Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This is the first in a five-book military science fiction series. I would class it as a nicely executed, although not especially innovative, example of military SF. The story takes place in a Star-Trek-like future with faster-than-light travel, many alien races of roughly comparable intelligence, and battles fought by soldiers rather than machines. I liked the protagonist, a Marine staff sergeant (a human female). I enjoyed the humor, some of which arises from one of the alien species being voracious eaters and another of the alien species being oversexed. I liked the military action, and appreciated the author's choice to draw on a historical battle. To avoid spoilers, I won't name that battle, but Huff does so in her end note. I have already ordered all four sequels, and am impatiently awaiting their arrival. Recommended to those who enjoy military SF.
At first, I struggled with understanding the military jargon and many Alien species, but quickly came to love this fast paced military SF space opera. Staff Sargent Torin Kerr kicks major ass while still taking care of her platoon. Tanya Huff's signature humor takes on a military mantle that differentiates it from her other books, but it's still there in spite of wearing different clothes.
Entertaining and fast paced. I like it, and the characters. Well thought out and real without being boring or trite.
i liked this one. not that it's that wonderful, but i really liked the premise and the insights into battle and the conflicts between races. lots of language - very PG-13. also very science fiction, but without the multiple characters and the development of whole new worlds. i just don't have the time to devote to an epic. i like my books fun.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book's got fast pacing, battles, interesting alien races, and protagonists who don't make stupid rash decisions that I can root for. What's not to like?
This book reminded me of the one other Tanya Huff book I've read, Enchantment Emporium, in that no one is introduced at the beginning and the reader is just expected to catch on as it goes. It didn't work as well here, because there were a lot of characters and various species, some of which were not that well described. I never did get a good idea of what Dornargains look like. Also, not much happens until about halfway through the book.
But. Once I figured out who most of the people were and things actually started to happen, it was a corker of a story. I seldom read space-opera, especially military space-opera, so it took some getting used to. I'm going to read the sequels, though, now that I have some idea of what this universe is all about.
But. Once I figured out who most of the people were and things actually started to happen, it was a corker of a story. I seldom read space-opera, especially military space-opera, so it took some getting used to. I'm going to read the sequels, though, now that I have some idea of what this universe is all about.
This is really good military SF; I was going to express surprise that it never crossed my reading in the 90s, but it was first published in 2000, which explains it. The alien species are well-drawn without the narrative getting bogged down in fictional anthropology and biology lessons; Tarin is a great viewpoint character, and the future Huff presents - while horrible in the sense of “eternal senseless warfare” - is great in the sense of multiple species getting along to fight for the greater good. And Huff’s characterization, especially for military SF (which often sacrifices characterization for explosions and alien weaponry), is just amazing.