sexy times. It just felt flat and formulaic. Yeah we have our scheming government head betraying humanity to the bad men, but are they really men anymore? Oh and we also have some efforts by the author to present some differing views on sex. Not entirely sure if our dear author is trying to be shocking, but orgies, or really just alluded to orgies, and lesbianism really isn't that shocking. Even first time lesbianism. No serious highs or lows in this, just a pretty flat narrative. The sexy times are not particularly sexy, the battle scenes are rather short of high drama and suspense, and the people are freakishly flat and undeveloped. Not completely impossible to read, the editing, spelling and mechanical presentation of the book is right on, but there is just a serious lack of meat to tear into that would bring this up to an average book. If you are bored to near death have at, but it really is not even good enough to maintain your full focus. Two stars because it is well formated, edited, and because it's difficult to write an entire novel that isn't complete trash.
May 22, 2016
Great space tale
Definite adult tale a grownup space cowboy. The Horatio Hornblower for the twenty first century. This cold become a very enjoyable services, swashbuckling, exploring new whatever. I could see such a series, hope it comes to fruition. If you like swashbuckling space stories then this is for you. At first I was not sure about the story. But as I read on I was drawn into a desire to find out what happens to the crew next. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and development of the individuals of this crew.
Definite adult tale a grownup space cowboy. The Horatio Hornblower for the twenty first century. This cold become a very enjoyable services, swashbuckling, exploring new whatever. I could see such a series, hope it comes to fruition. If you like swashbuckling space stories then this is for you. At first I was not sure about the story. But as I read on I was drawn into a desire to find out what happens to the crew next. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and development of the individuals of this crew.
September 11, 2016
I've read a ton of sci fi this year and this was pretty fun. It has a great story and the author doesn't have to talk about how hyper drives work for ten pages. Great read and will pick up more by this author for sure. I hope this story continues!
June 20, 2017
This was a purchase last summer when I wanted something different in the sci-fi genre. I read the first chapter wasn't hooked right off so I passed on it last summer. This summer picked it up again and it was ok. The action was well-paced. Characters were not bad. The typos and lack of attention to detail really drove me crazy though. It was good for price. I doubt I'll read book 2. Space Cruiser Musashi: Book 2: Flesh and Blood
September 2, 2016
Good story but...
Two problems from my perspective. One, although most sentences were good, several sentences scattered throughout the book were meaningless. Two, I am familiar with Musashi's "Book of Five Rings" and would have liked more development of the first four rings in the story.
However, I still enjoyed the story!
Two problems from my perspective. One, although most sentences were good, several sentences scattered throughout the book were meaningless. Two, I am familiar with Musashi's "Book of Five Rings" and would have liked more development of the first four rings in the story.
However, I still enjoyed the story!
May 2, 2016
A definite recommendation for anyone who read the Japanese epic and enjoys science fiction.
Read
March 21, 2021Accept the existence of psychic warp drives, and you're off to the races for an adventure that pits have and have-nots in an arena not only of mundane wealth, but the rights and privileges of genetic modification. Do you side with the hard-scrabbling colonists, so uncivilized as to give birth to natural young themselves or those their labors supply with food: The Republic of homogenized perfection, everyone engineered to exacting perfection, with the exception of voluntary cat-ears just to liven things up. Let's get together for some shockingly casual sex and discuss what to do about the mysterious marauders wearing armor of living bone as they gnaw on the fringes of civilization in pursuit of a murderous agenda.
Good solid action, with a sympathetic character whose trials and tribulations are explored in depth. I think for me, the hardest part is the psionic(psychic) interstellar space travel. Psychic powers are something that should be justified more vigorously, being something of a hard sci-fi afficianado, there's not really a basis in physical law to allow it. Not that it shouldn't be explored, but authors should put a lot of effort into convincing me. If this doesn't bother you, get a targeting reticle embedded in your eye and aim your sights at this little gem.
Good solid action, with a sympathetic character whose trials and tribulations are explored in depth. I think for me, the hardest part is the psionic(psychic) interstellar space travel. Psychic powers are something that should be justified more vigorously, being something of a hard sci-fi afficianado, there's not really a basis in physical law to allow it. Not that it shouldn't be explored, but authors should put a lot of effort into convincing me. If this doesn't bother you, get a targeting reticle embedded in your eye and aim your sights at this little gem.
September 3, 2019
Firstly this is a classic example of “ never judge a book by its cover”
Whomever saw the artwork and thought “yes that’s THE cover” needs to rethink their aesthetic sympathies.
A really nice space opera adventure, not the best book ever written but by far not the worst. Looking forward to reading the second instalment.
Whomever saw the artwork and thought “yes that’s THE cover” needs to rethink their aesthetic sympathies.
A really nice space opera adventure, not the best book ever written but by far not the worst. Looking forward to reading the second instalment.
July 17, 2017
This is a good, light, fun, science fiction. It has all the characteristics you expect from a space opera; light plot, good protagonists, evil vilans, and no real details about the tech. The pacing is good. This is nice escapist reading.
July 6, 2017
Not as bad as the synopsis says..
March 18, 2018
Good start
Fun book to read, i hope it gets better in the second one, as the main character and the other characters are interesting enough and you can easily like them
Fun book to read, i hope it gets better in the second one, as the main character and the other characters are interesting enough and you can easily like them
August 20, 2018
I enjoyed the audiobook
December 1, 2022
Military fiction.
A different version of Honor Harrington? A strong female protagonist and human beings as aliens. The Musashi takes a lot of hits on the path to victory.
A different version of Honor Harrington? A strong female protagonist and human beings as aliens. The Musashi takes a lot of hits on the path to victory.
January 3, 2017
Great book
F
Finished reading on 1/3/17 . This is a space opera at its best. Enjoyed it so much that I finished it one afternoon. If you want a light and fun read be sure to get it.
F
Finished reading on 1/3/17 . This is a space opera at its best. Enjoyed it so much that I finished it one afternoon. If you want a light and fun read be sure to get it.
August 1, 2016
Enjoyable but not especially well written. It has some aspirations to be hard sci-if but everything is just nano this and quantum that. There a lot of inconsistencies in the technology used.
One glaring example is the protagonists initial voyage to orbit along a space elevator described as 30 000 km long with the trip taking an hour. I don't care what kind of inertial dampeners, or "gravity spikes" as the book calls them, you have. That is still not something you want to do in an atmosphere.
They have fully working neural interfaces but they use buttons and toggles and screens to fly the ships? They have nano it's capable of manipulating the tiniest of materials but still the ships are filled with wires and cables? And repairing the ship under fire is a matter of one guy crawling around connecting wires?
All the guns on a ship are for some reason on top and a well fired volley can take out the entire "gun deck"? And there are marines physically present in the guns operating them?
And why the hell is exploding consoles a common way to die for bridge personnel? Why is the bridge even close to the hull of the warships?
Many of the characters are just walking talking tropes and the character development in many cases feel forced and unearned. The main romance plot is wooden and unmotivated.
But it does have some nice action, there are some things about the universe that I like and I did actually have fun reading this despite its many many flaws.
Also I just can't believe that anyone would give this book 5 stars without it being some kind of puppet account or a friend of the writer. There just isn't any place in the universe where this could be considered a perfect book.
One glaring example is the protagonists initial voyage to orbit along a space elevator described as 30 000 km long with the trip taking an hour. I don't care what kind of inertial dampeners, or "gravity spikes" as the book calls them, you have. That is still not something you want to do in an atmosphere.
They have fully working neural interfaces but they use buttons and toggles and screens to fly the ships? They have nano it's capable of manipulating the tiniest of materials but still the ships are filled with wires and cables? And repairing the ship under fire is a matter of one guy crawling around connecting wires?
All the guns on a ship are for some reason on top and a well fired volley can take out the entire "gun deck"? And there are marines physically present in the guns operating them?
And why the hell is exploding consoles a common way to die for bridge personnel? Why is the bridge even close to the hull of the warships?
Many of the characters are just walking talking tropes and the character development in many cases feel forced and unearned. The main romance plot is wooden and unmotivated.
But it does have some nice action, there are some things about the universe that I like and I did actually have fun reading this despite its many many flaws.
Also I just can't believe that anyone would give this book 5 stars without it being some kind of puppet account or a friend of the writer. There just isn't any place in the universe where this could be considered a perfect book.
January 16, 2017
A mess of incoherent ideology
Just a mess. The author is strongly pushing ideological viewpoints so he gets a review based on that. Mostly political and moral (or lack there of) fluff that contains LOTS of circular logic and hypocrisy. Author has an extremely narrow viewpoint based on his personal view while lacking any sense of empathy. His personal views are most certainly his own as they are not based on the real world. His "human condition" is on display but written with an individuals view and not relevant to anyone else. The world building is done with a very narcissistic view. The story comes across as someone who reads a lot and regurgitates "intellectual" ideologies without really understanding people or having any real grasp on the realities of others, their "human condition". Completely lacking in societal, political and moral reasoning.
Just a mess. The author is strongly pushing ideological viewpoints so he gets a review based on that. Mostly political and moral (or lack there of) fluff that contains LOTS of circular logic and hypocrisy. Author has an extremely narrow viewpoint based on his personal view while lacking any sense of empathy. His personal views are most certainly his own as they are not based on the real world. His "human condition" is on display but written with an individuals view and not relevant to anyone else. The world building is done with a very narcissistic view. The story comes across as someone who reads a lot and regurgitates "intellectual" ideologies without really understanding people or having any real grasp on the realities of others, their "human condition". Completely lacking in societal, political and moral reasoning.
April 18, 2016
This is a fun, fast-paced sci-fi action-adventure along the lines of Star Trek, the new Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, and Babylon 5. It's a simple story with great characters, dialogue, and action. The main character, Lisette Brattain, is a complex kick-ass female protagonist who doesn't feel like a man written as a female character. There's a strong LGBT element in the story--the primary love story, in fact--but it's well-handled and definitely adds some heat.
I also loved the slightly satirical nature of the Republic that the characters are all part of. It reminded me a little of Robocop and Starship Troopers, but never detracted from the story. It just added a knowing depth to the background. I strongly recommend this to modern sci-fi fans who are looking for a new universe to enjoy!
I also loved the slightly satirical nature of the Republic that the characters are all part of. It reminded me a little of Robocop and Starship Troopers, but never detracted from the story. It just added a knowing depth to the background. I strongly recommend this to modern sci-fi fans who are looking for a new universe to enjoy!
December 13, 2016
Wrong Category
Porn is Porn, LGBT IS LGBT, how did this end up in mil SciFi? I believe author had different agenda as the books orientation and focus changed about mid-way.
And Musashi was a legendary samurai but more famous for his psyching his opponent out as a tactic and bringing a gun to a knife fight. Yes, he had some thoughts about da 'Void' in his last book, I think but famous for it? Nope.
Speaking of last books, last time I read this author. Should have been up front on his agenda.
Porn is Porn, LGBT IS LGBT, how did this end up in mil SciFi? I believe author had different agenda as the books orientation and focus changed about mid-way.
And Musashi was a legendary samurai but more famous for his psyching his opponent out as a tactic and bringing a gun to a knife fight. Yes, he had some thoughts about da 'Void' in his last book, I think but famous for it? Nope.
Speaking of last books, last time I read this author. Should have been up front on his agenda.
July 21, 2016
This is an enjoyable space opera along the same vein as the Quarter Share series. Disparate characters try to work together to solve a galactic problem that is way over their heads, and succeed because they are pure of heart.
Not great, but nicely done.
Not great, but nicely done.
May 17, 2016
??? I have no idea
This has to be the craziest book I have ever read. Dumb story that makes no sense. Characters that are so screwed up you want to throw the book in the trash. I couldn't finish it.
This has to be the craziest book I have ever read. Dumb story that makes no sense. Characters that are so screwed up you want to throw the book in the trash. I couldn't finish it.
September 19, 2016
I was really surprised: I expected a cliché-heavy space opera, and got a thoroughly fun and pretty intelligent read instead. 5 stars for the sheer pleasure of a traditional scifi story with a few twists.
January 3, 2017
Fun read and interesting story.
This was not the best story ever, but it was entertaining and provocative. I really liked the characters and some of the sub plots were a bit cool too.
This was not the best story ever, but it was entertaining and provocative. I really liked the characters and some of the sub plots were a bit cool too.
June 21, 2016
Great story
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were wild and crazy and I loved them pulling together to destroy evil!
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were wild and crazy and I loved them pulling together to destroy evil!
December 3, 2016
Space Cruiser
X-rated sex, hit or miss proofreading, classic errors of science, just really annoying waste of good characters, plot, and action
X-rated sex, hit or miss proofreading, classic errors of science, just really annoying waste of good characters, plot, and action
December 4, 2016
Hated the lesbian sex angle. Contributed nothing to the story!
January 6, 2017
Flight into fantasy with engaging sims, interesting characters & the splintered development of humanity among the stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews