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USS Hamilton: Ironhold Station cover art

USS Hamilton: Ironhold Station

By: Mark Wayne McGinnis
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
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Summary

The surprise attack within the Auriga Star System was worse than brutal; it was heinous, leaving the US Navy's 3rd Fleet decimated.

Thousands of crew are reported dead, including the ship’s captain. Reluctantly, the young XO, Galvin Quintos, will be taking command of the fleet's crippled dreadnaught, the USS Hamilton, while doing his best to bring fleet survivors back to Earth. To make matters worse, there’s a murderer running loose on board the ship, critically low fuel levels, and the Grish are back, in fast pursuit and ready to finish what they’d started. Only by sheer luck - and a good measure of cagey smarts - will Quintos be able to rise to the challenge.

©2020 Mark Wayne McGinnis (P)2020 Podium Audio

What listeners say about USS Hamilton: Ironhold Station

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A poor vision of military personnel on a starship

While the story was nothing special, it also was not exactly bad. What was bad however was the terrible way that he has written the crew. It seems clear that the author has never worked a day in the military in his life, or bothered to do any research as to how people in the military act or interact with each other. The entire crew is incredibly unprofessional and it really doesn't fit well with the story or the way that the book is written and it makes it very hard to take the story seriously. Having just finished the series Expeditionary Force, which was awesome, I was really disappointed with the first book in the USS Hamilton series.

1 person found this helpful

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A fun and captivating story

If you’re looking for your next sci-fi binge listen, look no further than USS Hamilton, Ironclad Station. It’s got everything a sci-fi lover could want. Space battles. Aliens. Robots. And a serial killer. It’s a fun story that is captivating and keeps you listening late into the night because you need to know what is going to happen next. I’m hooked and ready for book two.

The only real downside was a text to audio issue. You really notice those he said/ she said when it’s being performed, which is nobody’s faults, it just doesn’t flow as well on audio as you don’t black it like when reading.

Performed fantastically by James Patrick Cronin. The story has a LOT of different characters and situations and each is given their own voice and unique sound and feel. This was my first time listening to James but it won’t be my last. He has a great voice for sci-fi.

1 person found this helpful

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The making of a great series

Although the voice of the main character was a little annoying at first it did grow on me and he was very good at voicing all the side characters so made up for that. It feels like this first book is building a foundation for the series, just about to start the next book, definitely closer to Expeditionary Force, with less humour and a little more serious, then to something as complex as Dune. I’m not a military person so can’t comment on the procedural negativity in other reviews but I did enjoy the first book and I hope all the hints dropped fill out over the series… As I’ve listened to so much science fiction it’s difficult to find new material so just hoping this fills the gap….

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excellent story

An excellent story although it is fairly obvious the author is has not served in the military but this is a minor quibble. I liked the characters especially the robot, Mark Wayne McGinnis has a good imagination I liked his ideas for alien creatures. The story is quite light with some fun dialogue and moves at a good pace. I look forward to listening to more of these. James Patrick Cronin is an excellent narrator with a good voice and range of characters. Highly recommended

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Great book

Straight into the action with engaging characters, going straight into book 2.
I have been spoilt with epic stories in the past, so struggling to find something engaging. This hit the target.
If I had to be critical, a little short, but rather that than filled with unnecessary time filling nonsense.

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Pretty Good

It's not going to win awards. It follows the popular trend of having an AI, but at least the AI is not a silly gun (referencing another ripoff I will not name).

I'll go with this for at least the second book. I enjoyed the story, even if a little predictable.

Narrator is pretty good. So that's nice.

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mehh...average at best...

Just couldn't seen to relate to most of the characters...perhaps thats me though...
only got this its the narrator of ALONE...
Theres plenty more engrossing military sci fi books out there....
I highly recommend COLUMBUS DAY...

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none stop action

loved this book, the book was none stop. can't wait to read the second book interview

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  • Aser Tolentino
  • 24-07-21

Requires Serious Suspension of Disbelief

It’s been a very long time since I’ve written a review, let alone a negative review. However, the first 10% of this book was very taxing for someone who tends toward emphasizing the positive. The thing is that a lot of the setup for this book fatally undermines its protagonist from the first minute. Seriously, he can’t figure out how they could have been ambushed when all of his ship’s department heads are having a routine staff meeting when emerging from FTL into a contested star system? Then, when given command responsibility for saving his ship and his crew, he goes off to do the work of a common sailor rather than employing his training and experience to coordinate repair and rescue efforts?
I genuinely dislike reviews that harsh on things other people like, but if you came to this expecting something grounded in the realities or at least the believable trappings of a maritime thriller in space, you might be better off skipping this one.

27 people found this helpful

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  • Sailfish
  • 04-10-20

Loosey-Goosey Dreadnaught

Mark Wayne and McGinnis write good prose and the book outline combining a serial killer whodunit in the midst of a number of dangerous enemy encounters held the promise an interesting story.

There are some issues with his understanding of military protocols. The first indication of this was when XO Galvin allowed a young gunny to respond to him in a foul-mouth laden sarcastic manner without any admonishment. There were other incidents where this occurred from others in the crew which made it appear that he was the captain of a pirate starship rather than a fleet dreadnaught. The author's fantasy hidden sexual encounter between the ship's doctor and the XO was ridiculously male YA level. The introduction of an robotic AI with a split personality was too simplistic and with many rough edges to be believable even given the SciFi nature of the novel.

James Patrick Cronin performance was quite good.

27 people found this helpful

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  • trespsr
  • 07-05-21

BORING

Boring plot. Monotone performance. Ridiculous characters. Too many inconsistencies in storyline. Blech! AND THE REPETITION @#$$

12 people found this helpful

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  • D
  • 26-07-21

meh

Somewhat entertaining, but juvenile, and often pointless dialog. I found it to be rather bottom shelf.

10 people found this helpful

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  • Michael
  • 26-11-21

Pablum

Okay story if you're pre-pubescent. Plot holes you can drive a truck through. Pathetic rip off of the MUCH better Expeditionary Force series.

8 people found this helpful

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  • Jean
  • 21-01-22

Engaging

A number of my Sci-Fi series have come to an end. I have been looking for some more to replace them. With the mood I have been in lately, I don’t want to read anything that requires thinking. I just want to be entertained. I thought I would give the USS Hamilton series by Mark Wayne McGinnis a try. He is a new author for me.

The story is fast paced; the characters are interesting. The story has a bit of everything from space battles, a murder mystery, aliens, ships with AI’s operating them, an unusual seven-foot humanoid AI robot and some humor tossed in. The first-person narrative works quite well in this story. I will try book two of the series.

The book is nine hours and fifty-five minutes. James Patrick Cronin does a good job narrating the book. This is my first experience listening to Cronin narrate. He has an easy to listen to voice. Cronin started his acting career at age two and narrated his first audiobook at age twelve and has gone on to a long career narrating audiobooks.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Ewa Guzenda
  • 18-10-20

Very enjoyable

I found this book a very enjoyable listen. The somewhat unconventional leadership style of the main character may not be to everyone’s liking but one gets the rising trust and camaraderie between the characters. The book is good enough to be drawn in and want a sequel. Can’t wait for the continuation. A great start to a new series.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Wayne F.Handschur
  • 06-10-20

Great Listen!

Enjoyed the story! Fast paced space adventure, look forward to more from the author! Definitely worth a listen!

3 people found this helpful

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  • Michael L Hobbs
  • 18-02-22

Just bad!

Have read/listen to nearly a thousand books First one star review. I feel bad for the narrator.

2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • mark pritchett
  • 15-02-22

Not For Me

Didnt make it half way through. The lead character is a joke. Even the narrator seems bored.

1 person found this helpful