Yes.
Now that we got that over with, yes, it’s the end of the Shares. It’s probably not the end of Ishmael Wang. I’ve had a couple of emails about not ending the series and I want to assure you that this series *must* end. It’s the last of the share levels. I can’t write another Share book.
What I can do is start another series. I can fill in the places where there are gaps. I have a whole universe of other stories to tell, some of which will have Ishmael Wang in them, I’m pretty sure.
I’d like to ask you to wait until you see what the ending of this series actually is before getting too upset.
After it’s over, you’ll have plenty of time to be peeved with me. :)
Now, fresh comment thread available. 26 should be up in the morning. Some of you will be cheering when it’s over.
Sar, looking forward to the conclusion of this book (and series – albeit with some sadness) and whatever the next chapter in the Golden Age contains!!
Thank you for all of your work, I have enjoyed listening immensely!
All that I can say is thank you. I can’t wait for the end and I really do want more of Ish. Thanks again for all the hard work and effort you have put into this.
However it ends it’s been a great ride. I’m sure I’ll love whatever comes next. Thanks for sharing your stories with us.
I’ll be really sad when the story ends, even if I love the ending, because this series has been such a wonderful experience. That said, I look forward to whatever you come out with next (especially if it’s in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper universe). :-)
I guess we can go to bed now since we know there won’t be an episode to wait up for tonight! =)
Oh, and yeah, another vote for more Ish!
Its OK Nathan, I really didn’t want to see “Outhouse Share”, well maybe a little. I will try to be strong and not cry like a little kitten for its mommy – too much – just a little. I am interested with what happens in episodes 26 to 30. Just remember we fans,the rabid ones, are not always sensible.
I totally think that you should do one on Ish raising his family in space, “not a share” story. I would pay good money to hear/read that “not a share” story. Just say’in.
Nate, thank you for the Share series and for all your other works as well. I, too, will be very sad to see the Share series come to a conclusion, but it has been awesome riding along with Ish and everybody he has met along the way. Thank you again, sar.
Rock on, Nate.
Seconded. I absolutely want “Ish raises his family in space.” We haven’t gotten a real look at a spacer family with small children yet, and I am fascinated. (Besides, I think everyone wants to hear Ish’s insights as he blunders his way through fatherhood).
I got a flash of a huge open marriage of Ish’s mates and friends raising a passle of kids onboard. A St Cloud shaman/fisherman net binding together and protecting everyone like an interstellar antishark net.
I think I would be interested in hearing more about this Universe you have created even if Ish wasn’t the main character – I assume Cape Grace is still in the works. Possibly another suggestion is to follow Christine Malone a bit further – she seems to have many and diverse interests – or possibly one of the trading/shipping families that Ish ran into along the way.
Maybe a family story with Pip rather than Ish as the father….. it would be nice to see how he is doing.
No worries Nate, It’s your stories we love. You tell them in a way that we can’t help becoming fond of the characters. While it will be sad to see it end, we can always start at the beginning again. I would rather you stop on a high point than try to shoehorn more in. The universe you have set the Share series in, including The South Coast is big enough to hold a lot of characters and adventures.
I would like to see how the other dunsany roads people are doing. Does Ishmael meet up with them again? And it would be cool to have the background story on Captain Alice Chigong (sp?).
I hope I’m not the only one interested in hearing more about the E&D organization Ms. Malone worked for in her rebelious youth? It sounds like a sort of greenpeace terraforming organization with more humanocentric focus than the greenies of our time. I think it’d be interesting to explore the rough edge of the expanding sphere of human colonization and exploitation in the Solar Clipper universe. Especially some of the tough bastards and spoiled rebel rich who have to work together to survive and succeed in such an alien environment. Sounds like fertile ground for more in the solar clipper-verse.
Anyway Nate, wherever in the verse you take us next I look forward to it.
What, it’s not like your turning your back on us.
You are an Author. We are your Audience. We have a Symbiotic Relationship.
If it’s with Ish, the crews on St. Cloud, somewhere on the road with Mother Fairport, or some new tale of wonder and hot beverages, I’m fairly certain we’ll be right here with you.
You can’t really shake us that easily, you know.
Oh, come on, the share possibilities are endless…. Pirate Share…Joint Committee Share….Fatherhood Share….Grandfather Share….it never has to end. Your hear me, NEVER! never ever ever…….
We will be both happy and sad to see Ish dog the lock for the last time. But its your writing that we want more of I know you have posted already of how there are two many words in you and you must let some of them out and I for one will follow your works for as long as you are happy to produce.
I for one wouldn’t mind some other tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper. A short on Lois McKendrick alone would be a nice one. Among others. Prodical Son: Another tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper. There are so many nooks and crannies just waiting to be explored in this wonderful universe. :)
I look forward to listening to the entire series beginning to end.
Some stories I’d like to see would be something from the Great Diaspora, a tale from the Sigler Sector (at least a glimpse), Earth in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, and if this is the golden age, what replaces it and why.
Ooh, I bet 139 year old Ish does it, *looks at burleson drive specs* “Thats funny, if you just turn this ninety degrees. . .” *clink* “Ready about, hard alee” “Uh, Sar, we’re still docked.” “I said, ready about, hard alee,” *pokes button with cane* “See we’re someplace else” “Looks the same to me, Sar.” “No, my hip says this is Beltris.” 140 year old Ish “Thats right, when I was a kid we had Burleson limits, we had to sail for weeks uphill in the snow. . .Hey, look, a tag team” Ish is never seen again. THATS how the story really ends.
Honestly. I love these stories, but I’m looking forward to some other stories in this universe. Every time I listen to South Coast I appreciate it more. I’m anxiously waiting for Cape Grace. I’d love to have peeks into the lives of other people that we don’t know yet who make up the Golden Age.
Thanks for all your hard work Nate, I cant wait to have your entire book collection up on my book shelf next to Peter F Hamilton. Your a true talent!
@Russ.
BWA-HAHAHAHAAAAA!
Can’t you just see 140 year old Ish just bonking his cane off that Astrogaters forehead, emphasizing the “lee” in “hard alee”.
You left some good Share names. “Re-Share”, “In-Sharance”, “Yes-Shar”, “Share and Share Alike”, Share-Ish the Memories” ;-) Nevermind stock ones.
Seriously, I am glad there will be more from Nate and more about Ish. Waiting for each episode has really been bittersweet. I wanting to know what is next and not wanting it to end.
Thanks so much,
-Andy-
It has been a long time since a story I was reading grabbed my attention like the Share tales have. I am looking forward to seeing how Owner’s share ends and where Ish positions himself going forward. Will he look to building a corporation like DST focused of fast packet passenger transport or go into building a family business like Pip’s? Only episodes and time will tell.
Thanks again Nathan. It was a lot of fun getting here and the possibilities for what’s next are endless.
Myc
I agree! I’m sad to see the series end. I can’t wait to see where the last 5 episodes go.
Nate, you are a wonderful author and I can’t wait to see what you come up with in the future.
****Spoiler****
I understand that these stories are a progress of how a landrat comes to sucessfully own a ship. (Unless of course they all die in the end.) We are nearing the end of that story arch. Unfortunately I think the biggest plot hook raised in this book is “When Christine Malone has completed her year in space, what does she decide to do with the rest of her life.” I fear that will not be answered in this book.
I for one am not worried! :)
Nate, you are a “storyteller” and as such must tell YOUR stories! They are brilliant; you don’t need our assistance! Just keep them coming, that’s all I ask.
@peter – um? That would take another – very different – series, I think. So ya, I think your fear is justified. We’re not even going to find out what Ishmael does with the rest of his life.
I think I’d be happy finding out what Ish does with the rest of the year!
Nathan, even though this set is ending and will be missed you have created a unique universe that I look forward to exploring in future stories. Indeed, to echo a previous post, I’m eagerly waiting for the hard copy books to arrive (a multi year project) so that I can put the whole set on my shelf. Because I want to read and re-read them? Partially. Because I intend to pass them to my son eventually as well.
A more fundamental question, however, that I’ve never seen asked of an author: How do YOU feel about bringing this multi-year effort to a close? Happy? Sad? Will you miss Ish as much as we do, or will he be sitting in the back of your mind waiting to lean over your should and order you to slew another story 90 degrees to port?
The readers are along for the ride, but what does the author think now that his efforts draw to a close?
Oh! And before I forget the barbarian chant: Twenty SIX, Twenty SIX, Twenty SIX AND Twenty Seven, Twenty Seven…
It would be nice to just see Ish get with Chief Gearhart and for them to do something with his shiping line. If you do another series with the golden age of the solar clipper an idea would be something to do with the marines maybe a young officer and his adventures thruough space dealing with pirates. You know those pirates billy is always after and a cover up on hijacked ships that this officer discovers and the search and eventual removal of the galaxies greatest pirate… i dont know i think it would be kinda cool.
re: morning update for Ep 26
Sar, it’s been morning in my time zone for 9 hours and 54 minutes. Still no update. I understand things have to get through the Confederated Planets Joint Committee on Podcasting, but I’m getting a little twitchy, Sar. No sar, a cup of coffee won’t help. ;)
Thank you Nat!!
@Nate, we won’t get to see Ish’s entire life, but we already saw what he _decided_ to do with his life, when he chose to go to the academy.
Miss Malone has not made a real career decision yet. She owns an art gallery, but doesn’t seem to see it as her primary vocation. Her current work onboard seems to be the first time she has found something which suits multiple talents of hers. When Miss Malone’s year is up she effectivly becomes CEO of her father’s company, but does she Want to be a CEO? Could she justify staying a Ships Chef and Steward just because it is more fun? With how rich she will be would it make sense to work for someone else’s ship? How much does her father’s legacy mean to her? What about her responsibility to all the employees of DST? Would she do a good job as CEO?
I realize that Owner’s Share is Ish’s book. It is about his choices & goals. However it’s not my fault that you created a compelling supporting charater plot.
I am just glad to be along for the ride however long it lasts and wherever it may take us.
I’ve intentionally NOT listened to the non-Share books, in anticipation of just such an “emergency”.
Looking forward to the rest of Owner’s Share and any other Ish adventures.
@mumblebear, Use this: http://media.podiobooks.com/ownersshare/PB-OwnersShare-26.mp3
It works…
@Nate, A very small universe… indeed. Who do you suppose they will ‘bump into’ at dinner???
:-)
Thanks for 26… I humbly await 27.
@Rich @mumblebear
Please don’t use the direct link, it has been said before and I guess it needs to be said again,
Nate has stated on behalf of Evo over at podiobooks that hitting those links directly (and before the system is all ready) has bad side affects, including but not limited to locking the file up so it won’t work right.
So for the good of all us junkies… please, please, please don’t direct link!
Nate – I imagine it’s tough for someone new to the game to get published and, as you said, Ishmael isn’t your stereotypical hero. You’ve taken an imaginative approach and you’ve sold me on your stories. You print – I buy. I hope you won’t stop narrating your works. You have a good voice for this. While I can’t say I’m looking forward to the end of the Trader’s series it’s been a fun ride and given me a lot of hours of enjoyable listening.
Respects from the field,
Ed
While Ishmael may be my favorite (so far) some of us are are waiting for Cape Grace and more on the adventures of Tanyth Fairport so I”m not too sad to see the share books coming to an end.
I too am anxiously awaiting the return of Tanyth. ( I even named a MMORPG Character after her.) I need to hear
Overton.
Sorry about posting the link. I didn’t know it would cause problems.
podiobooks must have pirates
sweet and here i have been refreshing podibooks all day Rich…thanks for saving my day.Well i THINK we will see more of >Ish…not in share but maybe in another serie.After all you cant have a never ending serie like Jordan (the wheels serie if i remember correctly).I would love to see the share serie as a movie though :D
*calls hollywood*
Billy the Buccaneer: A Pirate’s Tale from The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper
*pokes Evo for the 26 update and chants with the barbarians for Twenty-seven, twenty-seven, twenty-seven…*
@Griffyn – Maybe Evo and Nate are going to release 26 and 27 together. ;)
@Jamming – I’m trying to decide if I think releasing them both at once is a good thing or a bad thing. Good in that I get to listen to a full hour+ of Ish’s adventures tonight, bad in that I WANT IT NOW. *quivers the lip like a dorsai when piglet dies*
@Nate – Tell your stories to us, sar. You’ve not told us a bad one yet and I’m always pleased when a story ends (open-endedly of course, fatalism can be fatal) rather than either ‘jumping the shark’ or pulling a ‘StarTrek: YetAnotherPointlessSpin-off’. I look forward to more Golden Age tales, and the Mother Fairport Adventures seem to be a good place for you to refill the reaction mass and recalibrate the sails before heading back into the Deep Dark. Either universe is a treat.
*SPOILER*
FINALLY he did the thing he should have done long time ago…to fire the chief.Didnt expect him to act like that though but more starting to cry like a little girl or something.You kinda made me mad though with that ending….i REALLY wanted to know WHO the wanderer was you know but i guess you was reading my mind lol.
As soon as i finished 26 i got from here it was up on podibooks…..geez.What timing is that? lol
as always good work and keep on rolling.
@Lars E — the Wanderer? I think Ish and crew are totally wrong. It was the male passenger Mr Tharp who entertained the elder Ms. Lockhart and exited the ship first who gets my vote. Just feel that way after the parting comments as he got off the ramp.