Pirate Bounty

Space Hunter War #1

by Rick Partlow, Pacey Holden

Sometimes, it takes killing to make a living.

That fiancée? She’s married—to another guy.

The family business? His parents sold it.

Jack Bennet returns from the war to find the life he left behind has moved on without him. The only option he has to make endsmeet lies in a military surplus junkyard starship. What’s a former Combat Search and Rescue soldier to do?

Fix up the ship, hire the cheapest pilot—a notorious drunk—and take the first contract that comes up: collect a bounty on one of the most ruthless killers in the Pirate Worlds, a place crawling with thieves, cutthroats and con artists whose primary language is violence. Jack must abandon his nice guy persona, or exploit it, if he is to survive.

What could possibly go wrong?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2022

About the author

Rick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.

He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack & Birdy go fishing

This book starts out slow, but it picks up momentum. There's guns and alcohol, but it's not hardcore at all; I prefer stuff with more bite to it. If you're looking for a light read ebook, I would recommend this.

[Lyndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first of a series, and chock-full of action. The end of the Tahni war (Partlow's Drop Trooper universe) sees the MC adrift with no idea as to his future. He stumbles into bounty hunting, then stumbles into trouble. And more trouble.

The novel arc definitely takes its structure from Lester Dent's pulp fiction model...

"Part one, hit your hero with a heap of trouble. Part two, double it. Part three, put him in so much trouble there's no way he could ever possibly get out of it..."

Makes for some great excitement but I also found myself skimming at times to get to the resolution of the fighting scene. First person narrator was okay, but too many vulgarities for my taste. In fact, I'd say it took away from the story. Still, 3.5 stars for some entertaining mil-sf / space opera adventuring.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly random find. I was growing slightly desperate and was on my fourth book of the week (having dumped the other 3) but when I came across this book, I gave the sampler a quick peek, saw some badass scene in the first chapter (prologue) and thought, “This is the one!” I had really enjoyed the writing, my deciding point in getting the book, and probably one of my favorite aspects about the book. The battle scenes were quick, chaotic, and felt like a warfield, and the emotions around it felt real enough to make me picture and visualize the scene perfectly. There was just enough description to make the average scene not too overwhelming, but the real fun kicks in on the battle and fight scenes. It’s an adrenaline rush of movement and everything’s so quick. Blink and you’ll get popped in the face. Lose your attention and you might get shot. I really enjoyed those scenes and that final fight scene had a lot things happening. It was a race against time trying to save someone while trying to make your way through the chase and fight and stay alive. It gets really intense! I do love me intense some intense scenes!

Another thing I really loved about the book were the main character John (Jack) Bennet and his pilot, Robin (Birdy) Hartley. When I saw the book revolved around a ship, I was kind of expecting a whole crew of people (or at least one or two more others). I’m a sucker for a ragtag crew, kicking ass, while throwing quips and banter around so I was just a biiit disappointed in seeing that it was just Jack and Birdy (mostly Jack because as Birdy doesn’t fight and mostly stays up in the skies or trying to sneak off with Jack’s money into a bar or casino). I like that Jack, despite all of his military background, because he’s on his own now, and he’s just one guy against a gaggle of enemies, it’s natural in that he’s constantly getting away by the skin of his teeth, doesn’t get everyone out together, or just gets overpowered. I like that realism. I just got off a round in Fire Emblem where my archer walked away scrap free after 7-8 enemies surrounded him because he’s too overleveled…

I really enjoyed Birdy’s character too. This guy is a drunkard who lives for his next moments with the bottle and lands himself a job in which one of the job duties is to be sober (and remain sober) but he ends up getting himself into a tussle [almost] straight into his role, drunk out his mind and giggling like a madman. By the end though, he was pretty reliable. He really could’ve left Jack to die, but kept his word and stuck around. He’s a mess of a person, but a decent enough human when not blasting his remaining brain cells with happy juice. Even when he was drunk, he wasn’t such a bad person either, just annoying and stubborn.

I will say though, Jack’s abysmal luck is laughable. This luck makes up most of the plot because of the situations he lands himself in. This guy had a future plan only to come home to betrayal after betrayal (heartbreaking really; wtf parents does something like that? And his fiancée too??), get a scrap of metal of a starship as his only piece of his share in the family company being sold, gets a drunkard as his only pilot (budget was tight okay?), still aims for a relatively peaceful and civilian life with a shipping business of his own, gets his business Amazon/Walmart’d before it even takes off, gets tied up with royally pissing off a mobster for his first delivery, lands himself in prison, has to take another job and ends up as a bounty hunter (there goes his hopes and dreams of living a fight-less life), and finally gets roped into some major cult thing trying to get someone out of said scary major cult.

The world building was interesting, though we only got to experience a couple of worlds, we come across aliens, other humans, mobsters, and cults with the creepiest “everybody looks alike” vibe. Classic shiver-down-your-spine kind of cult. The weapons and ships were neat, though most of the concepts did occasionally fly over my head as general background information.

All in all, a pretty good read. It was the only one of four that I was able to stick with, so if nothing else in my review says much, this one small note might. I enjoyed the reading, while I can’t say I enjoyed Jack’s awful luck at life, it did catapult the plot at a lightning speed because nothing says fast-paced until life throws whole trees at you when you’re still trying to recover from a single lemon…The characters were enjoyable, Jack felt real enough. I definitely enjoyed the writing and some of the dialogue. I enjoyed some of the other characters as well, such as Jack’s love interest Val and a villain named Artemis (an enemy of an enemy is a sorta kinda, more like a bio-prisoner, of a friend of mine) who was a riot to read. If you enjoy sci-fi, spaceships, planet hopping, cult and mobster rage/vengence dodging, bits of romance, drunk but tries to stay sober pilots, and unlucky main characters, pick yourself up a copy of Pirate Bounty. You never know. You might enjoy it as much as I did.

You can find this review and others on my blog, Cozy with Books

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start of a six-book series that I’ve now completed. I’m breaking down the reviews to two books for each review so as not to make one review extremely long.

We have a main character name John “Jack” Bennet. He starts off with his carrer as a Lieutenant Commander with the 104th Search and Rescue Squad, Commonwealth Space Fleet. His job is to go into where there’s been heaving fighting and rescue the surviving Marines and evacuate the wounded and KIA, no Marine left behind. This was a part of the Human-Tahni war that is prevalent throughout Rick Partlow’s books. This is also the end of this particular war. Jack has been doing his S&R job for six years now and while he’s good at it, he’s tired of war and everything that comes with it. So he’s going back home.

Jack’s home planet is Eden. It’s a beautiful planet which Jack sees as his home of the future with his fiancée, Anna. He’s also looking forward to using his using his share of the family’s shipping business to set himself up for a life without the military. But, six years is a long time to be away and people don’t just stand still while you’re gone.

As you can guess by my last sentence, things might not work out as well as Jack was expecting them nor did even had a glimpse of what he was going home to. Communications between his fiancée and himself had practically stopped during the war since he was often in places that he couldn’t routinely receive messages. The same when for his family or rather his parents. Jack was the youngest of several brothers and sister, but none were close and none considered the military a real occupation. They really had no clue as to what he did and didn’t really want to know anyway.

I’ll just say right now that Jack is going to be very, very disappointed in his home coming. He’s not going to be marrying his supposed fiancée, Anna. She’s definitely moved on, quite aways on. The same goes for his parents. Oh, they sold the shipping buiness, but Jack figured that he would get his share of the proceeds to get him a new start in his new life. He’s going to be very much disappointed in the outcome of this part of his life.

So, that brings us to the point of Jack trying to find some other way to make a living. From his parents, he did get a dilapidated old shipping freighter starship. He wasn’t even sure if it could fly. I had previously been a military transport of some kind but hadn’t received much maintenance in a long while. While he had the ship, he didn’t have a pilot and Jack couldn’t fly anything.

That took him to one of the local watering holes where he inquired about anyone who had flying skills that wouldn’t be too keen on being paid a lot. That’s where Robin Hartley or “Birdy” comes into the picture. Birdy can fly anything and can fix anything he flies when he’s not drunk! After Birdy gets to working on the new ship chirstened of all names the “Anna”, they take a test flight and find out that it does indeed fly.

Now Jack just needs to find them a job shipping something or whatever. He eventually turns to an old military buddy named Emil Ferreia, a.k.a. “The Scrounger”. This guy tells Jack that the he knows of a guy who needs something shipped to a destination that Jack isn’t going to like. Still, the money would be good and may get Jack additional jobs. Unfortunately, this guy is part of one of the Pirate cartels and his cargo is weapons supposedly for another cartel out in the Pirate Worlds.

Jack is desparate so he takes the job. The finds thsi guy Gordon Fallow who immediately doube-crosses Jack and threatens to take his ship. Jack and Birdy manage to outsmart this guy and place him in a holding cell aboard the “Anna”. They then transport him to Patrol Admin HQ and collect their bounty.

Jack then identifies another bounty named Tilly Harrel, but once again, this guy is located on one of the Pirate Worlds. It happens to be the same plaent and cartel that the weapon shippment was to go to. Jack thinks he can explain to the cartel what happened if he’s caught by them, but he doesn’t plan to be. He’s going to go in quietly, get his man and then get out.

Of course it doesn’t work that way. Jack runs into all sorts of problems, but he also runs into Valerie Bolesky. She’s infiltrated a Church of the Ancients, a cult group that seems to be dealing in weapons. Jack blows her cover not knowing she’s working for Fleet Intel. They both wind up captured by the Bashmaky Cartel, but Jack comes up with a plan to secure their freedom and then get the Cartel to take down the Church of the Ancients. It’s quite a plan and doesn’t always work out as he planned

This is not a typical military-type science fiction book. Jack isn’t in the military as he often states, but Val is and she thinks Jack can work for her just because she asks him to. Their relationship will develop more in book 2, “Corporate Bounty”, available on Amazon.

[Doug Sundseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the aftermath of the Tawny war, Jack Bennet, a CSAR specialist, returns to his family and home planet, only to find that his fiance has married another man (it's unclear whether his name is Jody) and his family has sold the business he had an financial interest in, and spent his share of the money.

The protagonist seems to be largely an author/reader stand-in, without much more detail than i shown above. He does develop a bit of a life by the end of the book, and we see more of his personality reflected by his actions. I don't completely believe his reactions to either his situation at the start of the book or to the challenges he is presented with during the story. But they're entertainingly written, and the plot flows fairly well.

Jack's pilot/engineer is better developed, with an interesting and frustrating personality, that largely makes sense with his background. Though some of his mid-story reactions don't flow well with the plot and sitation at that time.

The love interest is sketched in, though I expect more development in future volumes.

The antagonists, multiple flavors, are different enough to be interesting, and have their own goals that are slowly revealed throughout.

The worlds shown are mostly "generic city" with "generic bar" set dressing, which seems a bit of a waste of opportunity. And the political situation is left to be described in other series in the same universe.

The plot flows well enough, though there are some issues with verisimilitude for me throughout. I don't believe some of the details of the battles, and there is too much monologuing on all sides in the action scenes.

Overall, not a bad MilSF-adjacent book. I'll be continuing the series, but I need to see more before recommending the series.

[James Frenkz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought it for .99 cents off the kindle store and still felt ripped off. I mean, I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but I do expect some middling level of competency even from self-published shlock, namely I'd like the first page to not have like, four or five glaring issues that even my retarded understanding of grammar and punctuation can pick up on.

I made it about ten or so pages in and had to put it down. I can tolerate well-worn tropes when it comes to setting and dialogue, but not so much when you're doing an extremely paint by the numbers scene ripped straight out of every generic military action show, movie, or book ever written by human hands.

Yeah, we're doing our briefing on the mission ten seconds before the mission commences inside of the giant flying machine that would almost assuredly be so loud nobody could hear a fucking thing inside of it.

Aside from that, the obnoxious prose and POV protagonist was just too much for me to stomach.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit grim to start

This book is set in the familiar world of war against the Tahni. It begins with a somewhat different story line as our protagonist is both an officer and instead of being in direct combat arms he’s in the often more dangerous world of SAR, search and rescue. The war ends early in the book and then I got rather angry at the author for having SO many things go wrong in his life that I nearly gave up on the story. I did finish it though, and it ended reasonably well (although Murphy hits him hard on every opportunity!)
I’m going to read the next book before I decide to finish the series or not. Those of us who’ve served are all too familiar with the fickle finger of fate but we usually hope that things aren’t quite as bad for the heroes we choose to read about…

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 1 out of 5]

The basic story can be found in many SciFi novels and providing the characters are fairly interesting that is usually fine, however with this book I got fed up with Jack Bennet quite quickly.
The book starts by representing him as a highly competent, brave and resourceful search and rescue officer who is often sent into highly dangerous combat situations. The author seemed to forget this for the rest of the book.
Unfortunately the rest of the main characters were really caricatures and the story was just a series of poor choices and things going wrong.
If possible I would have given 1.5 stars.

[Barrie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable?

Fast-paced and action-packed this one is an absolute blockbuster of a book, coming back from the galactic war after six years Jack finds his fiance married with kids and his parents have sold and spent the proceeds from their space transport business including his shares. That's when it all kicks off, nonstop action blood gore, and all the tech you are ever going to need, battling two opposing mafia-type organizations and his own conscience as he fights his way from one disaster to another. Old school sci fi at its best, not to be missed, Baz.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seems like a great start for the series. I loved Jack the main character. The story starts at the end of a military action. As Jack's team goes to rescue some downed men ending when they pulled the injured out. And he went as straight as the crow flies back to his family. What he discovered was that life continued and passed him by... he had nothing! Except for a rust bucket of a space ship, a ship that might be space worthy but needed work before lift off. But first he needed a pilot. He finally ended up as a licensed bounty hunter.

[Andynystrom83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

I'm not a big fan of first person perspective but the idea of the story kept me going until I got hooked in. MC is a veteran,comes home after the war only to find the life he left behind moved on without him. What follows is one hijinks after another with him on the losing end until the last 15% when he finally becomes bad ass. While the book cover looks awesome, it has no relation to the story which totally sucks.

[Waring Abbott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to quilt after 60 pages

Let's see: a tough space marine is away for six years and returns to find his girlfriend married with children....and he is surprised? What, they don't have telegrams or space email in the future? I've read a lot of Part low books but this beyond all reason, isn't funny and makes no sense.

[Tan Ponk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot

LOTS of action and enough plot twists to make a snake dizzy. Definitely made my list of series to follow. Enough realism to the battle scenes to know at least one of the authors been there. Pleased to recommend.

[Sidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

As with all new series it take a little bit get to know the storyline and characters. Once you do you notice each situation getting more detailed and intriguing. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, think again! Very impressed with this book!

[Morris D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read

This is a fun yarn with a very different twist in this universe. The civilian scalawag focus works and character development is ok. More is needed on Birdy and Val, but hopefully more is coming.

[Mark Baller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good military sci-fi

Pretty interesting book good plot line great Military sci-fi. Well worth the time to read. This is just the 1st book so I'll probably read another see if I still like it and if I do Read the 3rd one.

[2percentright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Man with 6 years of combat experience beaten to a bloody pulp and almost killed by one civilian decides to become a bounty hunter....

My suspension of disbelief has been broken. Book over

[Henry Cosgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

New series

I enjoyed the story and the writers imagination. Looks like I need to download book 2 and 3. Retired officer turns bounty hunter.

[Roberto Flores · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has a useless MC.

Just ruins the whole book. He stops trying, stops thinking and stops caring. The direction of the story is ludicrous, the character actions are ridiculous.

[Trudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the war ends...

Lot of familiar type situations but put together well. I think I am becoming a bit jaded with the pandemic leaving me not too much to do but read.

[Bryan Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secure good read

Characters that are fun to follow and identify with. Well written and very enjoyable to read. I'm planning on following up the remainder of this series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Military Sci Fi kind of..more like a ex-marine who finds himself a bounty hunter in the middle of gang wars..accultists...and still manages to get the girl...enjoyed it..

[Roh Bawt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn't stand the characters.

[fabrizio capodicasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

takes a while

Takes a while to get the rhythm. I’m hoping next book is better. I have faith in the author but i was borderline whether I continue or not

[Dylan Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and action packed

I enjoyed Jack as a main character during his first attempts at bounty hunting. Very action packed and a quick read. I can't wait to read the second book.

[Marcin W · Rating 2 out of 5]

just nothing special.

[John Sheridan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad military science fiction story. Post-war veteran down on his luck becomes space bounty hunter. Ok.

[Jon Silvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book loved the story and the book narration can’t wait for the next one I highly recommend it 😀👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Aaron Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The war is over and he is broke, so what is he to do but become a bounty hunter by accident after his first job failed.