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dougswan23's review
5.0
As well written and as captivating as the first book in the series.
After reading the first book in the series , I couldn't wait to read the next. I wasn't disappointed reading this second book. I just couldn't put the book down. Looking forward to more from the crew of the Dauntless.
After reading the first book in the series , I couldn't wait to read the next. I wasn't disappointed reading this second book. I just couldn't put the book down. Looking forward to more from the crew of the Dauntless.
pjonsson's review
4.0
Call to Arms takes off were Duel in The Dark finished. The inevitable War with the oppressive, communist inspired, Union has begun and to no ones surprise it does not start well for the Confederation. That is what you get when you divert military budget to short sighted buying of votes. It is a very good piece of military science fiction adventure with a few twists, plenty of action and likable characters (heroes).
As with the previous book this one focuses primarily on the Dauntless and her crew. As before Dauntless has to take on a formidable foe with little or no support from the rest of the fleet. The rest of the fleet are running for their lives after all. Tanks to a series of twists and unexpected events Barron & Co ends up with a one-shot opportunity to strike a crippling blow to the Union war machine. Of course it is not going to be a walk in the park and the Dauntless … well let us just say that those repairs did not last very long.
Again, as in the previous book the viewpoint flips a bit back and forth between Dauntless and the Union fleet Admiral. I hesitate to say that I liked this guy, he is supposed to be a bad guy after all, but I enjoyed the character up to the end. Then it went a bit downhill. I was really eager to read about his reaction when news about Dauntless undertakings reached him but it never really came about. He just surmised what might have happened when things did not go as planned and then he went … ehhh, I guess you have to read the book to find that out. Too much of a spoiler otherwise.
There is a interesting underlying thread to the entire story arc. As advanced as these people seems to be with prosperous and expanding federations, alliances and unions, it is actually a post-apocalyptic universe. We are following what remains of some larger, more advanced empire that somehow managed to go all big bang on themselves. It is perhaps the “more advanced” parts that are the most interesting part in that it hints about forgotten technologies that might be rediscovered. Indeed, the book blurb for the next installment in this series do strongly hint that the series is going to venture down that very path.
I have to say that I am quite looking forward to this.
As with the previous book this one focuses primarily on the Dauntless and her crew. As before Dauntless has to take on a formidable foe with little or no support from the rest of the fleet. The rest of the fleet are running for their lives after all. Tanks to a series of twists and unexpected events Barron & Co ends up with a one-shot opportunity to strike a crippling blow to the Union war machine. Of course it is not going to be a walk in the park and the Dauntless … well let us just say that those repairs did not last very long.
Again, as in the previous book the viewpoint flips a bit back and forth between Dauntless and the Union fleet Admiral. I hesitate to say that I liked this guy, he is supposed to be a bad guy after all, but I enjoyed the character up to the end. Then it went a bit downhill. I was really eager to read about his reaction when news about Dauntless undertakings reached him but it never really came about. He just surmised what might have happened when things did not go as planned and then he went … ehhh, I guess you have to read the book to find that out. Too much of a spoiler otherwise.
There is a interesting underlying thread to the entire story arc. As advanced as these people seems to be with prosperous and expanding federations, alliances and unions, it is actually a post-apocalyptic universe. We are following what remains of some larger, more advanced empire that somehow managed to go all big bang on themselves. It is perhaps the “more advanced” parts that are the most interesting part in that it hints about forgotten technologies that might be rediscovered. Indeed, the book blurb for the next installment in this series do strongly hint that the series is going to venture down that very path.
I have to say that I am quite looking forward to this.
thinde's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
The emotional impact of this book is high. There are near impossible challenges and heroes to fight through them. We even get a glimpse into the enemy's mind and find that some of them are admirable. Good stuff.
Now for the not-so-good. The portrayal of leadership is severely flawed. Captain Barron's go-to style is to constantly call his officers and shout at them to do the impossible. When they give him estimates, he insists they deliver in half the time... It's just sad. Any officer that acts that way is simply asking their subordinates to pad their future estimates. It's not a good idea to create a culture where it is acceptable, nay necessary, to lie to the captain.
The engineering descriptions are laughable. Apparently, in this far distant future, distributed power systems are not a thing, even for critical systems. What of batteries, super-conducting capacitors, micro-turbine generators, networked power-hubs with triple redundancy? Oh, and my favorite... let's remove the safeties and turn everything up to 110%. Fear not, there are never any consequences. And while we're flying around with the gravity compensators off, at twelve G's, let forget that this would kill a normal human being. (10Gs for 60 seconds is deadly. Even with pressure suits, 6 gravities rapidly results in unconsciousness.)
And what of the tactics? A moon-sized supply station with a two turrets at the poles. Remove one and then use the line of sight problem... after all you have two ships. But why bother? The station is not mobile. Have these people not heard of kinetic bombardment? Why get into weapons range when you could interdict the cargo vessels at long-range and send in the big rocks?
There're a million other minor irritants for those with real-world experience, but the core of the story is good enough to overcome the negatives.
The emotional impact of this book is high. There are near impossible challenges and heroes to fight through them. We even get a glimpse into the enemy's mind and find that some of them are admirable. Good stuff.
Now for the not-so-good. The portrayal of leadership is severely flawed. Captain Barron's go-to style is to constantly call his officers and shout at them to do the impossible. When they give him estimates, he insists they deliver in half the time... It's just sad. Any officer that acts that way is simply asking their subordinates to pad their future estimates. It's not a good idea to create a culture where it is acceptable, nay necessary, to lie to the captain.
The engineering descriptions are laughable. Apparently, in this far distant future, distributed power systems are not a thing, even for critical systems. What of batteries, super-conducting capacitors, micro-turbine generators, networked power-hubs with triple redundancy? Oh, and my favorite... let's remove the safeties and turn everything up to 110%. Fear not, there are never any consequences. And while we're flying around with the gravity compensators off, at twelve G's, let forget that this would kill a normal human being. (10Gs for 60 seconds is deadly. Even with pressure suits, 6 gravities rapidly results in unconsciousness.)
And what of the tactics? A moon-sized supply station with a two turrets at the poles. Remove one and then use the line of sight problem... after all you have two ships. But why bother? The station is not mobile. Have these people not heard of kinetic bombardment? Why get into weapons range when you could interdict the cargo vessels at long-range and send in the big rocks?
There're a million other minor irritants for those with real-world experience, but the core of the story is good enough to overcome the negatives.
orphan_of_you's review
5.0
So cool
These are written like the best action movie. I love how I feel right on deck with the crew. It's always exciting and keeps me wanting more.
These are written like the best action movie. I love how I feel right on deck with the crew. It's always exciting and keeps me wanting more.
justaguy's review
3.0
Enjoyable reading
Well, for some reasons I felt like this book is very one-sided for Barron. I mean there are losses everywhere but it seems not to be up to the standard. The standard is like utterly grim on the borderline of realism. This story plot felt superficial losses with the guaranteed win in the end. Again, it isn’t too bad and I will continue to read the series nevertheless.
Well, for some reasons I felt like this book is very one-sided for Barron. I mean there are losses everywhere but it seems not to be up to the standard. The standard is like utterly grim on the borderline of realism. This story plot felt superficial losses with the guaranteed win in the end. Again, it isn’t too bad and I will continue to read the series nevertheless.
mburnamfink's review
2.0
Call to Arms follows up Duel in the Dark with few surprises or literary merits. Dauntless has spent weeks in dock being repaired. Meanwhile, the war against the Union is going poorly, as seemingly endless waves of battleships and fighters pour out of the wormholes. The Confederation is forced backwards, from one stand after another.
Dauntless rendezvouses at the scene of the last battle, and with the help of the Intrepid, a friendly battleship hiding in a dust cloud, destroys a major supply convoy and finds a major clue to the strategic situation in a captured database. The Union's impossible offensive is being supported by a massive secret mobile supply base. The two Confederate battleships must launch a desperate assault to stem the tide of enemy reinforcements.
Call to Arms has all the flaws of the first book in the series, and few new charms. Aside from a gesture that logistics matter (which honestly is appreciated), the war is Midway in Space. Characters are two dimensional, with the addition of a required fighter pilot rivalry, and a "good" spymaster who usurps the constitution because that's what survival needs. The Union are the USSR in space, except they all have French names (wow, much creativity).
I guess my biggest problem with this series, aside from the generally average writing, is how much the spacecraft seem to run on the will of the captain. The main battery is broken, until it's really vital to get a shot. The interceptors will take 20 minutes to prep for launch, but you can do it in 10 if you try hard enough. Engines and guns are pushed to 110% charge, with no sense that these are delicate machines that are being burnt out for a tactical advantage. I want to sit Allan down with a copy of Shattered Sword and explain that this what heroism looks like, under the parameter's you've sketched.
Is there a way to leave an ebook at the beach?
Dauntless rendezvouses at the scene of the last battle, and with the help of the Intrepid, a friendly battleship hiding in a dust cloud, destroys a major supply convoy and finds a major clue to the strategic situation in a captured database. The Union's impossible offensive is being supported by a massive secret mobile supply base. The two Confederate battleships must launch a desperate assault to stem the tide of enemy reinforcements.
Call to Arms has all the flaws of the first book in the series, and few new charms. Aside from a gesture that logistics matter (which honestly is appreciated), the war is Midway in Space. Characters are two dimensional, with the addition of a required fighter pilot rivalry, and a "good" spymaster who usurps the constitution because that's what survival needs. The Union are the USSR in space, except they all have French names (wow, much creativity).
I guess my biggest problem with this series, aside from the generally average writing, is how much the spacecraft seem to run on the will of the captain. The main battery is broken, until it's really vital to get a shot. The interceptors will take 20 minutes to prep for launch, but you can do it in 10 if you try hard enough. Engines and guns are pushed to 110% charge, with no sense that these are delicate machines that are being burnt out for a tactical advantage. I want to sit Allan down with a copy of Shattered Sword and explain that this what heroism looks like, under the parameter's you've sketched.
Is there a way to leave an ebook at the beach?
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