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Kris Longknife #19
Stalwart
The foolish Iteeche clans that hauled Grand Admiral Kris Longknife back to the Iteeche Capital and interrupted her campaign against the rebels, are dead. Very dead. Their clans are disgraced and their palaces in ruin.
However, while Kris was handling that noise, the rebels took back one of the planets she had recently captured, Arteccia, and are planning to take more.
Now it's time once more again for Kris to kick butts and take names.
However, life is never easy for a Human in the Iteeche Empire.
The Clan Chiefs expect Kris to retake what the rebels took from the loyalists because that is the Iteeche Way. That is a tune she will not dance to. So, the Clan Chiefs play their ace: Do what we want, or we won't give you command of our ships.
To their consternation, Kris does not give in. She gives them a literal middle digit salute and invites every minor clan to join the fun and games of capturing planets and gaining plunder.
Unfortunately, the rebels have used their time well and they have their own plans for Kris, plans that should leave her fleet in ruins and the young Iteeche on the throne dead. Unfortunately for them, their plans can't really hold back Grand Admiral, the Stalwart Kris Longknife.
However, while Kris was handling that noise, the rebels took back one of the planets she had recently captured, Arteccia, and are planning to take more.
Now it's time once more again for Kris to kick butts and take names.
However, life is never easy for a Human in the Iteeche Empire.
The Clan Chiefs expect Kris to retake what the rebels took from the loyalists because that is the Iteeche Way. That is a tune she will not dance to. So, the Clan Chiefs play their ace: Do what we want, or we won't give you command of our ships.
To their consternation, Kris does not give in. She gives them a literal middle digit salute and invites every minor clan to join the fun and games of capturing planets and gaining plunder.
Unfortunately, the rebels have used their time well and they have their own plans for Kris, plans that should leave her fleet in ruins and the young Iteeche on the throne dead. Unfortunately for them, their plans can't really hold back Grand Admiral, the Stalwart Kris Longknife.
577 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2019
120 people are currently reading
202 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 16, 2021
Once the book gets started it falls into two distinct sections, there is a political/criminal investigation and then the big space battle. Both were interesting in their own way, although they were a bit long-winded.
The build-up to the battle consisted of a lot of manoeuvring, which had a strange fascination, although again went on a bit too long and I found some of the timings didn’t always match what was happening.
Overall I definitely enjoyed the book, but Kris’s Iteeche adventure doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, as winning a battle just leads to yet another one.
The build-up to the battle consisted of a lot of manoeuvring, which had a strange fascination, although again went on a bit too long and I found some of the timings didn’t always match what was happening.
Overall I definitely enjoyed the book, but Kris’s Iteeche adventure doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, as winning a battle just leads to yet another one.
May 17, 2020
Princess and Grand Admiral Kris Longknife is in charge of the Iteeche empire Imperial troops defending the emperor against a rebellion. Now she decides to bring the battle home to the rebels by capturing worlds held by rival clan chiefs. She means to put an end to the fight but doesn’t count on the battle tactics learned by the rebels from previous encounters. They’re smarter and better equipped this time to bring her to the brink of disaster. Can she defeat them and survive to return to her children living at the Iteeche capital city? Interpersonal scenes with her family mingle with battle preparations as Kris launches another campaign. Action-packed sequences will satisfy scifi fans while the quiet moments deepen Kris’s character and make readers root for her success.
December 15, 2019
Much better addition to the series!
This release has been long in the works and it is an unchallenged success. Fast and exciting read. Hopefully the next one isnt too far off!
This release has been long in the works and it is an unchallenged success. Fast and exciting read. Hopefully the next one isnt too far off!
March 2, 2021
Basically just more of the same where magic metal solves all problems.
May 12, 2023
Devient extremement répétitif, et la Marysuisation du Smart Metal et des IAs devient pénible
March 10, 2024
Having settled business on the Iteeche capital planet, at least for a while, Kris needs to get back out into space to continue the battle against the rebels who are threatening the empire and the life of the teenager on the Imperial throne.
She'd like to add to her fleet and the clans do owe her and their emperor their support. But when she gets nothing but excuses from the major clans, she bypasses them in favor of offering the minor clans a chance at gold and glory or, actually, land and plunder.
But the rebels have not been standing still while Kris was dealing with problems on the capital planet. They have taken back one of the systems Kris had won. Kris plans to continue capturing the rebel planets that are the most able to support the rebel cause. She plans to do it her way. If the planet surrenders to Kris, she'll let the local overlords keep their places which irritates the young lordlings from the capital planet who have been promised land and jobs and opportunities for plunder of their own.
A large part of this story, told both from Kris's point of view and from the Iteeche Admiral leading the rebel fleet, is concerned with a space battle for control of one of the rebel planetary systems. It was filled with action and warfare.
This was another excellent adventure in the Kris Longknife series.
She'd like to add to her fleet and the clans do owe her and their emperor their support. But when she gets nothing but excuses from the major clans, she bypasses them in favor of offering the minor clans a chance at gold and glory or, actually, land and plunder.
But the rebels have not been standing still while Kris was dealing with problems on the capital planet. They have taken back one of the systems Kris had won. Kris plans to continue capturing the rebel planets that are the most able to support the rebel cause. She plans to do it her way. If the planet surrenders to Kris, she'll let the local overlords keep their places which irritates the young lordlings from the capital planet who have been promised land and jobs and opportunities for plunder of their own.
A large part of this story, told both from Kris's point of view and from the Iteeche Admiral leading the rebel fleet, is concerned with a space battle for control of one of the rebel planetary systems. It was filled with action and warfare.
This was another excellent adventure in the Kris Longknife series.
March 14, 2020
Slooowww
These Iteeche books seem to go be going nowhere. They're filled with minutia that can be largely skipped over without anything missing anything in the story line. Also Nelly's kids have pretty much been forgotten about except for one or two mentions. I really miss the complex and interesting cast if characters that where developed over the course of the series. Everyone except Kris herself and Nelly have been replaced with cardboard cutouts. You can skip this book without losing much of anything story wise.
These Iteeche books seem to go be going nowhere. They're filled with minutia that can be largely skipped over without anything missing anything in the story line. Also Nelly's kids have pretty much been forgotten about except for one or two mentions. I really miss the complex and interesting cast if characters that where developed over the course of the series. Everyone except Kris herself and Nelly have been replaced with cardboard cutouts. You can skip this book without losing much of anything story wise.
November 27, 2020
Kris and Jack are at the embassy on the capital planet of the Iteeche empire. When they get word that a planet they liberated was retaken, they ask the four largest clan leaders for more ships. When they don't provide help, she literally flips them off and goes off to fight anyway. That's when things get busy, both on-planet and in space. Of course the book doesn't really end - there's a cliffhanger that left me pulling my hair out. It's still well-paced and hard to put down with all the action.
December 29, 2022
So Grand Admiral Kris Longknife carries on battling rebels across the Iteeche Empire. We have more intrigue and another great fleet battle.
This was kind of fun but, as a fan, I’m looking forward to a change of pace. Seriously, I hope something happens soon to send the ark of the series in a new direction. How about another dustup with the genocidal aliens that look like humans? They’re still out there somewhere and they’ll have to be dealt with sooner or later.
Anyway, this was enjoyable enough.
This was kind of fun but, as a fan, I’m looking forward to a change of pace. Seriously, I hope something happens soon to send the ark of the series in a new direction. How about another dustup with the genocidal aliens that look like humans? They’re still out there somewhere and they’ll have to be dealt with sooner or later.
Anyway, this was enjoyable enough.
March 23, 2020
Better and I would have given it a higher rating if it didn't end of a cliff. Had he cut it off just a little earlier. I'm not huge on the whole cliff thing. I don't know if he's doing the audiobooks anymore which is sad his reader made me read this series. I would have never got through the first 2 books without a reader. She brought it alive.
August 18, 2021
More of the same
Kris Longknife can conquer all odds, but not the underlying problems.
This was the first If book in the series where the plot line never really was advanced. At the end of this book Khris Longknife it has to still solve the same problems.
I'll still read the next one
Kris Longknife can conquer all odds, but not the underlying problems.
This was the first If book in the series where the plot line never really was advanced. At the end of this book Khris Longknife it has to still solve the same problems.
I'll still read the next one
December 17, 2023
Better than the last. However, the author crams the space opera missing from the last into this one. The last third is all about a single space battle told slowly. Kris and fleet go off to capture a couple of planets and the absolutely usual and expected happen, just better than the last book is all.
December 30, 2019
Great story! This book is longer than previous books in the series. That allows for deeper character development and an even better storyline!
January 28, 2020
Great action packed storyline with one battle after another.
May 19, 2020
Mike Shepherd NEVER disappoints!
October 3, 2020
Great space Opera
As always Mike Shepherd provides some of the most realistic space fighting of any science fiction author. I will always be eagerly awaiting the next story.
As always Mike Shepherd provides some of the most realistic space fighting of any science fiction author. I will always be eagerly awaiting the next story.
January 15, 2024
Fantastic book. Mike got better and better with each new book. His character really matured and the action only got bigger and better! Great series overall!
September 21, 2021
This was a very enjoyable addition to the Kris Longknife series.
Once again Kris butts head with the unbelievably stupid, untrustworthy (with a few exceptions) and almost comical Iteeche Clan Chiefs. The Iteeche really borrows elements from our current dumbass politicians, Talibans and just … clowns.
When Kris left the Iteeche to their own devices for a while they of course screw things up. Not only the more subversive elements of the Iteeche culture but also those that are supposed to be the somewhat good ones.
In their relentless belief that they can do things better than a simple human, especially a woman, (reminds you of a certain Earth culture anyone?) they hand over a bunch of planets to the rebels. Totally unsurprising of course.
Back comes Kris Longknife and equally unsurprising the ass-kicking starts. I really like Kris Longknife kicking Iteeche arse. Whether it is verbally or physically.
A lot of the book is a roller coaster ride of action, assassination attempts, fleets duking it out and Kris generally showing a lot of Iteeches how very very wrong they are. For some of them it is the lesson of a life time, a very short life time.
As can be expected the book is very well written. The story is nice, the characters are interesting and well done, the dialog enjoyable and overall this is a solid instalment in the series.
If I should complain about it is something I already complained about in earlier books. This Smart Metal is really over the top. It’s fantasy and not science. They use it like a magic wand.
Apart from that I’m looking forward to the next instalment in the series. Even if this is a overly long series, 19 books, the author manages to keep my interest.
Once again Kris butts head with the unbelievably stupid, untrustworthy (with a few exceptions) and almost comical Iteeche Clan Chiefs. The Iteeche really borrows elements from our current dumbass politicians, Talibans and just … clowns.
When Kris left the Iteeche to their own devices for a while they of course screw things up. Not only the more subversive elements of the Iteeche culture but also those that are supposed to be the somewhat good ones.
In their relentless belief that they can do things better than a simple human, especially a woman, (reminds you of a certain Earth culture anyone?) they hand over a bunch of planets to the rebels. Totally unsurprising of course.
Back comes Kris Longknife and equally unsurprising the ass-kicking starts. I really like Kris Longknife kicking Iteeche arse. Whether it is verbally or physically.
A lot of the book is a roller coaster ride of action, assassination attempts, fleets duking it out and Kris generally showing a lot of Iteeches how very very wrong they are. For some of them it is the lesson of a life time, a very short life time.
As can be expected the book is very well written. The story is nice, the characters are interesting and well done, the dialog enjoyable and overall this is a solid instalment in the series.
If I should complain about it is something I already complained about in earlier books. This Smart Metal is really over the top. It’s fantasy and not science. They use it like a magic wand.
Apart from that I’m looking forward to the next instalment in the series. Even if this is a overly long series, 19 books, the author manages to keep my interest.
March 11, 2023
3.5 stars.
The Iteeche way is definitely being polluted by humanity. Even the opposing Admirals are learning from Earth's history books and the art of war. But I guess regardless of cultural differences, greed and avarice will always remain. Something that Kris had to deal with time and again.
We have another epic battle in this book. And I'm glad that Shepherd only put one of these in the book. I don't think I could have managed too many of these. The death toll is again horrendous. But I guess I understand why Kris is still willing to continue fighting these rebels because the ordinary Iteeche including those under her command are worth saving. And if she fails, it probably does mean another Iteeche war.
I so wish Smart Metal and Nelly are real!
The Iteeche way is definitely being polluted by humanity. Even the opposing Admirals are learning from Earth's history books and the art of war. But I guess regardless of cultural differences, greed and avarice will always remain. Something that Kris had to deal with time and again.
We have another epic battle in this book. And I'm glad that Shepherd only put one of these in the book. I don't think I could have managed too many of these. The death toll is again horrendous. But I guess I understand why Kris is still willing to continue fighting these rebels because the ordinary Iteeche including those under her command are worth saving. And if she fails, it probably does mean another Iteeche war.
I so wish Smart Metal and Nelly are real!
March 18, 2025
Audible & Kindle actually
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews