Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds

The First Adventure of Alacrity Fitzhugh & Hobart Floyt

By: Brian Daley

Narrated by: Brian Holsopple

Mankind was beginning its third leap into the Galaxy, but Old Earth had so long kept to herself that her people were unable to travel safely among the rough-and-tumble cultures that had evolved on distant worlds. That annoyed Earth's rulers, for Hobart Floyt - a minor Terran bureaucrat - had been left a mysterious inheritance by the deceased ruler of a small but wealthy interstellar empire. Earth was dirt-poor, and the government wanted Floyt's inheritance; but to collect it, Floyt would have to travel to the Reading of the Will...many light-years away! And so Alacrity Fitzhugh - a young, but seasoned spacer - is blackmailed into shepherding this naive Terran on a dangerous interstellar quest.

©2014 Books In Motion (P)2014 Books In Motion

love it

Brian Daly one of my favorite authors every single one of his books is just great I love this series

Best Sci Fi Fun anywhere!

Choose this and don't look back.

Daley was a consummate SciFi yarn spinner.

If your looking for fun, look no further!

Love this book.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the other two to make their way to Audible! This story is the perfect buddy adventure. If you have every had a wingman you could trust and would do anything for, then you will see echoes of it in this story. I totally disagree with the fellow who thought it seemed dated. Actually the technology has held up amazingly, considering how old these books actually are.

The narrator has a great voice, but the voices he chose for Alacrity and Hobart don't really work for me. A little nasal and better suited to a Raymond Chandler character, but not so bad that I didn't enjoy the book.

Hobart & Alacrity loose among the stars

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this is a creative story with a clear 1970's SciFi feel. I'm not sure if it's the vintage feel or it's different take on humanity amongst the stars. Either way it has a light fun feel to it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds?

One would be when they find out Tilly has a series of penny dreadfuls, schilling shockers planed featuring the fictionalized exploits of the duo. Titles like Hobart Floyt & Alacrity Fitzhugh among the slave women of the Super Nova. Definitely 70's and definitely light.

Which scene was your favorite?

The dust up with Dincrist ending with the Greshams beast being drawn into the taxidermy robot. This highlights Dincrist as their nemesis. Dincrist as the interstellar shipping magnent, ruthless, entitled and barbaric. Definitely a David and Goliath match up with the added advantage of Alacrity persuing and falling in love with Dincrist daughter and only heir, Heart "The Non Pereil"

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Hobart said his good bye to Weir as he lay on the funeral pyre. Weir the ruler of nine star systems and thorn in Earth Services side who included Hobart in his will.

Any additional comments?

It's a fun series not earth shaking but fun. Especially if you've read a bit of SciFi from the period.

Good, but not great.

Enjoyable space opera story.
Narration was only fair - separate characters were not differentiated well, leading to some confusion during dialogs.

LOVE the story. Can't stand the narration.

This book was an old favorite of mine, last read 20 years ago or more. Fortunately I love the story... which helped me get through the narration. I'm sure there's some of "it doesn't sound like I remember it" but I found the narration to be basically monotone. The narration of the character's voices was nasally and annoying. The narration of the women's voices were even worse. I ended up buying the book again to enjoy the story I loved.