Star Forge

Imperial Hammer

by Cameron Cooper

Danny is trapped in a fragile relationship with the self-aware interstellar array which calls itself Noam.The array provides transport and communications. Without its cooperation, the Carinad Empire would collapse, stranding billions of people and causing chaos and death.Danny Andela, a former Ranger known as the Imperial Hammer, is the only human the array trusts. Danny’s work to keep the array happy and minimize its deadly temper tantrums is draining. Worse, other humans distrust her because of her association with the array, including the crew of her one-of-a-kind ship, the Lythion.Broke and alone, Danny faces a new The array may not trust her, afterall…Star Forge is the second book in the Imperial Hammer space opera science fiction series by award-winning SF author Cameron Cooper.The Imperial Hammer Hammer and Star Long Live the Destroyer of WorldsSpace Opera Science Fiction Novel__Praise for The Imperial Hammer Fun, fast paced, full of action and humor.I greedily read in this in one day. You will want to as well.Lots of action and a boatload of twists and turns that grab your attention and won't let go. It has kept me up way past bedtime!This is a read that really sucks you in!Excellent characters, twists and turns throughout.Written in such a natural hand that you can fully image the spectacular universe the author has created.__Cameron Cooper is the author of The Indigo Reports science fiction series and the alter ego for an Amazon #1 bestselling author in an unrelated genre. The Indigo Reports was originally conceived as a one-off series, but readers demanded more. The Imperial Hammer series was released in early 2020.Cameron tends to write space opera short stories and novels, but also roams across the science fiction landscape. Cameron was raised on a steady diet of Asimov, Heinlein, Herbert, McCaffrey, and others. Peter F. Hamilton and John Scalzi are contemporary heroes. An Australian Canadian, Cam lives near the Canadian Rockies.

Genres: Science Fiction

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2020

Reviews

[Ingrid Savell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exhilarating and intellectually stimulating high-speed adventure in space!

I loved that this book was full of fast-paced action and many unexpected plot twists! I enjoyed getting to know more of the same excellent characters set against a beautifully crafted space-based 'world' and it's technological constructs.

This second book in the series adds more depth to the characters and evolves the story of Danny and her crew with exciting detail and a well written story that made it impossible to put down!

It's definitely necessary to read Hammer and Crucible before Star Forge but each book deals with a different 'chapter' in Danny's life so they have very satisfying endings. It's my empathy with the characters and curiosity to know what comes next in Danny's challenging life that makes me load up the next ebook in the series immediately after finishing the book.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book start with a deal gone bad chase scene that quickly turns lethal and it just gets more exciting from there. Book 1 introduced Noam; Book 2 dives into who he is - and just how much he is capable of. Galaxy spanning space opera that examines what it is to be human, or perhaps post-human. Danny, her crew, and their unique ship have a problem they are only beginning to understand the depth of. Trouble follows them everywhere and they seem to attract enemies faster than they can keep track of them. They might have some surprising allies too though.

I've described Cooper's writing before as sci-fi accessible and enjoyable for people who don't normally read sci-fi. What I mean by that is that while it has a story that features high tech and needs it to make the story work, it doesn't get bogged down into the details of how everything works. If you are looking for the science behind the tech, this might not be your book. If you are looking for a great human interest story with space opera flair and excitement, try this for sure, but start with Hammer and Crucible, book 1 in this series, because you really need that background to fully enjoy this book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are getting desperate for Danny Andela, stuck in a fragile relationship with the self-aware interstellar array which has named itself after Danny’s dead son, Noam. The array is vital for the Carinad Empire, but Danny can’t quite tell if the array is a peevish child, a conniving pyscho, or an erratic teenager, and it’s vital she keeps it pacified as much as possible. She’s becoming somewhat of an outcast, since trouble follows wherever she goes, and then Danny and her crew are attacked by someone in advanced all-over heavy-duty body armor, that doesn’t mind taking out a whole station to get to her. Someone isn’t playing, and it just gets worse from there. There is lots of action, twists and turns, and watching Danny and her crew try to figure out how to outwit a powerful, all seeing and hearing entity seems hopeless at times. The conclusion was great, but there is more work to do to find a way to control Noam, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

[Pamela Wissenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second installment of the Imperial Hammer series. Noam is an immense and recently self-aware AI and emotionally a teenager. Imagine a super intelligent, nearly all powerful, hormonal adolescent. Spells serious trouble. Non-stop trouble follows Danny and the crew on the Lythion. Noam seems to want Danny's approval but is Noam really as teen-aged as he acts?
The story has plenty narrow escapes and battles as well as complex double, or maybe triple crosses that will likely take several more books to play out. It is tightly written and held my attention from the first page. the action hit practically on the first page. Gotta love Varg!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Impossible Situation – Sci-Fi Adventure!!

Our heroine Danny is “attached” to a self-aware interstellar array (Noam) which can see and hear everything through her own sight and hearing. When a series of mishaps seems to be more than coincidence, how does one work around that danger when the array knows everything she does??

Noam is an all-powerful entity, with an adolescent temper. Yikes!

Clever, intricate and entertaining. Definitely makes you think. Such a unique concept. Exceptionally executed!

**I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book**

[Dina Bushrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues with more action, thrills, suspense, and betrayal discovered but kept quiet. We learn a bit more about the ongoing characters, both human and not, their strengths and weaknesses. New to the scene are unusually strong rangers but wait, maybe they're not rangers; holy moly are they even human? But bigger question, who sent them? Does the heroine of the story figure it out in time? Another question, did I miss something, where the heck did Varg come from; wherever it is I want the full meet and greet story. Exciting sci-fi from start to finish.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant adventure. Non-stop action! Great story in an ongoing saga! Loved it! Noam, the self-enlightened array of interstellar gates and all digital communication, is acting like a spoiled teenager. Danny is the only one with a prayer of reining him in, but disaster after catastrophe is closely following Danny and her crew. Someone very powerful is trying to destroy her!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

[Rai FG · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25.

It had been a while since I read Hammer & Crucible so it took me a few chapters to remember what was what and who was who. I enjoyed being back with Danny as she struggles to get a handle on the all-powerful Noam.

While not as meaty as something like The Expanse, Imperial Hammer is a fast-paced adventure full of hi-tech wizardry and a very warped family dynamic.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic and exciting continuation of this sci-fi adventure. The action is non-stop with an amazing plot/ Well written with incredible and complex characters. I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased, honest review.

[Valerie Jondahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent second book in the series with plenty of action right from the start. There are twists and narrow escapes aplenty to keep the pages turning. I read an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review. I can't wait to see what happens next to Danny and the rest of the crew!

[Juneta Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this. A great story that is not heavy loaded with tech jargon. There depth to the storytelling with relatable characters. This is a great second book to book one Hammar and Crucible. Can't wait until the next.

[Art Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging

I’m enjoying the Imperial Hammer series. Star Forge revolves around humanizing an adolescent and omnipotent AI. I’m looking forward to finishing the series.