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Legacy of the Aldenata: Hedren War #1
Eye of the Storm
In an instant the world changed for Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal. Having reached the end of their usefulness his beloved Corps, the last remaining ACS, are destroyed at the order of the Darhel, by their own Fleet. His staff are shot before his eyes, and he is arrested on the charge of war crimes. He faces a short, one-sided, trial, a trip to the Fleet Penal Facility and a bullet to the back of the head while trying to 'escape'.
Yet all is not lost. Just as O'Neal faces certain death an entirely new and more powerful alien enemy threatens the galactic status quo, including the dominant Darhel themselves. This new threat requires that O'Neal take command of all military forces and wage war to save his enemies and humanity.
Yet all is not lost. Just as O'Neal faces certain death an entirely new and more powerful alien enemy threatens the galactic status quo, including the dominant Darhel themselves. This new threat requires that O'Neal take command of all military forces and wage war to save his enemies and humanity.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2009
60 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
John Ringo
103 books1,838 followersJohn Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 3, 2016
NOTE: I received this from Amazon Vine.
So I typically write a plot summary for books. This one was a particular challenge, as A) I didn't get very far and B) what plot I could derive was very convoluted. So please bear with me as I attempt to dredge one up from memory and using the cover blurb.
So humans are still battling the Posleen (since this is one of many in the Legacy of Aldenata series, this human-Posleen war has been ongoing for awhile). Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal (who is the Marty Stue for this novel - I'm guessing he's the primary character in the earlier books) ends up on this planet, leading his troops against the Posleen and finds a race of near-humans. Apparently the Darhell had imported them to this planet, but given the Darhel are in charge of everything, this could mean bad, bad news, especially since (due to military looting laws), the entire Darheel race owes Michael O'Neal a mint.
Other than that, I got nothing.
DNF at page 61.
I know what you are asking: "Why did you DNF? If you don't like this book, then why did you bother reading it in the first place?" Well, I have answers, but let me back up and give you some history.
This is, as I mentioned above, an Amazon Vine book. When I first signed up on Amazon Vine, I was so happy to get free books, I pretty much picked ANYTHING, especially if it was "science fiction". So when I got this and found out AFTER the fact it was part of a series, I was a bit discouraged. Trying to read more than a couple of pages proved to be a challenge. So I threw it in a corner with the promise to read and review "one day".
Well, last year, Amazon Vine has changed their rules; they REALLY want you to review all the items you get and within 30 days. While they've made it clear that all "old" items don't fall under this new requirement, it made me more aware then ever that I need to clear out these half dozen Vine books I've requested and never read. So I added "Finish those Unread Amazon Vine ARCs" with my 2014 challenge to read mostly books from my personal library.
I tried, people. I really did. I know giving up at 61 out of 425 pages doesn't seem like I gave it much of a chance, but I REALLY did. Several million times between page 1 and 61, I wanted to give up the book, but I didn't. I kept picking it up, even after putting it down or falling asleep while reading it (the latter is not necessarily the book's fault BTW).
But I can't continue anymore. I just can't.
Major Reasons Why I Can't Force Myself to Finish This Book
1) I really don't think military scifi is my thing. This is my second (third?) foray into the genre, and I am bored and confused, as I have been with pretty much every other military scifi book. I'm not following the action, don't care about the characters, and am confused as hell by the plot. This is not the fault of the book or the author; it is purely a "me" thing. And even if this book is an Amazon Vine book, I don't think I should have to try to finish the book when it's obvious it is not for me.
2) It's not particularly well written. Some sentences are atrocious, such as the one below:
Blech! Not only is it incredibly sexist ("girl" should only be used if the narrator/speaker is a misogynist or the female is under the age of 18), but the sentence construction is bland and very choppy, like you might find in middle grade or younger fiction.
I know, I know: military scifi or genre fiction doesn't need to be brilliant literature. I get that, but hear me out. Don't we ridicule Stephenie Meyer for her bland writing in the paranormal YA romance "Twilight"? (And trust me, she will never win awards for the writing in that quartet.) Why is it OK there to critique her (she's writing genre fiction too), but it's not OK to critique John Ringo for eye-rolling dull writing?
3) The characters are bland and interchangeable, minus our resident Marty Stu. I am well acquainted that scifi puts more of an emphasis on plot and surroundings than characters, but that doesn't mean that it can get away with perfectly indistinguishable characters. Other than Marty Stu and Ridiculous (see #4 below), I can't recall a single other character from the book. They are all names, nothing else.
What makes it worse is the book's Marty Stu, Mike O'Neal. Yes, he is a Marty Stu. I know "Mary Sue" gets thrown around a LOT, but I'm trying to be better about the label. When I say he is, he really is.
+ He's a rebel, who is always right, can backtalk his superiors and never suffer repercussions, and is the Only Good Officer
(NOTE: In these kinds of books, as in the ranks of the real enlisted, officers are generally the "bad guys" because they don't "do as much" as the enlisted. Sometimes it's true, but sometimes it's just a bunch of hot air.)
+ He's an 80 year old Skoal chewer who could pass for a man a QUARTER of his age.
Yes, this sounds totally plausible - no wish-fulfillment or fantasy here!
4) The one other character I can remember isn't because of how well-written she is, it's because she doesn't make any sense. We are introduced at one point to Cally, who is 58 year old and looks 20. So yeah, we have that annoying trait where people look a third or a quarter of their age. It's annoying, but that's not the problem with her. The problem is that IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH that we learn her age, we also learn that she has been an agent for "most of those" 58 years? HOLD YOUR BRAKES! How is that possible?! She was inducted as an agent when she was ONE? A baby? Are these people Jedi? Because unless you say that they are weird Jedi baby snatchers, I am NOT going to believe that a woman who is 58 can spend "most of those years" as an agent. Heck, even if it were like the Jedi Order, the individual isn't a REAL Jedi until he/she/it gets to be a Jedi Knight, in his/her/its 20's most likely. So that would be 38 years as an agent, nowhere near the "most of those 58 years" bullsh!t.
5) It's in the middle of an extensive series. Nowadays, I try to avoid this, but I REALLY hate starting in the middle of a series and spending all my time playing "catch up". It's not 100% fair of me to say, "I don't like this", when I know there's a bajillion other books I need to read to catch up. And right now, I'm already invested in enough series, and I really don't want to add anymore to my plate.
Minor Quibbles:
1) Look back up at my plot summary. Did you notice 3 different spellings of the D-named race? That wasn't me being an idiot, unable to proofread. No, that was me poking fun at the book. Because every time I read the D-named race, it was spelled differently in the text. Now one spelling, I believe, was what another race designated the D-named race. But having 3 different spellings of the same race floating around made it EXTREMELY confusing. Was it an ARC error that got fixed in final publication? Or was the editor napping? You be the judge!
2) The disconcerting mentions of PowerPoint and Hoth. Is there no better presentation software in the future? And the future knows Star Wars?!
3) Pet Peeve: If you can describe your ENTIRE alien species with one or two adjectives, you are probably doing it wrong. I've HATED this in Star Wars; I absolutely despise it elsewhere.
So, I'm done. That said, I DO think this is a prime example of "it's not you, it's me". For people who like military scifi, you will probably ADORE this. In that case, PLEASE ignore this review, ignore my opinions and proceed full throttle.
If military scifi isn't your thing, if you have a low tolerance for Marty Stuism, beware!!
So I typically write a plot summary for books. This one was a particular challenge, as A) I didn't get very far and B) what plot I could derive was very convoluted. So please bear with me as I attempt to dredge one up from memory and using the cover blurb.
So humans are still battling the Posleen (since this is one of many in the Legacy of Aldenata series, this human-Posleen war has been ongoing for awhile). Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal (who is the Marty Stue for this novel - I'm guessing he's the primary character in the earlier books) ends up on this planet, leading his troops against the Posleen and finds a race of near-humans. Apparently the Darhell had imported them to this planet, but given the Darhel are in charge of everything, this could mean bad, bad news, especially since (due to military looting laws), the entire Darheel race owes Michael O'Neal a mint.
Other than that, I got nothing.
DNF at page 61.
I know what you are asking: "Why did you DNF? If you don't like this book, then why did you bother reading it in the first place?" Well, I have answers, but let me back up and give you some history.
This is, as I mentioned above, an Amazon Vine book. When I first signed up on Amazon Vine, I was so happy to get free books, I pretty much picked ANYTHING, especially if it was "science fiction". So when I got this and found out AFTER the fact it was part of a series, I was a bit discouraged. Trying to read more than a couple of pages proved to be a challenge. So I threw it in a corner with the promise to read and review "one day".
Well, last year, Amazon Vine has changed their rules; they REALLY want you to review all the items you get and within 30 days. While they've made it clear that all "old" items don't fall under this new requirement, it made me more aware then ever that I need to clear out these half dozen Vine books I've requested and never read. So I added "Finish those Unread Amazon Vine ARCs" with my 2014 challenge to read mostly books from my personal library.
I tried, people. I really did. I know giving up at 61 out of 425 pages doesn't seem like I gave it much of a chance, but I REALLY did. Several million times between page 1 and 61, I wanted to give up the book, but I didn't. I kept picking it up, even after putting it down or falling asleep while reading it (the latter is not necessarily the book's fault BTW).
But I can't continue anymore. I just can't.
Major Reasons Why I Can't Force Myself to Finish This Book
1) I really don't think military scifi is my thing. This is my second (third?) foray into the genre, and I am bored and confused, as I have been with pretty much every other military scifi book. I'm not following the action, don't care about the characters, and am confused as hell by the plot. This is not the fault of the book or the author; it is purely a "me" thing. And even if this book is an Amazon Vine book, I don't think I should have to try to finish the book when it's obvious it is not for me.
2) It's not particularly well written. Some sentences are atrocious, such as the one below:
"He was holding a girl. One with bright red hair and very pretty blue eyes. The girl tried to kick him in the crotch. Okay, so romance probably wasn't right around the corner."
Blech! Not only is it incredibly sexist ("girl" should only be used if the narrator/speaker is a misogynist or the female is under the age of 18), but the sentence construction is bland and very choppy, like you might find in middle grade or younger fiction.
I know, I know: military scifi or genre fiction doesn't need to be brilliant literature. I get that, but hear me out. Don't we ridicule Stephenie Meyer for her bland writing in the paranormal YA romance "Twilight"? (And trust me, she will never win awards for the writing in that quartet.) Why is it OK there to critique her (she's writing genre fiction too), but it's not OK to critique John Ringo for eye-rolling dull writing?
3) The characters are bland and interchangeable, minus our resident Marty Stu. I am well acquainted that scifi puts more of an emphasis on plot and surroundings than characters, but that doesn't mean that it can get away with perfectly indistinguishable characters. Other than Marty Stu and Ridiculous (see #4 below), I can't recall a single other character from the book. They are all names, nothing else.
What makes it worse is the book's Marty Stu, Mike O'Neal. Yes, he is a Marty Stu. I know "Mary Sue" gets thrown around a LOT, but I'm trying to be better about the label. When I say he is, he really is.
+ He's a rebel, who is always right, can backtalk his superiors and never suffer repercussions, and is the Only Good Officer
(NOTE: In these kinds of books, as in the ranks of the real enlisted, officers are generally the "bad guys" because they don't "do as much" as the enlisted. Sometimes it's true, but sometimes it's just a bunch of hot air.)
+ He's an 80 year old Skoal chewer who could pass for a man a QUARTER of his age.
Yes, this sounds totally plausible - no wish-fulfillment or fantasy here!
4) The one other character I can remember isn't because of how well-written she is, it's because she doesn't make any sense. We are introduced at one point to Cally, who is 58 year old and looks 20. So yeah, we have that annoying trait where people look a third or a quarter of their age. It's annoying, but that's not the problem with her. The problem is that IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH that we learn her age, we also learn that she has been an agent for "most of those" 58 years? HOLD YOUR BRAKES! How is that possible?! She was inducted as an agent when she was ONE? A baby? Are these people Jedi? Because unless you say that they are weird Jedi baby snatchers, I am NOT going to believe that a woman who is 58 can spend "most of those years" as an agent. Heck, even if it were like the Jedi Order, the individual isn't a REAL Jedi until he/she/it gets to be a Jedi Knight, in his/her/its 20's most likely. So that would be 38 years as an agent, nowhere near the "most of those 58 years" bullsh!t.
5) It's in the middle of an extensive series. Nowadays, I try to avoid this, but I REALLY hate starting in the middle of a series and spending all my time playing "catch up". It's not 100% fair of me to say, "I don't like this", when I know there's a bajillion other books I need to read to catch up. And right now, I'm already invested in enough series, and I really don't want to add anymore to my plate.
Minor Quibbles:
1) Look back up at my plot summary. Did you notice 3 different spellings of the D-named race? That wasn't me being an idiot, unable to proofread. No, that was me poking fun at the book. Because every time I read the D-named race, it was spelled differently in the text. Now one spelling, I believe, was what another race designated the D-named race. But having 3 different spellings of the same race floating around made it EXTREMELY confusing. Was it an ARC error that got fixed in final publication? Or was the editor napping? You be the judge!
2) The disconcerting mentions of PowerPoint and Hoth. Is there no better presentation software in the future? And the future knows Star Wars?!
3) Pet Peeve: If you can describe your ENTIRE alien species with one or two adjectives, you are probably doing it wrong. I've HATED this in Star Wars; I absolutely despise it elsewhere.
So, I'm done. That said, I DO think this is a prime example of "it's not you, it's me". For people who like military scifi, you will probably ADORE this. In that case, PLEASE ignore this review, ignore my opinions and proceed full throttle.
If military scifi isn't your thing, if you have a low tolerance for Marty Stuism, beware!!
October 18, 2011
I picked this military science fiction offering off the shelves as I kept tripping over John Ringo’s name on various forums and thought it was about time I gave one of his books a go.
Whoever wrote it – a blurb should give a quick taste of what the book has to offer, whereas a synopsis is a condensed version of the story, complete with spoilers. Please don’t get the two confused! If I’d read the jacket cover info this time around I probably wouldn’t have stuck with this book. The omniscient viewpoint isn’t my favourite style and it was taking me a while to bond with any of the characters – until the event mentioned in the second sentence of the blurb occurred on page 70, which was a total shock and finally hooked me. Which means the hapless souls who’d read the blurting blurb had to wade through 69 pages waiting for this particular shoe to drop… C’mon, Baen – such inept cover info isn’t playing fair with your readers or writers!
Despite being the twelfth book in the series, I didn’t find myself floundering or particularly adrift – Ringo does a very slick job of filling in any necessary information without losing pace – although I suspect that I would have enjoyed Eye of the Storm a great deal more if I’d had the good sense to start at the beginning of this series. It is a tale of alien treachery and planetary warfare in a universe where soldiers are rejuvenated to enable them to continue fighting into old age to keep humankind from being wiped out. Complete with plenty of action and a large cast of characters.
Ringo mostly keeps the plot swinging along at a good clip. He is clearly knowledgeable about military protocols and although his characterisation isn’t particularly detailed or deep, it is certainly fit for purpose, aided by realistic dialogue with regular dollops of humour. Despite plenty of action, Ringo doesn’t go in for the gritted bleakness of the likes of Richard Morgan’s Takeshi Kovacs series and while there is a smattering of curse words throughout the book, the f-word isn’t a universal adjective.
I very much enjoyed Ringo’s military hardware and the descriptions of the training regime as human troops struggle to prepare against a lethal enemy while the clock is ticking. The notion that the troops are only as good as their ability to use the latest hardware with speed and efficiency is entirely plausible. However, there were places where the pace does dip – too much time is devoted to the points system and auction allocating places to the influx of volunteers. My imagination also faltered over the bizarre image of a sentient space ship in the shape of a naked woman which I found unbelievable and distracting. Overall, though, this is an entertaining read which I expect Ringo fans will thoroughly enjoy and I will probably get hold of the sequel to find out what happens next.
7/10
Whoever wrote it – a blurb should give a quick taste of what the book has to offer, whereas a synopsis is a condensed version of the story, complete with spoilers. Please don’t get the two confused! If I’d read the jacket cover info this time around I probably wouldn’t have stuck with this book. The omniscient viewpoint isn’t my favourite style and it was taking me a while to bond with any of the characters – until the event mentioned in the second sentence of the blurb occurred on page 70, which was a total shock and finally hooked me. Which means the hapless souls who’d read the blurting blurb had to wade through 69 pages waiting for this particular shoe to drop… C’mon, Baen – such inept cover info isn’t playing fair with your readers or writers!
Despite being the twelfth book in the series, I didn’t find myself floundering or particularly adrift – Ringo does a very slick job of filling in any necessary information without losing pace – although I suspect that I would have enjoyed Eye of the Storm a great deal more if I’d had the good sense to start at the beginning of this series. It is a tale of alien treachery and planetary warfare in a universe where soldiers are rejuvenated to enable them to continue fighting into old age to keep humankind from being wiped out. Complete with plenty of action and a large cast of characters.
Ringo mostly keeps the plot swinging along at a good clip. He is clearly knowledgeable about military protocols and although his characterisation isn’t particularly detailed or deep, it is certainly fit for purpose, aided by realistic dialogue with regular dollops of humour. Despite plenty of action, Ringo doesn’t go in for the gritted bleakness of the likes of Richard Morgan’s Takeshi Kovacs series and while there is a smattering of curse words throughout the book, the f-word isn’t a universal adjective.
I very much enjoyed Ringo’s military hardware and the descriptions of the training regime as human troops struggle to prepare against a lethal enemy while the clock is ticking. The notion that the troops are only as good as their ability to use the latest hardware with speed and efficiency is entirely plausible. However, there were places where the pace does dip – too much time is devoted to the points system and auction allocating places to the influx of volunteers. My imagination also faltered over the bizarre image of a sentient space ship in the shape of a naked woman which I found unbelievable and distracting. Overall, though, this is an entertaining read which I expect Ringo fans will thoroughly enjoy and I will probably get hold of the sequel to find out what happens next.
7/10
January 16, 2010
General Mike O’Neal is popular with the troops and at home after liberating first Earth then planet after planet from the Posleen. The Darhels fear him and now that the war is almost over, they strike. General O’Neal is set up and captured, his troop are killed in an ambush. A kangaroo Court with drummed up charges is held and he is found guilty.
His transport to prison is intercepted by a Bane Sidhe strike team lead by his daughter Cally, who he thinks dead. They bring Mike to earth without showing Cally.
The news of what happened leads to mutiny on the Moonbase and Fleet and they are just about to start fighting when neither side can fire their weapons. The human mentats tell of a new enemy, more fierce and technological advanced than the Posleen.
The Darhels and the alliance depends on humans to fight their wars, and there is only one leader that can save their bacon this time, General Mike O’Neal. But after what they did to him, his family and humanity it’s not going to be easy to get him to help. This time there will be change, a lot of change, with Mike O’Neal in charge of the war.
The Hedren Tyranny has invaded and they have mental powers they use for war. Michele and the other mentats have been trained in the Way that forbid violence but now they have to face the ‘Dark side’.
John Ringo is fantastic at portraing life in the military even when they are not fighting and making it interesting to the reader. Even appointing officers and NCOs interests as much as a battle (almost).
But there is more going on in this book, it hints of bigger powers behind the scene and the ending is a total cliffhanger. Now I have to wait for the resolution (Probably 2 more books). I was a bit disappointed by John Ringo’s homepage, there was no information on the series there, not even on this book.
Eye of the Storm (Free Online Book) was a hard book to put down, John Ringo at his best, a superb military science fiction. I recommend it.
His transport to prison is intercepted by a Bane Sidhe strike team lead by his daughter Cally, who he thinks dead. They bring Mike to earth without showing Cally.
The news of what happened leads to mutiny on the Moonbase and Fleet and they are just about to start fighting when neither side can fire their weapons. The human mentats tell of a new enemy, more fierce and technological advanced than the Posleen.
The Darhels and the alliance depends on humans to fight their wars, and there is only one leader that can save their bacon this time, General Mike O’Neal. But after what they did to him, his family and humanity it’s not going to be easy to get him to help. This time there will be change, a lot of change, with Mike O’Neal in charge of the war.
The Hedren Tyranny has invaded and they have mental powers they use for war. Michele and the other mentats have been trained in the Way that forbid violence but now they have to face the ‘Dark side’.
John Ringo is fantastic at portraing life in the military even when they are not fighting and making it interesting to the reader. Even appointing officers and NCOs interests as much as a battle (almost).
But there is more going on in this book, it hints of bigger powers behind the scene and the ending is a total cliffhanger. Now I have to wait for the resolution (Probably 2 more books). I was a bit disappointed by John Ringo’s homepage, there was no information on the series there, not even on this book.
Eye of the Storm (Free Online Book) was a hard book to put down, John Ringo at his best, a superb military science fiction. I recommend it.
June 7, 2019
Okay so 3 to 3.5 stars. I liked most of this book but the author has made the German SS the good guys? Totally weird and very offense to anyone that knows anything about some of the horrors that the SS commented against their own people during WWII. This author is known for his backward thinking when it comes to woman (Misogyny) and other far right wing views. Even tho I am not a fan of this authors views on these topics and I cringe every time I see them in his book but I still like hes writing style and how he puts a story together. He writes a good space story and this book was very close to 4 stars minus the love he has for the SS. I wish there was more action in this book but I think this one was just a setup book and the main action will be in the next book. I may continue with this series even with the things I dislike about the author.
May 11, 2013
This is the latest book in John Ringo’s Legacy of The Aldenata series and it is also the first of the Hedren War sub-series within that overall series. When I read the first book in the Aldenata series I was not really very impressed. I really disliked the Darhel plotting and scheming in order to try and stay in power, at the cost of many human lives, despite the fact that the humans was pretty much the only thing that could save their sorry behinds from the Posleen. Therefore I was somewhat worried when this book pretty much started in the same way.
Luckily, after about a third of the book everything gets on a better track again. Actually, not only does it get on a better track but those bloody Darhel find themselves in a situation where they are seriously fucked by their own treacherous scheming and guess who have to save the day. This time it is the humans, more specifically O’Neal whom the Darhel tried to screw big time at the beginning of the book, that are calling the shots. I really liked the book from then on. O’Neil gets to tell the Darhel to fuck off or suck it up in so many ways from that point in the story.
I have actually not read any of the books in between the end of the Posleen War series and this new series. I never picked any of these up because I felt, from the descriptions, that they were all merely side stories that didn’t really advance the main story arc in any way. This book makes quite a few references to the Cally’s War sub-series within the Aldenata series though so I am wondering whether I should actually have read at least those first anyway. Not that it is a big issue reading this book without having read the Cally’s books but I get the impression that they may not have been as much side stories as I thought. I might actually pick them up now.
Anyway, back to Eye of The Storm. As I said I quite liked it from the one third point and onwards. Most of the book is about O’Neil & Co scrambling to rebuild the fighting forces that the Darhel destroyed by their treacherous behaviour and prepare to fight the new threat on the horizon. In the process O’Neil does his best to ensure that the Darhel stranglehold is broken…forever. There are really not that much fighting going on until the end of the book but it is still fun reading.
The two things that I wasn’t too thrilled about was the Sohon part which felt a bit too much as magic to me and also this idea of putting together the military units by some fancy bidding system like you were buying your troops on eBay. Not very plausible I have to say.
On the whole, when adding up the plusses and minuses, this was a very enjoyable read. It did end in a huge cliff-hanger though but then it was pretty clear that this was the first book in a new series so that was not very surprising.
Luckily, after about a third of the book everything gets on a better track again. Actually, not only does it get on a better track but those bloody Darhel find themselves in a situation where they are seriously fucked by their own treacherous scheming and guess who have to save the day. This time it is the humans, more specifically O’Neal whom the Darhel tried to screw big time at the beginning of the book, that are calling the shots. I really liked the book from then on. O’Neil gets to tell the Darhel to fuck off or suck it up in so many ways from that point in the story.
I have actually not read any of the books in between the end of the Posleen War series and this new series. I never picked any of these up because I felt, from the descriptions, that they were all merely side stories that didn’t really advance the main story arc in any way. This book makes quite a few references to the Cally’s War sub-series within the Aldenata series though so I am wondering whether I should actually have read at least those first anyway. Not that it is a big issue reading this book without having read the Cally’s books but I get the impression that they may not have been as much side stories as I thought. I might actually pick them up now.
Anyway, back to Eye of The Storm. As I said I quite liked it from the one third point and onwards. Most of the book is about O’Neil & Co scrambling to rebuild the fighting forces that the Darhel destroyed by their treacherous behaviour and prepare to fight the new threat on the horizon. In the process O’Neil does his best to ensure that the Darhel stranglehold is broken…forever. There are really not that much fighting going on until the end of the book but it is still fun reading.
The two things that I wasn’t too thrilled about was the Sohon part which felt a bit too much as magic to me and also this idea of putting together the military units by some fancy bidding system like you were buying your troops on eBay. Not very plausible I have to say.
On the whole, when adding up the plusses and minuses, this was a very enjoyable read. It did end in a huge cliff-hanger though but then it was pretty clear that this was the first book in a new series so that was not very surprising.
February 15, 2018
Unfortunately for me this was a disappointing book that follows a pattern of Mr. Ringo's writing. This book is about 30% background for new readers, about 50% new interesting material, and 20% mush filler. It tries to extend the Posleen war series of books into a new phase, but ends at a clumsy cliffhanger, and since 2009 has been abandoned.This follows a pattern of his (and I have read almost all his books) in which he starts a story, stretches it across numerous volumes, then for some reason, maybe decreasing sales, maybe losing interest, he abandons it and moves on to something entirely different. Often the quality of the writing and imagination deteriorates significantly from the series beginning to it's abandoning, as if he were just going through the motions. There are several series of his which have followed this pattern: the Posleen war books, including this effort to bridge to a new "series"; the Looking-Glass books, the March to the Stars series; and the Hot Gate series. I think the issue is taking something that was probably a good idea for one or two books, and then trying to drag it out over 4, 5 or even more.
Ringo is not a great writer, but can be an entertaining story teller, yet if a writer disappoints by starting stories and then not finishing them, and does it repeatedly, I begin to just avoid his books. How many readers would start a series, if they knew the author will never finish it?
He is not alone in doing this. At some point Science Fiction and Fantasy has become awash with writers (including those never published ) who think their story is so big it needs 10,000 pages to complete. Then, somewhere three or 4 years into it, reality intrudes and they or the readers lose interest and move on, and a story in left incomplete. What would have been interesting short stories or novels now get inflated into multi-volume series just to try and sell more books. It's not just the Ringo's of the world doing this, it's writers like Sanderson/Corey and J.R.R. Martin doing it as well. Does anyone think that JRRM will EVER finish ASOIAF?
Please authors, just write one good book, not a half-dozen lame ones. If the demand is there, revisit in a sequel if you are still interested.
Ringo is not a great writer, but can be an entertaining story teller, yet if a writer disappoints by starting stories and then not finishing them, and does it repeatedly, I begin to just avoid his books. How many readers would start a series, if they knew the author will never finish it?
He is not alone in doing this. At some point Science Fiction and Fantasy has become awash with writers (including those never published ) who think their story is so big it needs 10,000 pages to complete. Then, somewhere three or 4 years into it, reality intrudes and they or the readers lose interest and move on, and a story in left incomplete. What would have been interesting short stories or novels now get inflated into multi-volume series just to try and sell more books. It's not just the Ringo's of the world doing this, it's writers like Sanderson/Corey and J.R.R. Martin doing it as well. Does anyone think that JRRM will EVER finish ASOIAF?
Please authors, just write one good book, not a half-dozen lame ones. If the demand is there, revisit in a sequel if you are still interested.
July 19, 2011
Biggest problem with this book is that it's the end of the series. Feels like there could be so much more beyond this... hopefully John Ringo returns to the Posleenverse. What a way to spend half a year!
June 4, 2017
3rd re-read 6/4/17 Very good.
February 3, 2018
Having loved the first three or so books, I started this out of series loyalty. It's just not that great, with most of the book focused on industry mobilization and personnel recall rather than the action and desperation that the earlier books had.
May 26, 2024
A Tactical Challenge
"Eye of the Storm" by John Ringo is a military science fiction novel that continues the saga of Mike O'Neal and the fight against alien threats. As a book that falls midway through an extensive series, it brings both strengths and weaknesses typical of ongoing sagas.
One of the most commendable aspects of "Eye of the Storm" is Ringo's attention to detailed military strategies and operations. Readers who appreciate tactical depth and realistic battle scenarios will find the engagements in this novel thoroughly engaging. Ringo's background research and experience shine through, creating an immersive experience in terms of combat realism. The action sequences are intense and meticulously described, offering a thrilling ride for those who enjoy military science fiction.
Character development, particularly for the protagonist Mike O'Neal, is another strong point. Ringo delves deeper into O'Neal's psyche, exploring the toll that constant warfare takes on a soldier. The internal struggles and the burden of leadership are portrayed with a degree of empathy and understanding, making O'Neal a more complex and relatable character. This character depth adds a layer of emotional engagement that helps balance the otherwise action-heavy narrative.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. One significant drawback is its pacing. The story sometimes gets bogged down in excessive technical detail and long-winded explanations of military tactics and technologies. While these elements contribute to the authenticity of the setting, they can also slow the narrative flow, making it a bit cumbersome for readers who prefer a faster pace. These sections may feel tedious and could potentially alienate readers who are not as enthusiastic about the minutiae of military operations.
Additionally, "Eye of the Storm" relies heavily on prior knowledge of the series. New readers or those who have not kept up with every installment might find themselves lost amid the numerous references to past events and characters. The book does not stand well on its own and requires a significant investment in the series as a whole to fully appreciate the context and nuances. This dependency on the series' continuity can be a barrier for newcomers and may limit the book's accessibility.
Furthermore, while the central characters are well-developed, secondary characters often come across as flat and underutilized. This lack of development for supporting characters can make the broader narrative feel somewhat unbalanced. The focus on Mike O'Neal, while beneficial for character study, sometimes overshadows the potential growth and contributions of other characters in the story.
In summary, "Eye of the Storm" is a solid addition to John Ringo's military science fiction series, offering detailed and realistic combat sequences, and a deeper exploration of its main character's psyche. However, its dense technical descriptions, slow pacing in parts, and reliance on series continuity may detract from the overall experience for some readers. It's a book that will likely resonate more with established fans of the series rather than newcomers. For those invested in the ongoing saga, it provides a compelling continuation of Mike O'Neal's journey. For others, it might serve as a reminder of the complexities and demands of long-running series in the genre. Hence, a three-star rating feels appropriate for its mix of strengths and areas for improvement.
"Eye of the Storm" by John Ringo is a military science fiction novel that continues the saga of Mike O'Neal and the fight against alien threats. As a book that falls midway through an extensive series, it brings both strengths and weaknesses typical of ongoing sagas.
One of the most commendable aspects of "Eye of the Storm" is Ringo's attention to detailed military strategies and operations. Readers who appreciate tactical depth and realistic battle scenarios will find the engagements in this novel thoroughly engaging. Ringo's background research and experience shine through, creating an immersive experience in terms of combat realism. The action sequences are intense and meticulously described, offering a thrilling ride for those who enjoy military science fiction.
Character development, particularly for the protagonist Mike O'Neal, is another strong point. Ringo delves deeper into O'Neal's psyche, exploring the toll that constant warfare takes on a soldier. The internal struggles and the burden of leadership are portrayed with a degree of empathy and understanding, making O'Neal a more complex and relatable character. This character depth adds a layer of emotional engagement that helps balance the otherwise action-heavy narrative.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. One significant drawback is its pacing. The story sometimes gets bogged down in excessive technical detail and long-winded explanations of military tactics and technologies. While these elements contribute to the authenticity of the setting, they can also slow the narrative flow, making it a bit cumbersome for readers who prefer a faster pace. These sections may feel tedious and could potentially alienate readers who are not as enthusiastic about the minutiae of military operations.
Additionally, "Eye of the Storm" relies heavily on prior knowledge of the series. New readers or those who have not kept up with every installment might find themselves lost amid the numerous references to past events and characters. The book does not stand well on its own and requires a significant investment in the series as a whole to fully appreciate the context and nuances. This dependency on the series' continuity can be a barrier for newcomers and may limit the book's accessibility.
Furthermore, while the central characters are well-developed, secondary characters often come across as flat and underutilized. This lack of development for supporting characters can make the broader narrative feel somewhat unbalanced. The focus on Mike O'Neal, while beneficial for character study, sometimes overshadows the potential growth and contributions of other characters in the story.
In summary, "Eye of the Storm" is a solid addition to John Ringo's military science fiction series, offering detailed and realistic combat sequences, and a deeper exploration of its main character's psyche. However, its dense technical descriptions, slow pacing in parts, and reliance on series continuity may detract from the overall experience for some readers. It's a book that will likely resonate more with established fans of the series rather than newcomers. For those invested in the ongoing saga, it provides a compelling continuation of Mike O'Neal's journey. For others, it might serve as a reminder of the complexities and demands of long-running series in the genre. Hence, a three-star rating feels appropriate for its mix of strengths and areas for improvement.
October 7, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book; I have not read it nearly as much as the "first four books" in the series, or the "sidestories," but I think I have read it more than the Cally's War series of books. It "re-introduces" several characters introduced in various books over the years. It does have some "continuity errors" in it (with the publication of The Tuloriad, which was published after this book but takes place before Cally's War). It does take a while to build up, though, and the ending "stinks" really, really bad . It has some interesting ideas in terms of technology, some "fun" moments (I felt) with one or two Indowy, and the ending definitely demands some kind of follow-up.
The pacing is somewhat decent; the author is trying to "rebuild" his world in this novel, and it works, for the most part. It starts off with a "new mystery" being introduced prior to the intro of the Hedren, and it has to have one of the longest chapters in the history of story-telling . He could easily have broken chapter six into two or three shorter/smaller chapters! hahahah The pacing, even when it "slowed down," still managed to keep me interested in the overall narrative.
There were several parts of the book I did enjoy.
In reference to the 'continuity goofs,' there were more than one.
I do wish the author had continued on with the series. It seemed like it had the makings of being an enjoyable storyline. The ending is definitely a "let-down" merely because there are no current books being written to finish up this part of the series. Perhaps the sales were not as good as he would have liked, so he decided not to finish the series? Who knows. Regardless, it was a decent start to something that could have been a fun addition to the whole "Legacy of the Aldenata" series (despite the number of gaps that resulted from when the various subsequent stories take place). While it is probably not quite a "four star" book, I would probably rate it in the 3.5 - 3.7 range, so rounded up it makes four stars. I am glad that I reread this book.
The pacing is somewhat decent; the author is trying to "rebuild" his world in this novel, and it works, for the most part. It starts off with a "new mystery" being introduced prior to the intro of the Hedren, and it has to have one of the longest chapters in the history of story-telling . He could easily have broken chapter six into two or three shorter/smaller chapters! hahahah The pacing, even when it "slowed down," still managed to keep me interested in the overall narrative.
There were several parts of the book I did enjoy.
In reference to the 'continuity goofs,' there were more than one.
I do wish the author had continued on with the series. It seemed like it had the makings of being an enjoyable storyline. The ending is definitely a "let-down" merely because there are no current books being written to finish up this part of the series. Perhaps the sales were not as good as he would have liked, so he decided not to finish the series? Who knows. Regardless, it was a decent start to something that could have been a fun addition to the whole "Legacy of the Aldenata" series (despite the number of gaps that resulted from when the various subsequent stories take place). While it is probably not quite a "four star" book, I would probably rate it in the 3.5 - 3.7 range, so rounded up it makes four stars. I am glad that I reread this book.
February 12, 2024
Another worthy addition to Ringo’s Posleen War saga. It was loaded with logistics and trivia leading up to a very short climatic battle. However, if one wants to be educated in the ethos of battle preparedness, this book does it. Note that this is not a standalone novel and if one reads it without reading the previous books in the series, one is likely to be treading water in a very deep pond.
May 13, 2021
I've followed this series on and off for more than 20 years, but I somehow missed this one. Not really a problem, as it's mostly about military organization and how to create an army out of nothing. And it goes on and on.
And on and on and on.
Maybe he's just lost interest in writing the story. Having read this one I will hesitate to buy the next volume, if it's ever written.
And on and on and on.
Maybe he's just lost interest in writing the story. Having read this one I will hesitate to buy the next volume, if it's ever written.
March 31, 2018
4.5* Great book, ties in all the previous books' characters and leaves you craving a sequel.
November 11, 2018
This looks like a solid opening to the new series. Familiar characters and setting with new protagonist.
February 3, 2019
I enjoyed this.
I didn't enjoy realizing that there is no sign, as far as I can tell, of the next book.
I do look forward to reading the next one, though.
I didn't enjoy realizing that there is no sign, as far as I can tell, of the next book.
I do look forward to reading the next one, though.
September 5, 2019
The Mentats have to learn to fight or the universe will come under new and harsher management This was a Good Read.
August 11, 2021
Great book even if it left you hanging .
Great book I have book number twelve since I came out but there were supposed to be two more to finish up the final war . Where are they.
Great book I have book number twelve since I came out but there were supposed to be two more to finish up the final war . Where are they.
March 2, 2014
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of the popular Legacy of the Aldenata series (_A Hymn Before Battle_, etc.) will rejoice as Ringo brings together characters and plot threads from his solo novels and collaborations. After the Earth is invaded by the voracious Posleen, Lt. Gen. Michael O'Neal discovers evidence that the Galactic Confederation's Darhel leaders have been manipulating humanity to keep them from subverting the galactic order. Before O'Neal can take action, a new and totally unexpected threat, the Hedren, disrupt the Darhel sabotage. With the Confederation's capital in danger of falling to the Hedren, O'Neal must organize a counterattack despite widespread corruption and apathy in Earth's military. Some potential repercussions from prior events are resolved a bit too easily, but Ringo's lively action scenes and thorough knowledge of military subculture dynamics make enjoyable reading. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Beneath A Banner Burned . . .
In an instant the world changed for Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal. His beloved Corps of the last remaining ACS destroyed beneath the guns of the Fleet, his staff shot before his eyes, arrested on the charge of war crimes, he faces a short, one-sided, trial, a trip to the Fleet Penal Facility and a bullet to the back of the head while trying to 'escape.'
_The Boundaries Blur_
General Tam Wesley faces trying one of the most beloved heroes in Federation, not to mention a friend of decades, on trumped up charges. He alternative is having the last corps of humans that haven't sold their souls to the Darhel be taken apart like a chicken.
Then he finds out the bad news...
The Chaos Has Returned
With a new invasion from a previously unknown race threatening the Federation capital, Darhel Tir Dal Ron faces his ultimate nightmare: He is going to have to reinstate the one man human soldiers trust, a man with the power and knowledge to destroy the Darhel oligarchy forever. And instead convince him, against all logic, to save the Darhel.
Somebody is going to die. General Michael O'Neal, Supreme Commander, Federation Forces, just has to pick who.
June 13, 2013
Another in Ringo's multi-faceted accounts of war, and one not half bad as a piece of entertainment. One thing you will learn from reading the military SF of US conservatives is that the universe is filled with alien monsters whose only apparent ambition is to travel to the Earth and conquer it. (Back in the 1930s the evil aliens not only wanted to conquer the Earth, but then have sex with helpless Earth females. Ringo's aliens don't want to do that, so there has been a change since the previous century.)
The story: thanks to the valiant efforts of the (USA) Starship Troopers — whoops, I mean the ACS (armoured something something) led by the redoutable Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal, the previous crop of alien invaders has been defeated and destroyed (more or less), but now, the duplicitous boss aliens who employed the human troops to destroy the other bad aliens has betrayed the human troops by killing them all, just in case the humans prove to be a threat to the boss aliens, and start to demand their monstrously large backpay.
Yet, just at this moment with the ACS destroyed, ANOTHER bunch of new aliens, even worse than the previous bunch of bad aliens encounters humanity (there must be a q out there in space), and guess what—no "take me to your leader" crap. These new aliens spend their entire life conquering and ruling others, exterminating all that are not useful to themselves. Wow.
That is pretty much the story, told in more detail and a sprinkling or more of humour.
I did enjoy the novel, it had just enough tongue in cheek self-referential humour to alleviate the tiresome 'might is right' to be found in Ringo (he must live in a scary place). Looking forward to the sequel --- sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel ...
The story: thanks to the valiant efforts of the (USA) Starship Troopers — whoops, I mean the ACS (armoured something something) led by the redoutable Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal, the previous crop of alien invaders has been defeated and destroyed (more or less), but now, the duplicitous boss aliens who employed the human troops to destroy the other bad aliens has betrayed the human troops by killing them all, just in case the humans prove to be a threat to the boss aliens, and start to demand their monstrously large backpay.
Yet, just at this moment with the ACS destroyed, ANOTHER bunch of new aliens, even worse than the previous bunch of bad aliens encounters humanity (there must be a q out there in space), and guess what—no "take me to your leader" crap. These new aliens spend their entire life conquering and ruling others, exterminating all that are not useful to themselves. Wow.
That is pretty much the story, told in more detail and a sprinkling or more of humour.
I did enjoy the novel, it had just enough tongue in cheek self-referential humour to alleviate the tiresome 'might is right' to be found in Ringo (he must live in a scary place). Looking forward to the sequel --- sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2011
Eleventh in the Posleen War (aka Legacy of the Aldenata), a military science fiction series. Ringo creates a very believable cast of characters and is very obviously not on the side of the brass. His military experience comes through with his treatment of the actions and the characters.
Jesus...you almost don't want to read this one. Huge, HUGE betrayal of Mike O'Neal and his men with trumped-up charges for O'Neal by his friends no less...???!!! Fortunately, Michelle, Cassie, and their crews are standing by.
The Himmit reveal a new level of strength when they force the Darhel to accept O'Neal as their master...hooboy, if you have been wanting to see the Darhel get their comeuppance...this is it! Unfortunately, it doesn't make O'Neal's job any easier. He's got a lot on his plate in this one what with needing to weed out the corrupt idiots from the Fleet and finding decent officers to replace them---luckily for Callie, Stewart is one of 'em. The German SS unit is also folded back into Earth's military as part of the defense of Gratool. And the rebellious DAG unit gets a comeback and has their record tidied up. I love watching the Darhel come to heel under O'Neal...
Naturally, the reason for this 180 is the introduction of a new big, badder---the Hedren. A race who makes the Posleen look like a cakewalk. The Hedren use Sohon but, unlike the Indowy and the Tcchpth, the Hedren use it for war. So Michelle and the Indowy need a captive to explore.
Jesus...you almost don't want to read this one. Huge, HUGE betrayal of Mike O'Neal and his men with trumped-up charges for O'Neal by his friends no less...???!!! Fortunately, Michelle, Cassie, and their crews are standing by.
The Himmit reveal a new level of strength when they force the Darhel to accept O'Neal as their master...hooboy, if you have been wanting to see the Darhel get their comeuppance...this is it! Unfortunately, it doesn't make O'Neal's job any easier. He's got a lot on his plate in this one what with needing to weed out the corrupt idiots from the Fleet and finding decent officers to replace them---luckily for Callie, Stewart is one of 'em. The German SS unit is also folded back into Earth's military as part of the defense of Gratool. And the rebellious DAG unit gets a comeback and has their record tidied up. I love watching the Darhel come to heel under O'Neal...
Naturally, the reason for this 180 is the introduction of a new big, badder---the Hedren. A race who makes the Posleen look like a cakewalk. The Hedren use Sohon but, unlike the Indowy and the Tcchpth, the Hedren use it for war. So Michelle and the Indowy need a captive to explore.
March 27, 2011
After having spent quite some time on side stories, the “Legacy of the Aldenata/Posleen” universe finally gets back to the central core of the story, if you will. Peace is at hand, but there is trouble as the Darhel keep trying to screw humanity over in a sort of grand plan for their own domination of all races. Pretty soon, all that falls by the wayside as a new threat is looming. The Darhel now have to come to terms with the fact they need those pesky humans. However, unlike during the Posleen War, humanity is well aware of what is going on, and can dictate terms. Mike O’Neal is brought back from disgrace (he was framed) to lead.
One thing I loved about this novel was how many of the main protagonists from both the central Posleen War stories and the side stories were brought together. It was like a Greatest Hits album with only cool songs. The reunion of Cally and Mike O’Neal, with the latter being unaware that his daughter was even alive, was entertaining as hell. And any excuse to bring back the SS troops from “Watch on the Rhine” is a good one. Like the early books in the Posleen War series, this one focuses on preparation, leaving a cliffhanger as the main action finally begin. Looking forward to future installments.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=42
One thing I loved about this novel was how many of the main protagonists from both the central Posleen War stories and the side stories were brought together. It was like a Greatest Hits album with only cool songs. The reunion of Cally and Mike O’Neal, with the latter being unaware that his daughter was even alive, was entertaining as hell. And any excuse to bring back the SS troops from “Watch on the Rhine” is a good one. Like the early books in the Posleen War series, this one focuses on preparation, leaving a cliffhanger as the main action finally begin. Looking forward to future installments.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=42
June 5, 2024
This is actually a continuation of the sub-series Cally's War, at least for a little while. One should read this book after Honor of the Clan and Yellow Eyes.
It looks like total rebellion of the humans against the Darhil until the story takes a sharp left turn and everyone is invaded by the Hedrin. Nothing unites groups like a common enemy. It gets really interesting and I loved the battle at the end of the book. My complaint is that the book ends with a big opening for a sequel, but I don't see an obvious sequel anywhere. There has been plenty of time to see one if it was forthcoming. So I enjoyed this book but I am sad that there is not more about the Hedrin war.
It looks like total rebellion of the humans against the Darhil until the story takes a sharp left turn and everyone is invaded by the Hedrin. Nothing unites groups like a common enemy. It gets really interesting and I loved the battle at the end of the book. My complaint is that the book ends with a big opening for a sequel, but I don't see an obvious sequel anywhere. There has been plenty of time to see one if it was forthcoming. So I enjoyed this book but I am sad that there is not more about the Hedrin war.
May 2, 2019
As this is the last wrap up book of the series, it so badly done. It really just ham fisted down your throat how awesome Ringo's characters are while pretty much kicking to the curb character created by other authors who helped write for the series.
After books like Watch on the Rhine, Yellow Eyes, the Tuloriad, and such, seeing those characters made into very bad parodies of the stories they told was just bad form. It left a bad taste in my mouth with all honestly.
This book, while good, was not one of his better works... definitely on par with other low points like the Cally's War side branch of stories that really did not do well as stories.
If you have made it through all the other books and need a capstone, I would actually suggest the Tuloriad as the end point for the series instead of Eye of the Storm.
After books like Watch on the Rhine, Yellow Eyes, the Tuloriad, and such, seeing those characters made into very bad parodies of the stories they told was just bad form. It left a bad taste in my mouth with all honestly.
This book, while good, was not one of his better works... definitely on par with other low points like the Cally's War side branch of stories that really did not do well as stories.
If you have made it through all the other books and need a capstone, I would actually suggest the Tuloriad as the end point for the series instead of Eye of the Storm.
November 3, 2013
I've just reread the entire series, from A Hymm Before Battle and all related, and then this book. And you really should read them all as picking this up at this point would be rough...
And while this is indeed a good book, I really hate the ending (or lack of one). It really kind of feels like it's a 3/4 book and ends well before it should. Maybe if the next book were already ready, I'd have been okay, but since note, I really felt I was left hanging (and not in a good way).
Still, this book was great in the it took most/all the story lines from all the earlier books and brought them together into a sensible whole.
And while this is indeed a good book, I really hate the ending (or lack of one). It really kind of feels like it's a 3/4 book and ends well before it should. Maybe if the next book were already ready, I'd have been okay, but since note, I really felt I was left hanging (and not in a good way).
Still, this book was great in the it took most/all the story lines from all the earlier books and brought them together into a sensible whole.
March 31, 2016
It's a book that I would not rate as "good" and yet it was exciting and fun to read. It will definitely never be considered a classic but if you're looking for a bit of fast & fun mind candy, this might be the book for you.
Characters and their behaviors & reactions are believable even if a bit "over the top."
Plot is a continuation and/or extension of the Legacy of the Aldenata (sp?) Universe while not technically part of the series.
"Humanity stopped the Posleen threat. However, humanity must save the Galactics again when another threat arises."
Characters and their behaviors & reactions are believable even if a bit "over the top."
Plot is a continuation and/or extension of the Legacy of the Aldenata (sp?) Universe while not technically part of the series.
"Humanity stopped the Posleen threat. However, humanity must save the Galactics again when another threat arises."
August 14, 2009
More excellence from John Ringo! I missed Yellow Eyes and The Tuloriad, so now I have to go back and read those, but this is book breathes a lot of new life into the Aldenata universe.
I did have one beef with this book, though... and that was with a particular capital ship's redesign. Without spoiling, I'll just say that it was completely over the top, and made me almost want to delete the ebook. However, all of the other story elements do make up for it in the end.
I did have one beef with this book, though... and that was with a particular capital ship's redesign. Without spoiling, I'll just say that it was completely over the top, and made me almost want to delete the ebook. However, all of the other story elements do make up for it in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2009
3 1/2 stars, but of course I don't have that option.
My biggest complaint about this book is that it is too short. I finished it, and I wanted to find out more. Ringo is a very enjoyable writer, but his last three books in the Posleen series have a lot of characters, and it is hard to keep track of them as well as where his plot is going at times.
If you like his Posleen books you'll like this novel, but the last 4 star book in the series was probably Yellow Eyes.
My biggest complaint about this book is that it is too short. I finished it, and I wanted to find out more. Ringo is a very enjoyable writer, but his last three books in the Posleen series have a lot of characters, and it is hard to keep track of them as well as where his plot is going at times.
If you like his Posleen books you'll like this novel, but the last 4 star book in the series was probably Yellow Eyes.
September 20, 2016
For starters--this is not a bad book. The DNF is because it didn't really make any sense, as I had not kept up with the series. And, quite frankly I don't feel like going back and reading the 4-5 books Ringo did with co-authors that fill in the gaps. I skimmed through this one and saw that it had a "to be continued" sort of ending. So, I pronounce myself done with this series.
July 20, 2010
I like the book overall but found it did get tedious in some parts and was a bit confusing about following some of the characters as the book jumps around between different people and groups. Definately a must read if you have read the rest of the series but it can be a bit hard to reread as I found myself skipping sections that just felt too slow and tedious.
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