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RCN #2
Lt. Leary, Commanding
The RCN series (also known as the Lt. Leary series) is a sequence of stand-alone science fiction novels revolving around Daniel Leary, an officer in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy (RCN). In this book, the second in the series, Lt. Daniel Leary commands the Princess Cecile; Signals Officer Adele Mundy has the spy apparatus and skill to crack any database. All they lack are enemies, and fate is about to supply those in abundance!
580 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2000
70 people are currently reading
796 people want to read
About the author
David Drake
307 books883 followersDavid Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 20, 2023
Hornblower and Lucky Jack Aubrey in space.
Number two in the series.
Here is a quote from David Drake's introductory remarks which exemplifies his method of writing excellent, believable sci-fi and fantasy: "I’d like to note for those who’re interested that the orders in Chapter Nine are a close paraphrase of those which sent the frigate USS Congress to Hawaii in 1845. Here as elsewhere, I prefer to borrow from reality rather than invent it."
What follows is an exciting tale of political intrigue and space combat. Combat against what seems to be overwhelming odds. But the odds never daunt Lt. Leary when duty demands action and risk. If it is called for, he will sell his life, crew and ship dearly.
Number two in the series.
Here is a quote from David Drake's introductory remarks which exemplifies his method of writing excellent, believable sci-fi and fantasy: "I’d like to note for those who’re interested that the orders in Chapter Nine are a close paraphrase of those which sent the frigate USS Congress to Hawaii in 1845. Here as elsewhere, I prefer to borrow from reality rather than invent it."
What follows is an exciting tale of political intrigue and space combat. Combat against what seems to be overwhelming odds. But the odds never daunt Lt. Leary when duty demands action and risk. If it is called for, he will sell his life, crew and ship dearly.
June 10, 2020
6/10/17 4th? re-read. Another really enjoyable read in this very good series.
March 9, 2024
An Optimistic Outlook
Despite the author’s suggestions otherwise, Lt Leary, Commanding is a straightforward military sci-fi novel. Warships travel the stars by catching Casimir Radiation and sailing through fourth-dimensional space via the instincts of a sentient being. They launch antimatter missiles across astronomical distances, and speed-of-light delays will dominate strategy and tactics. Yet despite all that, this is a classic Age of Sail story. The protagonist experiences his first independent command, tackles politics foreign and domestic, and courageously battles on land and in space.
Unfortunately, this means that the character-driven drama of the previous novel takes a backseat. Mundy gets the worst of the lot, reduced to a cyber-warfare wizard. Her role as an intelligence officer drives the plot, but she’s absent for most of the intrigue and machinations. Likewise, Leary has none of the previous novel’s dichotomy between instincts and strategy. Yet the plot is bookended by events that give the characters a home, and introduce antiquated social obligations that capitalize on their unique friendship. But it’s easy to forget those incidents when the Great Game looms large.
Taking inspiration from historical events, the author invents realistic and complex tales. There’s variety in everything, from character backgrounds to nation-state governance. The best and most unique theme retained is the power of people. With hundreds of sailors at a Captain’s command, their combined intellectual and physical capabilities build new vessels and topple regimes. Science fiction typically celebrates technology, and clever application of engineering will save the day. Lt Leary, Commanding maintains that the greatest resource aboard any warship is her crew, and that’s a message I adore.
Recommended.
Despite the author’s suggestions otherwise, Lt Leary, Commanding is a straightforward military sci-fi novel. Warships travel the stars by catching Casimir Radiation and sailing through fourth-dimensional space via the instincts of a sentient being. They launch antimatter missiles across astronomical distances, and speed-of-light delays will dominate strategy and tactics. Yet despite all that, this is a classic Age of Sail story. The protagonist experiences his first independent command, tackles politics foreign and domestic, and courageously battles on land and in space.
Unfortunately, this means that the character-driven drama of the previous novel takes a backseat. Mundy gets the worst of the lot, reduced to a cyber-warfare wizard. Her role as an intelligence officer drives the plot, but she’s absent for most of the intrigue and machinations. Likewise, Leary has none of the previous novel’s dichotomy between instincts and strategy. Yet the plot is bookended by events that give the characters a home, and introduce antiquated social obligations that capitalize on their unique friendship. But it’s easy to forget those incidents when the Great Game looms large.
Taking inspiration from historical events, the author invents realistic and complex tales. There’s variety in everything, from character backgrounds to nation-state governance. The best and most unique theme retained is the power of people. With hundreds of sailors at a Captain’s command, their combined intellectual and physical capabilities build new vessels and topple regimes. Science fiction typically celebrates technology, and clever application of engineering will save the day. Lt Leary, Commanding maintains that the greatest resource aboard any warship is her crew, and that’s a message I adore.
Recommended.
June 6, 2018
Ah Deidre -- you clever, clever girl. I have no respect for the Father so far -- but the Sister is doing well for her little brother & his bestie.
July 8, 2025
7.75/10
Well-written, relatively fast-paced military space science fiction, with likable & diverse characters & plenty of action. With a lot of the background & workd-building established in book 1 of the series, this book was able to dive more quickly into the political & military action.
Well-written, relatively fast-paced military space science fiction, with likable & diverse characters & plenty of action. With a lot of the background & workd-building established in book 1 of the series, this book was able to dive more quickly into the political & military action.
July 22, 2025
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David Drake’s Lt. Leary, Commanding is everything a military space opera should be: sharp, fast, character-driven, full of political intrigue, espionage, space battles—and yes, a healthy dash of chaos, comedy, and clashing personalities. It’s a ride through the stars with a crew of oddballs, spies, killers, and the occasional aristocrat-turned-officer, and it’s a lot more fun than it has any right to be.
Daniel Leary is finally in command of his own ship, which is great news for the Republic of Cinnabar—slightly worse news for anyone in his way. Leary is brave, dashing, and smarter than he lets on, but beneath the uniforms and salutes lies the son of one of Cinnabar’s most powerful (and famously manipulative) political families. His strained relationship with his father—an influential, cold-blooded senator—is a constant undercurrent. Daniel may smile for the cameras, but there’s real pain behind his choice to serve with integrity rather than follow in his father’s political footsteps. He’s constantly walking the tightrope between duty, defiance, and diplomacy, and watching him juggle it all with charm and swagger is part of the book’s magic.
On the other side of that coin is Adele Mundy, whose own family was murdered in a purge orchestrated by Daniel’s political allies. The irony? She's now his closest friend, confidante, and intelligence officer. Adele is composed, razor-sharp, and deeply principled—but her loyalty to the crew and to Daniel is absolute. Her background gives her a dry, often ruthless view of politics, and she never forgets where she came from or what was taken from her. Where Daniel leads with heart, Adele calculates every move three steps ahead. Together, they’re a perfect, unlikely team—she’s the quiet dagger, he’s the visible sword.
And then there are the families found aboard the ship: the rough-edged, loyal Princess Cecile crew. You’ve got Hogg, Daniel’s bodyguard and surrogate uncle figure, who treats the ship like his extended home and Adele like his favorite adopted niece—just one who can kill you with a keyboard. Hogg may be uncouth, but he’s fiercely protective and usually has the right weapon for the job… or the blackmail material.
Tovera, Adele’s assistant, is something else entirely. Raised to be a sociopath, she’s eerily cheerful about poisonings and "removing obstacles." Her idea of hospitality might give a diplomat a heart attack, but her loyalty to Adele is almost sweet - if also very unsettling.
Then there’s Cory and the rest of the junior crew - eager, green, and very aware that they’re serving under officers who could either save the galaxy or get them into a brawl at a planetary banquet. The crew isn’t just a set of names on a roster—they bicker, tease, improvise repairs under fire, and form a sort of found family that feels real and earned.
Technology in this world feels grounded. Starships like the Princess Cecile don’t fly with magic—they grind through physics, burn real fuel, and break down at the worst possible time. Tactical battles are slow-burning chess matches with deadly consequences. Adele’s information warfare feels modern and precise, a believable future extrapolated from today’s data-centric conflicts.
The planetary settings are rich, diverse, and often hilarious. One moment they’re navigating political minefields on a dusty backwater colony, the next they’re trying to figure out if insulting a local bureaucrat’s hat is considered a declaration of war. Every new world comes with its own customs, threats, and opportunities for disaster. The cultural missteps are half the fun—diplomatic missions that turn into shootouts, high-society galas where half the guests are spies, and border patrols that end with surprise uprisings.
The espionage angle ties it all together. Adele's quiet brilliance shines in these moments—not through explosions, but through subtle manipulations, hidden signals, and the slow, surgical exposure of enemy plots. She’s terrifying in the best way. Meanwhile, Daniel bluffs, charms, or outwits his way through political messes with a smile that says, "I’m improvising and it’s working, probably."
What’s most refreshing is how much of this book is about attitude. Daniel’s optimism, charisma, and loyalty clash beautifully with Adele’s cool pragmatism and dry sarcasm. Hogg’s earthy wisdom balances Cory’s youthful idealism. Even Tovera’s deadpan murder-advice plays perfectly against the more rule-following members of the crew. It’s a team of contradictions, and somehow that’s what makes them unstoppable.
The book, and right from the start of it, throws you into the goings on keeping up with the adventure and the action, Lt. Leary, Commanding by David Drake has it all. It’s a tale of growth, honour, wit, and duty wrapped in thrilling battles and subtle power plays. Drake’s characters are unforgettable, his world-building is immersive, and his storytelling crackles with energy and intelligence. Whether you're here for the action, the political intrigue, the character depth, or the hard-science edge, this novel delivers in full.
David Drake’s Lt. Leary, Commanding is everything a military space opera should be: sharp, fast, character-driven, full of political intrigue, espionage, space battles—and yes, a healthy dash of chaos, comedy, and clashing personalities. It’s a ride through the stars with a crew of oddballs, spies, killers, and the occasional aristocrat-turned-officer, and it’s a lot more fun than it has any right to be.
Daniel Leary is finally in command of his own ship, which is great news for the Republic of Cinnabar—slightly worse news for anyone in his way. Leary is brave, dashing, and smarter than he lets on, but beneath the uniforms and salutes lies the son of one of Cinnabar’s most powerful (and famously manipulative) political families. His strained relationship with his father—an influential, cold-blooded senator—is a constant undercurrent. Daniel may smile for the cameras, but there’s real pain behind his choice to serve with integrity rather than follow in his father’s political footsteps. He’s constantly walking the tightrope between duty, defiance, and diplomacy, and watching him juggle it all with charm and swagger is part of the book’s magic.
On the other side of that coin is Adele Mundy, whose own family was murdered in a purge orchestrated by Daniel’s political allies. The irony? She's now his closest friend, confidante, and intelligence officer. Adele is composed, razor-sharp, and deeply principled—but her loyalty to the crew and to Daniel is absolute. Her background gives her a dry, often ruthless view of politics, and she never forgets where she came from or what was taken from her. Where Daniel leads with heart, Adele calculates every move three steps ahead. Together, they’re a perfect, unlikely team—she’s the quiet dagger, he’s the visible sword.
And then there are the families found aboard the ship: the rough-edged, loyal Princess Cecile crew. You’ve got Hogg, Daniel’s bodyguard and surrogate uncle figure, who treats the ship like his extended home and Adele like his favorite adopted niece—just one who can kill you with a keyboard. Hogg may be uncouth, but he’s fiercely protective and usually has the right weapon for the job… or the blackmail material.
Tovera, Adele’s assistant, is something else entirely. Raised to be a sociopath, she’s eerily cheerful about poisonings and "removing obstacles." Her idea of hospitality might give a diplomat a heart attack, but her loyalty to Adele is almost sweet - if also very unsettling.
Then there’s Cory and the rest of the junior crew - eager, green, and very aware that they’re serving under officers who could either save the galaxy or get them into a brawl at a planetary banquet. The crew isn’t just a set of names on a roster—they bicker, tease, improvise repairs under fire, and form a sort of found family that feels real and earned.
Technology in this world feels grounded. Starships like the Princess Cecile don’t fly with magic—they grind through physics, burn real fuel, and break down at the worst possible time. Tactical battles are slow-burning chess matches with deadly consequences. Adele’s information warfare feels modern and precise, a believable future extrapolated from today’s data-centric conflicts.
The planetary settings are rich, diverse, and often hilarious. One moment they’re navigating political minefields on a dusty backwater colony, the next they’re trying to figure out if insulting a local bureaucrat’s hat is considered a declaration of war. Every new world comes with its own customs, threats, and opportunities for disaster. The cultural missteps are half the fun—diplomatic missions that turn into shootouts, high-society galas where half the guests are spies, and border patrols that end with surprise uprisings.
The espionage angle ties it all together. Adele's quiet brilliance shines in these moments—not through explosions, but through subtle manipulations, hidden signals, and the slow, surgical exposure of enemy plots. She’s terrifying in the best way. Meanwhile, Daniel bluffs, charms, or outwits his way through political messes with a smile that says, "I’m improvising and it’s working, probably."
What’s most refreshing is how much of this book is about attitude. Daniel’s optimism, charisma, and loyalty clash beautifully with Adele’s cool pragmatism and dry sarcasm. Hogg’s earthy wisdom balances Cory’s youthful idealism. Even Tovera’s deadpan murder-advice plays perfectly against the more rule-following members of the crew. It’s a team of contradictions, and somehow that’s what makes them unstoppable.
The book, and right from the start of it, throws you into the goings on keeping up with the adventure and the action, Lt. Leary, Commanding by David Drake has it all. It’s a tale of growth, honour, wit, and duty wrapped in thrilling battles and subtle power plays. Drake’s characters are unforgettable, his world-building is immersive, and his storytelling crackles with energy and intelligence. Whether you're here for the action, the political intrigue, the character depth, or the hard-science edge, this novel delivers in full.
September 10, 2024
Solid entry into a series that will be enjoyed as much by SF fans as Horatio Hornblower style novels.
July 29, 2019
Good story, and characters
I would have given it a 5 based on this. However, the aping of Patrick O’Brien’s Master and Commander series had some good points, but having spaceships fly with sails supposedly as complicated as an 18th century man o war, lead to convoluted, and very boring make up machinery details. Fortunately, it was easy to skip through these parts. Again the underlying narrative was good, but not everybody has a high threshold for their eyes glazing over,
I would have given it a 5 based on this. However, the aping of Patrick O’Brien’s Master and Commander series had some good points, but having spaceships fly with sails supposedly as complicated as an 18th century man o war, lead to convoluted, and very boring make up machinery details. Fortunately, it was easy to skip through these parts. Again the underlying narrative was good, but not everybody has a high threshold for their eyes glazing over,
July 10, 2011
Lt. Daniel Leary, based on his adventures in "With the Lightnings", finds himself in command of a corvette with a loyal and hyper-competent crew, and a mission to deliver a political exile back to his home planet. Or so it would seem.
More space opera goodness, with a good bit more planet-hopping and space-battling than the first go-round, and it ends up being just about as satisfying as the first book.
Just about.
The opening quarter or so of the book felt bloated to me, with Drake giving in to the temptation to catalog things rather than just give the essential, evocative detail. Some of this may be due to the nature of the story -- neither Leary nor Adele Mundy have the slightest clue what is going on for a large chunk of the book and, therefore, neither does the reader. Until about halfway through, it's clear that something's not right, but you only begin being able to put together just what in the latter half of the book. (You may view it as either blessing or curse, but Drake does not drop long explanations on his reader, expecting that the reader should be able to put pieces together himself in the end.) Even taking that into consideration, I felt the opening was slow, and not as fun as the first book (or as the later stages of this one).
That said, this was still a very enjoyable read, and I'm probably going to jump into the next one before other, more important things which I likely ought to read first.
More space opera goodness, with a good bit more planet-hopping and space-battling than the first go-round, and it ends up being just about as satisfying as the first book.
Just about.
The opening quarter or so of the book felt bloated to me, with Drake giving in to the temptation to catalog things rather than just give the essential, evocative detail. Some of this may be due to the nature of the story -- neither Leary nor Adele Mundy have the slightest clue what is going on for a large chunk of the book and, therefore, neither does the reader. Until about halfway through, it's clear that something's not right, but you only begin being able to put together just what in the latter half of the book. (You may view it as either blessing or curse, but Drake does not drop long explanations on his reader, expecting that the reader should be able to put pieces together himself in the end.) Even taking that into consideration, I felt the opening was slow, and not as fun as the first book (or as the later stages of this one).
That said, this was still a very enjoyable read, and I'm probably going to jump into the next one before other, more important things which I likely ought to read first.
December 3, 2023
I had no complaint about this book on first reading, except that the generally likeable and intelligent leading man likes to spend his leisure time drinking vast amounts of alcohol and having sex with a series of brainless women. The leading lady, who is even more intelligent, drinks little and has no interest in sex of any kind. Well, both characters are intentionally heroic but flawed; they grew up with family dysfunctions and traumas of different kinds, and have some psychological problems.
On second reading, and after having read the rest of the series, I’d say this one is somewhat less good than average. The situations on land and in space are OK, but there are other books in the series that I find more appealing.
However, if you want to read the whole series, you probably shouldn’t skip this one, because it includes some significant developments in the life of Adele Mundy (the leading lady), providing the transition between her situation in the first book and her situation for the rest of the series.
On second reading, and after having read the rest of the series, I’d say this one is somewhat less good than average. The situations on land and in space are OK, but there are other books in the series that I find more appealing.
However, if you want to read the whole series, you probably shouldn’t skip this one, because it includes some significant developments in the life of Adele Mundy (the leading lady), providing the transition between her situation in the first book and her situation for the rest of the series.
Read
February 18, 2015Great military adventure -- although the military structures seems more akin to the British Empire navy.
Lieutenant Leary and his librarian/information specialist companion navigate troubled politics and interstellar travels. This is a good story, well told, with colorful and engaging characters. This is not a romance, Leary is a skirt chaser, in port, his librarian is aloof, faintly amused at Leary's light approach to evenings of intimacy (with different ladies each evening).
This is the second novel of the Leary series, traveling to various trouble spots, and crossing various ill-amused senior officers, along the way. As the series advances, Drake leans more and more heavily on classic literature influences -- C. S. Forester, Homer, etc. This and the first volume, "With The Lightnings", are still more about fun, with deeper undercurrents developing in later volumes.
Lieutenant Leary and his librarian/information specialist companion navigate troubled politics and interstellar travels. This is a good story, well told, with colorful and engaging characters. This is not a romance, Leary is a skirt chaser, in port, his librarian is aloof, faintly amused at Leary's light approach to evenings of intimacy (with different ladies each evening).
This is the second novel of the Leary series, traveling to various trouble spots, and crossing various ill-amused senior officers, along the way. As the series advances, Drake leans more and more heavily on classic literature influences -- C. S. Forester, Homer, etc. This and the first volume, "With The Lightnings", are still more about fun, with deeper undercurrents developing in later volumes.
October 21, 2018
Lt. Daniel Leary and his friend Signals Officer Adele Mundy, their retainers, and the rest of the Crew of the Princess Cecile, are in Bantry getting the ship back into shape after their adventures in Kostroma and none are really sure what the Republic of Cinnabar's Navy or Mistress Sand has in store for them. Luckily, for them with Adele's information Daniel can do whatever should come their way. Whether it's breaking speed record's, breaking kidnapper's out of their stronghold to save their fellow shipmates, or fighting pirates or The Alliance Daniel, Adele, and their crew let nothing stand in the way of their objective's because Sissy's are a family you can count on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2010
There's just something missing from this book. It's not a bad story, but the characters lack some sense of realism and the impossible-odds end battle seems to end rather abruptly and simply. There's also a huge chunk of wrap-up missing from the end of the book...a large part of the underlying plot is completely forgotten and otherwise ignored in order to jump the characters forward in time a few weeks (?) to put a cute counterpoint to the epilogue.
February 10, 2019
just as good the 2nd time around
great space action, great inter-personal development.
if you haven't read this one you should.
great space action, great inter-personal development.
if you haven't read this one you should.
December 31, 2020
Having enjoyed the first Lt. Leary book I found myself compelled to read the second. If you enjoyed the first book you'll likely enjoy this one. It's much the same, except more focused on naval command than the swashbuckling planetary escapades of the first one. The characters are still strong. Leary is endearing in his enthusiasm and sheer optimism. And Adele is adapting to a very new form of life as a naval officer. She's never really had much of a family and it's a lot to take in. This is new for everyone and that keeps the book feeling fresh.
The plot, as you might expect from a swashbuckling novel, is full of intrigue and unclear enemies who could reveal themselves at any time. Adele's now formally tied to the intelligence services and has a mission of her own to carry out which made the situation somewhat more interesting. And we get plenty of action to fill in the gaps. About the only discordant issue is that we're given two plot threads that go nowhere - the mysterious creatures Leary encounters in the Southern Lands and the madness-inducing visions people get in sponge space. Both are played up as extremely important and then promptly forgotten. Whether this is a problem or not depends very much on future books (nothing wrong with setting up future plotlines) but I worry that the second issue in particular will never be explained and is just meant to be needlessly mysterious.
The biggest problem I had with the book is that we finally get to see naval combat and it is truly as dumb as I had feared. It's 18th century naval warfare with a few minor shifts. The ships have sails to get through sponge space and need to send men out in spacesuits to attend to the rigging. Warfare is basically about surprise and use of the currents. You burst out of sponge space as close to the enemy as you can, fire off a few shots, and jump back in using your sails. Enemies try to knock down your sails with broadsides to prevent you from moving at speed. Missiles are basically cannons - they're fired at range and accelerate to high speed over several thousand kilometers but don't have any sort of warhead since collisions at that speed are fatal. True enough, but this ignores the stupidity that you have to actually hit the ship you're aiming at. Why not explosives that can damage even ships they've missed from range? I've read many different takes on space combat from Honor Harrington's more rationalized version of sailing-ship combat to the relativistic-based Lost Fleet naval warfare to the absurd but enjoyable fighter plane combat of Rogue Squadron. This book is far sillier than any of those.
I have to confess that the world grates on me somewhat as well. Having an unyieldingly 19th-century society in space is rather depressing. It seems to me that you could easily make any of the heroes here the villain without changing a thing. There is no pretense that what's being done is happening for any sort of moral reasons. Mundy's family was killed by Leary's father (including, we keep being reminded, the rape and murder of her 10-year-old sister) but there's clearly no chance of comeuppance for that and it's seen as a necessary and legal act. The Cinnabar navy (by far the most moral organization in the novel) is exercising its power simply to keep in power. The stinking wogs (i.e. anyone not from Cinnabar itself) need to be kept in line and that's exactly what they intend to do. By force if necessary. Why? Because being from Cinnabar (and certainly from the aristocracy) means they're better than everyone else. It's ugly, xenophobic, and, well, very 19th century British. And I guess I should be okay with that given the book's influences. It's just frustrating that any character not in the navy fully lives down to their perceived reputation. This sort of thing is a lot more forgivable when put in a historical setting or a fantasy novel. But that may be just me.
I enjoyed this book and may well come back for more at a later date. I will maintain that the Honor Harrington books are better and I find the efforts to make this just Regency England in space facile, but the characters are fun and the adventures suitably swashbuckling.
The plot, as you might expect from a swashbuckling novel, is full of intrigue and unclear enemies who could reveal themselves at any time. Adele's now formally tied to the intelligence services and has a mission of her own to carry out which made the situation somewhat more interesting. And we get plenty of action to fill in the gaps. About the only discordant issue is that we're given two plot threads that go nowhere - the mysterious creatures Leary encounters in the Southern Lands and the madness-inducing visions people get in sponge space. Both are played up as extremely important and then promptly forgotten. Whether this is a problem or not depends very much on future books (nothing wrong with setting up future plotlines) but I worry that the second issue in particular will never be explained and is just meant to be needlessly mysterious.
The biggest problem I had with the book is that we finally get to see naval combat and it is truly as dumb as I had feared. It's 18th century naval warfare with a few minor shifts. The ships have sails to get through sponge space and need to send men out in spacesuits to attend to the rigging. Warfare is basically about surprise and use of the currents. You burst out of sponge space as close to the enemy as you can, fire off a few shots, and jump back in using your sails. Enemies try to knock down your sails with broadsides to prevent you from moving at speed. Missiles are basically cannons - they're fired at range and accelerate to high speed over several thousand kilometers but don't have any sort of warhead since collisions at that speed are fatal. True enough, but this ignores the stupidity that you have to actually hit the ship you're aiming at. Why not explosives that can damage even ships they've missed from range? I've read many different takes on space combat from Honor Harrington's more rationalized version of sailing-ship combat to the relativistic-based Lost Fleet naval warfare to the absurd but enjoyable fighter plane combat of Rogue Squadron. This book is far sillier than any of those.
I have to confess that the world grates on me somewhat as well. Having an unyieldingly 19th-century society in space is rather depressing. It seems to me that you could easily make any of the heroes here the villain without changing a thing. There is no pretense that what's being done is happening for any sort of moral reasons. Mundy's family was killed by Leary's father (including, we keep being reminded, the rape and murder of her 10-year-old sister) but there's clearly no chance of comeuppance for that and it's seen as a necessary and legal act. The Cinnabar navy (by far the most moral organization in the novel) is exercising its power simply to keep in power. The stinking wogs (i.e. anyone not from Cinnabar itself) need to be kept in line and that's exactly what they intend to do. By force if necessary. Why? Because being from Cinnabar (and certainly from the aristocracy) means they're better than everyone else. It's ugly, xenophobic, and, well, very 19th century British. And I guess I should be okay with that given the book's influences. It's just frustrating that any character not in the navy fully lives down to their perceived reputation. This sort of thing is a lot more forgivable when put in a historical setting or a fantasy novel. But that may be just me.
I enjoyed this book and may well come back for more at a later date. I will maintain that the Honor Harrington books are better and I find the efforts to make this just Regency England in space facile, but the characters are fun and the adventures suitably swashbuckling.
October 22, 2019
This is a difficult book to rate. It's effectively an effort to write something akin to Hornblower, but set in the far distance future. The tech is set up to directly emulate age of sail technology with some WW2 tech mixed in - ships move through the Matrix, a sidereal collection of universes with different rules of physics, using rigging and sails, and the weapons are a mix of torpedoes, rockets, and plasma-throwing naval gun turrets. It's internally consistent and in someways feels a bit like this is to space opera what steampunk is to historical urban fantasy.
The age of sail theme comes through quite a lot - there are pirates (who are very piratical, even when reformed) and the nobility of the ruling nation, Cinnibar, act a lot like you'd expect from something that feels like it's been modelled on a British Empire in space. Unfortunately, that includes a lot of casual racism (based on planet of residence/citizenship). Nobles act like arrogant nobles. There's noble politicking, and duels.
I missed the first book in the series, but was able to jump into this one without too many problems. The characters are generally memorable, although it struck me as vaguely ironic that the erstwhile Lt. Leary felt fairly shallow in comparison to Adele - possibly he got more development in the first novel? In this, he's basically the son of the President who's decided to make a career in the navy, the nephew of a famous explorer and shipbuilder, someone possessed of (apparently) oodles of charisma and tactical acumen, and who has an instinctive feel for driving his ship that's superior to pretty much everyone else. He likes to spend his spare time drinking and shagging every attractive available woman who throws herself at him (which is all of them). It feels a bit like the pop culture construct of Captain Kirk mixed with a Regency navy officer and noble. That's not to say that there aren't people in the armed forces who spend all their time drinking and screwing, but he felt a lot like a cliched 80s action movie hero in a space opera novel.
Adele is more interesting, in a lot of ways, and definitely gets more character development in this; she is equally flawless in her chosen speciality (communications/research) but has the opportunity to deal with events from her past, and is an active intelligence operative. She spends a fair amount of the book trying to understand what her place is, as an inductee rather than the typical navy recruit, and her observations on the navy and the people she's serving with are interesting, although she also spends a lot of time echoing the universe's high opinion of Lt. Leary.
The age of sail theme comes through quite a lot - there are pirates (who are very piratical, even when reformed) and the nobility of the ruling nation, Cinnibar, act a lot like you'd expect from something that feels like it's been modelled on a British Empire in space. Unfortunately, that includes a lot of casual racism (based on planet of residence/citizenship). Nobles act like arrogant nobles. There's noble politicking, and duels.
I missed the first book in the series, but was able to jump into this one without too many problems. The characters are generally memorable, although it struck me as vaguely ironic that the erstwhile Lt. Leary felt fairly shallow in comparison to Adele - possibly he got more development in the first novel? In this, he's basically the son of the President who's decided to make a career in the navy, the nephew of a famous explorer and shipbuilder, someone possessed of (apparently) oodles of charisma and tactical acumen, and who has an instinctive feel for driving his ship that's superior to pretty much everyone else. He likes to spend his spare time drinking and shagging every attractive available woman who throws herself at him (which is all of them). It feels a bit like the pop culture construct of Captain Kirk mixed with a Regency navy officer and noble. That's not to say that there aren't people in the armed forces who spend all their time drinking and screwing, but he felt a lot like a cliched 80s action movie hero in a space opera novel.
Adele is more interesting, in a lot of ways, and definitely gets more character development in this; she is equally flawless in her chosen speciality (communications/research) but has the opportunity to deal with events from her past, and is an active intelligence operative. She spends a fair amount of the book trying to understand what her place is, as an inductee rather than the typical navy recruit, and her observations on the navy and the people she's serving with are interesting, although she also spends a lot of time echoing the universe's high opinion of Lt. Leary.
January 21, 2022
The second book in the RCN series was an excellent and engaging military science fiction story.
Lt. Daniel Leary and his Signals Officer Adele Mundy are off on an adventure. Daniel is still in command of the Princess Cecile which he captured in the first book in the series. His mission is to join a battle group heading to Strymon to show the flag for Cinnabar.
A way stop at Sexburga lets him meet the group commander who doesn't like Daniel one tiny bit. Both his luck and his lifestyle cause Commodore Pettin to be willing to sabotage Daniel's career. Daniel is also reintroduced to Mr. Delos Vaughn who has been a "guest" of Cinnabar since his father was involved in some political chicanery on his home planet of Strymon. Vaughn has some plans for Daniel which include marooning him and some of his crew and the desert-like south continent where Daniel makes some intriguing discoveries. Meanwhile, Adele is using her research skills to find Daniel before the rest of the squadron takes off leaving Daniel behind.
When the son of the deposed leader of Strymon scams his way aboard the Princess Cecile and has plans to reclaim the Presidency of Strymon, Daniel and Adele find themselves deeper into politics than either would like to be. Between Commodore Pettin and Vaughn, Daniel is busy trying to keep command of his ship and his career.
An Alliance invasion force isn't really necessary to add to the confusion, but Daniel and crew stumbles into one while be sent off for some fictitious repairs on his ship. But Daniel has a plan to foil the invasion and save his career even if it means working with pirates.
This was quite an engaging story filled with derring do, action, adventure, plots galore and surprisingly engaging characters.
Lt. Daniel Leary and his Signals Officer Adele Mundy are off on an adventure. Daniel is still in command of the Princess Cecile which he captured in the first book in the series. His mission is to join a battle group heading to Strymon to show the flag for Cinnabar.
A way stop at Sexburga lets him meet the group commander who doesn't like Daniel one tiny bit. Both his luck and his lifestyle cause Commodore Pettin to be willing to sabotage Daniel's career. Daniel is also reintroduced to Mr. Delos Vaughn who has been a "guest" of Cinnabar since his father was involved in some political chicanery on his home planet of Strymon. Vaughn has some plans for Daniel which include marooning him and some of his crew and the desert-like south continent where Daniel makes some intriguing discoveries. Meanwhile, Adele is using her research skills to find Daniel before the rest of the squadron takes off leaving Daniel behind.
When the son of the deposed leader of Strymon scams his way aboard the Princess Cecile and has plans to reclaim the Presidency of Strymon, Daniel and Adele find themselves deeper into politics than either would like to be. Between Commodore Pettin and Vaughn, Daniel is busy trying to keep command of his ship and his career.
An Alliance invasion force isn't really necessary to add to the confusion, but Daniel and crew stumbles into one while be sent off for some fictitious repairs on his ship. But Daniel has a plan to foil the invasion and save his career even if it means working with pirates.
This was quite an engaging story filled with derring do, action, adventure, plots galore and surprisingly engaging characters.
March 13, 2025
Oof. This is not a good book.
The Lt. Leary novels are writer David Drake's take on Forster/O'Brian (Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey, respectively) - style nautical fiction. But in space! To serve the idea, Drake imagines a universe in which spaceships have sails, for some reason. And riggers go topside, while in battle, to, um, rig the ship and repair the sails, as necessary. Lt. Leary is like Hornblower or Aubrey, but without the complexity of those characters. His sidekick is, basically, Stephen Maturin from the O'Brian novels.
I don't have a problem with one writer stealing tropes or archetypes from another, but David Drake steals actual character moments from both of his inspirations. It feels hacky. In addition, he assumes audience affection for his characters from page one. For some reason, he thinks this gives him running room to write 100 pages of setup before we first see them in actual action. I don't know these people! There's nothing on the book's cover to inform me that I need to read some other books before touching this one! You need to hook me sooner!
'Lt. Leary, Commanding' reads like the reanimated corpse of other, better books. I give it two stars instead of one because Drake does give us a rousing space battle in the end, but the reader would be as well served by checking this one out from the library and reading only the last fifty pages. I will not be coming aboard for Lt. Leary's next adventure.
The Lt. Leary novels are writer David Drake's take on Forster/O'Brian (Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey, respectively) - style nautical fiction. But in space! To serve the idea, Drake imagines a universe in which spaceships have sails, for some reason. And riggers go topside, while in battle, to, um, rig the ship and repair the sails, as necessary. Lt. Leary is like Hornblower or Aubrey, but without the complexity of those characters. His sidekick is, basically, Stephen Maturin from the O'Brian novels.
I don't have a problem with one writer stealing tropes or archetypes from another, but David Drake steals actual character moments from both of his inspirations. It feels hacky. In addition, he assumes audience affection for his characters from page one. For some reason, he thinks this gives him running room to write 100 pages of setup before we first see them in actual action. I don't know these people! There's nothing on the book's cover to inform me that I need to read some other books before touching this one! You need to hook me sooner!
'Lt. Leary, Commanding' reads like the reanimated corpse of other, better books. I give it two stars instead of one because Drake does give us a rousing space battle in the end, but the reader would be as well served by checking this one out from the library and reading only the last fifty pages. I will not be coming aboard for Lt. Leary's next adventure.
July 9, 2018
I think I'm always going to end up giving the RCN series books at least a decent review as long as Adele Mundy, the pistol-packing librarian goddess of databases, features in the books, unless for some reason Drake sabotages her character. There's more character development here for pretty much everyone, and more of Leary waxing rhapsodic about the Matrix and natural history. There is a great pirate captain. but there are loose ends left on one planet that appears to have impossibly developed creatures with identical DNA to humans and an annoyingly neatly tied up ending that leads to Leary renting rooms in Adele's house unbeknownst to both of them. I'm not sure where that's supposed to go, as there continues to be zero romantic interest between Leary and Mundy and no real reason for them to share a house. It's a good enough yarn for me to be looking forward to the next installment.
I have one MAJOR quibble. The characters, especially those on Leary's crew, are casually xenophobic and throw the slur "wog" around what seems like constantly. It happened in the first book, but it was much worse in this one. If this is Drake trying to make the RCN "real" he could drop this, no problem. It really spoils the story.
I have one MAJOR quibble. The characters, especially those on Leary's crew, are casually xenophobic and throw the slur "wog" around what seems like constantly. It happened in the first book, but it was much worse in this one. If this is Drake trying to make the RCN "real" he could drop this, no problem. It really spoils the story.
October 18, 2017
Drake is my everything
I don't know that you can get anything from a review by me of Mr. Drake's work. Since I first read Hammer's Slammers almost 30 years ago, I have found that reading anything by Mr. Drake calms me in a way no other work of fiction does. I'm not even sure "calm" is the correct word, but the existence feels more level when I am reading something by Mr. Drake than when not.
There is action, which I love. There is intrigue, there is suspense, and most of all there are always, in a book by Mr. Drake, people doing all they can to find the best way through a crisis. Some part of that, some part of the way he writes, energizes me in a way nothing else does.
As always, thank you, Mr. Drake.
I don't know that you can get anything from a review by me of Mr. Drake's work. Since I first read Hammer's Slammers almost 30 years ago, I have found that reading anything by Mr. Drake calms me in a way no other work of fiction does. I'm not even sure "calm" is the correct word, but the existence feels more level when I am reading something by Mr. Drake than when not.
There is action, which I love. There is intrigue, there is suspense, and most of all there are always, in a book by Mr. Drake, people doing all they can to find the best way through a crisis. Some part of that, some part of the way he writes, energizes me in a way nothing else does.
As always, thank you, Mr. Drake.
June 30, 2021
Daniel Leary, now in command of the Princess Cecile, is given orders that Delos Vaughn, a Strymon exile, accompany him on a mission that will take him to Vaughn's home planet. But the voyage is more difficult than he thought, as along the way, Daniel finds himself, due to a political maneuvering, stranded on the unexplored southern continent of a planet at which he's rendezvousing with the fleet. And when he does make it to the Stymon system, he finds an Alliance battle group waiting at the base on the systems far side.
The novel is full of action, intrigue, space battles, and even space pirates. But it also has great characters, who we get to know even more of in this, the second book in the series.
I'm looking forward to reading the third book.
The novel is full of action, intrigue, space battles, and even space pirates. But it also has great characters, who we get to know even more of in this, the second book in the series.
I'm looking forward to reading the third book.
August 30, 2018
All smiles here
What can I say? I read for entertainment, and I read Science Fiction to escape. I really enjoy technological sci-fi, but, though the tech in these Lt. Leary books is more in the background, the books, so far, have provided me with great enjoyment. When I found myself with a huge smile on my face, at the end of Lt. Leary Commanding, I felt that I must rate the book. The five stars of my rating reflect the level of enjoyment I received from reading it. On to the next book in the series!
What can I say? I read for entertainment, and I read Science Fiction to escape. I really enjoy technological sci-fi, but, though the tech in these Lt. Leary books is more in the background, the books, so far, have provided me with great enjoyment. When I found myself with a huge smile on my face, at the end of Lt. Leary Commanding, I felt that I must rate the book. The five stars of my rating reflect the level of enjoyment I received from reading it. On to the next book in the series!
May 13, 2023
I happened across this book after a recommendation to read David Drake if I liked Sci Fi space ships, space navy, space battles. I'm glad I found it and I'd like to read more. It's cool to read the action and link it with the potential of space travel. I thought the twist on space ships linked to the idea of sail boats was an interesting twist. And the space pirates were awesome. Good guys, bad guys - and some times you can tell which is which.
June 14, 2024
For an author known for the military aspects, there's a surprising amount of background detail. The premise is very familiar, but potentially interesting enough; in execution though it feels a bit dry, and more problematically I found all of the characters basically unlikable. Not necessarily in an unrealistic way, but I'm not really interested in reading several hundred pages about the adventures of people who bristle at not being treated as their privileged background demands.
June 17, 2024
Still an audio book, still don’t like it; I am sure that I missed some important parts, difficult to go back with the software. I definitely didn’t understand all in the space battle scene (those are my favourites). Adele is my favourite character and some secondary ones as well because of the humor. The story was predictable but OK, the setting was boring, some biological oddities and our captain.
June 22, 2024
Lt Leary Commanding by David Drake: this is the second book in Drake’s Lt Leary series, military science fiction set in the far future. This series is an homage to Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series of naval adventures set during the Napoleonic Wars. I love the combination. This book kicks along at an enjoyable pace. The world building is solid and the military engagements are believable. I’m going to read more of this series. 3.5 stars.
August 26, 2018
As usual, Drake gives us an action packed adventure with strong characters and living lives. The ending feels rushed, which is unusual, since Drake is generally amazing in his plotting when he writes. You cannot help but love the main characters, and the secondary characters keep reaching out to grab your attention.
December 29, 2019
#2 in series
Action,Action,Action Adventure,Adventure,Adventure continues the story ! We get to know and understand. Adele Mundy much better and find more about Lt leary! Off to a new planet and some serious political intrigue leading to get pirates to help in a police action! Very good hard to put down!!
Action,Action,Action Adventure,Adventure,Adventure continues the story ! We get to know and understand. Adele Mundy much better and find more about Lt leary! Off to a new planet and some serious political intrigue leading to get pirates to help in a police action! Very good hard to put down!!
October 23, 2020
Leary and Mundy!
This second book in the series really captures the fun of it all. Much more than "Horatio Hornblower, in space." It is the friendship of Adele and Daniel (and their "servants") that really make these book such a joy to read. The crew of the Princess Cecile also turns into excellent characters.
This second book in the series really captures the fun of it all. Much more than "Horatio Hornblower, in space." It is the friendship of Adele and Daniel (and their "servants") that really make these book such a joy to read. The crew of the Princess Cecile also turns into excellent characters.
December 17, 2021
There's more action & intrigue in this one which makes the misogyny ever so slightly less vivid & more palatable. Been enjoying the descriptions of "sailing" through the Matrix and the action scenes. I am starting to see some more parallels between this & the Aubrey-Maturin series, but it's definitely not reaching those heights by any means.
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