Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Voyage of the Pequod” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Voyage of the Pequod

E.B. Dawson (Goodreads Author)

4.70 · Rating details · 10 ratings · 10 reviews

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Commissioned to hunt down straggler MICs (Mechanized Intelligence Cruisers) in the outer reach of the great Commonwealth, the starship Pequod sets sail only to find out their captain has his own agenda.

Get A Copy

Or buy for

More Details... edit details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Voyage of the Pequod, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Voyage of the Pequod

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-24

4.70 ·

Rating details

· 10 ratings · 10 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Apr 08, 2019 Deborah O'Carroll rated it it was amazing

Shelves: may-releases

This is Moby Dick in space. That idea is as perfect as it sounds and YOU NEED IT IN YOUR LIFE. *collapses* I’m not even as familiar with the original Moby Dick story as I could be, and sci-fi isn’t my usual genre, but I absolutely adored this short story! I suppose I knew enough to appreciate it as a retelling (though others might appreciate it more), but either way it was a brilliant story and totally captured me. I was instantly absorbed in this unique and fascinating tale. Electronic space wh ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

May 13, 2019 Hannah Heath rated it it was amazing

Shelves: indie-books, sci-fi, short-stories

SO good! RTC.

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2019 Grace Crandall rated it it was amazing

I think this was possibly one of the most inventive and enthralling short stories I’ve ever read. The way Dawson combines the organic seafaring feel of Moby Dick with a science fiction world full of spaceships, machines, and cyberpunk-esque moral questions of what constitutes sentience is fascinating and a real joy to read.

The story begins at the end of a war and the outset of a voyage. Humanity has conquered the Machines—save for a few straggling creatures floating out in space, still programm I think this was possibly one of the most inventive and enthralling short stories I’ve ever read. The way Dawson combines the organic seafaring feel of Moby Dick with a science fiction world full of spaceships, machines, and cyberpunk-esque moral questions of what constitutes sentience is fascinating and a real joy to read.

The story begins at the end of a war and the outset of a voyage. Humanity has conquered the Machines—save for a few straggling creatures floating out in space, still programmed to fight a war that most of humanity has already left behind.
Most humanity, that is, except for Captain Ahab of the Pequod. He is still haunted by the memory of one of the MICs—a pale, huge creature that fought to protect its own kind. A creature that escaped him once, but will not be so lucky again.
A creature known as Moby Dick.

The thing that surprised me the most about this story was the way everyone who came across the page came alive. Ahab has such a solid, awesome presence; in a very short space, it’s easy to see why his crew is as loyal to him as they are. I also really loved Starbuck. His internal struggle and strong moral code made me feel so deeply for him.

Second to the characters, the worldbuilding in this story is utterly insane and I love every bit of it. From the description of New Bedford harbor (asteroids in gravity fields ringed with old spaceships!!!!! I love!!!) to the inclusion of deeply organic elements in a story that nonetheless never drop the ‘science’ from the ‘science fiction, I’m just so hooked on seeing more of this world. The idea of the possibly-sentient MICs developing their own consciousness was intrinsically fascinating; even though we only hear about Moby Dick through stories, I still feel some sympathy for him. (Her? It?)

Also really fascinating was the inclusion of the Machine Worshippers. The inclusion of a religious/philosophical sect, even briefly, in a world filled with old sailors and soldiers was a cool dichotomy that really made the story world feel larger than it already was.

I was equal parts sad and excited to find out that this story is the first in a series. On the one hand, I want to know what happens next! But on the other, I’m thrilled to find out that this is a world and a story that we’re going to see more of.

I loved this story SO much, and I cannot wait for the next installment!
...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2019 J.E. rated it it was amazing

I do not even have words for how incredible this short story is.
I think every new short story I read by E.B. Dawson is my new favorite, but I can say... this is my new favorite.
The texture and depth of the world-building is so alive and vivid. Everything was so expertly woven in. It felt old and textured, like I had been given a window into another world that had been existing alongside ours for so long.
Basically, this books is pure awesomeness. Especially if you are a great lover of classi ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2019 Beth Wangler rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone; fans of Moby Dick; fans of sci-fi; fans of classics

Voyage of the Pequod is a short story sci-fi adaptation of Moby Dick.

If that idea sounds strange, let me pose it this way: Space whales. Hardy, well-seasoned spaceship crew. Breathtaking panoramas of vibrant galaxies. Thoughtful, unhurried portraits human nature.

In short, "Voyage of the Pequod" is everything you desperately wanted from sci-fi, and even several wonderful things you never dared dream of.

If I'm being honest, I've been feeling rather let down by sci-fi recently. I've been bored b

...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 05, 2019 Katelyn Buxton rated it really liked it

As others have said, Voyage of the Pequod shines in its beautiful male/male friendships, breathtaking intergalactic panoramas, and and inventiveness in its approach to a retelling of one of the most well-known classics. Having read Moby Dick myself, I have to admit I was a little worried when I heard that Dawson would attempt to fit Melville’s 200,000-word epic into the confines of a short story... but I shouldn’t have worried! Dawson is a master at creating vibrant story-worlds in just a few wo ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 24, 2019 E.B. Dawson rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

One of my favorite things that I have ever written. This novelette combines the wonder of space exploration with the haunting themes of Herman Melville's classic novel. Ahab takes center stage in all his flawed, charismatic glory. His character is contrasted by the unflinching loyalty of his first mate, Starbuck. And the epic struggle between hunter and hunted is transferred from man vs. beast to man vs. machine.

It was a privilege to write.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 28, 2019 Hope E rated it it was amazing

This story...wow. It was enthralled from the very first page. I loved the descriptions of New Bedford Harbor and of the starship Pequod. It was all so interesting and unusual.
The old-fashioned narration was brilliant, and despite the story's short length, the characters were all thoroughly developed: David, the newbie who's never been into void space before; Ishmael, the shipman with years of experience and plenty of exaggerated stories who takes him under his wing; Starbuck, the careful first ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2019 Janelle Garrett rated it really liked it

4/5 stars

Hello, beautiful cover! <3

This short story delivers in typical Dawson fashion. I'm not usually fan of retellings, but the author manages to capture the essence of the original with new ideas and a fresh take that is both respectful of the older version yet adds a newness that is refreshing.

Similar to Moby Dick, there is a crew of sailor-talking men who have a sort of awe-inspiring view of Captain Ahab, and his obsession with a ship/alien/other entity (one thing I wish had been more ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2019 Bethany Fehr rated it really liked it

This is the coziest sci-fi story I've ever read. I want more of this awesome blend of modern and classic literature!

I love how Dawson melds 19th century culture, style, and vocabulary with a high-tech sci-fi setting. The writing bears all the charm of a classic while still appealing to modern readers: the author is not afraid of taking time to dwell on details and describe the scenery and characters at a leisurely pace, yet the story is much more streamlined than Melville's writing. The style gi This is the coziest sci-fi story I've ever read. I want more of this awesome blend of modern and classic literature!

I love how Dawson melds 19th century culture, style, and vocabulary with a high-tech sci-fi setting. The writing bears all the charm of a classic while still appealing to modern readers: the author is not afraid of taking time to dwell on details and describe the scenery and characters at a leisurely pace, yet the story is much more streamlined than Melville's writing. The style gives the feeling of being slightly rambly without wasting words or offering much truly extraneous information. The vocabulary gave me a strong sense of a century gone by, yet it was not so advanced as to be at all difficult to follow.

I'm also impressed by how believably Dawson adapted whaling techniques to the high tech setting. She gives a convincing justification for the use of harpoons in an age where you'd expect plasma cannons, and comes up with so many opportunities for the characters to physically interact with their surroundings and work hard where you might expect computers and robots to be doing the heavy lifting. I loved the applications of whaling/seafaring terminology and the hidden reference to the true story that inspired Moby Dick.

One of the most pleasant surprises I found is that the story is not narrated by Ishmael; instead the narration switches between an omniscient narrator and more intimate excursions into the perspectives of several individual characters. I think this decision is absolutely brilliant on Dawson's part; now I have reason to doubt that Ishmael will be the last man left at the conclusion, which means I get to worry about all the characters instead of closing my heart off to them because I'm convinced I know who is predestined to die. One of the toughest things about retellings is raising questions about an ending everyone is familiar with, and I think Dawson nailed this one.

There was one little thing I found disappointing: Voyage of the Pequod is only Part One of the larger story and I'll have to wait who-knows-how-long to find out how it ends!
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Cayla Huffman marked it as to-read
Mar 04, 2019

Holland S.M. is currently reading it
Apr 01, 2019

K.L. + Pierce marked it as to-read
Apr 02, 2019

Aristae Henricus marked it as to-read
Apr 08, 2019

Tessa marked it as to-read
Apr 08, 2019

Sha marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2019

S. M. Metzler marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2019

Meltintalle marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2019

Greg Watson marked it as to-read
May 25, 2019

Stalker Royalstream marked it as to-read
May 25, 2019

Hααℓєу♡ Ƒιѕнєя marked it as to-read
May 25, 2019

Hiromi marked it as to-read
May 26, 2019

Meagan marked it as to-read
Jun 18, 2019

Bethany Tillerson marked it as to-read
Jun 18, 2019

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Genres

Science Fiction

1 user

Short Stories

1 user

See top shelves…

About E.B. Dawson

E.B. Dawson

46 followers

I grew up in Southeast Asia. My first experience with America was when I was six years old. Sometimes I amuse my friends by telling them stories of my first impressions of this country (clean bathrooms, Toy Story, Taco Bell, getting lost in department stores).

My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American a ...more