I agree with you that if money were the only point, he *would* have taken his salvage money and walked away.

There’s something else going on and you’re overlooking the reality that he’s not walking away. Yes, he sold the Iris and, yes, he’s leaving that ship.

But…

What’s next?

There are plenty of clues as to where he’s going and there are a couple of HUGE rabbit holes for him to fall down.

Ishmael leaves the Iris older, wiser, richer, and with marketable skills.

He also leaves with a hole in his heart.

That’s the problem with growing up. It doesn’t all go your way, and — often — when you think you’ve got it all, it all goes away.

I wanted to tell a “real” story even if it’s set in a future that’s both far away and achingly familiar. I’m happy with what we’ve got there so far and I’m looking forward to telling more stories in the future.

I will say I didn’t enjoy the wrap up – from outside Ish’s head it seemed as if he spent the entire series establishing the desire for a life in the deep dark and at the moment of accomplishment simply turns and walks away. The selling of the Iris, in particular, didn’t make a lot of sense to me – The opening of the ports for the first time was a similar moment to the flyby of the Enterprise in ST-TMP, the new path is revealed and possibilities unfold.If money were the only point, then he could have taken his salvage fee and gone off. There were a few speculations for the wrap up that struck me while reading about what the ending would be – all were dependant on Ish keeping the Iris so I was wrong on all counts, but there did seem some interesting branches laid out…

1)DST opens a new passenger division, and needs someone to run it – Ish is cornered again.

2)Ish receives a long term charter for an exploration team looking to find new planets to terraform, giving him time to come to terms with the tragedy and move on after his return.

Though I missed my bets on the ending would like to thank you for many hours of enjoyment in reading/listening to the tale and look forward to seeing what you might have in store for Ish (and the rest of your universe) in the future. Bravo!

2. The Academy at Port Newmar is the only one in the Western Annex. There are others, but they’re a long way off.

I had a couple question.

1. Does one have to attend the academy in order to be an officer or is it the same as ratings (pass the test it’s yours)?

2. Is the academy the only college or is it like the ivy league of officer colleges?

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