Hard Knocks

SC Marva Collins, Book 3

By: Nathan Lowell

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

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?

©2023 Nathan Lowell (P)2024 Podium Audio

another great story!

this was another great story in the series. it did feel a little flat towards the end but they left room for The story to continue. would highly recommend

Weaker than the previous installments in this seri

The story comes basically in three parts:

The first section covers the training cruise, and is consistent with the previous book. Done well, and enjoyable for the same reasons.

The second section covers a life-threatening challenge, but the challenge is overcome without much difficulty. There is a subplot that starts here, but that subplot is abandoned without much point and could have easily been edited out of the book. There is an interesting political plotline that begins here.

The last section is something of a denouement to the main Ishmael Wang plotline (so far, anyway), and feels both drawn out and perfunctory ... as if Lowell couldn't figure out how to tie off the various subplots and ended up just stopping.

This is a heartwarming conclusion to this storyline. The boy gets the girl and the girl gets the boy, and most things are right with the world. Unfortunately, the ending was not especially well written.

The book is recommended for anyone who has been following Capt. Wang's exploits, but as a standalone, it's not especially strong.

Space Odesy

I love Nathan Lowell books. very refreshing and believable. All his books are captivating.

Excellent

An excellent conclusion to the Marva Collins series, I do hope we get to see more in the Solar Clipper universe but if not, I've very much enjoyed the ride.

well thought out universe

Another great story in the series. I recommend the entire Solar Clipper universe of stories to anyone wanting to enjoy great characters in a well thought out background.

LOVED IT

I’m so unbelievably happy, I love this world for I myself am in the freight business and I’ve been following Ish around for years, wishing I had my own ship in the stars, I hope there’s more to come, thank you Nathan for your wonderful storytelling. Can’t wait for the next chapter, safe voyage.

More please

While there wasn’t much action, the bit we got was good. I don’t know think there was anything that I didn’t like throughout. My greatest hope is for more stories of the principle crew, but if the story ends here it’s not the same worst ending created.

the kind of ending Ishmael deserved.

a wonderful continuation to the story of my favorite characters. all i can say is thank you to nathan lowell for this hilarious, thoughtful, and magical creation. ive listened to all of the clipper series dozens of times and it is such a comfort. i will always recomend them to anyone who will listen.

fantastic!

once again Nathan delivers the goods. I hope we see more of these characters. fantastic job

Great series

I really enjoyed the entire solar clipper series . The story concept - merchant seamen adventures in space . Start with the first book, Quarter Share. I think it would be hard to follow if you started in the middle.

The character development was well done. And much of this book (and the whole series) involves interpersonal relationships.

There are some long stretches of dialog with characters explaining philosophy and how the whole solar clipper “universe” works - but overall it works .