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The Silver Fleet #1
Eve Of War
Captain Robert Faulkner is a free man.
For twenty years he languished in an alien prison.
For twenty years he suffered under foreign stars.
For twenty years he plotted his escape.
Now, breathing the free air, the once proud captain finds that the tide has turned. His old enemy, the Yakutians, having risen from defeat, are now in the ascendancy. And with their warships making cruel in-roads into Confederation space, the Admiralty is in desperate need of Faulkner’s experience.
It’s a call he can’t refuse.
Eve of War is the first book in the Silver Fleet series with books 2 and 3 to be published in the Spring of 2020. If you love Old Man’s War and Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet books you’ll love this epic military sci-fi series.
For twenty years he languished in an alien prison.
For twenty years he suffered under foreign stars.
For twenty years he plotted his escape.
Now, breathing the free air, the once proud captain finds that the tide has turned. His old enemy, the Yakutians, having risen from defeat, are now in the ascendancy. And with their warships making cruel in-roads into Confederation space, the Admiralty is in desperate need of Faulkner’s experience.
It’s a call he can’t refuse.
Eve of War is the first book in the Silver Fleet series with books 2 and 3 to be published in the Spring of 2020. If you love Old Man’s War and Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet books you’ll love this epic military sci-fi series.
- GenresScience Fiction
365 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2020
About the author
R.L. Giddings
36 books32 followersI have always been an avid reader - I found a love of books from my days lost in the local library and had an adult library card from the age of 9 (which allowed me to get out more books than I could carry!) This took me along the career path of becoming an English teacher and I have had an extremely happy career sharing my love of language , novels and drama with young and old alike.
I am the father of three wonderful young women- who make me proud to know them everyday- and they are the inspiration for the central character of the resourceful and strong Bronte in Urban Witch.
I am the father of three wonderful young women- who make me proud to know them everyday- and they are the inspiration for the central character of the resourceful and strong Bronte in Urban Witch.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 30, 2020
At the start of the book I thought it might turn out to be quite interesting, but as the story progressed I began to feel uneasy. It felt like the author was manipulating situations using coincidence and idiotic decisions to create what felt 'artificial'. I realise this probably just me and the author would argue it's all part of the story, but for the first third of the book it just didn't feel 'real'. It didn't help that it seemed the story was also going to include a self-serving, vindictive idiot admiral, how clichéd is that? Fortunately he only made a fairly brief appearance.
The second half of the book was better, although I wasn't sure about some of the physics during the space battle, but thankfully there were some interesting tactics even though the author got a bit carried away with his aliens.
Overall I would have been happy to give 3.5 stars.
The second half of the book was better, although I wasn't sure about some of the physics during the space battle, but thankfully there were some interesting tactics even though the author got a bit carried away with his aliens.
Overall I would have been happy to give 3.5 stars.
June 7, 2020
My Book Review Number 194:
This review is on Eve of War (The Silver Fleet Series Book 1) by R. L. Giddings. This is the first book I have read by this author. It is a Military Science Fiction Space Adventure story and part of a three book series plus a prequel novella called Pressure Drop.
The story starts with a medical doctor named Elsbeth Morton on her way to pick up a prisoner of war being held on the planet Thalia. Captain Robert Faulkner has been a POW for twenty years held by the Yakutian government for his role in the previous space war that ended in victory for the USDC Confederation against the Yakutians.
The Yakutians considered Faulkner a war criminal, but in truth he was being held more for political reasons than for his actions in wartime. The Yakutians finally agreed to release Faulkner after twenty long years of harsh mistreatment in prison that left Captain Faulkner with serious medical trauma. Morton is charged with evaluating his condition and treating him in recovery.
Captain Faulkner is considered a hero by the Confederation and his return is celebrated by all. He survived the torture from his captors with his will intact, but his physical condition is poor and needs time to heal.
Unfortunately for Faulkner, the President of the USDC Confederation has other plans for him and offers him command of his old spaceship, Mantis, which has been rebuilt and reconditioned for action. Faulkner is given back his old command and sent on a mission that results in a space battle with some unknown enemy and the start of something bigger than anybody knows.
I give this book Five Stars because the story is interesting, well written and a fast read. The story keeps your interest as it develops. The main character is a mystery, but develops over time to become the man of action he is known for. The plot is slow to develop in the beginning, but builds in intensity as war looms on the horizon. The dialogue and writing style are excellent. The spaceships, military tactics, hard science and battle scenes are very realistic. I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens to the characters.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
This review is on Eve of War (The Silver Fleet Series Book 1) by R. L. Giddings. This is the first book I have read by this author. It is a Military Science Fiction Space Adventure story and part of a three book series plus a prequel novella called Pressure Drop.
The story starts with a medical doctor named Elsbeth Morton on her way to pick up a prisoner of war being held on the planet Thalia. Captain Robert Faulkner has been a POW for twenty years held by the Yakutian government for his role in the previous space war that ended in victory for the USDC Confederation against the Yakutians.
The Yakutians considered Faulkner a war criminal, but in truth he was being held more for political reasons than for his actions in wartime. The Yakutians finally agreed to release Faulkner after twenty long years of harsh mistreatment in prison that left Captain Faulkner with serious medical trauma. Morton is charged with evaluating his condition and treating him in recovery.
Captain Faulkner is considered a hero by the Confederation and his return is celebrated by all. He survived the torture from his captors with his will intact, but his physical condition is poor and needs time to heal.
Unfortunately for Faulkner, the President of the USDC Confederation has other plans for him and offers him command of his old spaceship, Mantis, which has been rebuilt and reconditioned for action. Faulkner is given back his old command and sent on a mission that results in a space battle with some unknown enemy and the start of something bigger than anybody knows.
I give this book Five Stars because the story is interesting, well written and a fast read. The story keeps your interest as it develops. The main character is a mystery, but develops over time to become the man of action he is known for. The plot is slow to develop in the beginning, but builds in intensity as war looms on the horizon. The dialogue and writing style are excellent. The spaceships, military tactics, hard science and battle scenes are very realistic. I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens to the characters.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
September 9, 2020
Looking forward to more.
I have to admit I only do reviews for books I really like. Why promote the mediocre?
This feels like the start of a great adventure, and I'm looking forward to following it further.
I have to admit I only do reviews for books I really like. Why promote the mediocre?
This feels like the start of a great adventure, and I'm looking forward to following it further.
January 27, 2021
Outstandingly well written plot and story
Brilliantly written plot and story that unfolds before you as you are drawn into the characters as the story expands and leads you into a world where all is not predictable
Brilliantly written plot and story that unfolds before you as you are drawn into the characters as the story expands and leads you into a world where all is not predictable
April 18, 2020
enjoyable
Took awhile to get going, assuming a lot of groundwork was laid for later books in the series, much more action the lasthalf of the book. Has a lot of potential looking forward to the second book
Took awhile to get going, assuming a lot of groundwork was laid for later books in the series, much more action the lasthalf of the book. Has a lot of potential looking forward to the second book
July 31, 2024
not bad
I was particularly surprised that the hero did not turn out to be a tactical and strategic genius. There are number of heros here and I hope to read more about them in other books.
Having praised the book and story, I’m disappointed that so much reliance has been placed on PTSD as an explanation of situations. That’s lazy.
I was particularly surprised that the hero did not turn out to be a tactical and strategic genius. There are number of heros here and I hope to read more about them in other books.
Having praised the book and story, I’m disappointed that so much reliance has been placed on PTSD as an explanation of situations. That’s lazy.
Read
January 4, 2023Good fast paced space opera.
I'm looking forward to the next story in this series. It's off to a very good start, with good character development and spin on a first contact scenario.
I'm looking forward to the next story in this series. It's off to a very good start, with good character development and spin on a first contact scenario.
August 4, 2023
A decent read.
This I itial book in the series doesn't flow as smoothly as others in the genre, but is, nonetheless, a decent read. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy military science fiction.
This I itial book in the series doesn't flow as smoothly as others in the genre, but is, nonetheless, a decent read. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy military science fiction.
September 23, 2024
Imagine being a POW for twenty years and then being returned to your country. Yeah, you’ve been tortured, mistreated, and now very malnourished but you’re alive. What do you think you’d want to do with the rest of your days? Well, what happens to Captain Robert Faulkner, former Captain of the United Space Defense Confederation ship *Mantis* was absolutely not what you’d expect.
Captain Faulkner has been captured under unusual circumstances in the war against the Yakutians. While he had been a courageous Captain and had won numerous engagements during the war, the last one was his undoing. His ship had been beset with a large group of Yakutian battleships and with his on ship heavily damaged, the Yakutian’s offered him surrender which was unusual for them. Captain Faulkner refused to surrender his ship and crew, instead, he volunteered to surrender only if they allow his ship and crew free passage back to the USDC territory. The Yakutian’s agreed to the surrender terms and so started Captain Faulkner’s long term imprisonment.
Now the war has been over for a while. Efforts have been made before to repatriate Captain Faulkner, but for one reason or another the Yakutians always pull some last minute trick that resulted in the Captain remaining a prisoner. They had even tried passing off other humans as Captain Faulkner, but this time Doctor Elsbeth Morton was aboard the *USDC Syracuse.* She was determined not to fall for any of the Yakutain’s tricks and would verify that whoever they turn over was in fact, the real Captain Faulkner.
Well, the Yakutians did present a prisoner to Doctor Morton. She was shocked by what she was seeing. This man was rail thin, had an almost none existent voice, and she was surprised he could actually stand. She began all sorts of test to include DNA analysis and everything else she could think of and came to the conclusion that this was Captain Robert Faulkner. And that’s who he said he was, but even in his emaciated state, with x-rays showing broken bones that mended on their own, he still had a command presence she didn’t understand.
Still, she was in-charge of the Captain while they returned to the Confederation capital. She meant to get this terribly unhealthy man back to some standard of heath. She didn’t know what the Yakutians had done to him specifically, but it was very evident that he was tortured on numerous occasions. To say he had PTSD was a definite understatement, but otherwise his mental health seemed to be the least of her worries. Even though Captain Faulkner knew that he needed the treatments that Doctor Morton was giving him, he found the strength to make his way to the ship’s mess. She found him there was a stack of cheeseburgers and fries on his tray and was about to attack it all. She sat down with him and told him very clearly that what he was about to do would make him very sick. Still, the Captain said he had dreamed about this for the last twenty years and now he was going to eat.
Doctor Morton accompanied Captain Faulkner to the head as he was sick after eating just a portion of his meal. She was then taking him back to his room when they find out that not everyone wants the Captain back alive. The ship is attacked while a crewman internally captures both the Doctor and the Captain. He has them in the docking bay awaiting another ship when he gets shot and the enemy ship is destroyed.
This is kind of a prelude to all the problems that will beset Captain Faulkner. Not everyone wants him back. But, there is one person that does and that is the President of the Confederation, Ezra Samuels. It seems that the Confederation and the Yakutian Empire are about to go to war again. The President needs some political push to get the population on his side and he has plans for Captain Robert Faulkner. Captain Faulkner will soon be stunned when he’s reunited with his old ship the *USDC Mantis*. What he’s about to do will stun everyone.
A pretty good science fiction military story although it’s kind of hard to imagine something like this happening. Still, it makes for a great story. I don’t know how Captain Faulkner will do in his new assignment. There as to be a lot of questions about his mental stability, but as it so happens, he’ll get the assistance of a former ship’s captain, the one that came to get him from the Yakutians! That’s a whole other story. I’m going to get book 3, “Man of War”, already available on Amazon now.
Captain Faulkner has been captured under unusual circumstances in the war against the Yakutians. While he had been a courageous Captain and had won numerous engagements during the war, the last one was his undoing. His ship had been beset with a large group of Yakutian battleships and with his on ship heavily damaged, the Yakutian’s offered him surrender which was unusual for them. Captain Faulkner refused to surrender his ship and crew, instead, he volunteered to surrender only if they allow his ship and crew free passage back to the USDC territory. The Yakutian’s agreed to the surrender terms and so started Captain Faulkner’s long term imprisonment.
Now the war has been over for a while. Efforts have been made before to repatriate Captain Faulkner, but for one reason or another the Yakutians always pull some last minute trick that resulted in the Captain remaining a prisoner. They had even tried passing off other humans as Captain Faulkner, but this time Doctor Elsbeth Morton was aboard the *USDC Syracuse.* She was determined not to fall for any of the Yakutain’s tricks and would verify that whoever they turn over was in fact, the real Captain Faulkner.
Well, the Yakutians did present a prisoner to Doctor Morton. She was shocked by what she was seeing. This man was rail thin, had an almost none existent voice, and she was surprised he could actually stand. She began all sorts of test to include DNA analysis and everything else she could think of and came to the conclusion that this was Captain Robert Faulkner. And that’s who he said he was, but even in his emaciated state, with x-rays showing broken bones that mended on their own, he still had a command presence she didn’t understand.
Still, she was in-charge of the Captain while they returned to the Confederation capital. She meant to get this terribly unhealthy man back to some standard of heath. She didn’t know what the Yakutians had done to him specifically, but it was very evident that he was tortured on numerous occasions. To say he had PTSD was a definite understatement, but otherwise his mental health seemed to be the least of her worries. Even though Captain Faulkner knew that he needed the treatments that Doctor Morton was giving him, he found the strength to make his way to the ship’s mess. She found him there was a stack of cheeseburgers and fries on his tray and was about to attack it all. She sat down with him and told him very clearly that what he was about to do would make him very sick. Still, the Captain said he had dreamed about this for the last twenty years and now he was going to eat.
Doctor Morton accompanied Captain Faulkner to the head as he was sick after eating just a portion of his meal. She was then taking him back to his room when they find out that not everyone wants the Captain back alive. The ship is attacked while a crewman internally captures both the Doctor and the Captain. He has them in the docking bay awaiting another ship when he gets shot and the enemy ship is destroyed.
This is kind of a prelude to all the problems that will beset Captain Faulkner. Not everyone wants him back. But, there is one person that does and that is the President of the Confederation, Ezra Samuels. It seems that the Confederation and the Yakutian Empire are about to go to war again. The President needs some political push to get the population on his side and he has plans for Captain Robert Faulkner. Captain Faulkner will soon be stunned when he’s reunited with his old ship the *USDC Mantis*. What he’s about to do will stun everyone.
A pretty good science fiction military story although it’s kind of hard to imagine something like this happening. Still, it makes for a great story. I don’t know how Captain Faulkner will do in his new assignment. There as to be a lot of questions about his mental stability, but as it so happens, he’ll get the assistance of a former ship’s captain, the one that came to get him from the Yakutians! That’s a whole other story. I’m going to get book 3, “Man of War”, already available on Amazon now.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews