Privateers

The Grand Tour Series, Book 2

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

America has ceded the heavens to the tyrants - and the renegades.

The US has abandoned its quest for the stars, and an old enemy has moved in to fill the void. The potential wealth of the universe is now in malevolent hands. Rebel billionaire Dan Randolph - possessor of the largest privately owned company in space - intends to weaken the stranglehold the new despotic masters of the solar system have on the lucrative ore industry. But when the mineral-rich asteroid he sets in orbit around the Earth is commandeered by the enemy, and his unarmed workers are slaughtered in cold blood, the course of Randolph’s life is changed forever. Now cataclysm is aimed at the exposed heart of America - a potential catastrophe that Randolph himself inadvertently set in motion. And the maverick entrepreneur must use his skills, cunning, and vast resources to strike out at his foes hard, fast, and with ruthless precision - and wear proudly the mantle that fate thrust upon him: space pirate!

©1985 Ben Bova (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Russians being Bumholes in space

Love me some Bova! Interesting story. Love trying to picture myself experiencing outer space thru the characters!

Privateer

As one would expect, a wonderful book.
Mr. Bova does not disappoint.
Sleep well sir.

I would have pissed if I’d paid for it…

A good portion of the story was interesting and somewhat captivating however the typical rich, playboy protagonist is such a tedious character type. Worse yet is the cheap romance novel loosely wrapped up as “science fiction”, we really don’t need any more pathetic descriptions of “lovemaking”. This constant need for Science Fiction writers to add a little B-rated porn to their stories is befuddling to me, it doesn’t add to the story and more often than not prevents me from wanting to read or listen to anything else from the same author. Not bad if you want a little background noise while you paint your kitchen but don’t say you weren’t warned about it. Best of luck to your ears.

Excellent plot!

I loved the plot. Daniel Randolph is a compelling character in a compelling story.

Good but too much damsel in distress

Good book, didn’t like the constant damsel
In distress and having read Powerstat before I didn’t like how that relationship plays out.

Otherwise, narrator did great and outside of hating Dan’s womanizing ways it was a good set up for future books

It was good

It was a good book kept me with it even feel like I could turn into a good screen play

What a space opera.

Can't wait to hear the next one on the series! The story is well written and the events more then make sense. I just know the next one will be great too.

Relevant, exciting

I always like Ben Bova’s books. Scifi, politics, a little romance and exciting. Prescient too.

Classic Heroes a villains

"Privateers" by Ben Bova offers an intriguing Cold War-era perspective on an alternate reality. While its hard science fiction elements are engaging, the characters come across as one-dimensional, and the plot follows a formulaic pattern. The book delivers entertainment, being well read, but lacks the impact of Bova's other works, despite incorporating interesting scientific concepts and power dynamics. Overall, "Privateers" provides a captivating yet somewhat forgettable reading experience.

Messed up characters

I incorrectly assumed that as the second book in a series there would be continuity. Not! The names were the same and the characters had different personalities, backgrounds and histories. If I had not read the”Power Sat” it would have been a good story. I had a hard time adjusting to the altered characters.