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Vicky Peterwald #4
Dominator
Grand Duchess Vicky Peterwald has everything. A loving fiance who's soon to be her husband, adoring crowds, and she gets to share her golden wedding carriage with Kris Longknife. What more could a girl want?
Well, the Emperor, her father, could have showed up to walk her down the aisle, but she's not really bothered about that. Then suddenly, she is. It turns out that he didn't make the wedding because he's broke and living nearly homeless in an abandoned, half built, palace. How'd that happen?
News isn't coming out of Dad's side of the Empire, so it looks like Vicky may need a battle fleet to go pay Daddy dear a visit. Oh, and four or six brigades of infantry and tanks. Somebody should have known better than piss Vicky Peterwald off. Now they have, and she won't let anything get in her way of being Vicky Dominator.
Well, the Emperor, her father, could have showed up to walk her down the aisle, but she's not really bothered about that. Then suddenly, she is. It turns out that he didn't make the wedding because he's broke and living nearly homeless in an abandoned, half built, palace. How'd that happen?
News isn't coming out of Dad's side of the Empire, so it looks like Vicky may need a battle fleet to go pay Daddy dear a visit. Oh, and four or six brigades of infantry and tanks. Somebody should have known better than piss Vicky Peterwald off. Now they have, and she won't let anything get in her way of being Vicky Dominator.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2018
80 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Mike Shepherd
78 books563 followersA 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 14, 2018
I have read all of the Kris Longknife Series. The Vicky Peterwald Series is a spin off from the Longknife Series. This is book four in the series. Kris has appeared in most of the books in this series as she does in this book. Vicky is getting married and Kris is a guest who came with a large number of bodyguards and fancy equipment. An assassination of Vicky is attempted on the ride to the church. From this point on it is nonstop action. The information about the wedding and dresses was boring to me. Luckily, the intrigue and action quickly began.
The book is well written and fast paced. It was great to visit with all my friends (characters) again. Of course, my favorite is Kris’s AI “Nellie”. Vicky’s AI is called Maggie. She is one of Nellie’s children. The book is easy to read and is a fun space opera. Cannot wait for the next episode.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten and a half hours. Dina Pearlman does a good job narrating this series.
The book is well written and fast paced. It was great to visit with all my friends (characters) again. Of course, my favorite is Kris’s AI “Nellie”. Vicky’s AI is called Maggie. She is one of Nellie’s children. The book is easy to read and is a fun space opera. Cannot wait for the next episode.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten and a half hours. Dina Pearlman does a good job narrating this series.
September 8, 2018
This was a decent read, but I couldn’t help thinking that Vicky is turning into a version of ‘Kris Longknife’. To many readers this might not be a problem, but I think the books have lost something now Vicky has become a ‘conventional goody’.
Vicky had that bad/naughty edge that made her a bit different, now she is a heterosexual, monogamous, married women, embracing democracy and using a AI computer to get her out of trouble.
I like the Kris Longknife books but I would have liked the ‘Vicky Peterwald’ books to have been a bit different.
Vicky had that bad/naughty edge that made her a bit different, now she is a heterosexual, monogamous, married women, embracing democracy and using a AI computer to get her out of trouble.
I like the Kris Longknife books but I would have liked the ‘Vicky Peterwald’ books to have been a bit different.
July 25, 2018
Vicky Rules
Vicky rules…literally. After Vicky’s marriage to Manny together they head an effort to get her half of the Empire to function as a democracy. As Manny heads up Government reform in Vicky’s half of the Peterwald Empire; Vicky and her new-found computer “Maggie”, gifted from Kris Longknife and Nelly, head to the home planet of the Peterwald Empire to rescue Daddy from the clutches of the now dead Empress’s family. While she is able to rescue dear old’ Dad, and capture some really evil relatives of the Empresses, she is ill prepared to assume control of the planet. So, returning to her part of the Empire she discovers that more of the ‘Bad Relatives’ and their sycophants are trying to subdue and dominate the worlds that they control. Now they have ticked off the benevolent Vicky and she is coming to save her people, planets and ready to kick some ass. Good book…Vicky is amazing when she is not a merely eye candy. Also, it is interesting to watch the growth between Vicky and Maggie…keeping writing.
Vicky rules…literally. After Vicky’s marriage to Manny together they head an effort to get her half of the Empire to function as a democracy. As Manny heads up Government reform in Vicky’s half of the Peterwald Empire; Vicky and her new-found computer “Maggie”, gifted from Kris Longknife and Nelly, head to the home planet of the Peterwald Empire to rescue Daddy from the clutches of the now dead Empress’s family. While she is able to rescue dear old’ Dad, and capture some really evil relatives of the Empresses, she is ill prepared to assume control of the planet. So, returning to her part of the Empire she discovers that more of the ‘Bad Relatives’ and their sycophants are trying to subdue and dominate the worlds that they control. Now they have ticked off the benevolent Vicky and she is coming to save her people, planets and ready to kick some ass. Good book…Vicky is amazing when she is not a merely eye candy. Also, it is interesting to watch the growth between Vicky and Maggie…keeping writing.
July 22, 2018
A Duchess's work is never done. Even on her honeymoon. With her father's Empire split between Vicky and her step mother's family you would think that there would be at least some short time of peace but that is a fantasy. Her step mother's family has decided to throw pretext to the wind and take over her father's Empire. Our adventure starts with Vicky going to save her father and ending up having to save the other half of the Empire as well.
September 7, 2018
I was as bored as Vicky at her wedding. Like she said it just went on and on. Then the honeymoon was cut short as Vicky went to first rescue her father and then try to fix the mess he let his half of the empire get into. After the wedding there was plenty of action, danger and adventure. Vicky has really changed from when she first appeared in a Kris Longknife book. It is fun watching how she tries to live up to her new job and husband.
January 5, 2022
Shepherd, Mike. Dominator. Vicky Peterwald No. 4. KL and MM Books, 2018.
The planet of St. Petersburg has been mostly pacified, but it turns out not to be safe for a royal wedding. Assassins attack Vicky’s horse-drawn carriage on the way to the church. Her smart nanotech armor protects her, but the attack smudges her makeup a bit. Not good. Clearly, her father’s half of the empire is still restive. She is going to have to go after the villains one assassin and one planet at a time. The action keeps the pages turning, but I was sorry to find Vicky going in for monogamy. So were her sexy bodyguard assassins, Kit and Kat. 3 stars.
The planet of St. Petersburg has been mostly pacified, but it turns out not to be safe for a royal wedding. Assassins attack Vicky’s horse-drawn carriage on the way to the church. Her smart nanotech armor protects her, but the attack smudges her makeup a bit. Not good. Clearly, her father’s half of the empire is still restive. She is going to have to go after the villains one assassin and one planet at a time. The action keeps the pages turning, but I was sorry to find Vicky going in for monogamy. So were her sexy bodyguard assassins, Kit and Kat. 3 stars.
November 6, 2020
Grand Duchess Vicky Peterwald is en route to her wedding with her matron of honor Princess Kris Longknife (who'd have thought?) when an attempt is made on her life. Again. Her honeymoon gets interrupted by news of her dad being held hostage in the capital. It gets worse from there. She has to start liberating planets that her dad was supposed to be ruling but were taken from him by the nefarious ex-Empress' family. Vicky and her new husband are going to do something about that. The action doesn't stop.
December 1, 2019
This one is suitable for a teenage audience but as an adult reader I did not enjoy it at all.
For an action / sci-fi novel it was surprisingly tedious. The plot was uni-dimensional and the writing just did not do it for me. The words 'trite' and 'unconvincing' spring to mind.
I've read a fair bit of science fiction in my time and this one is definitely in the bottom third of the pile.
For an action / sci-fi novel it was surprisingly tedious. The plot was uni-dimensional and the writing just did not do it for me. The words 'trite' and 'unconvincing' spring to mind.
I've read a fair bit of science fiction in my time and this one is definitely in the bottom third of the pile.
August 10, 2018
Very uneven.
First 20% was wedding dresses and dances. Then politics for a while and then finally some military action. Trivial, but fun in the end.
A less believable character than Kris Longknife, but similar in most ways that count.
First 20% was wedding dresses and dances. Then politics for a while and then finally some military action. Trivial, but fun in the end.
A less believable character than Kris Longknife, but similar in most ways that count.
November 13, 2018
Vicky Peterwald is a flawed character who shows tremendous growth through the Kris Longknife and Vicky Peterwald books in which she appears. I find this makes her more interesting and relatable than Kris Longknife herself. YMMV
July 2, 2018
Superb
Great addition to vicky story enjoy her showing what you can do when you have to especially when you discover that the only way you now dose not work
Great addition to vicky story enjoy her showing what you can do when you have to especially when you discover that the only way you now dose not work
July 4, 2018
Excellent addition to the series. Please Mike, give us more Vicky Peterwald!!
July 15, 2018
Another great story
Vicky peterwald had gone from spoiled viscous princess to deadly head of state and the journey has been long and painful. Great continuation of the series.
Vicky peterwald had gone from spoiled viscous princess to deadly head of state and the journey has been long and painful. Great continuation of the series.
July 6, 2019
We got back to Vicky Peterwald with her imperial style. Really good to see this spinoff series develop more.
January 10, 2024
3.5 stars.
Vicky's dad didn't attend her wedding to Mannie but Kris Longknife did and helped her defeat some gatecrashers. When rumors arrived that her father is broke and trapped in his half-finished palace with only a few faithful servants, she decided to take a "honeymoon" trip back home, to introduce her new husband. I found the fact that she left Mannie in St Petersburg looking after the incubation of her babies quite reasonable but the fact that she used stand-ins as Mannie a bit weird. I would have thought his face would have been splashed around the Peterwald empire already?
Vicky's adventures are getting more and more like Kris Longknife's. But I have had enough of those occasional sexual innuendos, especially with her twin assassins.
Vicky's dad didn't attend her wedding to Mannie but Kris Longknife did and helped her defeat some gatecrashers. When rumors arrived that her father is broke and trapped in his half-finished palace with only a few faithful servants, she decided to take a "honeymoon" trip back home, to introduce her new husband. I found the fact that she left Mannie in St Petersburg looking after the incubation of her babies quite reasonable but the fact that she used stand-ins as Mannie a bit weird. I would have thought his face would have been splashed around the Peterwald empire already?
Vicky's adventures are getting more and more like Kris Longknife's. But I have had enough of those occasional sexual innuendos, especially with her twin assassins.
August 6, 2024
This is an entertaining enough installment in the continuing adventures of Grand Duchess Victoria Peterwald (A.K.A. Kris Longknife lite). I enjoyed it well enough. Lots of good intrigue and action as the mess of the Peterwald Empire gets cleaned up so that all of humanity can get ready for the big challenge (That is the bug-eyed monsters that look like us). The author has certainly made something fun and entertaining out of the further adventures of what was, when she first appeared, a rather wooden, throw-away villain of the type we've seen a lot in these series. I only wish that bringing freedom and respect for human rights to a land benighted by totalitarianism and tyranny was as simple and straightforward in the real world.
December 20, 2021
Left out a reward for service.
Darn, I was looking forward to the old farmer with the pickup getting knighted. That must have fallen off the back burner.
Darn, I was looking forward to the old farmer with the pickup getting knighted. That must have fallen off the back burner.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews