With the Lightnings [Mass Market Paperback]

Adele Mundy survived the political massacre of her family on
Cinnabar. She's the newly-appointed Electoral Librarian in
Kostroma's capitol. Drake sets the scene in a leisurely fashion, but
once an Alliance-sponsored coup unfolds, the action is fast and
furious -- and clever and fun.

The Lieutenant is an interesting fellow -- a promising astrogator,
he's also an amateur naturalist and a bit of a lady's man. He
dreams of command, and is plunged into it to rescue a
detachment of Cinnabar sailors cut off in the coup. He proves to be
competent and infectiously optimistic: given lemons, he makes
lemonade, lemon cream pie or lemon-drop cookies, as the
situation requires. He befriends the Librarian, rescues her when
the coup turns ugly, and learns that besides being a computer
whiz, she's a a crack shot and a cool head. They become an
amazingly effective team. No, there's no romance between them
-- at least, not yet.

Comparisons to Nick Seafort and Honor Harrington are
inevitable; fans of either won't be disappointed. Drake's

"Hornblower" [note 1] is more to my taste - it's not quite so compulsively
readable as the Seafort Saga, but more plausible and with *much*
more likeable characters. There's never much doubt of the
(general) outcome, but getting there is all the fun. Drake writes in
a clean, transparent style that's a joy to read. We haven't seen the
last of Daniel and Adele. I'm ready for the next.
_____________
Note 1) -- more accurately, his trubute to Patrick O'Brian's "Master & Commander" series, itself a Hornblower knockoff.

review copyright 1998 by Peter D. Tillman

Admittedly, With the Lightnings is Aubrey/Maturin in space, in the same sense that Honor Harrington is Horatio Hornblower in space. If you don't like Napoleonic sea stories, they're both hard to get into - but there is a caveat. Despite the similarities to their literary counterparts, Daniel Leary of Bantry and Adele Mundy of Chatsworth are unique, engaging characters with offbeat personalities. Lieutenant Leary, for example, the rough 'n' tough naval officer, is an enthusiastic naturalist, and the Kostroman wildlife that Drake provides for his likable curiosity is exciting in itself, with shades of Drake's survival novel "The Jungle." In fact, it's that very curiosity that draws him to Adele, whose favorite pastime is looking things up.

Ah, Adele. What is it I like about her? She's not just a spy; she's a librarian, and her intelligence still comes into play despite all the cool technology that she has to aid her. As a library student, I've learned that merely getting information is never enough (particularly with today's "information overload," especially on the Internet). You must recognize which information is important and how to use it, and Adele demonstrates this perfectly. I have seriously recommended this book to fellow students and librarians, because it inadvertently takes a positive look at the information industry. While some readers may think the book is at first slow (because the real conflict only appears 150 pages in), I was captivated by the descriptions of Adele's duties as a librarian, and by Drake's ideas of what makes for a good library - perfect discussion material for most of the classes I'm taking. Daniel Leary's own inquisitiveness also takes up a good deal of story time, and his interests in biology become an important plot point later on.

Adele's other unusual trait is her expertise with a pistol; her detached skill with an instrument of death further accentuates her cool objectivity. As a character, she perfectly balances Daniel's fiery cheerfulness. Both Daniel and Adele are professionals in their fields, and they treat each other with a professional sort of friendship that, delightedly, has no romantic overtones. They're friends, not lovers, yet they're dedicated to each other as they are to their jobs. This is what friendship should be; again, it's refreshing.

Okay, I admit that the plot of With the Lightnings is pedestrian. But David Drake, with unique sci-fi concepts and compelling characters, makes it work and come alive in a way few authors can. This is a book to treasure.

In that vein, author David Drake has created his own version of British Royal Navy officer Jack Aubrey, with the introduction of Lt. Daniel Leary, a young officer in the Republic of Cinnabar's Navy. Young Lt. Leary is a ladies man, although he could be in better shape. Still, Leary is a highly skilled and promising young officer, who thrills in his love of scientific knowledge, but who feels that his naval career might not amount to much, given his estrangement with his politically powerful father.

Drake finds his Dr. Steven Maturin, a man who is physician, scientist, scholar and spy, in the form of Adele Mundy, a librarian and information specialist, who has been given the job of setting up a library for the newest ruler of Kostroma, an erstwhile ally of Cinnabar.

Adele is an expatriate of Cinnabar, formerly having been one of the aristocracy, like Leary. Lt. Leary is on Kostroma as part of a diplomatic mission, and stumbles onto Adele as he goes to the new library in pursuit of his scientific hobbies. Adele is not well disposed towards Daniel, as his father was resposible for her exile from Cinnabar, as well as the death of her parents and 10 year old sister, all the result of political machinations.

This novel is rich in political intrigue, derring-do, swashbuckling, the exploration of the natural world, and the importance of information. Adele and Daniel are thrown together as they combat a plot by the Alliance of Stars to drive Kostroma out of the arms of Cinnabar, and into the clutches of that ruthless interstellar empire.

This is a truly enjoyable book, with enjoyable characters, and what looks to be the start of a beautiful friendship between Mundy and Leary. I highly recommend this book.