Book Review: Full Share

Full Share

By:  Nathan Lowell

Publisher:  Podiobooks

Publish Date:  2008

Format:  Podiobooks

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  3rd in Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series; 1st Book ~ Quarter Share, 2nd Book ~ Half Share

Recommendation:  You need to continue with Ishmael in Full Share. It keeps getting better and better in this world.

Synopsis:
A Trader's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper: Book 3

The Lois McKendrick runs headlong into trouble when a routine in-system transit goes bad.  Ishmael and the rest of the crew must scramble to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it in order to keep the ship alive.  Learn more about the officers and crew of the Lois McKendrick as they struggle to keep their ship and discover how Ishmael finds out how wrong he's been about what it means to be a spacer in this latest Trader's Tale.

First Sentence:
All children except one grow up.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  iTunes (free listen)

**I listened to this story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Shipping off to the next port, and Ish reflects on what he's done and how he's acted.  He still is told to look ahead and see where he wants to go.  Lois McKendrick takes on a few new faces that scares Ish and the crew that's become family, but Lois decides she's not done with Ish just yet.  The ship has a malfunction that Ish proves he is up to the challenge to figure out.  Then many suggest to Ish to consider the Academy.  Ish has to make a dicision of what he wants, even after he earns his four full share ratings.  What does Ish want to do in the future and what will open the doors for that unknown future?  Ish is learning more about Spacer life, and even though it sets him reeling with what he learns, he really likes what he's seeing.

I like that Ish rethinks the last weekend at port. He realizes he was a bit out of hand with all that happened.  This is a young man, having fun but growing up too.  He sees it and that's what matters.  He learns from it.  As of the first chapter, I was sure we had our Ish back.  This starts this book off on great terms for me.  I was a little...unimpressed? with Ish by the end of Half Share.  This book, he COMPLETELY redeems himself for me.

Ish is a great person in that he shows that those surrounding him are amazing and he can easily highlight all.  Surrounded with brilliance here and Ish spotlights each in their area of expertise.  That makes a crew and an amazing ship.  Ish doesn't take the spotlight, he share and gives credit where credit is due.

Just when you think life is grand and Ish and reader get comfortable, life twists.  Things get complicated and Ish might not have a job on the Lois McKendrick much longer.  This is one thing Ish feared in the first book, but thought he was safe until now.  This was a hard thing to Ish as he'd found a home here and one thing he never really had - friends.  Even in the end of this book, some separations are hard to get through.  And I felt the twinge of not wanting this separation to happen yet wanting it and the future that comes.

Ish always thought he would go to University because that was where his mother worked.  But Spacers have a specialized Academy as well.  And now the idea is on Ish's plate, but is it what he wants?  The more Ish learns, the more he thinks going to the Academy could open many doors for him.  And the nudging he gets, he will seriously consider it.  Several think the Merchant Academy is the place for him.

We get a closer look at all the characters here and find I've become closer to them all as Ish has. There are so many great influences on the Lois.  All helped guide Ish to where Ish wanted to be.  The ship, Lois, even seems to feel like her own spirit to me in this book as well.  We get a bit more with Pip and do I really enjoy the free feeling of him and Ish talking and joking.  I enjoy their trading and co-op works.  We even learn a great deal more of Pip's family.  Nice to see this here.  And some of what Ish learns sends him reeling from what Spacer life is really like.  He's one of a small few that aren't born to Spacer life styles.

In listening to this book, I realized Nathan creates strong smart women.  He has several in high and powerful positions - Captains and several high ranked officers.  Some might ask about Sarah, but really, she is one of the strongest for the choices she's made.  These woman all have troubles and obstacles to face and overcome, but they do and they are not shorted by it at all.

Ish has a new position for a time, and with it we learn more of the outer deep space.  I love how the common life actions are because of it's environment - why we do what we do - and is explained through the characters.

Listening to this book, I want so much for Ish.  For him to go to school with Pip.  For him to get his own ship and him and Pip trade around the universe.  Ish to have one special lady in his life and on that family ship he'll fly around making his money.

I felt the feelings in this book.  The anxiety with Ish.  The loss for now and the hope of future.  The ship and crew feel like home, to me as well as to Ish.  They are a family and work well together.  I am so glad I didn't stop after the second book, this book has a great deal to offer and Ish redeems himself greatly back to himself.

In the end, I got a feel for the "right" position for Ish on a ship.  Will it be that in the end of the series?  I don't know, but I do plan to find out.  By, how I've grown attached to Ish and the crew of the Lois.  Wow.