John Grimes Tramp Captain (To Keep the Ship; Matilda's Stepchildren; Star Loot; The Anarch Lords.

by A. Bertram Chandler

Hardcover edition containing four stories: 1. The Broken Cycle 2. The Big Black Mark 3. The Far Traveler 4. Star Courier This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0739423843
• ISBN13: 9780739423844
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Science Fiction Book Club
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A. Bertram Chandler

What can I say. I grew up reading this author in the original Ace Double paperbacks in the early 60's. I'm glad to see there were some I hadn't read and it really helps with the continuity of the series to be able to read them this way. Survey Captain moves along well, but still able to put it down to get things done and come back later to a good friend.

Chandler has aged well

____________________________________________ I have fond memories of Chandler, but hadn't read him in decades. I picked up this nice omnibus on a whim, and was pleasantly surprised at how well these short novels hold up -- they were first published from 1975 to 1977. Mind you, this isn't Great Literature, but well-told, pulpy, rather cynical and sometimes startlingly sexy sfnal sea-stories. Here's the memorable Sky Marshal Una Freemann in _The Broken Cycle_: "...every pubic hair seemed to have a life of its own, to be rejoicing in its freedom from restraint..." Later, Una is lovingly depicted as a lissome nude cyclist. Hot stuff for back then. ABertramChandleriana: "This is Liberty Hall; you can spit on the mat and call the cat a bastard!" The Odd Gods of the Galaxy... The Rim Worlds: Lorn, Faraway, Ultimo and Thule. An exceptionally nice tribute site: http://www.bertramchandler.com/ Look for ABC's autobiography, as of 1977: [aroundtheworld.htm] --in which he relates Grimesian tales like his time as "Second Officer to the old "Raranga", a big, coal-burning, twin-screwed steamship. She had been torpedoed during World War I but had survived. She got through World War II unscathed although she once distinguished herself by shooting down a German bomber and a British fighter in the same action..." The Streaker - A.B. Chandler, dirty old Sea-captain "My heart leapt up when I beheld A streaker in the street, A bushy-pussied brunette With a figure nudely neat..." [thementor26.htm] Happy reading-- Pete Tillman

More Grimes Adventures

Lucky Grimes finds his way in and out of trouble in 4 more adventures: *** The Broken Cycle - Timewise, this story really occurs sometime before "The Inheritors" in the first Grimes book of the series; but, this under-par Grimes story somehow fits better here, and the two books are better balanced with it here. *** The Big Black Mark - Grimes as Lt. Bligh on a interstellar Bounty. ***** The Far Traveller - Best of the four, it is a collection of short stories involving voyages on the AI-controlled ship "Far Traveller", owned by rich El Doradan lady who nags Grimes incessantly. Far Traveller's AI is known as "Big Sister", who ends up falling for male-like AI on warlike alien spaceship, which leads to other complications. Krarch! Ends with Grimes given the gold-alloy "Little Sister" as payment for services rendered by El Doradan lady. ***** Star Courier - An enjoyable yarn. Grimes first voyage with gold-alloy "Little Sister". Contracted to deliver mail with lady postmistress, they are captured by insect-like Shaara, eventually escape and battle Shaara with locals, who elevate them to gods. By 1977, Chandler has hit his stride with Grimes' tales... now I'm moving on to the next set of stories in John Grimes: Tramp Captain.