Free Space

February 15, 2017

Having impersonated a prince, fended off numerous assassination attempts, and prevented a war, the Admiral is ready for a weekend away with Tessa Salmagard, an Evagardian lady. Although dinner goes off without a hitch, pirates boarding their shuttle and kidnapping him as slave labor to be traded as another commodity was not part of the plan. But the Admiral has been underestimated before, and his date is an Imperial Service-trained soldier. Yet he soon realizes that the situation may be much more complicated. While Salmagard races to catch up with him, time is running out for the Admiral. VERDICT The sequel to Admiral brings back Danker's intriguing characters in a deep dive into intergalactic politics and power. Another strong entry in military sf.--KC

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
What do you do when the empire you have served so well decides your life is no longer necessary? If you're the mysterious, resourceful title character from Danker's debut, Admiral (2016), you go on a date. Shortly after he begins treating himself for a latent poison, provided courtesy of undercover agents, the admiral arranges a romantic rendezvous at an exotic pleasure palace in the lawless, empire-hating Free Trade sector. Our nameless hero just wants to spend time with Tessa Salmagard, the Evagardian soldier he met while escaping a hostile planet. Unfortunately, the happy couple are kidnappedalong with an unexpected pair of party-going Imperial test pilots. With no one coming to the rescue anytime soon, and with the hostages separated and sold into slavery, our hero is not exactly at the top of his game. This time, the admiral will need all the help he can get, and who better to lead the charge than his lovely companion, who happens to be a skilled negotiator and highly trained bodyguard? The cliff-hanger ending will have series fans clamoring for more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)