When the Tide Rises (Rcn-Daniel Leary) by David Drake
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Book Reviews of When the Tide Rises (Rcn-Daniel Leary)
Book Review: Officer and a Gentleman
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have been following the Lt. for a while you will see that some things don't change. Lt. Leary is an Officer and a Gentleman, he won't leave his people in bad times and will come up with a way to accomplish his mission, no matter the possible personal cost. An officer I would proudly serve under. Book Review: substantial improvement over the previous book
Summary: 4 Stars
In all respects, this was a substantial improvement over the previous book in this series (Some Golden Harbor). The plotting seemed tighter, the characterization more sophisticated, and the action more intense.
In particular, Adele Mundy seemed less like a whiner and more like the interesting person she could be. (Daniel Leary also comes off as more adult, which is long since overdue.) The new character, Cazelet, is something of a McGuffin, serving more to advance the character development of the others than as a real character in his own right. But he does do that job well, and it brings Adele out of the stagnation her character has been suffering from.
The book is more action-oriented than some of the others, which is probably a good thing. Drake doesn't need a lot of action to write a good book, but I think Leary and Mundy demand it. So in this series, a healthy amount of action is a plus.
Fans of Tovara and Hogg may feel a bit shorted, but fans of Leary and Mundy will be more happy. And the rest of the Sissies get their screen time as well, which is an important aspect of what makes these books continue to be worth reading.
There is no end in sight for this series, but this book (in contrast to the last one) makes that once again seem like a good thing.
Book Review: Among the Revolutionaries
Summary: 5 Stars
When the Tide Rises (2008) is the sixth SF novel in the Leary, RCN, series, following Some Golden Harbor. In the previous volume, Daniel Leary commanded the Bennarian destroyer Sibyl in combat with the Pellegrinian cruiser Caio Duilio and drove the enemy ship into the atmosphere of Dunbar's World. After the cruiser crashlanded, the winners gathered to dispose of the booty.
Daniel dictated the ownership of the various ships, weapon and materiel with very little opposition. Adele Mundy had waking nightmares after leading the attack on the missile control trailer, but Daniel calmed her down. Then they went off to listen to Elemere sing.
In this novel, Daniel receives orders to aid the Bagarian Republic in their revolution against the Alliance. Naturally, the mission has more to do with Cinnabar's interests than those of the Bagarian Republic. Just maybe Daniel can do enough to draw the attention of the Alliance Navy and relieve the pressures on Admiral James at Diamondia.
Adele has received a visitor from Bryce in the Alliance worlds. Rene Cazelet is the grandson of Madame Boileau, who had been training Adele as a librarian when Cinnabar killed off her family. Cazelet's parents have been arrested -- and probably executed -- on charges of treason against the Alliance.
Cazelet had only escaped capture because he was with his grandmother and is now fleeing agents of the Fifth Bureau. Madame Boileau asks Adele to take in Cazelet and mentor him as she had done for her. Adele quickly decides to adopt Cazelet, so to speak, and carries him along to the theater. There they see the popular show The Conquest of Dunbar's World, starring Michael Beasley as Lieutenant Daniel Leary, RCN.
In this story, the Princess Cecile first sails to Diamondia. With Daniel's permission, Adele includes Cazelet in the ship's company and bunks him in the midshipmen quarters. Adele starts training him as a signals officer during the voyage.
On Diamondia, Daniel has a private talk with Admiral James. Then the Princess Cecile sails on to Pelosi and the Bagarian Republic. The Bagarian president and ministers are so impressed by Daniel's reputation that they appoint him as the commanding admiral of the Bagarian Navy.
Of course, their navy doesn't amount to much. They do have a former RCN vessel captured from the Alliance -- the light cruiser Victoria Luise -- and offer to rename her Admiral Leary. But Daniel convinces them to name her Ladouceur, the original RCN name.
Daniel takes the Ladouceur and other vessels of the Bagarian Navy out on a training mission. Naturally, Daniel makes the mission as realistic as possible. So they raid Dodd's Throne and take two Pleasaunce registered ships as prizes.
Adele continues instructing Cazelet on ship identification and other techniques that she uses to do her job as signal officer. Cazelet catches on quickly and starts to become very effective in shipbourne communications. Of course, he has already received training from his grandmother almost as extensive as Adele's own education.
This tale takes Daniel through political and naval minefields in the Bagarian Republic and within the RCN. He gains the interest of Admiral James and his senior captains. When James finally ups ship to fight the Alliance fleet, Daniel and the Princess Cecelia are with him.
The story is loosely based on the memoirs of Lord Cochrane in service to the revolutionary governments of Chile and Brazil. One gets the distinct impression that these governments were trying to please the populace without angering Spain and Portugal. Obviously, Lord Cochrane had a difficult time performing his mission with the revolutionary councils working against him. But the author does make things somewhat easier for Daniel, since his own government is not actively baulking him.
As usual, the Princess Cecile succeeds despite the odds and produces the desired results. Both Daniel and Adele perform small wonders and lead the Sissies and other crewmembers to victory. But keep your eye on Cazelet; who knows what he is really trying to do.
Highly recommended for Drake fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of spatial combat, political chicanery and a touch of romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Book Review: Too much politics, too little action
Summary: 3 Stars
Drake has this recent trend to skew away from the action and delve too deeply into the politics of the situation. When I read a SF war / adventure book, I want - well - ADVENTURE. Not the future version of a presidential debate. As each novel comes out, Leery is being portrayed more and more of an airhead, Adele of a psychopath, and Tovera a homicidal twit.
The parts of the book that are centered around battles and adventure are Drake at his best. These are offset by Drake at his most boring.
Book Review: Another fine read.
Summary: 5 Stars
I generally like David Drake very much, and I think the Lt. Leary books are his best since the "The General" series. If you like Lt. Leary, you will like this book!