The Defense of the Commonwealth
Perseverance Andrews Book 1
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- Finalist–2023 Best Book Awards-Science Fiction
- indieBRAG BRAG Medallion winner
- Silver Medal–2023 Readers; Favorite Book Awards
- Finalist–2022 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Can we expect human nature to change in the future, even with the colonization of new worlds?
Hundreds of years in the future, humans have spread into the stars, with wealthy nation-states settling and colonizing habitable planets, though the deep-seated conflicts of modern humanity have regrettably persisted. Newly appointed Commander Persistence Andrews has to navigate the power struggles of greed, power, and ego, but this woman has grit like no other.
When colonization began, American corporations filled the gap left by a distracted government, with the result that the economic rivalry between these planets caused their defensive alliance to fracture. Two American-settled planets have been seized by foreign rivals – the galactic descendants of the Chinese and Russian superpowers.
In desperation, three other American planets turn to their neighbors, the British, to pool their resources and defend themselves. Though no great power, the British have a unified government controlling three settled star systems. Together, the six planetary systems are strong enough to hold off the aggressors, and one by one, the other American systems ask to join them, forming the Inter-Planetary Commonwealth.
After regaining the captured planets, the Inter-Planetary Commonwealth prospers and shows signs of developing as much clout as the Brits once had as masters of the earthly seas. Their foreign rivals, alarmed by this growing strength, join forces. A coordinated attack opens a new conflict, catching the Commonwealth largely by surprise, with disastrous results.
Rumors of cutting-edge technology that can render current antimatter weapons useless raise the stakes even higher, and Admiral Freshley of the Royal Navy turns to Perseverance Andrews to take control of the Rowen, one of the newest ships in the fleet.
Will Andrews rise to the challenge or will she buckle under the pressures of a command influenced by human nature that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years?
What Others Are Saying
Readers’ Favorite
The Defence of the Commonwealth by John J. Spearman IV is pure science fiction at its best. The author takes the reader on a journey through space and how the new Commonwealth was born. There are so many characters that march through the pages of the book but the ones that count the most are King William VIII, his daughter Queen Charlotte who inherited the throne, Captain Perseverance, Ester Andrews, Admiral Freshly, Commander Ken Berger, Captain Hank Boyd, Commander St John Powell, Advocate Alex Papadopoulos, Mr. Gilchrist, advisor to the Queen, and Samantha, Mr. Gilchrist’s housekeeper and confidant.
The Defence of the Commonwealth shows how human nature does not change, even in the year 2527 when new discoveries are made to help the ships in space. There is still corruption and underhanded work and trying to get the better of everyone and everything and don’t forget the greed. The author has taken present wars and turned them into a space war with the exact same parties in the most interesting way. It took a bit of time to get into the story, especially with all the technical knowledge that was relayed. But as you read, you realize why this is relevant and very important to the plot. I eventually understood the need for all the technical knowledge although it was a bit daunting. Once I got past that, I realized why the author had included it and that it is a very important part of the story.
The Defence of the Commonwealth is a serious but light-hearted tale of the future with all of humankind’s greed, inactivity, and apathy. The twist in the tale at the end is delightful and leaves room for the reader’s imagination to take flight. Thank you for an eye-opening book. I really enjoyed reading it.
Diving back in time and space within a realm he knows so well, author John J. Spearman launches a new series with his latest thrilling work of science fiction, The Defense of the Commonwealth.
Hundreds of years in the future, humans have spread into the stars, with wealthy nation-states settling and colonizing habitable planets, though the deep-seated conflicts of modern humanity have regrettably persisted. Alliance strongholds are being overrun in what seems like a coordinated attack against cosmic colonists from the United States, which could endanger the settlements of other nations.
The Inter-Planetary Commonwealth, with as much clout as the Brits once had as masters of the earthly seas, must take action against this brazen move by the aggressive factions – the galactic descendants of the Chinese and Russian superpowers. Rumors of cutting-edge shield tech that can withstand antimatter weapons raise the stakes even higher, and Admiral Freshley of the Royal Navy turns to Perseverance Andrews to take control of the Rowen, one of the newest ships in the fleet.
Thus begins the character-driven drama of this novel, as Andrews must navigate not only the deadly void of a galaxy teetering on the edge of war, but also the interpersonal challenges of commanding a new ship in turbulent times. Romantic interests from the past, challenges to her authority, and feelings of guilt about the violent power of her top-of-the-line ship combine to shape a fully three-dimensional lead character who crackles with authority and appeal.
Loyal readers of the author’s work will recognize some of the players in this new narrative, such as the Rodinan Federation, but this female-driven saga is set long before the events of Spearman’s Jonah Halberd series. The expositional details that bring readers into this imagined future are thorough and easy to follow, without feeling rushed or overly convenient. As is always the case in Spearman’s writing, the technical details are meticulously vetted, and the sci-fi tech has its basis in theoretical physics and real-world jargon that die-hard readers of the genre will appreciate. The nuances of geopolitics, bureaucracy, negotiation, and military procedure are remarkably clear and believable, making this another immersive experience from Spearman’s pen.
Thematically, there is something quite contemporary about this interstellar drama – the uniting of western powers against the encroaching oppression of traditional bad guys, an obvious reflection of current geopolitics. The discussions of historical allegiance and sacrifice for the common good are timeless ideas, but the 25th century setting adds a level of objective detachment that makes it easier for such messages of goodwill and ethical cooperation to come through.
Editorially, there is some exposition that gets too explicit and breaks the believable flow of narration, and there are occasional grammatical errors and misused words, missing commas, and anachronistic language that stands out in the 25th century. Idiomatic speech would likely change over four centuries, and a final edit to identify these jarring phrases would be an easy fix.
Overall, the language of military engagement, transformed cleverly into a navy in space, demonstrates wild creativity and impressive attention to detail, which keeps the action engaging and authentic, even for science fiction fans who aren’t familiar with the military wing of the genre.