Helpful Score: 1
When I first began reading this book, I was a little disappointed by the narrative until I realized that the "narrative" was entirely in character for the protagonist. This book is over 600 pages long (I prefer long books), but went by like it was 300 pages - it is a real page turner. I applaud the author; a job well done.
Helpful Score: 1
What was really wierd was that I also read 'No Easy Day' while in the middle of this. The parallels between fiction and non-fiction were uncanny. Both stories were told in first-person and showed a brash cockiness inherent of those who have nothing to prove and let history tell their story for them.
I thought the story kind of dragged toward the end, but I understand that part had to be told. This is a good tale of the Freehold Saga.
I thought the story kind of dragged toward the end, but I understand that part had to be told. This is a good tale of the Freehold Saga.
The only reason I slogged through the first 200 pages of this second-of-a-series 637-page book is because I had it on my shelf. But before finishing the first 200 pages I was already scanning the pages to follow a plot---which was hard to even find. But then I scanned scores of pages of the first book in the series too. At 200 pages, I finally asked myself why I was wasting my time reading it, and stopped.
I love military sci-fi, but this is actually military fantasy, and it is terribly overdone. I'm former military myself, and had hoped the author's 25 years in the military would have taught him something. I'd like to know what his assigned specialty was, because somehow I don't think he saw too much combat, otherwise he wouldn't be having the military "wet-dreams" he writes about in his novels.
The third book in this series is somewhere in my TBR stacks, but I'm not going to even open it when I stumble across it. It will go right to the thrift store.
I love military sci-fi, but this is actually military fantasy, and it is terribly overdone. I'm former military myself, and had hoped the author's 25 years in the military would have taught him something. I'd like to know what his assigned specialty was, because somehow I don't think he saw too much combat, otherwise he wouldn't be having the military "wet-dreams" he writes about in his novels.
The third book in this series is somewhere in my TBR stacks, but I'm not going to even open it when I stumble across it. It will go right to the thrift store.
When I picked this book up, I hadn't realized it was a continuation of Williamson's FREEHOLD, but the author does a good job introducing the back story. It isn't necessary to have read FREEHOLD first.
Some people may have trouble with the brash arrogance shown by the protagonist. However, anyone who has been around any Special Forces guys or Navy Seals will recognize the mind set, the attitude of 'I am the best. Why argue?'
As far as the plot: Freehold was once a colony of Earth, but is now an independent planet. Earth wasn't too happy about that in the first place, and even less happy when Freehold seceded from the United Nations as well.
But what upset Earth the most was that Freehold's brash and independent residents are getting rich from their freewheeling research programs and relaxed trade practices. This contrasts badly with Earth's dropping standard of living, which is due mainly to its many regulations and multiple layers of unimaginative bureaucrats all standing there with their hands out to intercept any profits.
The Earth military decides to eliminate Freehold and the bad example the place sets for other colony planets. Defeating a single-planet polity should be easy, right? Earth and the United Nations have many planets to draw on, with billions of people and hundreds of times the military men, ships, weapons and materiel.
But Freehold's people don't intend to play the game by Earth's rules.
From back cover: Kenneth Chinran was a disaffected youth who joined the military and was recruited for an elite deep cover unit, shrugging off training and exercises so tough that several of the recruits did not survive. Then he was sent by his star nation to infiltrate a fascistic, militaristic planet Earth. He lived in deep cover for years, marrying and having a daughter. Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city. As a result of his attacks, billions died for lack of the food, water and power which the ravaged system could no longer supply.
His sabotage was successful, but the deaths of so many weighs heavily on his mind, making him wonder if he can stay sane. Then the secret police discovered his identity. With his daughter, the only thing in his life that had so far kept him human, he was on the run, while the resources of a planet wide police state were tracking him down. He could see no way to escape from the planet, no way to keep hiding, and if he and his daughter were caught, death was the very least that they could expect.
But Chinran is a warrior to the core, and even if he loses this last battle, he won't go down without a fight that his pursuers--the ones who survive--will never forget
Some people may have trouble with the brash arrogance shown by the protagonist. However, anyone who has been around any Special Forces guys or Navy Seals will recognize the mind set, the attitude of 'I am the best. Why argue?'
As far as the plot: Freehold was once a colony of Earth, but is now an independent planet. Earth wasn't too happy about that in the first place, and even less happy when Freehold seceded from the United Nations as well.
But what upset Earth the most was that Freehold's brash and independent residents are getting rich from their freewheeling research programs and relaxed trade practices. This contrasts badly with Earth's dropping standard of living, which is due mainly to its many regulations and multiple layers of unimaginative bureaucrats all standing there with their hands out to intercept any profits.
The Earth military decides to eliminate Freehold and the bad example the place sets for other colony planets. Defeating a single-planet polity should be easy, right? Earth and the United Nations have many planets to draw on, with billions of people and hundreds of times the military men, ships, weapons and materiel.
But Freehold's people don't intend to play the game by Earth's rules.
From back cover: Kenneth Chinran was a disaffected youth who joined the military and was recruited for an elite deep cover unit, shrugging off training and exercises so tough that several of the recruits did not survive. Then he was sent by his star nation to infiltrate a fascistic, militaristic planet Earth. He lived in deep cover for years, marrying and having a daughter. Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city. As a result of his attacks, billions died for lack of the food, water and power which the ravaged system could no longer supply.
His sabotage was successful, but the deaths of so many weighs heavily on his mind, making him wonder if he can stay sane. Then the secret police discovered his identity. With his daughter, the only thing in his life that had so far kept him human, he was on the run, while the resources of a planet wide police state were tracking him down. He could see no way to escape from the planet, no way to keep hiding, and if he and his daughter were caught, death was the very least that they could expect.
But Chinran is a warrior to the core, and even if he loses this last battle, he won't go down without a fight that his pursuers--the ones who survive--will never forget
