A Question of Courage

A Question of Courage

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A Question of Courage by J. F. Bone

Published:

1960

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A Question of Courage

By

4
(2 Reviews)
I smelled the trouble the moment I stepped on the lift and took the long ride up the side of the "Lachesis." There was something wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it, but...

Book Excerpt

back through the components. I understood his certainty now. A man has a feeling for ships if he's a good officer. But it was a trait I'd never expected in Chase. I gave the orders and we resumed our band and speed. Chase looked at me.

"You acted correctly, Mr. Marsden," he said. "Something I would hardly expect, but something I was glad to see."

"I served under Andy Royce," I reminded him.

"I know," Chase replied. "That's why I'm surprised." He turned away before I could think of an answer that would combine insolence and respect for his rank. "Keep her on course, Mr. Halloran," he tossed over his shoulder as he went out.

We kept on course--high and hard despite a couple of disturbances that lumbered by underneath us. Once I made a motion to stop ship and check, but Halloran shook his head.

"Don't do it, sir," he warned.

"Why not?"

"You heard the Captain's orders. He's a heller for having them obeyed. Besides, they might be Rebs--and we might get hurt shootin

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A good, solid, sci-fi story with all the right elements in place. Good writing, characterization, and plotting. A fairly decent ending.

A "coward" captain is ordered to take his ship into battle.
A good little story about a lieutenant assigned to a new ship during a war with rebel colonies. He finds his new captain is famous--as a regulation quoter and possible coward.

The author draws good characters and plots a convincing interstellar battle, and his take on the "spectrum" of hyperspace is interesting. People smoke cigarettes on space ships and there are no women in the crew (or anywhere else,) but it's a good story for 1960.
Alice K. Boatwright - Twists and Turns, Great Pacing and Characters
FEATURED AUTHOR - Alice K. Boatwright is the author of the Ellie Kent mysteries, which debuted with Under an English Heaven, winner of the 2016 Mystery and Mayhem Grand Prize for Best Mystery. The series continues with What Child Is This? and In the Life Ever After. Alice has also published other fiction, including Collateral Damage, three linked novellas about the Vietnam War era; Sea, Sky, Islands, a chapbook of stories set in Washington’s San Juan Islands; and Mrs. Potts Finds Thanksgiving, a holiday parable… Read more