Starship Castaways [Paperback]

Nina Osier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2001

Marooned on board an alien-built space station deep inside dangerous Clan space, all the survivors from the destroyed star cruiser Archangel want is to go home. Or do they? Captain Mitch Dufrain has found love here, 20 years after he lost his first family. Chief Engineer Rilla Lansing has discovered new purpose after fleeing both retirement and her long-dead marriage. Senior Ordinary Aristotle Merchant looks forward to seeing the survivors colonize the planet the station orbitsbut First Mate Thalia Eriknova, stranded among unchanged humans, wonders when and if shell see her native Themyscira and other womyn again.Meanwhile, on Lansings home-world at the border of Clan space, a lone survivor from the ship that wrecked the Archangel lives a paroled prisoner of wars existence and plans for the day when he can return and (if necessary) finish the job as Clan Cranstons honor requires. When Rilla Lansings diplomat ex-husband needs Chandler Cranstons help, the clansman gets his opportunity at lastand the resulting rescue mission sails straight into an ambush as the space stations mysterious builders return.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The secondary characters almost steal the spotlight...leaving the reader wanting to know more about them and their distant worlds. -- Romance Reviews Today, Reviewer Debbie Gilbert

About the Author

Nina M. Osier started writing at the age of two, when her parents decided to write down her stories and read them back to her. She lives in a turn-of-the-century Victorian house in Augusta, Maine, where she writes, gardens, and wishes humans didnt have to waste time sleeping.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (August 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595200044
• ISBN-13: 978-0595200047
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,183,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hello, I'm '9-UH' - daughter of a Maine fisherman and (wouldn't you know it?) a reading teacher. I usually write speculative and mainstream fiction, although I've also authored a couple of nonfiction titles. I'm especially interested in speculative fiction with strong, mature female protagonists, so much of my work centers on them. My latest Amazon release is HIGH PLACES, the first book of a trilogy. It's available as both a trade paperback and a Kindle eBook. For more detailed information about my books, plus a few articles and some great freebies, please visit me at http://www.geocities.com/nina_osier.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Starship Castaways, January 7, 2003

By 

Annette Gisby "agisby" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starship Castaways (Paperback)

Starship Castaways
Nina M. Osier

Attacked by rogue Clan pirates, the surviviors of the damaged starship Archangel, take refuge on an alien built space station in the middle of dangerous "Clan Space."

The station seems to have been empty for years, but suitable for
human habitation, if a little on the large side. Who were the mysterious builders and why was the station abandoned?

At first all the surviviors want to do is get home, but gradually
as time goes by and no sign of rescue emerges, they begin to wonder.

Captain Mitch Dufrain falls in love here, thinking it was impossible after losing his first family twenty years ago. Rilla Lansing was fleeing retirement and her long dead marriage. Thalia Eriknova is stranded among the "unchanged" humans and she definitely wants to go home. Ari Merchant wants the surviviors to colonise the planet that the station orbits, and then he discovers something about the space station that he is reluctant to share...

A real page turner of a book, Starship Castaways is a science-fiction book that deals more with the characters and human emotions involved, rather than the technology of the future.

Opening on the space battle the reader is drawn straight into the action and gradually the pace slows as the crew first of all find the space station and then eventually become a colony on it.

The interplay between the characters is deftly handled, everyone seems to have their own distinct personality, no cardboard cutouts here.

The twist at the end is good too, when a so-called rescue mission
sails straight into an ambush when the builders return. Anymore than that I don't want to give away! A great read.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Shadows of the Rose.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, Star Trek: Next Gen fans, heads up!, March 7, 2002

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starship Castaways (Paperback)

The spaceship Archangel had been escorting a freighter through Clan space when they were attacked. Only a few of its crew survived. Refuge was found on board an alien-built space station deep within enemy territory. Each surviving sole wondered if they would ever be rescued. Most dreamed of returning home to loved ones. A few found life on the space station to their liking and hoped no one would ever locate them. One wanted to found a new colony on the planet in which they orbited.

One lone (Clan) man lived from the battle with Archangel. The Commonwealth had him in custody. He waited for the day to come that he could hunt down the ones who had gotten away.

***** A space age soap opera set in the distant future. Several characters to keep events moving, each with unique concerns and problems.

Like her other novel, Conduct Unbecoming, the author has again created a believable cast in what could easily someday be a believable setting. Don't expect a bunch of pull-out-the-alien-looking-weapon-and-blast-the-army-of-monsters-away-before-they-destroy-the-Earth type of [stuff]. No, this author made her book realistic! Now don't get me wrong, those constant gunfire, laser wars, and non-stop action stories are wonderful. I love them too. However, I found it VERY refreshing to read a space story that concentrated on the people, like Star Trek: The Next Generation does. I am proud to recommend this novel to everyone! *****