In June of 2008, you fans of the Golden Age asked for a forum where you could discuss the books, the universe, and everything. You can find that back on the old server.
NOTE: This site is largely defunct. I keep it for the reference materials in the sidebar. If you want to stay up to date, check with http://nathanlowell.com.
My journey with Ish started back in July driving back from Michigan to Utah. My father in law introduced my wife to the series during our visit and after she read quarter share and started listening to half share I became hooked myself. Last night my wife and I stayed up until 2:30am finishing up owners share. Much of my thoughts as I drifted off were of Ish and where his new life will take him.
Thank you for a wonderful series. I look forward to listening to the series again and picking up on things I may have missed. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent for storytelling.
Thank you for a remarkable series. I found Quarter Share on PodioBooks and have progressed up to Full Share, where I am now. Ish is a fabulous character, a brilliant and generous guy who doesn’t know it. I suspect the writer is the same. The voyages in space seem so much like the trips would actually be, long, boring, with dashes of panic and adventure to spice it up. But the telling of the story is not long or boring, somehow moving along at a natural pace, and I love Nathan’s voice. Very well read.
Just a quick question for the Captain. Are you any relation to
Percival Lowell?
I spent the past weak with this audio book. I found it on android librivox app it is a very moving story I found my self starting to cry at the end of owner’s shear. I would love to see the story continued I would love to see pip and the gang come back. Thanck you for such a captavating story to get lost in.
Hi Nathan
Is there any chance the series will go further in the solar clippers universe.
I have now all available books, but the best experience is to listen at the Audio Book. Is there any Story in your mind that we will get to hear soon. It would be great if this universe could stay alive, maybe open to other writers too, it will never be the experience of the share Series, but maybe the hope and the help for the junkies out where. Anyway it’ is not the fine art to hook the people and then let them hang. Sorry my English.
The series continues later this year with Seeker’s Tales and a parallel series – Smuggler’s Tales.
I has a plan. :)
I’m really glad to hear you are continuing these stories, and look forward to you next series. I first discovered these books while stationed aboard the CGC Sherman, and I was always impressed with how closely you captured ship-board life, and after recently stumbling across your bio now understand why. Thank you for the books, and I look forward to your future stories,
What a joy to hear the series continues. I have read and listened to all your books but especially enjoy the Solar Series. Looking forward to the next book.
I just relistened to the entire Trader’s Tales series after a long time away. I was stunned anew by the tragedies in Captain’s Share, almost as it was only the first time I was hearing them. I am heartened to hear that there will be more stories to come in this fascinating universe.
I stumbled on this podcast about 2 or 3 weeks ago and I just finished listening to the end of owners share and I have been completely hooked the entire time.
This is story telling at its finest and I can not wait until there are more of these stories.
More coming.
Ishmael Horatio Wong. What a great series, Captain.
When I got through 95 % of Owners (6 of 6) I found myself only wanting to read a page or 2 at a time for fear of finishing. Then thankfully found from Ashes and know there are more to come. :). As a life long sailor this series has touched me – as captain and Cheif cook on our voyages the food does truly keeps the crew and passengers content, my ability only keeps them safe.
Thanks Captain Sar!
Sar.
Keep up the Excellent work.
Was wondering when the next book in seekers is coming.
After the next book in Smuggler’s comes out.
I have just finished reading all six of the solar clipper books for the third time and they are still just as entertaining as they were the first time! I have read “In Ashes Born” twice and loved it too.
Just downloaded “Milk Run” and look forward to it but am disapointed that I missed”Exile” which as I understand is no longer available. Pity!
Hope you continue with your excellent writing!
Finished Milk Run just a few days after I got it, despite starting a new school year teaching at my university. Greatly enjoyed it. I was little shaky on ToeHold space; the readings on this site greatly helped. I want to go out into the Deep Dark myself! Waiting completely impatiently to read more about Ishmael.
Please Sir, can I have some more. It’s the same thing after I finish reading any of your work. A hunger, a thirst for more. The way your stories would seem to mimic real life, despite them being not of this earth, make them joyful to read. Intelligent, humourous and full of people easy to imagine as real. I love the “Solar Clipper” and the deep dark. I await, anticipate, your next offering with barely concealed enthusiasm.
Yours,
Matthew.
Love your work,can’t wait for next one.
I had trouble with the idea people would spend all their lives on a ship without ever taking a vacation. Today ships have at least two captains that alternate, and historically sailing clippers would do the same. I just can’t believe people, who weren’t slaves, would stand for working continuously, without a break for years.
You’re really getting into it. Thanks!
This is fiction so some of the normal rules don’t apply. One of the suggestions I’ve made throughout the series is that the ships are their lives, their homes. The stories are also about life aboard so any downtime, vacations, etc, wouldn’t show up in the narrative.
Thanks for the reply! That makes sense for the narrative. Your stories remind me of the Aubrey–Maturin series by O’Brian. Real people in a real world.
First, I’d like to say that your Solar Clipper series is my favorite series, from a person who has been reading for over 40 years. I really love the characters and the easy flow of your stories.
Secondly, regarding whelkies, what is your reason for having Ish give a whelkie to a specific person? I understand that each person was important to him, but if that is true, then why didn’t Pip get one, or Alys or anyone on the Agamemnon such as Gwen. An inquiring mind would like to know. Also, based upon my count, he still has 5 whelkies left, I look forward to see who gets those.
I don’t know. Maybe the whelkies are still looking for the people who need them.
After reading both Milk Run and In Ashes Born I’m trying to reconcile the discrepancy in how the TIC interacts with Toe Hold Space. Milk Run clearly shows that there are TIC agents in Toe Hold Space but In Ashes Born states that the TIC doesn’t know what’s going on there.
Waiting for the next books in both the Smugglers and Seekers series. Also, will Ish meet Nat? At the end of Milk Run I think it’s Chief Stevens who signed on to the ship.
The question to ask is “Who says TIC doesn’t know what’s going on?”
Hi! I have been listening to your podiobooks during my 4 hour round commute and have been extremely bummed with the outcome of Bev and Ishmael. I don’t know if it was how they did goodbye or what. Will they ever meet again or hear about Bev? =\ or even Alveraz?
I seriously am bummed with this and would like some sort of closure… Thank you for the great series and I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this way about a character. I’m on Captains Share episode 4.
Just finished listening to your readings of all the Trader’s Tales. This was my second time through, in preparation to getting into the Seeker’s Tales (more I H Wong and Co – *YAY*). My first listening was great, my second listening even better (except maybe the matter relating to Article 37). Your people and events are a delight! Thank you so much :-)
hi hope you are doing well. just wondering when the next book will come out about Ishmael will be out. I read approx. 15 to 20 books a month and while some books are well written I have so far only found 2 authors who I really wait for something to be released unfortunately one of them has retired “Raymond Feist” the other is you { so if you could put of sleeping for the next few years I would be very happy}. I have read all the solar clipper/deep dark books 5 times and have enjoyed then all. it is good to see a story about a normal person with no magic, weapons special abilities etc. when I first read quarter share I was surprised how much I enjoyed it as I usually like the “hero” to crush and destroy his enemies using magic or weapons and not limp wristed magic like lord of the rings but the type of magic Raymond feist created with his character “Pug”. but I very surprised when I could not put down quarter share and then half share then…. the rest of the series so far, thanks for inspiration the day dreams and dreams cant wait for the next one hope its very soon
I don’t have the time to read your books with school at 46 going back is hard. I really depend on audio books to help me keep up with the one of the best space sci-fi books to come out in years. can’t wait for the next book I am going crazy not know how Al ties in to the story.
Book 3 of the Seeker’s Tales – By Darkness Forged – should be out by year end.
I’m currently working on Book 2 of Smuggler’s Tales – Suicide Run – and hope to have that done soon.
just finished listening to In Ashes born and I am blown away, Ishmael Wang quest is in my opinion has been one of growth and loss and now he has purpose. I want thank you for starting a new series, I can’t wait for the next book.
I have really enjoyed all of the Solar Clipper books, and am re-reading In Ashes Born. One question popped up as I have read… the Chernyakova has a wardroomand a mess attendant, and I saw that on the Tinker as well. Did the Lois have a wardroom? There was no mention of one in the first three books, and either Pip or Ishmael would have been detailed as mess attendant. Is this a detail that hadn’t been fleshed out yet in the earlier books, or did the officers on the Lois eat on the mess deck with the crew?
I am desperate to get By Darkness Forged and Suicide Run. When can we expect them to be available?
Just finished Suicide Run. I’m fascinated by Ernst Panko. Is his backstory in any of your other books? I’ve tried to reload them on to my Kindle and search but no luck.
Nope. He’s a new character.
How do the timelines of Seeker’s Tale and Smuggler’s Tale mesh up? Happening at the same time (don’t think so)? Separated by years, decades? What came first, the Chernyakova or the Peregrine?
Seeker’s comes after Owners
Smuggler’s comes in the empty spot between Double and Captain’s.
Peregrine is over two centuries old. Chernyakova, not that old.
So I am trying to think who has it in for Ismael, who paid “Red Herring”.
I can only think of one character who would, could hate such a man with gusto…
He would have the resources and ability to move in the darkness and the skills to fly a fast packet away from a murder scene with a fugitive on board. To refuse to turn back when called and disappear into the toe-holds, the only place he could operate after being blacklisted in CPJCT space….
Who would have had 15 years or so to plan a revenge and put the pieces in place…..
Mr David Burnside…..
cant wait for the next seekers tale to find out…
Well…. I sure was off the mark there wasn’t I
I have a question. How long/far is a “Burleson Unit”? I don’t know why this bothers me, but it does. Please help!
I haven’t identified it. The physics of this are … messy. It leads to people trying to calculate how far from Earth this universe is and explaining why even small jump errors result in ships overshooting entire star systems … unless the stars are actually too close together to co-exist. If it’s going to be a problem, best to give up on me now. :)
I think of it as “how far a ship with a given mass and rated drive can bend space.” Small ships (low mass) can jump sooner and often further than big ships for a particular level of power consumption.
Just wondering when Captain’s Share will be available for Kindle purchase again .It’s a bit weird that books 1-4 and 6 are available, but not book 5. Having just finished book 4, I’d like to read book 5 before book 6….
Heard you were sick. Please get well…or be well. It scares the heck out of me to hear you’ve been ill. I’m 71 and a big fan of your solar clipper books. I think I’ve read the “share” series 4 times. Just finished smugglers and seekers and am sure they will be re read. In this scary zombie apocalypse any illness must be taken seriously. Please take care and know that there a many of us out here sending love, or prayers, or white light to you (depending on which magic we believe in)???? Please be well and keep writing. We need you!
I have enjoyed your books. The two I have left to read are Suicide Run and Home Run. Ismael strikes a cord with me. I was enlisted for 9 years prior to attending Officer’s Candidate School. The Army isn’t so different. I look forward to what comes of the pairing of characters after joining forces.
Found it at last…!!
A year or so ago I commented that at one point in the original narrations (by far the best imho), that David Burneside was referred to as Daniel…. well, after listening to the entire Solar clipper universe twice over (no hardship btw), I found it….
In double share, where Geoff Maloney was handing control of the william tinker over to Mel, he spoke of captain Rossett having his ticket pulled, and Daniel Burnside being blacklisted from here to Gretna and back….
I was beginning to thing I was going nuts…!!
I’m near the finishing a complete reread of the whole series. I noticed that in Double Share Mr Voorhees share his last name withe Jason from Friday the 13th. Is this a coincidence or another name drop.
Just coincidence. I don’t know the movie franchise at all.
Any way to see what ships Tee and boxers looks like?
Or even the ship suits?