Grimmer Than Hell

by David Drake

Short stories. In one future world, police have cameras watching everybody, everywhere - and a watcher watches the watchmen. In another future, the Fleet preserves the peace in the galaxy - in theory, and at a price. Grim worlds all.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Military Science Fiction, Short Stories, Military Fiction, Dystopia

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of David Drake short stories, including a couple of groups of related short stories. Many of the stories come from shared universe books, so it sometimes feels like only part of the story is included.

The quality of the stories is pretty good. None bad, none really outstanding. They're all pretty typical David Drake--violent, mean and ugly (am I a bad person because I like that?) Not something that would convince a non-Drake fan to start reading his stuff, but good for anyone who's already a fan.

[Amazingbollweevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty good science fiction short stories. Drake really knows how to do combat sci-fi, too!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim &Bleak

Wow! David Drake writes powerful stories that are Grim and Bleak, but full of Humanity and Hope! Powerful Science Fiction!

[Bill Brinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disturbing insight into human behavior. They were great stories with great characters. I enjoyed reading it. I recommend this book.

[John Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of short stories

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Publishers Weekly

As the title suggests, most of the 14 stories (many of which first appeared in "shared universe" theme anthologies) in this collection from military SF master Drake are unrelenting in their depiction of the brutalities of war and its effect on warriors. Two tales stand out: "With the Sword He Must Be Slain," in which a former CIA paramilitary operative now fights for Hell in the Final War and wonders why the opposing forces are just as messed up as his own troops; and "The Tradesmen" (set in S.M. Stirling's "Draka" universe), in which the very ruthlessness of a Draka partisan-hunter leaves her family vulnerable to a terrible irony. In the three long unavailable Jed Lacey stories, set in a near-future where privacy is a crime, Drake examines the price we'd pay both as a society and as individuals if omnipresent cameras recorded our every moment. These stories serve as cautionary tales to those who would trade freedom for security but forget Benjamin Franklin's appraisal of the bargain (i.e., those who do so "end up with neither").
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Fourteen short stories and an introduction make up the latest, highly recommended collection from a leading light of military sf. The first six stories, as much space opera as military sf, constitute Drake's contribution to the shared (by several writers) world series The Fleet, and the final three, featuring future policeman Lacey, recall the contents of _Lacey and His Friends (1986). Lacey, like many other early Drake protagonists, has very few friends; in his society, however, most people aren't to be trusted with friendship. Ditto for conditions in the shared-world story "The Tradesmen," from Drakas!_ (2000), a shared-world opus amassed by S. M. Stirling and set in his Draka universe. Distinctly Drakean single shots include "With the Sword He Must Be Slain," and the introduction puts everything in perspective with a minimum of apologetics, compressing Drake's psychological history since the Vietnam War into a short essay valuable to new and old fans alike. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'll be upfront, I enjoy Military Sci Fi...and this collection didn't disappoint. I'm still thinking about the Fleet series of short stories, and hoping beyond hope that English made it in time - this is how good that collection of tales were.....

I found the last three tales, harder to deal with, mostly because of the central character, who I found quite unlikeable, but the fact he's as cunning as a cut snake, makes him intriguing enough for me to have finished them.

I found myself wanting more Fleet tales....especially about the Marines....and the conspiracy....

[Edward Lyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grimmer Than Hell thrusts you into an intergalactic war, you will hate. You will feel the sweat and smell the jungle and mud. You will grow to hate the enemy and their lackeys. Fear will grip you on mission drops.

This was a great anthology set. The characters are stark, humorous and memorable. The storytelling is tight and compact. Descriptions are just enough to visualize what's happening, but don't draw away from the story. Fans of Hammers Slammers will absolutely enjoy this book.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, the title is true, there are some pretty grim stories collected here. Some of them appeared in an earlier collection, Lacey and His Friends, but this edition removes some of the non-Lacey ones and adds quite a few newer works. There are several shared-world pieces from The Fleet and Battlestation books that don't stand as well on their own as they did in the original volumes, but I enjoyed the others and the Lacey series were always among my favorites.

[Niraj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were good some were not exceptional. But the action was good enough to keep me reading.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fleet, Dresser, and Lacey stories were interesting and have held up over time. For those unfamiliar with the Domination trilogy, the Draka story seems to be a throwaway.

[Keira F. Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of short military sci-fi stories. Nothing to get excited about. Reasonably well written, albeit a bit dry at times.