Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for the YA/NA THEMED category for April 2018.

YA/NA THEMED books need to be currently in print on at least one platform, and fit the theme for the month. If there is no spaceship involved, then it must take place on another planet with a technological society. If it is part of a series, it needs to be suitable to being read without having read other books in the series. Frequently books in this category will be those from major publishers that are no longer in print as paperback (or haven't yet made it to paperback), but Kindle Exclusive books are allowed too. It is perfectly fine to nominate a book here that would qualify for one of our other categories.

In addition, one of the main characters has to be college age or younger for at least the first half of the book.

CURRENT THEME: Entry Level Spaceship Job. The main character of college age or younger must get or have a "no experience needed" job on a spaceship, sometime during the first half of the book.

See this thread for examples.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

NOTE: Please hold nominations for "Ensign reporting for duty" books for now. If we don't get several nominations without the ensigns we will allow them in. And if we don't let them in we will have that as a separate theme some time.

RULES:
* you may nominate one book on this thread.
* you may second as many nominations as you like on this thread.
* it is okay to nominate the same book on more than one nomination thread, as long as it meets the criteria
* don't nominate a book we already have on our bookshelf
* If a book you nominate or second is selected, you are expected to post at least one comment about it on the thread about the book.
* In about two weeks I will draw a book randomly, with each second being one raffle ticket for the book. That is, a book with three seconds (so four of us want it) will get three chances in the pool.

It is likely helpful if you know something about a book that has been nominated if you mention it in this thread, whether it is for or against the book.

I nominate Take the Star Road by Peter Grant. Main character is about 18yo, trying to get a better life away from crowded Earth. Story includes how he got the job, parts about learning to be useful, and quite a bit of action of various kinds. First of a series that I have reread with pleasure.

I see paperback, audible, and kindle editions listed.

Ships of My Fathers is a about a young man who unexpectedly inherits a spaceship from his unknown father, but before he can take ownership he must learn about spacing, on his uncle's trading ship. This is the first of a series, the second installment is already out, and the third is well on its way. Available in both kindle and paperback from Amazon.

I enjoyed Ships of my Fathers, so I'll second it.

Summary so far:

Ships of My Fathers by Dan Thompson. Nominated by Betsy. Seconded by Teresa.

Take the Star Road by Peter Grant. Nominated by Teresa. Awaiting seconds.

This nomination thread is now officially open for “ensign reporting to first ship” books, since we don’t have much action with the narrower theme.

Ooh, how about when the Serrano series gets into space: Once a Hero.

Once a Hero is good, but Esmay is a Lieutenant and had been on another ship before besides - the one with the mutiny, where she was a key but minor character in the third Heris Serrano book.

Teresa wrote: "Once a Hero is good, but Esmay is a Lieutenant and had been on another ship before besides - the one with the mutiny, where she was a key but minor character in the third Heris Serrano book."

I read these so long ago that I forgot the actual progression. i know the first 2 book don't really fit. Ah well, it was an idea...

From memory, Barin is an ensign, and he is a key character but much less than half the time. Ah well, we can do that book another time.

There are probably a couple of these (midshipman) tales in the Honorverse, but I already nominated one book, so I can't nominate any more.

We have about two days before nominations close. Currently it’s looking like Ships of my Fathers.

Elsewhere I saw Ships of My Fathers, which features a 17/18 young man who inherits a spaceship.

Ships of my Fathers has been nominated and seconded. Take the Star Road has been nominated but not seconded yet.

Nominations are now closed. Our choice is Ships of My Fathers by Dan Thompson