This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Torchship
Series: Torchship #1
Author: Karl Gallagher
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SF
Pages: 300
Format: Digital Edition
| Synopsis: |
Michigan Long is some sort of undercover agent. After rescuing a scientist who is delving into AI and getting him out of the Fusion (a collection of worlds with a lot technology), she takes up residence as a pilot on a Disconnected (a group of worlds without tech and where slide rules are used for space travel) ship, she has several adventures.
One, their ship is hired as a tour ship that is a cover for a high profile kidnapping. Michigan helps save the day and brings some much needed attention to their ship by powerful people, with money.
That leads into them coming to the attention of the Terraformers, humans who still have contact with uncorrupted AI (corrupted AI are known as Betrayers as they took over the Sol system way back when and are now at quiet war with humanity). They go to a terraformer world only to find a powerful poacher killing wildlife left and right. They deal with him.
The third adventure is a story and a story. They are approached by a man who claims that his grandfather fled from Earth during the betrayal but buried 2 cargo loads of invaluable treasure on a meteor in the Sol system. He has the coordinates but needs a ship and crew willing to risk their lives to enter AI space. To avoid treasure seekers following them, they hire out as a Pilgrim ship. Pilgrims are humans who want to return to Earth, thinking that they will be integrated with the AI. No one, or even any information, has ever returned from a Pilgrimage. They are successful at dropping the pilgrims of in the Sol system and at picking up the treasure.
On their way home they run into an eruption of the war between AI and humans. They are used as bait by the Fusion navy, who uses a new secret weapon to wipe out the Betrayers. Michigan marries the mechanic on the Torchship and is instructed to inform the captain of the ship on her secret military status.
| My Thoughts: |
This was science fiction in the vein of Heinlein, what with the slide rules, etc. Gallagher did a good job of revealing information about the existing universe without me feeling like he was infodumping OR with-holding info “because of reasons”.
I was not expecting the various adventures format, so it threw me at first but once I realized what was going on, it was enjoyable.
In regards to Michie, there is a lot of hints but very little concrete. I figure the next 2 books will delve more into what is going on with her. This book felt like an introduction to her, the crew & ship and the existing universe in general.
There was a little side plot about the scientist she rescues at the beginning running through the book and I figure since he’s into AI that he’ll be central to defeating the Betrayers if that is the route Gallagher takes us. I hope so because I LOVE humans vs AI stories where humans kick some silicon butt.
The nice thing is that I already know this is a trilogy, so no cliffhangers for me!
★★★☆½
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 
Sounds good, and I love that cover. Will have to check it out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Might want to see how the rest of the trilogy turns out, just in case it nosedives 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
True… will let you do that 😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
As long as you can wait 4 months, you’ll be all set. And don’t mind massive spoilers, ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I usually skip through your synopsis 😋 and ive got plenty of books on my shelf to keep me busy till then
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good call.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been trying to pick a book gather electronic dust on my kindle to read on my upcoming vacation. This book is a good reminder that I have a copy of Torchship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually have the omnibus edition but am reading and recording them as 3 separate books. Is that what you have?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will wait for your reviews of the two next books before I make a decision whether to read it or not 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a sound decision. As long as you don’t mind waiting anyway 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does have the feel of classic SF, indeed: intriguing, but like Ola I will wait for your next reviews before adding it to my list – and no, I don’t mind waiting 🙂 Not with the avalanche-like mass of my TBR!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I hear you about the tbr thing and willing to wait. It still surprises me when I read a great review and I see all these “followers” going “Oh, this sounds great. I’m adding it to my tbr RIGHT NOW!” like they’re going to read it the next week. Kids these days 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
Even though my *actual* TBR is quite big, the file where I list the books I want to read (ideally in the not-so-distant future) is even bigger. But at least that way I don’t forget all the books that have crossed my radar… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the concept of AI taking over Earth and human pilgrims wanting to travel back. That sounds like a really fun plot point to play with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, it was a small plot point and really a tangent to cover up for treasure hunting. I really do hope that the whole AI thing is explored more in the next 2 books. Like I said, AI’s getting their digital backsides kicked by a recovering humanity always gets me interested 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds pretty decent. Also pretty cool that the first book felt like it had an objective (to introduce) and that it has you hooked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Decent” is a very good word for this. Nothing bad but nothing fantastic. A decent, hah!, way to spend some time reading 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully the rest of the trilogy remains enjoyable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too. What I don’t know is if I’ll seek out any more by this author.
LikeLike
hehe I love seeing silicon butt get kicked too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the reasons I like the Terminator movies so much 😀
LikeLike
Hmm interesting 🤔 I wonder how the other two books will be like! The first in the series that feels like an introduction are always average 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be happy if they stay at the 3star level. I’m not expecting anything more to be honest…
LikeLike