Böcker av John J Spearman

Has it already been six years since the last confrontation between the Planetary Alliance and the Hegemony of United Worlds?Simmering unrest is reaching a critical point on the planets regained by the Hegemony after their renegade admirals were eliminated. The small whiff of independence from six years before has kindled into hot desire to regain the freedom lost many years before to the Hegemony. The Hegemony has been unable to establish the tight control over those systems they employed before the war. Impatient, the Hegemon decides a firmer approach is required.As the situation becomes more volatile, and war seems inevitable, Sarah Harkness undertakes a risky mission to the heart of the Hegemony. Success on her mission will lead to the quick dissolution of the Hegemony. Failure will be fatal. At the same time, Admiral Sandy Pike is waiting with the Alliance Navy, poised for battle.When the protests turn into bloody confrontations, how should the Alliance respond? After all, the Alliance introduced the idea of self-determination six years earlier. Do they have an obligation to back those words up?

What do you do when skill with a blade is no match for the power of the Dark Arts? Which is it? The skill of the sword or the magic of the woman?His supernatural affinities unlocked by the presence of Lucy in his life, Caz sets out to learn how to use them. Upon his return to the city, Caz and Lucy are commanded to accompany the queen on a mission to investigate the possible emergence of the Dark Arts in a distant territory.What they find is far more powerful than they anticipated. Survival requires all the strength and talent of the three, but in the end it is the power of Lucy's love that tips the balance.Emotionally drained after the harrowing experience, Caz wants nothing more than to relax and enjoy life with his fascinating fiancée. When man plans, the Gods laugh. An assassin leaves Caz bleeding on a dark street.Who would want Caz dead? Well, there's a list...

Outnumbered? Feeling overwhelmed? Sounds like a great time to attack.Caz's skill and ability are stretched to the utmost when he is thrown into command of forces responsible for defending the Eastern March against the annual raid of the horse nomads from the east. Lucy faces an equal challenge, trying to restore Easton Manor after years of neglect and abuse. Caz gambles everything on a midnight raid that sends the nomads running.Fenwick arrives with another mission commanded by the king. They are to travel to Scaramouche again, this time to obtain gems from the Vizier-gems that have supernatural properties that will benefit Caz and Fenwick. Accompanying them will be the crown prince, and Freddy as the dimwitted and obscene Lord Compote.Waiting for Caz when he returns is an urgent plea from a father whose daughter has been captured by Rhetian pirates. Enlisting Fenwick's assistance, Caz sets sail.What can two men do against a gang of bloodthirsty pirates?