Galaxy Blues

"My name is Jules Truffaut, and this is the story of how I redeemed the human race..." I couldn't resist that opening, though the hapless hero of this tale seems unlikely to deliver on the promise. Jules was expelled from the Union Astronautical space fleet. The only way he'd ever see space again would be if he could somehow reach the Coyote Federation, defect and offer his services and training there. Jules is competent, intelligent and motivated... but he also isn't blameless in getting booted from his former position and he also seems unable to keep himself out of trouble. He's imprisoned on Coyote--but jumps at the only way out: an offer of employment by the richest man on the planet who is planning a mysterious trade expedition to an alien planet in an old bucket of a spacecraft along with crew that consists of an inexperienced girl who got hired because of her connections and a mysterious, blues-playing drunk. Still, Jules is at heart a good guy, and though things can go very bad for him they are rollicking adventures, and we have the promise that all ends up a bit better than it would seem for the fellow. The aliens and their culture were fun, the back-water but still independent and prominent Coyote is fun, the crazy crew and obnoxious million/billionaire was fun; and Jules and his wild trip made for one good read.

this book is a great continuation of the super-fun coyote trilogy and definitely lives up to its predecessors. i thought it even was better than spindrift, which was also amazing. the coyote universe is so rich and definitely full of interesting characters, and in this book you get to see some of them interact and get a different view of coyote life, all with a fun space quest.

Being caught helping his brother to pass his exams at the Space Academy by giving him the answers, Jules Truffaut is kicked out of Union Astronautica Space Fleet. For months he works towards one goal: to get airborne. He stows away on the spaceship headed for Coyote but he gets caught. He steals the shuttle and lands on the planet where he is arrested. He hoped to ask for asylum when he landed but instead he knows with the charges against him that the Chief Magistrate will deport him. Before he goes in front of the judge, billionaire Morgan Goldstein visits Jules in his prison cell; the wealthy man offers a proportion to the prisoner. He gives Jules a chance to become a crew member of the Pride of Cucamonga en route to the Rho Coronae Borealis System in order to make a trade pact with the elder species the hjadd. If he agrees all charges will be dropped and he will receive asylum. He agrees to go on the mission. When the crew reach their destination, a cultural misunderstanding turns disastrous. Jules and his mates take part on a dangerous mission that more than likely will mean their death, but correcting the blunder is critical. If they succeed the hjadd will reconsider allowing humanity into the Talus, an organization of highly sentient races who exchange science and technological advances. Set in the same universe as the Coyote trilogy, GALAXY BLUES is a rip roaring electrifying space opera in which humans are infants compared to the elder races. Readers will thoroughly enjoy learning about the hjadd and their strong unconscious belief in their superiority to the visiting barbaric mankind. Jules is an interesting antihero who tries to disapprove the hjadd perception that advanced technology equates to superior culture and species. Fans will appreciate his efforts. Harriet Klausner