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Kris Longknife #19.5
Longknifes Defend the Legation
Grand Admiral Kris Longknife is rampaging across the stars, kicking butt and taking planets away from the Iteeche rebels. She asks her grandparents, Gramma and Grampa Trouble, to came out to spend time with her kids while she is gone.
Meanwhile, back on the Iteeche Imperial Capitol planet, intrigue and power plays continue. Within fifty kilometers of the Imperial Palace are a dozen clan factions who dream of seizing the purple from the hand of the young Emperor.
The Human Embassy once more comes under siege. This time, however, the entire Legation District, all thirty-six blocks and three million Iteeche must be protected.
Meanwhile, the kids are left on their own. Sneaky parents should not be surprised to discover that their kids are just as sly as they are. Before too long, Little Ruth and Johnny, along with thirty of their Human and Iteeche friends, are in way over their heads.
Can Little Ruth keep her friends alive long enough for Gramma Trouble to race to their rescue?
Can Little Ruth, not yet eight, learn the hard lesson of being a Longknife?
This action-packed adventure of just under 100,000 words is a great parallel story for Kris Longknife Stalwart that shows just what measures need to be taken to keep the home fires burning, because – Longknifes do what they have to do . . . no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, back on the Iteeche Imperial Capitol planet, intrigue and power plays continue. Within fifty kilometers of the Imperial Palace are a dozen clan factions who dream of seizing the purple from the hand of the young Emperor.
The Human Embassy once more comes under siege. This time, however, the entire Legation District, all thirty-six blocks and three million Iteeche must be protected.
Meanwhile, the kids are left on their own. Sneaky parents should not be surprised to discover that their kids are just as sly as they are. Before too long, Little Ruth and Johnny, along with thirty of their Human and Iteeche friends, are in way over their heads.
Can Little Ruth keep her friends alive long enough for Gramma Trouble to race to their rescue?
Can Little Ruth, not yet eight, learn the hard lesson of being a Longknife?
This action-packed adventure of just under 100,000 words is a great parallel story for Kris Longknife Stalwart that shows just what measures need to be taken to keep the home fires burning, because – Longknifes do what they have to do . . . no matter the cost.
340 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2020
About the author
Mike Shepherd
83 books568 followersA pseudonym used by Mike Moscoe.
Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.
Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.
Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.
Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.
Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.
Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.
Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.
Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.
Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.
Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.
Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.
Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.
Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.
Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.
Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.
Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.
Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.
Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 25, 2020
not bad. I'd been holding off on this one for the main reason of cliffhangers in the last book. Once I see an author start doing cliffhangers without a fast release of the next book they get taken out of my to-read fast pile. So, I'm pretty late on this. I enjoy the fact that computers seem to be young. They really felt young. It makes me wonder about computers more and more and the symbiosis. I enjoy the world-building and I wish more effort would be done with the Itechee. Something happens and it's treated as "throwaway" almost. I'm not going to give away what I'd like to see more care given next time towards Itechee. I think they are starting to be people. Useful people and not thrown away as their society treats them. I enjoy seeing that plot explained in the minds of not only the Itechee themselves but also in the minds of the humans they live with.
April 23, 2020
Focusing on the adventures of the Embassy on an alien world in the middle of a civil war provides a lot of really great drama. Expanding upon the alien race and their civilian life was really well done. The aliens really come off as alien yet still understandable with their own internal logic. The kid and grandparent split perspective really helps flesh out the world in an interesting way.
April 25, 2020
I hope we get more "little" Ruth stories.
July 10, 2020
Longknife novel from Grandma Ruth and little Ruth's perspective.
When Kris Longknife is away... who is going to protect the embassy? Up to the plate... Kris' grandmother and daughter.
When Kris Longknife is away... who is going to protect the embassy? Up to the plate... Kris' grandmother and daughter.
March 10, 2024
Meanwhile back at the capital planet while Kris Longknife is off in space trying to put the rebels down, her children Ruth and Johnny are learning and playing with their friends both human and Iteeche. While the grownups are dealing with attempts to disrupt life at the Legation District, the kids just want to go swimming in the Emperor's lake.
They make plans using their computers Daisy and Hippo, who are some of Nelly's children, to find a way to sneak out of the Legation District and find their way to the lake. Unfortunately, they are kidnapped on their way. While the humans and their associated Iteeche are combing the planet for them, Ruth who isn't quite eight-year-old uses her intelligence and the remembered guidance of her mother to find a way to let her Gramma and Grampa know where the kids are.
This was an excellent adventure. I enjoyed getting a look at the next generation of Longknifes who are as intrepid and smart and determined as their forefathers. This story is told from both the viewpoints of Gramma Ruth and young Ruth who is her great-granddaughter.
They make plans using their computers Daisy and Hippo, who are some of Nelly's children, to find a way to sneak out of the Legation District and find their way to the lake. Unfortunately, they are kidnapped on their way. While the humans and their associated Iteeche are combing the planet for them, Ruth who isn't quite eight-year-old uses her intelligence and the remembered guidance of her mother to find a way to let her Gramma and Grampa know where the kids are.
This was an excellent adventure. I enjoyed getting a look at the next generation of Longknifes who are as intrepid and smart and determined as their forefathers. This story is told from both the viewpoints of Gramma Ruth and young Ruth who is her great-granddaughter.
August 30, 2024
This wasn't too bad, but still, the contrivances in combination with the lack of internal consistency of the story, both singly and together, are unacceptable. The story as a whole leaks like a sieve. A lot of bullshit plot.
The waffling goody goody mentality also shines through being on the whole too pervasive. Character focus is also very limited in this with all the side characters being very lacking, dimensionally.
---Spoiler---
In this story the stupid nebulous computer jamming plot device of the earlier books is resurrected and the fact Nelly ensured it wouldn't happen again by way of a non specific upgrade to her and her brood is blithely not only retconned but erased.
The waffling goody goody mentality also shines through being on the whole too pervasive. Character focus is also very limited in this with all the side characters being very lacking, dimensionally.
---Spoiler---
In this story the stupid nebulous computer jamming plot device of the earlier books is resurrected and the fact Nelly ensured it wouldn't happen again by way of a non specific upgrade to her and her brood is blithely not only retconned but erased.
December 3, 2020
This time the battle is at the embassy on the capital planet. There is bullying, harassment, a major kidnapping, and murder. Grandma and Grandpa Trouble don't take this laying down. We also find out that Kris and Jack, not to mention Abby & General Bruce, are raising children to be like them. This includes being sneaky. It causes them a major problem yet it also helps them solve that problem. The action is pretty evenly paced and the book is hard to put down. This cliffhanger isn't as blatant, yet it is there. Sigh.
December 31, 2022
What happens when Admiral Kris Longknife is off gallivanting? About what you’d expect.
This one is not as hardcore, which is not unexpected when kids are involved. Iteeche clan lords are scheming their schemes but little Ruth is more than up to the challenge and Gramma and Grampa Trouble are there to head up the grown-up response.
Mostly fun and generally upbeat though it took me to while to get into this one. What can’t you do when you have super supercomputers and plenty of magical smart metal?
I’d give it 3 ½ stars.
This one is not as hardcore, which is not unexpected when kids are involved. Iteeche clan lords are scheming their schemes but little Ruth is more than up to the challenge and Gramma and Grampa Trouble are there to head up the grown-up response.
Mostly fun and generally upbeat though it took me to while to get into this one. What can’t you do when you have super supercomputers and plenty of magical smart metal?
I’d give it 3 ½ stars.
January 26, 2021
Boreing.
A waste of moneyand time. I stopped reading at pp 156. I could no longer cope with the saccharine grand parents and general want of a reason to continue reading. I'm interested in Kris no one else
.
A waste of moneyand time. I stopped reading at pp 156. I could no longer cope with the saccharine grand parents and general want of a reason to continue reading. I'm interested in Kris no one else
.
April 26, 2020
A novel length, side story about what happened while Kris was away conquering the rebels. Alternates viewpoints between Ruthie (Kris's daughter) and Grandma Ruth.
I found Ruthie's narration to be far too adult and military oriented to be believable for a seven almost eight year old. Otherwise the book was OK.
I found Ruthie's narration to be far too adult and military oriented to be believable for a seven almost eight year old. Otherwise the book was OK.
May 12, 2023
Toujours plus d'IA brillantes et de Métal Magique (r) (c)
December 15, 2023
a brilliant viewpoint from the young Longknife's eyes
April 22, 2024
Howdy y'all,
Does moscoe/shepherd still write? I recall seeing that his family had medical problems ... and then everything STOPPED.
Take care,
Rld
Does moscoe/shepherd still write? I recall seeing that his family had medical problems ... and then everything STOPPED.
Take care,
Rld
March 15, 2023
4 stars.
I quite enjoyed this. It's a departure from the Kris Longknife series as the action takes place while Kris is away from the Iteeche Capital conquering rebel planets. She'd p'd off a lot of major clans when she won't take their orders and seeded her Command fleet with ships from the minor clans.
So after Kris left, the major clans started making all sorts of moves against the compound housing her kids, Grandpa and Grandma Trouble and the Defence personnel housed within. And when the kids and their friends decided to sneak away to swim at the Palace's lake and the whole group got kidnapped, it's up to little Ruth and her computer Daisy to figure out how to get the word out to the rescue team.
We see Grandpa and Grandma Trouble in action with some amazing robot dogs in that rescue. I would love to have one of those dogs! The things they can do are just mind-blowing!
Even though it's fun seeing how 8 yo Ruth was able to confound her kidnappers, it's also sad to see someone that young having to make some really hard decisions just because she's a Longknife. Maybe they should have been named as Montoyas rather than Longknifes?
All in all, no Kris and no sky battles but still lots of action and intrigue and a very fun read.
I quite enjoyed this. It's a departure from the Kris Longknife series as the action takes place while Kris is away from the Iteeche Capital conquering rebel planets. She'd p'd off a lot of major clans when she won't take their orders and seeded her Command fleet with ships from the minor clans.
So after Kris left, the major clans started making all sorts of moves against the compound housing her kids, Grandpa and Grandma Trouble and the Defence personnel housed within. And when the kids and their friends decided to sneak away to swim at the Palace's lake and the whole group got kidnapped, it's up to little Ruth and her computer Daisy to figure out how to get the word out to the rescue team.
We see Grandpa and Grandma Trouble in action with some amazing robot dogs in that rescue. I would love to have one of those dogs! The things they can do are just mind-blowing!
Even though it's fun seeing how 8 yo Ruth was able to confound her kidnappers, it's also sad to see someone that young having to make some really hard decisions just because she's a Longknife. Maybe they should have been named as Montoyas rather than Longknifes?
All in all, no Kris and no sky battles but still lots of action and intrigue and a very fun read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews