Pike’s Potential
Sandy Pike Book 1
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Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner
Are some people blessed with good luck, or do they make their fortunes improve by finding little ways to gain an edge?
Commander Alexander “Sandy” Pike’s name blazes into prominence in the early stages of the slow-simmering war between the Planetary Alliance and the Hegemony of United Worlds. Assigned to convoy duty, Pike must face two enemy ships in order to protect the freighters. While he and his crew manage to hold the enemy at bay, they suffer dreadful losses.
Sandy’s adventures heat up from here. Whenever there is a tricky mission, Sandy’s name seems to be called. Not every mission is a success, though Sandy performs at the highest possible level.
When hostilities with the HUWs calm down, Sandy is given an unusual assignment where he meets the enigmatic Agent Lynch. The Admiralty pulls him from that to cover a mission to which the Foreign Relations Department has committed the support of the Alliance Navy. Sandy’s new command is in no shape to fight, and yet they find themselves dealing with an unhinged megalomaniac.
Political change within the Hegemony brings a resumption of hostilities, but Sandy learns quickly that some of his most dangerous foes might wear the same uniform he does. His new commanding officer is a martinet who delights in humiliating Sandy. She refuses to listen to his common-sense suggestions, with disastrous results.
The defeat in the Excelsus system forces a change in the Alliance government, and the new leadership seems to lack the will to continue the war effort against an implacable foe. Is the Alliance doomed?
What Others Are Saying
Three multi-system empires collide in Pike’s Potential, an immersive military space thriller by veteran author John J Spearman.
Commander Pike of the Planetary Alliance, a leader with a star on the rise, must navigate the opening moves of a complex cosmic battlefield as the different factions of the human diaspora once again clash in an epic war. Balancing classic political machinations with naval maneuvering and battles edging towards the speed of light, this novel may be science fiction, but it has a firm base in a reality that military fiction readers will enjoy.
Though the swashbuckling in this novel happens in space, rather than the high seas, there are plenty of similarities when it comes to naval jargon and strategy. It doesn’t take long to become accustomed to the language, but given how immediately immersed in this world readers are, there is no other choice but to familiarize quickly, and Spearman handles these complexities well.
A great deal happens on every page, though there is a dearth of descriptive language, abstract narration, or reflective passages, meaning that this novel is largely character-driven. Commander Pike is a strong protagonist, and while he makes some rash decisions that might get him court-martialed, or even put his crew at greater risk, his intentions are honorable and he inspires loyalty wherever he goes. Ensign Boyle and Warburton (Puss and Stick) are two of the excellent secondary figures – hotshots with serious skills making a name for themselves in the navy – positioning them as ideal foils for the commander. Importantly, any character that sticks around for more than a chapter is three-dimensional and unique, giving this story’s supporting cast real authenticity and depth.
The clipped and efficient style of dialogue and conversation helps to keep the pace of the storytelling high, and reinforces the regimented atmosphere of the DeLuca and other Alliance ships, but there are also plenty of interactions that don’t seem critical to progressing the story. The procedural elements of life on frigates and battleships aren’t always compelling, and some aggressive editing could eliminate redundant passages. The action sequences are engaging, but there is an impartiality of emotion, even during seemingly exciting sections. For instance, during one brutal battle sequence early in the novel, more than half the crew is killed or missing and presumed dead. Commander Pike sheds a tear, but within a few paragraphs, any repercussions of the devastating attack seem to be forgotten.
That being said, the unpredictable relationships, epic context, and action-heavy prose of this novel make it an entertaining and original escape. For the first book in a series, Spearman has created a sprawling world with huge narrative potential.
REVIEWED BY JAMES WEISKITTEL | JUNE 4, 2021
PIKE’S POTENTIAL features intergalactic forces engaging in high-octane, naval-themed combat under a veil of shrouded political intentions.
PIKE’S POTENTIAL, by John J. Spearman, opens with a brief, action-packed skirmish, one which forces Commander Sandy Pike of the Planetary Alliance Navy to bring his ship, the frigate PAS Wehner, in for repairs. Unfortunately, this leads to a reassignment for Pike, a temporary posting to what Admiral Ketyungyoenwong refers to as “one of the seven circles of hell.” Initially unenthused by what he assumes will be a horrifically boring assignment, the battle-hardened commander is quickly thrust into a brewing intergalactic war, one that forces Pike to take on both an unrelenting enemy and the corrupt political powers handing him his orders.
In many ways, PIKE’S POTENTIAL feels like an origin story, one where an eager-to-please commander is forged into the archetypal character that will drive this ongoing saga forward. Rather than spending the first few chapters setting the stage, Spearman wisely thrusts readers into the midst of a fully realized world, offering explanations and background along the way. This not only helps the novel sustain a sense of momentum throughout, but it makes for a story that refuses to talk down to its audience. While the story features loads of space battles, Spearman grounds his warfare in contemporary tactics. In fact, the basic plot of this book would easily work within the confines of a modern military setting. That isn’t to say that the ‘futuristic’ elements are merely window dressing—make no mistake, this is a science fiction novel—but much like Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek universe, Spearman leans heavily on hard science. From EM drives to the technical minutia of traversing the galaxy, the author takes every opportunity to offer a science-based explanation for the technologies driving this story. With nary a hint of force-esque magic, the world Spearman has imagined feels like an authentic extension of tomorrow, albeit one where humanity has made massive technological leaps.
Like all the best sci-fi, PIKE’S POTENTIAL is ultimately driven by the complex characters who inhabit it. Chief among them is Commander Pike, whose ‘Kirk-meets-Sisco’ mix of integrity and impulsiveness renders him an endearing protagonist. To take the ‘Trek’ analogy one step further, those familiar with the show and its many incarnations will likely recognize additional analogs for some of the series’ most memorable characters occupying this story’s pages. But while Spearman succeeds in crafting a well-paced, highly engaging narrative, the novel isn’t flawless. The text is littered with grammatical inconsistencies and a fair amount of redundant language that, in another genre, may go unnoticed but will likely irk long-time sci-fi fans with an eye for detail. There’s little here that a professional edit wouldn’t rectify, but as it stands, PIKE’S POTENTIAL is a difficult read. Fortunately, the brisk pacing and high-octane action sequences leave the reader little time to dwell on the text-based distractions, and Spearman has laid ample groundwork here for refining via future installments.
Exploring a massive intergalactic setting through the eyes of a seasoned, nuanced Protagonist, John J. Spearman’s PIKE’S POTENTIAL is an engaging, albeit somewhat flawed hard sci-fi thriller that offers readers a healthy dose of political intrigue and naval-themed space combat.