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Kris Longknife #14.5

Kris Longknife's Replacement: Admiral Santiago on Alwa Station

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Kris Longknife has been ordered back to human space.

Sandy Santiago is a woman with a whole lot of problems. She's ordered to replace Kris Longknife, but can any mere mortal fill the shoes of a Longknife . . . and Kris Longknife most of all. Follow Sandy as she's introduced to the mess on Canopus Station. Watch her as she meets cats (with nuclear weapons!) and birds and vicious alien raiders. Oh, and she has to share Alwa Station with Rita Nuu Longknife. Can it get any worse?

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2017

46 people are currently reading
274 people want to read

About the author

Mike Shepherd

78 books564 followers
A pseudonym used by Mike Moscoe.

Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.

Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.

Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.

Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.

Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.

Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.

Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.

Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.

Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!

Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.

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5 stars
179 (31%)
4 stars
231 (41%)
3 stars
129 (22%)
2 stars
16 (2%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Jean.
1,817 reviews806 followers
July 9, 2017
Kris’s friend and colleague, Grand Admiral Maria “Sandy” Santiago, has been appointed to take over the Alwa Station when Kris was recalled home for another assignment. Kris had saved several species from the killing hoard in prior books. Now Sandy has to rule over the worlds as well as protect them from the marauders. Sandy also will need to work with Kris’s grandmother, Rita Nuu Longknife, who is in charge of the human colonist on Alwa. There is no Nelly in this story, but some of her “children” are present. I enjoyed them almost as much as I enjoyed Nelly.

There is lots of action and the pace is fast. The book appears to be a short filler telling what has happened since Kris left Alwa. I had the feeling that this book is a set-up for a new series featuring Santiago. Guess I will have to wait and see if I am right. I noted from reviews there were lots of spelling and grammar errors in the e-book format. Fortunately, I read this as an audiobook and avoided all those problems. The book in just under six and half hours long.

Ali Ahn does a good job narrating the story. Unfortunately, I am used to the voice of Dina Pearlman who narrated the Kris Longknife series. Ahn is an actress and audiobook narrator.
Profile Image for Laz the Sailor.
1,806 reviews80 followers
February 12, 2017
This book returns to Alwa, where Kris Longknife saved several species from a bunch of mindless marauders, over and over for 4 books. Adm Santiago replaces Kris who is obliged to return to the homeworld.

This set-up gives us good and bad: the bad is that we get to hear the same stories about the "Amazing Princess Admiral Kris Longknife" - the good is that we get to hear it from a different perspective, and with some clarity on the aftermath of her actions. Santiago is a strong woman, who has been surrounded by the military core for most of her career, so she doesn't just toss the regulations out the window.

A side note: Santiago is the name of the hero in Mike Resnick's series. I wonder if there is a connection.

Also, Mike Shepherd has decided to switch to self-publishing - more power to him. However, there were more typos than usual in this book.

I will continue to read everything he writes in the Longknife universe.
Profile Image for William Howe.
1,802 reviews89 followers
February 4, 2017
Barely functional

$4.99 for 29 pages?!? It's not even a short story, it's two scenes. Scenes that are only explicable if you have read the preceding novel.

It just ends. There's no surprise or momentous event. Nothing really happens except an admiral getting informed of the new normal.

And there are still proof reading errors!!! $5 for 29pages, you can damn well make them perfect!!

The author should either be ashamed or angry.

***edit***

The rest of the book came through, finally. Disregard the price and size complaint.

Now about the book...still not good. The new admiral was a faint shadow of Kris. Never acted like a professional naval officer. Got kidnapped. Basically fumbled around in a muddle. There was a definite lack of plot direction. Weak antagonists. Few well defined characters and no development. Needs content editing.

Which brings us to the proof reading. Terrible. Names being changed at random. Chapter 19 was so confusing I had to read it twice to figure out who was where, and realize the book was wrong. Words being used incorrectly. Spellcheck is not your friend.

I still cannot recommend this novel. It should not have been released. While going indie is a good choice, the loss of editorial oversight is devastating to this book. It does not reach the level of professional writing the series had previously displayed.
4 reviews
January 13, 2017
Finally

I got the complete version finally (a little bit of mystery how it happened) and enjoyed it. Sandy steps into Kris' shoes on Alwa Station and find they pinch. Some of what she finds really blow her mind. Good story although with some editing issues and an abrupt end.
Profile Image for Joe.
1,246 reviews17 followers
May 12, 2019
What a difference.
Not having Kris changes the game in so many ways.
I really like the Jump Universe novels.
Kris' wake travels far and wide.
It can also be very dangerous.

second time is even... well still a great read
Profile Image for Online Eccentric Librarian.
3,400 reviews5 followers
October 20, 2022
More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This takes place during the book Bold in the Longknife series. Here, we get Santiago's perspective as she integrates into leadership of Alwa and inherits quite a few of Kris' colleagues. In this way, it feels like a send off of the characters that were all jettisoned in Bold, such as Captain Drago, Penny, etc. - and continues the story of Rita Longknife (a thorn in Santiago's side).

Story: Kris has been required to return home by her father, the king. In her place, Admiral Santiago has once again found she has to clean up a Longknife 'mess'. But Sandy learns a few things in the process - most especially, why Kris' companions are so loyal to her and why Kris has managed to survive everything from rapacious aliens to irritating politics.

The heart of the story is Sandy having to battle the aliens and learn from Penny and others the best practices that will give her victory. At the same time, she has to negotiate between all the different politics on Alwa and ensure that the native population of birds are not being taken advantage of by settlers.

Of note is that most of Kris' companions decided to stay on Alwa and not follow Kris back home. So this book is also an opportunity to get to know how they are doing without Kris there as their lead. Of course, Sandy has her own way of doing things and Shepherd does a decent job of making her a different lead character than Kris or Vicky. She'll come to trust her colleagues and their somewhat unorthodox methods developed by kris.

The narrator was not Dina Pearlman this time, unfortunately. So it was be very jarring and disenfranchising - and very hard to get into the story. I honest did not like how the narrator approached this book and the characters - it felt like it was written by someone else as a result.
2,323 reviews2 followers
December 25, 2018
I've been reading this universe for years and just read this first book in an ancillary series. I figured I'd explain for anyone who might have picked this up as a first book.

Shepherd writes very simple, fast moving, space opera. The plots aren't special, neither is the writing, but for those of us who grew up from E E "Doc" Smith to the present day, an opera is a fun way to spent a couple of hours. However, be prepared to be bored and annoyed by some of his simple quirks, things such as:
- Getting awful tired of reading "those Longknifes"
- His focus on his own Navy career sometimes ending up with Sailor as a proper noun, not just a noun
- His confusion about trademark references so his overuse of the "tm"
- The fact that so many of the characters, from major to minor, have the same snarky voice with very little differentiation. It's almost as if that's the only voice he knows
- Nobody, not even the main character of this book, ever slaps down "those Longknifes", and granny needs it badly

This book is a follow up to Kris Longknife's trip way out across the galaxy to fight the "bug eyed monsters". Sandy Santiago is the admiral sent to take over as Kris heads home, and this is her story. Too much whining about "those Longknifes" and how noble the Santiago claim is, but, as mentioned above, it comes with the territory. The usual, fun, quick, fluff, read.

Again, this is a deserved three-star. That's not bad. Space opera fluff is a fun break from the many other types of writing. Enjoy it for what it is.
Profile Image for Jo .
2,679 reviews68 followers
October 13, 2017
Sandy Santiago is the replacement for Kris at Alwa Station and her fun begins at once. This takes the reader on a tour of the space around Alwa, goes to the cat's home on Canopus Station and on to a fight with those terrible aliens who kill all they find and blow themselves up before they will surrender. It is a alright story that is aimed at fans of Kris. I did not like some of the voices used in the story. Sandy was OK Penny's voice was so light and high she sounded like a very young girl not the mature woman she is. Even so it was an interesting listen.
1,018 reviews4 followers
March 30, 2025
A rousing good start!

We met Sandy Santiago when Kris was put in charge of the Space Station orbiting the planet Chance. She seemed like an interesting character, so when she was given command of the Alwa Sector she took a major headache from Kris.

She is given a crash course in how the Alwans (both roosters & ostriches) are before she makes a “show the flag” visit to meet the felines. Capping off her trip she is given a serious engagement with the batcrap crazy aliens.

She’s going to be busy! 😄
Profile Image for Freyja.
299 reviews
February 10, 2018
She didn't spend a lot of time on Alwa Station! Sandy has to deal with the Sasquans and the omnicidal aliens. The action keeps moving. I do have one complaint: what happened to the Sasquans she brigged for questioning? There's some good space battle action and the Marines get to strut their stuff on the ground.
Profile Image for Dale (Aus).
927 reviews7 followers
May 13, 2019
Some action but you need to have read many of the series

Some action but you need a lot of the series under your belt to get the feel here. I think the story style needs refreshing.
Profile Image for Jessica Kornelsen .
60 reviews10 followers
January 11, 2023
I think it's probably the hyperfocus talking but my Era of woman-led military sci-fi seems to have come and gone already. Hopefully someday it'll come back, and I'll love this, but I can't seem to make myself care to finish at all right now.
34 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2017
Book is missing...

The book is missing. This is just the first few pages. Do not buy until this is fixed. Very disappointing.
Profile Image for Robin.
309 reviews3 followers
August 14, 2017
Admiral Santiago learns that it takes some mighty big feet to fill Kris' shoes.
Profile Image for Andrew.
285 reviews16 followers
May 14, 2019
A good book that started to come into its own and hopefully will get even better with the next one.
Profile Image for Jon.
2 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2017
Fun quick day read. Would have loved for it to be longer.
Profile Image for Joseph.
185 reviews13 followers
February 1, 2017
I felt this definitely could have done with some fleshing out.
Profile Image for Wilco Roos.
169 reviews
January 31, 2017
Fixed

There are still some errors floating around this version, but the story is there, no more 29 pages problems. Fast paced, lots of cats and loads of stern chases, if you like Kris Longknife stories, i can only highly recommended this one.
Profile Image for Stony Biby.
12 reviews
February 3, 2017
Wow. How do mere mortals compare to demigods? Read and find out.

Hi! Welcome to Alwa!
Just your average, run-of-the-mill alien paradise with wonderful little miracles that make this heaven.
Oh by the way, there's these aliens (bug eyed monsters that just happen to look like humans) that would love to sanitize your planet. Did I mention that they live by the motto, "there can be only one" and will die trying to make sure they are the one.
Plus they outnumber you.
Before I forget, you do share the planet with a couple species of sentient birds. But they are OK, mostly.
And finally, a couple of systems over there are cats.
With nuclear weapons.
And the "normal" feline craziness.

Enjoy your stay!

P.S. Even though she doesn't go by the last name Longknife, there is a cantankerous old lady named Rita who is here to help you be the commander/viceroy/Grand Pooba out here.

What's the worst that could happen?


I imagine this was a synopsis of the actual briefing that Sandy Santiago received before she left for Alwa.
Profile Image for Tim.
Author 10 books31 followers
March 3, 2017
Interesting enough story, but desperately need proofreading.
Profile Image for Paraphrodite.
2,671 reviews51 followers
March 2, 2023
3.5 stars.

Mar 2023 - re-listened. It was actually fun seeing Sandy trying to cope with everything Kris did on Alwa.
____________
May 2021

It's actually not fair to dump Sandy in Alwa Station so unprepared. But it does give us a different perspective from someone who hasn't been around Kris for the last few years and not used to how things work with Nelly and her kids.

Coming from a purely military background, Sandy is also not used to dealing with civilian matters and it's lucky that a lot of Kris's old team is still there to help her out. But it appears that she's going to have some problems with Rita and Abby, on top of those aliens and the cats and birds.
Profile Image for Peter.
Author 35 books66 followers
January 22, 2019
Only 29 pages - not a book barely a chapter. Maybe publishers error but this is not worth buying. Very disappointijg after all thrle Longknife and Victoria books. Must be a mistske by the publisher but untill it is fixed stay away as at 29 pages or 440 ebook points it is a waste of time. Barrly get to the the of the scene setting first chapter.


Someone ftom amazon or Mike please check this book!!!

Plus these review algorithims could do with a check over. They dont count well
Profile Image for GaiusPrimus.
870 reviews97 followers
January 30, 2017
Another very entertaining book in the Longknife universe.

For some reason, I haven't been able to get behind the Vicky series, but this one I can see myself continue to keep reading.

This specific iteration can be considered "Kris-lite", a lot less drama and being the start of a new spin-off, no one was going to go and die right away. We'll see where it goes but if you are looking for a "soft science" entertaining story, look no further.
399 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2017
Enticing

A great Alwan adventure. Fast paced with the usual Longknife cast, minus herself. Santiago has her hands full of Birds, Cats, and humans. The only distracting thing was the misspellings, swapping out of characters names midstream, or other incongruous errors. Though not many it does slow down the reading.
12 reviews
July 30, 2017
Oops

Don't buy this. Yet. Apparently due to a glitch when it was uploaded, the book only has the first four chapters in yet right now. A fix is promised "soon" but right now this is a broken product. The authors blog has some more detail if you google it.
Profile Image for Kit Rodgers.
3 reviews13 followers
February 1, 2017
The story is great. However if Mr. Shepherd is going to self publish from now on, he needs to hire a proofreader. The errors were bad enough to hinder understanding. Later updates to the book will hopefully correct this.
19 reviews
January 10, 2017
Looking forward to geting the rest of it

Great book looks to be a fibe follow on from the last longknife book. I am looking forward to getting the rest
Profile Image for Daniel Johnston.
84 reviews13 followers
February 4, 2017
Expanded universe

This was a great side story for this universe and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I can't wait to see what self publishing will do for this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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