An Unproven Concept — James Young

"This is a space opera that plays out on a grand scale, and Young conducted it with aplomb."--Pop Cults, the website of Geek and Alternative Culture There are lots of ways to make history. Sometimes one's purpose in life is to serve as an example of utter folly. The Confederation of Man has overseen the prosperous expansion of humanity for almost eight centuries, with the Confederation Fleet its shield against all enemies both internal and external. Despite its numerous successes, the Fleet is a shield that is becoming warped by the schism between its Carrier and Line factions. In the year 3050, Fleet Admiral Malinverni has overseen the design and commissioning of a vessel intended to merge the best of both factions: the battlecruiser Constitution. Intended as a harbinger of a better future, the Constitution is considered a flawed concept by all except her crew. If either Fleet faction has its way, neither the Constitution nor her captain, Mackenzie Bolan, will ever get a chance to prove their naysayers incorrect. The starliner Titanic is considered to be the epitome of her type. With a handpicked crew, the Titanic is expected to see to passengers' every need and whim, be it a rare artifact of opulence to stringent, discreet security. Unfortunately Captain Abraham Herrod, her master, is confronted with the growing likelihood that his vessel may soon be rendered obsolete by the ever pressing march of technology. Pushed by his superiors, Captain Herrod must decide just how far he's willing to go in an attempt to prolong the “Golden Age of Starliners.” Unlike the Titanic and Constitution, the destroyer Shigure is far from modern. As the oldest destroyer in the fleet, the “Late Rain” is chosen for a special, dangerous project. With a young crew and modifications that makes her vessel not what she seems, Commander Leslie Hawkins presses into unknown space to examine structures detected by an Confederation Fleet survey vessel. With all the unremitting action, mecha, and carnage of the original novel, An Unproven Concept (Kraken Edition) also includes the short story “Ride of the Late Rain” for the first time. In addition, this special edition contains artwork from professional illustrators and an excerpt from the upcoming alternate history novel Acts of War. "Overall, if you like hardcore space battles with high body counts, definitely give this novel a shot!"--Right Fans: Sci-Fi from the other Side Website