Space Opera Fans discussion

Greetings Space Opera Fans!

The Golden Age of Sail has Returned -- in the Year 2352

All in Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell.



When his mother dies in a flitter crash, eighteen-year-old Ishmael Horatio Wang must find a job with the planet company or leave the system--and NerisCo isn't hiring. With credits running low, and prospects limited, he has just one hope...to enlist for two years with a deep space commercial freighter. Ishmael, who only rarely visited the Neris Orbital, and has never been off-planet alone before, finds himself part of an eclectic crew sailing a deep space leviathan between the stars.

Join the crew of the SC Lois McKendrick, a Manchester built clipper as she sets solar sails in search of profit for her company and a crew each entitled to a share equal to their rating.

ARE YOU READING QUARTERSHARE? Shout it out in the discussion thread below, find a book buddy to read along, and tell us what you think as you read. Just remember to be kind and use the spoiler html so you don't ruin the fun for somebody who's not so far along.

Be epic!

Anna Erishkigal
SOF Borg Queen

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Author Interview is HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Great! I've read this several times and loved it. This gives me an excuse to read it again, as well as the rest of the series.

I loved the podiobooks version of Quarter Share. Might try to read along this month.

I have read Quarter Share at least half a dozen times, as well as listening to the Podiobooks more than once. I will be rereading the series again later this month, after I finish what I'm reading now.

Warning to those who need violence: the only violence here is off scene.

This is a totally different speed of Space Opera.

Its for people who love immersion in a universe, without the worlds-about-to-end stuff.

I dont know how many times I've re-read this series. But each book is can't-put-it-down good.

Just emailed an Author Interview request to Mr. Lowell. We shall see... ??? :-)

I should mention that starting with book #4, there is on-scene violence.

Had fun with this one. Sometimes its nice not to have to worry about an end of the world scenario.

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YAY!!! Got that Awesome Author Interview with Nathan Lowell! A space opera

Read it HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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It's amazing how readable a coming-of-age tale can be with no large stakes outside his own life.

Love, love, LOVE this book and series. I've read the first four 3 times each. Can't wait for the next one...

I love this series; it's one I re-read every year or so. I wish there was more SF that had a merchant/ordinary life theme, instead of the murder-death-kill theme.

Chong wrote: "I love this series; it's one I re-read every year or so. I wish there was more SF that had a merchant/ordinary life theme, instead of the murder-death-kill theme."

It takes real talent to work a story out of mundane incidents. This is what makes Jane Austen such an astounding genius. We might like more, but odds are most writers could not reach such a standard.

Enjoyed this again. Fourth time. Now I can reread the rest of the series. Can't wait.

I read this a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I plan on getting the rest of the series. One of the things I like is how he works in basic economics. The idea of a ship as a business that needs to make a profit, doing your share of the work for all to succeed, drawing on even your most basic skills may be something that makes life better for everyone because yes, good coffee is important. The lesson of how you present your ideas can make a difference on how you are perceived and how they are received is a great lesson.

As an adult I enjoyed getting away from the violence and apocalypse science fiction. If the rest of the series is similar to the first book, it is one I would give to young readers. I am thinking the junior high level reader, including boys, would like this one, even though the main character is 18.

I enjoyed this first book, and plan to read more. It's unique to have a SF tale w/o a "bad guy".

ALL books need an antagonist, but that antagonist doesn't need to be a villain, nor does it need to even be human or even animate. It can be an animal, a force of nature, yourself, or another person who isn't necessarily an enemy, but always causes problems (i.e., frenemies, a doubter, or a smothering parent). Economics is an adversary real-life people need to face every day.

Anna wrote: "ALL books need an antagonist, but that antagonist doesn't need to be a villain, nor does it need to even be human or even animate. It can be an animal, a force of nature, yourself, or another perso..."


Sometimes time can be the enemy.

Or maybe the antagonist is space itself. Remember, although a commercial ship may not engage in battle, just being in space is extremely dangerous.

Time, space, those are all good antagonists :-) And ones the average, everyday person is more likely to deal with than shapeshifting bug-aliens wielding wormhole weapons!

This is very reminiscent of early Heinlein (Boy Scout days) or Piers Anthony. Note that the series matures along with Ishmael, so while this first one is clearly YA-style, the others have more adult themes, but all with the same innocent candor.

Also, if anyone has ever been a mid-level manager, some of the situations and characters will be quite familiar.

A great start to a great series.

Betsy wrote: "Or maybe the antagonist is space itself. Remember, although a commercial ship may not engage in battle, just being in space is extremely dangerous."

That's why Apollo 13 makes a better movie than 11.

Just started reading QUARTER SHARE. The bit about the coffee is terrific!

Just finished! Really enjoyed this book. Very strange since there were none of the tropes you normally see in science fiction. No aliens, no evil space corporations, etc. But the story was fun and had very engaging characters.