The Merrimack Event cover art

The Merrimack Event

Shieldclads Series, Book 1

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The Merrimack Event

By: David A. Tatum
Narrated by: Troy Duran
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About this listen

Once every four years, the Earth Alliance Naval Academy is included in a war game...or rather, the Wargame: On a distant frontier colony, cadets must repair, recommission, and crew a fleet of old, mothballed warships for a simulated fleet action against a group of seasoned veterans using top-of-the-line warships.

After some meddling on the part of the Admiralty, many of the Academy's best are assigned to the oldest, smallest hulk in the Wargame, the unfortunately named corvette, Chihuahua. Thanks to a genius engineer, an Army veteran loaned to the Navy for the war game, and an unconventional captain, they make a new discovery which turns her into the most valuable warship in the fleet: the first ever Shieldclad warship.

The crew abruptly finds itself center stage in a real combat action, however, when Earth is attacked by an unknown foe, and a lone squadron of these once-mothballed ships is the Alliance's only hope to respond....

©2017 David A. Tatum (P)2018 Tantor Adventure Military Science Fiction Fiction War Veteran Game

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All stars
Most relevant
A tremendous amount of small talk and not a whole lot of action. Just too pedestrian to keep my attention

I couldn't keep going

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I loved this book so many threads to follow you cannot get bored. I loved though I would have like to listen to the rest of the series. When I looked for the next book there was nothing and this book was done 2018. So come on audible get with it and bring us the rest of the series. Give this a read the only thing that is upsetting is the only one for now.

Only one of the series

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The plot take a while to get going but once going it speeds along the narrative in the space battle a little cheesy but enjoyable and the narrator voice really make it a easy listen

Good story

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It was a bit slow and drawn out at the start and maybe goes into a bit to much theoretical/technical detail for some (I quite like to see the logic behind the ideas even if made up). Once it got going I really enjoyed it and the performance is great and voices/reading consistent. Really hope for a book 2.

Took a bit to start but now want book a 2

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solid military sci-fi read with classic cadets-in-combat themes. While the MC’s prolonged self-doubt and the uneven pacing hold it back, the broader story has real promise. Narration was passable but dull—better read than heard. Still, a flawed but entertaining experience.

Flawed but fun, with strong sequel potential

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