Official Blurb
A shuffling of cabins puts Ishmael Horatio Wang in command of the worst ship in the fleet. He learns that being Captain doesn't make you infallible and that life in the Captain's Cabin is filled with new kinds of challenge as he tries to keep the ship moving, the crew out of trouble, and turn a profit to earn his Captain's Share. In a ship where the officers outnumber the crew, how can he manage to keep everybody happy? Welcome to the SC Agamemnon.
My Review
This is the fifth book in the series, and follows on from where Double Share left off. The protagonist becomes a Captain, but as the blurb says he unfortunately finds himself Captain of the worst ship in the fleet. It's quite a cast of characters on his new ship it's a small crew where nearly all of them are officers of their division with only a few crew hands to fill up the numbers.
Captain Wang take his usual approach to these things dealing out respect and understanding in equal doses as he wrestles the crew into shape.
Like the previous book, this one does have things happening which makes it even more appealing.
I have a strange relationship with this series. As I've mentioned in my previous reviews of these audio books, the author/reader is so good that he doesn't actually need events in his stories! So I go into the stories not expecting anything to happen, so when they do I'm somewhat amazed and pleased.
As well as wrestling with his crew problems, Wang has to turn the ship around from a profit point of view, and on top of that there are double jumps which we've not been introduced to before, and rescues, muggings and relationship problems. This book is a delight!
The reader has such a smooth voice that listening to this book is a real pleasure. If you've listened to the others in the series, you will not be disapointed with this one, in fact you'll love it.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Planet Savers by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Official Blurb
The Terran colony on the planet Darkover faces imminent destruction by a plague of the deadly Trailmen's Fever. The only hope is to develop a serum in time, but this requires the cooperation of the elusive native Trailmen, the brilliant parasitologist Dr. Jay Allison, and his split personality.
My Review
This is a great short book. Mark Nelson provides another great reading of a classic sci fi story. The story is pretty straight forward, as the blurb says the Trailmen carry a deadly fever that does not effect them but causes death in humans. But the trailmen are not human, they have different beliefs they behave "strangely", and many humans think them nothing more than animals. Yet the only chance for a cure means that a racist doctor needs to win the help of these elusive violent trailmen.
The story starts out setting the plot and then becomes a journey as the heros of the peice have to win their way to the trailmen, and then win their help and friendship, in order to save the humans on the planet. Along the way will be many trials and tribulations, all of them fun and exciting.
It's good, it's sci fi, download it NOW fool!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
The Terran colony on the planet Darkover faces imminent destruction by a plague of the deadly Trailmen's Fever. The only hope is to develop a serum in time, but this requires the cooperation of the elusive native Trailmen, the brilliant parasitologist Dr. Jay Allison, and his split personality.
My Review
This is a great short book. Mark Nelson provides another great reading of a classic sci fi story. The story is pretty straight forward, as the blurb says the Trailmen carry a deadly fever that does not effect them but causes death in humans. But the trailmen are not human, they have different beliefs they behave "strangely", and many humans think them nothing more than animals. Yet the only chance for a cure means that a racist doctor needs to win the help of these elusive violent trailmen.
The story starts out setting the plot and then becomes a journey as the heros of the peice have to win their way to the trailmen, and then win their help and friendship, in order to save the humans on the planet. Along the way will be many trials and tribulations, all of them fun and exciting.
It's good, it's sci fi, download it NOW fool!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Double Share by Nathan Lowell
Official Blurb
When he graduates from the Academy at Port Newmar, Ishmael Horatio Wang reports for duty in his first assignment as an officer. When he gets to his new ship, he finds things are not exactly the way he'd learned in school. The coffee tastes like used engine oil, the ship has no heart, and the nearest decent tailor is two quadrants away. What's a new Third Mate to do? Will he be able to trust Billy?
My Review
This is the fourth book in the series, I really loved the first one, was terribly disapointed in the second, thought the third was ok and have been once again terrifically pleased with this the fourth.
I noted in my review of the first book that, well, nothing happened, and that despite that, it was a terrific audio book. This book diverges from that and has a real plot!
I know what I've written sounds like a downer for the series, and though it's true that I've been unimpressed with one of the books, and I've said nothing happens, never the less the books are a fantastic listen. The author is reading his own work here and has such a haunting delightful voice that it brings the characters to life and makes the whole experience sparkle.
Anyway, onto the story. In this book, the hero becomes Third Mate on a trade ship that has trouble. The ship is nothing like his previous ship where everyone looked out for each other and formed one big happy family. Here, everything is dark and brooding, menace is in the air, and danger is stalking the decks. Officers aren't all you might expect and crew really are not your friends. It's almost a coming of age story, except the hero is not becoming an adult, he's an Officer instead.
It's a bit of a turn from the earlier books, and I was drawn in but the crouching danger element. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
One question that's been bothering me about this, is the idea of the hero being a "Third Mate", I would have expected "Third Lieutenant", which is more in keeping with naval tradition. Ho Hum.
Seriously, if you haven't tried this series, give it a go.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
When he graduates from the Academy at Port Newmar, Ishmael Horatio Wang reports for duty in his first assignment as an officer. When he gets to his new ship, he finds things are not exactly the way he'd learned in school. The coffee tastes like used engine oil, the ship has no heart, and the nearest decent tailor is two quadrants away. What's a new Third Mate to do? Will he be able to trust Billy?
My Review
This is the fourth book in the series, I really loved the first one, was terribly disapointed in the second, thought the third was ok and have been once again terrifically pleased with this the fourth.
I noted in my review of the first book that, well, nothing happened, and that despite that, it was a terrific audio book. This book diverges from that and has a real plot!
I know what I've written sounds like a downer for the series, and though it's true that I've been unimpressed with one of the books, and I've said nothing happens, never the less the books are a fantastic listen. The author is reading his own work here and has such a haunting delightful voice that it brings the characters to life and makes the whole experience sparkle.
Anyway, onto the story. In this book, the hero becomes Third Mate on a trade ship that has trouble. The ship is nothing like his previous ship where everyone looked out for each other and formed one big happy family. Here, everything is dark and brooding, menace is in the air, and danger is stalking the decks. Officers aren't all you might expect and crew really are not your friends. It's almost a coming of age story, except the hero is not becoming an adult, he's an Officer instead.
It's a bit of a turn from the earlier books, and I was drawn in but the crouching danger element. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
One question that's been bothering me about this, is the idea of the hero being a "Third Mate", I would have expected "Third Lieutenant", which is more in keeping with naval tradition. Ho Hum.
Seriously, if you haven't tried this series, give it a go.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Notes on Nursing by Florence Nightingale
Official Blurb
Notes on Nursing was published in 1859 and is a fascinating view into the theories underpinning the early development of modern nursing and public health reform by "the Lady with the Lamp", Florence Nightingale. Emphasising common sense and thought for the patient's care in many more ways than just administering physician-prescribed medicines, this is still a very relevant book for those interested in health or caring for the sick and infirm today.
My Review
This was a facinating book to listen to. As you listen to the excellent reading the forthrightness and character of the author comes through. After listening to this no nonsence guide to basic nursing you really get the idea of how insistant and demanding this woman must have been. I was left wondering if she was always like that, or her war time experience made her that way.
Florence tells us through this book, how to care for the sick, how a nurse must pay attention to the patients condition, what they eat, how they eat, how rooms should be aired. She repeats lessons that are both basic and neccesary, but apparently so often overlooked by nurses of the time. I particularly liked her attitude to taking direction from Doctors.
The lessons are presented in an easy to listen to style, full of anecdotes and plain speaking that never bores the listener.
If you have any interest in the authors position in history, or simply in nursing, then I think you'll find this as facinating as I.
The reader was perfect for the book, you can easily believe that Florence is speaking to you!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Notes on Nursing was published in 1859 and is a fascinating view into the theories underpinning the early development of modern nursing and public health reform by "the Lady with the Lamp", Florence Nightingale. Emphasising common sense and thought for the patient's care in many more ways than just administering physician-prescribed medicines, this is still a very relevant book for those interested in health or caring for the sick and infirm today.
My Review
This was a facinating book to listen to. As you listen to the excellent reading the forthrightness and character of the author comes through. After listening to this no nonsence guide to basic nursing you really get the idea of how insistant and demanding this woman must have been. I was left wondering if she was always like that, or her war time experience made her that way.
Florence tells us through this book, how to care for the sick, how a nurse must pay attention to the patients condition, what they eat, how they eat, how rooms should be aired. She repeats lessons that are both basic and neccesary, but apparently so often overlooked by nurses of the time. I particularly liked her attitude to taking direction from Doctors.
The lessons are presented in an easy to listen to style, full of anecdotes and plain speaking that never bores the listener.
If you have any interest in the authors position in history, or simply in nursing, then I think you'll find this as facinating as I.
The reader was perfect for the book, you can easily believe that Florence is speaking to you!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)