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Privateer Tales #6.5
Life of a Miner
Two young orphans, Priloe and his sister, Milenette, managed to escape a lifetime of enslavement with a lot of help from Liam Hoffen, Privateer. As grateful as Priloe might be, he can’t imagine why Hoffen would give up his family to go careening around the stars, when family is all he’s ever wanted. A chance encounter with Silver, Liam’s mother, offers Priloe a new life on the family’s asteroid mining operation. He seizes the opportunity, not realizing that trouble is just around the corner. Before he has his feet under him, he’s dragged into a mystery at an abandoned mining claim. Though just a kid, Priloe has a lifetime of difficult decisions behind him, but those he faces now could well separate him from the family he’s desperate to join. When another’s life hangs in the balance, he must make a choice, no matter the consequences. Life of a Miner is a quick, enjoyable read that was originally conceived, written, and released on Jamie McFarlane’s blog at fickledragon.com.
66 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2016
28 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 29, 2018
This is a short story in two parts. The first part is about a lad travelling in a space ship to join a group of asteroid miners, learning via computer games, a female 'educator' and an AI how to do the work of mining and loading.
The second part jumps with no connective lines to some time later when the lad is doing the work and meeting other young people in the communal hall. Naturally the boys get up to mischief while strangely unsupervised outside the mine hub.
A few dislikes; the first part was entirely dialogue and nothing happened except that the boy learnt a little about how to do this work. I was amused to see the word Turing where Turning should have been. The second part presented new kids and they were just names to me, boys with a wish to explore and not be thought scared. They never came across as any deeper. I know it's a short but everyone felt one-dimensional.
I have not read the other books in this series and this tale might make more impact on me if I had. I am interested in the asteroid mining aspect; these miners seem to be claiming metals including iron for habitats with no resources, rather than what we would consider valuable metals. The author makes an effort to describe the low-g environment.
This is an unbiased review.
The second part jumps with no connective lines to some time later when the lad is doing the work and meeting other young people in the communal hall. Naturally the boys get up to mischief while strangely unsupervised outside the mine hub.
A few dislikes; the first part was entirely dialogue and nothing happened except that the boy learnt a little about how to do this work. I was amused to see the word Turing where Turning should have been. The second part presented new kids and they were just names to me, boys with a wish to explore and not be thought scared. They never came across as any deeper. I know it's a short but everyone felt one-dimensional.
I have not read the other books in this series and this tale might make more impact on me if I had. I am interested in the asteroid mining aspect; these miners seem to be claiming metals including iron for habitats with no resources, rather than what we would consider valuable metals. The author makes an effort to describe the low-g environment.
This is an unbiased review.
July 28, 2020
A decent short story.
August 14, 2017
This wasn’t a bad short story, but again I am not sure how it really adds to the overall series. I wonder why the author doesn’t integrate some of these stories into the main novels. I also think the author might be over doing the abandoned lost child storyline.
As with the other short stories the whole timeline is confusing, is this story happening well into the future?
Please not, this book shouldn't be read before Book 8 (Buccaneers)
As with the other short stories the whole timeline is confusing, is this story happening well into the future?
Please not, this book shouldn't be read before Book 8 (Buccaneers)
August 23, 2017
2017 Grade A
series book P7.5
A free standing short novel in the Privateer Tales series. This is a very enjoyable story that often reminded me of Heinlein. If the conclusion has been a little fuller, it would have been grade A+. The first half of the book was certainly grade A+.
series book P7.5
A free standing short novel in the Privateer Tales series. This is a very enjoyable story that often reminded me of Heinlein. If the conclusion has been a little fuller, it would have been grade A+. The first half of the book was certainly grade A+.
March 15, 2018
Short and riveting
This is a short story from the privateers tales. I love how the writer is giving these snippets of stories either because they didn’t fitted into the larger ones or ended on the editing pile of rejects. It is the day by day business of mining, the total mundane work of a miner that somehow gets exiting, dangerous and totally believable. Nothing is done to drag a few more pages out of the story by adding fluff and details. This is a moment between to books that needed telling. It closes a tale and open up a potentially new one. I was totally worth the dollar something. This is not a standalone story, lots of details is built on you knowing the beloved characters from earlier.
This is a short story from the privateers tales. I love how the writer is giving these snippets of stories either because they didn’t fitted into the larger ones or ended on the editing pile of rejects. It is the day by day business of mining, the total mundane work of a miner that somehow gets exiting, dangerous and totally believable. Nothing is done to drag a few more pages out of the story by adding fluff and details. This is a moment between to books that needed telling. It closes a tale and open up a potentially new one. I was totally worth the dollar something. This is not a standalone story, lots of details is built on you knowing the beloved characters from earlier.
February 3, 2021
Great second family story ... fast read ... worth added to that story of that universe.
Good fun simple sweet ... great to revisit that world ... that fictional space once again ... hope the authors returns work more in that series and continues to world build.
Thanks for the mental break from life and the pandemic
Good fun simple sweet ... great to revisit that world ... that fictional space once again ... hope the authors returns work more in that series and continues to world build.
Thanks for the mental break from life and the pandemic
February 20, 2021
Rest of the story.
An now the rest of the story. A side line story to the Privateer series, filling in family background perhaps leading to other stories.
An now the rest of the story. A side line story to the Privateer series, filling in family background perhaps leading to other stories.
August 9, 2018
One of the freebie short story / novellas available when you sign up for the author's mailing list. I really liked the Privateer Tales stories, and this was no exception. We see mining from Priloe's point of view, and get an introduction to a new character.
My spouse has been reading this series as well. She only has one more available on kindle, because I got the last several from kindle unlimited. I'll be curious to see if she's motivated to read them (guessing after 10 books she will be), and how we'll deal with it. I may end up buying books I already read through KU so she can read them too - and for these books, that may be worth it. I can see myself chooosing to come back and re-read these again in a few years.
My spouse has been reading this series as well. She only has one more available on kindle, because I got the last several from kindle unlimited. I'll be curious to see if she's motivated to read them (guessing after 10 books she will be), and how we'll deal with it. I may end up buying books I already read through KU so she can read them too - and for these books, that may be worth it. I can see myself chooosing to come back and re-read these again in a few years.
July 19, 2018
Short story about a rescued boy and his sister learning how to mine in an alien asteroid belt. Would be better to start off with the first few books in the series, but wouldn't be hard to understand without. I liked it.
November 19, 2020
Just a quick note, this takes place after books 7 and 8. However, book 6 takes place before this book. This spoils some stuff from book 8. Read book 7, then 8, then 6, and then this. The numbering of the books is stupid. This was an enjoyable short book thing though.
February 3, 2017
Another good (short) entry into the series that provides more background on some of the characters. Jamie McFarlane is a very good author. Looking forward to reading his next entry in the series.
May 5, 2017
A New Life
Priloe and Milenette are taken in by Silver and Big Pete, and are given education as well as vocational training and work. Priloe ends up rescuing an abandoned girl and learning new lessons about survival and honor. This was a nice interlude establishing a little more background and character development. I like the Priloe character and hope to continue to see these new characters. I look forward to another book.
Priloe and Milenette are taken in by Silver and Big Pete, and are given education as well as vocational training and work. Priloe ends up rescuing an abandoned girl and learning new lessons about survival and honor. This was a nice interlude establishing a little more background and character development. I like the Priloe character and hope to continue to see these new characters. I look forward to another book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews