Henry Martyn

Coordinated Arm #1

by L. Neil Smith

A thousand years from now, in the depths of interstellar space, there will be sailing ships - and pirates. Vast empires clash as young Arran Islay fights for freedom - and to regain a legacy brutally stripped from his family by the "Black Usurper".

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

437 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

L. Neil Smith was a Libertarian science fiction author and gun rights activist.Smith was born in Denver, Colorado.

Smith began publishing science fiction with “Grimm’s Law” for Stellar 5 (1980). He wrote 31 books, including 29 novels, and a number of essays and short stories. In 2016, Smith received the Special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement for his contributions to libertarian science fiction.

He was editor of LEVER ACTION BBS [now defunct], founder and International Coordinator of the Libertarian Second Amendment Caucus, Secretary and Legislative Director of the Weld County Fish & Wildlife Association and an NRA Life Member.

Smith passed away on August 27, 2021 in Fort Collins, Colorado at age 75 after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease. Smith is survived by daughter Rylla Smith and wife Cathy Smith.

Reviews

[Dorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is the single most enjoyable book about SciFi Space Pirates to be written in half a century. It's a riotously fun blend of Spartacus and Hunt for Red October, in Smith's really very competent, if somewhat pedestrian, style. There are a plethora of enormous spaceships, guns without count, aliens, legos (you heard me) and detailed political intrigue rarely done as well in action SciFi.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately enjoyable space pirates romp. Eventually I stopped being annoyed with the elaborate prose style, but it took quite awhile.

[Jon · Rating 1 out of 5]

While Browsing at Hastings one day, I saw a book by L. Neil Smith that looked like great swashbuckling piracy and adventure. However, it was the second in a series, which was nowhere apparent, so I had to wait until I was able to find the first book before I could buy it. Henry Martyn was that book.


Well, after reading somewhere between 75 and 100 pages, I realized that this one didn't live up to the expectations generated by the blurb on the back either. It seemed to be written in the space opera genre, but I just couldn't empathize with any of the characters and nothing exciting was happening, so I gave up. Maybe y'all will have better luck.

[I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like L Neil Smith's writing, but this is one of the better. The big empire with millions of planets and a corrupt government, and yet one boy can be ruined by this massive corruption and through despair can become a dreaded pirate.

This book highlights the weaknesses of a central government and its inability to protect the outer fringe of its empire and provide justice to its citizens.

And the pirate ship and pirate tales... They start so dark, but he doesn't shy away from reality.

This is a really good book and has some unique ideas.

Read the sequel!

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty mediocre so far. Still waiting for the space piracy to start.

[William Hartwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of L. Neil Smith's books I read, and the one that convinced me his books were worth reading. Besides, a good, old-fashioned pirate yarn is hard to resist.