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124th out of 127 books
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Command Decision (Vatta's War #4)
With the Vatta’s War series, award-winning author Elizabeth Moon has claimed a place alongside such preeminent writers of military science fiction as David Weber and Lois McMaster Bujold. Now Moon is back–and so is her butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners heroine, Kylara Vatta. Once the black-sheep scion of a prosperous merchant family, Kylara now leads a motley space force ded...more
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 29th 2008
by Del Rey
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When I picked up the first of the Kylara Vatta series at B&N, the clerk told me that he thought this series was vastly inferior to Moon's previous work. Needing an 'escapist' read, I ignored him and was glad I did.
I enjoyed this 5-book series much more than in previous Moon novels. They are a bit unrealistic/genius types, but it's a fun space opery read, following multiple characters/strands separately and then deftly weaving the stories back together.
I enjoyed this 5-book series much more than in previous Moon novels. They are a bit unrealistic/genius types, but it's a fun space opery read, following multiple characters/strands separately and then deftly weaving the stories back together.
I finally got hold of this book, and, thus, have finished reading the Vatta's War book. I must TAKE EXCEPTION with others in the "Good Readers" sphere who grow impatient with Ky's moral struggles about killing. These are struggles that virtually every one who's ever served in the military find very real, and continually worrying about them keeps them human, and moral. Impatience with this aspect of Ky's character comes from a lack of awareness of a certain, necessary part of the mil...more
Once again Moon proves with this book that she is a leading light in the Sci-Fi genre. She has left me both excited beyond imagining for the next book, but, at the same time, petrified to read it and thus end my relationship with Ky, Rafe, Stella and Aunt Grace. I mean, this is one of those books which you hold up as the archetype of an amazing novel - irrelevant of genre. Amazing, and easily worth the Five Stars.
The plot built and built so well, going from one strength to the next,...more
The plot built and built so well, going from one strength to the next,...more
After thoroughly enjoying Aunt Grace's sections in the last book, I was more than ready to read more of her. However, even though there are sections starring Grace, the main stars in this novel were Ky and Rafe. Stella and Toby play a large part also, but the novel seems to focus on Ky and her expanding fleet and allies and Rafe.
Rafe has grown concerned at the lack of communications from his family. Though he's been a bit of a black sheep, distanced from his father they had been k...more
Rafe has grown concerned at the lack of communications from his family. Though he's been a bit of a black sheep, distanced from his father they had been k...more
If you wanted all of the Vatta series to be primarily from Kylara’s point of view, Command Decision is going to sorely disappoint you. Sure, as the title implies, there are plenty of action sequences where Kylara puts her academy training and newfound command persona to good use, but this book is about Rafe and Stella. Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t about Rafe and Stella as a couple (though that might happen in a future book). It’s about Rafe and Stella as individuals, finding themselves and learn...more
The fourth book in Elizabeth Moon's "Vatta's War" series is an excellent read. This series is, essentially, a single novel broken into five parts so make sure you read them in order. Each book has its own beginning, middle, and end related to the scope of that individual book, however the main plot line encompasses all of the books. So now that we're in the fourth of five books, we expect the overall plot to step up a notch and lead us into the climax of the series in book five.
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Genre: Military Science Fiction/Space Opera
This book had more issues for me then the others; mainly, Rafe spends most of the book on a civilized world, and yet he doesn’t worry about the police or getting sued when he threatens people (gun-point conversations are not uncommon in this novel…). I don’t have a problem swallowing the behavior in space, where there is no police. I don’t have a problem swallowing it in locations where he’s had time to come to an understanding with local a...more
This book had more issues for me then the others; mainly, Rafe spends most of the book on a civilized world, and yet he doesn’t worry about the police or getting sued when he threatens people (gun-point conversations are not uncommon in this novel…). I don’t have a problem swallowing the behavior in space, where there is no police. I don’t have a problem swallowing it in locations where he’s had time to come to an understanding with local a...more
Ky has begun building a new fleet to counter the elusive pirates that murdered her family and continue to wreak havoc by destroying system ansibles and taking entire planets hostage. Her initial plan: build some kind of galactic defense force capable of wielding the weight of entire systems with governments supporting her endeavors against the pirates. In reality, she has three ships and not all of them are up to spec, let alone intended for war. Her small fleet is leaking money and few gover...more
Command Decision By Elizabeth Moon
Kylara Vatta returns in another heart pounding adventure. This book expands on the characters Rafe, Aunt Grace and Toby. Kylara’s desire to form an alliance to battle the pirates who murdered her family is fraught with peril. Rafe discovers emotions he thought were lost forever and Toby exhibits previously unsuspected talents.
Moon has the enviable ability to elicit strong emotions for her characters. She paints human beings, ...more
Kylara Vatta returns in another heart pounding adventure. This book expands on the characters Rafe, Aunt Grace and Toby. Kylara’s desire to form an alliance to battle the pirates who murdered her family is fraught with peril. Rafe discovers emotions he thought were lost forever and Toby exhibits previously unsuspected talents.
Moon has the enviable ability to elicit strong emotions for her characters. She paints human beings, ...more
I liked how this one started, in Rafe's POV, and enjoyed this book more than I did the third book. I also appreciated that Stella, Grace and Rafe finally got more page time as fully realized primary characters rather than second-rate secondary characters. In fact, I enjoyed their subplots more than I did Ky's, as I feel Ky's has been moving somewhat slowly, without any real edgy conflict. Fighting multiple space battles doesn't really work for me as driving conflict and the other conflict for he...more
I can't understand how anyone could compare this series to Lois McMaster Bujold. I enjoyed the Serrano Legacy series, and this Vatta series started okay, but it has just degenerated into a vehicle for a 'Mary Sue' character of the worst kind. Sometimes the universe is interesting, but the logic is not sustained and inconvenient characterisations are just ignored. And oh, Lord, do we have to keep being told how incredible Miss Vatta is? But shy? A masterful mastermind, but shy? A natural tacticia...more
In the fourth book of Vatta’s War, Ky proves her worth as a commander, defeating a pirate flotilla with the helper of newly developed tactics made possible by shipboard ansibles. As a consequence, the Slotter Key government decides to put its large fleet of privateers under her direct command. Cousin Stella successfully gets the Vatta trading concern back up on its feet, and is able to start producing hardware vital to the war effort
After the somewhat disappointing “Engaging the Enemy“...more
After the somewhat disappointing “Engaging the Enemy“...more
The volume starts by catching up with Rafe and his mission to find his parents and uncover what's wrong with ISC, but he does it all as a spy and so reveals more of his methods and ways to the reader, showing more than was previously known of him in the other books. In this way he also becomes more of a sympathetic character which prepares you for revelations in book five. In the meantime, Stella is dealing with Toby and her new life on Cascadia and Aunt Grace continues to rise in the new govern...more
An enjoyable space opera romp. Anyone expecting very serious SF is doomed to disappointment but for anyone looking for a light, engaging series, this is perfect. Strong female characters is a plus, though it became clear that the author wasn't really sure how to use Stella in this particular novel. I was a little disappointed that there was so much time concentrated on Rafe: though the resolution of those storylines from earlier novels was gratifying, I did find myself speeding through those sec...more
This was a re-read of the Vatta's War series to date to refresh my memory before the new one came out. This is the story of Kylara Vatta, a young woman expelled from her planet's military academy and sent off to make her fortune in trade. A born military commander and killer, Ky has to come to peace with her own nature, help re-establish her family after they are attacked, and take action against the Evil Space Pirates who seem to be threatening everyone. Good military sf & intrigue with a psych...more
James
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of science fiction, military fiction, and especially military SF
Another satisfying chapter in a very good series. This goes well beyond the space opera suggested by a glance at the covers and blurbs; the characters are well developed, the story world is complicated and well-thought-out, and the plotting both depends on the science and technology involved and is reminiscent in some ways of the politics and problems of the 16th and 17th centuries in terms of countries, navies, trade, and piracy.
Elizabeth Moon's military background shows. As a retired Ma...more
Elizabeth Moon's military background shows. As a retired Ma...more
Ahh, finally, a book in this series with a real ending. Elizabeth Moon kept four plots going and all the main characters growing in response to the crises that evolve through the series.
In Command Decision, the action is intense, nothing goes as planned and the bad guys continue to have the upper hand. Ky Vatta makes choices in response to the pirates' actions that leave her at odds with the rest of her family.
The satisfying ending is also the perfect set-up for book fiv...more
In Command Decision, the action is intense, nothing goes as planned and the bad guys continue to have the upper hand. Ky Vatta makes choices in response to the pirates' actions that leave her at odds with the rest of her family.
The satisfying ending is also the perfect set-up for book fiv...more
OK, another cheap pickup at the used book sale. I liked it. But I started on Book 4. Now I have to go back and read the other three... A apce opera, definitely, but I like space operas. This book is in the spirit of Hornblower, Harrington and Ryan. A little less heavy handed than Harrington, where the author delights in describing hundreds of thousands of ftl projectiles enviscerating the galactic fleets. I'm hoping that Moon doesn't quickly elevate Ky to Galactic Overlord and keeps her in the t...more
An "in between" book, so it was an okay read, slightly boring with lots of explanations & reasonings etc etc etc but all scions in place for a hopefully fantastic finale.
I have to reiterate myself that space opera is not a genre I would normally read, in fact, I usually avoid anything spacey. However, I picked up the first book of this series for a challenge and really liked it to continue the series. I have started the fifth & final book so I will be finishing the series. ...more
I have to reiterate myself that space opera is not a genre I would normally read, in fact, I usually avoid anything spacey. However, I picked up the first book of this series for a challenge and really liked it to continue the series. I have started the fifth & final book so I will be finishing the series. ...more
Kylara Vatta has found her calling not in the family trading business but commanding a space fleet. This is the start of the actions which grow her skills. The tale is primarily of her growth but also follows her cousin, Stella, rebuilding the family trading business as well as her aunt Grace at home in Slotter Key remaking the local government, and Rafe, the scapegrace, reforming another interstellar monopoly.
This is the 4th book in the Vatta's War series. For series overview and list of recommended similar series, please see my review on Trading in Danger, Vatta's War, Book 1.
Command Decision picks up where book 3, Engaging the Enemy left off. Ky now leads a small & motley space force dedicated to the defeat of the mysterious pirate empire responsible for killing her family and so many of the other suddenly numerous things going wrong in space. Now Ky needs allies and fast! New treac...more
Command Decision picks up where book 3, Engaging the Enemy left off. Ky now leads a small & motley space force dedicated to the defeat of the mysterious pirate empire responsible for killing her family and so many of the other suddenly numerous things going wrong in space. Now Ky needs allies and fast! New treac...more
Another good read. The universe didn't get any more complex & the story line continued quite logically, except for the 'hidden' person I mentioned in my last review. I found the reasons for that & the character's reasoning behind it to be weak. It wasn't the person I suspected, either.
Again, the book has plenty of action & good characters. Well worth the few hours it takes to read.
Again, the book has plenty of action & good characters. Well worth the few hours it takes to read.
I'm just inhaling these, some of the most entertaining sf I've read in a long time. Fourth in the Ky Vatta series and the best one so far. "How to" books, as in "how to get kicked out of the space academy and make good anyway," "how to fight space pirates," "how to build a space navy." The books are filled with so much detail but here's the thing, none of it is tedious, it all serves to move the plot and develop the characters and above all illustrate t...more
I like Elizabeth Moon, but this book was the fouth in the series and I inadvertantly picked up out of order. I had to fill alot of blanks from what went on in previous books. Obviously, this is never good. However, just reading this did not compel me to read any others. Like the Jim Butcher Dresden series, which I also read out of order, but unlike which, I wholeheartily liked and went on to read the rest of the series.
Ok, the only thing better than the Cheeseheads in Space we were introduced to in the previous book is the general bad-assery going on with Aunt Grace and Rafe. Oh sure, Kai and Stella are awesome and Toby is brilliant and we get a lot of humor from the thought that "donations" to the local sperm bank from Rascal the dog is what was keeping the company afloat, but Aunt Grace kicks butt as she starts working for the government and even as CEO Rafe isn't afraid to pull a gun on someone. ...more
What makes this installment in the series great is the separate story lines, each with its own fully-drawn and fascinating character. My favorite? Gracie Lane Vatta, the batty old aunt whose easily-discountable, fruitcake-baking exterior hides an extremely powerful and effective secret agent. Brilliant!
My favorite thing about Elizabeth Moon's books is that she creates strong women characters that I don't always like. They are women with purpose and strength and they make a lot of hard decisions. I often admire them more than I actually like them. Some of them, like Kylara Vatta, I wouldn't want to actually meet. I love the fact that Moon can create these characters that I find so compelling without having to create that bond of affection for the character as well. Admittedly, my favorite books...more
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I feel like the books are wandering at this point, and I don't think I'll read the fifth book. I liked the first two, but they seem to be losing steam instead of building it. The more plot lines get fleshed out, the less time she has to spend on each. The result is more main characters but not enough time with any of them. The characters are sympathetic, but aren't quite gripping enough, the plots fine, but not quite intriguing enough.
The fourth installment of a series that continues to reward it's readers. Not anything other than well-written, solid space opera/SF, but if that's what you like, then add this book and it's predecessors to your reading list.
Get this one from your local library. 384pages Science fiction. Your basic space opera. The story was good enough to read the next one in the series but not enough to read 3 prior books.
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Elizabeth Moon was born March 7, 1945, and grew up in McAllen, Texas, graduating from McAllen High School in 1963. She has a B.A. in History from Rice University (1968) and another in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (1975) with graduate work in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio.
She served in the USMC from 1968 to 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC...more
More about Elizabeth Moon...
She served in the USMC from 1968 to 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC...more
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