Judy C. (Judy-Ree) -
Helpful Score: 3
From the Back Cover:
"Ia is a precog, blessed - or cursed - with visions of the future. She has witnessed the devastation of her home galaxy three hundred years in the future, long after she is gone, but believes she can prevent it.
Enlisting in the modern military of the Terran United Planets, Ia plans to rise through the ranks, meeting and influencing important people and building a reputation that will inspire others for the next three centuries. But she needs to be assigned to the right ship, the right company, and the right place to earn that reputation honestly - all while keeping her psychic abilities hidden from her superiors, who would refuse to risk such a valuable gift in combat.
To save the galaxy, Ia must become someone else: the soldier know as Bloody Mary."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will be honest, I originally read this book because I had read Jean Johnson's Sons of Destiny series and loved it. That said, those books were romances at the core, and this book is decidedly not. But all the things I loved about the Sons of Destiny series - the world building, the amazing characters, the believable dialogue - I found in this book. This book is the first in a new Series: Theirs Not To Reason Why. The story is told around Ia, the main character of the story. At the beginning of each chapter we are treated to commentary from Ia herself, told as she looks back on the upcoming story.
While it is definitely military science fiction, being set in the future with space travel, Space Marine Corps and multiple races, there are paranormal overtones dealing with psychics. I found I really enjoyed this and didn't even miss the lack of romance.
As Ia herself states, she just doesn't have the time. First there is boot camp, then her first posting and then moving through the ranks as she is tested in battle. All while trying to keep an eye on the time stream, build up her psi skills, send directives to make sure that events take place as needed, and especially keep up with being a full time Marine.
I can't wait to read the next book, due out in August of 2012. The next book picks right up where this one leaves off, and is called An Officer's Duty. From the special preview available at the end of A Soldier's Duty, it looks to be just as outstanding at the first.
"Ia is a precog, blessed - or cursed - with visions of the future. She has witnessed the devastation of her home galaxy three hundred years in the future, long after she is gone, but believes she can prevent it.
Enlisting in the modern military of the Terran United Planets, Ia plans to rise through the ranks, meeting and influencing important people and building a reputation that will inspire others for the next three centuries. But she needs to be assigned to the right ship, the right company, and the right place to earn that reputation honestly - all while keeping her psychic abilities hidden from her superiors, who would refuse to risk such a valuable gift in combat.
To save the galaxy, Ia must become someone else: the soldier know as Bloody Mary."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will be honest, I originally read this book because I had read Jean Johnson's Sons of Destiny series and loved it. That said, those books were romances at the core, and this book is decidedly not. But all the things I loved about the Sons of Destiny series - the world building, the amazing characters, the believable dialogue - I found in this book. This book is the first in a new Series: Theirs Not To Reason Why. The story is told around Ia, the main character of the story. At the beginning of each chapter we are treated to commentary from Ia herself, told as she looks back on the upcoming story.
While it is definitely military science fiction, being set in the future with space travel, Space Marine Corps and multiple races, there are paranormal overtones dealing with psychics. I found I really enjoyed this and didn't even miss the lack of romance.
As Ia herself states, she just doesn't have the time. First there is boot camp, then her first posting and then moving through the ranks as she is tested in battle. All while trying to keep an eye on the time stream, build up her psi skills, send directives to make sure that events take place as needed, and especially keep up with being a full time Marine.
I can't wait to read the next book, due out in August of 2012. The next book picks right up where this one leaves off, and is called An Officer's Duty. From the special preview available at the end of A Soldier's Duty, it looks to be just as outstanding at the first.
Helpful Score: 1
A Soldier's Duty - Jean Johnson
Theirs Not To Reason Why
Author Jean Johnson the bestselling author of the Sons of Destiny series, has taken a break from romance with a outstanding new science fiction project. Her clean writing style really drives forward her newest creation in epic military science fiction. Don't look for her regular romance stylings in the book as the main character "Ia" is clear that she doesn't have time for that in her life as she is too busy trying to save as many as she can.
The new series introduces "Ia" a human from a heavy gravity outlying colony planet who comes to earth to join the marines and follows her initial years. The basis of the book is solidly sci-fi space opera. It has a minor paranormal bend in that "Ia" has visions of the future. In an attempt to stop a future mass destruction, she attempts to put herself in the path of events and people to best change or affect the future in order to avoid mass destruction. The story follows with her initial plans to save her world and as much of galaxy as possible.
The story is written as a soldier. Excerpt from private writing journal of main character Ia:
"Everyone knows what a soldier does during times of war. We place our skills, our weapons, our bodies, and even our lives on the line, protecting the innocent from all that which would threaten them. We fight, so that others do not have to fight. We take the risks, because we know the price.
What people tend to forget is how much we also do during times of peace. We are the supporting arm, the helping hand, the strength of a friend coming to save you from the monsters that plague in the middle of the night. We aren't always big damn heros demanding big damn parades; most of us are nameless, faceless, and interchangeable. . . and for that reason, we are indispensable.
We serve in many ways. It is our duty, and our right. - Ia"
The author's wonderful writing style, descriptive language and great pacing creates an outstanding
story and even more interesting character. This book has captured my attention and the beginning of this new series has me anxiously awaiting the next installment.
Theirs Not To Reason Why
Author Jean Johnson the bestselling author of the Sons of Destiny series, has taken a break from romance with a outstanding new science fiction project. Her clean writing style really drives forward her newest creation in epic military science fiction. Don't look for her regular romance stylings in the book as the main character "Ia" is clear that she doesn't have time for that in her life as she is too busy trying to save as many as she can.
The new series introduces "Ia" a human from a heavy gravity outlying colony planet who comes to earth to join the marines and follows her initial years. The basis of the book is solidly sci-fi space opera. It has a minor paranormal bend in that "Ia" has visions of the future. In an attempt to stop a future mass destruction, she attempts to put herself in the path of events and people to best change or affect the future in order to avoid mass destruction. The story follows with her initial plans to save her world and as much of galaxy as possible.
The story is written as a soldier. Excerpt from private writing journal of main character Ia:
"Everyone knows what a soldier does during times of war. We place our skills, our weapons, our bodies, and even our lives on the line, protecting the innocent from all that which would threaten them. We fight, so that others do not have to fight. We take the risks, because we know the price.
What people tend to forget is how much we also do during times of peace. We are the supporting arm, the helping hand, the strength of a friend coming to save you from the monsters that plague in the middle of the night. We aren't always big damn heros demanding big damn parades; most of us are nameless, faceless, and interchangeable. . . and for that reason, we are indispensable.
We serve in many ways. It is our duty, and our right. - Ia"
The author's wonderful writing style, descriptive language and great pacing creates an outstanding
story and even more interesting character. This book has captured my attention and the beginning of this new series has me anxiously awaiting the next installment.
Joan K. (survive) reviewed A Soldier's Duty (Theirs Not To Reason Why, Bk 1) on + 102 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A very absorbing beginning of a new series from Jean Johnson. I picked this book because I enjoy her other series so much. As stated by others, this is science fiction not romance.
I really liked Ia's story starting as a raw recruit and following through her basic training and into combat, as she tries to avert disaster in the future. She is such an interesting character. If I had any complaint it would be the overly long descriptions of the different military weapons. It didn't seem that relevant to the storyline. But the world building was great and I liked her home world and her family also. Too bad we have to wait so long for the next book because the teaser at the end of this story sounds so good.
I really liked Ia's story starting as a raw recruit and following through her basic training and into combat, as she tries to avert disaster in the future. She is such an interesting character. If I had any complaint it would be the overly long descriptions of the different military weapons. It didn't seem that relevant to the storyline. But the world building was great and I liked her home world and her family also. Too bad we have to wait so long for the next book because the teaser at the end of this story sounds so good.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
One of my favorite genres is military sci-fi. I've especially enjoyed some from authors whose protagonists are strong female characters.
However, the author of this book presents a character who should be classed as god-like. Anytime she finds herself in a difficult position, she uses her psi "magical-like powers," to overcome the problem, even if it is as simple as crushing an opponent's hand or tentacle. I've never liked superhero comics, and I am not a fan of the superhero movie genre. Don't think I've been to any of those movies. So I found this book annoying too. I'll pass on any more in this series.
Another problem I have is in the premise of the book. Apparently, 300 years from now, from what is Ia's time, a deadly force from another galaxy will invade our galaxy to destroy it. Ia's job is to prepare our galaxy, using her precognitive abilities to shape the future, to meet this force and destroy it. Supposedly, she needs to keep her precognitive abilities a secret. Meanwhile, at various times in the book, she sends out letters to all sorts of people telling them to do this or that in the future, describing the future situation, so as to help shape the galaxy. Why is she doing this if she want to keep her abilities a secret? Eventually her commanding officer catches on to Ia's abilities and mentions all the "sealed dispatch boxes" Ia is mailing to those she is directing.
Why wait 300 years? why doesn't Ia just operate a 900 "psychic hotline service" for the galaxy? Since she actually knows what is going to happen she can keep raising her prices and within 10 years will have enough money to literally own entire solar systems and manipulate governments. After 20 years she will probably own most of the galaxy or tell planetary prime ministers and presidents when to jump and how high. Then she can spend ten years assembling a huge invasion force to attack the other galaxy and destroy it. Why wait 300 years for "their invasion" when we can destroy them in a few decades?
With that accomplished, she can then step away from this immensely difficult job and party the rest of her life.
Finally, as a former Marine myself, I really got tired of her always addressing other Marines as 'soldiers.'
However, the author of this book presents a character who should be classed as god-like. Anytime she finds herself in a difficult position, she uses her psi "magical-like powers," to overcome the problem, even if it is as simple as crushing an opponent's hand or tentacle. I've never liked superhero comics, and I am not a fan of the superhero movie genre. Don't think I've been to any of those movies. So I found this book annoying too. I'll pass on any more in this series.
Another problem I have is in the premise of the book. Apparently, 300 years from now, from what is Ia's time, a deadly force from another galaxy will invade our galaxy to destroy it. Ia's job is to prepare our galaxy, using her precognitive abilities to shape the future, to meet this force and destroy it. Supposedly, she needs to keep her precognitive abilities a secret. Meanwhile, at various times in the book, she sends out letters to all sorts of people telling them to do this or that in the future, describing the future situation, so as to help shape the galaxy. Why is she doing this if she want to keep her abilities a secret? Eventually her commanding officer catches on to Ia's abilities and mentions all the "sealed dispatch boxes" Ia is mailing to those she is directing.
Why wait 300 years? why doesn't Ia just operate a 900 "psychic hotline service" for the galaxy? Since she actually knows what is going to happen she can keep raising her prices and within 10 years will have enough money to literally own entire solar systems and manipulate governments. After 20 years she will probably own most of the galaxy or tell planetary prime ministers and presidents when to jump and how high. Then she can spend ten years assembling a huge invasion force to attack the other galaxy and destroy it. Why wait 300 years for "their invasion" when we can destroy them in a few decades?
With that accomplished, she can then step away from this immensely difficult job and party the rest of her life.
Finally, as a former Marine myself, I really got tired of her always addressing other Marines as 'soldiers.'
Grace S. (farmnI) reviewed A Soldier's Duty (Theirs Not To Reason Why, Bk 1) on + 22 more book reviews
This is not a futuristic romance story. But my interest was held by the idea of a woman with the ability to see the future joining the military with the goal of advancing through the ranks high enough and fast enough to be able to save the galaxy.
