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Warstrider #5
Netlink
Far from human-explored space, Dev now inhabits the computer-like neural network of a DalRiss/Naga exploratory fleet as a download personality. There, he encounters a new civilization of true Xenophobes--a race of asteroid-dwelling aliens intent on the genocide of all foreign species. To deal with this threat, the Conferation must put aside their differences and unite. Original.
Audiobook
First published December 1, 1995
5 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
William H. Keith Jr.
123 books174 followersBill Keith was raised in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, and served in the Navy as a corpsman for many years. In addition to writing fiction and non-fiction works, he is an award-winning illustrator/artist.
He has also published under the psuedonyms:
Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark)
H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series)
Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series)
Bill Keith
Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series)
Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)
He has also published under the psuedonyms:
Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark)
H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series)
Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series)
Bill Keith
Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series)
Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 15, 2022
Keith keeps milking the same formula in this series and it is starting to get rather old. In the last installment, our hero/main protagonist Dev was killed in a space battle thwarting the Japanese Imperial fleet once again. Netlink takes place about 25 years later. While Dev's body was destroyed in battle, an 'image' of his mind, replete with memories, survived thanks to the Naga, and now he is travelling with the DelRiss fleet exploring the universe, acting as their navigator in a way. While this is taking place, Dev's ex-wife's daughter is leading a special op to take the new quantum FTL communication tech from the Empire on Mars...
Even though this is the next generation, and tech has advanced quite a bit thanks to the Nagas, the same preoccupation with cybersex (and Keith's depictions of it) slow the story down some. It seems Dev and the DelRiss stumbled across a new alien species (von Neuman machines) close to the galactic core and now he is worried that they will take aim at Human space. Some decent action, but overall, the series is tired and I only really read this as I was in need of some rather brainless space pulp. 2 stars!!
Even though this is the next generation, and tech has advanced quite a bit thanks to the Nagas, the same preoccupation with cybersex (and Keith's depictions of it) slow the story down some. It seems Dev and the DelRiss stumbled across a new alien species (von Neuman machines) close to the galactic core and now he is worried that they will take aim at Human space. Some decent action, but overall, the series is tired and I only really read this as I was in need of some rather brainless space pulp. 2 stars!!
December 26, 2017
Whenever you like a book, you exclude everything, just so you can finish it, well four days is already a long long time for me.
I have read a lot before coming back to this wonderful series, especially after the third book's end, with that in mind, I was hoping for something major to happen, new technology, new aliens, so many
assumptions.........with that I sat down to read.............
Four days later, as I was putting down the book, every expectations, assumptions was not only unanswered, the end was a little different from what I wanted, again a saving grace from an unexpected and unwanted source, siggghhhh..........so much potential and in the end..............
Still, the end of this series is at hand, with that book six beckons!!!!!!
I have read a lot before coming back to this wonderful series, especially after the third book's end, with that in mind, I was hoping for something major to happen, new technology, new aliens, so many
assumptions.........with that I sat down to read.............
Four days later, as I was putting down the book, every expectations, assumptions was not only unanswered, the end was a little different from what I wanted, again a saving grace from an unexpected and unwanted source, siggghhhh..........so much potential and in the end..............
Still, the end of this series is at hand, with that book six beckons!!!!!!
January 5, 2015
I liked reading this book quite a lot. It is good, solid, fairly hardcore science fiction with a clear focus on the science part. There is a bit of interesting, shall we say "character development", for Dev Cameron now when he exists as a non-physical entity in the DalRiss and Naga network. Some of the old characters are back of course and a few new ones are introduced.
The book both continues the old story arc, especially the conflict between the Confederation and the Hegemony, and opens up a new one with the discovery of the "Web" mechanical entities. The book is quite well written and the scientific elements are both well done and interesting to read. When the book does not dwelve on scientific matters it usually plunges into equally well written action, mostly in the form of Warstriders of various types. There is not so much politics in this book, something that I consider to be a plus.
Overwall the book is well balanced between the various parts. It progresses steadily weaving together the two main threads into a single story. It culminates in a rather major confrontation between the humans and this new threat of the machines and a massive battle which is decided, not by military might, but by other means. I cannot say that the ending was very surprising. After all there was quite a buildup to this kind of ending. The book was originally published around 1995 so maybe it would have been felt more original then of course.
As usual, the battle may be won but the war might not be over. It will be interesting to see what happens in the sixth and, I assume, final book in the series.
The book both continues the old story arc, especially the conflict between the Confederation and the Hegemony, and opens up a new one with the discovery of the "Web" mechanical entities. The book is quite well written and the scientific elements are both well done and interesting to read. When the book does not dwelve on scientific matters it usually plunges into equally well written action, mostly in the form of Warstriders of various types. There is not so much politics in this book, something that I consider to be a plus.
Overwall the book is well balanced between the various parts. It progresses steadily weaving together the two main threads into a single story. It culminates in a rather major confrontation between the humans and this new threat of the machines and a massive battle which is decided, not by military might, but by other means. I cannot say that the ending was very surprising. After all there was quite a buildup to this kind of ending. The book was originally published around 1995 so maybe it would have been felt more original then of course.
As usual, the battle may be won but the war might not be over. It will be interesting to see what happens in the sixth and, I assume, final book in the series.
October 5, 2017
The last two books and the last novella in this series were highly disappointing. Too many convenient plot devices, like Katya falling back and marrying Vic, who just happens to be waiting all of this time just for her despite snubbing him for another man and having that dead man's child. Too much suspension of belief that the Naga have suddenly lost the ability to practically create a new human body after the Naga remarked how simple human bodies were and how easily they could be repaired. If the Naga could replace the damaged portions of Dev brain, fix his spine and damaged spinal column and all of the damaged nerves; it does not make sense that suddenly they could not make another body for Dev. Even when at the end of the previous book Katya sounded like she was going to ask the Naga to make a body for Dev, but this book completely ignores that point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2024
Warstrider tome 5 : Netlink
Lu en anglais
Un roman de science-fiction militaire et de cyberpunk.
Quelques centaines d'années dans le futur, la puissance dominante est le Japon impérial, auquel est subordonnée l'Hégémonie, une fédération de 57 nations et de 78 mondes. Aux frontières, l'insurrection (la Confédération) se rebelle.
Suite au tome précédent, une paix chancelante s'est établie entre l'empire et les confédérés. Mais la confédération a appris que l'empire aurait mis au point une technologie d'avant garde qui viendrait faire basculer cet équilibre. Pour contrer, la confédération prépare une action de commando, sur une planète de l'empire, pour mettre le grappin sur cette technologie avant que l'empire ne l'utilise.
Pendant ce temps, Dev Cameron, existant maintenant seulement virtuellement dans un réseau d'ordinateurs, explore l'espace avec les DalRiss et les Naga. Et voilà qu'il tombe sur un artefact incroyablement avancé, une porte sur l'espace et le temps. Aussitôt, sa flotte se fait attaquer par des milliards d'entités pseudo robotiques. Face à la menace, Dev Cameron n'a pas le choix de demander à l'empire et à la confédération de faire front commun pour contrer cette menace.
De l'action, des découvertes époustouflantes, puis encore de l'action. Et, bien sûr, avec des batailles spatiales comme dessert.
Des humains connectés, des liaisons homme-machine, des extraterrestres extrêmement avancés et une menace impossible à contrer. La fin est un peu décevante à cause du deus ex machina.
Tout cela écrit par un ancien vétéran du Vietnam, ce qui ajoute de la crédibilité à l'environnement militaire, aux tactiques et aux combats, sans compter une science plutôt crédible. Plusieurs de ses meilleurs romans sont publiés sous le pseudonyme Ian Douglas.
Très intéressant avec un regard sur une évolution complètement différente de la notre. On peut dire que le roman mélange la science-fiction militaire avec la hard science et le space opera.
J'ai beaucoup aimé même si la fin, encore une fois, semble un peu trop organisée avec le gars des vues. Hop ! Au tome suivant !
Lu en anglais
Un roman de science-fiction militaire et de cyberpunk.
Quelques centaines d'années dans le futur, la puissance dominante est le Japon impérial, auquel est subordonnée l'Hégémonie, une fédération de 57 nations et de 78 mondes. Aux frontières, l'insurrection (la Confédération) se rebelle.
Suite au tome précédent, une paix chancelante s'est établie entre l'empire et les confédérés. Mais la confédération a appris que l'empire aurait mis au point une technologie d'avant garde qui viendrait faire basculer cet équilibre. Pour contrer, la confédération prépare une action de commando, sur une planète de l'empire, pour mettre le grappin sur cette technologie avant que l'empire ne l'utilise.
Pendant ce temps, Dev Cameron, existant maintenant seulement virtuellement dans un réseau d'ordinateurs, explore l'espace avec les DalRiss et les Naga. Et voilà qu'il tombe sur un artefact incroyablement avancé, une porte sur l'espace et le temps. Aussitôt, sa flotte se fait attaquer par des milliards d'entités pseudo robotiques. Face à la menace, Dev Cameron n'a pas le choix de demander à l'empire et à la confédération de faire front commun pour contrer cette menace.
De l'action, des découvertes époustouflantes, puis encore de l'action. Et, bien sûr, avec des batailles spatiales comme dessert.
Des humains connectés, des liaisons homme-machine, des extraterrestres extrêmement avancés et une menace impossible à contrer. La fin est un peu décevante à cause du deus ex machina.
Tout cela écrit par un ancien vétéran du Vietnam, ce qui ajoute de la crédibilité à l'environnement militaire, aux tactiques et aux combats, sans compter une science plutôt crédible. Plusieurs de ses meilleurs romans sont publiés sous le pseudonyme Ian Douglas.
Très intéressant avec un regard sur une évolution complètement différente de la notre. On peut dire que le roman mélange la science-fiction militaire avec la hard science et le space opera.
J'ai beaucoup aimé même si la fin, encore une fois, semble un peu trop organisée avec le gars des vues. Hop ! Au tome suivant !
May 19, 2017
This is the 5th book in the Warstrider series by William H. Keith Jr. a.k.a. Ian Douglas. In this one 25 years have passed by since Dev Cameron's body was destroyed in the Second Battle of Herakles. Because he was linked in with the DalRiss-Naga fleet his conscious or his Ghost if you will survived and is now exploring toward the galactic core with them. They come across a machine intelligence that's sole purpose it the destruction of all other life in the galaxy. When he makes a copy of himself and sends it through a stargate to the very center of the galaxy they attempt to destroy it and they follow what remains of it back to the DalRiss-Naga fleet and attack them also. The DalRiss-Naga ships flee back to human space where Dev finds the humans once again on the brink of war with each other. He must now try to unite the humans against this new threat. He learns that he has a son by Katya and that Katya also has a daughter both of whom are now grown and will be needed in the upcoming battle against the new threat against humanity. This is another great read in this series and I recommend it to fans of Space Opera/Military Science Fiction and fans of William H. Keith Jr. a.k.a. Ian Douglas.
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June 25, 2015ABR's original Netlink audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Twenty years have passed since the rebellion victory, and a reluctant peace agreement between the Imperial government and independent planets. The Imperium has developed a device that may now end all that; eventually crushing the rebellion and its independent allies once and for all. Word of this new technology has leaked, and a small band of rebellion spies must risk causing a war and losing their own lives to keep hope of their independence alive.
Netlink is a departure in many respects from the previous four novels in the Warstrider series. The DalRiss and the Naga have joined peacefully with the independent planets, changing their very culture in the process. Douglas’s imagination shines through here, bringing fresh and interesting ideas about alien interaction with humans. Racism is a dominant theme in this novel, Japanese vs. occidental, human vs. alien, and even alien vs. alien. This is not new in the Warstrider series, just brought to the forefront and with deeper implications.
Two decades have passed in this novel, so you will see many new characters, but also older ones, though more as supporting rolls. The action moves along well and there is plenty of violence to entertain even the most blood thirsty space-war junky. The galaxy has just gotten a lot smaller as a new threat emerges from the core, something so alien, even the DalRiss and Naga cannot comprehend it. Humanity will have to put aside its own petty struggles with itself and its new alien friends to fight an even stranger and dangerous foe.
David Drummond reads Netlink as he did in the previous four, with his clear and enjoyable baritone. Simply put, Drummond is the voice of the Warstrider series.
Assuming you’ve read the first four books in the Warstrider series (if not, please start at book 1), and enjoyed them so far, you should definitely continue on. While Netlink is different, it is clearly part of the whole, and perhaps the most self-contained book of the series to date. You wouldn’t necessarily read it without first reading the others, but it might stand alone if you hadn’t. It, like the preceding books, it wraps up nicely.
Audiobook provided for review by the publisher.
Twenty years have passed since the rebellion victory, and a reluctant peace agreement between the Imperial government and independent planets. The Imperium has developed a device that may now end all that; eventually crushing the rebellion and its independent allies once and for all. Word of this new technology has leaked, and a small band of rebellion spies must risk causing a war and losing their own lives to keep hope of their independence alive.
Netlink is a departure in many respects from the previous four novels in the Warstrider series. The DalRiss and the Naga have joined peacefully with the independent planets, changing their very culture in the process. Douglas’s imagination shines through here, bringing fresh and interesting ideas about alien interaction with humans. Racism is a dominant theme in this novel, Japanese vs. occidental, human vs. alien, and even alien vs. alien. This is not new in the Warstrider series, just brought to the forefront and with deeper implications.
Two decades have passed in this novel, so you will see many new characters, but also older ones, though more as supporting rolls. The action moves along well and there is plenty of violence to entertain even the most blood thirsty space-war junky. The galaxy has just gotten a lot smaller as a new threat emerges from the core, something so alien, even the DalRiss and Naga cannot comprehend it. Humanity will have to put aside its own petty struggles with itself and its new alien friends to fight an even stranger and dangerous foe.
David Drummond reads Netlink as he did in the previous four, with his clear and enjoyable baritone. Simply put, Drummond is the voice of the Warstrider series.
Assuming you’ve read the first four books in the Warstrider series (if not, please start at book 1), and enjoyed them so far, you should definitely continue on. While Netlink is different, it is clearly part of the whole, and perhaps the most self-contained book of the series to date. You wouldn’t necessarily read it without first reading the others, but it might stand alone if you hadn’t. It, like the preceding books, it wraps up nicely.
Audiobook provided for review by the publisher.
September 11, 2016
I am so sad that this series has come to an end...but found more series from the author narrated by the same guy...actually found the StarCorpsman series is awesome. Please read the author's other works if you enjoyed this one.
June 5, 2015
Fast moving book more to come
May 13, 2015
Epic story
I enjoy this author immensely. This story is another example of imaginative and very entertaining story telling. I look forward to reading the last book in this series!!
I enjoy this author immensely. This story is another example of imaginative and very entertaining story telling. I look forward to reading the last book in this series!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews