I wonder is Ishmael ever wished he’d have done the deal with Federated Freight where they covered 1/2 of his Academy expenses in return for a 5 stanyer contract. For someone in his position, I think it’s pretty amazing that he didn’t take it in the first place. He was so worried about the cost, after all. I guess his trust in the Captain probably dissuaded him…

Also, it never ceases to amaze me how Ishmael remained so focused on only the corporate side of the trader business for so long. He must have an extreme ability to ignore everything but the present. I’m not sure how else to rationalize that even after learning from Pip and others about the reality of indies and trader families, being reminded by the captain that he had already made some excellent contacts outside of the corporate world, and then actually traveling to Port Newmar on an indie ship that he kept that side of the business out of mind for so long.

*shrug* It’s just one of those thoughts that repeatedly gets me when reading/listening. Usually I tend to think Ish is too hard on himself when he mentally berates his won stupidity … but sometimes I emphatically agree.

Good to know that the stories are, in fact, finding the audience

Sir, Dr. Lowell, thank you. You have the gift that Tolkien termed “subcreation” in great and powerful measure. You have given us alla glimpse of the numinous, even in something which some have called “everyday” and “humdrum”. Yet here in this ordinary man’s life you have shown us the real adventure our own lives can be–and the price we have to pay to continue to be alive.

I think the conversation between Ms Maloney and Ishmael says it best:

Ishmael: “The alternative is to put ourselves in a cage and not let anyone in.”
Maloney: “If it keeps us alive, isn’t it worth it?”
Ishmael: “Even if locked from the inside, and luxurious, it’s still a prison.”

And it wouldn’t be living either, Ishmael.

Again thank you. I read the first three from an Amazon recommendation, then listened to the last three. It was time well spent, stories well-told, and if the parting is, as Shakespere says “sweet sorrow”, I also know that I, like Ishmael, have the future before me (even at 51) and the opportunity to spread my wings.

Plus I haven’t checked out South Coast or Cape Grace yet.

Kevin Payne
Quincy, IL

And here *I* thought we’d come full cycle (true) with Ishmael a much older and wiser man, able for the first time in his life to pick his own way in the universe. I guess I didn’t see this as a bridge story as much as the culmination of the cycle. The “goings-on” establish the edges of his competence and teach him something about himself as well as the world he lives in.

Ah, well.

Thanks for sticking with it to the end.

The goings-on in the book seem irrelevant in the end. Why not just strand him on the docks as we started at the beginning of this book? Perhaps if the book hadn’t ended where it had, but with some clear picture of what he was going to do next (just fade away and go do Ti chi?) I would have felt better about it.

Lovely writing, love some of the plot twists, it just seems like we went in a wide circle back to were we started with nothing at all gained but to dump Ish out of the Share cycle.

From one of the quiet fans of your works. While I don’t often come out of lurker status, I just thought congratulations for this one were in order. Keep up the good work, and know that there are a LOT of us out here rooting for you.

It’s got bank account information for him. they gave him money.

I had the same thought as Tony wondering what Mr. Maxwell slipped into Ishmael’s pocket. Any chance you could share?