The Defiance (Helmsman Series , No 7) [Mass Market Paperback]

Bill Baldwin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Helmsman Series , No 7 | Publication Date: November 1, 1996

Admiral Wolf Brim's new assignment to secure the space lanes between Hador-Haelic and the Pentad asteroids of Gontor will enable the Empire to launch Operation Spark, a massive invasion to free Occupied Fluvanna, thus ensuring the Empire's remaining source of faster-than-light travel fuel.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bill Baldwin, the author of The Helmsman series, is a graduate of the Mercerburg Academy and the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a B.A. in journalism and a Masters of Letters degree. He served in the U.S. Air Force at Cape Canaveral supporting Project Mercury. He also managed astronaut public relations during the Gemini and Early Apollo programs. He has worked as a computer programmer for Burroughs Corporation (now UNISYS) and Xerox Corporation. Bill lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Pat and two cats.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Aspect (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446603341
• ISBN-13: 978-0446603348
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Helmsman Series , No 7, September 28, 2005

By 

Mike G (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Defiance (Helmsman Series , No 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was thoroughly disappointed with this book.

First, the switch from 3rd person to 1st person was annoying. It broke the continuity and made it feel like I was starting a new series.

Second, while this started in the earlier books, Wilf completed his transformation from a John Waynish hero-type into a guy who has no problem sleeping with married women. He's not likable anymore. Having his brain "hanging between his legs" was amusing when the character was in his twenties. Now that he's supposed to be in his forties and still can't control himself paints a picture of depravity. In addition, he never seems to get any wiser to the world around him.

Overall, I got the impression that Baldwin was sick of writing these stories and tried to wrap it up quickly and with as much sex as possible. Characters that Brim "loved" at the end of one book were never heard from again in the next and the conclusions to subplots were disappointing at best.

Were it not for the fact that Brim slept with practically every female in the series, I'd at least say that the first half of the series was entertaining enough for teenage space opera, but not much else.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Book, February 26, 2003

By 

Reghunathan (Seremban, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Defiance (Helmsman Series , No 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Like many of you, i have despaired being able to continue the tales of Wilf Brim. I have read these 7 books repeatedly, and basically haunted Bill Baldwin's website to get moe news. Recently, it was announced in his website that Timberwolf Press will be releasing the next book, Turning Tide, as well as re-releasing the earlier 7 books again. I cannot wait for it to be available here.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilf Brin gets nailed..., September 20, 2000

By 

Richard C. Drew "Anaal Nathra/Uthe vas Bethod... (Oak Lawn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Defiance (Helmsman Series , No 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Plenty of action and a couple of new characters you will really, really, REALLY hate. A lot. Wilf, like usual, does his job and does it well - but gets back-stabbed. Read it - you'll see.

This was the first book in the series I read, and hunted up the previous 6. All are well worth the read. One warning - the publisher has no plans to renew the series, even though Bill Baldwin wants to - maybe a little pressure from fans would help!

Update: Bill Baldwin has a new publisher. His books are re-released in expanded versions, and a NEW novel is due by 2007. Wilf will be back!