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Interstellar Defense League #1
Face of the Enemy
The Pleasure of the Kill They strike without warning out of the interstellar depths, their only communication a burst of static--and then death. They are called the Remor, and they kill for the pure joy of killing. The brave fighting men and women of the Interstellar Defense League eagerly take up the call to arms against the Remor and their grinders--monstrous war machines that leave a trail of death and desolation in their wake. But to win, the League warriors must get inside the machines'-and the mind of their foe. Who--or what--is this mysterious enemy? Where do they come from? And why are they determined to destroy humankind? Mere courage won't uncover the Remor's secrets. Something else is needed. Something that can only be found in the untamed spirit of a renegade who long ago "went native" with the most primitive species in the known universe...
544 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 10, 2014
This was really good. Surprisingly so, in fact.
To be quite honest, I picked this book up and read it because it had been sitting at the very bottom of my to-read list with such a godawful rating that it might have languished there forever.
Instead of a poorly written, poorly plotted, shallow book deserving a 2.82 average rating, instead I found a unique book with interesting, flawed characters in a fast paced space adventure with military overtones. It took a bit of a left turn and focused on something I wasn't expecting and ended up focusing more on anthropology rather than military threats, but it may end up back there in the second book. We'll see.
Overall, I'm glad I picked it up. Suggested for those who like the overarching story lines of Peter F. Hamilton, but who would like a significantly smaller bite of a book.
To be quite honest, I picked this book up and read it because it had been sitting at the very bottom of my to-read list with such a godawful rating that it might have languished there forever.
Instead of a poorly written, poorly plotted, shallow book deserving a 2.82 average rating, instead I found a unique book with interesting, flawed characters in a fast paced space adventure with military overtones. It took a bit of a left turn and focused on something I wasn't expecting and ended up focusing more on anthropology rather than military threats, but it may end up back there in the second book. We'll see.
Overall, I'm glad I picked it up. Suggested for those who like the overarching story lines of Peter F. Hamilton, but who would like a significantly smaller bite of a book.
April 9, 2022
Fairly good space opera, a great deal of spaceships maneuvering against one another, some humans studying primitive aliens who are more than they seem in a fairly predictable way, not the most subtle characterisation though the author tries.
January 20, 2018
I cannot believe I finished this. Wooden characters, bad dialogue, obscure plot. I kept hoping it would get better, but alas, it did not.
April 12, 2016
This novel has a sex scene on the second to last page. As soon as the author described the heroine "backing toward the bed" during what is supposed to be the part where things are conclusively wrapped up, I knew I couldn't give this more than one star. This blunder alone should tell you a little something about the overall quality of the novel, especially its sore lack of tact and pacing. There are some interesting ideas here, but most of them are poorly executed. The conclusion is fitting, seeing as the reader is left hanging, eyes glazed and floating in zero-g. Much of my time reading was spent in a false sort of suspense, waiting for something substantial to happen or to have a few details clarified. Oftentimes, these important passages where one would expect the author to take particular care are vague and poorly worded. The final climax comes far too late and is lackluster enough to spoil any previous moments of enjoyment. Many of the characters are as cardboard as they come and it's very easy to tell which ones are the "bad guys" almost as soon as they're introduced. It is painfully obvious that the author just doesn't like certain types of people which is quite ironic considering the irksome vigor with which he espouses the values of peace, love, tolerance, and acceptance. This wouldn't usually be such a bad thing, but one must realize that such proselytizing is happening in a novel which bears the tagline "total war in deep space." The following is only a spoiler if you haven't read the first page: the man pictured on the cover, in the spot you would expect to find a protagonist, is in fact an imprudent meathead who symbolizes everything the author hates in this world. If the actual substance of the novel were decent enough, this would be acceptable. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and one would be hard-pressed to achieve a satisfying experince whether they were looking for something violent or non-violent.
December 21, 2014
Just a random book a picked up. No real reason, just something that I had no expectations going in. It turned out to be a slow paced tale. Over time my tastes (and the general public I would hazard to guess) expect faster plot development and more action. A bit less building of the alien society and culture might have helped keep the book on pace. In the end, it was not that interesting of a read.
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April 5, 2012
Page 112: this book is boring and I still have no idea what it's about. Some aliens doing something. Some humans doing something else. Apparently, the somethings conflict. Yawn.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews