Winds of Marque

Blackwood & Virtue

By: Bennett R. Coles

Narrated by: Steven Brand

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Bennett R. Coles ranks among my go-to list in SF. Entertaining and intelligent storytelling and terrific characters. In Winds of Marque, Coles may well have invented a whole new subgenre that has me scrambling for a description - Steam Space? Whatever you call it, a blast to read. Here's hoping that many more adventures are in the offing for Blackwood and company." (Steven Erikson, New York Times best-selling author)

The first novel in an exciting science-fiction series - Master and Commander in space - a swashbuckling space adventure in which a crew of misfit individuals in the king’s navy are sent to dismantle a dangerous ring of pirate raiders. 

In a dense star cluster, the solar winds blow fiercely. The star sailing ship HMSS Daring is running at full sheet with a letter of marque allowing them to capture enemy vessels involved in illegal trading. Sailing under a false flag to protect the ship and its mission, Daring’s crew must gather intelligence that will lead them to the pirates’ base.

Posing as traders, Daring’s dashing second-in-command Liam Blackwood and brilliant quartermaster Amelia Virtue infiltrate shady civilian merchant networks, believing one will lead them to their quarry. 

But their mission is threatened from within their own ranks when Daring’s enigmatic captain makes a series of questionable choices, and rumblings of discontent start bubbling up from below decks, putting the crew on edge and destroying morale. On top of it all, Liam and Amelia must grapple with their growing feelings for each other.

Facing danger from unexpected quarters that could steer the expedition off course, Blackwood and Virtue must identify the real enemy threat and discover the truth about their commander - and their mission - before Daring falls prey to the very pirates she’s meant to be tracking.

©2019 Bennett R. Coles (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Author Needs Education

I think it should be a requirement that anyone who endeavors to write science fiction know at least a little about actual science. Also, if you use sailing as a plot device, knowing how actual sailing works would be a good thing. This author has ships sailing between different star systems in mere days, propelled by solar sails . . . THE slowest method of interstellar travel. His characters travel to and from orbit on beanstalk elevators and have modern electronics, yet use human lookouts who watch for danger through clear canopies and his pilots navigate the ships by hand. His ships are armed with laser cannon and guided missiles, but ALSO armed with black powder cannon. Oddly, while his black powder cannon work just fine, his black powder handguns can't work in vacuum . . . because "there is no air!" He doesn't even know enough chemistry to realize that the powder MAKES the air it needs as part of the explosive reaction. When his sailing ships are moving at speed, he describes the sails as "shivering" . . . which only happens when sails LOSE power. You can *feel* that the author wanted to write a stirring swashbuckler set in space, yet he couldn't be bothered to Google how anything actually works. If you want a GOOD version of such a background, give David Drake's RCN series a try. Drake is also a better writer.

Swashbuckling Fun Story

I really like the concept here - taking 1800s British navy milieu and updating it for space. It makes for a relatable read and provides a solid known framework from which the author can build a storyline. Readers do have to suspend disbelief quite a bit - the author doesn't attempt to justify or explain the technology or setting but instead focuses solely on the characters. It's a story that you just enjoy the swashbuckling ride and don't think too hard.

Story: Blackwood is second in command in a King's navy built around the nobility - for good or bad. As the son of a minor noble who already has an heir, his only recourse is to build a career in the military - though it feels like he is far too often passed over for promotion in favor of a better connected (and far less competent) nobleman. When he is given a mission that is daring, secretive, and important for the empire, he enlists the aid of former crewmate Virtue, a commoner woman who had proven remarkably capable in a recent difficult situation. Together with their cold-as-ice new captain, they will transform into freetraders and pirates in order to infiltrate and stop the pirates from starting a war with the alien Insectoids.

The story is fun - with a bit of humor and a great set of characters. The idea of masts to catch solar winds and having a canopy above the bridge so that you can use a spyglass to see the enemy ships is a bit hard to justify if you think too hard; it's best to remind yourself that teleporters, photon torpedoes, light year travel, etc. are also just as speculative and not realistic. Once you put that aside it's just a fun book with characters you enjoy following. All the British navy hallmarks are there - from scurvy, sanctity of rum, to the hierarchy. Expect plenty of boardings, canon firings, etc. There's even a romance to liven things up.

In all, I greatly enjoyed the book. The audible narrator did a good job and the production was fine.