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RCN #7
In the Stormy Red Sky
DANIEL LEARY IS CINNABAR'S MOST SUCCESSFUL SPACE CAPTAIN; HIS FRIEND, LADY ADELE MUNDY, IS ITS MOST EFFICIENT SPY--BUT THEY'VE GOT THEIR HANDS FULL THIS TIME AS THEY FACE:
• A Cinnabar Senator furious at losing an election—and still powerful enough to make her anger deadly.
• The boy ruler of a star cluster who thinks he's a god—and who can sign the death warrants of even Cinnabar officials if a mad whimsy tells him to.
• A world of slaves and escaped slaves, where the most savage beasts in the jungle used to be human.
• An enemy base that could shrug off attack by powerful battlefleets—but which must fall to a single cruiser if Cinnabar is to survive.
From palace to reeking jungle, from gunfights in grimy hangars to the flagship's bridge during a sprawling space battle, Leary and Mundy are in the thick of it again. Watch the galaxy explode—IN THE STORMY RED SKY
1. David Drake is the Dean of military science fiction and author of the best-selling Hammer's Slammers series. Many writers of military SF get their background from books, but Vietnam veteran Drake has been there and done that, giving his work an unmatched gritty realism.
2. His novels of the military exploits of the brilliant young RCN officer Daniel Leary (who has gone from Lieutenant to Captain) and his friend and colleague Adele Mundy, computer spy and crack shot, have been top-sellers.
3. The RCN series has strong appeal for the enormous audience for David Weber's best-selling Honor Harrington novels.
4. Trade advertising
5. Consumer advertising in Locus, more
6. Huge distribution of ARCs to top accounts and reviewers.
7. Four-page color brochure.
8. BookSense mailing
9. Teaser chapter in When the Tide Rises mass market
10. Postcards
11. Bookmarks
12. Incremental co-op available
• A Cinnabar Senator furious at losing an election—and still powerful enough to make her anger deadly.
• The boy ruler of a star cluster who thinks he's a god—and who can sign the death warrants of even Cinnabar officials if a mad whimsy tells him to.
• A world of slaves and escaped slaves, where the most savage beasts in the jungle used to be human.
• An enemy base that could shrug off attack by powerful battlefleets—but which must fall to a single cruiser if Cinnabar is to survive.
From palace to reeking jungle, from gunfights in grimy hangars to the flagship's bridge during a sprawling space battle, Leary and Mundy are in the thick of it again. Watch the galaxy explode—IN THE STORMY RED SKY
1. David Drake is the Dean of military science fiction and author of the best-selling Hammer's Slammers series. Many writers of military SF get their background from books, but Vietnam veteran Drake has been there and done that, giving his work an unmatched gritty realism.
2. His novels of the military exploits of the brilliant young RCN officer Daniel Leary (who has gone from Lieutenant to Captain) and his friend and colleague Adele Mundy, computer spy and crack shot, have been top-sellers.
3. The RCN series has strong appeal for the enormous audience for David Weber's best-selling Honor Harrington novels.
4. Trade advertising
5. Consumer advertising in Locus, more
6. Huge distribution of ARCs to top accounts and reviewers.
7. Four-page color brochure.
8. BookSense mailing
9. Teaser chapter in When the Tide Rises mass market
10. Postcards
11. Bookmarks
12. Incremental co-op available
378 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2009
57 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
David Drake
306 books886 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 55 reviews
February 7, 2022
The trouble was, violent death was a common hazard of wearing an RCN uniform.
As expected, there is still some forward momentum in this, the seventh book of the RCN series. Leary commands a bigger ship this time round, and there seems to be a lot more going on politically speaking. The Princess Cecile is no more, and it’s kind of sad that we will not be able to refer to Leary and his crew as the Sissies anymore.
Speaking of politics. Cinnabar politicking is a sticky business, and occasionally challenging to follow. For all their supposed benevolence, the Republic of Cinnabar appears to be only the lesser of two evils compared to the Alliance of Free Stars. They are not above practices such as summarily beheading senators or members of the great houses (and their children to boot) and displaying the severed heads on Speaker’s Rock. This is old hat if you’ve been following the series, but it serves to underscore the ongoing tension that permeates everything in these stories. There is very specific etiquette and protocol that needs to be observed in all dealings, in order for honour to be satisfied. Dueling is perfectly legal in this society, and it seems that it really doesn’t take too much for people to feel slighted, and, well, kill each other.
Despite the constant threat of violence, the book is actually leisurely paced, and there is a good helping of humour, which is a welcome distraction. As per usual there is a long-ish build up and positioning of pieces on the board. The grand finale is what we are all here for, of course, and that is where Leary outwits and outguns the space ships of the Alliance, often against staggering odds. So far so good, everything as expected.
”I think it’s well beyond anything the Protectorate Service can fix. Sending a senatorial envoy in a cruiser was a good idea. Sending a fleet of battleships would be an even better one.”
There’re all kinds of things happening as per usual. A slave trafficking ring on a hidden planet, for one thing, which sounds like an idea nabbed from the golden age of SF. Drake does do a good job of showing that, despite the long arms of both the Republic of Cinnabar and the Alliance of Free Stars, space is still a very big place and there is a lot that can go unseen or unaccounted for in the remote places. Planets and societies on the outer sphere of civilization’s influence are often depicted as backward and run down. There are obviously challenges to policing such a vast empire and keeping the Republic’s interests intact, which is why the Naval Commanders have quite a bit of leeway in making decisions on the fly.
The results of short-range gunfire in weightlessness were beyond the imagination of those who hadn’t seen it happen. Blood went everywhere. That was the thing that had most impressed [her] when all her targets were down and she had time to reflect.
These books are rough and tumble, dirt under the fingernail yarns, as opposed to sleek technological space thrillers. It’s an important distinction, because approaching them correctly can make all the difference whether you enjoy them or not. Consider the idiosyncrasies inevitably inherent in a series where Spacers are just as likely to board a ship armed with pipes and wrenches as with automatic impellers.
In closing. Leary isn’t always likeable. He has a bit of a stick up where the sun doesn’t shine when it comes to the Republic of Cinnabar, and all the patriotic honour and glory posturing can be tiresome, but it is part of the territory.
This is a dangerous point in any series, and it is where things can start to flag a bit. As such, this one was perhaps not quite as exciting as some of the previous entries, but it still gets 3.5 stars.
As expected, there is still some forward momentum in this, the seventh book of the RCN series. Leary commands a bigger ship this time round, and there seems to be a lot more going on politically speaking. The Princess Cecile is no more, and it’s kind of sad that we will not be able to refer to Leary and his crew as the Sissies anymore.
Speaking of politics. Cinnabar politicking is a sticky business, and occasionally challenging to follow. For all their supposed benevolence, the Republic of Cinnabar appears to be only the lesser of two evils compared to the Alliance of Free Stars. They are not above practices such as summarily beheading senators or members of the great houses (and their children to boot) and displaying the severed heads on Speaker’s Rock. This is old hat if you’ve been following the series, but it serves to underscore the ongoing tension that permeates everything in these stories. There is very specific etiquette and protocol that needs to be observed in all dealings, in order for honour to be satisfied. Dueling is perfectly legal in this society, and it seems that it really doesn’t take too much for people to feel slighted, and, well, kill each other.
Despite the constant threat of violence, the book is actually leisurely paced, and there is a good helping of humour, which is a welcome distraction. As per usual there is a long-ish build up and positioning of pieces on the board. The grand finale is what we are all here for, of course, and that is where Leary outwits and outguns the space ships of the Alliance, often against staggering odds. So far so good, everything as expected.
”I think it’s well beyond anything the Protectorate Service can fix. Sending a senatorial envoy in a cruiser was a good idea. Sending a fleet of battleships would be an even better one.”
There’re all kinds of things happening as per usual. A slave trafficking ring on a hidden planet, for one thing, which sounds like an idea nabbed from the golden age of SF. Drake does do a good job of showing that, despite the long arms of both the Republic of Cinnabar and the Alliance of Free Stars, space is still a very big place and there is a lot that can go unseen or unaccounted for in the remote places. Planets and societies on the outer sphere of civilization’s influence are often depicted as backward and run down. There are obviously challenges to policing such a vast empire and keeping the Republic’s interests intact, which is why the Naval Commanders have quite a bit of leeway in making decisions on the fly.
The results of short-range gunfire in weightlessness were beyond the imagination of those who hadn’t seen it happen. Blood went everywhere. That was the thing that had most impressed [her] when all her targets were down and she had time to reflect.
These books are rough and tumble, dirt under the fingernail yarns, as opposed to sleek technological space thrillers. It’s an important distinction, because approaching them correctly can make all the difference whether you enjoy them or not. Consider the idiosyncrasies inevitably inherent in a series where Spacers are just as likely to board a ship armed with pipes and wrenches as with automatic impellers.
In closing. Leary isn’t always likeable. He has a bit of a stick up where the sun doesn’t shine when it comes to the Republic of Cinnabar, and all the patriotic honour and glory posturing can be tiresome, but it is part of the territory.
This is a dangerous point in any series, and it is where things can start to flag a bit. As such, this one was perhaps not quite as exciting as some of the previous entries, but it still gets 3.5 stars.
June 25, 2020
6/19/17 4th re-read. The best yet of this stellar series. Up RCN!
November 5, 2021
DNF 85%
It's been a couple of years since I last read this series. My fond memories were dashed.
After a slow start, things heated up only to turn into a rampant stream of praise from the author to the two protagonists. Leary is the best spacer in the fleet and Mundy is the smartest spy/hacker in the kingdom. Time and time again we are deluged with descriptions of how awesome these two are. There's no sense of risk as they lay waste to every enemy that nears them... No risk - no emotional payoff.
Despite back-to-back action scenes, I was left cold. Not bored exactly but I felt zero investment in the story.
It's been a couple of years since I last read this series. My fond memories were dashed.
After a slow start, things heated up only to turn into a rampant stream of praise from the author to the two protagonists. Leary is the best spacer in the fleet and Mundy is the smartest spy/hacker in the kingdom. Time and time again we are deluged with descriptions of how awesome these two are. There's no sense of risk as they lay waste to every enemy that nears them... No risk - no emotional payoff.
Despite back-to-back action scenes, I was left cold. Not bored exactly but I felt zero investment in the story.
August 6, 2010
As usual this was a great read. It had interesting characters and kept my attention from the first page to the last. I have read several of Mr.Drake's books in the last few years and I have yet to be disappointed. I met Mr. Drake and his wife at a Science Fiction convention in 2006 and he is a very interesting person to talk to as well.
July 29, 2016
Drake's RCN series features the military leader Daniel Leary and his friend Adele Mundy, librarian extraordinaire, along with a delightful, ever-expanding cast of support characters such as Daniels' family and his servant, Hogg, Adele's socially-challenged assistant Tovera, his shipmates, the incomparable Sissies, etc. (And there's usually a despicable character named Platt.) The stories are all solidly grounded on some interesting historical situation, which he explains in the books' introductions. They're well-told and exciting adventure stories that always offer some good food for thought and reflection, and the characters have depth and facets that always add a lot to the story as a whole. (For example, Daniel has a deep interest in the biological sciences that he rarely has time to pursue.) The books are a lot of fun and definitely among the very best space-opera style stories that I've encountered.
December 11, 2010
Another fine installment in the Leary/Mundy saga. A rollicking read that I enjoyed greatly on my iPad (iBooks bought from Baen) because I could use the dictionary to look up some of the archaic language that makes the books so enjoyable. Strongly recommended.
February 10, 2019
Okay, I love this one.
Leary & Mundy ride again.
Big space battles. Lots of deception.
Great payoff.
Leary & Mundy ride again.
Big space battles. Lots of deception.
Great payoff.
September 4, 2020
In this installment of David Drake's RCN series, Daniel Leary has been promoted to captain, and is now commanding officer of a cruiser, the Milton (perhaps named for Puritan poet John Milton, author of Paradise Lost?). He is to take the Republic's new ambassador to a key ally, which has just undergone an unexpected regime change. The new ruler is a foolish youth who proves utterly useless in the Republic's ongoing conflict with the Alliance.
However, the Alliance has made a surprise attack on a neighboring star cluster, and in the process captured almost an entire squadron of the RCN. This cannot pass unnoticed, so Daniel leads his squadron into battle to dislodge the hereditary enemy and free his fellow RCN spacers.
As usual, David Drake provides stunning space combat, along with political complexity and a keen awareness of history, especially the history of the Roman Republic that many moderns have forgotten.
However, the Alliance has made a surprise attack on a neighboring star cluster, and in the process captured almost an entire squadron of the RCN. This cannot pass unnoticed, so Daniel leads his squadron into battle to dislodge the hereditary enemy and free his fellow RCN spacers.
As usual, David Drake provides stunning space combat, along with political complexity and a keen awareness of history, especially the history of the Roman Republic that many moderns have forgotten.
January 8, 2022
Daniel Leary has been promoted to Captain and given a new ship: the Milton. He, Mundy, and the rest of the Millies are given what should be an easy first assignment, a good way to shake out any issues with a new ship: escort a senator to confront a local warlord, a young boy just risen to power and contemptuous of Cinnabar. But he soon finds that the warlord is now backing the Alliance. And worse, the RCN fleet in the Monserrat Cluster has suffered a major defeat. Leary must find a way to restore the balance.
Fun, thrilling, with great characters -- this series continues to be entertaining. My only minor complaint is that Drake is sometimes repetitive in his character descriptions: he multiple times tells of Mundy's lack of concern for her own life, of her only caring for her friendship with Daniel; likewise multiple times Tovera is described as not really human, as a reptile, etc. This could have been tightened up a bit, though, as I said, it's a minor flaw in an enjoyable novel.
Fun, thrilling, with great characters -- this series continues to be entertaining. My only minor complaint is that Drake is sometimes repetitive in his character descriptions: he multiple times tells of Mundy's lack of concern for her own life, of her only caring for her friendship with Daniel; likewise multiple times Tovera is described as not really human, as a reptile, etc. This could have been tightened up a bit, though, as I said, it's a minor flaw in an enjoyable novel.
December 28, 2018
The seventh book in the series is more of the same for Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy. Once again, they are sent out to "remind" a world that the RCN is better than the Alliance. As usual, the Alliance has managed to sneakily take over, and Daniel must find a way to fight and defeat them.
I love this series, but even though people you have gotten to know get killed, you also know that the main characters of Daniel, Adele, Hogg and Tovera, will continue and triumph.
There's a little less ground fighting, and a bit more space combat in this book, and I'm happy about that.
On to the next book!
I love this series, but even though people you have gotten to know get killed, you also know that the main characters of Daniel, Adele, Hogg and Tovera, will continue and triumph.
There's a little less ground fighting, and a bit more space combat in this book, and I'm happy about that.
On to the next book!
January 4, 2020
The best LT. Leary book yet (#7). This guy can write space opera/military scifi. And the final battle scene - with a big twist - was breathtaking. I feel like he's constantly feeding red meat to his base with his repeated themes of honor, duty, camaraderie, courage, panache, etc,etc, but I love it.
I haven't like everything he written, but in this series Drake has created two exceptional characters in Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy (signals officer/spy/royalty), and I keep returning to them when I need a fun, fast, easy and satisfying read. Extremely well done and highly recommended. Very much looking forward to more.
I haven't like everything he written, but in this series Drake has created two exceptional characters in Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy (signals officer/spy/royalty), and I keep returning to them when I need a fun, fast, easy and satisfying read. Extremely well done and highly recommended. Very much looking forward to more.
July 17, 2020
In the Stormy Red Sky by David Drake
Drake can be somewhat annoying with the ease that he sucks you into his series. This is another Daniel Leary RCN book. Daniel is accompanied on his adventures by Adele Mundy, Hogg and Torvera as recurring and while not loveable characters, certainly memorable.
The entire series is predictable. Leary gets into trouble, the Republic of Cinabar gets into trouble and against insurmountable odds, Leary gets the job done. Regardless of being predicable, I love these books and consistently are impressed by Drakes ability to highlight camaraderie, honor and loyalty.
RCN Forever!!
Drake can be somewhat annoying with the ease that he sucks you into his series. This is another Daniel Leary RCN book. Daniel is accompanied on his adventures by Adele Mundy, Hogg and Torvera as recurring and while not loveable characters, certainly memorable.
The entire series is predictable. Leary gets into trouble, the Republic of Cinabar gets into trouble and against insurmountable odds, Leary gets the job done. Regardless of being predicable, I love these books and consistently are impressed by Drakes ability to highlight camaraderie, honor and loyalty.
RCN Forever!!
March 4, 2022
I was a bit distracted reading this. I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1, as I might have 'just okay'ed it if I'd been better rested while reading.
This furthers the adventures of Drake and crew. I have read book 1 and 2, and this, book 7. Though I'm sure things happened, I didn't feel left behind. Also, none of the characters seemed to have grown in any way.
If you enjoyed books 1 and 2, and want more of the same, then this book is for you! I found the space battle at the end to be very drawn out. The pacing of the rest of the book seemed fine. It just didn't encourage me to look further into this series.
This furthers the adventures of Drake and crew. I have read book 1 and 2, and this, book 7. Though I'm sure things happened, I didn't feel left behind. Also, none of the characters seemed to have grown in any way.
If you enjoyed books 1 and 2, and want more of the same, then this book is for you! I found the space battle at the end to be very drawn out. The pacing of the rest of the book seemed fine. It just didn't encourage me to look further into this series.
March 21, 2024
Didn't realize I never rated this one before...
I'm one of the late Mr. Drake's most ardent fans. I've read most everything he's written. Hammer's Slammers was formative for me.
If you haven't read any Leary/Mundy books before, Leary is a brilliant young naval officer, and a lucky one. He made his fortune - and that of his shipmates - several times over by the start of this story. Herein he takes control of a vessel and a fleet much larger than ever before. The inevitable conclusion is only reached with bumps and bruises, and growth for many familiar characters.
I love these books, have read them all several times, and will again in a couple years.
I'm one of the late Mr. Drake's most ardent fans. I've read most everything he's written. Hammer's Slammers was formative for me.
If you haven't read any Leary/Mundy books before, Leary is a brilliant young naval officer, and a lucky one. He made his fortune - and that of his shipmates - several times over by the start of this story. Herein he takes control of a vessel and a fleet much larger than ever before. The inevitable conclusion is only reached with bumps and bruises, and growth for many familiar characters.
I love these books, have read them all several times, and will again in a couple years.
September 10, 2020
This is another fine adventure of Drake's two major characters, Captain Leary and his friend Adele Mundy, along with the supporting cast we have come to know and love. Full of interesting new worlds, and much swashbuckling and derring-do, these are excellent examples of military science fiction and space opera. I've read this one before, but have undertaken over the last couple of years to re-read all of the series because they are so much fun.
November 21, 2023
Too long in coming
I’ve followed this series for a long time and always await the next installment. It’s always torture to wait, but it's necessary, and still, I wouldn't say I like it. However, if the wait can be attributed to the story, I’ll await the next installment. I hope this series will end justly and not without a wrecking of all characters, but life happens, so I’ll hang in there and see what comes next.
I’ve followed this series for a long time and always await the next installment. It’s always torture to wait, but it's necessary, and still, I wouldn't say I like it. However, if the wait can be attributed to the story, I’ll await the next installment. I hope this series will end justly and not without a wrecking of all characters, but life happens, so I’ll hang in there and see what comes next.
July 13, 2024
A big part is just what (ship battles) I want in a space opera but this book has to many subplots and some are wrapped with a sloppy bow. That means to quickly with fuzzy explanations or not dealt at all (the tyrant they were sent to speak). The author has a habit in which his books start with some plot but ends somewhere else.
October 6, 2018
Never disappoints!
Another rousing tale, well written, with engaging characters. In the tradition of Horatio Hornblower and his ilk. I hope Daniel and Adele will continue to fill my book shelves for years to come -stay healthy David Drake!
Another rousing tale, well written, with engaging characters. In the tradition of Horatio Hornblower and his ilk. I hope Daniel and Adele will continue to fill my book shelves for years to come -stay healthy David Drake!
February 16, 2023
For me, the Daniel Leary novels translate well as audio books. Drake’s space operas of the RCN are more interesting than any other series of their type. The balance of politics and military action make this a strong addition to this consistent series.
November 24, 2019
If you've read this far into the series...
You won't be disappointed. I like this book because there's so much about the people that Daniel had affected. One to savor.
You won't be disappointed. I like this book because there's so much about the people that Daniel had affected. One to savor.
October 31, 2020
Good book
I recommend it to anyone who likes a good space opera. It’s very action packed and thrilling definitely a good read
I recommend it to anyone who likes a good space opera. It’s very action packed and thrilling definitely a good read
December 19, 2022
Better but to save your sanity, gloss over the pages of repeated plot and character points/descriptions.
October 16, 2025
Good novel. Space opera theme, centred around neo-Roman society and 18th century sailing techniques.
Read
October 26, 2025Why you might like it: RCN series: Aubrey/Maturin in space, with logistics. Rubric match: not yet scored. Uses your engineering/rigor/first-contact/world-building rubric. Tags: military-sf, ops
May 6, 2013
David Drake has written about 14 of these books, and rarely missteps in creating compelling books that are at once rip-roaring space opera adventure and nuanced socio-political novel. This one is no different, but I must confess I'd read 'em all even if they were a lot less accomplished.
I won't summarize the plot--there's another potentially explosive situation that our heroes partly stumble but mostly storm into, proving themselves smarter, braver, and more resourceful than the baffled enemies. The friendship between the dashing Daniel Leary and the his damaged partner, Adele Mundy, is the core of these books, a brilliant matching of two people who by all rights should be natural enemies but who have grown to trust and rely on each other without question. They are joined by the usual cast of supporting characters, The Sissies (just read the book, Drake explains it.) The interplay between our heroes and their respective sidekicks, Hogg and Tovera, are priceless.
The best elements of these books are the tightly woven plots. Drake is a consumate professional, and he drives us from plot point to plot point with efficient vigor that is too often lacking in this sub-genre, perhaps because he roughly bases the military aspects of each campaign on one or more historical events. This book in particular is so laser-precise that the ending comes almost too soon.
The best way to deal with the Leary/Mundy saga is to read the books in order, but this one is in fact better suited than many of them for a new reader to slip in at the middle and catch up. It's worth it. Nobody writes this genre like Drake.
I won't summarize the plot--there's another potentially explosive situation that our heroes partly stumble but mostly storm into, proving themselves smarter, braver, and more resourceful than the baffled enemies. The friendship between the dashing Daniel Leary and the his damaged partner, Adele Mundy, is the core of these books, a brilliant matching of two people who by all rights should be natural enemies but who have grown to trust and rely on each other without question. They are joined by the usual cast of supporting characters, The Sissies (just read the book, Drake explains it.) The interplay between our heroes and their respective sidekicks, Hogg and Tovera, are priceless.
The best elements of these books are the tightly woven plots. Drake is a consumate professional, and he drives us from plot point to plot point with efficient vigor that is too often lacking in this sub-genre, perhaps because he roughly bases the military aspects of each campaign on one or more historical events. This book in particular is so laser-precise that the ending comes almost too soon.
The best way to deal with the Leary/Mundy saga is to read the books in order, but this one is in fact better suited than many of them for a new reader to slip in at the middle and catch up. It's worth it. Nobody writes this genre like Drake.
October 12, 2010
From the first time we met Lt. Leary, I knew that this was a series that had great potential and would be a good read. It has become a much better series then David Weber's indestructible hero series about Honor Harrington. A series that is repetitive. All about meetings, and little about action.
Here we have a fleet battle that is several chapters long and a plot that really does work. Somethings where we get lost while reading the book is the various names of the ships in the fleet, and a little chart showing us who is who, would have been helpful.
Also a star chart of where these two empires are in relation to each other would be nice after so many books. But this does not stop the story from being a great read. Each book adds more character development and we see the growth of not only our two main characters, but also the subsidiary characters as well.
Our middies are growing up to be competent lieutenants and soon probably lt. commanders. That Drake uses historical situations from our past to create the line of plot for his stories means that we can believe what will happen. It did happen. Now it happens in space.
It works and this is a series that will be reread again for the nuance that Drake is weaving into it. However, one caveat. Leary is becoming more successful then Nelson. Soon it will be hard to believe that there are any Alliance ships to be enemies for him to fight against.
Here we have a fleet battle that is several chapters long and a plot that really does work. Somethings where we get lost while reading the book is the various names of the ships in the fleet, and a little chart showing us who is who, would have been helpful.
Also a star chart of where these two empires are in relation to each other would be nice after so many books. But this does not stop the story from being a great read. Each book adds more character development and we see the growth of not only our two main characters, but also the subsidiary characters as well.
Our middies are growing up to be competent lieutenants and soon probably lt. commanders. That Drake uses historical situations from our past to create the line of plot for his stories means that we can believe what will happen. It did happen. Now it happens in space.
It works and this is a series that will be reread again for the nuance that Drake is weaving into it. However, one caveat. Leary is becoming more successful then Nelson. Soon it will be hard to believe that there are any Alliance ships to be enemies for him to fight against.
October 26, 2012
I really wanted to like this book. A friend recommended the series and when I found "In the Stormy Red Sky" in my local library I decided to give it a shot. I realized jumping into a series so late meant losing a lot of back story but I figured if the writing gripped me enough I would order #1 online. Unfortunately, I wasn't gripped enough to follow Daniel Leary's adventures any further.
Drake's military past shines through the pages and the premise was intriguing, but the characters were two dimensional, (does Leary do anything but "grin"?), and left me disconnected. I would have happily traded military authenticity for characters I cared about.
What lost me completely was Drake's portrayal of female characters, particularly Adele. As a woman who's lived dangerously and who knows a lot of truly gutsy and kick-ass ladies, I was disappointed, (and vaguely insulted), by these characters. I was left wondering if the author had ever met a woman in his life and if he understood that there are things - beyond the stereotypes - that make us different than men?
Having said that, I can see that male military sci-fi fans, who don't mind purely plot-driven books, would love this series.
Drake's military past shines through the pages and the premise was intriguing, but the characters were two dimensional, (does Leary do anything but "grin"?), and left me disconnected. I would have happily traded military authenticity for characters I cared about.
What lost me completely was Drake's portrayal of female characters, particularly Adele. As a woman who's lived dangerously and who knows a lot of truly gutsy and kick-ass ladies, I was disappointed, (and vaguely insulted), by these characters. I was left wondering if the author had ever met a woman in his life and if he understood that there are things - beyond the stereotypes - that make us different than men?
Having said that, I can see that male military sci-fi fans, who don't mind purely plot-driven books, would love this series.
February 9, 2025
This and the preceding volume, When the Tide Rises, are probably the best of the series apart from With the Lightnings, which introduces the main characters and the situation.
The series as a whole is light sf, not to be taken seriously. Junior officer Daniel Leary and his somewhat older friend and colleague Adele Mundy routinely accomplish remarkable feats in their respective specialities; all the main characters are like exaggerated versions of real people. Leary’s crew is permanently full of team spirit (and alcoholic spirit, when available) and will do anything for him or Mundy.
It’s not great literature, but it’s a readable and lively military-adventure story, an agreeable way of passing the time if you like that kind of thing.
The series as a whole is light sf, not to be taken seriously. Junior officer Daniel Leary and his somewhat older friend and colleague Adele Mundy routinely accomplish remarkable feats in their respective specialities; all the main characters are like exaggerated versions of real people. Leary’s crew is permanently full of team spirit (and alcoholic spirit, when available) and will do anything for him or Mundy.
It’s not great literature, but it’s a readable and lively military-adventure story, an agreeable way of passing the time if you like that kind of thing.
May 23, 2011
The seventh book in the RCN series sees Leary take his new command, the heavy cruiser Milton, on what is supposed to be a milk run: escorting a senator to the Montserrat Stars to re-establish relations with the local authorities. Once they get there, it is clear that the Alliance has more or less taken over, having handed the Republic of Cinnabar Navy a humiliating defeat. IT should come as no surprise to regular readers that Leary and the rest must now fix the problem.
Lots of action and a strong story make for an entertaining book. The fact that Leary has now “graduated” to a larger ship, and spends some time in command of a makeshift squadron, is a definite plus. While tooling around in the Princess Cecile was all well and good, Drake couldn’t have Leary and Mundy do that forever. Speaking of Adele Mundy, this book is definitely very much about her, with significant developments for her character.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=772
Lots of action and a strong story make for an entertaining book. The fact that Leary has now “graduated” to a larger ship, and spends some time in command of a makeshift squadron, is a definite plus. While tooling around in the Princess Cecile was all well and good, Drake couldn’t have Leary and Mundy do that forever. Speaking of Adele Mundy, this book is definitely very much about her, with significant developments for her character.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=772
July 25, 2011
After a couple of lesser (albeit still quite good) entries in the Leary/Mundy series, Drake returns to top form in "Stormy Red Sky." Reassigned to a pocket-battleship analogue (that the Princess Cecile captured in an earlier installment of the series), Leary and Mundy turn a somewhat humdrum transport-an-annoying-government-official task into a major reversal for the Alliance. The only mis-steps are a lack of detail on a major defeat suffered by Cinnabar (although, as it happens elsewhere and Leary and Mundy only learn of it third-hand, this is understandable if somewhat frustrating) and a plot thread about a young petty tyrant left hanging... though since this is a series, that might be taken care of in the future. Drake delivers! Cinnabar forever!
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