Dark Knight Station: Origins

by Nathan Lowell, Jeffrey Kafer (Narrator)

Three Men
Two Brothers
One Failing Station

When Edgar Vagrant down checks Verkol Kondur’s mining barge, Kondur gets swept up in station politics in spite of his best efforts to avoid them.

When Edgar pushes his elder son, Malachai, into working on the station’s freighter, Malachai decides to take matters into his own hands.

With Malachai gone, his brother Zachary gets to pick up the pieces of a management structure that he had no hand in making, no authority to control, and no wish to continue.

When mysterious dark sun graffiti appears all over the station, it seems clear that the situation has attracted someone’s attention. The question is whose?

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Space, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera

Audiobook

First published December 19, 2020

About the author

Nathan Lowell has been a writer for more than forty years, and first entered the literary world by podcasting his novels. His sci-fi series, The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper grew from his long time fascination with space opera and his own experiences shipboard in the United States Coast Guard. Unlike most works which focus on a larger-than-life hero (prophesized savior, charismatic captain, or exiled prince), Nathan centers on the people behind the scenes--ordinary men and women trying to make a living in the depths of space. In his novels, there are no bug-eyed monsters, or galactic space battles, instead he paints a richly vivid and realistic world where the "hero" uses hard work and his own innate talents to improve his station and the lives of those of his community.

Dr. Nathan Lowell holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology with specializations in Distance Education and Instructional Design. He also holds an M.A. in Educational Technology and a BS in Business Administration. He grew up on the south coast of Maine and is strongly rooted in the maritime heritage of the sea-farer. He served in the USCG from 1970 to 1975, seeing duty aboard a cutter on hurricane patrol in the North Atlantic and at a communications station in Kodiak, Alaska. He currently lives in the plains east of the Rocky Mountains with his wife and two daughters.

Awards & Recognition
2008 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for Full Share
2008 Podiobooks Founder's Choice Award for Double Share
2008 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for South Coast
2009 Podiobooks Founder's Choice Award for Captain's Share
2009 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for Double Share
4 out of 10 Books on Podiobooks.com Top Overall Rated by Votes (2. Double Share, 3. Quarter Share, 5. Full Share, 8. Half Share) -- as of Jan 4, 2009
6 out of 10 Books on Podiobooks.com Top Overall Rating (1. Ravenwood, 2. Quarter Share, 3. Double share, 4. Captain's Share, 5. Full Share, 7. South Coast) -- as of Jan 4, 2009

Reviews

[JasonA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This appears to be a stand-alone story (maybe?) set in the Solar Clipper universe. It is basically the origin story of Verkol Kondur, Malachai Vagrant and Dark Knight Station. A few other recurring characters also show up, but that's par for the course.

I think this is the longest book, but I enjoyed all of it. It's probably my favorite non-Ishmael book, so far (disclaimer: waiting for Shaman's Tale series final book to read that series). Having three view point characters definitely helped to spread the story around.

Most of my complaints are pretty minor. This is the first book I can recall that doesn't have the date as part of the chapter headers. I think it is chronologically first, but hard to say for sure. There are some ret-cons/inconsistencies with previous books, but given the original source of the info, that may have been intentional. I don't think Barbell class ships should be around, but without knowing the year the story takes place... I'm not a fan of the cover art at all. They really need to go back to ships, stars and stations for this series.

I think this is a great addition to the series and continue to enjoy all of the world building.

[Teresa Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tells the backstory of part of Toe Hold space and several minor characters in other books by this author. It stands well on its own, with no need to have read the other books.

I strongly recommend this book, but don’t start it in the evening if you have work the next day. Once it gets rolling it is very hard to put down.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good!

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Solar Clipper series, but not linked here on GR.

This story is mostly a stand-alone in this universe (one character does cross-over, but it's a minor role). It is written is a slightly different style with additional POVs, more than I recall in the other books. Otherwise, the author's voice is quite recognizable, and the types of problems encountered are similar in many ways to previous entries. This story is a bit grittier, more violent, but with the same clever resolution.

Another enjoyable entry into this intriguing universe.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! A bit different than Ishmael's series but in the same world!

[Dave Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it more than it deserved
I chain-smoked this book, despite the fizzle-out non ending.
Nathan Lowell makes anything engaging. I'd read his shopping list. This book is no exception.

This book is a thinly veiled allegory (or not veiled at all) about the modern corporate system killing America. Everything is sacrificed for short term profit including health, safety, and human lives. Corruption is rampant, breakdowns are everywhere, and revolution is brewing.
This book should have pissed me off, but I was hanging on every word even past the Deus ex machina solution.
4 stars is how much I enjoyed it, not how good I think it is (not 4 stars)

[Scarlet Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solar clipper universe stuff is always a fun read.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowell, Nathan. Dark Knight Station: Origins. Kindle, 2020.
Nathan Lowell is my favorite independently published author. In fact, he is so independent that he won’t even read works published under the traditional system. He and Tom Doherty should get together and work things out. Be that as it may. Dark Knight Station is a prequel to the three-book Smuggler’s Tales series. It provides some of the back story on Toehold Space, which readers of the previous series will appreciate. The story gets us into the economics of one of Lowell’s many orbitals and offers some notable villains to challenge his typical gang of hardworking good guys. The novel can be enjoyed by itself, but readers will profit from having read the Smuggler’s Tales first.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

[4 Apr 2021]
This is another of Lowell's generally low-key novels about ordinary people living ordinary lives in space. This one is about a space station (one of the infamous Toe Holds), which is failing gradually due to long standing mismanagement. But what can an ordinary spacer do about it? It's a pretty good tale and the main characters are well drawn and sympathetic, except for the bad guys of course. It's not as good as the Ishmael Wang stories, and I'm not sure I'll be rereading it, but I'm glad I read it this time. Recommended for any Lowell fans.

[A M Steinbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story seems real

Despite the outfield setting the story seems real so one can relate to it. Hope there will be as sequel. Would like to know what happens to the characters in the future.

[Nathan Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Voice from Nathan Lowell

I have read all of Nathan Lowell's book, and loved them all. I began listing/reading when he first posted to Podiaudo books, recording in his own voice. Every book I've read since then I've "heard" his voice in my head telling me the story. I love it.

This is the first Nathan Lowell book that I did NOT hear Nathan Lowell's voice in my head. Its a new voice. Deeper, more gravelly, like I imagine Kondor might sound like. I did not choose this voice, it's just how it came to me when I read the book. It fascinates me, and I suspect its not accidental. Other than the obligatory worship scenes around breakfast and coffee, this story is somewhat unique from his normal story telling method. Its a subtle shift, but perceptible. It works, and does not detract from the book in any way. I just found it surprising that it would be so.

I did feel that there was a bit of discontinuity in the story around the comment that CPJCT was bootstrapped into place long after Toe-Holds existed. In previous books I felt it was portrayed a bit differently, where Toe-Hold space was a relief vent for people not fit to live a life of conformance under CPJCT, indicating that Toe-Hold space grew more organically out of the CPJCT. This book seems to turn that theory on its ear. One wonders, does Port Newmar pre-date the Western Annex and the CPJCT?

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan Lowell always manages to write a Damn Good book... and, Dark Knight Station is another winner! Grab one of his books and I can guarantee you won't be sorry!
Although this book takes place in the same Solar-Clipper universe as many of his other books, it can be read as a stand-alone and possibly it'll be the first book in a new spinoff series (I hope) with only a few character cross-overs! Whether Nathan's writing about the shipping trades, or planetary fisheries, butlers or air-scrubbers and filtration, his words are like magic... I find myself completely fascinated and sucked into each and every one of his worlds! Dark Knight Station, told from three different viewpoints, just flows so naturally, and the dialogue is simply brilliant! The plotting is tight and fun, as the mystery plays out...
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read!

Here's one of my favorite exchanges. " Larkin chewed the side of his mouth and narrowed his eyes at Malachai. “You have a spontaneous brain growth, or did somebody talk some sense into you?”
“Somebody talked some sense into me, Captain.”
Larkin’s eyebrows rose a fraction. “And you listened? That’s unexpected!"

Oh, and yes... I had the pleasure of being a beta reader!

[Andrew Tobin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often review books, and I'm not very good at it, but this was a great addition to the Solar Clipper universe of Nathan Lowell's. It fleshes out some characters that we've only met in passing - mainly Malachai Vagrant, and introduces his brother Zachary, and their strange, unsought battle for their father's space station, as well as Verkol Kondur, who we've met before in previous books.

The best thing about this prequel story, is that it tells a story of many sides, and gives us more depth on how some of the toe-hold space came to be the way it is, as well as giving us many cameos of some favourite characters - most notably Maggie Stevens.

Where it falls down is towards the end, where it starts to drag into the legal and business of the station battle - while not adequately keeping the tension, in my view.

What I'd really love to see though, is a Carstairs novel, based around Thomas growing up, and building his empire - his relationship with Penny, and his time in school, and meeting Maggie, and the shadowy organisation he seems to have around him. While this doesn't entirely show up in this story, a few more pieces are shown, and I think it'd make an excellent coming of age, spy, empire-building story for the universe.

[Noodle The Naughty Night Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10: Fantastic, left me wanting more.

What’s the difference between a mutiny and a revolution?

Oh, this was a delightful find. I hadn't even realised that more books in the Solar Clipper World had been written. So, it was very nice indeed to find this one.

And it did not disappoint.

“I’m sitting in the captain’s chair with no idea how to be a captain.”

The POVs were new, but I liked Zachary.

In the meantime, he planned to keep his head down and his mouth shut, and do his best not to kill anybody.

And the villain's POV was interesting.

There were several POVs all told, and I had no problem slipping from one to the next. I would, however, very much like to see a story in this world following Ishmael and Natalya after the end of the original series. Their story is what I'm really hankering for.

But I won't say no to any other stories/POVs in this world the author chooses to write. It's just such a great place to be and a lovely writing style to get lost in while reading.

Please let there be more!

[Rob Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now We Know

When Nathan’s last series came to a close, those of us who have been following and reading wondered what was going to happen next in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper... and this book is what’s next and if we’ve learned nothing about the way he writes, everything in this universe is connected that will eventually lead to a series that will be well worth the wait.

This book answers a lot of question: Who is Kondur? What’s the deal with Malachi Vagrant that so many people are worried about him? There are familiar names, like Thomas Carstairs and Margaret Stevens and knowing she’s around means things are going to get interesting. Of all of the Toe Hold stations Nathan could have written about, he chose Dark Knight and for a reason we won’t find out about right away... and I can’t wait to see where this is going.

If you haven’t done it already, read all of the Solar Clipper books then read this one - it’ll make more sense if you do.

[Tan Ponk · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers. Nathan does it again. For those not familiar, Nathan Lowell masterfully weaves compelling stories about all the things that make us human. He is an absolute master at showcaseing the human condition. The stories just happen to be set against the backdrop of the deep dark. Fantastic world building, exquisite character development, gripping story lines. You become immersed. One of my very favorite authors.

If you're new, I most strongly suggest discovering him in order. This one could be read first as it chronologically predates the others - yet the others build a more solid foundation over what it means to inhabit deep space. Quarter Share best begins the journey.

Warning - There are NO acid squirting hydra headed alien monsters sucking out mech soldier brains through a straw. But cheer up. You'll probably enjoy it anyway.

[Doug Sundseth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book from Nathan Lowell.

As usual, his characters are three-dimensional, with realistic goals, virtues, and flaws. The plot is of a piece with other Lowell books, which is to say that it's slow-moving but intricately detailed.

This book is set some decades before the events in the Solar Clipper series. Here, the subject is a station in serious trouble as a result of comprehensive mismanagement and the efforts to save the station for the people who have invested their lives in it for years.

The book ends in a way that would imply further books about these characters, but as I write this, I have seen no indication that will happen.

Like nearly all of Lowell's books, this won't be for everyone. It's less adventure than SF slice of life. But if that doesn't immediately cause you to walk away, this is highly recommended.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

By now the 'Golden Age of the Solar Clippers' is very well established. This was a fun and very interesting look at the time long before Ishmael and Pip. There are a couple established characters that we peak into their past but also a slew of new faces all with a colorful history of their own.

Their were a couple seeming inconsistencies mostly dealing with where Dark Knight Station would fall in relation to the Burleson Limit and the timeline of development in the Western Annex. It is easy to overlook these when deeply buried in a very good story.

This was not Lowell's best, but even a middling book is better than what most offer.

[Jeffrey Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s pretty simple: If you like Lowell’s other books you’ll also enjoy this one.

I found it interesting to learn the background of some minor characters from within the solar clipper series and thinking about how they intersect with Ishmael and friends in some of the more recent books. The story itself is a stand alone and filled with enough twists and turns to stay interesting while maintaining the relaxing pacing of Lowell’s books that make them so enjoyable to listen to in the background while doing other tasks.

Lowell’s books are almost always a must-buy for me and this is no exception. I’m excited to see what he comes out with next!

[Topher · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's just something very comfortable with Nathan Lowell's writing. I enjoyed the solar clipper series, starting with quarter share, enough that I have worked my way through nearly everything else he's written. The rest is in my to be read pile!

In this case, we learn the back story of dark knight station, which I believe first pops up in Milk Run? Not something in the main series. But we also get a little bit of background on the Carstairs and Maggie Stevens before Ish would have met them (likely before Ish was born even).

There are probably other characters in here that were references back to the prior books, but it's been a while and many pages of other books.....

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am normally a big fan of Mr. Lowell’s books, and while this one had a good storyline, it seems that it may have been rushed to publication. The last few chapters seemed very poorly edited with lots of reputation of information and characters who were present at earlier events seeming to have no idea what was going on during later events. This caused the last few chapters to seem tedious and I had to skim through them in order to make it to the end of the book. I think these chapters need editorial review and a rewrite.

[stormhawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Look at the Beginnings

I've really been enjoying the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper books. The are good reading, follow well, and have many engaging characters and situations. This novel turns back the clock and we get to see the origin story of one of the more interesting stations in the Toe-Holds, an area that operates outside of the straight and narrow of the main spacing routes. There are some familiar faces and situations among the station crew, and a number of problems that need unravelling.

[Jon Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy prequel to the Solar Clipper Tales

Nathan Lowell is one of my favourite authors for his Solar Clipper Universe Stories. In this book we meet some of the characters from the later stories and find out how Dark Knight Station came to be. As always with Nathan Lowell's work there isn't the hero come to claim his throne but working stuffs who rise above their circumstances and a couple of unmitigated villains.

[Dennis Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only he'd use the time he spends eating and sleeping to write more!!!

Lowell teaches you an awful lot about business all the while disguising it as an entertaining story. The Dark Knight continues this tradition in a slightly more adult setting. Admittedly the "Share" series remain my favorites. Every time I think of them I get a strong urge for a fresh cup of coffee. I only wish that he could write faster!

[Jan Gable · Rating 5 out of 5]

1:30 in the morning

Totally a page turner. As always great characters that are written in a manner that you can feel their confusion, anger, and pain. Also, feel the surge of hope when things start to get better. (I’m trying not to create a spoiler here). The building up is a little slow, but it has important features that drive the story later, so don’t give up. Wonderful book I have no problem recommending it to others.

[Donald Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Just Wow!!

When you think it can't be any better, Capt. Nathan drops a whole different look at familiar characters. Friends from Highline and Toe Hold Space. Origin stories are hard, particularly after you have spun the web so well in the other stories, but this one fills in a lot of blanks. I have to read it again to make sure I pick up a the nuggets. Thanks Capt. for a great read!

[Stephen Woerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic origin story

For anyone who has spent time in the Western Annex, this is a fantastic introduction to a lot of familiar names. Good fun, well told story, and great insight into the personalities driving the Toehold space. Nathan Lowell remains one of my favorite sci-fi writers currently writing. Thanks!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at how Dark Knight Station got its name and came to be. A nice intro to the series Nathan Lowell writes. His series are interlocking with characters who appear in more than one series. These are great books to read right now. They are about the everyday lives of the characters and leave you with a good feeing.

[Tim Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Something compelling about this guy's books. He's obviously a great writer and his narratives are second to none. Although there is never much "action" in his books, he manages to make his books ,page turners. I love how he imparts ,a kind of tranquility ,in his stories. Excellent read

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Story

I enjoyed seeing the history of the space station in the story and some of the characters we know from the Clipper stories.

It is also a good look at a non violent revolution changing a government from a dictator to a somewhat more accountable corporate board.

There is some violence but the problems are solved by investigation, talking and lawyers.