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April #13
Let Us Tell You Again
The continuing story of April, Jeff, and Heather after they conspire to rebel against North America and their efforts to find friends and a safe haven in the stars. Continuing to close the time gap to the later Family Law series of books.
Heather and her peers impose a ban on armed ships beyond L1 in the Solar System and a prohibition for explorer ships going interstellar heavily armed. There are continuing stories of future characters still stuck on Earth.
Heather has a lot of help from her friends but it isn't easy being the queen.
Heather and her peers impose a ban on armed ships beyond L1 in the Solar System and a prohibition for explorer ships going interstellar heavily armed. There are continuing stories of future characters still stuck on Earth.
Heather has a lot of help from her friends but it isn't easy being the queen.
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2022
About the author
Mackey Chandler
143 books226 followersMackey (Mac') Chandler is retired to Rochester Michigan from a working life that spanned a large number of occupations. Mold maker, aerospace machinist, plumber, mechanic and dozen more as well as owning several businesses. This life experience and travel show in the depth and variety of his writing.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 23, 2022
Pretty good!
September 10, 2022
Searching For An Escape Route
This is the 13th book in a continuing series, so you need to read the first books to have a hope of understanding this one. There is a connected series, Family Law, which is set around 100 years in the future but shares some of the same characters. You do not need to read Family Law to understand this series. As this is a continuing series the story carries on after the end of this book, however there isn’t a hugely annoying cliffhanger.
This book picks up immediately after the end of Book 12, so I did a re-read of that book to remind me of where I was. I’m glad I did because there was lots I’d forgotten about that complicated set of intertwined story lines that formed the basis of much of this book. As with Book 12 the narrative hops about between multiple points of view, with the main focus on Heather, Jeff and April (The Triad) in space and Victor, Eileen and Alice on Earth.
In space The Triad are dealing with escalating tensions with USNA, again. Except this time USNA’s bad will is spilling over onto other Earth nations, especially those that deal with Central and Home. One thing about these later books is we have very little appearances of The Triad’s family members. I miss them quite a lot, especially April’s grandfather, Happy. I think focusing on Earth has meant there is less time for these support characters. However, I really like the Earth storyline, so I can’t grumble too hard.
On Earth, Victor and Eileen are working really well together as a married couple, despite their age differences. In fact, Eileen is taking more of a lead in planning things than before as she grows in confidence in their relationship and her own abilities. Alice is developing into a really interesting character. She is growing into a very competent and dangerous young woman. The support she has gained from Eileen and Victor is less parental and more like older siblings who advise and guide rather than dictate.
After many years of isolation in Northern California there are signs that other parties are starting to be interested in the resources there. The locals have a delicate line to walk as they decide how to interact with the outside world again. It seems like Eileen and Victor’s dreams of getting into space may be a little closer than before.
I really enjoyed this book. I have become very fond of all the characters and wish each book could include updates of them all, but obviously that isn’t possible with a list of characters as large as this series has. I am still getting sucked along by the storyline and know I’ll probably re-read the series many time, especially as each new book is uploaded.
This is the 13th book in a continuing series, so you need to read the first books to have a hope of understanding this one. There is a connected series, Family Law, which is set around 100 years in the future but shares some of the same characters. You do not need to read Family Law to understand this series. As this is a continuing series the story carries on after the end of this book, however there isn’t a hugely annoying cliffhanger.
This book picks up immediately after the end of Book 12, so I did a re-read of that book to remind me of where I was. I’m glad I did because there was lots I’d forgotten about that complicated set of intertwined story lines that formed the basis of much of this book. As with Book 12 the narrative hops about between multiple points of view, with the main focus on Heather, Jeff and April (The Triad) in space and Victor, Eileen and Alice on Earth.
In space The Triad are dealing with escalating tensions with USNA, again. Except this time USNA’s bad will is spilling over onto other Earth nations, especially those that deal with Central and Home. One thing about these later books is we have very little appearances of The Triad’s family members. I miss them quite a lot, especially April’s grandfather, Happy. I think focusing on Earth has meant there is less time for these support characters. However, I really like the Earth storyline, so I can’t grumble too hard.
On Earth, Victor and Eileen are working really well together as a married couple, despite their age differences. In fact, Eileen is taking more of a lead in planning things than before as she grows in confidence in their relationship and her own abilities. Alice is developing into a really interesting character. She is growing into a very competent and dangerous young woman. The support she has gained from Eileen and Victor is less parental and more like older siblings who advise and guide rather than dictate.
After many years of isolation in Northern California there are signs that other parties are starting to be interested in the resources there. The locals have a delicate line to walk as they decide how to interact with the outside world again. It seems like Eileen and Victor’s dreams of getting into space may be a little closer than before.
I really enjoyed this book. I have become very fond of all the characters and wish each book could include updates of them all, but obviously that isn’t possible with a list of characters as large as this series has. I am still getting sucked along by the storyline and know I’ll probably re-read the series many time, especially as each new book is uploaded.
July 29, 2025
Nothing happened.
September 11, 2022
reviews are important
For authors anyway. Amazon determines feasibility based upon reviews.
But let’s be honest. This is book 13 in a series. There’s almost no point in reading the review. You either enjoy the author or you really shouldn’t have gotten this far.
I did find a few things that the author might want to reconsider. Between his Family Law series and this book there are some discrepancies. I’m sure they can be worked out, but for someone who’s read both series it can be a little disconcerting.
For authors anyway. Amazon determines feasibility based upon reviews.
But let’s be honest. This is book 13 in a series. There’s almost no point in reading the review. You either enjoy the author or you really shouldn’t have gotten this far.
I did find a few things that the author might want to reconsider. Between his Family Law series and this book there are some discrepancies. I’m sure they can be worked out, but for someone who’s read both series it can be a little disconcerting.
December 17, 2022
Lots of interesting ideas, not well written.
January 24, 2024
Let Us Tell You Again is a continuation of the April series, and the author is actively working to connect this series with Family Law books, which were fantastic. I'll be very glad once April catches up, because I want more Family Law stories. Love that series, so it's good to see the progress made in this one, to tie the two series together. If you're a fan of exploration scifi stories, you'll find a bit of that here, as well as some political machinations leading to some interesting results. I don't see (yet) how this will bring us to Family Law times, but I'm sure it's getting there. Can't wait to read more in either series.
March 11, 2024
Yay and Nay..
This series is plagued by variable really odd errors and story issues throughout and as such the further along I get reading, the lower my enjoyment and interest factor dips. It seems to me the more blatant issues ought to have been noticed and seen to easily if this had been properly edited.
How to rate a story/book that all to often causes ones face to scrunch up in a "WTF frown" while reading..
Honestly I can't wholeheartedly recommend the April series. They are lacking compared to the Family Law books and another of Mackey Chandlers books that I read prior to giving the April series a try. Maybe if the April Series got a proper revision along with editing to put them more in line with the story and quality of the Family Law books. But as is there are just to many issues that I'd suggest avoiding them.
This series is plagued by variable really odd errors and story issues throughout and as such the further along I get reading, the lower my enjoyment and interest factor dips. It seems to me the more blatant issues ought to have been noticed and seen to easily if this had been properly edited.
How to rate a story/book that all to often causes ones face to scrunch up in a "WTF frown" while reading..
Honestly I can't wholeheartedly recommend the April series. They are lacking compared to the Family Law books and another of Mackey Chandlers books that I read prior to giving the April series a try. Maybe if the April Series got a proper revision along with editing to put them more in line with the story and quality of the Family Law books. But as is there are just to many issues that I'd suggest avoiding them.
September 16, 2022
I wasn’t sure if the author was going to continue with this series after reading the last Family Law book, but I’m quite pleased he has. I enjoyed this book and even though April wasn’t really involved in anything significant, there were several other storylines that were much more interesting.
I’m not sure if the author originally intended to merge the April series with the Family Law books, but if he did, I wish he had planned it better. He needed to have progressed the April stories much further before trying to introduce the characters into the Family Law series.
I’m not sure if the author originally intended to merge the April series with the Family Law books, but if he did, I wish he had planned it better. He needed to have progressed the April stories much further before trying to introduce the characters into the Family Law series.
September 22, 2022
faster read than normal
I’m not sure if this is a shorter book or just a faster read, but the April timeline continues to explain the history of the Little Fleet/Family Law timeline, and march ever closer towards that future. It’s interesting to watch history become established as well as watch our main characters develop into their life-extended adult forms. Jeff, in particular, continues to change in some unpredictable ways, while April and Heather proceed to become more like themselves, for good and bad.
I’m not sure if this is a shorter book or just a faster read, but the April timeline continues to explain the history of the Little Fleet/Family Law timeline, and march ever closer towards that future. It’s interesting to watch history become established as well as watch our main characters develop into their life-extended adult forms. Jeff, in particular, continues to change in some unpredictable ways, while April and Heather proceed to become more like themselves, for good and bad.
September 10, 2022
They who control the high ground.
Great addition to the series , I love to way "Mac" keeps all the different threads going and weaves new story lines in amongst them , can't wait to find out how Vic and Eileen become subjects of the Moon Queen. You've got to admire the spacers patience I'd have dropped a rock on North America several books ago.
Great addition to the series , I love to way "Mac" keeps all the different threads going and weaves new story lines in amongst them , can't wait to find out how Vic and Eileen become subjects of the Moon Queen. You've got to admire the spacers patience I'd have dropped a rock on North America several books ago.
September 19, 2022
More about slumball
The first April Books were fascinating as we watched everyone carried along in April's wake. She was an extremely interesting character in those original books. But its not about April anymore or even the Moon queen. Rather, its about the dissolution of whats left of the US... Kind of depressing really.
The first April Books were fascinating as we watched everyone carried along in April's wake. She was an extremely interesting character in those original books. But its not about April anymore or even the Moon queen. Rather, its about the dissolution of whats left of the US... Kind of depressing really.
December 20, 2022
Surprise
The book was very good. Maybe better. It was broken up with many figures. Like the earlier books but still kept your jnterests. I will be looking forward to the next books. I was surprised by the ending. Is somebody thinking or beginning to having a brain and using it?
The book was very good. Maybe better. It was broken up with many figures. Like the earlier books but still kept your jnterests. I will be looking forward to the next books. I was surprised by the ending. Is somebody thinking or beginning to having a brain and using it?
September 11, 2022
Awesome Absolutely
This series of a group of people who live on a space station and moon dealing with the changing politics of Earth. When I read this , I thought no way that would happen in the USA, then the Orange One happened…
This series of a group of people who live on a space station and moon dealing with the changing politics of Earth. When I read this , I thought no way that would happen in the USA, then the Orange One happened…
December 8, 2022
Incredible Series
It was hard to put these books down. I was pleasantly surprised by the storyline and characters. Lots of action and it was nice to see the bad guys get a good beating.
It was hard to put these books down. I was pleasantly surprised by the storyline and characters. Lots of action and it was nice to see the bad guys get a good beating.
September 17, 2022
Excellent read
Another nice geopolitical future possibility, Space engineering conceptual conflict book and light hearted read. Thank you Mackey; thoroughly enjoyable. Cheers.
Another nice geopolitical future possibility, Space engineering conceptual conflict book and light hearted read. Thank you Mackey; thoroughly enjoyable. Cheers.
October 19, 2023
Where is this going
This book contains a ridiculous number of threads with no clear intersection or resolution. This reads more as a slice of life than a coherent story
This book contains a ridiculous number of threads with no clear intersection or resolution. This reads more as a slice of life than a coherent story
October 26, 2025
3.5 stars
June 22, 2026
Fun read
Good read. I laughed a lot while reading this book. Now I need ten more words to finish this review.
Good read. I laughed a lot while reading this book. Now I need ten more words to finish this review.
April 1, 2023
Great Dialogue and Adventure!
The April series never fails to entertain with great ideas and interesting perspectives from our long lived friends. Can't wait to read the next one.
The April series never fails to entertain with great ideas and interesting perspectives from our long lived friends. Can't wait to read the next one.
February 13, 2026
Great Continuation of a really good series. Some gaps (to the familiy law series) get closed and some questions answered. Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews