Navigator Of Rhada

Rhada #3

by Robert Cham Gilman, Alfred Coppel

The Second Stellar Empire is in crisis. The Galacton is weak and led by a general harboring dreams of conquest. The general leads a political party resentful of the Order of Navigators, whom they suspect of developing forbidden technology.

Kynan the Navigator rushes to the side of his bond-father, who may have been murdered in a plot to cause strife between two planets of the Rim. Little does Kynan know that he is part of a secret plan to reshape the politics of the galaxy.

Credited as "Robert Cham Gilman"

Genres: Science Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1986

About the author

A pseudonym of Alfred Coppel used for the Rhada series.

Reviews

[Bizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s interesting that the author chose to make every book take place after a significant time jump from the previous book. I liked seeing how technology, culture, and societal institutions change over time as humanity regains some of its lost scientific knowledge. Of the four books, this one felt most influenced by the time it was written, because the emperor is a hippie who does too many drugs and is therefore weak and useless, unlike the manly main character who cares about tradition etc.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basic concept is Vikings in Space, but there's a lot more awesomeness to this book.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Second Stellar Empire is in crisis. The Galacton is weak and led by a general harboring dreams of conquest. The general leads a political party resentful of the Order of Navigators, whom they suspect of developing forbidden technology.

Kynan the Navigator rushes to the side of his bond-father, who may have been murdered in a plot to cause strife between two planets of the Rim. Little does Kynan know that he is part of a secret plan to reshape the politics of the galaxy.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and readable. The author has advanced the timeline to where technology is starting to reappear in the galaxy. While this makes perfect sense in context, it also diminishes the charm of the first two books.

The political maneuvering at the heart of the story is kept relatively simple, which is rather refreshing in a book of this style.