Scorpion

About the Book

It is July 1777. American privateer Scorpion, a scourge to British shipping, chases the pirate Graywolf through a storm and into the unknown. Sign on for the voyage and learn their fate.

Responding to an exchange of gunfire between ships in its sector, American privateer Scorpion, hurries to the encounter. Scorpion arrives at the site of the fray and finds rogues from the pirate Graywolf boarding a British merchantman after subduing the latter's escort. The American bark chases off the black-flagged brig, but not before the brigands have abducted a young woman, the niece of Lord Cornwallis. With little hesitation, Captain Sam Dawes orders Scorpion to pursue the pirate.

It is that simple and proper response that sets in motion a series of adventures that ends with a board of inquiry that will decide the fate of Scorpion, her crew, and her master. Yet, the wonderful unity of the entire crew, the way they work in harmony, with mutual respect and understanding, is food for thought for all of us, especially those who must work together to achieve a common goal.

James R. Poyner, a Chicagoan, has been a proofreader for many years, and that venerable profession has helped develop his self-critical inner ear. Through that ability he has steadily developed the fluid style of his prose and the careful attention to the mechanics of his writing. Add to that an interesting tale, and the reader is sure to judge SCORPION a worthy addition to his or her library.

About the Author

Since graduating from Millikin University, in 1976, James R. Poyner has experienced an interesting blend of editing, proofreading, manuscript preparation, and graphics production. Much of that time, of course, has seen the tremendous, technological explosion, which has so dramatically changed writing and publishing, and like others, Mr. Poyner has steadily adapted. At the same time, his professional experience has taught him how to mend and improve the written efforts of others, while further teaching him how to do the same with his own efforts.

Among others things, he has developed an excellent, self-critical inner ear. The smooth, fluid style of his prose is evidence of that. Add to that, the texture, rhythm and color acquired from writing verse, and the result is something any reader should appreciate and enjoy.

SCORPION, at first blush, is a sea adventure with a little science fiction thrown in. But, thanks to its themes about teamwork, respect, and its various contrasts, it is more than that. It is also one of his newer efforts, having been begun in the early 1990s.