Hard Knocks
Nathan Lowell
It pays to take a second look. In the Deep Dark, it's a long walk home. The Marva Collins runs into unexpected problems a long way from port. more
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published
4.55
Rating
1797
Ratings
81
Reviews
Nathan Lowell
39 books 1458 followers
Nathan Lowell has been a writer for more than forty years, and first entered the literary world by podcasting his novels. His sci-fi series, The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper grew from his long time fascination with space opera and his own experiences shipboard in the United States Coast Guard. Unlike most works which focus on a larger-than-life hero (prophesized savior, charismatic captain, or exiled prince), Nathan centers on the people behind the scenes--ordinary men and women trying to make a living in the depths of space. In his novels, there are no bug-eyed monsters, or galactic space battles, instead he paints a richly vivid and realistic world where the "hero" uses hard work and his own innate talents to improve his station and the lives of those of his community.Dr. Nathan Lowell holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology with specializations in Distance Education and Instructional Design. He also holds an M.A. in Educational Technology and a BS in Business Administration. He grew up on the south coast of Maine and is strongly rooted in the maritime heritage of the sea-farer. He served in the USCG from 1970 to 1975, seeing duty aboard a cutter on hurricane patrol in the North Atlantic and at a communications station in Kodiak, Alaska. He currently lives in the plains east of the Rocky Mountains with his wife and two daughters.
Awards & Recognition
2008 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for Full Share
2008 Podiobooks Founder's Choice Award for Double Share
2008 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for South Coast
2009 Podiobooks Founder's Choice Award for Captain's Share
2009 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction for Double Share
4 out of 10 Books on Podiobooks.com Top Overall Rated by Votes (2. Double Share, 3. Quarter Share, 5. Full Share, 8. Half Share) -- as of Jan 4, 2009
6 out of 10 Books on Podiobooks.com Top Overall Rating (1. Ravenwood, 2. Quarter Share, 3. Double share, 4. Captain's Share, 5. Full Share, 7. South Coast) -- as of Jan 4, 2009
Community reviews
This was probably my favorite of the new trilogy. The first two books ended up feeling like setup to get to this one. Hopefully this isn't the end for Ishmael and more books will arrive in the future. more
Excellent conclusion to the story arc. “No immediate danger” 😉 . more
Hard KnocksWhat can I say. This was a well fleshed out way to end the SC Marva Collins story. Leaves plenty of room for Ishmael and Zoya to start a new tale and build on what already happened. Do t know why I find these so enjoyable, maybe just cuz there is no intergalactic war or whether these seem like in the future, these stories could be true. People with jobs, families, lives, heartbresk, sorrow, don't know . more
I suppose most personal stories are similar to this one, no major climax, no definitive ending. Plenty of adventure along the way, even some unexpected circumstances, unusual events, but nothing changed the world, or even the lives of these characters. The perspective is from the most common human view for the most part. These are fairly normal people, not royalty or political leaders, although perhaps upper middle class and wealthy families for some. Even the allusions to a happy ending are less than an actual result, which is only a possibility. more
Yeah, you're gonna hafta grab this book as it's the best one in the Marva Collins series. But actually grab the entire Ishmael saga as each book and series build off each other. So yeah start with Quarter Share, and move on from there. How can you not find the books fascinating. How does Nathan Lowell put it. more
A satisfying ending to this trilogy. It was nice spending time with Ishmael and the gang again. more
Awesome Stuff Reading this series makes you feel like you’re surrounded with friends. You can smell and taste the food your friends are eating. Can’t wait for the next wizard’s butler episode. This story arc is completed. . more
A simple pleasureSometimes reading about old friends doesn't need high adventure or jeopardy. Sometimes all it needs is someone to gently take you along the path you were hoping you were on. Nathan has once again shown that simple but skilful storytelling is his forte. A lovely conclusion to Ish and Pip's most recent story. more
It was a long wait for Nathan Lowell to recover his illness and continue the Ishmael Series which culminated in “Hard Knocks. ” The story line has remained consistent since Ishmaels mother died in “Quarter Share” through the latest trilogy. I have enjoyed the characters and their development following Ishmael through his life. While waiting for the next phase I have re-read the whole series several times revisiting old friends. Dr. more
Nice end to the Marva Collins series No encounters with aliens, no space battles, no explosions— instead, the (apparently) last book in a series about interstellar trade and commerce. And curiously enough, the series is worth reading. It starts when Ishmael Wang first gets a job on a interstellar cargo ship as the most junior of crew, and follows his career as he climbs the career ladder to become a ship’s captain, with the trials and tribulations expected in such a life, plus some others that do involve high risks and danger. Begin with ‘Quarter Share’. There are some dozen other books in the series, plus at least three others in the same universe. more
Ishmael Wong and his crew of cadets are flying the SC Marva Collins into the Gretna system when they are boarded by TIC agents who arrest Ishmael. This is a book by Nathan Lowell, so no ray guns are pulled. Instead, Ish invites the arresting officer to sit down for a cup of good coffee. If you are a longtime fan of Lowell’s Solar Clipper novels, you won’t be surprised at this opening. Lowell argues that there is a market for well-written books that would be unlikely to find a traditional publisher. more
The conclusion of the Marva Collins trilogy, the most recent Ishmael Wang stories from the Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clippers. In this series, Ishmael's crew has been tasked by the commandant of the Academy to take a new ship, the Marva Collins, with a mixed crew of real spacers and cadets from the Academy on a one year cruise to train the cadets about the real world. The first book set up the cruise, the second book was the start of the cruise and introduced some problems. This book begins with fallout from one of the problems introduced in book two, Working Class. It continues with difficulties which occur as the crew discovers that the ship was not the brand new spaceship donated by the Manchester shipyards with new fittings and drives, but something a bit more sinister. more
Loved every word. I'm delighted that Mr Lowell is still telling the story of this remarkable adventure. I'm even more delighted that his health has improved to the point that he's able and willing to keep writing. (I don't know the details and I wouldn't asI love these characters. They are all decent human beings, all with their own personalit talents, skills, flaws and strength. more
Solid, enjoyable end (at least it looks like an end) to the multi-series spanning saga of Ishmael Wang (although I'd kind of expected the last line to be "Call me Ishmael", which it isn't, so perhaps there is more to come. ). Finally (finally. ) makes some choices in his personal and professional life which leave him in a stopping point for a life ahead that I think totally works, and the level of action and shipboard drama along the way totally worked for me. If this is the last we see of Ishmael, it's been a pleasure. more
I think this is the last series featuring Ishmael Wang and Pip. (I hope for more. ) Every one of the books in this series and the previous ones kept me involved and engaged with the characters and their travels. There was no epic space battles, no evil “aliens” to defeat, no race to save the planet (or humanity). These are just solid, fascinating stories of people living their lives, plying their trade, working and struggling to find meaning in what they do. more
A great ending to the arc just hope it isn’t the last of Ishmael and crewI have loved this series and all the other solar clipper books. I hope to see more. A good book that answers all the questions you have left open from previous series. I really like the universe in this series and the light hearted everyday feel to the story rather than an over the top everything rests on us hero complex a lot of books in this genre have. I hope for a lot more in this style and would love to have some carstairs family story spin offs. more
Really good I love everything I've read by Nathan Lowell and this was no exception. The man is a genius. This trilogy, SC Marva Collins seemed a little different from all that came before, but not as different as A Smuggler's Tale was from the series to that point. The only constant is change and Nathan Lowell hammers home that all things change. Especially for those who live & work aboard ships. more
[6 Aug 2023]Although I'm still a huge fan of Nathan Lowell and Ishmael Wang, I felt somewhat disappointed with this book. The first part of the book was good, with a series of equipment failures putting the Marva Collins and it's crew in serious danger. But in the last part of the book, after they return safely to Port Newmar, Ish makes some decisions that I was disappointed in. I can understand why Lowell took that direction. Much of the last two trilogies has been focused on Ish's developing understanding that he was not really in control of his life. more
The payoff of the 3 book story arc is here. How the author can make the conflict in the story, or at least the dangerous conflict (there is another plot conflict of note and other issues to resolve) end like this and still feel so satisfying is the magic. Don't come here if you need bug-eyed aliens, lasers and the fate of the Galaxy in the hands of our intrepid hero once again (ho-hum), do come here for real people living and working in space. You will want to join the crew. . more
The final (so far) Ismael novelNathan Lowell has built upon the previous two Marva Collins novels to bring a sarusfactory conclusion to the four main character's personal lives, dreams and careers. Following a worrying time on the Marva Collins, the The officers and crew take the next steps in their various journeys. more
Great sci fi adventureThe worldbuilding is fascinating and believable and not filled with dead bodies and destruction. The characters and their interactions are fascinating. Some of the technical discussions are dry, but the story has plenty of thrills. I really enjoyed the Marva Collins series. more
Outstanding finale to the saga. Another outstanding adventure featuring Ishmael Wang and the crew of the Marva Collins. Particularly enjoyable for me to watch the intersecting lives of the main characters from entirely different series trying together into a cohesive whole. Great storytelling and highly recommended. more
SpoilersAt least, so far, Nathan Lowell hasn't Article 37'd Zee, like he did Gretchen. As much as I enjoy his books, it's difficult to forgive what Nathan Lowell did to Gretchen Gerheart in Owner's Share. Otherwise I enjoyed reading this chapter of The Golden Age Of The Solar Clippers. ARTICLE F'ING 37. more
This author has a slightly flat voice. Even exciting things happen as if in a documentary. That said, the Everyman perspective is engaging and allows for off-screen challenges to evolve without data dumps that break up the narrative. Also, this brings an HEA to one of the slowest slow-burn romances ever written. Frustrating process, but very satisfying results. more
Great book (third in a trilogy), but it while the first two books were similar, this one took a wide turn. Kind of a weird disconnect. Felt like season 3 of a show, but they didn't have the budget for the rest of the cast, so they took a different path for the story. Again, great story, and I'm sorry it's over, it was just an odd turn. more
love this series It’s a warm welcome to read these books and see simple moves of a common man mixed with the magic friends bring to the mix Failure and success shape a life well lived and some time trials survived build character Ishmael may his travels continue maybe a kid or twoI look forward to continuing adventures. more
Brilliant as usualI highly recommend this trilogy. In fact I highly recommend the whole story arc starting with 'Quarter share' . I have read and listened to the numerous times and will again. Mr Lowell is a brilliant author. I look forward to future books. more
Nice space commerceI'd say that Nathan Lowell started the whole space commerce genre by these space clipper series. Not much violence, not much guns and grenade, and yet the conflicts and tension are there, flowing together with the business side of space living. . more
Well, it’s about time. This book vanished in under 24 hours. I kept sneaking pages at work and stayed up way too late to read. It’s a culmination of Ishmael’s latest venture and the start of what might be another. Join the crew and read along. more