Where the Ships Die

by William C. Dietz, Bruce Jensen (Illustrator)

A band of humans desperately searches through space in the hope of finding a wormhole called the Mescalaro Gap before a murderous alien race finds it and seizes control of the universe

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks

277 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1996

About the author

New York Times bestselling author William C. Dietz has published more than fifty novels, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and Japanese. He grew up in the Seattle area, served as a medic with the Navy and Marine Corps, graduated from the University of Washington, and has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, and television news writer, director and producer. Before becoming a full-time writer Dietz was director of public relations and marketing for an international telephone company. He and his wife live near Gig Harbor, Washington.

Reviews

[Mary JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Howard and Mary Voss are killed in a very suspicious shuttle crash, the story focuses on their two children.

With the parents dead, there are many unscrupulous persons who want to get their hands on Natalie or Dorn Voss. If either of them have the co-ordinates for the 'wormhole' (aka warp/aka stargate) their parents controlled, that information is priceless.

Natalie takes a berth as Third Officer in a merchant spaceship--only to find herself trailed by the alien Traa--and her new ship trailed by an armed pirate.

Dorn, a few months from his 18th birthday, is stranded penniless by his parents' death on a backwards, corrupt colony world. He soon ends up in a slave laborr camp.

A well written, fast paced SF adventure story. It is more an action novel, but the two major characters--Natalie and Dorn--are fairly well developed. Some of the minor characters are also well written, though described less fully. The three group bonding of the Traa race is interesting and they are satisfacory aliens. I also enjoyed the Dromo and the Treeth races when they joined in the action.

I have read several of Mr. Dietz's books and have enjoyed them. He writes a competenet, enjoyable adventure story. Recommended for any SF fan over age 14. (Edited to fix a few typos --sorry for the re-post).

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't the best sci-fi novel I've read, but it isn't bad at all. Some of the characters were a little off (like a little girl who seemed to think like an adult). Anyway, I read it in like 3 days, so it was certainly good enough.

[Angela]

4 March 2020: $1.99 on Kindle

[Bruce R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun but short

Fun but short, the story carried several, many I would like to have had brought to fruition but that is mostly nitpicking. Enjoyed this story

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

An action adventure SF novel with a YA feel to it. Most of the major characters are young and there's some sudden romance involved. I find the star faring races with populations of a few million to be somewhat improbable, they aren't dying races in the last days of their glory. The world of New Hope is very gritty with rampant poverty and disease combined with an evil, corrupt government that uses a form of judicial slavery similar to southern chain gangs. It all works out in the end with a very dramatic climax.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoop! A Dietz I don't have... okay, technically I'm breaking the rules as I have both heard of Mr. Dietz AND read Mr. Dietz... but this one I have not seen before... so it kinda counts! A good fun read that was written using the Jack Williamson method... in other words he hit a point where the story was over and then ended it with a bang! Fun! Glad I found it!

[Steven Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book set in Dietz's world. Good story with a bit of different twist for the author. If you are used to the author's action-packed Legion of the Damned series you might be disappointed with this book as it is more political wrangling and company espionage than combat. I enjoyed the book, and will read the rest of Dietz's books as I can find them.

[Scott S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Booooring.

It was okay. I was expecting more. Some of the aliens seemed to be added just for the sake of adding them, they didn't add anything to the story.

[Keira F. Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weak for Dietz, but still entertaining enough.

[Ackers61]

Not as good as most of his other books.. personally didn't like at all to be honest.