Matilda's Stepchildren

John Grimes: Far Traveller Couriers #4

by A. Bertram Chandler

1st edition paperback, fine (as new)

Genres: Science Fiction, Ebooks, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Arthur Bertram Chandler (28 March 1912–6 June 1984) was an Australian science fiction author. He also wrote under the pseudonyms George Whitley, George Whitely, Paul T. Sherman, Andrew Dunstan, and S.H.M.

He was born in Aldershot, England. He was a merchant marine officer, sailing the world in everything from tramp steamers to troopships. He emigrated to Australia in 1956 and became an Australian citizen. He commanded various ships in the Australian and New Zealand merchant navies, and was the last master of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne as the law required that it have an officer on board while it was laid up waiting to be towed to China to be broken up.

Reviews

[Clint Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick step back into '70s debauchery!

We start with two characters who don't seem to like each other giving into carnal needs. Space is a lonely place, after all. So far so good. This story has got some weird.

The main character, Grimes, isn't really a John Carter or a Doc Savage; he's just really lucky and freely admits it. Lady luck doesn't show her thigh without a little bit of skill, though. Grimes feels kind of just like a normal guy in an extraordinary circumstance, which should work just fine for modern readers.

This novel keeps you reading and gives you excellent scenes, such as the gladiator scene from the front cover. There are better adventure stories out there, but this has definitely given me the itch for more Grimes. Thankfully, not the same itch Grimes probably has.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A. Bertram Chandler was born in England but later became an Australian citizen. He lived an adventurous life as a sailor, particularly in the Australian Merchant Marines, and many of his books and short stories are based on turning the sailing life into science fiction, including his most famous creation—John Grimes, Tramp Captain, who adventured among the “Rim Worlds” in some 20 novels. His works with the Grimes books remind me a little of E. C. Tubb’s Dumarest of Terra, although I find Dumarest a much more compelling character, and the action levels are higher. In Matilda’s Stepchildren, Grimes escorts a woman journalist who is going to a pleasure planet to blow the lid off its secrets. They discover a “white slavery” ring, which turns out to have an interesting twist, get caught, and are sentenced to the arena. I won’t give away the ending. It was good but not as compelling as I wished it to be.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't like Captain Grimes and in this book, I don't like him even more. He's sexist, stupid, whiny, conceited and a whole host of other things. I don't like that these books are always written in a way that forces Grimes to be at the whim of some bitchy woman and he doesn't like her but doesn't do anything but fawn over having sex with her. For just once I would like a female character in the book that isn't horrible and that Grimes doesn't just immediately have sex with. The story is promising but it's ruined by crappy characters, including the main character. I am kicking myself for buying the whole series instead of reading them one at a time. Ugh, on to the next book. Overall 2 out of 5 stars.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Little Sister, Grimes takes paying customer, muckraking reporter Fenella to New Venusberg where he ends up as a gladiator fighting for his life in the arena. He is rescued by the Baroness and Drongo Kane. They have major investments in New Venusberg but the Baroness does not know that Kane is up to his old tricks running a Snuff Palance and importing slaves which, again, turn out not to be under-people after all but humans with kangaroo in their ancestry. Grimes rescues two of them, Shirley and Doreen, and with the help of the Baroness leaves New Venusberg.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Grimes does it again! He gets in and out of trouble, and makes out with multiple women, and yet comes out smelling like roses. A quick, rollicking read to fill in boring hours for me in doctors' offices, dentists' chairs and emergency rooms.

[Bob Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly good, too much sex for children.

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade C+. Book Gp3.

[Craig Russo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. Definitely NOT rated G. Or PG or even R.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hated the reporter, otherwise I can honestly say I enjoyed the book. Slavery of any kind is hard to read, I have to say this is a science fiction story about sex trafficking and told from a view that will make you angry. I liked the ending, don't understand why certain people weren't more offended by what was going on.