We All Died at Breakaway Station

Poor Absalom Bracer. The half-human, half-cyborg captain of the USS Iwo Jima, a battle-scarred cruiser making its way across space to repair the bodies-and lives- of its battered crew and those of two other starships, has a problem. It's called Breakaway Station, and it's the lifeblood of the struggling human race. It is also in imminent danger of destruction from the rampaging Jilles, an inhuman race with removable stomachs and a taste for human vivisection. And of course, only Bracer and his command stand in their way. Sounds corny, but this is space opera at its best. I first read this at the tender age of 12, when it was published. It was a good read for a young fan. I stumbled across a copy a few months back, and with great trepidation took it up for a read. And it held up as good or better than it did then. This is not a book for everyone or every mood, but if you're in the mind for a brooding, dark vision of heroism, with some light "Summer of Love" sex thrown in for good measure, it's a fast read. Treat yourself.

I've bought this book twice before, and am re-building my library again after a fire. I will be buying this book again.

I first read this one almost 25 years ago at the young age of 12. I picked it up from a garage sale bin and was introduced to a genre that, now, nearing 40, I still can't get enough of. The story is about a desperate last stand to hold open a communications point for the Earth fleet. The characters are wounded, battle weary warriors who are resigned to their fate. In this world, modern medicine can prevent the most egregiously wounded sailors from dying, but not from suffering, either the pain or the mental anguish of what they have endured. I loved the narrative, and I must have read it over a dozen times. Meredith draws you in. You want them to survive, even though you know that they won't. In the end, you come to the realization that death is a victory for these characters, as well as the fulfillment of their mission. In my opinion, it is a must read for those who enjoy good, hard Military Science Fiction.