View from Valhalla

originally published November 15, 2010

Title: Full Share
Author: Nathan Lowell
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: 26 June 2007 – 26 September 2007
Located: Podibooks, iTunes, Author’s Site
Formats Available: Podcast only (soon to be dead tree from Ridan Publishing)
Rating: PG/R

Continuing our series of reviews focussing on The Master of NaNoWriMo, Nathan Lowell, we find ourselves looking at the third volume in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, Full Share.

Seriously, is there anyone out there that is listening to podcast fiction that hasn’t all ready heard these stories? Well, I have to hope there is, so that they might stumble upon these reviews and realize what they’re missing. And with that…

On to the review.

Synopsis: The Lois McKendrick runs headlong into trouble when a routine in-system transit goes bad. Ishmael and the rest of the crew must scramble to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it in order to keep the ship alive. Learn more about the officers and crew of the Lois McKendrick as they struggle to keep their ship and discover how Ishmael finds out how wrong he’s been about what it means to be a spacer in this latest Trader’s Tale. (stolen from Podiobooks site)

Production: Mr. Lowell’s production style is remarkably consistent. A piece of music is used to open and close a story, separated by a reading that is perhaps the single best example of a straight read that exists. I know there are many others that use this same style, and that Mr. Lowell was not even the first. However, this does not change the fact that in my mind he still personifies this type of read.

Grade: A

Cast: Nathan Lowell. Enough Said.

Grade: A

Story: Full Share is full of the same “stuff” that made Quarter Share and Half Share so good. However, it also contains elements that probably make it even more enjoyable to many listeners. One of the things that I enjoyed so much about Quarter Share was it’s lack of traditional conflict/resolution that exists in almost every other story I’ve ever read or listened to. I know from reading the reviews for Quarter Share that I’m not the only one that has noticed this. Most seem to agree with me that the story didn’t need it and actually was more fun for the lack of. However, there is a portion of the audience that complained about “nothing happening”. Full Share and it’s successors are more action oriented than it’s predecessors. That doesn’t mean that Nathan Lowell has morphed into John Clancy, but there are several action sequences in Full Share that had me glued to my earphones.

Still, the thing that made Full Share the story it is, is the continuing development of Ishmael Wang. In a nutshell, the Share stories have been one long character study. Hmm… you think that is why I liked them so much? Could be.

Grade: A

Verdict: Rarely do I ever include SPOILERS in a review. HOWEVER, I am going to discuss my reaction to Full Share here. So, if you haven’t listened. skip the rest of this, and just go listen.

Rarely has a story left so desolate as Full Share. I really was hoping that Ish would be with the Lois until he chose to retire. This is the last book to date (Owner’s Share has not been released at this time and I have no knowledge concerning how Mr. Lowell will end this wonderful series) that has Ish in contact with the Lois or any of her crew that we have come to know and love. We are saying goodbye to friends. And this is a good thing.

Ish is growing up. He is moving on. Things change. They hurt. They make Ish who he is. Mr. Lowell allows us to live this along with Ish, and I appreciate every bitter sweet moment. These truly are my favorite first person narrative stories in existence.

Disclosure: I completely forgot in last weeks review to mention that my review for Quarter Share ended up being quoted on Ridan Publishing’s site. I was honored, but was not paid or other wise induced for it, or any other review I’ve written concerning Nathan Lowell. Dang. When does the inducing start?