Starship : Rebel by Mike Resnick - a review

In the fourth book of the Starship series, Resnick continues the fast-paced space opera action of the previous books. Wilson Cole's fleet has grown from only the Teddy R to just under fifty, his straight forward dealings with the residents of the Inner Frontier gaining him respect as well as followers. In a few short years he has become a formidable force, still only second to one.

The Republic remains an ominous force in the Inner Frontier, going wherever they please, doing whatever they want. They demand taxes and force men into service, all with no consequences for the Republic. This infuriates Cole, but as the government still has a price on his head, the Teddy R stays far away from any Navy ships.

But one horrible action by a Navy ship bent on collecting the reward for Cole's capture changes everything. Cole declares war on the Republic, encouraging, but not demanding the ships in his fleet join him. Even with the help of warlords he previously hunted, Cole's fleet is still woefully outnumbered and underpowered-- just the odds the Teddy R is best at.

My Recommendation
Starship : Rebel by Mike Resnick is a great culmination of the previous books and Cole's history with the Republic. I feel this title goes far beyond the adventure and action and gets to the characters and their motivations. If you have enjoyed the rest of the series, Starship : Rebel will not disappoint.