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Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! Light Novel #3
Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! (Light Novel) Vol. 3
The rescue of a noble girl gets Hiro and his crew in more trouble than they bargained for. The heat is on and their enemies are closing in, so Hiro decides to...take a vacation? There's no better place to lie low than a high-class resort in a tropical paradise!
262 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 20, 2022
Felt more like it had an actual plot than the previous book 2. I'm beginning to sour more on this series as the girls seem to be developing less personality and depth as time goes by rather than more. They also seem to lose all agency.
March 21, 2022
The crew of the Krishna and its somewhat meddlesome captain seek calm and respite on a resort planet: beachside BBQ, cool beverages in the shade, swimming with exotic sea creatures, and simply being a layabout for the first time in a long time. But as readers are well aware, trouble follows Captain Hiro wherever he ventures (only this time, it's honestly not his fault).
REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3, by the author's own admission, is a combination of a filler, beach/swimsuit episode as well as an effort to give the characters room to flex more comfortably in the narrative space provided. It's a formulaic approach and could well put off readers whose tastes differ, but on the whole, there's little the current volume doesn't do that keeps the core cast in-character and further Hiro's awkward, pirate-hunting adventures in this new universe.
More expansive worldbuilding lends readers another curious glimpse into the cosmos these characters occupy. And while the series' character development hits a lull, the author attempts to thread a rather scurrilous needle of relational affection whose humor is cheekily local (cultural) and may not translate well to western tastes. But in the event Hiro's private exploits fail to entice, the Krisha slugs it out in a couple more space battles, so there's that, too.
Said space battles arrive simultaneous, as well as in the near-aftermath, of Hiro and his crew's discovery of a cold-sleep pod. Apparently, some nasty folks ambushed a nobleman's cruiser three months ago and eradicated the whole family. By whom and for what reason? The local Port Authority is still trying to figure that out. And who is in the pod? A young girl, Christina Dalenwald, lone survivor and newfound heir to a wealthy family somewhere distant.
What began as a vacation stroll takes a sharp turn toward vigorous self-defense, which then metamorphoses into a problematic escort mission, which is then spun sideways, when a wealthy fool out for blood rains fire from the sky. Some vacation this turned out to be.
REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3 is a serviceable in-betweener book. One senses the next volume in this novel series would do well to expand on Hiro's impending conflict with Lady Chris's nefarious relatives. Whether these conflicts do cross multiple volumes remains to be seen, but it would be great if the crew of the Krishna developed a solid, enduring nemesis. Here's to hoping.
As for the novel's worldbuilding ethos, Hiro has thus far cycled through space colonies (of clever and intriguing shape and design) and star ships (of varying size). Here, the cast sets foot on actual soil. Land ownership is rare in this universe, but apparently, with enough funds, one can rent space on a resort planet (e.g., mountainous spa planet, frigid-cold ski planet, oceanic beach planet). Readers can chew plenty of detail as to how these types of planetary systems operate and the function they serve in the regional economy.
The book also takes an interesting, chapter-long digression to pare out the role of machine intelligence in the universe. This divergence proves an unexpected but narratively brilliant key turn. How does a whole planet function on artificial intelligence? And in a universe with faster-than-light travel, to what extent do machines and automation endanger human life relative to how it protects human life? Hiro jokes that he has no personal investment in all this political discourse ("It was sort of like being watched over by an omnipotent machine god," p. 162), but it's clear his comrades have great reservations about the influence of computer intelligence.
Hiro seems comfortable easing into the novel series' likely outcome of one harem type or another, but the author is equally content to toss as many barriers in the character's direction. The previous installment introduced Dr. Shouko, who, amusingly, turned down Hiro's offer. Now the protagonist must contend with a few more peculiarities, such as the possible adoption of a beautiful, hi-spec android or the introduction of an underage socialite. REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3 banks ferociously around the implication that Hiro is at all physically interested in Lady Chris, but one should note the book's humor leans heavily on the little girl candidly not caring how young she is.
As the Krishna drifts into conflict with pirates or other mercenaries, and accumulates tons of loot along the way, readers come to find Captain Hiro is a man who craves success as much as he desires to be left alone. In one breath, he strongly curses his ill fortune, fighting for his life as often as he does, while in the next, he shrugs sheepishly at the very normie prospect of earning enough to settle down and actually start a family (Hiro: "Hah! Look at me, acting like a piece of trash," p. 144). All in all, REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3 sends Hiro into further adventures (and dangers), while yet also nudging closer to acknowledging he may be a better fit for this new universe than he ever was in the old one. The number of times the guy has to fend off questions from his crew with, "Yeah, I've been around," for something as seemingly simple as knowing how to cook one's own food, is equally comical and astronomical.
REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3, by the author's own admission, is a combination of a filler, beach/swimsuit episode as well as an effort to give the characters room to flex more comfortably in the narrative space provided. It's a formulaic approach and could well put off readers whose tastes differ, but on the whole, there's little the current volume doesn't do that keeps the core cast in-character and further Hiro's awkward, pirate-hunting adventures in this new universe.
More expansive worldbuilding lends readers another curious glimpse into the cosmos these characters occupy. And while the series' character development hits a lull, the author attempts to thread a rather scurrilous needle of relational affection whose humor is cheekily local (cultural) and may not translate well to western tastes. But in the event Hiro's private exploits fail to entice, the Krisha slugs it out in a couple more space battles, so there's that, too.
Said space battles arrive simultaneous, as well as in the near-aftermath, of Hiro and his crew's discovery of a cold-sleep pod. Apparently, some nasty folks ambushed a nobleman's cruiser three months ago and eradicated the whole family. By whom and for what reason? The local Port Authority is still trying to figure that out. And who is in the pod? A young girl, Christina Dalenwald, lone survivor and newfound heir to a wealthy family somewhere distant.
What began as a vacation stroll takes a sharp turn toward vigorous self-defense, which then metamorphoses into a problematic escort mission, which is then spun sideways, when a wealthy fool out for blood rains fire from the sky. Some vacation this turned out to be.
REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3 is a serviceable in-betweener book. One senses the next volume in this novel series would do well to expand on Hiro's impending conflict with Lady Chris's nefarious relatives. Whether these conflicts do cross multiple volumes remains to be seen, but it would be great if the crew of the Krishna developed a solid, enduring nemesis. Here's to hoping.
As for the novel's worldbuilding ethos, Hiro has thus far cycled through space colonies (of clever and intriguing shape and design) and star ships (of varying size). Here, the cast sets foot on actual soil. Land ownership is rare in this universe, but apparently, with enough funds, one can rent space on a resort planet (e.g., mountainous spa planet, frigid-cold ski planet, oceanic beach planet). Readers can chew plenty of detail as to how these types of planetary systems operate and the function they serve in the regional economy.
The book also takes an interesting, chapter-long digression to pare out the role of machine intelligence in the universe. This divergence proves an unexpected but narratively brilliant key turn. How does a whole planet function on artificial intelligence? And in a universe with faster-than-light travel, to what extent do machines and automation endanger human life relative to how it protects human life? Hiro jokes that he has no personal investment in all this political discourse ("It was sort of like being watched over by an omnipotent machine god," p. 162), but it's clear his comrades have great reservations about the influence of computer intelligence.
Hiro seems comfortable easing into the novel series' likely outcome of one harem type or another, but the author is equally content to toss as many barriers in the character's direction. The previous installment introduced Dr. Shouko, who, amusingly, turned down Hiro's offer. Now the protagonist must contend with a few more peculiarities, such as the possible adoption of a beautiful, hi-spec android or the introduction of an underage socialite. REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3 banks ferociously around the implication that Hiro is at all physically interested in Lady Chris, but one should note the book's humor leans heavily on the little girl candidly not caring how young she is.
As the Krishna drifts into conflict with pirates or other mercenaries, and accumulates tons of loot along the way, readers come to find Captain Hiro is a man who craves success as much as he desires to be left alone. In one breath, he strongly curses his ill fortune, fighting for his life as often as he does, while in the next, he shrugs sheepishly at the very normie prospect of earning enough to settle down and actually start a family (Hiro: "Hah! Look at me, acting like a piece of trash," p. 144). All in all, REBORN AS A SPACE MERC…v3 sends Hiro into further adventures (and dangers), while yet also nudging closer to acknowledging he may be a better fit for this new universe than he ever was in the old one. The number of times the guy has to fend off questions from his crew with, "Yeah, I've been around," for something as seemingly simple as knowing how to cook one's own food, is equally comical and astronomical.
December 13, 2021
Hiro and his crew are going on vacation on a resort planet. On their way there they run across a sleeper pod with in it the noble girl Chris, a survivor of a "pirate" attack and in the middle of an inheritance struggle. Hiro cannot refuse the job, but there is no reason not to combine it with a much earned vacation.
The story is much like the first 2 volumes, entertaining, high paced and a bit silly. Technology is rather convenient and not always consistent, but I don't mind. One thing made it a bit a struggle for me to finish though, treating the MC as somebody impossible to interact with women, let alone kids, without thinking of the deed is one thing, but having the constant reminder with the robot maid and especially the kid just made me cringe. It also went on too long. To be fair, he has no interest in the kid, but why feel the urge to constantly say and think so?
Anyway, lets see how things go in the next volume if only to see this current arc finish, because while it was not a cliff-hanger ending, the story is unfished.
The story is much like the first 2 volumes, entertaining, high paced and a bit silly. Technology is rather convenient and not always consistent, but I don't mind. One thing made it a bit a struggle for me to finish though, treating the MC as somebody impossible to interact with women, let alone kids, without thinking of the deed is one thing, but having the constant reminder with the robot maid and especially the kid just made me cringe. It also went on too long. To be fair, he has no interest in the kid, but why feel the urge to constantly say and think so?
Anyway, lets see how things go in the next volume if only to see this current arc finish, because while it was not a cliff-hanger ending, the story is unfished.
September 27, 2025
This volume kept the series rolling in exactly the way I was hoping. The premise of a regular guy piloting the strongest starship is still a fun hook, and the story balances action, humor, and adventure without taking itself too seriously. The pacing moved along nicely, making it an easy and enjoyable read.
The main character continues to be likable, even if he is not the deepest, and his interactions with the crew remain a highlight. The space battles were again written clearly and had enough tension to keep me invested. I also enjoyed the little worldbuilding touches that expand the setting just enough without slowing things down.
It is not a groundbreaking sci-fi story, but it delivers exactly what I expect from this series: lighthearted, fast-paced fun with a touch of charm. I am definitely still looking forward to the next volume.
The main character continues to be likable, even if he is not the deepest, and his interactions with the crew remain a highlight. The space battles were again written clearly and had enough tension to keep me invested. I also enjoyed the little worldbuilding touches that expand the setting just enough without slowing things down.
It is not a groundbreaking sci-fi story, but it delivers exactly what I expect from this series: lighthearted, fast-paced fun with a touch of charm. I am definitely still looking forward to the next volume.
January 18, 2022
A fun light novel continues
I really enjoy this light novel it has a lot of action has some good dialogue between the characters. They have some interesting political things going on and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and the banter between the different characters and the situations they get into. The main character has some inner dialogue in his mind but not overly much which seems to be prevalent in a lot of other light novels that I read. That is a good thing I'wish to continue to read more in the story and see what happens next.
I really enjoy this light novel it has a lot of action has some good dialogue between the characters. They have some interesting political things going on and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and the banter between the different characters and the situations they get into. The main character has some inner dialogue in his mind but not overly much which seems to be prevalent in a lot of other light novels that I read. That is a good thing I'wish to continue to read more in the story and see what happens next.
March 10, 2022
Another fun story
A little slower and fun vacation story. I am still enjoying the world building. The was less action but not every story can be a war epic. I enjoyed the new characters. I alread pre-ordered book 4.
A little slower and fun vacation story. I am still enjoying the world building. The was less action but not every story can be a war epic. I enjoyed the new characters. I alread pre-ordered book 4.
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December 23, 2024Juvenile writing, but interesting worldbuilding
Author needs an editor that knows synonyms for cute...
Protagonist is a bit deplorable and knows it.
Lore about Artificial Intelligence and humanity was definitely the peak of this book.
Author needs an editor that knows synonyms for cute...
Protagonist is a bit deplorable and knows it.
Lore about Artificial Intelligence and humanity was definitely the peak of this book.
September 7, 2025
These are the kind of books that are cheesy and predictable. It has a harem and you can’t really expect much from that you read these books so that you take a break from the books that you intend to read.
At least one good thing is that it’s better than reading the manga .
At least one good thing is that it’s better than reading the manga .
January 13, 2022
Phenomenal
Need more of this kinda story in my life. If you're this deep in the story you already know it's a amazing!
Need more of this kinda story in my life. If you're this deep in the story you already know it's a amazing!
April 10, 2023
Good story. luckily the MC not being dick head by adding every FL to his harem
October 20, 2023
Fantastic!
Fantastic book! I loved this book! Such amazing character development. I simply can not wait for the next book to come out!
Fantastic book! I loved this book! Such amazing character development. I simply can not wait for the next book to come out!
December 4, 2023
Another fun volume. The series remains entertaining IMO. This time the story doesn't resolve in one volume, but I am still not sure about the ultimate goal of series.
April 13, 2024
Yeah guilty pleasure and this one went to one all anime lovers are part of. The Maid infatuation. Just funny and I will keep reading because its irreverent.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews