The novel “Starship: Flagship” by Mike Resnick was published for the first time in 2009. It’s the fifth novel in the “Starship” series and follows “Starship: Rebel“.
The clash between the Republic and the rebels who work with other people not exactly spotless at the frontier commanded by Captain Wilson Cole, a former officer of the Republic has become inevitable. An entire fleet was sent to get rid of Cole and his accomplices so a battle is only a matter of time.
Wilson Cole can no longer hide and can only try to think yet another smart strategy to face an enemy that has more than three million warships. To defeat a much more powerful opponent, Cole is forced to try a very risky move that’s unexpected for the Republic.
“Starship: Flagship” is the last novel about the adventures of the crew of the starship Theodore Roosevelt, or Teddy R. for simplicity, part of the future history told by Mike Resnick in most of his stories. The “Starship” series is an old style space opera, very adventurous or anyway in which events are the most important element.
The events of “Starship: Rebel” showed that of the Republic’s leaders decided that the Wilson Cole’s continued presence has become too embarrassing. As a result, they began more aggressive actions to eliminate the rebellious crew of the Teddy R. and the rest of the fleet following Cole.
Due to the ongoing war against the Teroni Federation, the Republic must maintain a good part of the more than three million warships forming its fleets on the front. However, it was decided that a few thousand starships can be used to eliminate Wilson Cole’s fleet and he’s forced to react inventing one of his brilliant strategies.
If you have read the previous four novels of the “Starship” series you already have an idea of what to expect from “Starship: Flagship” and most of this last novel is rather predictable. Of course, the stakes have become much higher because a direct confrontation with the Republic is very different from an attack on a small border power. However, one of the basic elements of the series is that Wilson Cole is an exceptional strategist so he always manages to come up with a brilliant plan.
Most of “Starship: Flagship” is basically a preparation for a final showdown with a growing tension but in my opinion is able to cover only partially defects. The fifth novel in the series, character development remains limited and even the dialogues are now often repetitive, especially those between Wilson Cole and Sharon Blacksmith, security chief of the Teddy R. and lover of Captain.
As in the previous novels, Mike Resnick addresses some ethical problem, in this case that of torture. Eventually the theme is not developed very much despite the fact that the author uses one of the appendices to talk about ethics. It’s no surprise because the “Starship” series is mostly adventurous.
In the last quarter of “Starship: Flagship” Wilson Cole’s plan is put in place. An unpredictable strategy although very risky allows the rebels to start the final battle in the manner chosen by Cole. Unfortunately, this conclusion is really forced lowering the overall level of the novel.
It’s an ending that really requires a large suspension of disbelief. Frankly, from an experienced author who received many awards such as Mike Resnick I expected better, even in a series good especially for some leisure. If you’ve read the previous novels, you might as well read “Starship: Flagship” to finish the series but without great expectations.
