If you are a fan of tactical combat.. this is the book for you. You probably don't even have to read the first three books.. the bad guys do enough moIf you are a fan of tactical combat.. this is the book for you. You probably don't even have to read the first three books.. the bad guys do enough monologuing to fill you in.
About, of 600 of the 1000+ pages are describing the main fight in very specific detail. I've love to play it in a RTS game of some sort. Reading it was a bit repetitive, with the constant reminds of what each bit of future tech was and did, and the 1/2 page exchanges of orders when a sentence would do.
I know some people love that sort of thing though, so if you do, this book is for you. What Gannon does NOT do very well is space battles.. those go pretty quickly and get glossed over.
Plotwise, this book follows immediately after the last one, and the sequence of events is pretty much as you would expect them to be. Its good the the author didn't try to put in a surprising twist that breaks logic as some do, but it also was a bit..pat. It probably doesn't help the the title of the book is a spoiler for the ending (though it's no secret what's coming a couple hundred pages in to anyone that's read any sort of military fiction before, sci fi or otherwise).
At this point, I'm really more interested in the plot the even the main character, so hopefully that will continue to be interesting in the next book (which I think is the last). ...more
This was definitely my least favorite of the 3 Hammer's Slammers I read... perhaps because it was the least sci-fi. Its very clearly based on Drake's This was definitely my least favorite of the 3 Hammer's Slammers I read... perhaps because it was the least sci-fi. Its very clearly based on Drake's personal Vietnam experience, as a tank/armored car unit are rushing through the jungle to bolster local forces that may or may not needed it. The main character is a journalist that tags along/helps and is there to give the reader an excuse for exposition.
The vast majority of this story is a bunch of tanks and armored cars driven by inexperienced people trying to get through the jungle... I expect if your did such a thing you will enjoy that, but it was too dry and too detailed for me. The usual 'morale' at the end was quite clear in the beginning and probably didn't need 200 pages or driving through the jungle to reinforce it....more
Apparently these stories have different personnel in each, so don't get attached to the characters. They're not generally much beyond 'solider #3' anyApparently these stories have different personnel in each, so don't get attached to the characters. They're not generally much beyond 'solider #3' anyway, but that was a surprise to me. This was the 2nd of 3 of these I read, this one dealing much more with politics than actual fighting, where a crusade is going on, the the Slammers have to decide to help keep the person paying them in power before they move on to the job their doing, or let the internal dispute take its course and perhaps no longer have a job.
The man on the ground makes friends with another Mercenary in another company tasked with defending the city and the two end up teaming up... definitely pretty different from the first story, which is good. This one had some actual religion thrown in (I was surprised they weren't made up space religions) which was wild, and a bit jarring, but told a really good story.
This was the first of 3 of these I read in a collection... they're very realistic seeming (at least to this non-military guy) military sci-fi.. the auThis was the first of 3 of these I read in a collection... they're very realistic seeming (at least to this non-military guy) military sci-fi.. the author served in Vietnam, so my impression is that there are stories of things he heard about and/or participated in and he dropped a sci-fi finish over to protect the innocent/let him get his point out there without offense.
In this one, the big sci fi element is the bad guys can teleport, so the Slammers and their excellent tech are needed to sense that coming. The tense bits come when the local forces encounter a nursery for the bad guys and they have a different view of what to do with it than the mercs do... good stuff.
Some really good stuff here, and some really boring ones. I was pleasantly surprised that despire it being a collection from 1990, the stories are allSome really good stuff here, and some really boring ones. I was pleasantly surprised that despire it being a collection from 1990, the stories are all from the 50s (except's Drake's, which isn't very good anyway) The humor ones definitely were the highlight... 'Allamagoosa' had me laughing out loud (I'll have to look up Eric Frank Russell, he's not an author I know, and CM Kornbluth is always great.
Not surprising, I liked Asimov and Clarke quite a bit... 'C-Chute' is really great... not the best plot ever (a pretty basic one, in fact) but great commentary on how people react in war time... very thought provoking. 'Superiority' by Clarke was a nice cautionary tale that rings true both for the time it was written, and still today.
Overall, the first 1/2 of the book (the shorter stories) are excellent, the 3 longer ones at the end are very skippable. ...more
I had no idea this was the basis of Edge of Tommorow... we got it for my daughter (among some other manga) and it looked really good, so I snatched itI had no idea this was the basis of Edge of Tommorow... we got it for my daughter (among some other manga) and it looked really good, so I snatched it. The hook is the main character keeps re-fighting the same battle over and over... when he figures it out, he trains to be able to survive and hopefully end the loop.
There was a bit of a twist at the end,so even though what happened was pretty predictible, how they got there was not. Good art, too... but not quite mech, but cool battle suits. ...more
This one seemed a bit of a gear shift for me... more Military/Naval Sci fi (ala David Weber) than the more space opera-y first couple books.
It's got aThis one seemed a bit of a gear shift for me... more Military/Naval Sci fi (ala David Weber) than the more space opera-y first couple books.
It's got all the elements, a bad posting, and event that catapaults you the character into a more important role, etc.
I enjoyed that aspect alot... this is definitely a GOOD space navy story (after the intro, which you can definitely tell was a short story first and added in later).. the main complaint I have it the same on that's been there in the other stories... too many coincidences, and the main character being made to look smart while others that should be smarter fail.
Those are pretty forgivable sins though.. there are plenty of books out there that try too hard to be mysterious or unpredictable at the expense of the plot, or goes out of the way to make a character fail so things are not too easy. This one, the story really develops in a clear, logical way that makes total sense and just begs to be read....more
Weber tried to write this book like the others.... adding new characters and trying to put a human face on the epic military conflict, but with it beiWeber tried to write this book like the others.... adding new characters and trying to put a human face on the epic military conflict, but with it being the conclusion of a truly epic (we're talking close to 9000 pages) series, I found myself often just wanting him to hurry up and tell me what happens. I would have MUCH preferred a good map or two than another 10 chapters of valiant soldiers who are gonna die anyway. (apparently, there's maps online, but I read to get away from the screens, no lok at them more)
Of course, it's been clear exactly HOW things were going to end for 3 books now, so there was no surprise, but certainly some satisfaction in seeing a series actually reach a logical conclusion. (I'm looking at you, Patrick Rothfuss and George RR Martin).
On the plus side, things were wrapped up pretty neatly, and the only plot threads left dangling were on purpose, for a potential follow up series.
I have mixed feelings about that... on the one hand, if they series only moves forward in time slightly, and other conflict will feel small and insignifigant in comparison. And while visiting old friends is always nice, it really would be more nostalgia than anything.
A big time gap to the time when the remnants of humanity fight the Gbaba could be all too similar to the Honor Harrington series (heck, I could even see a 'bridge' type series that turns this into a PREQUEL to the Honorverse), and would, of course, mean leaving all our Charisian friends behind.
Overall, I'd say the general consenus I see of 'good series gone on too long' is pretty accurate. I think a good 3 books worth of editing probably could have done wonders, but I'm happy to have read it, and will most certainly visit again if and when another series begins. ...more
It's always difficult writing an epic saga... sometimes one gets into a rut.. having the same characters play out the same adventures over and over, pIt's always difficult writing an epic saga... sometimes one gets into a rut.. having the same characters play out the same adventures over and over, perhaps on a grander scale each time. Sure, they can be awesome adventures, but the sense of progress is lost.
On the other hand, if one expands the story, includes new characters, and adds depth, things can get TOO epic and become sprawling and unfocused. The characters one loves, that made a book or a trilogy worthy of becoming an epic saga, get lost, or shuffled to the background. Or sometimes the book just begins to crumble under its own weight, and there are just too many side plots and stories for the main thread to move forward. One relishes those bits forward, but dreads the glacial pace, while welcoming new friends (or perhaps regretting the loss of old ones).
Unfortunately, Iron Gold does both things wrong, and gets just about nothing right. There's a 10 year fast forward, but while the type of government has changes, nothing really feels different. Darrow is still a warlord. worshiped by his men, but shunned by the government, and hasn't really developed at all... despite so much time and life passing.
The new PoV characters are, for the most part, either boring, unlikable, or both. The one that did shine, Lysander (really not a new character at all, just newly in the spotlight) uses about 1/3 of the book to do nothing but set up the sequel.. telling a tale that would have been better served either in it's own book, or mentioned in passing and skipped, as many other events were.
Worse still, none of the plot threads started here resolve.. they all end on cliff hangers, so one is left thoroughly unsatisfied. While I enjoy the world building and wish to know what happens next, I'm not sure I can picture myself reading through another 600 page book.
When the highlight of an epic novel is a throwaway line with a quick tribute to my favorite Babylon 5 character, you know something as gone wrong.
Good luck, Darrow.. I'll see what happens to you in the news feeds. ...more
When I grabbed this book based on an internet buddy's recommendation, I was picturing David Weber-esque sci fi... what it really is, if you squint, isWhen I grabbed this book based on an internet buddy's recommendation, I was picturing David Weber-esque sci fi... what it really is, if you squint, is Star Trek fan fic.
The Merrimack (love the civil war reference) is very Enterprise-like, and it's Captain, John Farragut, very much evokes images of Capt. Kirk. Maybe he's a little more personable and nicer. Augustus the 'patterner' from the rival star Empire (based on Rome, which is fun) could easily be Spock, if he was a sarcastic a-hole. Obviously, he was my favorite ;).
The plot involves the Hive, which are somewhere between the Borg and the Buggers from Ender's Game, and are the reason the two human empires aren't at war, and a lost civilization that may have some sort of secret to stable worm holes.
The people on the planet were right from TOS central casting, a mostly benevloent dictator that would have been right at home trading barbs, yet ultimately giving Capt. Kirk respect.
In very Trek fashion, after a cool battle, there's time travel, and things reset in a most unpleasing way, making it unclear exactly what the heck is going on. That would have been fine if this actualyl was Star Trek, where you know what the canon is and what's going on, here it was painful.. characters dead came back, and my boy Augustus seems to have either gone back home or left all together.
While the story and world were very good and definitely would encourage further reading, the time travel bit at the end (as usual) hurt my head and definitely makes me less enthused for further reading.. we'll see how it goes. ...more
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. Clearly, the writer has a love of classic science fiction. It in many ways is an composite of every sortI'm not quite sure what to make of this book. Clearly, the writer has a love of classic science fiction. It in many ways is an composite of every sort of sci-fi novel there is. It starts with a bit of dystopian social commentary.. moves into Starship Troopers-like army training/fighting. Then, somewhat suddenly, ends with a first contact.
The seeds are here for a few really good novels, but instead of writing a really good novel, the authors seems to have starts a few different ones, then squished them together. There are some cool concepts that hearken back to the 60s sci-fi masters, but the lack of direction really hurts the plot.
Also, every character is right out of the manual for 'smart, sassy competent solider'. While there are a fair amount of character moments, they don't really amount to much actual development.
I think I'd read another book by this author, but I don't feel that inspired to read the rest of this series... hopefully he'll learn from it and get better.. there's some strong potential there. ...more
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