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89th out of 1,922 books
—
2,538 voters
Virtues of War
by
Bennett R. Coles (Goodreads Author)
Winner - CBR Cygnus Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
Virtues of War offers a glimpse of humanity’s possible future, of our expansion into space and the cultural and emotional baggage that we will take with us. Within an action-packed, high-tech setting with cutting edge science and fantastic worldscapes, the story explores the effects of physical and psychological warf...more
Virtues of War offers a glimpse of humanity’s possible future, of our expansion into space and the cultural and emotional baggage that we will take with us. Within an action-packed, high-tech setting with cutting edge science and fantastic worldscapes, the story explores the effects of physical and psychological warf...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
February 17th 2011
by http://www.promontorypress.com
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A sci-fi thriller of physical and psychological combat, Virtues of War sends readers hurtling through space to find that our warlike nature has survived intact into the 26th century. This is no Star Trek mission of exploration, and there are no aliens: only long-established colonies in the Centauri system rebelling against Terran rule. Humankind’s technological evolution may have continued at breakneck speed, but social evolution has yet to catch up.
Lt. Katja Emmes, fast-attack strike leader of...more
Lt. Katja Emmes, fast-attack strike leader of...more
"Virtues" may be categorized as a blend of Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" and Clancy's "Red October" submarine warfare transposed to deep space. Ben Coles, the author, has put his experience in the Navy to good use describing strategy between space armadas as well as the tactics of hand-to-hand non-nuclear combat.
The "good guys" are led by the initially inexperienced female protagonist set out to prove herself. After surmounting a series of nail-bitingly lopsided odds, she ends up with nothing l...more
The "good guys" are led by the initially inexperienced female protagonist set out to prove herself. After surmounting a series of nail-bitingly lopsided odds, she ends up with nothing l...more
Okay, I'm the author, so obviously I love the book. But I thought I'd take this opportunity to share a couple of early reviews that Virtues of War received.
From The Times, 26 November 2010, by David Kyle:
This first book is a promising beginning to a new military SF series. Set several centuries into the future, it pits Earth-based troops against the largest colony. The roots of the conflict are murky and may well be explained more satisfactorily in future books but the small cast of fleet office...more
From The Times, 26 November 2010, by David Kyle:
This first book is a promising beginning to a new military SF series. Set several centuries into the future, it pits Earth-based troops against the largest colony. The roots of the conflict are murky and may well be explained more satisfactorily in future books but the small cast of fleet office...more
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All I can say is: wow! Sci-fi isn't usually my genre, but this book just grabbed a hold of me and swept me along for the ride. The military terminology was just detailed enough to make me feel like I was wearing a helmet myself, but not so over-the-top as to be overwhelming. Katja Emmes is one of the most powerful, vulnerable and believable heroines I've ever met, and the cast of characters around her brought this far-future world vividly to life. I can't wait for the sequel!
I won a signed copy of Virtues of War as a first reads winner.
This book was very well written. I am not traditionally a sci-fi reader, but Virtues of War has great characters to sink your teeth into and a fast-paced plot line that kept me turning pages. The scientific explanations, which I find plodding and boring in most of the other books in the genre that I have read, are brief and concise. The plot is concerned with a military expedition force in another solar system and the intricacies of a...more
This book was very well written. I am not traditionally a sci-fi reader, but Virtues of War has great characters to sink your teeth into and a fast-paced plot line that kept me turning pages. The scientific explanations, which I find plodding and boring in most of the other books in the genre that I have read, are brief and concise. The plot is concerned with a military expedition force in another solar system and the intricacies of a...more
Engrossing read, taut writing, vivid detail and futurology. Believable characterization and beautifully crafted. The ending was solidly suspenseful. To be honest, I was surprised, as this sic-fi military sub-genre, isn't usually my first grab. That said, having read Ben Coles breakthrough novel I'll read his next without hesitation or reservation. I expect to take along an oxygen mask for what I hope will be another breathless quantum leap into increasing military action in zero-g, and resolutio...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The action sequences were superbly written and the visuals were also well described. The world the author created was completely believable. Well fleshed out characters made it that I had trouble putting the book down because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!
I can't wait for the sequel...
The action sequences were superbly written and the visuals were also well described. The world the author created was completely believable. Well fleshed out characters made it that I had trouble putting the book down because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!
I can't wait for the sequel...
Excellent! Engrossing and leaves you wanting more. I am not a fast reader by any stretch of the imagination, but I wasn't able to put this down and finished it in a week (probably close to a record for me!!!)Bennett R. Coles
Great read and recommend to anybody who likes Sci-fi. Working in the military field the lingo and detail was realistic and easy to understand.
Characters were complex and beleivable and didn't know if I should love them or hate them
Characters were complex and beleivable and didn't know if I should love them or hate them
Good first novel with good character development. For some, the inner workings and personal maneuverings might be too much; if you want more battles and less conversation. Because of the character development it is easy to develop strong opinions of the main characters and at times, I found myself utterly disgusted with several of them. Good writing. I look forward to the next effort to see where things go from there both in the story line as well as with Cole's authoring skills.
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