Book Review: Kris Longknife : Mutineer

Reviewed By: David Ball

Kris Longknife : Mutineer     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Mike Shepherd
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction   Military   Woman Main Character   Space Opera
Series: Kris Longknife # 1
2004, Ace, 389 pages, $ 7.99 paperback

Kris Longknife was born to power and privilege. Her father is her planets Prime Minister. Kris's younger brother was murdered when they were young and it was only luck that kept her from dying. Against her parent’s wishes, she enlists in the Navy. The book begins with her a 22-year-old Ensign, fresh out of training.

Longknife has the makings of a fine officer. She's an intelligent, charismatic leader who cares for her troops like an officer should. The troops appreciate this and she instills a great sense of loyalty in them. She can think on her feet and will face just about anything except some of her relatives.

As the book progresses, we see her rapidly grow into the job and learn the complexities of being an officer and how her decisions effect others. She finds that she takes great joy in doing something that matters. She also learns the pain and responsibility of making decisions that can cost lives.

It's a really good book. There's a detailed interwoven plot between the military missions and the political mess that's brewing. She even faces several covert attempts to assassinate her. Her world is part of a 600-world alliance and the rim worlds, such as hers, are tired of having Earth and a few central planets dominate the alliance.

Her classmate, Tommy, who will follow her through hell because he believes in her, is always at her side. Another great character is Nelly, her personal AI.

Technology doesn’t play as large a part in this book as it does in some SF military books. The technology is there but there’s more of a focus on the people and their interaction and motivation than on the technology. One interesting bit of technology that I don’t recall seeing before is spaceships made of Liquid Metal that can flow into different configurations for different tasks. A ship can be spacious when not in combat and re-configure itself to be smaller and better armored when going into combat. Now, if they could just get the thing to quit misplacing compartments. The Liquid Metal technology is also featured in other ways.

Shepherd does a really good job with this book. If you're looking for an entertaining space opera with some colorful characters, this is your book. Shepherd grew up Navy and he does an excellent job of showing the complex demands and duties of an officer. I look forward to the next in the series.

David Ball

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, David Ball