What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Hounds #3
The Macrocosmic Conflict
Laura Shemzak and her crew of interstellar outlaws continue their solo crusade for justice against both sides of an intergalactic war
- GenresScience Fiction
202 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1986
56 people want to read
About the author
David Bischoff
163 books104 followersaka Mark Grant (with Bruce King), Brad Quentin (with Terry Bisson)
Born in Washington D.C. and now living in Eugene, Oregon, David Bischoff writes science fiction books, short stories, and scripts for television. Though he has been writing since the early 1970s, and has had over 80 books published, David is best known for novelizations of popular movies and TV series including the Aliens, Gremlins, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and WarGames.
Born in Washington D.C. and now living in Eugene, Oregon, David Bischoff writes science fiction books, short stories, and scripts for television. Though he has been writing since the early 1970s, and has had over 80 books published, David is best known for novelizations of popular movies and TV series including the Aliens, Gremlins, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and WarGames.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 21, 2012
note: David Bischoff and Ace Books apparently decided that this average length novel should be published in 3 short segments. Ok... using the same logic, I've split my review into 3 short chunks. There's no reason to do this, and it'll make it harder to read, and I'll have to warn you not to read a later part of the review without starting at the beginning first, but that's just like these novels, so it seems fitting.
continued from my review of Galactic Warriors...
Plotwise things are fairly fast-moving, and the author certainly uses Book 2 to tangle all the various threads. Everything is in play, and nothing gets resolved at the end of Book 1 or 2. You have to wait until Book 3 to see how it all works out - oops! Apparently hoping there'd be demand for Starhounds, not everything gets resolved at the end of Book 3. There's a lot left hanging as none-too-subtle opportunities for future series additions (which by now obviously are never happening).
Some things I learned after reading Starhounds:
- you must read these 3 books as a single volume - they don't stand alone at all
- you'll enjoy this more if you can keep your mind free from various 80's tv sci-fi programs
- the books are just "okay", but there's a whole lot of other books out there that are far better reads
2.5 stars at most.
continued from my review of Galactic Warriors...
Plotwise things are fairly fast-moving, and the author certainly uses Book 2 to tangle all the various threads. Everything is in play, and nothing gets resolved at the end of Book 1 or 2. You have to wait until Book 3 to see how it all works out - oops! Apparently hoping there'd be demand for Starhounds, not everything gets resolved at the end of Book 3. There's a lot left hanging as none-too-subtle opportunities for future series additions (which by now obviously are never happening).
Some things I learned after reading Starhounds:
- you must read these 3 books as a single volume - they don't stand alone at all
- you'll enjoy this more if you can keep your mind free from various 80's tv sci-fi programs
- the books are just "okay", but there's a whole lot of other books out there that are far better reads
2.5 stars at most.
April 3, 2016
Review copy kindly provided by GR friend Saul Garnell.
In this third installment of the Star Hounds series (no longer a trilogy), things get very serious for the lovely, maverick pilot Laura Shemzac, whose search for her alien-abductee brother continues. As we follow her on her quest, we discover the answers to a lot of questions.
For example, we find out more about the inscrutable Jaxdron who are holding Cal prisoner for devious purposes of their own. We learn more about Shon'till the alien and the members of his vanished race. The depths of Zarpfrin's madness are revealed. And most importantly, we find out what is on the other end of the vortex!
Even though the author maintains a continuity with the zaniness that has gone before, things get even more serious here than in the previous volume. It's a bit like fans of Buffy making the transition from Kristy Swanson to Sarah Michelle Gellar. And the ending, like that of any good sequel, leaves room for yet another sequel.
As with the previous books there are echoes of Dune, Star Wars, and possibly other sci-fi classics.
But here I have to make a confession. As I was reading this third volume, I was continually reminded of... Futurama, of all things! Of course these comparisons have their limits, but they could give you some idea of what the characters are like. With apologies to Mr. Bischoff, let me explain.
Cal is much smarter than Fry and he is not really a throwback to the distant past, but he does come up with a lot of references to 20th century pop culture. Laura has the regular number of eyes for a human, but, like Leela, she is vulnerable yet savvy and rather kick-ass, if you'll pardon the expression. Mish is a little like Professor Farnsworth. Shon'till, who is (almost) companionable one minute and dangerous the next, might be compared to Dr. Zoidberg. Captain Tars Northern has some traits in common with that irrepressible lothario, Zapp Brannigan. We've already seen a race of funny, weird, unsettling aliens, similar to the ones which haunt many of the planets visited by Fry et al. And Zarpfrin... well, Mom comes to mind. (Shiver.)
In this third installment of the Star Hounds series (no longer a trilogy), things get very serious for the lovely, maverick pilot Laura Shemzac, whose search for her alien-abductee brother continues. As we follow her on her quest, we discover the answers to a lot of questions.
For example, we find out more about the inscrutable Jaxdron who are holding Cal prisoner for devious purposes of their own. We learn more about Shon'till the alien and the members of his vanished race. The depths of Zarpfrin's madness are revealed. And most importantly, we find out what is on the other end of the vortex!
Even though the author maintains a continuity with the zaniness that has gone before, things get even more serious here than in the previous volume. It's a bit like fans of Buffy making the transition from Kristy Swanson to Sarah Michelle Gellar. And the ending, like that of any good sequel, leaves room for yet another sequel.
As with the previous books there are echoes of Dune, Star Wars, and possibly other sci-fi classics.
But here I have to make a confession. As I was reading this third volume, I was continually reminded of... Futurama, of all things! Of course these comparisons have their limits, but they could give you some idea of what the characters are like. With apologies to Mr. Bischoff, let me explain.
Cal is much smarter than Fry and he is not really a throwback to the distant past, but he does come up with a lot of references to 20th century pop culture. Laura has the regular number of eyes for a human, but, like Leela, she is vulnerable yet savvy and rather kick-ass, if you'll pardon the expression. Mish is a little like Professor Farnsworth. Shon'till, who is (almost) companionable one minute and dangerous the next, might be compared to Dr. Zoidberg. Captain Tars Northern has some traits in common with that irrepressible lothario, Zapp Brannigan. We've already seen a race of funny, weird, unsettling aliens, similar to the ones which haunt many of the planets visited by Fry et al. And Zarpfrin... well, Mom comes to mind. (Shiver.)
December 28, 2015
This pretty much winds up the story arc of this space opera, but there is still plenty left for the heroes to do. Another fun romp. On to the next & - currently - last of the series, The Planet Killer.
Read
October 23, 2025Mass market paperback
May 6, 2012
I'm in a special position to write a review because it was my privilege to work with David Bischoff and help him republish this as an eBook with Hotspur Publishing.
Book #3 in the series, THE MACROCOSMIC CONFLICT is a lot of fun. It's classic space opera, with a kick-ass heroin named Laura Shemzak. She's not only a cyborg, with incredible strength and agility, but she's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. There is a love interest between her and her brother, Cal Shemzak, but don't get too grossed out by that. Cal and Laura are siblings because they were born from the same Federation cloning vats. Or were they? As the adventure unfolds, you'll need to decide what's true and what's not.
Then there's captain Tars Northern, a strapping Space Pirate who is smitten by Laura's beauty and courage. But his first allegiance is to his starship (The Starbow) and his loyal crew. Will love prevail as Tars and Laura fight treacherous forces lurking in both the Galactic Federation and the enemy Jaxdron empire? You'll have to read all the book's in the series to find out.
I found it an absolute blast to not only read this book and the others in the series, but to work with David and re-edit the book for today's readers. We made sure all the technologically dependent scenes have been updated, so that after almost three decades out of print, you'll find the ebook version as fresh and fun as ever. It's also fun to read the old paper versions too, just gloss over the parts that don't take your iPad/iTouch/Android wireless world into account :)
Book #3 in the series, THE MACROCOSMIC CONFLICT is a lot of fun. It's classic space opera, with a kick-ass heroin named Laura Shemzak. She's not only a cyborg, with incredible strength and agility, but she's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. There is a love interest between her and her brother, Cal Shemzak, but don't get too grossed out by that. Cal and Laura are siblings because they were born from the same Federation cloning vats. Or were they? As the adventure unfolds, you'll need to decide what's true and what's not.
Then there's captain Tars Northern, a strapping Space Pirate who is smitten by Laura's beauty and courage. But his first allegiance is to his starship (The Starbow) and his loyal crew. Will love prevail as Tars and Laura fight treacherous forces lurking in both the Galactic Federation and the enemy Jaxdron empire? You'll have to read all the book's in the series to find out.
I found it an absolute blast to not only read this book and the others in the series, but to work with David and re-edit the book for today's readers. We made sure all the technologically dependent scenes have been updated, so that after almost three decades out of print, you'll find the ebook version as fresh and fun as ever. It's also fun to read the old paper versions too, just gloss over the parts that don't take your iPad/iTouch/Android wireless world into account :)
January 12, 2013
1987 Grade B+. Book Sh3. (Star Hounds 3)
2013 Grade B+
This book completes the initial Star Hounds trilogy. There is enough review in the beginning so I was not lost even after a month wait. Yet the review is not dull.
I still had a little trouble liking and caring about the characters and still had no problem putting the book down for a day or two. Yet, it is more interesting and entertaining than books one and two and I enjoyed it.
2013 Grade B+
This book completes the initial Star Hounds trilogy. There is enough review in the beginning so I was not lost even after a month wait. Yet the review is not dull.
I still had a little trouble liking and caring about the characters and still had no problem putting the book down for a day or two. Yet, it is more interesting and entertaining than books one and two and I enjoyed it.
September 2, 2013
It's a fun little space opera ride. It's more Lucas than Heinlein. Definitely entertaining. Now to save the universe from the evil empire
October 10, 2014
Like the other books in the series, this has some great plot angles, but the simplistic emotional responses of the characters really hurt the story.
October 23, 2014
An action packed space opera with a motley crew and lots of alien. The story kept me awake all night but after reading the 3rd part I wished the books
had less action and more human interaction.
had less action and more human interaction.
March 25, 2016
I haven't read the others because I randomly came across this book. That didn't stop me from understanding anything though. The characters are great and the adventure was awesome. Great read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews