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It is fast action and has some interesting view points on leadership, honor, courage, pride, and the human condition as it relates to war. I dont usually read sci-fi, so I took a chance based on the reviews. Thw setting could as well have taken place in the past or present and the principles still would stay relevant. I am glad I did. The book captured my attention almost immediately and I couldnt put it down since. Currently I am reading the second instalment in the series. What a great find I stumbled on.
You can pick hole after hole in the assumptions and the tech. The plot is transparent. It's not great literature. Our "hero", Black Jack, is a bit of an everyman - we root for him because he is so ordinary, is obviously out of his depth, and yet still comes through.
There are no startling revelations. This is a very odd book. And yet I found it impossible to put this book down - and for a long time I really couldn't figure out why, beyond recognising that it's very easy to read. The one unique aspect I really liked was the religious angle. The space battles are repetitive.
I think the real reason is the superb characterisation of the major characters, particularly the bitingly cynical Co-President Rione. Religion is a major factor in the majority of people's lives and it is all too often skimped over, especially in sci-fi, probably because it is such a potentially divisive thing. It's not a revolutionary leap forward in the genre of military Sci-Fi. The best battles in this are fought with words, not missiles, and in conference rooms, not deep space. There are cloistered nuns who have a better grasp of tactics than the commanders of the opposing space fleets.
The military situation is ludicrous - the Human race seems to have stopped inventing things for a century. You can spot what is going to happen 90% of the time, but actually reading it come to fruition is immensely satisfying. Here, it is just made clear how important it is (a form of ancestor worship in fact) to most of the characters, without swamping everyone with pious mumblings.
I read this book when it came out and loved every word in it, it is sort of likeEnders Game, kind of SF, it is an incredible ride, war in a forgotten galaxystrategy, tactics, beautifully.Today while reviewing another SF book, i felt guilty about never writing a review for thisbut again it does not seem it needed one for what i have read so far.Can say how much I recommend this book, i gave my copy to a young friendhe liked it so much he bought all the books from the writer.great book Jack Campbell
My only problem is that I think each book of a series should have a definitive ending. That's the bad of this book / series. This 1st book just sort of stops. The John Scalzi books are a good example of how I think this should be done. The good of this series is that this is a good, fun, nicely paced enjoyable book. I'm pretty certain I'll read more of this series for that reason.
Some of the stategies and tactics written about may have been interesting - but who really cares when you are reading about characters with little or no substance. His constanting griping at how much things had changed and how he couldn't envision himself as the savior of the Alliance got really old - really quick.
I absolutely hated it. I'll be honest - I could only get 3/4 of the way through the book before hanging it up.
I thought that the "resurrected" character Black Jack Geary would be interesting - but instead I found him boring and predictable. You find yourself stuck in the middle of a galactic war - that you have no reason of knowing why it is being fought.
All you know is that both sides have been at it for a long time and that the Syndics (the enemy) are rather ruthless with some of their tactics. I think I would have enjoyed this more if the hero would have learned to accept himself as one and taken care of business to the best of his ability rather than his constant whining at every turn page at the audacious praise and expectations of his contemporaries whom he unexpectedly has to lead.
A good tactician isn't necessarily a good leader.
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