I don’t understand how I missed the continuation of the epic tale of Ishmael Wang until now; I had been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in his life adventure for so long, yet the release of this whole series somehow slipped by me.

Sometimes anticipation leaves a bitter disappointment when the expectation is realised, but not so in this case. Wonderfully written and well though-out; I am glad to get reacquainted with these larger-than-life characters. Truth be told, I re-listen to the entire Trader’s Tale series annually.

I have grown accustomed to listening to the cadence, rhythm and tone of the author, and I do miss the timbre of his voice with this release. There is nothing wrong with this narration; Mr Kafer’s reading is differently nuanced than Mr Lowell’s, which lends a slightly different flavour to our beloved Captain Wang. However, we find Ishmael an older and much changed man than the fresh, young ship’s captain we left, so perhaps the change is good.

Mr Lowell, please keep up the excellent writing. I have never been a fan of anything that could be considered science fiction, but I think very highly of your characters and style of writing. I appreciate that I can watch their development, and see your creative process unfold while still finding the storyline fresh and compelling.