Praise for
Kris Longknife:
DEFENDER
“[A] fun and entertaining addition to an exquisitely well-developed space opera saga.”
—Night Owl Reviews
Kris Longknife:
FURIOUS
“The intriguing science fiction novels that comprise this very entertaining series never fail to be peopled with fascinating characters and wonderfully creative worlds. [Shepherd] is adept at world-building and has a complex system in place that is always fun to visit.”
—Night Owl Reviews
Kris Longknife:
DARING
“Shepherd delivers no shortage of military action, in space and on the ground. It’s cinematic, dramatic, and dynamic . . . [He also] demonstrates a knack for characterization, balancing serious moments with dry humor . . . [Daring is] a thoroughly enjoyable adventure featuring one of science fiction’s most interesting recurring heroines.”
—Tor.com
“A tightly written, action-packed adventure from start to finish . . . Heart-thumping action will keep the reader engrossed and emotionally involved. It will be hard waiting for the next in the series.”
—Fresh Fiction
“The story line is faster than the speed of light.”
—Alternative Worlds
Kris Longknife:
REDOUBTABLE
“Kris Longknife is a hero to the core, with plenty of juice left for future installments.”
—Fresh Fiction
Kris Longknife:
UNDAUNTED
“An exciting, action-packed adventure . . . Mr. Shepherd has injected the same humor into this book as he did in the rest of the series.”
—Fresh Fiction
Kris Longknife:
INTREPID
“[Kris Longknife] will remind readers of David Weber’s Honor Harrington with her strength and intelligence.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
Kris Longknife:
AUDACIOUS
“Mike Shepherd is a fantastic storyteller who excels at writing military science fiction . . . This is a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience for science fiction fans.”
—Midwest Book Review
“‘I’m a woman of very few words, but lots of action’: So said Mae West, but it might just as well have been Lieutenant Kris Longknife, princess of the one hundred worlds of Wardhaven.”
—Sci Fi Weekly
“Mike Shepherd has a great ear for dialogue and talent for injecting dry humor into things at just the right moment . . . Military SF fans are bound to get a kick out of the series as a whole, and fans will be glad to see Kris hasn’t lost any of her edge.”
—SF Site
More praise for the Kris Longknife novels
“A whopping good read . . . Fast-paced, exciting, nicely detailed, with some innovative touches.”
—Elizabeth Moon, Nebula Award–winning author of Crown of Renewal
“Shepherd’s grasp of timing and intrigue remains solid, and Kris’s latest challenge makes for an engaging space opera, seasoned with political machination and the thrills of mysterious ancient technology, that promises to reveal some interesting things about the future Kris inhabits.”
—Booklist
“Everyone who has read Kris Longknife will hope for further adventures starring this brave, independent, and intrepid heroine . . . This is outer-space military science fiction at its adventurous best.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Fans of the Honor Harrington escapades will welcome the adventures of another strong female in outer space starring in a thrill-a-page military space opera. The heroine’s dry wit [and] ability to know what she is good at [as well as] her faults, [all] while keeping her regal DNA in perspective, especially during a crisis, endear her to readers. The audience will root for the determined, courageous, and endearing heroine as she displays intelligence and leadership during lethal confrontations.”
—Alternative Worlds
“[Shepherd] has a good sense of pace . . . Very neatly handled, and served with a twist of wry. A surprisingly talented read from a very underrated author.”
—Bewildering Stories
“Shepherd does a really good job with this book. If you’re looking for an entertaining space opera with some colorful characters, this is your book.”
—Books ’n’ Bytes
“You don’t have to be a military sci-fi enthusiast to appreciate the thrill-a-minute plot and engaging characterization.”
—RT Book Reviews
Ace Books by Mike Shepherd
KRIS LONGKNIFE: MUTINEER
KRIS LONGKNIFE: DESERTER
KRIS LONGKNIFE: DEFIANT
KRIS LONGKNIFE: RESOLUTE
KRIS LONGKNIFE: AUDACIOUS
KRIS LONGKNIFE: INTREPID
KRIS LONGKNIFE: UNDAUNTED
KRIS LONGKNIFE: REDOUBTABLE
KRIS LONGKNIFE: DARING
KRIS LONGKNIFE: FURIOUS
KRIS LONGKNIFE: DEFENDER
KRIS LONGKNIFE: TENACIOUS
TO DO OR DIE: A JUMP UNIVERSE NOVEL
VICKY PETERWALD: TARGET
Specials
KRIS LONGKNIFE: TRAINING DAZE
KRIS LONGKNIFE: WELCOME HOME / GO AWAY
Writing as Mike Moscoe
THE FIRST CASUALTY: A JUMP UNIVERSE NOVEL
THE PRICE OF PEACE: A JUMP UNIVERSE NOVEL
THEY ALSO SERVE: A JUMP UNIVERSE NOVEL
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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KRIS LONGKNIFE: TENACIOUS
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
Copyright © 2014 by Mike Moscoe.
Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.
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eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-13975-6
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Ace mass-market edition / November 2014
Cover art by Scott Grimando.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Acknowledgments