John Grimes: Survey Captain

John Grimes: Survey Service #4 & 7 included

by A. Bertram Chandler

Hardcover edition containing four 1. The Broken Cycle 2. The Big Black Mark 3. The Far Traveler 4. Star Courier

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

612 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Arthur Bertram Chandler (28 March 1912–6 June 1984) was an Australian science fiction author. He also wrote under the pseudonyms George Whitley, George Whitely, Paul T. Sherman, Andrew Dunstan, and S.H.M.

He was born in Aldershot, England. He was a merchant marine officer, sailing the world in everything from tramp steamers to troopships. He emigrated to Australia in 1956 and became an Australian citizen. He commanded various ships in the Australian and New Zealand merchant navies, and was the last master of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne as the law required that it have an officer on board while it was laid up waiting to be towed to China to be broken up.

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the SFBC omnibus in 2006. Pleasant reading, if you like Sea Stories in Space. And can tolerate MC John Grimes. I liked these pretty well when I was much younger.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good stories within this omnibus, however none of the characters (including Grimes himself) are especially likeable. Also, the portrayal of women in all the Grimes adventures I have read so far has been far from flattering.

[Jeff Greason · Rating 3 out of 5]

After two months, I'm giving up on this book without finishing it, which is very rare for me. Even stranger, I've enjoyed some of Bertram Chandler's short fiction. But it's just a slog. While the story concepts are interesting, the worldbuilding is interesting, and the characters are fleshed out -- the characters are no one whose company I enjoy. Unlikeable people doing unlikeable things while interesting events happen around them do not hold my interest. This is my second attempt to make it through this book and I can only manage a few pages at a time before I lose interest, so I'm giving it away unfinished.

[Fatbaldguy60 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another omnibus from SFBC, 4 books this time. The Broken Cycle, The Big Black Mark, The Far Traveller, and Star Courier. A mixed bag.