Rimward Stars (Castle Federation Book 5)

I received an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. The formalities observed, let me say that I am absolutely a fan of the writings of one Mr Glynn Stewart. This story has it all, great characters, political intrigue, and lots of action in a beguiling sci-fi setting. The book stands on it's own merits, yet is an integral part of the series. Bravo! And I am already waiting in anticipation for the next book!

Once again, Mr Stewart has give us another great read. We find Captain Roberts the Stellar Fox sent out on a mission to end the attackers on the rim worlds. But things are not what he believes, the commonwealth are helping a pirate with the attacks. But Captain Roberts is just the man to lead the response.

This is the 5th in the series following the Career of Captain Kyle Roberts in the Castle Federation, a union of human planets that is a state of war with the Terran Empire, another seat of humanity with a different political agenda that wants to have all of humanity under its domination.
This is part a Military Sci-Fi series with some epic starship battles, Stewart does an outstanding job of writing the strategy and tactics of fleet and ship movements from the largest ships, to the scrapping between the fighter jocks, making any of the engagements a real thrill to read. The other part is more Space Opera, in which Stewart follows the lives of some key characters as well as the political situation between the various Galactic Empires.
Stewart has done an amazing job of writing this detailed and complex system of different political entities, with not just the Castle Federation and the Terran Commonwealth, but also several other Galactic empires. Each of these has significant interplay with the politics and society of the others, making for a fascinating interplay.
In Rimward Stars, Stewart reminds us that an entity such as the Castle Federation is made up of a multitude of different entities, each providing various elements to the greater good in return for protection. So what happens when they call in that protection?
Several of the ‘Rimward’ colonies have been attacked by what appears to be a significant Pirate threat, and with the ongoing war, and a lack of assets to send, the Council decides that sending the ‘Stellar Fox’ will make people very happy, as well as a couple of ships.
And thus Robert’s mission in this episode is to hunt down and eliminate the Pirate threat. But what should be relatively simple for him suddenly becomes a lot more difficult when he realises that the Terran’s might also be involved.
As stated above, and with all the other books, the starship combat is brilliant in this book, Stewart puts in so much effort into detailing how battles play out to give proper realism to the story.
Stewart’s character work continues to improve, with some real depth coming into the main characters as well as the continuing growth of their back stories.
The Castle Federation Series is easily one of the stand-outs for a Military/Space Opera Series, and with book 6 having just been released, it is only getting better.

I received a pre-release copy and found that Glynn's previous story line continues in this 5th edition. Excellent, fast paced and extremely difficult to put down once started. I sincerely hope for a book 6 somewhere in the very near future.

Federation Space Navy Captain Kyle Roberts commands an independent force sent to rein in the threat to a free trade union of planets from piracy. But more than pirates, the Commonwealth has recruited the pirate to their cause and is supplying him with support. Pirate leader Conti is more than just a simple pirate. He has a world, a space shipyard and plans for an empire. Kyle must find a way to save the free planets, by destroying a powerful foe and his backers, with an alliance formed of elements of the free planets forces and ultimately an old foe, Commonwealth Commodore Tecumseh.