It finally happened. I have read my first David Drake novel. First off let me say that I am a great fan of plot heavy hard science fiction, so the jump from the technologically focused novel to a military one (I am a F14 fanatic) was not a great leap for mankind- nor a great leap for man (namely me). With that out of the way let me get down the business of telling you all of the good and child foolish things that I encountered in the Starliner novel. Over on SFSite.com I read a brief review of With the Lightning, where the reviewer stated that he had read no less than a stunning 30 David Drake novels. Of all those he liked Starliner the best. The leap became even smaller as I passed by Drakes homepage to take in the authors own words – it’s not all that military although it has some heavy set elements, and what any good plot needs – violence and sex. More on that later. Now I was off to purchase the book but behold it comes free of any charge over on the Baen free library.

I love it when a book has a certain feel to it, be it a place in history or just a flavorful setting. Starliner takes place on what you would expect from the title – cruise ship traveling between the stars. A futuristic Titanic with the eccentrically wealthy sip drinks and the iconic poor immigrants loiter in third class on their way to the new world. It is not future realistic but it needs not to be because it gives you a great flavor throughout the book and lots of references back in time to when the real titans of the sea mowed through the odd iceberg. Very nicely done Mr. Drake.

Plot wise the book takes you on a journey through a bunch of colonized human worlds and an alien one plagued by a rigid hiracy and the status quo. The main character (with a doggy and harsh background) masters both the eccentrically rich and nitriding details of being an office on board a starliner. There are plenty of interesting leads that are fulfilled in due order throughout the book, and I must say that I was never bored with either the world building or violent sidetracks. However the more or less graphically descriptions of the main characters erotic escapades was somewhat of a mystery as to why it was included. It does not penetrate (pardon the pun) the book but it left me with an impression that it was included to satisfy a certain audience? Anyways who am I to tell if this is true or not, but it did not “do” it for me. On an emotional level the sex is somewhat tied in to the mental state of the main character so that justifies it somewhat. A strong forte of the book is the great secondary cast and the attention to detail. There is an old pair of ex special forces / agents / spies (is there anything they have not done?) that kept me chuckling throughout the book. I would love to read a collection of their short stories alone.

Is it a modern science fiction classic? no. Was it entertaining and well written? Most definitely and wholeheartedly yes.