Finder (#1)
Fergus Ferguson has been called a lot of names: thief, con artist, repo man. He prefers the term finder.
His latest job should be simple. Find the spacecraft Venetia’s Sword and steal it back from Arum Gilger, ex-nobleman turned power-hungry trade boss. He’ll slip in, decode the ship’s compromised AI security, and get out of town, Sword in hand.
Fergus locates both Gilger and the ship in the farthest corner of human-inhabited space, a backwater deep space colony called Cernee. But Fergus’ arrival at the colony is anything but simple. A cable car explosion launches Cernee into civil war, and Fergus must ally with Gilger’s enemies to navigate a field of space mines and a small army of hostile mercenaries. What was supposed to be a routine job evolves into negotiating a power struggle between factions. Even worse, Fergus has become increasingly—and inconveniently—invested in the lives of the locals.
It doesn’t help that a dangerous alien species Fergus thought mythical prove unsettlingly real, and their ominous triangle ships keep following him around.
Foolhardy. Eccentric. Reckless. Whatever he’s called, Fergus will need all the help he can get to take back the Sword and maybe save Cernee from destruction in the process.
Reviews
“A nonstop SF thrill ride until the very last page.”
“Palmer makes short-distance space travel feel as comfortable as riding a bicycle, and concludes this entertaining caper with a clever resolution and a hint of intrigue. Fans of space adventure will find this a fine example of the form.”
“Salted with a bit of humor here and there, a clear cadence, and conventional ending, this will please anyone who embraces outer-space yarns.”
“Mysterious aliens, interesting and very sticky characters, strong worldbuilding of a complex solar system, and very strong writing mark FINDER as an excellent jump for Palmer from her award winning short fiction into the world of novels.”
“FINDER is a fun (and funny) story with heart and panache that inspires the sensawunda so many SF readers crave […] FINDER is a strong debut novel from a short fiction stand-out.”
“This is a fun old fashioned space action-adventure with a lot of humor.”
“With a first novel of this quality, Suzanne Palmer is another one who’s going to make more of a mark than she has already.”Analog
“FINDER is an imaginative and action-packed tale.”
“…a fantastic space opera.”
“FINDER is the kind of science fiction you’d get if “Firefly” and Pierce Brown’s Red Rising had a baby—an adrenaline-packed, heist-filled ride with a heavy side of political intrigue.”
“FINDER is a snappy, smart space adventure from Suzanne Palmer. It’s a lot of fun, and has some clever big ideas lurking beneath some tremendously human characters and a breakneck plot.”
“A bit of a romp, with a shady protagonist who has considerably more of a conscience than he's willing to admit, and a plentiful supply of crazy ideas that just might work.”
“If you’re looking for a fun, little jaunt into a believable backwater with lots of intrigue, fun, and unsettling reminders of how fragile we all can be, this is one book that manages to encapsulate that mixture quite well. Suspenseful and funny without resorting to tired tricks… this has quickly become the frontrunner for my favorite book this season.”
“Suzanne Palmer tells a fun tale of a man whose plans are always crazy, but somehow work out. Lots of fun.”University City Review
“…filled with action, intriguing alien races, and […] a regular space MacGyver.”
“FINDER is fast, fun and furious as Fergus attempts to con the conman and retrieve the ship while escaping with his life.”
“Palmer is not hoarding her ideas […] She’s giving us a fireworks-filled book.”
“It has been a long time since I enjoyed a SF novel this much. FINDER is a raucous good time! Suzanne Palmer’s Fergus Ferguson is charming, imperfect, always in trouble, and a most resourceful rogue. I can’t wait for his next adventure. Characterization at its finest. Firecracker dialogue. Suzanne Palmer had me hooked, charmed, and howling with delight by the end of the first act. Finder is a marvelous first novel. Bravo all the way around.”W. Michael Gear, New York Times-bestselling author of Outpost
“FINDER proves hard SF, done brilliantly, is passionate, powerful, and brimming with humanity. Be it daily life or war in zero g, realistic communities in space or making us laugh at what clever beings we humans are, Suzanne Palmer nails it. I cannot wait for more. Highly recommended.”Julie E. Czerneda, author of Search Image
“FINDER is a breathless ride.”Jacey Bedford, author of Empire of Dust