We Few / David Weber and John Ringo

We Few
by David Weber and John Ringo

copyright 2005
military science fiction

rated 6: read to pass the time

For Christmas I was given a collection of a dozen or so books by PG Wodehouse. Brilliant books... Funny books... Nice books... I needed a change! So I read We Few.

Okay. We Few is definitely not Wodehouse!

Blood and thunder. Cunning plans and heroic hand-to-hand fighting. Loyalty, honour and service before all else. Spoilt just a little by the stupidity of the villains.

It is also interesting that the hero's choices are not always simple.

Sure, we fight for the throne... But, having won the fight, should we now sit on the throne? The good guys fight for right, but right is not always obvious. Which makes for thought, for the reader, and a more interesting book.

Military SF has its own standards. By those standards I suspect that We Few is good. I find it to be just a bit over the top -- more so than I remember from previous books in the series.

As a book for the moment -- it is just what I want. I read the last two-thirds in one (very late) sitting. Sit up, blink, think, Wow! that was fun!

I don't go out of my way to read military SF. But when I see more books by Weber and Ringo -- I will be happy to read them.

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Problems ? Solved

March to the Stars / David Weber & John Ringo

March to the Stars

category: military science fiction, author:

David Weber & John Ringo

book 3 of March...
original copyright 2003

read in May 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10, read to pass the time

As I read the first few pages of this book I finally realised just what distinguishes military science fiction... Okay, it's taken me a while. Perhaps I did understand it before. It just clicked, this time, with a very loud click.

Military science fiction is about armies! Or navies, air forces, space fleets... What it is not about, is individuals.

Standard science fiction may have an army. The hero will be, perhaps, a raw recruit. Distinguishing him -- or her -- self by courageous actions, strategic thinking, individual heroism. And, more often than not, by deliberate disregard of orders in support of the greater good.

In military SF the hero is the army. There will be great leaders. There will be heroic individuals. If there is any deliberate disregard of orders, the disregarder will be shot. In military SF the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And everyone knows it.

March to the Stars is the continuing saga of a small group of space marines, marooned on a less-than-ideal planet. Where less-than-ideal is a euphemism for, absolutely lethal... Lethal wildlife, lethal flora, lethal locals.

If this were ordinary SF, the marines would settle in and build a better civilisation. Or become tough yet benevolent rulers of the existing barbarian civilisations. Check out A Princess of Mars for a good example: tough planet, tough hero, lots of battles, lots of armies -- but not military SF.

Because the March novels are military SF, the army has two objectives: protect the nominal leader because he is a member of the imperial family, and get back to their headquarters planet. And they do this with military precision.

Monsters are destroyed and local armies are defeated. Not that the local armies offer much of a challenge: they have the numbers but not the skill of the empire's marines. Though locals are recruited -- and trained -- to become lethal fighters on the side of good.

And yes, the marines are on the side of good. Not always deliberately. It just happens that this group of marines works for the branch of the royal family which supports good... And I suspect that the marines would fight just as hard for evil, if their nominal commander said so.

"Good", of course, is in the eye of the beholder.

The current heir to the throne is just naturally benevolent. Which is just as well because his word is law. His grandfather was equally benevolent -- but believed in rule by consensus -- which lead to riots, revolution and suffering. Might is also right. And it's just lucky that the might of the nice marines is mightier than the vicious might of the local cannibals.

Have you read Doc Smith's Lensman series? In those books, might is right. Yet there is a forgiving approach to defeated enemies, an approach which is shared by Weber & Ringo. The Lensman civilisation smashes an aggressive planet... Both sides then realise that it was all a misunderstanding... The two civilisations then become the best of friends.

Towards the end of March to the Stars, the marines revisit various locals who supported the marines -- or were thrashed -- in this and previous books. Supporters have gained and are thriving. Enemies have learnt and show signs of thriving. Even the latest defeated enemies -- cannibals who are seen to be evil -- are forgiven... and will soon be returned to niceness by the power of the empire.

All very much in support of "good", though you may disagree with some of the specific implementations of "good".

So the hero of the story is the army. There are individual heroes, all with their role to play -- as a part of the army. The deathcount is large... but the army survives.

Don't get me wrong! There are individual dramas! These are stereotype soldiers with feelings... Some soldiers, we could even begin to like. Just a few, but perhaps enough.

This is military SF. It tells a story of a small army battling heroically against the odds. Enough enjoyment to leave me interested in reading more. To a fan of military SF -- I suspect that this is worth a bit more than my own six out of ten.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index

The Outback Stars / Sandra McDonald

The Outback Stars

category: military science fiction, author:

Sandra McDonald

book 1 of three
original copyright 2007,
read in May 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10

There's a lot going on in this book... A lot to like, too.

First, there's the space ship. It is huge! Giant blocks of self-contained cities (or cargo holds), attached to a base, to form one enormous ship. If you have the power to push (not that there is any explanation of the power source) then why not push a lot. There's no friction in space, so no need to be neat, no need for aerodynamics.

The spaceships travel along mysterious rivers in space. Shortcuts between the stars. Created by a long-vanished alien race... Again, no explanations. The shortcuts simply exist.

One of the sub-plots is the search for better control of an alternative -- also alien, unexplained -- transportation system. A bit of mysticism here, with dream messages from Dreamtime spirits... Though that could as well be telepathic communications from the aliens, since this book is "science fiction".

Amongst all of this technology -- the real story is of the crew who work in Supply on the spaceship.

Dragonmaster / Chris Bunch

Dragonmaster

omnibus edition, with:

Storm of Wings (2002)

Knighthood of the Dragon (2003)

The Last Battle (2004)

category: fantasy, military, author:

Chris Bunch

books 1, 2 and 3 of Dragonmaster
original copyright 2002, 2003 and 2004,
read in April 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

I had to rethink that rating, 8 out of 10. First I typed 7... then 8. It's not really a great book. What it has, though, is enough good distinguishing features to lift it just a bit higher than "well worth reading".

And another decision: Is it military fantasy? The three stories follow a young man who joins the army, creates an effective dragon air force and fights a whole lot of battles. The military efforts are central to the books. But the books are more than "just" military.

Possibly, the military aspects are just a bit weak for a true military fantasy...

The cover of this omnibus edition says, "A banquet of blood and thunder". That is very true. Yet there is a whole lot more.

Against the Tide / John Ringo

Against the Tide

category: military science fiction, author:

John Ringo

book 3? of Council Wars
original copyright 2005,
read in December 2010 (and before, in April 2006)

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

First time I read this book I had never heard of "military" science fiction. I thought, entertaining book -- but too many characters, too little excitement, not enough result...

As "military" science fiction, it makes a bit more sense:

This is war in a different environment. And war is about numbers, chain of command, clever strategies, small numbers of leaders and large numbers of cannon fodder.

Not, an independent scientist battling to solve a scientific problem. Not, humans battling an alien environment and each other. (Nor, vice versa.) Not a what if, taking one scientific possibility and exploring its possible impact.

Unless you take that last and say, military science fiction is taking a scientific possibility and exploring its impact on war... But really, it's not even that.

Against the Tide sets up a post-apocalyptic world -- where the apocalypse is post a far future society. In this world there is war. And the war is, really, fairly standard.

The strategic leader of Tide is a military genius who constantly refers to strategic lessons from history's great generals. War in this far distant future is just war. Perhaps with different types of troops, with some fancy weapons and steeds. But -- as an example of the standard nature of this future war: it's the cavalry which rides in to save the day!

It's an entertaining novel with plenty of unbelievably macho characters. And tough yet girly women. Breast beating and breast baring.

There's an interesting insight into the (possible) core beliefs of the author: The general uses great strategies based largely (so he says) on lessons learnt from past wars. He very seldom explains his plans -- waiting to reveal them when they actually happen. Then there's the status of women in various areas of this future society: one character spends several pages explaining why women are always subservient. Then another couple of pages explaining that his role in sex is always as a strongly dominant male.

Battle strategies -- the core of the book -- are implemented but not explained. The relative roles of men and women, in society and in bed, are explained -- in glib detail and with inaccuracies in the reasoning.

Still, that's just a few pages of the whole novel!

If you like your battles violent, your heroes superior and your heroines tough yet subservient -- this is your book. And yes, I did enjoy the book! It was just a bit embarrassing when the underlying machismo was discussed as though it were an undeniable truth.

Interesting science with defined limits. Wars which ultimately are settled by mass battles. A satisfactory conclusion: one battle won, more to come.

An enjoyable novel of military science fiction.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

Moving Target / Elizabeth Moon

Moving Target

category: science fiction, military, author:

Elizabeth Moon

book 2 of Vatta's War
published by Orbit,
original copyright 2004, read in August 2010 (and before, in August 2009)

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

Okay, I've read this book before. Reviewed it before. Given it 8 out of 10, before. Why?!

This book is published in different countries under different titles. I recognised the author but not the title. Picked it up, started reading, realised that I had already read it -- and carried on reading.

This is a great book: lots of fun, lots of action, heroic and likable characters.

Read Marque and Reprisal for my original review. Sure, my earlier reviews tended to have far fewer words than my more recent reviews. Now, I would write more. But I agree with what I wrote then.

A fun book, an exciting book, a book to read for enjoyment.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

Warlord: The Hammer / SM Stirling & David Drake

Warlord: The Hammer

category: science fiction / military, author:

SM Stirling & David Drake

book 2 of The General
published by Baen, original copyright 1992, read in May 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

The Hammer is the second book of the five-book General series. Why is the heading above, Warlord: The Hammer? Because the first two books of General are published in one volume. And if you'd like me to explain that all again... see Warlord: The Forge.

In Hammer, Drake & Stirling continue the bloodthirsty, death and glory battles by tough fighting, hard drinking & hard wenching soldiers with loyalty and heroism bursting out of their bulging biceps. Does that sound a bit negative? Well -- I enjoyed this book but perhaps I should have waited a few months longer before reading.

How many dead bodies can you handle in a month? This book is absolutely drenched in blood and guts. Strangely enough, the good guys barely get scratched... In this book, the hero's battle tactics are unbelievably successful.

I guess that, where book one had the hero learning to win battles, book two has him get so popular that he could become political leader by acclamation. The first book's Pyrrhic victory demonstrated tactical skills but lost a lot of popular support... well, his supporters in the army are mostly killed. In the second book the hero, Raj, keeps his army largely intact... which gives him a good, solid... live... "voter base". So, okay, unbelievable but plotworthy.

In The Hammer we are also given a clearer picture of the long term goals of Raj and his computer mentor. Having a long-term view -- plus support from a computer which predicts the probable outcome of choices -- also provides a different view of the hero's choices...

Traditionally, a hero makes choices based on his objectives and his ethical stance. You know: good guy sacrifices self for greater good (or for the girl), tough guy is willing to sacrifice others, anti-hero acts for himself... and the reader can follow the choices but may or may not support them. Well, Raj is a good guy with a long-term view -- and a computer giving the odds. Whatever choices Raj makes, he "knows" the outcome. Or, at least, he knows the outcome of the alternatives.

So we, the readers, have an explanation of his reasoning. We know why Raj chooses certain actions. We can see what would happen if he chose another option. And we have no excuse for wondering why he made his choices... Which can be a bit boring, really.

The Hammer is non-stop military action, loads of blood and guts, some humour. That characters are ridiculously loyal -- or obviously disloyal. Bigger battles but less doubt of the outcome...

An enjoyable book -- I will definitely look for the follow-on books -- but perhaps I will wait a while. There's a limit to how much of this over the top military heroism I can take...

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

Warlord: The Forge / SM Stirling & David Drake

Warlord: The Forge

category: military science fiction, authors:

SM Stirling & David Drake

book 1 of The General
published by Baen, original copyright 1991, read in May 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10

A note on that book name: In 1991, Stirling & Drake had The Forge published. In 2003, it was published again, along with The Hammer, in one book called Warlord. (Conqueror contains the other three of The General series of novels.) I have Warlord and have read -- and am now reviewing -- the original first novel. Later, I will read the second.

A note about the authors: In my effort to find the original date of publication of The Forge, I searched the web. In Wikipedia I found that Drake wrote a 10 to 15 thousand word outline, then Stirling did the rest. Interesting!

This book is a lot of fun. Not funny -- though there is humour -- but fun: non-stop action, tough guy heroes, support from a prescient computer. Or, rather, a super-computer which uses extrapolation and statistics to "predict" the future result of current options. The hero is tough but fair. Of course all the soldiers would -- and often do -- willingly follow him into deadly danger.

Yet there are some interesting tweaks to the standard plot...

Right from the start, the hero is married. His wife follows him to the war zone and, once or twice, into battle. Her main role, however, is politics -- using her feminine wiles to tempt and trick opponents. Is she -- as most people believe -- actually sleeping with other men? Her husband (the hero) certainly does not enjoy her dalliances... but they still love each other and only each other.

The state religion is clever: One planet, long cut off from the galactic empire, lost to all "modern" technology, with the ancient and long gone computers as gods. Priests are called "sysups" (not quite sysops), prayers end with "endfile" rather than "amen". Mind you, the enemy armies all wear loose robes and turbans and shout to allah as they charge into battle...

Occasionally, of course, the hero has to resort to violence to get support from the corrupt bureaucracy. As usual in these tough-guy stories, threats and actual violence quickly get the necessary cooperation. A more stubborn bureaucrat is thrown out the window...

... Okay, I thought, bring in the next; he'll look out the window and be more cooperative. But no! another tweak to the cliche: the window and shutters are still closed! The bureaucrat bounces back -- somewhat bruised and battered -- and is now willing to help. Nice one :-)

I did find that some of the action, especially in the first half, was hard to follow.

You know how it is, the author knows what he is writing about but fails to explain. I'm no military expert, I was occasionally lost in the heat of battle... Still, no worries, you could usually tell who had won or lost. Near the start I was forced to google bucellarii. Near the end, I googled fougasse -- though it was, in fact, well described in the book.

Learn something every day! Though I'm not sure when I'll be able to slip those words into a casual conversation...

The violence is graphic but not gratuitous: it's war, not torture. You can skim over the dead bodies and dismembered body parts. This is solid "good versus evil", with acceptance that compromise may be necessary now, to prevent suffering later. A realistic message set in a fairly brutal -- but overall honorable -- world.

Well worth reading.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

The Forever War / Joe Haldeman

The Forever War

(category: science fiction)
book 1 of Forever... by

Joe Haldeman

published by Gollancz in 1974
Nick read a library book, in December 2009
(and before, years ago)

Nick's rating: 5 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

This book is an SF classic. As it says on the cover, "It is to the Vietnam war what Catch-22 was to World War II." When I first read it I was surprised at the violence of Haldeman's far-future war. Perhaps I was shocked (or titillated) at the casual acceptance of far-future sex. Today the book just makes me depressed. Did Haldeman really believe that society was such a miserable situation? That we are (or will be) ruled by such callous, inhuman bureaucrats? That the illogic that he apparently saw in Vietnam would inescapably taint the future of humanity? The misery of the author's perspective makes for a miserable novel. But what if Haldeman was right? That, to me, would be an even more depressing thought.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

Marque and Reprisal / Elizabeth Moon

Marque and Reprisal

(category: science fiction, military)
book 2 of Vatta's War by

Elizabeth Moon

published by Del Rey / Random House in 2004, read in August 2009

Agamedes' rating: 8 out of 10

Agamedes' opinion:

What a lot of fun! Almost-military SF: the heroine is a trader but needs to organise her crew for fighting. All the good guys are good, all the bad guys are obviously evil. Okay, there’s the tricky con-man – but he maintains his in-for-himself attitude while acting heroically. (And, will he get the girl?) The characters are perhaps too nice to be real, everyone is super-skilled at whatever they do. (Though there has been genetic improvement of intellect, to explain that.) Problems are overcome soooo skilfully. I loved it!

Starship: Rebel / Mike Resnick

Starship: Rebel

category: military science fiction, author:

Mike Resnick

book 4 of Starship
original copyright 2008,
read in October 2011 (and before, in July 2009)

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10

In 2009 I wrote:

Resnick has written hundreds of books and short stories, mostly set in his own “Birthright Universe”. This one is military SF... or space opera. Great fun, non-stop adventure with a great hero, insuperable odds and unbelievable plotting. Solid, heroic, well worth reading though not an earth shattering piece of literature.

A second reading gives the same rating -- 7 out of 10.

I also noticed more of the incredibly lucky coincidences, the amazing and instant loyalty, the desire of the hero to do good... The prose is simple. The logic is dubious. The communications technology is simply unbelievable...

Yep, this book is just as enjoyable on the second reading!

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

The Deed of Paksenarrion / Elizabeth Moon

The Deed of Paksenarrion

by

Elizabeth Moon

published by Baen in 1988
read by Agamedes in July 2009
fantasy (military)
book 1 of Sheepfarmer's Daughter

Apparently, this is the Fourth Age of Middle Earth: the Age of Man. And Man has done the usual thing: set up cities and states which all declare war on each other. Elves and Dwarfs are still seen, grandad fought Orcs, this book is the wars of Man. It’s military fantasy with a female hero; not as obviously chick-lit as Sassinak. The heroine, known as Paks, goes from raw recruit, to veteran, to corporal, with strong indications of further great deeds to come. Most of her fellow soldiers seem to die but you hardly know them so it doesn’t hurt the reader. Life and the world are described in great detail, interspersed with brutal, hand-to-hand battle scenes. Interesting insights into life at the bottom of the army hierarchy, with Paks going and fighting where told, with no understanding of either geography or strategy. She is a good soldier but it is clear that she will need to learn plenty on her way to becoming and officer.

Agamedes' rating: 7 out of 10

13may18:

I reread this book, this time as the first book in an omnibus edition. Did I misread the original, single-novel volume? This time, the novel "Sheepfarmer's Daughter" is book one within The Deed... From 2009 I see that I have Daughter as the series and Deed as book one. Oh well, no matter either way.

My 2018 opinion of this "book one", is much the same as from 2009. With some variations in the way that I see the same things.

What strikes me overall -- this time -- is that there is such a lot of purely descriptive material. The weather, the food, the flora and fauna, all get a mention. Training, marching, sleeping, all detailed. The book is as much a world encyclopedia as military fantasy.

Nine years ago I read fast and furiously. Now I read more slowly, allowing time to absorb more of the background material. And I enjoy this book... just as much... in a slightly different way.

What also strikes me -- more clearly on this reading -- is that everyone is *nice*. Yes, they fight to kill but with no malice; it's just who & what they are. Okay, there is the villain. He kills and tortures for pleasure. But the good team just ... don't do that sort of thing... and say so :-) Very Biggles; I like it.

Part of the niceness is related to the multi-novel plot. It's clear that the heroine is going to go on to become a near-saint (at least). There will be no surprise as she develops her powers of niceness. And I'm looking forward to it !

And finally -- as I did notice in 2009 -- the heroine is a soldier who follows orders. This is true "military" fantasy, where the officers command and the troops follow. In order to allow the heroine to show initiative -- she must be separated from the officers. As part of an army she is one of the better fighters. By herself, behind enemy lines -- she shines.

.