This is the first John Grimes novel, and is also the first in the current Baen collection of the John Grimes Saga. It’s the story of Grimes first posting as an Ensign in the Federation Survey Service, and it’s quite entertaining. Chandler has a light touch on character and plot; it’s easy to like Grimes and his shipmates, except those the author wants us to dislike, there’s little middle ground.
Light, entertaining reading, I went right on the the next book in the series, and in the omnibus edition, To Prime the Pump.
The Broken Bullhorn 
You and others keep adding to my list of books that all have a similar idea and all sound great!
oooh, I want these.
Chandler’s Grimes series holds plenty of fun for those who make it all the way to end. The BAEN Books omnibus edition are wonderful, affordable editions.
If I didn’t have so much other stuff I wanted to track down(the Dray and Dumarest series), I might like to get onto these. I’m sure I’d like them.
Randy, I think you would, yes. The omnibus volumes from Baen are a nice way to get the stuff in current, thick trade paper format. There are 3 volumes so far – I only address half of the first one here – and all available on Amazon.