Imperial Smuggler

Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire, Book 2

By: Andrew Moriarty

Narrated by: Christopher Grove

The guilty flee, but everyone pursues.

Escaped Imperial officer Dirk doesn't care his crew are runaways, revolutionaries, and alleged criminals, as long as they're adequately competent and don't kill each other too often. When a smuggling job goes badly wrong and they improvise, he'll trade competency for just non-suicidal. If one crime causes problems, a second should fix it.

But after a botched heist lands them in the freezing woods of a frozen planet, they need a new plan. What's in those containers they stole? Who wants it that bad? How can they make money out of this? And what if his crew isn't as trustworthy as he thought? And why doesn't that dog like him?

If you like Galactic Empires, honorable enemies, and snappy dialog, this one's for you.

©2022 Andrew Moriarty (P)2023 Tantor

solid story, good performance

Loved the performance with great characters from which the slightly average story profits. Like other sci Fi series this lives from its characters, not what happens to them. The ending points in an interesting direction which makes me curious about the next book, given how meandering the plot was (lots of things happen but there is little agency) I would have stopped otherwise. Admittedly even in that case I would have been satisfied.

Great story

The story was excellent. The interaction between the crew was priceless. The reader was a little bland. But good enough so that I wouldn’t stop listening. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.

Even better than the first

These books are a riot! Full of adventure, intrigue and humor. The narrator is top notch and the action keeps moving, without the 30 minute space battle scenes one might expect with a cover like this.

Read it, you'll love it.

Good but….

I enjoyed the story. My biggest pet peeve was that continuously, any dialogue, even between two people would have A said, B said after every sentence, as the book went on, I noticed it less less. I don’t know if I just didn’t notice it, or if they stopped doing it.

DR:Attempted insurance scam gone wrong

Being on their own in galaxy at wide, protagonists' crew does what needs to be done to keep the rust bucket that is their ship functional. As senior centurion would say - improvise, adapt, overcome. Following a lead from the sleazy insurance agent from book #1, protagonists look to make some quick buck getting their hands on insured goods, a harmless crime if ever. Except the cargo doesn't match it's description...whoops.

Scruggs and senior centurion dynamic is that of caring if a bit blunt uncle and overprotected niece. Gevin's and Lee's relationship has turned cold. There's no love lost between Dina and the pilot. Characters feel real and not obsessed with bumping uglies. Living in an enclosed small space, shoulder to shoulder with only the absolute minimum in terms of personal hygiene and calories would do that.

To note, the protagonists' crew has been paid for secret spaceship architecture plans. The amount paid had repeatedly been reaffirmed as what would be enough to buy a whole new space ship. Making a note of this because in following books crew appears to be as destitute as ever. Did I miss something?

Conclusion: 3/5. Listened on Audible 1 credit. Narrated by: Christopher Grove. To pay for senior centurion's medicine Scruggs is ready to give up morals. If anyone from the ensemble cast, Scruggs is emerging as strong contender for story's main character. Adventure awaits! Lessons in world weariness from senior centurion could benefit all. Bad value for the length of the book - 1.34 $/hour ( 17.19 $ / 12 hrs 50 mins ).

Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour

Stars:
1 - Not worth the resources to reproduce/preserve this title.
2 -Bad
3 -Good
4 - Personally, love it
5 - Recommended to everyone