I picked up Jespa The Space Trader because it is a stand alone story about a small crew on a trading vessel trying to make ends meet. Now that I am done, I am hoping it is the start of a series because I enjoyed it enough to want more. There isn't anything new here to fans of the genre, but it is an excellent blend of world building, slice of life, and character development, with your standard fare of sci-fi mixed in for good measure. The main character is Captain Albert Mead, a retired banker who liquidated his assets to buy the trading vessel, Jespa, because he wanted to turn it into a home in space for him and his 3 kids. Unfortunately, only one of those kids remains with him, Monica, who has reached womanhood aboard the ship and now wants to be a captain herself. Join Captain Mead, Monica, and a handful of others as they do their best to prosper in a solar system that is preparing for war.