What do you think?
Rate this book
RCN #5
Some Golden Harbor
The tyrannical Alliance continues its war against the Republic of Cinnabar, and Daniel Leary, newly promoted to Commander, and his crew have a new Stop Dunbar's World from falling to an invasion by the planet Pellegrino. Nataniel Arruns, son of the dictator of Pellegrino, has landed with a large contingent, intending to set himself up as the ruling warlord, with the planet's population becoming workers-serfs-of the Pellegrinian overlords. And Dunbar's world has no more than their local police force to oppose him. Leary again commands the corvette Princess Cecile, but on this mission her missile tubes are empty. Only one man is in a position to aid Leary, but the rich and powerful would rather see him fail than succeed in stopping the invasion. Leary must somehow overcome a large entrenched force on an island defended by powerful plasma cannon and shipkilling missiles and backed up by a heavily armed warship in orbit, all while commanding only a small and virtually unarmed spacecraft. But Leary again has the help of Signals Officer Adele Mundy, who can make computer networks do the apparently impossible. Leary, Mundy and the crew of the Princess Cecile have gone up against impossible odds before . . . and their opponents in those victorious missions are still wondering just what hit them.At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2006
51 people are currently reading
434 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 8, 2013
As I was reading this, I tried to determine just what it is that makes this series so enjoyable. It’s hard to put a finger on. OK, it’s based on a naval adventure series, this is old news by now. Drake, however, seems to be basing his scenarios, both political and military, on historic real world events, albeit very obscure ones. This means that the political and military dynamics of the series are at least grounded in some form of realism, even though it is a Science Fiction series. The books seem to follow a sort of formula as well. The first half of each novel is leisurely paced and this is where the pieces are moved around the board and the background is established. The second half is where the sparks fly, of course, and there is action and brilliant tactics aplenty, as Daniel Leary outwits the inevitably overwhelming odds in the, by now expected, epic space showdown (or two). There is ground combat as well, although in all fairness these novels aren't saturated with action like some other military themed Science Fiction. There is a lot of pomp and gung-ho attitude on display, but it all seems to add to the almost “festival” atmosphere of the novels. You have to have a sense of humour to get the most out of the experience. Despite this, things often get pretty violent and gruesome deaths are not uncommon. Even the Sissies are not exempt.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if memory serves this is the first RCN / Leary novel that introduces non-human characters. Specifically, a snakelike humanoid alien, but there are some other references as well. Up to this point, this was an alien-free, or humans-only, series. I’m hoping to see this developed further as the series progresses.
The novel itself is, as always, a great read. The secondary characters like Hogg, Tovera & Fallert are entertaining to a form of art. As of my writing this, there are nine books in this series, of which this is book five. This means that you are nine books behind. So start reading!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if memory serves this is the first RCN / Leary novel that introduces non-human characters. Specifically, a snakelike humanoid alien, but there are some other references as well. Up to this point, this was an alien-free, or humans-only, series. I’m hoping to see this developed further as the series progresses.
The novel itself is, as always, a great read. The secondary characters like Hogg, Tovera & Fallert are entertaining to a form of art. As of my writing this, there are nine books in this series, of which this is book five. This means that you are nine books behind. So start reading!
June 17, 2020
6/17/17 4th re-read. Another enjoyable installation in this fine series.
September 9, 2010
Did not finish it due to sheer repetitious boredom. At 300 pages in, something interesting should happen. In fairness, I have not read any of the previous volumes either. Still, there seems to be no character development in this novel at all, just a load of politics involving planets that are not well described with many minor characters and the same repetitious descriptions of the main characters over and over and over. To write this all I would have to do is pick my event for each chapter "Mr Leary vists some evil men" and then write, "Daniel wore his second best dress blues and grinned brightly, Adele had already brought out her data unit from its special pocket and her wands were dancing, she smiled because she was almost happy although she could never be happy because her family was all dead and their heads had been displayed on founders rock, Tovera smiled because she was a dangerous sociopath and reached into her suitcase to caress her weapon, Hogg said something insulting and spit, Woetjans bellowed and spit, no one trusted the wogs and everyone yelled 'For the Cissy!'" There is also a great deal of description about space ships setting sail and lifting off, if you like that sort of thing.
July 13, 2008
The 5th book in the Leary and Mundy series by David Drake, we have newly promoted Commander Leary returning from his latest triumph capturing an Alliance Cruiser and sailing it back to Cinnabar only to discover that his patron in the Admiralty has suffered a heart attack and the new Lord of the Navy is definately not a friend of Mr. Leary.
Daniel finds himself sent off on an advisory mission to the back of beyond without even a ship to assist him in stopping the invasion of Dunbar's World by Pellegrino. Daniel enlists his best friend and signals officer Adele Mundy to requisition his old crew from their impoundment prior to their next station and crews up the Princess Cecilia which he has chartered from his own company. Off they go to mischief and mayhem...but can just 60 odd Royal Cinnabarran Navy crew and officers stop an invasion by thousands of Pellegrinians? Well...with Daniel, they had best watch out. The book is full of the swashbuckling space naval drama that has characterized the series and the battles are intense, daring, and fun to read. Once again David Drake has scored a hit.
Daniel finds himself sent off on an advisory mission to the back of beyond without even a ship to assist him in stopping the invasion of Dunbar's World by Pellegrino. Daniel enlists his best friend and signals officer Adele Mundy to requisition his old crew from their impoundment prior to their next station and crews up the Princess Cecilia which he has chartered from his own company. Off they go to mischief and mayhem...but can just 60 odd Royal Cinnabarran Navy crew and officers stop an invasion by thousands of Pellegrinians? Well...with Daniel, they had best watch out. The book is full of the swashbuckling space naval drama that has characterized the series and the battles are intense, daring, and fun to read. Once again David Drake has scored a hit.
October 3, 2011
I had a bit of trouble focusing on this one, but that's likely my fault, and not David Drake's.
The plot is more complex and intricate than previous entries in the series, but there seemed to be less character development than before, and while the plot mechanics got into motion, there was one aspect of it that was barely touched upon -- which may have been Drake's intent, but I found somewhat frustrating. I was hoping that the invaders' side would be explored to some extent (read too many of Poul Anderson's Flandry stories, I guess), and it wasn't really.
Even so, Another solid entry in a thoroughly enjoyable series.
The plot is more complex and intricate than previous entries in the series, but there seemed to be less character development than before, and while the plot mechanics got into motion, there was one aspect of it that was barely touched upon -- which may have been Drake's intent, but I found somewhat frustrating. I was hoping that the invaders' side would be explored to some extent (read too many of Poul Anderson's Flandry stories, I guess), and it wasn't really.
Even so, Another solid entry in a thoroughly enjoyable series.
April 23, 2009
A good installment in this series by David Drake. This story focuses a bit more on Adele Mundy and her reactions to events and the actions she must take. As is usual, Daniel Leary, Adele Mundy, and their crew of RCN sailors must face numerically superior forces and outwit and outfight them to complete their mission.
June 14, 2013
BAM!
Right back into the thick of things, Some Golden Harbor reminds you of everything you love about Leary and Mundy. There's still some stilted characterizations, but the depth of FEELS this story will give you make them all worthwhile.
If I say any more,I'll fall into serious SPOILER territory, but I will say this. If you think you know Adele Mundy, think again!
Right back into the thick of things, Some Golden Harbor reminds you of everything you love about Leary and Mundy. There's still some stilted characterizations, but the depth of FEELS this story will give you make them all worthwhile.
If I say any more,I'll fall into serious SPOILER territory, but I will say this. If you think you know Adele Mundy, think again!
July 7, 2016
This book is where I gave up on the series -- which started out so well! No improvement over the poor #4, coarser: gooks, prejudice, crude cardboard villains, homicidal glee. What's to like?
My advice: start with With the Lightnings (98), the first. And stop there. #2 was OK, then the series goes steadily downhill. In my opinion.
My advice: start with With the Lightnings (98), the first. And stop there. #2 was OK, then the series goes steadily downhill. In my opinion.
July 14, 2025
https://magicandmeteors.wordpress.com...
Exploring the Stars Again: A Look at Some Golden Harbor by David Drake
David Drake’s Some Golden Harbor continues the high standard set by the RCN Series, delivering another satisfying blend of space adventure, political intrigue, and strong character development. If you’re a fan of smart, character-driven sci-fi with a historical twist, this book is right up your alley.
At the heart of it all are Lt. Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy—two characters who have grown immensely throughout the series. Their partnership, built on trust, respect, and complementary skill sets, remains one of the strongest aspects of these novels. Leary brings the charisma and tactical brilliance, while Mundy provides sharp intellect, calm under pressure, and a steely resolve that’s as gripping as any firefight.
In this installment, the crew finds themselves on the planet Bennaria, caught in the middle of a political powder keg. Drake is a master at building tension—not just through space battles (which are thrilling, as always), but through the subtle maneuvering and moral gray areas that come with interstellar diplomacy and war. The stakes feel real, the conflicts layered, and the outcomes never easy or predictable.
One of the things that makes Some Golden Harbor stand out is how grounded it feels despite being set in space. Drake bases many of his plots on real historical events, often drawing from ancient Greece or Rome, and it shows in the realism of the political systems, military strategy, and the complexities of leadership. The prologue even offers a brief note on the historical inspiration, which is a nice touch for readers who enjoy digging deeper.
What really makes this book shine, though, is its attention to character. The moments between crew members—whether tense, humorous, or heartfelt—give the story a personal depth that balances the grand scale of galactic conflict. It’s not just about ships and skirmishes; it’s about the people navigating them.
Some Golden Harbor might not be the most action-heavy book in the RCN lineup, but it’s one of the more thoughtful and emotionally resonant entries. It proves that David Drake isn’t just a master of military SF—he’s also a skilled storyteller who knows how to bring real humanity to space opera.
Whether you’re a long-time RCN fan or just jumping into the series, this novel offers a rewarding and immersive ride. It’s intelligent, engaging, and grounded in both character and history—a rare and welcome combination in the genre.
Exploring the Stars Again: A Look at Some Golden Harbor by David Drake
David Drake’s Some Golden Harbor continues the high standard set by the RCN Series, delivering another satisfying blend of space adventure, political intrigue, and strong character development. If you’re a fan of smart, character-driven sci-fi with a historical twist, this book is right up your alley.
At the heart of it all are Lt. Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy—two characters who have grown immensely throughout the series. Their partnership, built on trust, respect, and complementary skill sets, remains one of the strongest aspects of these novels. Leary brings the charisma and tactical brilliance, while Mundy provides sharp intellect, calm under pressure, and a steely resolve that’s as gripping as any firefight.
In this installment, the crew finds themselves on the planet Bennaria, caught in the middle of a political powder keg. Drake is a master at building tension—not just through space battles (which are thrilling, as always), but through the subtle maneuvering and moral gray areas that come with interstellar diplomacy and war. The stakes feel real, the conflicts layered, and the outcomes never easy or predictable.
One of the things that makes Some Golden Harbor stand out is how grounded it feels despite being set in space. Drake bases many of his plots on real historical events, often drawing from ancient Greece or Rome, and it shows in the realism of the political systems, military strategy, and the complexities of leadership. The prologue even offers a brief note on the historical inspiration, which is a nice touch for readers who enjoy digging deeper.
What really makes this book shine, though, is its attention to character. The moments between crew members—whether tense, humorous, or heartfelt—give the story a personal depth that balances the grand scale of galactic conflict. It’s not just about ships and skirmishes; it’s about the people navigating them.
Some Golden Harbor might not be the most action-heavy book in the RCN lineup, but it’s one of the more thoughtful and emotionally resonant entries. It proves that David Drake isn’t just a master of military SF—he’s also a skilled storyteller who knows how to bring real humanity to space opera.
Whether you’re a long-time RCN fan or just jumping into the series, this novel offers a rewarding and immersive ride. It’s intelligent, engaging, and grounded in both character and history—a rare and welcome combination in the genre.
September 29, 2024
I read the first book in the series (With the Lightnings) many years ago, but I could just barely remember the characters when this volume showed up in a book trade. That's fine, because you don't need to have read the first four books to understand what is happening.
That's typical of David Drake (RIP). He understood that while some people see a book and then go back to the first one in the series, there are also those who see a nice cover, read the back cover blurb, buy it, and then read it that night. All you need to know about Leary and Mundy, you'll learn when you need to know it.
Here, our heroes find themselves on a shoestring so thin, it might just be a monofilament. Fortunately, thanks to Leary's ability to inspire and Mundy's preternatural skill at data mining, the results of meeting the needs of a backwater planet and still serve Cinnabar are really never in doubt.
The villains are vile, just like Drake seemed to love to write them. Here, a few of the supporting cast are almost as dangerous as the villains. Thankfully, they work for Leary and Mundy!
Highly recommended for fans of this series, David Drake, military sci-fi, or just a great novel in general.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
That's typical of David Drake (RIP). He understood that while some people see a book and then go back to the first one in the series, there are also those who see a nice cover, read the back cover blurb, buy it, and then read it that night. All you need to know about Leary and Mundy, you'll learn when you need to know it.
Here, our heroes find themselves on a shoestring so thin, it might just be a monofilament. Fortunately, thanks to Leary's ability to inspire and Mundy's preternatural skill at data mining, the results of meeting the needs of a backwater planet and still serve Cinnabar are really never in doubt.
The villains are vile, just like Drake seemed to love to write them. Here, a few of the supporting cast are almost as dangerous as the villains. Thankfully, they work for Leary and Mundy!
Highly recommended for fans of this series, David Drake, military sci-fi, or just a great novel in general.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
September 22, 2021
Daniel Leary has been promoted to Commander, but he's not a favorite of the Admiral now on charge of RCN operations. So, instead of being assigned to active combat in the war with the Alliance, he is sent off as a advisor to Bennaria, a world protesting the invasion of nearby Dunbar's World by Pellegrino. Leary again has has the Princess Cecile (though officially he's just a passenger, with Elspeth Vesey, one of his former midshipmen, now in command.
Leary finds a complex situation. Although nominally an advisor, he soon decides he must free Dunbar's World, for otherwise the Alliance will soon come in and take charge. And to succeed, he must both outsmart the Bennarian politicians who want the invasion to succeed, and defeat an entrenched force defended with a plasma cannon when the Cecile has no missiles.
This is another good entry in the series. I continue to want to read more about Leary, Mundy, and the other characters we've come to know in the crew.
Leary finds a complex situation. Although nominally an advisor, he soon decides he must free Dunbar's World, for otherwise the Alliance will soon come in and take charge. And to succeed, he must both outsmart the Bennarian politicians who want the invasion to succeed, and defeat an entrenched force defended with a plasma cannon when the Cecile has no missiles.
This is another good entry in the series. I continue to want to read more about Leary, Mundy, and the other characters we've come to know in the crew.
August 4, 2024
I got to the part where Drake has his characters go do recon on an enemy base.. one on a island, from an air car (eyeballing the place as in line of sight) in the open while using coms as if the most basic detection and countermeasure systems and so much much more wouldn't make that impossible and just plain suicide. It all just destroys any immersion. Its as if the setting was the 1960-70s but with a handful far future space age technologies available that the characters keep forgetting about. Utterly ludicrous.
Its already rather hard to retain immersion but this just made it all impossible.
There is a story but the details and execution is just horrendous. I wish someone had taken the author aside and pointed out the idiocy.
Lets not even mention the repetition nonsense that no one but an utter fool will perceive as anything but word padding. A very bad decision for anyone interested in reading more than one of the books in this series.
Its already rather hard to retain immersion but this just made it all impossible.
There is a story but the details and execution is just horrendous. I wish someone had taken the author aside and pointed out the idiocy.
Lets not even mention the repetition nonsense that no one but an utter fool will perceive as anything but word padding. A very bad decision for anyone interested in reading more than one of the books in this series.
June 28, 2017
Yet another great book in this series by David Drake. The continuing adventures of Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy and the crew of the Princess Cecile are always a good read. This time, Daniel is sent to a backwater planet as a representative of the Cinnabar Govt to settle a planetary dispute. He manages, in his usual fashion, to defeat the enemy with guile, enthusiasm, and a genuine need to keep casualties to a minimum. Adele is written a bit more darkly than usual, indeed she seems to be coming more like Tovera, her assassin bodyguard, than her normal self.
Looking forward to reading the next book.
Looking forward to reading the next book.
October 9, 2024
David Drake’s Some Golden Harbor, part of the Cinnabar series, continues to deliver some of the most memorable and unique characters in science fiction. While the surface of the novel is rich with space navy battles and intricate future politics, the true heart of the story lies in its exploration of human relationships. Drake masterfully illustrates how friendships are forged among people from vastly different backgrounds, often under extreme circumstances. The depth of these connections elevates the book beyond typical space opera fare, making it a powerful study of camaraderie and personal growth. Fans of character-driven storytelling will find much to love in this installment.
September 13, 2019
David Drake, at least when he wrote this book, had not learned the dictum, "Don't tell what the characters are like; show it by their actions." This would not be so bad, except he tells the same things about the characters over and over, to the point that I began wondering why he belabored what was by now obvious. I also dislike his habit of interrupting streams of dialogue with exposition of relatively little relevance to what it is interrupting. The plot and characters are good, but better writing could make the story better.
December 19, 2022
I'm going to post this on every book review of Leary: Drake repeats himself continually within the Leary books and also within each book itself. YES! We get it...the main characters have had some messed up things in their lives. You've told us at least 5 times within each book. Can we move on now?!
Only reason I keep reading these is I want to find out how the characters progress. Not that there seems to be much character progression as they all seem kind of stuck in their patterns, but there's hope! Maybe things will change with the next book.
Only reason I keep reading these is I want to find out how the characters progress. Not that there seems to be much character progression as they all seem kind of stuck in their patterns, but there's hope! Maybe things will change with the next book.
July 25, 2017
This is an interesting volume of the series. More time is focused on Adele and her morality. The novel is also more heavily involved with politics than military combat. At the same time, Drake draws interesting historical details into the story, including the concept of scrapped hulls being turned into prison ships. As always, honor and duty are emphasized, but the book ends on a note of melancoholy unusual to the series, but here approprite.
May 23, 2017
Leary and Mundy have faced high odds before, but on Dunbar's World, everything including their allies seem to be against them. Will the crew of the Princess Cecile be enough to tip the odds in their favor?
January 2, 2020
Slips right into the mold left by past books. Which isn’t a problem but isn’t going to lead to unexpected greatness. Which isn’t a problem either. If you like consistency of characters a dab of action and a hint of the Napoleonic Wars in space; this whole series is for you.
July 9, 2024
I finally finish the book and I am happy because I found it as a epub file, no more audio books they are not for me. More action, almost no biology, same algorithms. More space battles, yes for me. I want to continue to read the books in the series.
October 4, 2025
7.5/10
Another space adventure in the RCN/Lt. Leary series. I had trouble in this book keeping the various factions straight, which made it slightly less enjoyable. But Leary, Mundy, Hogg, and Tovera are always fun characters, regardless of the situations & characters that surround them.
Another space adventure in the RCN/Lt. Leary series. I had trouble in this book keeping the various factions straight, which made it slightly less enjoyable. But Leary, Mundy, Hogg, and Tovera are always fun characters, regardless of the situations & characters that surround them.
December 5, 2016
I enjoy this space opera series. I lost my place in it so I wound up rereading this one. OH NOES NOT EXTRA SPACE OPERA so terribles....
Actually I didn't mind at all. ;)
Actually I didn't mind at all. ;)
November 25, 2019
This really dragged for me, but if you were reading large chunks in one sitting the over-detail faded into the background a bit.
Read
October 6, 2020This the fifth book in this series I have read. It keeps up the pace, making consistently readable and by now I have got to know all the main characters very well. Starting on no six.
July 20, 2021
Way too much unnecessary repetition, done with the series for now.
March 23, 2024
This one was a slog...
October 3, 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
January 2, 2012
Some Golden Harbor by David Drake
This book is another in the Daniel Leary series. Daniel and the usual suspects are engaged, once again, against overwhelming odds and implacable foes.
I loved the Horatio Hornblower books and I feel Drake does just as well but sets his Horatio sometime in the future without iron men and wooden ships.
Leary’s most endearing characteristic is his loyalty to his friends. He continually does what he thinks is right as opposed to what perhaps might be the easy way out. His Machiavellian circumvention of orders generally means he is undermanned, under supplied and outgunned whenever he is assigned a task. Yet with gentile charm and superior skills he always triumphs.
Daniel Leary is not a boy scout, he is lethally ruthless when it comes to accomplishing his goals or protecting his people. Adele Mundy, Tovera and Hogg are all back and their quirkiness just adds the mélange of flavors that make Drake’s Leary series so sumptuous.
I can’t help it, I love these books and I highly recommend this book and the whole series.
This book is another in the Daniel Leary series. Daniel and the usual suspects are engaged, once again, against overwhelming odds and implacable foes.
I loved the Horatio Hornblower books and I feel Drake does just as well but sets his Horatio sometime in the future without iron men and wooden ships.
Leary’s most endearing characteristic is his loyalty to his friends. He continually does what he thinks is right as opposed to what perhaps might be the easy way out. His Machiavellian circumvention of orders generally means he is undermanned, under supplied and outgunned whenever he is assigned a task. Yet with gentile charm and superior skills he always triumphs.
Daniel Leary is not a boy scout, he is lethally ruthless when it comes to accomplishing his goals or protecting his people. Adele Mundy, Tovera and Hogg are all back and their quirkiness just adds the mélange of flavors that make Drake’s Leary series so sumptuous.
I can’t help it, I love these books and I highly recommend this book and the whole series.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews