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USS Hamilton #3

USS Hamilton: Broadsides

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Hold tight . . . things are about to get bumpy Sitting in his oppressively small 10 x 10 cell at the Norfolk Naval Station’s Brig, Captain Galvin Quintos awaits his impending court-martial. That’s when he has a most unexpected contact by Fleet Commander Admiral Block. He’s proposing an off-book, secret operation—one coming at the request of the Pleidian Weonan Empress Shawlee Tee. For Quintos, telling Shawlee “no” was never an option. Unfortunately, according to the admiral, this very well could be a mission of no return. The war with the Grish has turned desperate and the Alliance is tallying far more losses than wins. To complicate matters, all other US Space-Navy warship assets have been deployed to various hot spots within the quadrant. As for the mission, Fleet Commander Twinwon and his crew are on the run from a fleet of eighteen Grish Warships somewhere out within the farthest reaches of frontier space. The Empress knows she has no right to ask, but she has no one else to turn to—she needs Quintos and the USS Hamilton’s crew— and she needs them now. Sure, this rescue may be coming too late—but no one ever said being a hero was easy. First problem—how the hell will Quintos escape from a Norfolk high-security detention facility…

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2021

826 people are currently reading
99 people want to read

About the author

Mark Wayne McGinnis

58 books281 followers

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5 stars
1,401 (63%)
4 stars
585 (26%)
3 stars
165 (7%)
2 stars
29 (1%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
Profile Image for Jean.
1,817 reviews807 followers
March 17, 2022
This is the completion of the USS Hamilton trilogy. I understand it is going to continue under USS Jefferson. This is an average space opera that is pure entertainment. The series was easy to read and is packed with action and battle scenes. The ending left much unresolved, but, if a new series is beginning where this left off—great.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and forty-eight minutes. James Patrick Cronin does a good job narrating the book.
Profile Image for Mark McGinnis.
Author 58 books281 followers
March 18, 2022
I just released this sequel (Broadsides is #3 in the USS Hamilton Series). This series has been my most-read series next to the Scrapyard Ship series. Maybe it has to do with the pandemic and more people reading...?

But, I hope (at least partially) it's because people enjoy the story. Thanks to everyone who reads. Hope you are having a good 2021 so far. Cheers, Mark

USS Hamilton: Broadsides

USS Hamilton: Ironhold Station

Scrapyard Ship
Profile Image for Damaged142.
206 reviews3 followers
October 5, 2025
I have thought long and hard about what I would rate this book as I was reading it. Sadly, it gets one star.

There is little in the way of character development. what is present is in singular throw-away sentences/paragraphs here and there.

Basic details, like the name of two individual ships and their respective classes, are not able to be kept straight.

Hacking appears to be this series mcguffin, and it is used terribly.

battle changing tactics/weapons are saved as a "last resort," or forgotten about until it's convenient for the plot, while over the top "hail mary" plays are routinely chosen over actual strategies.

Military Decorum is nonexistent.

there's been a weird, half effort, D-plot love triangle going on since the beginning of the series. if this was actually leaned into a bit more, it might have made the book a bit more interesting as well.

and as has been the norm in this series, it's just one thing after another, after another, after another. constant action, constant go go go.

I would have stopped this series after the first if it wasn't on Kindle unlimited.


ETA: Oh, and the introduction of new magical technologies, with no limit, until the plot demands there be limit, is very annoying. I mentioned the hacking being a mcguffin, and so was this.
Profile Image for Fred Hughes.
845 reviews52 followers
May 19, 2022
Another rousing space adventure with Captain Galvin Quintos right in the middle of it.

Released from the brig he is soon at the helm of the Hamilton and off to rescue a small fleet of warships that had been attacked by their collective enemy referred to as "the piglets".

With some late developed technology they are hoping to sneak in and rescue survivors of the attack but when did any of Galvins plans go as planned.

A great military science fiction series and Author
Profile Image for Jim.
1,235 reviews50 followers
June 7, 2021
Well, this story has taken a turn for the worse!  It's getting down-right stupid in my humble opinion. I don't know if that was the intention of the author, but he's seemed to have ruined what was becoming a very good science fiction story. Now it's just getting ridiculous and not very good.

This time, the USS Hamilton is being repaired while it's Captain, Galvin Quintos, is setting in the brig awaiting a courts marshal. And to top that off, US Space Navy Executive 5-Star  Admiral Cyprian Brock had just awarded Quintos his second Silver Star! Now, awarding a prisoner in a Brig a Silver Star, isn't going to happen in any Navy I know of.  This is also Quintos' second Silver Star, so the charges he's been incarcerated for are pretty lame. He was accused by Captain Eli Tannock, a previously certified insane person by his own ship's doctor! Captain Quintos had fired on and destroyed the USS Brave during their last fight with the Vaparin. Those aliens were about to overtake the USS Brave and assimilate the crew. All the high tech secrets and capabilities of the US Space Navy would have been compromised if that had happened. With the plea of the ships Captain, Captain Quintos did indeed fire on and destroy the USS Brave. There shouldn't have been any charges based on any kind of preliminary investigation.  Secondly, why Captain Eli Tannock is even around is a major issue. He's insane and has prove incapable of clear thinking in combat and should never have stayed on the USS Hamilton.

Ok, so now his legal counsel comes to break him out of the brig at the behest of an alien, Empress Shawlee Tee. She has arranged for a "Symbio-Poth" creature that appears to be Captain Quintos to take his place in the brig.  Shawnlee wants Captain Quintos and the USS Hamilton to go rescue her Fleet Commander Captain Twinwon who was being besieged by the Grish. What transpires after this is a series of incredible situation which the USS Hamilton finds itself out gunned eighteen to one.

In the meantime, Captain Tannock has found a pair of Port Entanglers which are similar to the old time machines of ancient sci-fi stories. Except in these two machines, Captain Eli Tannock had gotten himself stuck in the memory buffers and couldn't get himself out. Furthermore, in this story, Doc Viv and the USS Hamilton's Science Officer were conducting further experiments with the machines to see if they can improve on what they feel will turn into something similar to the "tele-porters" of old Star Trek TV shows. So we're really getting carried away with some of this story. Throw in the silly "love" thing with Lieutenant Pristy and things get really ridiculous. Oh, I said that once already, didn't I!

I just don't know why the author had to turn this story into such a joke. There's so many things going wrong with this story including the giant robot with a human consciousness called Hardy! And Captain Quintos seems to be the only one that can do anything. He has to go everywhere and do what he should be having all his other crew do. His place is really on the bridge of his starship, not galavanting around doing everything but commanding.

I suppose this series will continue and if I haven nothing better to read, I might continue to read it, but it's not going to be a priority. If this were meant to be a humorous series, then it should have started out that way, but it started out very serious and now has turned to this junk. Sorry, but that's my opinion and this is my review. I should have given this a 3, but I've read three books in the series so that's got to be good for at least one star above a 3!
Profile Image for The Legend.
201 reviews12 followers
June 5, 2022
I tried to like this book , as much as the books seem to go with 'unsolvable problems' that get a 'magical ' solution at the last minute type of writing. I still tried to like this book, but the whole time it just kept getting worse and worse..

Minor spoiler. There is a 'teleporting machine' Except it's more of a teleporting cloner? Copier? It takes the original and destroys it and then makes a copy at the location. Like a fax machine. Now you might think, well perhaps if there is only one, then that's the original. No because the book outright says that one person copied came out and lived a life while his 'copy' came out later and started a life too.. So the original and a copy..

Yet no one seems to care. No one cares that they will die and a 'clone' of them with all their memories will be the one to live on. Not once does anyone balk at dying while a clone lives? Fine..

They claim they are understaffed and get attacked. Well they send the Battle Bot places , his 'copy' so why not just teleport 50 of him and not destroy the originals. The 'added' in the feature to automatically destroy the original but they could easily have a thousand battle bot copies if they did that.

Later they are in trouble and show they can teleport stuff onto a enemy ship. So why not teleport A FREAKING BOMB onto the enemy ship, right into their engines or main power reactors? Why not teleport the main bad guy off his ship? Why not teleport the invaders into empty space. They show they can teleport whole FIGHTER CRAFTS into a enemy ship but not a bomb? Fighter crafts with 'MISSLES' on them so it's not a problem with enemy shields or explosives, nope. Just...they don't do it.

There are so many plot holes this cloning teleporter opens up that I can't read any more of this series. It's too ridiculous. They made a godly death machine but don't use it that way. In ways even 11 year old boy would be able to consider to use it.
Profile Image for Toyin Fayemi.
14 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2024
5 stars for the first half of the book. 1 star for the second half. I have a pet peeve, introduction of new technologies with no limitations or consistency. The new transporters transport 6 fighters and pilots from point to point with no issue, then later in the story the transporters have trouble moving a few marines from one ship to another. In the same vain, the transporters can grab the doctor from the bridge of another ship, despite the fact that she wasn't sent there with the device? If that's possible, why not transport the Varapin off the bridge and into deep space? During the major battle, they loose crew members and the ship in an effort to capture two ships and fight of the enemy fleet. Why bother transporting troops or engaging the other ships, when you could transport a missile into the middle of their engineering section? The final battle could've been over in a matter of seconds. I really liked the first two books, here's hoping the 4th book is better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3,092 reviews13 followers
January 7, 2025
“USS Hamilton: Broadsides” takes a good while to get going, but once it does it gets better and better.
After the shenanigans of “Miasma Burn” Captain Galvin Quintos is in the brig awaiting his court-martial.
And then, as if by magic, he's on his way back to the USS Hamilton for a top secret mission, while a doppleganger takes his place in prison.
A Pleidian fleet has been overwhelmed by the Grish and among those missing is Fleet Commander Twinwon, the intended mate of Empress Shawlee Tee.
His mission is simple, determine the fate of the Commander and, secondly, do it covertly.
But it is not long before everything is FUBAR and USS Hamilton is fighting for survival, surrounded by Grish ships and with most of her systems down.
Is this the end?
Hell, no!
As in all the books so far the typos abound:-
“What did you hit him with, anyway?”:
“My heal.”
That would be paramount to mutiny, right?”
… their pouring into the ship! Hundreds of them.”
3.5 Stars, brought up to 4 Stars.
Profile Image for Jen.
2,178 reviews154 followers
November 2, 2025
Seems an appropriate place to start - the brig where Gavin often finds himself. This just gets to be more fun as it goes. Pirates, weird aliens, what-in-the-heck-is-that-romance-doing-in-here, Gavin being Gavin.

I love the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson and this is exactly the same except different, if you know what I mean. Similar but totally different characters and sidekicks, doesn't feel as serious at times as ExForce. I find it odd that so many people die in these books, unnamed ships get vaporized, fleets just lose ships by the boatload (pun intended). Seems like the stakes should be higher, but it doesn't feel like that.

The narration by JP Cronin is great. Always a pleasure to listen to this guy.
19 reviews
April 16, 2021
The best of the series.

Having read a number of different sci fi authors i have found the books in this series to be a very easy read. Personally I like the way that things that have been introduced in past books or even earlier in the book being read at present find a way to come back acme save the day when you last expect it. I also love the way that the author has developed the relationshipsbetween the castrated especially the Captain and Hardy. I guess the best thing i can say is more than once i caught myself laughing out loud at Hardy and his facial pictures. Definitely recommend.
72 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2021
Great military Sci-fi

I've now finished all three of the USS Hamilton books and thoroughly enjoyed each one of them. I'm not an author and so I am not qualified to write a technical review. However, I read - a lot! My reviews range from "couldn't put it down" to "couldn't get into it". This series rates as "picked up the first book, read it in one go and then had to read the rest immediately." I loved the series and really, really want more of the same from this author.
Profile Image for BobA707.
821 reviews18 followers
October 9, 2021
Summary: Fast and furious, plenty of action, but for me nothing was thought through, the premise doesn't work. I did get to the end, very light reading

Plotline: cuff of the pants

Premise: Basically nothing really fits (best not to think about it)

Writing: Light, lots of action

Ending: I suspect I wont be reading the next book ... but the happy ending set the next one up

Pace: Never a dull moment!
Profile Image for Mark Zodda.
801 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2021
I had earlier said that I was done reading this series after finishing "USS Hamilton: Miasma Burn." Then I looked in my kindle and found that I had already purchased this book. I found that this one was a bit better than the previous two. Maybe I just needed to get more into the characters and be a little more willing to suspend my disbelief, but whatever it was, I liked this one more than before and now might actually try to finish the last two books in the series.
Profile Image for • Tom •.
180 reviews3 followers
January 6, 2022
The tech is OK.
The plot is thin, requires a bizarre set of events to happen to get them into a situation, and a massive amount of luck to get them back out.
The main character is extremely unbelievable & would get kicked out of ANY military.
The supporting characters are just caricatures.

The first book would have gotten 2 stars, but having read all 4 books of this series, the more unlikable it got. The 1 star rating is based on the whole series.
Profile Image for Trish R..
1,772 reviews58 followers
April 12, 2022
Almost 400 pages of battles between first the Varapin then the Grish, which the humans called Piglets, LOL. And then the Varapin came after the humans with one Grish at it's helm and 18 ships behind it and all there was to fight them was the USS Hamilton.

No romance and the F-bomb was used 47 times.

As for the narration: James Patrick Cronin does a great job except when he's supposed to whisper and doesn't.
25 reviews
October 28, 2023
Danger Close!!

This has to be one of the best series of books that I’ve read in…..oh forever!! I absolutely love the storyline and the characters good and bad-well mostly good! Pick up book one and I guarantee you’ll spend many sleepless nights and sleepy days until it’s finished! I can’t wait for the next adventure and wish it would never end! Okay enough gushing from a 70 year old! Just read everything you can by the magnificent Mark Wayne McGinnis!!
Profile Image for Mick Bird.
830 reviews12 followers
January 22, 2021
What a way to end

From a prison cell, and facing a court marshal, captain Quintos once again has been asked to race to the rescue. But this time the price he and his crew have to pay will be high. Can he and Hamilton come through this fight. I recommend you give this series of books a read.
56 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2021
You just can’t put this stuff down

I believe I read this book in a day and a half. Our hero is awaiting court marshal proceedings one minute and the next he and his faithful crew are jumping in at the deep end of the pool. Fasten your safety belts and please keep your hands and legs inside the vehicle... Enjoy.
13 reviews
June 4, 2021
A great series and must read.

The series is action packed with awesome characters. Great writing and a great plot. I hope this isn't the end of the series. I would love to see an upgraded "Jefferson ship" fully crewed and ready for battle on a deep space mission! Thank you Mark for another great series and keep them going!!
89 reviews
October 24, 2022
Sorry to see the adventure end

This was truly a great well written story. It was full of passion, adventure, intrigue, and action. The fights that the Hamilton endured would please anyone. Once you start, it very hard to put down. I do hope that there will be another episode in this fantastic series.
Profile Image for Space Cowgirl.
4,133 reviews144 followers
March 18, 2024
All Action, All The Time!👽🤖🐺💪🗡🔫🚀
Sci-fi Space Opera🚀💫 with a touch of Romance.
After all, a big bad spaceman🐺💪🗡🔫 ship🚀 captain, must have something🌏 and someone💃 he cares about.
Getting his beloved ship🚀 blown to bits was not in the cards.
The book ends in a cliffhanger , like all the others.
I got this e-book from Amazon with Kindle unlimited
120 reviews
May 19, 2024
Terrific adventure with Captain Quintos and the crew of the USS Hamilton. An impossible black ops mission to save a friend and ally against impossible odds. The captain must determine and follow the impossible series of steps to prevail. What is not to like as we cheer on the captain and crew as they never give up, fighting against incredible odds all the way to the exciting finish.
82 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2024
...with a little help from our friends

No good deed goes unpunished except by another. Your friends call, for help, you call, the bad guys do the same, and we get a wonderful story! We of course have to survive the complete of the good deed but not all do.
Mark, thanks for continuing this universe.
G**2
3 reviews
December 9, 2025
Exciting and action packed

Enough imagination and knowledge to create some interesting and borderline feasible space machines. Almost to heavy on action but kept me turning the page. Nicely developed descriptions created a vey good picture of characters and everything around them.
Profile Image for Warren W..
Author 5 books1 follower
January 19, 2021
Wow! What a book!

I can believe how exciting this book was! I’m taken aback at how clever this book was written. Great adventure, wonderful characters, thrilling action. First rate sci-fi. I’m ready for the next one!
249 reviews2 followers
January 26, 2021
Great book!

Really good story. Takes up where the last left off. Loved how even in the future there's still red tape and politics that screw things up. But I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one.
165 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2021
Fantastic SCI-FI action!

This is a fitting third novel in the series. The action is non-stop with detailed descriptions of each action. A strong story plot brings the action to the reader. Even romance is included! War, romance and new technology! What else can you ask for?!
254 reviews
January 30, 2021
Robert's Review and Comments

Fantastic, an epic last stand consistent with the likes of the Alamo, the 300 and Pearl Harbor. Battles that were setbacks by themselves, but would lead eventually to a grand victory of the war. Thanks for a GoodRead.
195 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2021
Fantastic!

These books have been addictive! Three full novels in less than ten days is crazy, even for a fast reader. I am pleased to review such work and have a hard time not dropping AA boatload of spoilers. I hope this is not the last we see of Captain Quinton!
Profile Image for Barry Hanna.
5 reviews
February 15, 2021
Captivating

This has all the elements of a good story, the pace is excellent, the dramatic elements are plentiful, but most of all the characters are likable and believable. Even the android Hardy. A fun way to spend a few hours.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews

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