A Man of War

Rating:
Summary: A Man of War
Review: "A Man of War" by David Lusk gives you a detailed glimpse towards what our future may hold. Wars on distant planets, terrifying war machines and our present way of living lost centuries ago. What draws Chase Aarons to these impressive war machines begins with simple childhood fear and curiosity. This later becomes the driving force, which makes him a legend, the ultimate warrior, of a man of war. Is it destiny, fate, fear or love that intrigues Chase to choose this dangerous yet, exciting career? Perhaps it is all of the above as his life unfolds in this detailed military story.

Mr. Lusk's knowledge of the military is impressive. This clearly radiates through out his book. For those of us who aren't, he has included a glossary of military terms. His attention to detail commands the reader to press on. His futuristic style reminds me of the movie, "The Terminator". I recommend "A Man of War" for those looking for a well written, action-packed military war story.

Jennifer Ragan

Rating:
Summary: What "Starship Troopers" will be when it grows up...
Review: A good editor could have cut the length by about 1/3, and the price seems high compared to other mil sci-fi books.
Don't worry about the price; the value is THERE.
How boys grow to be soldiers, soldiers to warriors, and warriors to deal with the Shadow (Jungian term!) of the military is a topic few can write about with clarity. Indeed, only Donald E. McQuinn hits the bell of dealing with the Shadow like Lusk.
War is always more expensive than the politicians tell us, and the price isn't going down anytime soon.
Lusk deals with this in a book that is as good as any you will read in the area of military sociology, and has an ending that will make you gasp, as chills run down your spine.
Ignorance in dealing with the Shadow of the warrior is expensive, and this book lays the foundation for dealing with it in a constructive manner.
Spend the extra money, buy it, and look into the soul of a child who becomes a soldier, a warrior, and a ruined, hollow shell of a man, at the moment of his greatest military success...
This book is as far above "Starship Troopers" as the Heavens above the Earth.
Let your son read "Starship Troopers" when he is young.
MAKE HIM read "A Man of War" BEFORE he talks to the Armed Forces recruiter, and then ask him why the book ends the way it does, what it means to him, and, above all, why.

Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner; excellent writing of a good story
Review: I like GOOD science fiction that is WELL written. This book exceeded my expectations in both respects. The author has a real talent for writing that repeatedly kept me turning pages late into the night. I really didn't want the book to end (and what an ending!!).

The central character, Chase Aarons, is very human. The reader sees him grow from a boy filled with dreams of his future to a man filled with nightmares of his past. The wars fought and the marvelous (or horrific) machines used to fight them in the far future, never over-shadow the story of this one man and the burdens fate has forced his to carry.

If you like good science or military fiction, then this book is a must read for you. It ranks up there with some of the finer examples of either genre, like Starship Troopers; Forever War; Gates of Fire; Armour; and Enders Game.