Fireships

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In the far future, the human inhabitants of Venus are menaced by a tyrannical government on Earth. Much as Elizabethan England was menaced by Spain, in fact, for this novel concludes a trilogy (Igniting the Reaches; Through the Breach) based on the career of Sir Francis Drakenot his ancestor, author Drake insists. The Englishman's futuristic incarnation, Piet Ricimer, has risen to the status of star-faring hero through his raids on Earth's interstellar colonies. This volume brings open war, as Ricimer's fleet "singes the tyrant of Earth's beard" and then defeats an outer-space armada with an arsenal that includes the unmanned, crash-diving "fireships" of the title. Most of the characterizations here lack originality, and the author's game of replaying Elizabethan history leads to some awkward world-building, tactics and weaponry. Unlike in Through the Breach, however, here the action scenes excel, perhaps because Drake forgoes that novel's first-person narration for a tougher third-person approach. A string of fine action scenes, however, isn't enough to distinguish a novel in today's action-packed SF market. Drake has done much better work, most recently in The Sharp End, and likely will again. (June)

VOYA - William J. White

David Drake has made a literary career out of producing "military science fiction," one of the most popular and at the same time problematic subgenres within SF. His most famous, the Hammer's Slammers cycle of stories, relate the history of an interstellar mercenary company of the same name. Military SF is popular because tales of military adventure appeal to the young men who tend to like science fiction in general, and problematic because, except for the trappings of lasers, space fighters, and hover tanks, it tends not to be "science fictional" at all-that is, the effect of technology on human action and human society, or the nature of different worlds and cultures, isn't really explored. To the extent that technology plays a role at all, it is as sort of a "gee whiz" backdrop to a story that could be set in the modern world or some historical analogue. There are notable exceptions, of course-Joe Haldeman's Forever War (St. Martin's, 1974) comes to mind-but David Drake isn't one of them. Still, there is a place for military adventure stories. If well done, they make rousing good stories and can even say something important. Unfortunately, Fireships doesn't have much to recommend it. This is the third novel in the series that begins with Igniting the Reaches (1994) and continues in Through the Breach (1995/VOYA, October 1995). Set in a universe intentionally designed to resemble the Elizabethan era (with Earth as Spain and Venus as England), the starships are wooden sailing ships in futuristic drag, and the events in the novels including boarding actions and planetary surface raids. This would be exciting stuff, if well described, but the prose is stiff and functional. The political intrigue and maneuvering that surrounds and motivates the military action seems largely pointless. On the other hand, fans of this sort of space opera, and of Drake's brand of military fiction, will probably be willing to give this a try. VOYA Codes: 2Q 3P M J S (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q, Will appeal with pushing, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

Kirkus Reviews

Third of Drake's far-future space swashbucklers (Through the Breach, 1995, etc.) inspired by the Elizabethan Age of Discovery. Again, the heroic, libertarian Venusians battle the evil empire of the Earth Federation, this time in a plot based upon the exploits of buccaneer/explorer Sir Francis Drake (no relation, the author adds). The sole innovation here is the advent of a female starship captain, Sal Blythe, who makes a business arrangement with troubled warrior Stephen Gregg to join the Venusian raiding squadrons despite the initial disapproval of their god-fearing, inspirational captain, Piet Ricimer. So, after a mediocre string of raids and skirmishes, author Drake offers up a space version of a famous historical England vs. Spain sea showdown. By now—the only development of any lasting interest—Sal and Stephen, both suffering battle-related stress and trauma and drinking heavily, have found some solace in each other's arms.

A two-dimensional shoot-'em-up, the weakest and least inventive entry so far in a fading series.