Voyage of the Pequod
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
Friend Reviews
Reader Q&A
Be the first to ask a question about Voyage of the Pequod
Community Reviews


(Bought a paperback and re-read it during the proper part of Ahab, the full novel.)
(Original review)
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 brilli ...more

It is. And E.B. Dawson has done it perfectly. Plus, her version of the story takes place in SPACE. Space improves everything.
This is a terrific introduction to a u ...more

It was a privilege to write. ...more

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 ...more

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

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

The characters, the setting, and the plot come together to form an absolutely remarkable experience, amplified by an extreme fluidity of writing that generates a rather pressing desire bordering on an intellectual requisite for a sequel of literally any shape or size. ...more

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

I’m not very familiar with the original story of Moby Dick, but I was vaguely aware of an obsessive captain’s quest to hunt down the giant white whale. I highly enjoyed visualizing this quest in a futuristic space story. E. B. Dawson’s writing remains vivid and engaging throughout the retelling, and we get to see the tension between Ahab and Starbuck escalate as their loyalty and trust in each other is tested. There wasn’t anything I disliked about the story, but I still liked her Lost Empire se ...more


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 ...more

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 cle ...more

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