Captains All

At sea, a captain’s word is law—but a single order can decide the fate of an entire ship. In these eleven stories of merchant vessels, coastal steamers, and sailing ships, command brings hard choices that cannot be passed to anyone else. A cautious mate is offered the promotion he has waited decades to earn, provided he learns to gamble with danger. A small freighter ventures into a violent storm to aid a stranded passenger liner. Elsewhere, a master must answer for an unsafe demand made by a company agent, while another faces a crew whose patience is wearing thin.

Set along the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic, and the Pacific coast, the tales follow sailors who know their ships but cannot always control the weather, their owners, or themselves. There are fogbound collisions, treacherous harbor bars, desperate repairs, and acts of courage under pressure. Through them runs a close look at duty, pride, seamanship, and the cost of holding command.

© 2026 Wildside Press (Ebook): 9780809501076

Release date

Ebook: 15 October 2026