Rimrunners is a science fiction novel by American writer C. J. Cherryh , set in her Alliance-Union universe , in which humanity has split into three major power blocs: Union, the Merchanter's Alliance and Earth. Chronologically, the book follows immediately after the author's Downbelow Station and is one of Cherryh's series of "Merchanter" novels .
17-501: The book was nominated for a Locus Award, and the cover art, by Don Maitz , won the 1990 Hugo Award for Best Original Artwork. The long, bitterly fought Company War between Earth and Union had ended – for everyone, except Conrad Mazian, commander of the Earth Company Fleet. By refusing to accept the peace, he and his loyal Mazianni became outlaws, hunted by all sides. Elizabeth 'Bet' Yeager had been one of Mazian's marines ,
34-535: A (relatively) safe haven. Don Maitz Don Maitz (born June 10, 1953) is an American science fiction , fantasy , and commercial artist. He has twice won the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist , science fiction's highest honor for an artist. His peers in the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists have honored him ten times with a Chesley Award for outstanding achievement, and he has received
51-565: A Silver Medal of Excellence from the Society of Illustrators . A native of Plainville, Connecticut , he is a 1975 graduate of the Paier School of Art . His art has adorned the covers of books by Isaac Asimov , Ray Bradbury , C. J. Cherryh , Stephen King , Gene Wolfe , Michael Moorcock , and Raymond E. Feist , among others. Two compilations of his work have been published, Dreamquests: The Art of Don Maitz , and First Maitz . He also created
68-566: A twenty-year veteran. Stranded on Pell Station when the Fleet was forced to pull out abruptly (as told in Downbelow Station ), she managed to blend in with the many displaced war refugees. Since then, she survived by taking whatever starship berths she could find. Her luck begins to run out when her latest ship, the freighter Ernestine , is forced to return to Pell for major repairs, a destination too fraught with danger for her. She stays behind on
85-436: A universally respected crewman who claims to have served on one of the ancient sublighters, the original nine vessels that predated faster-than-light ships. She is also strongly attracted to Ramey, an ex-merchanter and surly outcast with a nickname of NG (no good). She gradually makes a place for herself and even manages to get the reluctant NG tentatively readmitted back into shipboard society. Things get complicated when she
102-399: Is forced to reveal her past, especially since Loki is currently hunting a Mazianni ship. Long overdue for a major overhaul, Loki limps into Thule, hooks up to the sole starship fuel pump and takes on all the available fuel. While there, the ship they were searching for (Keu's India ) shows up. The Mazianni ship had been harried and hunted by Alliance and Union forces to the point that it
119-901: Is named after the 17th-century Welsh privateer of the Caribbean , Sir Henry Morgan . In 1944 the Seagram Company started manufacturing the Captain Morgan brand of rum . In 1984, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum was introduced to the United States. In 2001 the Captain Morgan brand was sold to Diageo , a multinational drinks company based in London. On 15 April 2005, Captain Morgan Tattoo Black Spiced rum and its claimed 'sweet-to-heat' finish became another addition to
136-721: The United States Virgin Islands argued over plans for Captain Morgan to move operations to the Virgin Islands for tax reasons. The matter came to a head during a debate in the United States Congress over the USVI's attempt to use tax benefits to lure the company to that territory. In 2014, Diageo Canada filed a trade dress infringement lawsuit against Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc , claiming striking similarities between
153-721: The "Captain" character of the Captain Morgan brand of rum. Maitz resides in Florida with his wife, fantasy novelist and artist Janny Wurts . Maitz's work covers the broad spectrum of Fantasy & Science Fiction and even horror. He has also painted an extensive collection of pirates, including the pirate on the labels of Captain Morgan rum. Don Maitz has published two books featuring his own works entitled First Maitz and Dreamquests: The Art of Don Maitz . Friedlander Publishing Group released two 90-card sets, each with five "chase" cards in 1994 and 1996. Maitz has also been included in
170-577: The Captain Morgan character and Admiral Nelson, and that the similarity would dilute the Captain Morgan trademark. Diageo Canada won the lawsuit in 2017. In 2020, the brand launched a new product called Captain Morgan Tiki. This new pineapple mango flavor rum is available in the United Kingdom, Australia, the Czech Republic and Germany. Before and after the 2015 SummerSlam event , John Cena used
187-447: The Captain Morgan line. Captain Morgan was, by volume, the second largest brand of spirits in the United States, and the seventh largest worldwide in 2007. In 2007 , 7.6 million 9-litre cases were sold. Most Captain Morgan rum is sold in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and Global Travel. In November 2009, the NFL banned a covert ad campaign allegedly put on by Diageo. It
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#1733094360152204-496: The authorities about his suspicions about her, she dispatches him too. With time running out before his body is discovered, she signs up with the ship Loki , a barely legitimate 'spook' that survives by gathering intelligence and selling it. Loki is not a typical merchanter ship; instead of a close-knit family, the crew consists of unrelated hire-ons. As a result, various competing cliques have formed aboard and Bet has to navigate her way among them. She becomes friends with Musa,
221-453: The decrepit, dying Thule Station. Day after day, she goes to the employment office, but there is little work. Few starships call and the ones that do, do not need the skills she can admit to possessing. Late one night, while trying to sleep in a dockside washroom, she is attacked by a man and, weak from hunger, barely manages to kill him. In desperation, she moves in with a lowlife bartender. When he tries to control her, with threats to go to
238-436: The first book of series concentrating on artists who publish in the realm of Fantasy. This book is Fantasy Art Masters: The Best Fantasy and Science Fiction Artists Show How They Work . First Maitz was published in 1988. A detailed overview of the artist's work, his techniques, inspirations, and sketches from start to finished painting. Published in 1993, Dreamquests is a collection of Maitz's works. Raymond E. Feist gives
255-606: The introduction, Maitz gives a few thoughts and then come pages and pages of beautiful images with a glossary at the end to give a title to the image and where it was used - book cover, magazine cover, etc. Raiding Parties is a pirate-themed card game featuring artwork by Maitz on each card. Captain Morgan Captain Morgan is a brand of flavored rums (including, in Europe, some rum-flavored "premium spirit drinks") produced by British alcohol conglomerate Diageo . It
272-518: Was blocked from its regular supply bases and is desperately low on fuel. Keu needs to take the precious pump and fuel intact, so he can not just blow Loki up. Instead, he sends boarding parties of armored marines, but Bet and Fitch between them manage to hold them off. Then the Alliance warship Norway arrives to close the trap and administer the coup de grâce . Bet's actions during the battle prove to her crewmates that she can be trusted; she has found
289-576: Was understood that for each NFL player striking the "Captain Morgan" pose on camera during a regular season game, Diageo would donate US$ 10,000 (equivalent to $ 14,202 in 2023) to the Gridiron Greats (a non-profit which helps retired NFL players with various hardships after leaving the game). The league made this announcement following such a celebration by Brent Celek of the Philadelphia Eagles . In 2010, two US territories, Puerto Rico and
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