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Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire #1
Imperial Deserter
Kill a man and you're a murderer. Kill a million and you're a statesman. Dirk should have killed more people.
Dirriken Friedel used his aristocratic connections to rescue his troops. He didn’t plan on starting a war or killing them himself. Now he spends his days in jail, waiting for an assassin sent by his dead officers' families to end his misery. When he’s broken out by off-duty marines he has a chance to start over, if he’s worthy. During his ramshackle escape he collects a broken-down trading ship, a bitter former army officer, a genetically altered religious fanatic, a runaway ingenue, a sham engineer, and a murderous femme fatal. Pursed by a fanatical imperial tribune bent on bloody justice, can he keep the crew from killing each other, the ship from exploding, and himself from the bottom of a bottle. Or would it be easier just to give up?
Dirriken Friedel used his aristocratic connections to rescue his troops. He didn’t plan on starting a war or killing them himself. Now he spends his days in jail, waiting for an assassin sent by his dead officers' families to end his misery. When he’s broken out by off-duty marines he has a chance to start over, if he’s worthy. During his ramshackle escape he collects a broken-down trading ship, a bitter former army officer, a genetically altered religious fanatic, a runaway ingenue, a sham engineer, and a murderous femme fatal. Pursed by a fanatical imperial tribune bent on bloody justice, can he keep the crew from killing each other, the ship from exploding, and himself from the bottom of a bottle. Or would it be easier just to give up?
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2022
1137 people are currently reading
1130 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Moriarty
56 books281 followersAndrew Moriarty has been reading science fiction his whole life, and he always wondered about the stories he read. How did they ever pay the mortgage for that space ship? Why doesn’t it ever need to be refueled? What would happen if it broke, but the parts were backordered for weeks? And why doesn’t anybody ever have to charge sales tax? Despairing on finding the answers to these questions, he decided to write a book about how space ships would function in the real world. Ships need fuel, fuel costs money, and the accountants run everything.
He was born in Canada, and has lived in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Germany, and Maastricht. Previously he worked as a telephone newspaper subscriptions salesman, a pizza delivery driver, wedding disc jockey, and technology trainer. Unfortunately, he also spent a great deal of time in the IT industry, designing networks and configuring routers and switches. Along the way, he picked up an ex-spy with a predilection for French Champagne, and a whippet with a murderous possessiveness for tennis balls. They live together in Brooklyn.
He was born in Canada, and has lived in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Germany, and Maastricht. Previously he worked as a telephone newspaper subscriptions salesman, a pizza delivery driver, wedding disc jockey, and technology trainer. Unfortunately, he also spent a great deal of time in the IT industry, designing networks and configuring routers and switches. Along the way, he picked up an ex-spy with a predilection for French Champagne, and a whippet with a murderous possessiveness for tennis balls. They live together in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 2, 2023
"“I swore an oath. I serve the Empire.”
“The Empire as it was, not as it is now.”"
Behind the fast repartee and the goofy backstories of the main characters, Moriarty has built a world of an empire in decline. Rebellions, pirates and corruption are all around and the rule of law is fraying. This hovers in the background of “Book 1” but I expect him to put more “flesh on the bone” in coming novels.
This is my binge read of the week and it did NOT disappoint. Silly in parts but with interesting action and plots aplenty.
This is the interim report that I feel compelled to file earlier:
I find Moriarty completely entertaining in this wild tale of space jinx. Here are some of the things that tickle me the right way:
Every character is a unique creation either vastly smarter, dumber, braver, more cowardly, more uptight or laid-back than this reader.
Their interactions and conversations are hilarious and the action is without any significant pause.
The plot begins with an assassination of Durriken “Dirk” Friedel who is in prison for a major-major screw-up. We don’t know whether it was his fault or just his responsibility. A hearty gang of marines break him out of prison and the chase is on. In the next few hours Desperate Dirk tries to get some help from old friends and acquaintances.
"“Sister!” The waiter turned toward the kitchen and raised his voice. “Come see who’s here.” He turned to Dirk. “I’ll bring you your order, sub-commander.” “I’m not a sub-commander anymore.” “I know.” Teddy’s smile widened. “We watched the court martial on the vids. I just like reminding you of it,” he said before walking to the kitchen."
"I’ll call my cousin. He can get you on a shuttle with some sort of identification. Get you to the outer rings. You can hop a long-haul freighter there.” “What if I can’t find a freighter?” “Then you can burn in Hades for all I care. We’re quits. I don’t owe you anything after this.” “Actually, you don’t owe me anything right now.” “If I don’t owe you anything, why did you come here?” “Because you are too kind for your own good. You should turn me in.” She looked at him for a moment. “You think I’d turn you in?” “No, I don’t. That’s why I’m here.”"
And we are off planet and Dirk finds himself part of a short-staffed crew on a freighter that might not make it to the next port of call.
"“When is the next real port?” Ana asked. “Parsifal. Four jumps.” “Right, ’til then, I’ll go about my business, do my share of the chores, help out with this stowaway, watch a board. I’ll be model crew. Truce. Agreed?” Dirk nodded. “I’ll treat you as I treat the rest of the crew.” “Please don’t,” Ana said. “We’re not friends. We’re just trying to keep the same ship in one piece ’til we get somewhere that we can both get off.”"
Below find some additional quotations.
"Dirk took another drink. “Thanks. What did you say to the crew?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“They don’t need to know. They think the sun shines out of your Imperial anus. It’s the accent, the smirk—all Imperial officers have it. They think that no matter how bad things get, you’ll fix it. They’re wrong.” Dirk made a ‘go on’ gesture with his hands. Ana shrugged. “If believing that makes them work harder, then I’m all for it. But they need to believe it. You can make them believe. Finish this.” Ana handed him the flask. “Go back there, Navy, and do the Navy thing.”"
"“Best we not let anybody get on board to make a serious inspection, then,” Gavin said. “Forged ship IDs.
Were you a pirate, Engineer?” Ana asked.
“Fake personal IDs. Did you do illegal mercenary recruiting, Centurion?” Gavin asked.
“Please, keep quiet, you two,” Lee said. “I don’t want to think what Paterfather Zeus would say about consorting with pirates and mercenaries.”
“How about Imperial deserters?” Gavin said. “Our pilot buddy there used to be in the navy, but I don’t think he was honorably discharged.”
“My discharge status—or lack thereof—is not up for discussion. I thought we agreed not to talk about these things.”
“God, save me, Paterfather Zeus,” Lee said.
“And aren’t you wanted for stealing all that medical equipment?” Gavin said.
“I didn’t steal it,” Lee said.
“Right, you just pretended to sell it, then didn’t. I think that’s called fraud.”"
October 9, 2022
Good start of series
Wonderful character development and world building. Intriguing group of misfits banding together to escape the empire’s notice. Looking forward to the second book to get more backstory on the characters and see how things progress now that some interesting backstory was given for the MC at the end of this book.
Wonderful character development and world building. Intriguing group of misfits banding together to escape the empire’s notice. Looking forward to the second book to get more backstory on the characters and see how things progress now that some interesting backstory was given for the MC at the end of this book.
January 11, 2023
Imperial Deserter made me laugh out loud.
Having committed crimes against the Galactic Empire, Dirk is in prison awaiting execution. Dirk, handsome, noble and slightly conceited, knows he won’t wait long, as there are powerful people who need to shut his mouth. After a madcap rescue he goes on the run. He is given the keys to a decrepit Space Trawler. At this point the reader has no clue as to what is going on. But l is a very engaging, if clearly emotionally scrambled, aristo.
In his desperate escape into space he inadvertently takes onboard a “crew”, none of whom want to be there. A real crew member, a Jovian woman is an exo-human, bio-engineered for Jupiter’s moons. She is the medic and thankfully, also a navigator. There’s an “Engineer”, who scrambles aboard, seconds before launch. There’s a “First Officer” who does the same. As they are clearly a dodgy bunch, L tells them he is the Pilot and therefore the boss.
None of this ill-matched group want to be on Spaceship Rustbucket. But equally, they are all desperate to escape to…well, anywhere really. The author, having shown us his mismatched misfits, starts to have fun. The “crew” hate each other at first sight, and accuse each other being phonies while jockeying for position and trying to keep their own dark secrets.
The dialogues, snide asides and outright insults are witty and never stop. This is very funny and a little cruel. Think Cluedo with Rodney Dangerfield comedy. In Space.
Their double-dealing and squabbling is just so much fun, interspersed with bits of the SS Rustbucket blowing a gasket, forcing them all to work together in order not to die. They do this in the most ham-fisted manner, worth a laugh in itself. Along the way they inadvertently revel tiny pieces of information about themselves. At this point the reader knows that it is all going to blow up big.
This novel had me from the start. There’s more than a hint of Terry Pratchett, a fantasy peopled by characters that you would not let leave the house on their own. Clueless and incompetent, Andrew Moriarty draws them in such a way as to make you take a sneaking liking to them all.
The Rustbucket has a lot of adventures and two more characters join. One is a clueless young stowaway who the “first officer” actually feels companionship for. The other is a sexy blonde woman who drops some of the most mordantly cruel bon-mots in the history of space flight.
At about the halfway point, a Space Fleet commander joins our story. Commander of the most powerful warship in this sector of space, his orders are to find and kill Dirk. He is a competent officer so why is he making such a hash of this mission? Hmmm. The commander is our window into the state of the Galactic Empire. The story gets more complex and more than a little murky. There’s some sharp and satirical dialogue here, as the Commander has a (real) First Officer, who’s ability to step over other people’s boundaries is spectacular.
This an adventure-comedy with characters that rise above stereotypes. An easy read and very enjoyable. Let me make a junk-food comparison. You feel hungry, order pizza, and when it arrives it’s the best you have had for years. That’s Imperial Deserter.
Having committed crimes against the Galactic Empire, Dirk is in prison awaiting execution. Dirk, handsome, noble and slightly conceited, knows he won’t wait long, as there are powerful people who need to shut his mouth. After a madcap rescue he goes on the run. He is given the keys to a decrepit Space Trawler. At this point the reader has no clue as to what is going on. But l is a very engaging, if clearly emotionally scrambled, aristo.
In his desperate escape into space he inadvertently takes onboard a “crew”, none of whom want to be there. A real crew member, a Jovian woman is an exo-human, bio-engineered for Jupiter’s moons. She is the medic and thankfully, also a navigator. There’s an “Engineer”, who scrambles aboard, seconds before launch. There’s a “First Officer” who does the same. As they are clearly a dodgy bunch, L tells them he is the Pilot and therefore the boss.
None of this ill-matched group want to be on Spaceship Rustbucket. But equally, they are all desperate to escape to…well, anywhere really. The author, having shown us his mismatched misfits, starts to have fun. The “crew” hate each other at first sight, and accuse each other being phonies while jockeying for position and trying to keep their own dark secrets.
The dialogues, snide asides and outright insults are witty and never stop. This is very funny and a little cruel. Think Cluedo with Rodney Dangerfield comedy. In Space.
Their double-dealing and squabbling is just so much fun, interspersed with bits of the SS Rustbucket blowing a gasket, forcing them all to work together in order not to die. They do this in the most ham-fisted manner, worth a laugh in itself. Along the way they inadvertently revel tiny pieces of information about themselves. At this point the reader knows that it is all going to blow up big.
This novel had me from the start. There’s more than a hint of Terry Pratchett, a fantasy peopled by characters that you would not let leave the house on their own. Clueless and incompetent, Andrew Moriarty draws them in such a way as to make you take a sneaking liking to them all.
The Rustbucket has a lot of adventures and two more characters join. One is a clueless young stowaway who the “first officer” actually feels companionship for. The other is a sexy blonde woman who drops some of the most mordantly cruel bon-mots in the history of space flight.
At about the halfway point, a Space Fleet commander joins our story. Commander of the most powerful warship in this sector of space, his orders are to find and kill Dirk. He is a competent officer so why is he making such a hash of this mission? Hmmm. The commander is our window into the state of the Galactic Empire. The story gets more complex and more than a little murky. There’s some sharp and satirical dialogue here, as the Commander has a (real) First Officer, who’s ability to step over other people’s boundaries is spectacular.
This an adventure-comedy with characters that rise above stereotypes. An easy read and very enjoyable. Let me make a junk-food comparison. You feel hungry, order pizza, and when it arrives it’s the best you have had for years. That’s Imperial Deserter.
October 14, 2025
3.5 stars
Very enjoyable nonsense
Very enjoyable nonsense
May 24, 2023
Surprisingly good! A bit rough around the edges to start with, but it got very interesting from the middle on. I like the "crew", and also the politics are interesting. You can definitely see where this is going (given the subtitle of the series), but it's a funny and enjoyable read.
May 27, 2024
Read books 1and 2
Imperial Deserter and
Imperial Smuggler.
Space Opera with Space Romans.
If you like lots of cheeky banter from a dysfunctional crew this books for you.
Enjoyed the books enough to try the next in the series.
Imperial Deserter and
Imperial Smuggler.
Space Opera with Space Romans.
If you like lots of cheeky banter from a dysfunctional crew this books for you.
Enjoyed the books enough to try the next in the series.
October 11, 2023
Rollicking space adventure in an old fashioned style, from the days when men were men and fixed fusion drives on a knockabout tramp freighter with nothing more than a hammer and their bare hands. (I could easily imagine Andre Norton's Krip Vorlund signing on with this lot, though Norton's language was a lot cleaner and her galaxy tinged with wonder and things beyond human ken. This galaxy is pretty grim.). Our crew of misfits is interesting and the author has resisted the temptation to make them like each other or form found family too quickly.
There is a strong Western vibe about this too, including a poker double cross, and a lot of military banter. Good crisp action sequences and character development through crisis. Interested to see where it goes.
Regarding relationships. The book fades to black in matters of sex, and while various characters' sexual ethics are, um, varied and non-monogamous, at least POV character Dirk's love life is played for black comedy. There are at most early signs of more substantial relationships among the crew.
There is a strong Western vibe about this too, including a poker double cross, and a lot of military banter. Good crisp action sequences and character development through crisis. Interested to see where it goes.
Regarding relationships. The book fades to black in matters of sex, and while various characters' sexual ethics are, um, varied and non-monogamous, at least POV character Dirk's love life is played for black comedy. There are at most early signs of more substantial relationships among the crew.
March 27, 2024
Clever, Witty
Sharp wit, a solid underpinning of actual competence and knowledge, and a heap of cleverness. Like “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” but much less bumbling and goofy; a lot more decisive and edgy. Don’t like killing and cruelty, but I was able to quickly skim those parts and dwell on the surprising plot solutions, character banter, planet building and unexpected reveals.
Sharp wit, a solid underpinning of actual competence and knowledge, and a heap of cleverness. Like “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” but much less bumbling and goofy; a lot more decisive and edgy. Don’t like killing and cruelty, but I was able to quickly skim those parts and dwell on the surprising plot solutions, character banter, planet building and unexpected reveals.
March 19, 2024
Slow start
This was very enjoyable, but I nearly gave up reading it early on. I liked the offbeat humour, and each of the characters had interesting back-stories that had appeared by the end. Going to read book two now.
This was very enjoyable, but I nearly gave up reading it early on. I liked the offbeat humour, and each of the characters had interesting back-stories that had appeared by the end. Going to read book two now.
June 9, 2022
Great start to a new series
Happy to see a new book out of Moriarty. I really loved the Trans-Galactic Insurance series. This is in the same vein of clever writing. I even suspect this is in the same universe, although I didn’t see anything explicitly said. the similar food trays make it likely that it is the same universe but distant in either time or location.
My favorite thing about his books as how real his characters feel. They have real flaws that shape how they handle situations, and Moriarty is very good at making scenes feel like they are naturally developing, not just on rails to the predetermined outcome.
This story has a lot more moving parts than it’s predecessors, and I will admit I got a little lost with the character jumping in the beginning. But the characters are all interesting enough that it isn’t hard to keep track for long.
Altogether, Solid space opera from an author who is much better than most at making stories interesting. Likable antihero characters. A few out loud chuckles.
Happy to see a new book out of Moriarty. I really loved the Trans-Galactic Insurance series. This is in the same vein of clever writing. I even suspect this is in the same universe, although I didn’t see anything explicitly said. the similar food trays make it likely that it is the same universe but distant in either time or location.
My favorite thing about his books as how real his characters feel. They have real flaws that shape how they handle situations, and Moriarty is very good at making scenes feel like they are naturally developing, not just on rails to the predetermined outcome.
This story has a lot more moving parts than it’s predecessors, and I will admit I got a little lost with the character jumping in the beginning. But the characters are all interesting enough that it isn’t hard to keep track for long.
Altogether, Solid space opera from an author who is much better than most at making stories interesting. Likable antihero characters. A few out loud chuckles.
July 9, 2023
A little tardy with my review, sorry folks. Lol, have to say this is a fun and lively series. To tell the truth it’s hard to which series is my favorite right now, Jump Space Accountant or Decline and Fall of a Galactic Empire. Mr. Moriarty has an excellent grasp of merging a good plot with fun character and telling their story in a fun way! If only more authors could do that….
As for Imperial Deserter this is a great introduction to a series. The characters are lively, open, and blend very nicely. All of them are very human (meaning character flaws and with their unique personalities) and interact with each other was people do, or at least people who are learning about each other, are stressed, and not fully trusting of each other. While reading Imperial Deserter I’m reminded of Firefly and while there’s similarities, there’s differences with character interaction and how they solve things. The big win here is that it’s a fun story and made me look forward to next in the series.
As for Imperial Deserter this is a great introduction to a series. The characters are lively, open, and blend very nicely. All of them are very human (meaning character flaws and with their unique personalities) and interact with each other was people do, or at least people who are learning about each other, are stressed, and not fully trusting of each other. While reading Imperial Deserter I’m reminded of Firefly and while there’s similarities, there’s differences with character interaction and how they solve things. The big win here is that it’s a fun story and made me look forward to next in the series.
June 12, 2022
Better than expected.
What can I say? I enjoyed the characters, the slowly unfolding world, the dialog, the action. I even enjoyed the bad guy. It isn't often that you can create a bad guy you can empathize with.
Of course, it's not so simple as all that. This book starts out as a standard space opera, but it doesn't stay that way. This story has complex characters and a complex world. As the characters learn more about each other, the relationships develop and not always in expected ways.
This story is about an imperial deserter...mbut it's not his story. It's about those around him. I look forward to the next book. I want to know where this is headed. I read this book on Kindle Unlimited, but I'm buying it. I want this one for my re-read pile.
What can I say? I enjoyed the characters, the slowly unfolding world, the dialog, the action. I even enjoyed the bad guy. It isn't often that you can create a bad guy you can empathize with.
Of course, it's not so simple as all that. This book starts out as a standard space opera, but it doesn't stay that way. This story has complex characters and a complex world. As the characters learn more about each other, the relationships develop and not always in expected ways.
This story is about an imperial deserter...mbut it's not his story. It's about those around him. I look forward to the next book. I want to know where this is headed. I read this book on Kindle Unlimited, but I'm buying it. I want this one for my re-read pile.
August 28, 2023
We are back in the universe of the Jump Space Accountant, but a bit earlier in the time line. The Empire has not fallen yet so there. We meet a lovely set of rogues and scoundrels that would make Harcourt Fenton Mudd proud. They are all running from something. It just isn’t clear what each is running from. There is also the chase team, they really don’t wish to catch the fugitives. There is a deeper game afoot. And what was that crack about mathematics being for the lower orders?
June 2, 2022
Great sci fi adventure
But something weird is going on, since Dirk hates himself, and a lot of people have a very high opinion of him. And I really like Dirk and his crew. Bad things happen. Devin and his crew are awesome. The worldbuilding is somewhat grim, and we get hints of the cause. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
But something weird is going on, since Dirk hates himself, and a lot of people have a very high opinion of him. And I really like Dirk and his crew. Bad things happen. Devin and his crew are awesome. The worldbuilding is somewhat grim, and we get hints of the cause. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
March 3, 2024
[minor spoilers]
I've listened to the first two books in this series, and have thoroughly enjoyed them. This one got off to a great start with the sort of humour we all loved in Iain M Bank's Culture books, and while I am not going to say these are as good as the Culture books, they as close as other SiFi books I have read. As well as the dry humour, the characters are all interesting, with back stories that develop nicely, and I couldn't help liking them all despite some of them getting off to a bad start. I thought some of it was predictable. For instance I had a feeling that their un-armed freighter would become all powerful after they happened across a hidden cache of advanced alien weapons. That did not exactly happen, but they did discover treasure (in book #2). Book two has a great ending that I didn't quite see coming. The Empire ship, hunting the main characters, makes a decision the act strangely near the end of the book, which turns out to be a cunning plan by its captain. I am looking forward to books #3 and #4, and I am also going to check out more of Andrew's work.
I've listened to the first two books in this series, and have thoroughly enjoyed them. This one got off to a great start with the sort of humour we all loved in Iain M Bank's Culture books, and while I am not going to say these are as good as the Culture books, they as close as other SiFi books I have read. As well as the dry humour, the characters are all interesting, with back stories that develop nicely, and I couldn't help liking them all despite some of them getting off to a bad start. I thought some of it was predictable. For instance I had a feeling that their un-armed freighter would become all powerful after they happened across a hidden cache of advanced alien weapons. That did not exactly happen, but they did discover treasure (in book #2). Book two has a great ending that I didn't quite see coming. The Empire ship, hunting the main characters, makes a decision the act strangely near the end of the book, which turns out to be a cunning plan by its captain. I am looking forward to books #3 and #4, and I am also going to check out more of Andrew's work.
November 14, 2025
Dirriken Friedel used his aristocratic connections to rescue his troops. He didn’t plan on starting a war or killing them himself. Now he spends his days in jail, waiting for an assassin sent by his dead officers' families to end his misery. When he’s broken out by off-duty marines he has a chance to start over. He collects a broken-down trading ship, a bitter former army officer, a genetically altered rJovian, a runaway ingenue, a sham engineer, and a murderous femme fatal. Pursed by a fanatical imperial tribune bent on bloody justice, would it be easier just to give up?
September 8, 2023
Excellent
How often do you come across a sci-fi book that has good humor? Rather than scene after scene of people dying... Gets pretty boring, right? This one kept me chuckling, nice relief... Gotta buy the next in the series to see how this group of miscreants finally are able to live happily ever after.
How often do you come across a sci-fi book that has good humor? Rather than scene after scene of people dying... Gets pretty boring, right? This one kept me chuckling, nice relief... Gotta buy the next in the series to see how this group of miscreants finally are able to live happily ever after.
January 30, 2025
This wasn't so much a sci-fi as it was an ensemble comedy. A bunch of losers with questionable backstories steal a junker spaceship and are stuck together until they can figure out where it's safe to go. The characters are interesting—that's the whole point—and some of their banter was pretty funny. But this is not a military sci-fi with futuristic equipment fighting battles in space, which you might surmise from the cover art.
Christopher Grove narrates the audiobook very well, although it's sometimes tough to know who is speaking. Content includes small bits of violence, no sex, but some inventive foul language.
Christopher Grove narrates the audiobook very well, although it's sometimes tough to know who is speaking. Content includes small bits of violence, no sex, but some inventive foul language.
June 11, 2023
One of the best space operas I have read in many a year
Innovative, excellent character development, plenty of action you don’t expect, just an overall good read. I’m going on to the next book in the series and I know I won’t be disappointed. 💯👍
Innovative, excellent character development, plenty of action you don’t expect, just an overall good read. I’m going on to the next book in the series and I know I won’t be disappointed. 💯👍
August 24, 2023
Great combat. Dice free.
Too many combat genre authors go into horrendous, slow detail. You can see them sitting with a bunch of other nerds, sitting around a table, throwing 12 sided dice and nothing every blow. Moriarty doesn't. His combat is believable. Read my review of Book 3 for an overview of the series so far.
Too many combat genre authors go into horrendous, slow detail. You can see them sitting with a bunch of other nerds, sitting around a table, throwing 12 sided dice and nothing every blow. Moriarty doesn't. His combat is believable. Read my review of Book 3 for an overview of the series so far.
September 28, 2024
Has good adventure and W.B. Characters are interesting and MC is a proper one. Banter and humor is OK; it's dropped where needed. Sequel should be interesting.
November 25, 2023
Ridiculously fun space adventure!
March 15, 2024
Everyday Murphy's Laws of Space
If Murphy crewed your starship would you choose to escape from Imperial Prison? When everything that can go wrong will what choices do you make?
Dirk doesn't know what he'll do, but follow along as acts of honor measure his every indiscretion.
If Murphy crewed your starship would you choose to escape from Imperial Prison? When everything that can go wrong will what choices do you make?
Dirk doesn't know what he'll do, but follow along as acts of honor measure his every indiscretion.
June 29, 2023
Wonderful
What a great start to a series I will be following. The cast of characters are very well written and extremely entertaining. I don't write many reviews, but this book really deserves the effort.
What a great start to a series I will be following. The cast of characters are very well written and extremely entertaining. I don't write many reviews, but this book really deserves the effort.
December 2, 2023
This wasn't the greatest story or the best character development I've read, but it was still entertaining, and left me wanting to know what comes next. There was a reasonable amount of action, and while the universe didn't come across as realistic (given the book's assumptions about the future), it did seem to be in line with human nature. I liked it more than I can justify. The premise is a group of 6 people thrown together on a not-so-great spaceship, on the run from the imperial government for all sorts of different reasons.
December 14, 2023
Great Book
Enjoyed the story which kept you wondering what are they going to get into next. There was plenty of action but not too much action. The story also showed what was required to live on a ship. I would recommend this book to every Sci fy fan out there.
Enjoyed the story which kept you wondering what are they going to get into next. There was plenty of action but not too much action. The story also showed what was required to live on a ship. I would recommend this book to every Sci fy fan out there.
March 19, 2024
Funny and fast paced,
It's funny from the start, sarcasm and irony dripping from every sentence and it keeps going for.pretty much the whole book
The team/crew are an eclectic mix of miscreants that individually would not last 5mins, together they are an extremely effective crew
The imperial frigate chasing them is led by a captain that one minute you think a tyrant the next the most reasonable person out there
It's a highly entertaining and enjoy read.
It's funny from the start, sarcasm and irony dripping from every sentence and it keeps going for.pretty much the whole book
The team/crew are an eclectic mix of miscreants that individually would not last 5mins, together they are an extremely effective crew
The imperial frigate chasing them is led by a captain that one minute you think a tyrant the next the most reasonable person out there
It's a highly entertaining and enjoy read.
December 13, 2023
Great story and dialogue
Loved the banter, character development and - yes, it's sci-fi - believability. I hope the same can be said for the next book!
Loved the banter, character development and - yes, it's sci-fi - believability. I hope the same can be said for the next book!
April 12, 2024
You had me at "found families". Although, I must say, Imperial Deserter was a rough read for me at first. I had been so excited to find this book that I had already purchased several of the sequels. So, I gritted my teeth and kept reading when the book wasn’t what I had expected.
I'm happy to say that maybe somewhere near halfway into this first book it started clicking for me and I have definitely enjoyed this series ever since.
OK. It's not the greatest prose ever written but author Andrew Moriarty knows how to end every chapter with a cliffhanger! Shades of serials like Buck Rogers! This is definitely a fast AND entertaining read!
My worst problem is that I was handicapped by the notion that this was Firefly reborn, and I kept trying to map the various characters to the beloved Firefly cast. Nope. Big mistake. This cast of characters stands on its own and rightfully so.
Each character enters the ship for his/her own reasons. The group quickly agrees to overlook the past. Whatever happened before joining the crew of the Heart's Desire is no one else's business. At the same time, each character has a rich backstory to mine. No sense revealing all in book one!
Highly recommended for space opera fans, fans of found families, military science fiction fans, and series fans!
I'm happy to say that maybe somewhere near halfway into this first book it started clicking for me and I have definitely enjoyed this series ever since.
OK. It's not the greatest prose ever written but author Andrew Moriarty knows how to end every chapter with a cliffhanger! Shades of serials like Buck Rogers! This is definitely a fast AND entertaining read!
My worst problem is that I was handicapped by the notion that this was Firefly reborn, and I kept trying to map the various characters to the beloved Firefly cast. Nope. Big mistake. This cast of characters stands on its own and rightfully so.
Each character enters the ship for his/her own reasons. The group quickly agrees to overlook the past. Whatever happened before joining the crew of the Heart's Desire is no one else's business. At the same time, each character has a rich backstory to mine. No sense revealing all in book one!
Highly recommended for space opera fans, fans of found families, military science fiction fans, and series fans!
April 29, 2024
great, fun read!
I really enjoyed the book. Space opera vibe with a cynical twist. Good overall pacing. Slow developing characters with a mix of the expected and novel. On to the next!
I really enjoyed the book. Space opera vibe with a cynical twist. Good overall pacing. Slow developing characters with a mix of the expected and novel. On to the next!
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