Review: Sandorn’s Command by Thom Bedford

Review: Sandorn’s Command by Thom Bedford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s hard for me to say what story introduced me to science fiction. One look at my bookshelf and you’ll see many different novels spanning many different genres. I do remember thinking to myself last year that it had been a while since I picked up a science fiction work. As a result, that entire summer, I mainly read in that genre alone and I signed up for a women in literature course for my final semester with a special focus on science fiction (although at the time I did not know it was science fiction-based).

Fast-forward to now, and I am discovering every time I pick up a book in this genre what my tastes are, what moves me, and what connects with me. So, when I was made aware of Thom Bedford’s work, I was curious about the story he was aiming to tell.

Before we get into the specifics, though, we should get a summary for the story.

Summary

We open to Tanic Sandorn and his crew on a ship called the Kadpass heading for Exeter Station. Once the crew reaches the station, they find that two opposing factions – the Combined Systems Alliance and the Free Planetary Union – are declaring war. With a military background, Sandorn is called to reenlist in the conflict, only to find that he has a difficult time trusting the motives of either side after a ship called the Scorpion arrives at Exeter station, carrying a deceased crew.

Meanwhile, the higher-ups in the Alliance must contend with frequent turncoats in their crew. With the threat of war drawing ever-closer, Sandorn and the Alliance must contend with the growing threat.

Will they be able to make peace before the conflict boils over?

Thoughts

One thing that I noticed with this novel is that Thom Bedford does a fantastic job building tension and keeping the reader hooked on the story! Right from the start, I was drawn in! From the moment we learn about the war between the Free Planetary Union and the Alliance, I was curious. I will also say I really like how Bedford creates tension by having Sandorn question his side’s motives – in part because the more I learned, the more I was questioning what was going on – but it provides a fantastic hook for the next book!

The way the dissension and mutinies are presented is what makes this so interesting to me. From what Sandorn and his friends discover on the ghost ship Scorpion to Anderton constantly having to worry about turncoats in her own crew, both things create great tension and intrigue that kept me interested and suspicious of, well, everyone. If an author can make the reader not trust what may come next, or question what exactly is happening versus what is painted on the surface, they can build a story that holds the audience until the end. It is fundamental to keep your audience wanting more or questioning whatever comes next, because this can build a plotline that will stay with them.

Characters

Tanic Sandorn

Right off the bat, I like Sandorn a lot. I can tell he cares very much for his friends and crew. Thom Bedford builds a story of tragedy for this character, where he is haunted by some of his past actions, and to see him deal with that is heart wrenching. However, seeing him in command of the Scorpion shows that he is not a rookie at all and knows how to take charge when he must. This provides both tension for the narrative and rounds out his character. He is not just steeped in self-doubt – he can take control.

I like how he interacts with his subordinates as well. The two major ones are Durand and Rosso because they were with him on the Kadpass before the situation with the Scorpion and he sees both as more than just his subordinates. There is even some romance with Rosso, which I find interesting because of how he conducts himself publicly versus in private. Both Rosso and Durand have seen who he really is as an individual, not just as their boss.

Elice Anderton

Now, Anderton is someone that I have mixed feelings about, mainly because as the war begins, the seed is planted that neither side can be trusted. My feelings about her are familiar – I felt like this with another novel I read recently – and I am not yet sure where I stand. Part of me feels for her, but part of me is keeping an eye on her.

That said, seeing her in action as the plot unfolds is awesome! I particularly like her relationship with Moh Gray. Seeing her go to him in times of need, or even to tell him exciting news, painted a picture of two people that have known and trusted each other for a long time, and I find that heartwarming. Even if my opinion of her ends up changing as I continue with this story, I like that she is portrayed as a regular person and not just the cold superior to Sandorn. 

Sara Durand

I need to talk a bit about Durand before I close this section. Basically put, I love seeing her take charge with her duties! While she needs to report to a superior, she not only does her job – she cares about it, and she cares about others. Every time she is in the presence of a victim or someone who is deceased, she reacts in such a way that shows she cares and feels for them. It would not surprise me if deep down she wished the conflict wasn’t an issue and the two sides could live peacefully. She hates seeing the destruction, and I love all her reactions to what the war does to others.

I am thinking about when she and Sandorn first enter the Scorpion. Seeing her get so enraged when she sees what is on the ship made something clench in my chest. She doesn’t just blindly do her job and move on – if she sees something that is not right, she reacts with clear care and compassion for the victims and wants justice for them. Her reactions show clear desire to do what is right for those impacted.

Structure

I am trying to think about how to best describe the structure. Bedford is trying to do two main things with this story: Establish the war between the two factions and set up Sandorn’s backstory with the Veloz because it impacts his character significantly. The way the story is set up makes it so that these two elements intertwine seamlessly, so neither feels like it’s intruding on the other element. They can coexist without the experience becoming overwhelming. The setup for the plot happens very early on with the Scorpion coming into view of Alliance territory, and then the incoming fleet.

Speaking of the fleet and the battle it starts, I do have one main issue with how the combat is set up. The way Thom Bedford writes close combative situations is compelling, but when the combat is between two ships shooting weapons at each other, it lacks the tension of close combat because we don’t see the people shooting. Perhaps something that could have been done to rectify this is have both. Have the ships shooting at each other while one or two enemy combatants try to get in before the last stand. That way, the reader gets a small taste of what is to come and is eager for more.

Writing

Now, when it comes to the prose, I can tell that the world has been built with great care. Each sentence in this story functions to either add to the setting or create conflict. Thom Bedford’s writing has a spark behind it that keeps the reader invested in almost anything that is going on. He is not afraid to be realistic in his descriptions, painting a disturbing picture of war in space while adding tension to the conflicts in the story.

I think a fantastic example of the writing is the flashback scene with the Veloz. As Sandorn leaves the ship, an injured crew member calls out to him. Bedford’s prose paints the full horror of what just happened, showing that war – in any form – is a nightmare for all involved. In that scene, Bedford also shows the beginnings of Sandorn’s guilt relating to his actions that day. It is incredibly tragic and shows why Sandorn struggles to move on from it.  

Conclusion

I enjoyed this one! The tension in the story kept me hooked, and I am curious about how the rest of this will unfold! Sandorn and his friends are all incredibly likable and the society they are a part of is very interesting to see. Despite the issues I had with how the conflict was handled, I do not think that that takes away too much from being able to enjoy this.

In the end, I would recommend this to science fiction/space opera fans craving stories about galactic warfare and the fallout from such conflicts. Bedford can build tension and relationships with ease, and those two things keep the story easy to stay hooked on, because it is easy to find yourself asking about what comes next. In the end, this is a tense ride with a compelling world that I am ready to visit again!