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Founding of the Commonwealth #2
Dirge, Book Two of the Founding of the Commonwealth [Signed First Edition Series]
Chosen by Science Fiction Chronicle as One of the Best Books of the Year Bestselling author Alan Dean Foster has written an exciting Humanx Commonwealth adventure that delves deeper into the fragile early years when humans made first contact in this unforgettable world . . . In the second half of the twenty-fourth century, diplomatic relations proceed cautiously between thranx and humans. But the insectlike beings are nearly forgotten with the sudden discovery of an ideal planet to colonize–Argus V–and the startling appearance of a new race of space-faring aliens. People are dazzled by the beautiful, glamorous pitar. Then tragedy strikes.The entire human population on Argus V is brutally slaughtered. Not a single clue remains to identify the unseen executioners. But from a tiny inner moon of Argus V comes a faint signal. On that insignificant chunk of rubble lies the key to the crime–setting in motion a cataclysmic chain of events with deadly consequences for thranx, pitar, and human alike. For their worlds will be changed forever by a colossal battle that is their future and their destiny . . .From the Paperback edition.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Alan Dean Foster
490 books2,005 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 20, 2021
This is the second book of Foster's Founding of the Commonwealth trilogy, but it doesn't have a strict continuing story line or characters from the previous book, so it's not necessary to have read other previous books in order to enjoy this one. On the other hand, the purpose is to show how the Humanx Commonwealth, the infrastructure in -many- of his other books, formed and thrived, so I wouldn't say it's one to read to before anything else. It has a little bit of a slow start, but becomes a very thoughtful examination of warfare and the nature of alliances and necessity. It's a pleasantly diverse novel, thought-provoking and entertaining. Foster's aliens seem as realistic as his human characters. There are several "Ah-ha!" moments for long-time readers of the series as he explains where some things came from, and how it all fits together.
November 25, 2015
‘Dirge’, the third book (chronologically by story events, if not publication order) of Alan Dean Foster’s Humanx Commonwealth series, pulls back from the personal level of the first two books and opens the saga up to a truly cosmic scale. If the previous books were ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’, the third book is ‘Star Wars’.
Unlike the previous books, which focus on just one or two characters, ‘Dirge’ uses an interesting story-telling technique where each chapter presents the story as seen through the eyes of a different character. In most cases, the majority of these POV characters don’t even meet each other. I’d have been sceptical if somebody had described this story-telling method to me before I read this book but now that I have, I have to say it works extremely well and adds to the galaxy-spanning feel of the novel. Each event is connected, even if the individuals involved in them aren’t, adding up to a very coherent picture.
The stakes are raised as well as the scope and some of the events of this book are truly gut-wrenching. There are two horrific mass-slaughters in that first part of the story leading to a full-on interstellar conflict in the third and final act. None of these events are guilty of glorifying combat; Foster writes them in such a way as to really portray the horror of wide-scale loss of life. I was genuinely moved each time.
I was also gladdened by the steps taken in this story by the humans and the insectoid thranx to overcome their mutual xenophobia and begin forging the Commonwealth. I’m a bit of a hippy really and love to see people coming together through their similarities rather than pushing each other away because of their differences.
All-in-all, this is a great chapter in this lengthy saga and I loved every minute of it. High recommended to lovers of science fiction/space opera (it strikes a nice balance between the two).
Oh, and lest I forget, the cold-blooded AAnn, while not having that much of an overt presence in this volume, are lurking ominously in the background, biding their time until they reveal their sinister schemes… Bum-Bum-BUUUUUUUUUMMM!!!
Unlike the previous books, which focus on just one or two characters, ‘Dirge’ uses an interesting story-telling technique where each chapter presents the story as seen through the eyes of a different character. In most cases, the majority of these POV characters don’t even meet each other. I’d have been sceptical if somebody had described this story-telling method to me before I read this book but now that I have, I have to say it works extremely well and adds to the galaxy-spanning feel of the novel. Each event is connected, even if the individuals involved in them aren’t, adding up to a very coherent picture.
The stakes are raised as well as the scope and some of the events of this book are truly gut-wrenching. There are two horrific mass-slaughters in that first part of the story leading to a full-on interstellar conflict in the third and final act. None of these events are guilty of glorifying combat; Foster writes them in such a way as to really portray the horror of wide-scale loss of life. I was genuinely moved each time.
I was also gladdened by the steps taken in this story by the humans and the insectoid thranx to overcome their mutual xenophobia and begin forging the Commonwealth. I’m a bit of a hippy really and love to see people coming together through their similarities rather than pushing each other away because of their differences.
All-in-all, this is a great chapter in this lengthy saga and I loved every minute of it. High recommended to lovers of science fiction/space opera (it strikes a nice balance between the two).
Oh, and lest I forget, the cold-blooded AAnn, while not having that much of an overt presence in this volume, are lurking ominously in the background, biding their time until they reveal their sinister schemes… Bum-Bum-BUUUUUUUUUMMM!!!
February 21, 2017
This book kicks ass. There are a few reviews below that, while they are entitled to their opinion, seem to have missed the point. This trilogy is intended for those of us who have read Humanx Commonwealth novels before and loved them, but had questions about what came before the Commonwealth. This review has spoilers, because I’m also assuming you’re familiar with Humanx lore.
I knew going into this novel that the Pitar were assholes, because one of the Flinx novels told me the story already; complaining about them being “obvious” antagonists is like reading a book about WWII and whining about how it was so obvious Hitler was the bad guy. This novel, like any historical book, is about how certain things came about, what small things happened to make changes in society. In this case, it’s what the early human/Thranx relationships were like. The purpose of these three novels is a way for those of us who want to learn more about the founding of the commonwealth to get that. I always wanted to know why and how Thranx/Human SCCAM missiles were created too. And there were other throw-backs to the Flinx novels: Mallory, for example, and his girlfriend Tse. Hmm, I wonder whose grandparents they are?
Truthfully, I fucking loved this novel. I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. It’s funny, because there are things about it that shouldn’t have worked. There’s no main character but instead we are given short vignettes sometimes told years apart of small parts of many people’s lives. It was like World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War in a way, and given this was meant to be a history of a time period, it made perfect sense to have the story unwrap in this method. Had there been a central protagonist, it would have been very coincidental for them to have been involved in everything; these small stories helped show progression, differing opinion, and different perspectives during the time. Human/Alien relationships don’t blossom overnight – it would take decades, if not longer, especially given how xenophobic we humans tends to be.
I also appreciated the diversity in the novel. There were just as many woman as men in positions of power and there was a great deal of racial diversity as well. This only makes sense, given it’s 2300 or so, but it was definitely nice to read.
Foster also has a great writing style with a penchant for great dialogue, intriguing concepts, and a knack for explaining technology in a way that is interesting and not boring.
And to the people whining about the genocide of the Pitar – they wouldn’t surrender. If they were going to try to commit suicide when you captured them, why not just let them do it? Made sense to me. It’s not like it was a fringe group of people who were the aggressors like with the Terrans and Thranx xenophobes. Their entire two planets were full of nut-jobs.
And I guess I finally learned that the Chris Pratt look-alike wielding a Pokeball on the cover is supposed to be Mallory. He, like this novel, was also a bad ass.
I knew going into this novel that the Pitar were assholes, because one of the Flinx novels told me the story already; complaining about them being “obvious” antagonists is like reading a book about WWII and whining about how it was so obvious Hitler was the bad guy. This novel, like any historical book, is about how certain things came about, what small things happened to make changes in society. In this case, it’s what the early human/Thranx relationships were like. The purpose of these three novels is a way for those of us who want to learn more about the founding of the commonwealth to get that. I always wanted to know why and how Thranx/Human SCCAM missiles were created too. And there were other throw-backs to the Flinx novels: Mallory, for example, and his girlfriend Tse. Hmm, I wonder whose grandparents they are?
Truthfully, I fucking loved this novel. I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. It’s funny, because there are things about it that shouldn’t have worked. There’s no main character but instead we are given short vignettes sometimes told years apart of small parts of many people’s lives. It was like World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War in a way, and given this was meant to be a history of a time period, it made perfect sense to have the story unwrap in this method. Had there been a central protagonist, it would have been very coincidental for them to have been involved in everything; these small stories helped show progression, differing opinion, and different perspectives during the time. Human/Alien relationships don’t blossom overnight – it would take decades, if not longer, especially given how xenophobic we humans tends to be.
I also appreciated the diversity in the novel. There were just as many woman as men in positions of power and there was a great deal of racial diversity as well. This only makes sense, given it’s 2300 or so, but it was definitely nice to read.
Foster also has a great writing style with a penchant for great dialogue, intriguing concepts, and a knack for explaining technology in a way that is interesting and not boring.
And to the people whining about the genocide of the Pitar – they wouldn’t surrender. If they were going to try to commit suicide when you captured them, why not just let them do it? Made sense to me. It’s not like it was a fringe group of people who were the aggressors like with the Terrans and Thranx xenophobes. Their entire two planets were full of nut-jobs.
And I guess I finally learned that the Chris Pratt look-alike wielding a Pokeball on the cover is supposed to be Mallory. He, like this novel, was also a bad ass.
October 6, 2021
Death to the Pitar.
Alan Dean Foster writes a great second novel for this trilogy, could even stop tale here. But their is more conflict to come. It's a highly realistic look at how the humanx commonwealth could sort of stumble along into the future of flinx and pip.
Alan Dean Foster writes a great second novel for this trilogy, could even stop tale here. But their is more conflict to come. It's a highly realistic look at how the humanx commonwealth could sort of stumble along into the future of flinx and pip.
April 16, 2022
Great follow up to Phylogenesis. I've loved the Thranx since I read Nor Crystal Tears years ago. Alan Dean Foster is one of my favorite authors. His characters are believable and likable. I have several of his collections.
January 26, 2019
Informative
If you follow ADF this is good prequel to the Pip series
For others not acquainted try him. A good author to know or get to know.
If you follow ADF this is good prequel to the Pip series
For others not acquainted try him. A good author to know or get to know.
June 12, 2024
3.5 I guess. Really choppy first 100 pages...every chapter presents someone new and not all of it comes together in the end.
Once the central story picks up, it really seemed to me that ADF added (some) of the preceding chapters after he wrapped up the Pitar stuff. Specifically, the Commonwealth Church, which is a central (I guess) part of the founding. It isn't really given much thought outside of "we thranx and humans want to create a churchy type place that is cool for everyone." I guess that's really all that is needed since "the church" is really a minor mention in the dozen or so humanx books I've read. The real thrust is more trust building between thranx and humans.
Once the central story picks up, it really seemed to me that ADF added (some) of the preceding chapters after he wrapped up the Pitar stuff. Specifically, the Commonwealth Church, which is a central (I guess) part of the founding. It isn't really given much thought outside of "we thranx and humans want to create a churchy type place that is cool for everyone." I guess that's really all that is needed since "the church" is really a minor mention in the dozen or so humanx books I've read. The real thrust is more trust building between thranx and humans.
June 16, 2023
“Dirge" presents an immersive and exciting world filled with different alien species exploring themes such as diplomacy, war, and cultural differences in an entertaining and thought-provoking manner. However, the novel is marred by a few significant flaws that affect its overall quality.
One of the problems with the book is the portrayal of the Thranx, an insect-like alien species. Throughout the novel, they are continuously referred to as "bugs," belittling their complexity as a sentient species. This dehumanizing language only serves to undermine the potential depths of the Thranx characters.
Additionally, the protagonist, Mallory, forgets that he had evidence of the Pitari slaughter at Treetrunk, which is a critical plot point. This forgetfulness feels contrived and unnecessary, serving as a weak link in an otherwise exciting plot.
Despite these issues, "Dirge" is still an enjoyable read. Foster's vivid descriptions of the various alien species and their cultures are fascinating and immersive. Additionally, the book's exploration of the challenges of diplomacy across cultures gives readers much to consider when examining real-world issues.
The book's action-packed moments are well-written and provide a thrilling experience for the reader. However, the loss of detail in terms of the motivations behind each of the species' actions detracts from the overall depth of the plot and character development.
3.8 for this one! Given I have read the first two of this trilogy, I’ll start straight away on the conclusion!! Fingers crossed the ‘bug’ references lessen considerably!!!
One of the problems with the book is the portrayal of the Thranx, an insect-like alien species. Throughout the novel, they are continuously referred to as "bugs," belittling their complexity as a sentient species. This dehumanizing language only serves to undermine the potential depths of the Thranx characters.
Additionally, the protagonist, Mallory, forgets that he had evidence of the Pitari slaughter at Treetrunk, which is a critical plot point. This forgetfulness feels contrived and unnecessary, serving as a weak link in an otherwise exciting plot.
Despite these issues, "Dirge" is still an enjoyable read. Foster's vivid descriptions of the various alien species and their cultures are fascinating and immersive. Additionally, the book's exploration of the challenges of diplomacy across cultures gives readers much to consider when examining real-world issues.
The book's action-packed moments are well-written and provide a thrilling experience for the reader. However, the loss of detail in terms of the motivations behind each of the species' actions detracts from the overall depth of the plot and character development.
3.8 for this one! Given I have read the first two of this trilogy, I’ll start straight away on the conclusion!! Fingers crossed the ‘bug’ references lessen considerably!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2023
Negotiations between Humanity and the mantis-like alien Thranx have been progressing slowly when a previously unknown intelligent species arrives on the recently settled human colony on Argus V, called Treetrunk. Visibly human, the Pitar are Olympian in aspect, heroically statuesque in both sexes and pleasing to the human eye. Thranx negotiations stall as the Pitar take prime place in human thought. Some months later a supply ship to Argus V is puzzled by its complete radio silence on all frequencies, and descend to find the entire 600,000 settlers slaughtered: man, woman and child. No survivors and no clues as to who or what perpetrated the monstrous atrocity. Except…a stray ship from a small alien planet detects a weak signal from Treetrunks’s small One moon and a completely unhinged, terrified and catatonic human is discovered in an emergency shuttle he apparently rebuilt and escaped from Argus V with. The story he tells seems unbelievable. With video evidence of the perpetrators lost on the moon, a wild search begins amid the prospect of a terrible war of retribution against the seemingly evil actions on Treetrunk, where women had their wombs removed and cryogenically stored, while still alive. Alan Dean Foster’s book affected me viscerally. I felt real anger and tension. Book 2 of a series but stands alone. RECOMMENDED.
December 6, 2024
Alan Dean Foster is nothing if not prolific. I started reading the Star Trek Log books about forty years go and have been reading this guy ever since. The Flinx and Pip series remains one of my favorites and that whole series might otherwise be classified as juvenile fiction of the Robert A. Heinlein ilk. What sets them apart is the setting. The Commonwealth Universe that forms the underpinnings of all Alan Dean Foster Books have an almost Dune-like cast of races, characters, recurring heroes and themes. This is book two of a trilogy which delves into the back stories which are familiar to ADF from his other novels. That could be a problem because I knew exactly what was going to happen and how the book would end when I read the back jacket in the used book store. It just didn't matter. Now, I have to go and find book one.
September 24, 2025
Toliau tęsiu seriją, apie kurią labai per mažai kalbama. Praėjus kažkiek laiko nuo pirmosios knygos įvykių, čia aprašomi maždaug dešimtmečio įvykiai. Viskas prasideda nuo dar vienos pirmojo kontakto istorijos, šįkart jau iš žmonių perspektyvos. Patiko pats pateikimas, kur beveik kiekviename skyriuje viskas pateikiama iš naujų personažų perpektyvos - o ir tie personažai dažniausiai neturi jokio vėlesnio kontakto, išskyrus keletą maždaug knygos viduryje. Ir net jei skyriuose vaizduojamos istorijos atrodo nesusijusios, viskas galiausiai sueina į bendrą finalinį tašką.
Foster nepaliauja stebinti gebėjimu perteikti skirtingas rases, kosminius konceptus, o šįkart dar ir gero hard sci-fi netrūko. Nekantrauju perskaityti ir finalinę trilogijos dalį.
Foster nepaliauja stebinti gebėjimu perteikti skirtingas rases, kosminius konceptus, o šįkart dar ir gero hard sci-fi netrūko. Nekantrauju perskaityti ir finalinę trilogijos dalį.
May 1, 2025
I've always been curious about the Pitar ever since I read The Tar-Aym Krang, where they were first mentioned. When I found out about this book, I got a hold of it as soon as I could. Unfortunately, it isn't nearly up to Foster's best work---to be honest, it felt phoned-in and like he'd rushed through it to complete a contract.
There was too much "tell" and not enough "show." Large parts of the book read more like a rather dry history than an SF novel. If you're a Foster completist or want the whole Humanx Commonwealth series, you need this book---otherwise, I'd recommend borrowing it from the library.
There was too much "tell" and not enough "show." Large parts of the book read more like a rather dry history than an SF novel. If you're a Foster completist or want the whole Humanx Commonwealth series, you need this book---otherwise, I'd recommend borrowing it from the library.
November 7, 2018
Relations between humans and the thranx continue on an uneasy basis due to the extreme xenophobia of humankind toward sentient aliens that resemble large ants. An atrocity in the Amazon hive should have pushed toward a resolution, but about the same time the Pitar, another species appear and are the embodiment of the ideal human. Some feel that they are too good to be true, but the general public as well as the authorities are totally fascinated with them and the thranx are put on the back burner. Argus V (Treetop) has been colonized by humans and is thriving in the forested equatorial belt between the polar ice caps. Then a cargo ship shows up and there are no humans left alive on the entire planet. After that things, though slow to develop, get really interesting.
November 26, 2024
The best novel in the series.
WOW.....
Out of all of Alan Dean Foster's Humanx books, this one has turned out to be one of the best.
It has a great story with good drama and suspense. Warning: Some of what happens in the book is very disturbing, but it is well worth the read.
The characters and their stories were very well thought out. The science in the book is interesting.
This book has everything you want in a science fiction story.
A+++
I "extremely" highly recommended.
WOW.....
Out of all of Alan Dean Foster's Humanx books, this one has turned out to be one of the best.
It has a great story with good drama and suspense. Warning: Some of what happens in the book is very disturbing, but it is well worth the read.
The characters and their stories were very well thought out. The science in the book is interesting.
This book has everything you want in a science fiction story.
A+++
I "extremely" highly recommended.
August 18, 2024
Very good, love how broadly the author covers topics, doesn’t stay with a particular character for long and allows the plot to move In huge strides, overall, love this series and the different flavours of books 1&2.
June 28, 2025
So simplistically messaged with a sledgehammer. Insectoid species people hate because of their looks are good, beautifully humanoid species people love because of their looks are bad. Juvenile fiction at its dullest. Yawn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2020
I've been enjoying going back to the (chronological) beginning of ADF's Humanx books, including this one that I missed the first time around. Can't wait for Flinx to turn up.
October 9, 2020
Another good read by Alan Dean Foster. The founding continues.
May 2, 2021
The pitarians are a humanize species that are physically beautiful. Noone can explain the slaughter of 600k people on the new planet. Shows human instincts on physical beauty.
January 19, 2024
The two main lessons to come out of this book are; "don't judge a book by it's cover" and "if it's too good to be true it probably isn't". A good read. Recommended.
April 12, 2009
The book starts out kind-of slow, but once the attack on Argus V takes place, things get a lot more interesting. At that point it became a bit of an interstellar murder mystery, and I couldn't put the book down. It was pretty easy to figure out who had done it, but HOW everyone finds out and what the Humans would do about it, and how the Thranx would get involved, was what kept me turning the pages.
It was cool to see the Humans and Thranx working together and even fighting together. It was also interesting to see how sting ships came to be, and the first pairing of humans and Thranx in a millitary situation.
I gotta say though, I felt a little bit less than satisfied with the end of this book. I felt that certain parts, especially towards the end, were a bit too summarized and could have been fleshed out a little more. Also, a totally different problem I had with the book was that the complete annihilation of the Pitarian race at the end left me a bit sad rather than satisfied that justice was done. The Pitar seemed a bit 2-dimensional: NONE of them surrendered? ALL of them chose to fight to the bitter end and die? Not a single Pitar felt any sort of remorse? To make the story more believable, more realistic, Foster should have made the Pitar more varied, more diverse, with good Pitar and bad Pitar and so on. It would have made the plot more interesting, more complex. As it was, the plot was rather one-dimensional.
And what about baby Pitar? I know there supposedly were not many Pitar children, but there must have been some. Weren't any of them spared? At least the ones too young to fight back or know what was going on? There should have been some Pitar survivors of the war.
The utter annihilation of an entire race is always a tragic thing. In that sense the ending left me less than satisfied.
It was cool to see the Humans and Thranx working together and even fighting together. It was also interesting to see how sting ships came to be, and the first pairing of humans and Thranx in a millitary situation.
I gotta say though, I felt a little bit less than satisfied with the end of this book. I felt that certain parts, especially towards the end, were a bit too summarized and could have been fleshed out a little more. Also, a totally different problem I had with the book was that the complete annihilation of the Pitarian race at the end left me a bit sad rather than satisfied that justice was done. The Pitar seemed a bit 2-dimensional: NONE of them surrendered? ALL of them chose to fight to the bitter end and die? Not a single Pitar felt any sort of remorse? To make the story more believable, more realistic, Foster should have made the Pitar more varied, more diverse, with good Pitar and bad Pitar and so on. It would have made the plot more interesting, more complex. As it was, the plot was rather one-dimensional.
And what about baby Pitar? I know there supposedly were not many Pitar children, but there must have been some. Weren't any of them spared? At least the ones too young to fight back or know what was going on? There should have been some Pitar survivors of the war.
The utter annihilation of an entire race is always a tragic thing. In that sense the ending left me less than satisfied.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2016
I'd enjoyed reading several of the Commonwealth books back in the days when my local library was full of a wide variety of books instead of computer screens and DVDs, so when I came across Dirge on the book-swap shelves of a swish Spanish hotel I though this is the one for my holiday reading. Also it was the only one not in German - although I did think I might get by with Perry Rhodan without understanding the language.
Sadly in hindsight Rhodan could have been the better choice. Dirge was disappointing: the bad guys pretending to be the good guys were obvious from the start, the characters were lacking in charisma, the plot development was predictable and too reliant on coincidence, the ethics dubious with the Commonwealth coming close at the end to what a War Crimes Tribunal might consider genocide.
Not that this is a bad book altogether, Foster is a consummate professional and even if routinely knocking off another sequel or prequel to meet a publishing quota his writing standards are high. And I admit I may have skipped a page or two to get to the end - perhaps there was something on those pages to justify the plaudits this book has received elsewhere. But I'm not inspired to go back and find out.
Recommended for holiday reading if you don't understand German.
Sadly in hindsight Rhodan could have been the better choice. Dirge was disappointing: the bad guys pretending to be the good guys were obvious from the start, the characters were lacking in charisma, the plot development was predictable and too reliant on coincidence, the ethics dubious with the Commonwealth coming close at the end to what a War Crimes Tribunal might consider genocide.
Not that this is a bad book altogether, Foster is a consummate professional and even if routinely knocking off another sequel or prequel to meet a publishing quota his writing standards are high. And I admit I may have skipped a page or two to get to the end - perhaps there was something on those pages to justify the plaudits this book has received elsewhere. But I'm not inspired to go back and find out.
Recommended for holiday reading if you don't understand German.
May 28, 2021
That was a really good read. Sure, ADF likes his details but here he held back :-) The beginning was a bit slow but then in got interesting and became a real page turner. I just wish the end would have been a bit ... (I can hardly say it) longer and detailed.
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After the next read: I can mostly agree with my first assessment, but the very slow pace of the first half bugged me more this time. Down from 4 to 3 stars, but since I put the first into my "didn't like" folder, this one goes with its brother.
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After the next read: I can mostly agree with my first assessment, but the very slow pace of the first half bugged me more this time. Down from 4 to 3 stars, but since I put the first into my "didn't like" folder, this one goes with its brother.
January 20, 2012
Which expanding in the universe and living among other senient species, humans come in contact with another human-like species that is both adorable and likeable. Things go well until the entire human population of a planet is murdered and butchered. At first no no knows who is guilty or why, but a survivor is found by a shy species. The survivors names the gulty species and war results with unlikely allies.
June 28, 2013
Started a bit slow, but gained speed along. A bit simplistic and naive, a tad schematic, but a good fun read if you are just expecting a decent entertainment and not a food for thought. Since that is what I need during the summer months, I will move right along to part 3.
May 22, 2015
Foster uses one of the oldest SF plots in existence to show how the human and thranx races developed such a close relationship"," and how the Commonwealth was formed. This is simply a fill-in-the-blanks novel. Unlike some other works"," this one did not need to be written.
November 26, 2007
read 07.22.05
March 30, 2009
2 1/2 stars. Some content may not be appropriate for all readers.
June 24, 2008
God, the ultimate realisation in this book is creepy as all get-out. Damn Foster and his kick-ass trilogies.
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