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Michael Wallace
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Starship Blackbeard Kindle Edition

by Michael Wallace (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 969 ratings
In the aftermath of an interstellar war with an alien race, Captain James Drake is unjustly court martialed and sentenced to hard labor. Now Drake is on the run from Lord Admiral Malthorne, while another pursuer, Drake’s old friend, believes the accusations are true, and promises to bring him to justice.

But Drake won’t go down without a fight. Rather than surrender, he’ll lead his loyal crew into the lawless frontier worlds, infested with pirates and smugglers, to repair and rearm his ship. Then he’ll return to attack Malthorne’s estates and seize the evidence he needs to clear his name.

But more than just Malthorne’s estate is at stake. If Drake is captured, he and his crew are doomed—and the kingdom will be plunged into another war.

Book #1 of the Starship Blackbeard Series, by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Michael Wallace.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Starship Blackbeard
  2. Print length
    219 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    22 Dec. 2014
  5. File size
    376 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 4 books in this series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00PYOF1V0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balsalom Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 22 Dec. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 376 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 219 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Starship Blackbeard
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 969 ratings

About the author

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Michael Wallace

Michael Wallace

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Sign up to Michael's New Release Mailing List here: bit.ly/10ZDLZ2 (Simply cut-and-paste that address into your browser) and receive a copy of one of his books as a welcome. Your email will never be shared and you will only be contacted when a new book is out.

Books and Series

THE STARSHIP BLACKBEARD UNIVERSE

Starship Blackbeard

Lords of Space

Dreadnought

Rebellion of Stars

The Sentinel

Dragon Quadrant

Shattered Sun

Queen of the Void

Star Wolf

Sun King

Alliance Stars

Alliance Armada

Alliance Insurgent

THE DARK CITADEL UNIVERSE

The Dark Citadel

The Free Kingdoms

The Golden Griffin

The Warrior King

War of Wizards

The Red Sword

The Black Shield

The Emerald Crown

THE RIGHTEOUS SERIES

The Righteous

Mighty and Strong

The Wicked

The Blessed and the Damned

Destroying Angel

The Gates of Babylon

Hell’s Fortress

Blood of the Faithful

THE QUINTANA TRILOGY

Wandering Star

The Luminoso

Chasm of Fire

THE DEVIL’S DEEP SERIES

The Devil’s Deep

The Devil’s Peak

The Devil’s Cauldron

HISTORICAL SUSPENSE

The Red Rooster

Wolf Hook

The Wolves of Paris

Crow Hollow

The Crescent Spy

Victoria Crossing

The Year of Counting Souls

Blood of Vipers

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
969 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Allan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ripping yarn
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the plot carries you along through various life changing twists and involves a British style empire with its navy in subterfuge and intrigue. I was surprised when I reached the end, it crept up on me while expecting just that little bit more. Overall, a cracking book, and I will be looking for the rest of the series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Ian Titler
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good story about war and intrigue in space
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2017
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    Good story about war and intrigue in space. I liked it well enough to carry on with the series, kept me entertained.
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  • Suzbol
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2015
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    Moves along at a steady pace. Some unusual ideas for space travellers
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  • Dave & Linda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I just love reading this book I was hooked on it page after page I did not want to put it down I am looking forward to the next book thank you Michael
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  • R,Hamon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Space opera
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A really good space opera nearly as good as Jack Campbell. Looking forward to reading Michael Wallace our books in Blackbeard series.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Starship Blackbeard a good read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What a delight to have a space series based around a future where the descendents of the UK have formed an empire. Swashbuckling stuff!
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  • t.brady
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ho!Ho!Ho!# get with it Jack Sparrow.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    must be one of the quickest reads ever for me! superb story, twisty plot, great characters: can't wait for sequel!
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  • Ben
    3.0 out of 5 stars Standard space opera, is standard.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2015
    Fairly generic space opera, with a little intrigue thrown in. The world building is reasonable at the strategic level, but once it goes into the weeds it is exposed as not being particularly well thought out in detail.

    Some details: The main character, having served as captain of his ship for several years, with the same 1st officer for a few years does not know where she berths. Fully crewed his ship only has a crew of approximately 100 and he is supposedly the most competent captain in the fleet and the most able to look beyond the class structure. Now, the 1st officer does apparently think it strange that the captain doesn't know where her cabin is, particularly as he has been there, but for me the problem is that it reveals a basic lack of comprehension of how a military ship has to operate. Either on the part of the author, or he has hobbled his supposedly excellent captain with being an imbecile. Anyone in any military force will tell you that EVERYONE serving on a ship / on a base / on an aircraft, has to know the entire deckplan backwards in case of emergency or military action, that he doesn't even know where his second in command (his closest confidant) cabin is, is just totally inconceivable.

    This in itself could be ignored, much like a typo, if it was the only discrepancy, but there are many more. I think the author is attempting to create the impression of a class structure where the 'betters' are only vaguely aware of their inferiors and assume they will know their place instinctively, or something like that. Shame it just makes him look incompetent. I guess the idea is that he slowly becomes more aware of his subordinates and in so doing becomes a better captain or man or something. But the start point sadly includes so many failings that would make him incapable of performing as a competent captain to begin with. It is not just the ability to drive a ship that makes a good naval captain. Other problems include the dialogue between these military characters, it lacks any sense of professionalism, and considering the background suggests a much more class based structure than anyone in this world would be used to, the captain is remarkably sanguine about how quickly he lets parts of it fall apart, while inexplicably trying to hold onto others.

    I have never understood why people think they can write military fiction of any sort without doing any research into how military forces operate, at even the most basic level. Sadly this is the case here. That this is a largely competent novel in spite of this is to Wallace's credit, but you just have to ask how much better it could have been.

    If you can ignore these inconsistencies and focus on the action then it is fairly well written, though nothing out of this world. I'd suggest looking up the Lost Fleet series for some far superior writing of a similar genre.

    No idea where other reviewers got the idea this was anything other than some fairly predictable standard space opera littered with it fair share of all the usual tropes. If I didn't know better I might suspect they had written their reviews based on the back of the book blurb. If you're into Space Opera and Sci-fi then this might be worth a try, if that doesn't float your boat then don't waste your time here.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Frank Wagner
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on 23 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Liked the story and is a good read
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  • xaan
    3.0 out of 5 stars very average
    Reviewed in Germany on 14 April 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book has a lot of unused potential. The plot and the background are interesting. There is a high potential for friction within the crew. Unfortunatly, a lot of the things happening in this book are completely unbelievable (see spoiler below). If you can overlook that, this book can actually be a fun timekiller.

    Spoiler!
    Former Captain Drake has been convicted of war crimes and sentenced to hard labor. Why then is he on his former ship? Among his former crew? I assume the trial didn't take place on the ship. Why wasn't he transferred directly to a transport bound for wherever he was sentenced to go? It feels like a completely artificial construct, just to get the mutiny going. This is not the only highly unbelievable scene, but it stands out.
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  • Terry Bunch
    4.0 out of 5 stars Space Pirates are a Thing?
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 April 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Starship Blackbeard is an entertaining journey that merges the concept of the British Empire at its pinnacle with intergalactic exploration. There’s good guys, bad guys, worse bad guys, and those moments where the lines blur. You find portraits of leadership, unwavering devotion, and character growth. Real world issues of addiction, slavery, greed, and a lust for power swirl throughout the paragraphs. Enjoy the journey and fly the Jolly Roger.
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  • Abookanight
    5.0 out of 5 stars Space pirates
    Reviewed in the United States on 29 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A good man with honor to spare, saved from certain death by a mutiny by a crew that loves him is the action that starts this series and the action never really ends from there. Not strong on science, but more like the author took a time period from Earth and made it into a space opera. James Drake is a good man with a conscience torn between duty to the established government and what is right. Jess is a great second, a strong and capable woman. Frankly, the slow building romance between the two, one that takes the entire series, is a sweet addition that made me keep reading just to see if they EVER get together. James has to decide whether to keep Jess with him or use her talents to the best and he always make the self sacrificing decision that works out best for everyone.

    I do not, however, like the trend of just stopping a book so I have to get the next one. Sometimes right in the middle of something. Ug. That means a 3 o'clock in the morning purchase just to finish the thought. But I did and enjoyed the rest of the series.
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  • Wilsden
    3.0 out of 5 stars it is an ok novel, a bit disappointing that ...
    Reviewed in Australia on 31 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    it is an ok novel, a bit disappointing that it leaves you in the middle of a scenario and you have to move to the next book to find out what happens. is it meant to be a serial?
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