Trader Vyx

A Galaxy Unknown #4

by Thomas DePrima

Advanced weapons manufactured for Space Command are being offered for sale on the galactic black market. Trader Vyx, an undercover operative for Space Command, the military arm of the Galactic Alliance, has been sent into the Frontier Zone to procure several weapons from an Alyysian arms merchant, as part of an effort to trace the serial numbers and end the thefts.

All is going smoothly until a Tsgardi mercenary enters the room. He utters a profanity as he recognizes Vyx and immediately reaches for his sidearm. Vyx grabs for his own sidearm, but then has to dive for cover as the weapon merchant's bodyguards open up, turning the room into a killing zone of deadly crossfire.

Vyx manages to kill the mercenary and escape, but is hotly pursued by bodyguards who believe him responsible for the shooting incident that severely wounded their boss. The chase continues through the small Gollasko Colony as Vyx uses all of his skills to evade guards bent on ending his life. Each time he thinks he's lost his pursuers, they turn up again.

While Vyx is fighting for his life on Gollasko, Commander Jenetta Carver is facing problems of her own in another part of the galaxy. The Galactic Alliance has decided to expand the border, and Commander Jenetta Carver is venturing into the new territory as captain of a prototype scout ship. An onboard accident sends the small ship flying wildly out of control. They find themselves in a disabled ship, unable to contact anyone, with life support systems beginning to fail. When a passing Raider warship happens across the apparently derelict ship, Jenetta must face the question of resistance or surrender.

108,500 Words - 328 Pages

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military Fiction, Space, Military Science Fiction, Adventure, War

366 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2010

Reviews

[Kathy]

Trader Vyx,


I strongly suggest you read the previous book in the series (A Galaxy Unknown, Valor At Vauzlee and Clones of Mawcett) prior to reading this book.

I really enjoyed this installment. It was literally full of excitement. The author's creativity and world building were flawless.

What the last installment lacked in high voltage action, this installment makes up for in spades! However, it's about time Jen's sisters started to see some ready action.

To fellow dark urban fantasy readers who are looking for an SF but are unsure of what to take a chance on; I highly recommend this book and series. The writing style is similar to DUF. I am also impatiently looking forward to the next book Milor! due out 12/15/2010.

I also recommend:
Song of Scarabaeus
Space Trippers Book 1: Trippin'
Black Magic Sanction (Hollows)
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)

[Stacey]

Am grateful to see that the author is addressing the time it takes to travel in space finally in this book series. Setting up a plot where it takes months to travel anywhere in the galaxy was not a great idea (despite jenetta's miraculous anti-ageing ability).

Overall it was a fun book to read.

[Alistair Robertson]

Good read. Fast paced. Highly entertaining. I liked the addition of the Vyx story line. It seems to add a nice dimension.

[Thomas]

Poor Jen. All she wants to do is sit on the bridge of a starship, but the brass keep promoting her to desk jobs on space stations. But she goes Honor Harrington’s tree cat one better with her two guard jaguars.

This time, she shares the stage with Vyx, an espionage agent with a distinct Han Solo vibe. He, too, has trouble with space stations.

Yes, this series is derivative, but entertaining for all that.

[Bernard]

Intel guys are introduced in this tomb. The criminal element is described a bit more clearly. Carver is learning how to balance her varied responsibilities while running a star base.

The intel characters are an interesting side plot. The star base issues are a good add on as well.

This is a good book for getting all of the characters in place.

A fairly good read.

[Jan Bond]

I really like the Galaxy Unknown series. Jenetta Carver, the female protagonist, is a strong, smart heroine who has a mind like a steel trap with the confidence and ability to move forward. Her focus is remarkable. I really enjoy strong women and she is a star!!

[Dean Hendrickson]

Great read

I have read all the books and enjoy rereading starting anywhere as they are all so exciting. Thank you for your great imagination!

[Jeffrey Singer]

I'm really enjoying this series

This author has created a wonderful galaxy filled with interesting otherworldly beings, and just enough surprise turns to make it taste good.

[George Rilling]

Immensely entertaining!

Consider me a sucker for space operas and then give me credit for recommending an enjoyable series. I think the quality of DePalma's writing matches well with his inventive storyline.

[SueM]

This is the 4th novel in The Galaxy Unknown series by indie author Thomas DePrima. As with the previous three novels, there is plenty of action/adventure. Jenetta Carver is in the thick of it (in space battles and the Intel sector), winning, as usual, against seemingly impossible odds. Not likely in reality but isn't that the whole point of this style of writing? Jenetta reminds me of Lee Child's or Matthew Reilly's type of hero (heroine?) who, with a few hiccups along the way, always ends up on top. However, instead of winning with superior physical tactics, she wins with her superior IQ! At last a geek actually wins!
Other reviews have mentioned that DePrima's writing is a bit simple or unpolished; well maybe it is, but the story itself more than makes up for any such flaws. It drags you in and at the end, leaves you wanting more. Thankfully there are another 3 novels yet to be released with DePrima willing to write more if there is the demand. Mr. DePrima, I suggest you'd better get writing... If the next 3 are as addictive as the ones so far, I won't be the only one clamoring for more.

[Kageashi]

An SCI agent sent to investigate weapons suspected of being stolen from the Spaccs is forced to adjust his mission when the Galactic Alliance announces a massive expansion of territory. Meanwhile, shortly after returning to the Prometheus as XO, a routine shakedown cruise puts Jennette in a high stakes poker game with the Raiders.

Breaking free of many of the crutches that hindered the earlier books, "Trader Vyx" takes Jennette Carver's adventures into new territories to prove once again her tactical acumen. While elements of the book may seem repetitive to fans of the series from earlier books, the book overall is entertaining and engaging. The ongoing running joke regarding Jennette's foul-up in the zero-G lab at the NHSA being an intentional prank and Hubera's enduring dislike for Carver remains in play, even nearly twenty years later.

Overall, it's most of the things that make the "A Galaxy Unknown" series enjoyable, with very few aspects to detract.

[Leo]

I like the kind of trashy but entertaining style of this series. The author has a proclivity for cumbersome explanations of fictive technicalities, which can be tiresome. In this book I noticed that he hijacked the monologue for narrative explanations, which seems to be out of character and out of context. It's still telling not showing, just in dialogue form rather than narrative.
Maybe I'm just tired after finishing the previous three books in three days; hence the maybe later shelf.

OK so I've finished the book.
Part of it reads like a tedious recollection of events, and the many complicated explanations of technical details makes me dizzy, so I didn't even try to follow them.
But skimming those parts, the rest was enjoyable.

[Steven]

Thomas DePrima continues his space opera in Trader Vyx. I don't know how gets these names as often they have little to do with the plot. This was more fun than the previous book. It serves its purpose for me, which is to distract from the exercise that I'm doing at the Y. The characters are entirely two dimensional, the plot straightforward, though exciting.

In short this is a perfect beach read; nothing remarkable, but fun. 3 stars.

[Gab]

Great Sci-Fi epic. There are a few bits where the author gets a bit bogged down with detailed explanations when I just wanted to get on with the story [it's the author's fault for making the main storyline so exciting] but I just browsed/skipped these parts - the story/adventure is worth it.

Really enjoying this series.

[Andrew]

I enjoy that its expanding the universe and giving the main character more freedom to grow overall and is expanding the story to different view points allowing the story to make it more well rounded. I personally found Vyx to be a good edition to the universe and i liked that we got to see how the intelligence they receive is found.

[Jean-luc]

This series is really captivating with short books containing enough action to keep the story moving. You still can't help thinking about the Honorverse though with the author adding even more references that remind you of Honor Harrington. The pets are one easy reference. Space combat scenes could probably be a bit more detailed, but no real complaints.

[Keeper of Sorrows and Shadows (Formerly known as: The Pirate Ghost)]

I was excited to see new characters and new plot ideas. I don't think the book spends enough time on Trader Vyx and his team before they get sucked back into the pristine, perfect universe of Janetta Carver. My general comments are still the same as Book I (A Galaxy Unknown).

[Marnee]

While you don't see the two together very much in this book, I like the development of the characters better and the progression of Jenetta and Vyx's characters, the further development of their world and other aliens and etc. Continues to be a fun read for a rainy weekend!

[John]

Mindless read .. the lead has never read anything about loose lips sink ships ever ... blabs state secrets to everyone she meets because she just knows she can trust them. Not worth buying yourself unless stuck in a foreign country and your choices are limited. The worst book in the series so far.

[Johnathan Revell]

This was a better read than book 3. Although the plot line is starting to get a little thin and obvious. "Oh no, something bad has happened... Guess who is going to save the day..." Despite it being obvious, the book is a nice easy read.

[Johan]

I've read the 10 first books so obviosly this is a good enough series.
Not as good as David Weber's Honnor Harington, but if you liked that one... you'll like this one.

Don't expect very mulidimensional caracters, but a fun exciting read.

[Megan]

Another good space adventure with Jenetta Carver. I really enjoy these books and hope that the next few books are just as good!

[Gay]

Poor Jenetta. She manages incredible space command strategic feats and yet again gets stuck cleaning up the mess. I have almost finished this one and have the next book waiting in the wings.

[Shane]

Still enjoying the ongoing adventures! The only problem with easy reads is that I get through them too quickly!

[Rod]

The focus shifts a little in book 4 and we follow Trader Vyx, who is a spy for the Galactic Alliance. Another well-written book with a good story-line.

[Chris]

Great Series

[Neal]

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Here's the book in one sentence: "Admiral Hubera ground his teeth and muttered something unintelligible."

[Bill]

Better. 3.75. Still interesting reading so I am going onward.

[Coyora Dokusho]

he really likes the word solecism...

[Michael Martell]

The hits keep coming

I said it once and I will say it again rest writing and great story. I can't wait to start the next in the series.