RCN Series
Encyclopedia
The RCN Series is a sequence of stand-alone science fiction
novels by David Drake
. They center around Daniel Leary, an officer
in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy (RCN), and Adele Mundy, a librarian
and spy
. Drake has written about the literary ancestry of his series:
In contrast to the hardcore military SF bent of Drake's Hammer's Slammers
series, these novels are more character driven and feature political intrigue as well as battles.
The style and character dynamics trace their lineage back to A Grand Tour by David Drake
from More Than Honor
, a story in the Honorverse
setting. Although the setting universe is entirely separate, careful reading may reveal similarities to the first novel in this series. Both were published in 1998. Indeed Drake confirms that A Grand Tour is the conceptual antecedent of With the Lightnings.
The various stories of the series are based on classical conflicts from antiquity, usually those documented by Ancient Greek historians, though also including Ancient Roman ones.
During an attempt by the totalitarian Alliance of Free Stars to stage a takeover-by-proxy of a Cinnabaran ally, Adele and Leary are pressed together by circumstance in order to serve the interests of their shared homeworld. Complicating matters is the fact that Adele is living in exile from Cinnabar, having left the planet only to be unable to return after her family were executed for their part in a nearly successful treason plot against Cinnabar—a string of executions ordered by Daniel's father, Speaker Leary. Nonetheless, Daniel and Adele reach an understanding and eventually a friendship, and along with an extensive cast of characters continue their travels together in service of the RCN, defending against threats from the Alliance and others.
is accomplished through the use of advanced sail
s on the hull of starships, which take advantage of a fictional pressure to move the crafts outside of the sidereal universe, allowing faster-than-light
travel. Sub-lightspeed travel is driven by a matter-antimatter
annihilating "High Drive". Use of the High Drive in an atmosphere results in catastrophic reactions with unspent antimatter from the drive, so for intra-atmospheric operations, ships use plasma motors that vent reaction mass (water) from the fusion engines into rocket nozzles.
Hand and vehicle weapons are generally based on electromagnetic acceleration of projectiles, while space weaponry consists of kinetic energy
missiles accelerated to a high fraction of c
(thereby rendering any warhead superfluous) and point defense plasma
systems. In addition to point defense, the ship-mounted plasma systems are used for close range or atmospheric ship-to-ship combat. In atmosphere, the kinetic missiles are unusable, due to their utilization of the matter-antimatter High Drive.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novels by David Drake
David Drake
David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...
. They center around Daniel Leary, an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy (RCN), and Adele Mundy, a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
and spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
. Drake has written about the literary ancestry of his series:
- I've read Patrick O'BrianPatrick O'BrianPatrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
's novels and I love them. Some reviews have referred to my Leary/Mundy series as an SF version of HornblowerHoratio HornblowerHoratio Hornblower is a fictional Royal Navy officer who is the protagonist of a series of novels by C. S. Forester. He was later the subject of films and television programs.The original Hornblower tales began with the 1937 novel The Happy Return Horatio Hornblower is a fictional Royal Navy...
. That's not correct; I did an SF version of the Aubrey/Maturin series, Patrick O'Brian's superb knockoff of ForesterC. S. ForesterCecil Scott "C.S." Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith , an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of naval warfare. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, depicting a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen...
's Hornblower.
In contrast to the hardcore military SF bent of Drake's Hammer's Slammers
Hammer's Slammers
Hammer's Slammers is a 1979 collection of military science fiction short stories by author David Drake. It follows the career of a future mercenary tank regiment called Hammer's Slammers, after their leader, Colonel Alois Hammer...
series, these novels are more character driven and feature political intrigue as well as battles.
The style and character dynamics trace their lineage back to A Grand Tour by David Drake
David Drake
David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...
from More Than Honor
More Than Honor
More Than Honor, published in 1998, was the first anthology of stories set in the Honorverse.The book contains the following stories:"A Beautiful Friendship" by David Weber * An excerpt of More Than Honor is available for download or reading online at** The Baen Free Library .** The whole anthology...
, a story in the Honorverse
Honorverse
The Honorverse refers to the military science fiction book series and sub-series created by David Weber and published by Baen Books. The series is set primarily after Honor Harrington's October 1, 3961, birth; although she is the protagonist in most of the stories, more recent entries make only...
setting. Although the setting universe is entirely separate, careful reading may reveal similarities to the first novel in this series. Both were published in 1998. Indeed Drake confirms that A Grand Tour is the conceptual antecedent of With the Lightnings.
The various stories of the series are based on classical conflicts from antiquity, usually those documented by Ancient Greek historians, though also including Ancient Roman ones.
General plot
The RCN Series focuses on the intertwined lives of two primary characters. Daniel Leary is a Lieutenant in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy, a brilliant strategist, charismatic leader, charmer of women, and also the estranged son of Speaker Corder Leary, a feared, revered, and respected member of the planet of Cinnabar's government. Adele Mundy is a librarian with a deep-rooted passion for information and knowledge, which has fueled her unparalleled talents in the areas of hacking and systems infiltration. A former member of the Cinnabaran aristocracy, Adele also is an expert shot with a handgun, a skill honed by the aristocratic necessity to defend herself in pistol duels.During an attempt by the totalitarian Alliance of Free Stars to stage a takeover-by-proxy of a Cinnabaran ally, Adele and Leary are pressed together by circumstance in order to serve the interests of their shared homeworld. Complicating matters is the fact that Adele is living in exile from Cinnabar, having left the planet only to be unable to return after her family were executed for their part in a nearly successful treason plot against Cinnabar—a string of executions ordered by Daniel's father, Speaker Leary. Nonetheless, Daniel and Adele reach an understanding and eventually a friendship, and along with an extensive cast of characters continue their travels together in service of the RCN, defending against threats from the Alliance and others.
Technology of the RCN universe
Interstellar travelInterstellar travel
Interstellar space travel is manned or unmanned travel between stars. The concept of interstellar travel in starships is a staple of science fiction. Interstellar travel is much more difficult than interplanetary travel. Intergalactic travel, or travel between different galaxies, is even more...
is accomplished through the use of advanced sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
s on the hull of starships, which take advantage of a fictional pressure to move the crafts outside of the sidereal universe, allowing faster-than-light
Faster-than-light
Faster-than-light communications and travel refer to the propagation of information or matter faster than the speed of light....
travel. Sub-lightspeed travel is driven by a matter-antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
annihilating "High Drive". Use of the High Drive in an atmosphere results in catastrophic reactions with unspent antimatter from the drive, so for intra-atmospheric operations, ships use plasma motors that vent reaction mass (water) from the fusion engines into rocket nozzles.
Hand and vehicle weapons are generally based on electromagnetic acceleration of projectiles, while space weaponry consists of kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
missiles accelerated to a high fraction of c
Speed of light
The speed of light in vacuum, usually denoted by c, is a physical constant important in many areas of physics. Its value is 299,792,458 metres per second, a figure that is exact since the length of the metre is defined from this constant and the international standard for time...
(thereby rendering any warhead superfluous) and point defense plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
systems. In addition to point defense, the ship-mounted plasma systems are used for close range or atmospheric ship-to-ship combat. In atmosphere, the kinetic missiles are unusable, due to their utilization of the matter-antimatter High Drive.
External links
- The early novels in the series are available on the publisher's website or at the "Fifth Imperium" website.