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The Helmsman #4
The Mercenaries
As the ravaged postwar Imperial Fleet stands helpless, nearby worlds fall to the League of Dark Stars. Commanding a squadron of Starfuries, Wilf Brim sets course to save the star kingdom of Fluvanna. If he fails, the Empire is doomed.
313 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 12, 2024
Always good characters and detailed tech
I wish Bill Baldwin were still with us, because when it came to starship technology and the pulse-thumping narrative of galactic war, nobody did it better.
Regatdless how good it is, don't start with Book 4. You need to begin the Helmsnan Series with its flagship volume, Book 1 - The Helmsman, and ride along with Wilf Ansor Brim as the Carescrian outlander rises from a discriminated-against minority to positions of high responsibility in the Imperial Fleet. (And don't think Star Wars Empire--the Imperials are the good guys here.)
Based loosely on a futurized replica of 20th century British history and naval customs during WWI & WWII, you will doubtless recognize some of the general movement of Baldwin's ongoing plot. But his outcomes are pure Baldwin mil sci-fi imagination.
Point of order: I'm not a big fan of mil sci-fi--too much of it is poorly reproduced video games. The Helmsman series is fresh and original, and it predates most of the space war chronicles on sale today.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
I wish Bill Baldwin were still with us, because when it came to starship technology and the pulse-thumping narrative of galactic war, nobody did it better.
Regatdless how good it is, don't start with Book 4. You need to begin the Helmsnan Series with its flagship volume, Book 1 - The Helmsman, and ride along with Wilf Ansor Brim as the Carescrian outlander rises from a discriminated-against minority to positions of high responsibility in the Imperial Fleet. (And don't think Star Wars Empire--the Imperials are the good guys here.)
Based loosely on a futurized replica of 20th century British history and naval customs during WWI & WWII, you will doubtless recognize some of the general movement of Baldwin's ongoing plot. But his outcomes are pure Baldwin mil sci-fi imagination.
Point of order: I'm not a big fan of mil sci-fi--too much of it is poorly reproduced video games. The Helmsman series is fresh and original, and it predates most of the space war chronicles on sale today.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
July 26, 2020
Another Great Book
The saga of Wilf continues. This time he must navigate the treacherous waters of neutrality as he defends an allied kingdom from the renewed aggression of the League. Like the Flying Tigers of WW2, he and his "volunteers" fight on many military, diplomatic, and bureaucratic fronts. As always danger and romance abound. An exciting and fun read, with a couple of unexpected surprises to boot.
The saga of Wilf continues. This time he must navigate the treacherous waters of neutrality as he defends an allied kingdom from the renewed aggression of the League. Like the Flying Tigers of WW2, he and his "volunteers" fight on many military, diplomatic, and bureaucratic fronts. As always danger and romance abound. An exciting and fun read, with a couple of unexpected surprises to boot.
December 26, 2024
Kniha síce pekne nadväzuje na vybudované vzťahy, svety a problémy (kto začne od štvrtého dielu má trochu smolu), ale zároveň je dej veľmi plytký, priamočiary a predvídateľný. Každý diel má svoju schému, ktorú autor poctivo dodržiava. Chýba moment prekvapenia.
July 5, 2018
Not bad at all!
June 6, 2016
I realize this book has a good rating online, but I can't finish it, can't even get very far in it. Some of the things that drove me nuts were the takeoff of this new, cutting edge warship captained by Wilf Brim, to go for exercises as it's just off the assembly line. The fleet has been largely disbanded by peaceniks (this always happens in conservative, right wing military sci fi writers' books -- God, they hate people who prefer peace!) and there's a big enemy on the horizon, although no one knows it yet.
Anyway, the takeoff takes about 20 pages. No, I'm exaggerating, but it does go on and on with every system being checked and every person on the planet saying goodbye and good luck to Brim over the comm while he's taking off.
Okay, I just counted. Takeoff took seven pages. Who the hell writes a seven page takeoff for a spaceship? Holy crap, that's stupid and a waste of my time and the author's pages.
Another thing that really bugged me was how the ship has a crew, but Brim, the captain, has to pilot his own ship. He's the one who takes off. Not a navigator, pilot, astrogator, exec, no one that any other sci fi writer uses. Now I ask you, on Earth's battleships, dating back hundreds of years to the present, do captains pilot their own ships? No! They have crewmen who do the actual work for that. So too in spaceships, particularly in military sci fi. Every captain of any warship has 1) a crew and 2) a pilot. No captain pilots their own damn ship as they spend seven pages taking off from their planet.
IT'S STUPID! I don't care if it does have a 4.0+ rating, this is a dumbass book written by a sci fi writer who either didn't do his research on the field or doesn't know the first thing about how these things are "supposed" to go. Seriously, what's a crew for if the captain does all the work? Are they window decorations?
This is the first book in a three book series. I didn't finish this one and didn't bother reading the next two because I assume if the author is so inept as to do things like this in his first book, I doubt the next two (highly rated) books would be any better. Frankly, I expect more out of military science fiction. Some authors I think are good professionals include David Weber, Chris Bunch, and Jack Campbell. Baldwin would do well to take a few pointers. As for this book, one star and not recommended because it's too laughable.
Anyway, the takeoff takes about 20 pages. No, I'm exaggerating, but it does go on and on with every system being checked and every person on the planet saying goodbye and good luck to Brim over the comm while he's taking off.
Okay, I just counted. Takeoff took seven pages. Who the hell writes a seven page takeoff for a spaceship? Holy crap, that's stupid and a waste of my time and the author's pages.
Another thing that really bugged me was how the ship has a crew, but Brim, the captain, has to pilot his own ship. He's the one who takes off. Not a navigator, pilot, astrogator, exec, no one that any other sci fi writer uses. Now I ask you, on Earth's battleships, dating back hundreds of years to the present, do captains pilot their own ships? No! They have crewmen who do the actual work for that. So too in spaceships, particularly in military sci fi. Every captain of any warship has 1) a crew and 2) a pilot. No captain pilots their own damn ship as they spend seven pages taking off from their planet.
IT'S STUPID! I don't care if it does have a 4.0+ rating, this is a dumbass book written by a sci fi writer who either didn't do his research on the field or doesn't know the first thing about how these things are "supposed" to go. Seriously, what's a crew for if the captain does all the work? Are they window decorations?
This is the first book in a three book series. I didn't finish this one and didn't bother reading the next two because I assume if the author is so inept as to do things like this in his first book, I doubt the next two (highly rated) books would be any better. Frankly, I expect more out of military science fiction. Some authors I think are good professionals include David Weber, Chris Bunch, and Jack Campbell. Baldwin would do well to take a few pointers. As for this book, one star and not recommended because it's too laughable.
February 11, 2017
Superb space battles, super characters and great series
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews