Quarter Share is the first in a series of excellent audiobooks by Nathan Lowell. The main character, Ishmael Wang, is forced by circumstance to join the crew of the Lois McKendrick, a “solar clipper” that carries cargo between star systems.
What’s fascinating about this story is that Ishmael isn’t some kind of Space Prince With A Heroic Ultimate Destiny. He’s not an action hero doing battle against the forces of evil; in fact, the series contains almost no violence at all. He’s just a guy trying to find himself, friends, and his fortune.
The stories remain interesting despite the fact that Ishmael isn’t changing the world. I listened to two of the books (Full Share and Double Share) over the weekend; I could hardly bear to turn off my MP3 player. These things kept me up until very late in the evening.
I can’t wait for the next book, Captain’s Share, which Lowell has promised will come out early this year.
