Firstflight (original 1987; edition 1987)

A hotshot trainee airforce spaceship pilot makes a mistake on her final simulator exam. Therefore, they want to can her. However, the board's decision is overruled by the commander and she graduates. Given a simple 'milk run' mission under an experienced commander as her titular mission things get a lot more complicated. First, attacked by pirates, then discovering an alien starship on a diplomatic mission. Then the pirates again.

Very good.

http://freesf.strandedinoz.com/wordpress/2012/03/first-flight-chris-claremont/ ( )

There might be only 243 pages in this book, but the print is way smaller than most others. A normal-print-sized book would probably be about 100 pages longer. It’s really that much smaller.

Well I must say I quite enjoyed this book. It took a little while to get started, but once I got in to it I just couldn’t stop. It’s a great story about the human race making its first steps out into space exploration, and about first contact with an alien race. I will certainly read the sequel, Grounded soon, to keep on with the story. ( )