Mike Shepherd, Kris Longknife: Resolute

Kris Longknife: Resolute

Mike Shepherd

Ace, November 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0441014534

The Wardhaven's United Sentients and Greenfield's Confederacy are too evenly matched to go to direct hot hostilities, but that does not restrain the latter from trying to annex planets, or from the former trying to stop them in a galaxy cold war. Navy Lieutenant Kris Longknife is also a princess since her grandfather is the king and her father is the prime minister. Some will say her new assignment as the Commander of Naval District 41 is due to her royal connections, but those who know her believe she has earned her position with hard competent work, though the brass place her out of harm's way due to her royal lineage and her tendency to get into trouble.

The nearest planet not part of the Confederacy is Chance, and she must somehow keep it that way while also checking on pirate activity and jump sights. Kris finds and goes through ones she discovered that lead to an unexplored part of space. She soon finds an alien planet with technology that neither she nor her crew have ever seen before. The orb could prove to be a gold mine, but instead the Confederacy is coming to the space station and Chance to take over both. Kris must prevent that, plus she has a more personal war to contend with from the Confederacy commander.

Fans of the Honor Harrington escapades will welcome the adventures of another strong female in outer space starring in a thrill a page military space opera. The heroine's dry wit, ability to know what she is good at and her faults, while keeping her regal DNA in perspective, especially during a crisis, endear her to readers. The audience will root for the determined, courageous and endearing heroine as she displays intelligence and leadership during lethal confrontations.