Crazy Ships [Paperback]

Darrell Bain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2003

A brand new science fiction novel from the author of The Sex Gates and The Pet plague. Twins Steve and Jane grow up in a dystopic earth ruled by giant corporations. Faster than light space travel has been discovered, but extracts a terrible price. The immutable mathematics of the theory dictate that only half the ships leaving earth will make it to their destination, and of those which do, only half will return safely to earth; hence the name: Crazy Ships. With those odds, crews and colonists are drawn from the criminal class or from political prisoners and sentenced to serve on a ship. Just as Steve and Jane fall in love with each other, their parents fall afoul of the corporation ruling earth. They are separated from all they ever knew and loved and sentenced to become part of the crew on a crazy ship--but not the same ship, nor the one their parents are sentenced to. When each of their ships fails to make a jump, their troubles really begin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing (October 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554040914
• ISBN-13: 978-1554040919
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,615,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have read about 20,000 books in my lifetime, much of it science fiction but history, mystery, war, popular and historical fiction as well. I also write and have a variety of books published in print and as e-books. I like to write humor and adventure/mystery/science fiction/suspense/thriller novels and short stories. I have worked in the medical field, am a Vietnam Veteran and currently live and write in east Texas where my wife Betty and I owned a Christmas tree farm until two years ago. I like to correspond with fans and can be reached through my web site, www.darrellbain.com We have two dachshunds that I've written about. I currently have about fifty books in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Half-hearted remix of Sci-Fi, May 23, 2011

By 

Harmony "harmonize" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Crazy Ships (Kindle Edition)

This book seemed like a half-hearted remix of Sci-Fi books. The world building of a world run by corrupt corporations, computer evolving into AI, and the 50% lethal space travel has been done before by much better authors. The characters themselves seemed too one dimensional for me to care about their fate. The two main characters 15 yr old twins Jamie and Steve supposedly "love" each other but are happy to jump into bed with any character that shows an interest (p.s. to author if a character is raped they should not shrug it off by the next chapter). Sex scenes explain too much without actually being successful as erotica. Overall this book is a waste of time.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Future society, December 16, 2010

By 

Acheron's Flow (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Crazy Ships (Kindle Edition)

Our future with corporations continuing on the current path with no restraint. They have infiltrated the legal & justice systems, a privitized society. Not that farfetched projecting from our prisons for hire, public property sold off in state deficits and the like. Who sets the agenda for our highest court now?

The corps are fully amok. There has been areas of the planet devastated by war and terrorism. Debt or fines unpaid to the Corpolice can result in a programed servitude (often a sexual nature depending on looks and gender) or mandatory service in dangerous areas devastated by war. Or the ultimate, a ride on the Crazy Ships.

No real main protagonist. Several characters are followed and this done well. Easy to stay interested in several characters. The brother sister storyline is not that provocative at all. I was afraid a had a smut book for a bit. Genetics play a role in the story. Self aware AI is prohibited and controled by an inhibitor chip in computers. Herc could have had a more expanded role.

We achieve FTL spaceflight by attaching two identical masses and at activation of the drive one mass goes to the destination and the other to the unknown. The problem is a 50 percent failure rate. Hard on the nerves and a wicked Corp punishment for those that need to be eliminated. Sentence them to 3 to 5 jumps and the odds will provide.

Income inequality, graft and corruption, and the lack of justice (warning signs now) are straining the Corp society as the tale begins. My first book by DB. A nice read and I will check out more. His other titles look provocative and I wonder how close to the edge? This one was not mild and not disgusting either. Some other scifi I've read was much more adult for lack of a better word and not always good. Thanks DB. A good read.