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Stars Like Cold Fire
After Jeff Yi escaped from the hell of the Naval Academy, he thought his troubles were behind him. As a junior officer on a ship of the line, he could grow into the role so many seemed to expect of him. But when he barely survives an attack by a gang of fascist thugs, his past shockingly catches up to him.
Instead of obscurity, he is given a command of his own – acting Captain of the smallest, ugliest ship in the fleet. As war looms, Yi must win over a hostile crew and face his own demons while battling an implacable foe that wants nothing less than the destruction of everything he has ever believed in.
Instead of obscurity, he is given a command of his own – acting Captain of the smallest, ugliest ship in the fleet. As war looms, Yi must win over a hostile crew and face his own demons while battling an implacable foe that wants nothing less than the destruction of everything he has ever believed in.
- GenresScience Fiction
228 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 18, 2019
Nice story. It always stinks when folks are put into circumstances beyond their control, but it's always worse when those conditions are forced on them by others who know what they're doing is wrong. I'm always happy to find stories where things don't go south for the poor sap who had nothing to do with the situation where they find themselves, and this one is a great example of that. It's definitely not the best story of this kind I've read, but it's a good one, and if you're a scifi fan, this one should go on your to read shelf.
January 30, 2019
This was a fun little read. I got it as part of the Story Bundle. Parts of it felt real and "raw" (not in the "unedited" sense of the word -- just emotional). Military Sci-Fi isn't always my cup of tea, but this wasn't really about the battles too much, mostly about the protagonist and their adventures. Fun.
February 19, 2017
A short but fast paced adventure in which we see a young man face both himself and his past to survive.
September 19, 2016
I enjoyed this one more and more as I read through it. Early in the narrative, I found myself feeling a bit of disdain for the protagonist, Jeff Yi (for spoilerish reasons I won't get into here), but his character arc quite handily addressed my feelings and I rather ended up liking him in the latter half of the book. Brent Nichols has a real knack for writing action, and there's a good dose peppered throughout the story. The science end of the Sci-Fi was thoroughly developed without being burdensome, and made the book's various settings feel very real and lived-in.
All in all, Stars Like Cold Fire is a very solid space opera with a military bent, and well worth your time.
All in all, Stars Like Cold Fire is a very solid space opera with a military bent, and well worth your time.
January 26, 2019
Naturally Jeff isn’t seen by his more experienced crew as being ready to command them, which seems to confirm their belief that Chinese officers benefit from favoritism. His own second in command bullies him, the cook makes excellent food for others while ruining his meals, and so forth. This part of the book was a bit hard to read for me–I find it difficult to read about bullying. Luckily it doesn’t take too long before Jeff starts getting clever, finding ways to win over or overcome his crew. He clearly does have the capacity to become a great officer; he just got thrust into the role of command before he was ready. When he starts, he doesn’t even know how to draw up a duty roster, or even whether that’s his job or his second’s.
I love the characters in this book. They all have depth and interest to them. Jeff’s crew (seven plus himself) is small enough to let us get to know the individuals and their quirks. Jeff comes up with some very creative ways to work with, through, and around his crew, although it doesn’t always work, which is also a nice touch.
Jeff’s ship is not any kind of warship, so you won’t see a lot of extensive space battles. There’s one or two, however, in which Jeff and his crew have to be doubly creative because they have so few weapons. There are also some great escape sequences. The action is engrossing and tense and kept me riveted to the page.
This is a delightful bit of military SF escapism. Well worth the read!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/01/r...
I love the characters in this book. They all have depth and interest to them. Jeff’s crew (seven plus himself) is small enough to let us get to know the individuals and their quirks. Jeff comes up with some very creative ways to work with, through, and around his crew, although it doesn’t always work, which is also a nice touch.
Jeff’s ship is not any kind of warship, so you won’t see a lot of extensive space battles. There’s one or two, however, in which Jeff and his crew have to be doubly creative because they have so few weapons. There are also some great escape sequences. The action is engrossing and tense and kept me riveted to the page.
This is a delightful bit of military SF escapism. Well worth the read!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/01/r...
November 15, 2019
This sci fi opera reads like HORATIO HORNBLOWER in space, combining good pacing and craft with plenty of dramatic tension and some terrific action.
The story begins with Jeff Yi, who graduates from the Naval Academy expecting a junior posting in the Wukan fleet. When he’s attacked by a political gang, it becomes clear he’s a target because of his father. For Yi’s protection, he’s assigned command of the smallest, ugliest ship in the fleet, a guppy-class scout ship, and sent to the deep space of the frontier with Ryland. Along the way, he must contend with a crew that doesn’t respect him due to his inexperience. As war brews, Yi must learn to command, as he will soon face the ultimate test. The Ryland fleet is coming, intent on destroying everything he ever believed in.
This book has all the earnest virtue of a simple story well told. Young naval officer is in over his head and must summon immense resourcefulness to survive a battle with an overwhelming enemy, and then rises to the occasion. The characterization is light but solid, the pacing brisk, the dramatic tension and resulting catharsis well executed, and the action sequences engaging.
The story begins with Jeff Yi, who graduates from the Naval Academy expecting a junior posting in the Wukan fleet. When he’s attacked by a political gang, it becomes clear he’s a target because of his father. For Yi’s protection, he’s assigned command of the smallest, ugliest ship in the fleet, a guppy-class scout ship, and sent to the deep space of the frontier with Ryland. Along the way, he must contend with a crew that doesn’t respect him due to his inexperience. As war brews, Yi must learn to command, as he will soon face the ultimate test. The Ryland fleet is coming, intent on destroying everything he ever believed in.
This book has all the earnest virtue of a simple story well told. Young naval officer is in over his head and must summon immense resourcefulness to survive a battle with an overwhelming enemy, and then rises to the occasion. The characterization is light but solid, the pacing brisk, the dramatic tension and resulting catharsis well executed, and the action sequences engaging.
May 25, 2019
The plot was nothing new but then few plots are these days. It’s all in the execution which was suitably satisfying.
Love a good space military story where the bad guys and the bad good guys all receive what they have coming, at the hands of the hero who everyone underestimates but ends up with loyalty and respect.
Love a good space military story where the bad guys and the bad good guys all receive what they have coming, at the hands of the hero who everyone underestimates but ends up with loyalty and respect.
December 18, 2020
This book sat on my "to read" pile for quite a long time as the blurb on the back cover didn't intrigue me. However, once I started to read it, it was hard to put down. It is pure space opera but with an undertone of the examination of the terror of getting put in a position that you are not ready for. Good, fun read.
March 11, 2019
A nice light read with some interesting story and character development.
November 20, 2019
Brilliant!
March 19, 2020
Lovely tale altogether
Excellent page Turner i could not it it down once I started i really hope that the next books are as good.
Excellent page Turner i could not it it down once I started i really hope that the next books are as good.
July 12, 2020
This book had its week points. Its frustrating points. But still its a solid 3 stars from me. I will go on to read the next book as well.
November 19, 2016
Sometimes I'm sorry I'm such a fast reader. This book was one of those times. Two-and-a-half hours of undiluted reading pleasure, and then it was over. I'll be looking for more by Brent Nichols, and I'll be looking for more SF. I see he's been writing steampunk and fantasy, and I'll be checking those out, but I want more of this!
'This' is close-focus military SF, in this case space naval, with both ship-to-ship combat and individual combat on a space station. I love the premise of the humble, fumbling young academy graduate having to sink or swim in his first command, and Nichols delivers fully on the promise of the blurb. Jeff Yi's horrible little ship is absolutely outstanding. There is adequate political background, leaving one wanting to know more, which I trust will be forthcoming in later books. The plot makes sense and the pace is fast. Tension is superb, action scenes very good with moderate gore. The writing style is perfectly clean and flows well.
I've not been so strongly reminded of early Heinlein adventures for years (Starman Jones, Starship Troopers and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, (but this time with stronger characterization and less of Heinlein's socio-political agenda). Also has much in common with David Weber's On Basilisk Station, and Elizabeth Moon's Once a Hero, and have a look at Alasdair C. Shaw's Liberty too.
In case you're still wondering, highly recommended!
'This' is close-focus military SF, in this case space naval, with both ship-to-ship combat and individual combat on a space station. I love the premise of the humble, fumbling young academy graduate having to sink or swim in his first command, and Nichols delivers fully on the promise of the blurb. Jeff Yi's horrible little ship is absolutely outstanding. There is adequate political background, leaving one wanting to know more, which I trust will be forthcoming in later books. The plot makes sense and the pace is fast. Tension is superb, action scenes very good with moderate gore. The writing style is perfectly clean and flows well.
I've not been so strongly reminded of early Heinlein adventures for years (Starman Jones, Starship Troopers and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, (but this time with stronger characterization and less of Heinlein's socio-political agenda). Also has much in common with David Weber's On Basilisk Station, and Elizabeth Moon's Once a Hero, and have a look at Alasdair C. Shaw's Liberty too.
In case you're still wondering, highly recommended!
August 23, 2016
The first part of the book is an intricately detailed account of what it would be like to unexpectedly become an officer of an unfamiliar ship, and to deal with subtle, hidden politics. Once the war between Wukan and Ryland breaks out, things heat up and the plot races to a strong finish. I would have liked to read more about how the divisions between the different political factions had developed, however that might be the subject of another book. Overall an entertaining read.
August 17, 2016
Bit of a slow start, but I had a hard time putting it down once the story got going.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews