Baen, 1998, $6.99, ISBN 0-671-57818-9, 400 pgs., paperback

Ah, vintage Drake gives you a good, fast read. In this military sci-fi book, the merchant world of Kostroma hangs between Cinnabar and The Alliance. Cinnabar Lt. Daniel Leary becomes an unwanted addition to an Admiral's diplomatic mission to Kostroma, where he meets Adele Mundy, librarian from The Alliance. As Leary bumps around indulging his passion for entomology, Mundy sets up the library with a little of Leary's help.

And just when you thought it was safe to go to the library, The Alliance invades Kostroma. The resulting tale includes all sorts of death defying efforts as Leary, Mundy, and a few sailors take advantage of the chaos to thwart the Alliance and restore democracy to the planet. It's a wonderful blend of high-tech heroism and low-down violence. And you never know when a good six-legged bug can come in handy.

If you missed this one, it's well worth the effort to find it.