No wars, aliens, romance, or even disagreements between the crew - like watching spiffy paint dry on the prow of a really pretty ship. However, very little happens beyond that. Our guy is bright, works his way up the chain of command with alacrity, and he has nice friends.

This is the nuts and bolts of life on a merchant space ship with all the attendant excitement of visiting ports of call and making deals on cargo. Hello Hell!) However, if you are not anxiety prone, and want a action packed sci fi to read, move along - this isn't it. (It was also perfect for me over the last few chaotic months when all I wanted to do was stay in bed with the covers pulled over my head while the world went to hell in a hand basket. Quarter Share is intelligent, well written, tells a familiar yet original story, and has a fully fleshed out main character whose story you'll care about. If Audible asks for a Credit (I got it as a 'Plus' selection) - spend it on something else. 'Quarter Share' merits a mere 2 stars out of 10. I kept waiting for something consequential to strike the vessel (even an accident or something) - but NOTHING did. As a more conventional SciFi afficianado (expecting at least *some* conflict), I personally found the book boring. If you are engrossed by the idea of a realistic portrayal of routine life for the average person in a hypothetical space-faring future, this book will be great for you. 'SHOULD WE BUY MORE MATERIAL?' the captain asked 'THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO' wang replied😅), Kafer's performance comes across as little more than passable. but factoring in mildly overenunciated diction, slightly too slow pacing, and an often humorous issue with alternating volume coloring his staccato cadence (near shouted dialogue followed by near whispered text: 'YES SAR?' wang said. True, Kafer's timbre is comfortable and his tone is absolutely spot-on. turning in a praiseworthy (if unspectacular) performance. The presentation from Podium Audio is similarly 'acceptable': reader Jeffrey Kafer does a professional job narrating the story, for example. The book is interesting but incrediby mundane. but the absolute absence of action is striking. Nathan Lowell paints an impressively realistic picture of life on a merchant space vessel - warping from port to port, eating/sleeping/exercising on an enclosed vessel, conducting Emergency Drills, working for advancement (by taking exams to qualify for more important positions & better pay), developing relationships with fellow crew members, and setting up a credible mobile Flea Market business for shipwide entrepreneurs. One of the biggest events in this novel happens when Ishmael Horatio Wang scrubs out a coffee machine in the ship's mess and brews an impressive pot of joe.

Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell