Space Opera Fans discussion

The September 2023 Limited Pick is Hard Knocks by Nathan Lowell. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
It pays to take a second look.
In the Deep Dark, it's a long walk home.

The Marva Collins runs into unexpected problems a long way from port. Faced with some hard decisions, and uncertain about the choices, Ishmael has to roll the dice with inadequate information.

Is he sailing too close to the edge of forever?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to the discussion.

The first part of the book was great, with the sneaky danger to the ship and difficulty deciding how to deal with it.

But I was disappointed with the ending. I can understand why Lowell did what he did. For some time, Ish had been feeling that he wasn't in control of his own life -- that he's just been going along with what other people wanted him to do. This resolution gives him control. And maybe some happiness.

But he was such a good clipper ship captain. I really hated to see him abandon that.

Plus, it probably means there won't be any more Ish books.

I’ve started rereading Hard Knocks.

I'm starting to read it for the first time today.

I’m in the “no immediate danger” part. I keep getting flashbacks to Full Share. I love this part, in both books, even knowing how it turns out.

I am up to Chapter 5, in which we learn that zero error is a problem.

Yes, that was intriguing.

I’m on chapter 14. Dang it’s hard to avoid spoilers for this book.

Chapter 10. I think it is clear what Ish wants and why he is tying himself up in knots. I am looking forward to seeing how this all develops.

Quote that isn’t a spoiler!

“Lost? On the ship?”

“It’s possible.” I shrugged. “New crew especially. By the time you get to be an officer, one hopes that ‘getting lost’ becomes ‘impromptu inspection.’”

I finished rereading it last night. First half of the book is better than second half, but second half was good enough for rereading less than two months after my first reading. This definitely finishes the story arc, however I can see the possibility of more stories about Ish taking place after this one, in a new story arc. But then I’m also looking forward to The Wizard’s Cat finally coming out.

Finished this enjoyable book. There is definitely the potential for more Ish stories.