SFF

Impulse

by Dave Bara
DAW. (Lightship Chronicles, Bk. 1). Feb. 2015. 400p. ISBN 9780756409968. $24.95; ebk. ISBN 9780698161689. SF
COPY ISBN
Peter Cochrane is disappointed when an emergency pulls him off what was supposed to be his first lightship posting to a new job on the HMS Impulse. The role comes with a promotion, but a hostile new captain from a rival culture and an attractive but prickly executive officer are just two early obstacles Peter must face. When they try to investigate the site where the Impulse was attacked by a strange hyperdimensional pulse wave, Peter and the crew are dragged into a diplomatic quagmire and a military mystery.
VERDICT Debut author Bara sets a few too many pieces on his space opera chessboard with opposing military powers, quasi-religious historical orders, and remnants of imperial civilizations and ancient founders left offstage. The characters are shallow (especially inexplicable babe-magnet Peter), the plot is both overly complicated in places and suddenly paper thin, and Bara appears to believe that if he keeps the action fast enough readers won't notice that his story doesn't make any sense.
Reviewed by Megan M. McArdle , Jan 01, 2015
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

Dreadful
by Rozakis, Caitlin
FICTION

Running Close to the Wind
by Rowland, Alexandra
FICTION

In the Shadow of the Fall
by Ogundiran, Tobi
FICTION

The Daughters’ War
by Buehlman, Christopher
FICTION

The Spice Gate
by Srivatsa, Prashanth
FICTION

The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur
by Grossman, Lev
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?