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April #8
It's Always Something
Home is a nice place to live. If only so many people didn't think so. The influx has driven housing prices past anything reasonable.
The Homies and their lunar allies have made sure they won't starve if Earth cuts them off, but they want to do much more than just survive.
April and her friends are prospering, and working to make everyone else succeeds too. But Earth is still in turmoil. China and the USNA are holding back a global recovery after The Great Flu, because of their internal power struggles. Our heroes aren't going to wait for them to get their houses in order. There are other Earth nations that can be trading partners.
Somebody is still targeting them, but April, Jeff and Heather will meet the challenge.
As the eighth book in this series, it is impossible to fully cite the back-story. I don't suggest this as a stand-alone book. To understand the characters and rich details start with "April". The story will continue...
The Homies and their lunar allies have made sure they won't starve if Earth cuts them off, but they want to do much more than just survive.
April and her friends are prospering, and working to make everyone else succeeds too. But Earth is still in turmoil. China and the USNA are holding back a global recovery after The Great Flu, because of their internal power struggles. Our heroes aren't going to wait for them to get their houses in order. There are other Earth nations that can be trading partners.
Somebody is still targeting them, but April, Jeff and Heather will meet the challenge.
As the eighth book in this series, it is impossible to fully cite the back-story. I don't suggest this as a stand-alone book. To understand the characters and rich details start with "April". The story will continue...
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2016
190 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Mackey Chandler
35 books220 followersMackey (Mac') Chandler is retired to Rochester Michigan from a working life that spanned a large number of occupations. Mold maker, aerospace machinist, plumber, mechanic and dozen more as well as owning several businesses. This life experience and travel show in the depth and variety of his writing.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 3, 2022
Another really enjoyable read.
July 13, 2019
More conflict with the USNA factions, more internal troubles with Home bursting at the seams from the influx of new residents and the lunar colonies are getting antsy. This installment into the series is very much a continuation on pre-existing storyline arcs but without much in the way of resolution. Most of the big changes are very spoilery so I won't go into them other than to say thhat a lot of the undertones of the book can be boiled down to landing rights and the acceptance of Home as a political entity.
There's still spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in the book, a couple of them being jarring enough to drop you out of the flow of the narrative.
September 23, 2019
It's as good as the series has been lately, with high migration onto M3 and no room for them but trying to build with plans to start landing back on earth soon for trade hopefully, somehow. I have to ask though, why does it seem the earth is frozen time at year 2018 with no further tech progress on the ground at all.
But again, alot of editing needed. My Notes ? are needed edits that I won't do anymore.
I read for pleasure.
But again, alot of editing needed. My Notes ? are needed edits that I won't do anymore.
I read for pleasure.
April 28, 2024
Another enjoyable read
I'm really enjoying this series. While there are some exciting action sequences the characters and their developing relationships are what keeps me hooked. Not to mention the detailed description of life in the future and how they keep beating the USNA's assassination plots. Highly recommend.
I'm really enjoying this series. While there are some exciting action sequences the characters and their developing relationships are what keeps me hooked. Not to mention the detailed description of life in the future and how they keep beating the USNA's assassination plots. Highly recommend.
August 25, 2017
One of my criteria for a good read is to like the characters. The story itself has a strong plot line and great character development. Pacing was awesome; this book sucks you in from the start and keeps you hooked. It leaves you wanting more.
May 26, 2021
More of the same!
Good stuff, good reading. It keeps me interested in what's going to happen next, even though I've read the series before. I think I missed the one where Barack invented the bit.
Good stuff, good reading. It keeps me interested in what's going to happen next, even though I've read the series before. I think I missed the one where Barack invented the bit.
December 9, 2021
Formating
Well I'm glad that that the weird color formatting used in the last book is missing from this one. I would really like to know how the USNA got to be as screwed up as it was in the 1st book, but I can see how it got to this point from there.
Well I'm glad that that the weird color formatting used in the last book is missing from this one. I would really like to know how the USNA got to be as screwed up as it was in the 1st book, but I can see how it got to this point from there.
September 24, 2017
Great series.
Home matures as a political power as the major powers in earth imp!use. The editing seems to get better with each book but story makes up for that.
Home matures as a political power as the major powers in earth imp!use. The editing seems to get better with each book but story makes up for that.
March 1, 2020
Love it!!
Such good stories! I like the characters and the action. The duel was marvelous, poison and all. Missed comment on the artist.
Such good stories! I like the characters and the action. The duel was marvelous, poison and all. Missed comment on the artist.
September 28, 2025
3.5 stars
December 14, 2021
Why Can’t They All Just Get Along?
This is the eighth book in a continuing series and the previous books need to be read in order to understand this one. The narrative ends at a natural break but the story continues in future books. There is a linked series, Family Law, that is set in the future and has some characters in common. A post that outlines the reading order of the two series is available here.
After the ‘flu, Earth seems to be determined to keep itself in the dirt. Both China and USNA have massive internal problems and the people in power don’t seem to care how badly their decisions are affecting their own citizens. There are hundreds of thousands of migrants in USNA all heading south because of lack of power in the north and they can’t face a winter without fuel. There is so much infighting it’s a miracle anything gets done.
Despite these ‘superpowers’ cutting off Home and the Moon, there are other countries in the world who still wish to do business with them. There are things that can only be made in zero-g that those countries still want access to. These smaller countries may be open to negotiation, especially when they have things of value to trade.
This book shows more about life on Earth and how difficult it can be. Kurt used to be a beam dog on Home and returned back to Earth to be with his family. Through his eyes, we are shown what it’s like on the ground for ordinary people. It’s an interesting change of tack and I really enjoyed it. I also like Kurt as a character and we follow him loosely throughout the book. He eventually moves to Central on the Moon and again we get to see what life is like there through his eyes.
There is much trading and politicking done in this book to make Home and the Moon much safer and stable in terms of being able to access all they need from Earth. It’s vital work but needed less and less. If only they had more room on Home to give everyone a proper bed when they arrive. Looks like another job for Jeff and his Ladies.
As always this book was interesting and entertaining. It continues to be fun for this author to show different political systems set in the future from the outside and in doing so pointing at current systems and their potential pitfalls. I really enjoy reading about these characters and the strange environment in which they live, it’s alien and at the same time comforting.
This is the eighth book in a continuing series and the previous books need to be read in order to understand this one. The narrative ends at a natural break but the story continues in future books. There is a linked series, Family Law, that is set in the future and has some characters in common. A post that outlines the reading order of the two series is available here.
After the ‘flu, Earth seems to be determined to keep itself in the dirt. Both China and USNA have massive internal problems and the people in power don’t seem to care how badly their decisions are affecting their own citizens. There are hundreds of thousands of migrants in USNA all heading south because of lack of power in the north and they can’t face a winter without fuel. There is so much infighting it’s a miracle anything gets done.
Despite these ‘superpowers’ cutting off Home and the Moon, there are other countries in the world who still wish to do business with them. There are things that can only be made in zero-g that those countries still want access to. These smaller countries may be open to negotiation, especially when they have things of value to trade.
This book shows more about life on Earth and how difficult it can be. Kurt used to be a beam dog on Home and returned back to Earth to be with his family. Through his eyes, we are shown what it’s like on the ground for ordinary people. It’s an interesting change of tack and I really enjoyed it. I also like Kurt as a character and we follow him loosely throughout the book. He eventually moves to Central on the Moon and again we get to see what life is like there through his eyes.
There is much trading and politicking done in this book to make Home and the Moon much safer and stable in terms of being able to access all they need from Earth. It’s vital work but needed less and less. If only they had more room on Home to give everyone a proper bed when they arrive. Looks like another job for Jeff and his Ladies.
As always this book was interesting and entertaining. It continues to be fun for this author to show different political systems set in the future from the outside and in doing so pointing at current systems and their potential pitfalls. I really enjoy reading about these characters and the strange environment in which they live, it’s alien and at the same time comforting.
June 11, 2017
I quite enjoy this series but I’m not sure why. The series has turned into a space soap opera, there isn’t really a story, its more a diary of the day to day life of a selected few individuals and the odd glimpse into what is happening on Earth.
Also because of the way the book is constructed as a series of short snippets, there are several annoying inconsistencies, for example Patrick manoeuvres Jeff into a challenge, but where did he come from? How did he get on the station? What has he been doing on the station? How did he get a vote in the assembly? This incident shouldn’t have been possible.
Having said all this, I still kept reading and I actually enjoyed this more than the last couple of books, partly because April is a bit more prominent, but I would really like a stronger storyline.
Also because of the way the book is constructed as a series of short snippets, there are several annoying inconsistencies, for example Patrick manoeuvres Jeff into a challenge, but where did he come from? How did he get on the station? What has he been doing on the station? How did he get a vote in the assembly? This incident shouldn’t have been possible.
Having said all this, I still kept reading and I actually enjoyed this more than the last couple of books, partly because April is a bit more prominent, but I would really like a stronger storyline.
September 14, 2016
Three and half stars. The characters in this series keep getting more and more interesting. This whole series seems to try to be character driven. There are new projects, new villains and new challenges. The story overall doesn't seem to have any sort of arc or focus. It is just another 'day in the life' style of tale and tomorrow is always another day.
September 18, 2016
Satisfying installment
Same old magnificent stuff, as someone once said in a van Morrison review. April and companions continue to develop ideas, businesses and relationships. Earthies get crazier. Satisfying sci-fi adventure. Already want the next book. Write faster
Same old magnificent stuff, as someone once said in a van Morrison review. April and companions continue to develop ideas, businesses and relationships. Earthies get crazier. Satisfying sci-fi adventure. Already want the next book. Write faster
July 30, 2018
The problem with this series (other than being misleadingly called the "April" series) is that it is less about how libertarian ideals might reasonably be applied to a new space society and more about what a space society would be like if it blindly followed a libertarian rulebook. It's like if you based your society on Ilya Somin's Volokh posts.
Presumably this is why April has so little to do: the obvious role for her to play in between Jeff and Heather is military in nature. But Mackey's goofy libertarianism abhors a standing military, so April is left to passively observe Jeff as he explains some libertarian or economic theory for the nth time.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews