Rating: 
Summary: perfunctory job of work
Review: Like many of the other reviewers, I was eager to read the concluding (I supposed) book of a trilogy (I thought). The first disappointment was the quality of the writing: it reads like hasty first-draft stuff. Early on the authors twice use the illogical phrase "could care less" -- which shows they were putting down words without much involvement of an actual thought process. The whole book has to my ear a labored tone, as if they were grinding away on an unloved term paper. I was delighted to see that author Ringo has added a review here, saying in part, "By the end of March to the Stars I was, frankly, running out of new ways to kill barbarians..." I appreciate his frankness -- and I guess I appreciate his stamina in carrying on to finish Roger's story.Except that they didn't. Finish it, that is. Gee whiz, guys, Xenophon did his trek, went home and retired to write his memoirs. But not our Roger -- he isn't anywhere near home, and he's lost most of the people he started out with. I feel cheated of the payoff you get at the end of Xenophon's March: they reach the sea, get a ship, and go home to live a long time polishing their well-earned medals. There's no vicarious payoff here; only the onset of more stress and trouble with ever-dwindling resources. Four more books, they say? I do not think I want to sign on for that hike.
Rating:
Summary: perfunctory job of work
Review: Like many of the other reviewers, I was eager to read the concluding (I supposed) book of a trilogy (I thought). The first disappointment was the quality of the writing: it reads like hasty first-draft stuff. Early on the authors twice use the illogical phrase "could care less" -- which shows they were putting down words without much involvement of an actual thought process. The whole book has to my ear a labored tone, as if they were grinding away on an unloved term paper. I was delighted to see that author Ringo has added a review here, saying in part, "By the end of March to the Stars I was, frankly, running out of new ways to kill barbarians..." I appreciate his frankness -- and I guess I appreciate his stamina in carrying on to finish Roger's story. Except that they didn't. Finish it, that is. Gee whiz, guys, Xenophon did his trek, went home and retired to write his memoirs. But not our Roger -- he isn't anywhere near home, and he's lost most of the people he started out with. I feel cheated of the payoff you get at the end of Xenophon's March: they reach the sea, get a ship, and go home to live a long time polishing their well-earned medals. There's no vicarious payoff here; only the onset of more stress and trouble with ever-dwindling resources. Four more books, they say? I do not think I want to sign on for that hike.
Rating: 
Summary: Watch Out Empire, Roger's Back
Review: March to the Stars is the third novel in the Empire of Man series, following March To the Sea. In the previous volume, Roger and the surviving Marines of Bravo Company, Bronze Battalion, the Empress' Own Regiment, and their auxiliaries have fought their way to K'vaern's Cove, killing a lot of Boman on the way and even more after they arrive. However, losses have been heavy among Roger's companions, including Matsugae Kotas, his valet and semi-father figure. The losses are undermining his determination, but Sergeant Nimashet Despreaux refuses to let him stay in his funk. In this novel, the shipyards of K'vearn's Cove have turned out six armed schooners of Imperial design as well as one belated addition, a much larger, and slower, armed transport, the Snarleyow, to carry the cavalry's civans and other bulk cargo. When the flotilla is only a few days out from the large island, or small continent, where the spaceport is located, they discover why ships fail to return from voyages across the sea: a coll fish as large as the ship takes a bite out of the stern of the Sea Skimmer. By the time Roger's troops have killed the monster, at least half of those onboard are lost. Thereafter, they mount a bead weapon manjack on the stern of each ship to give the next fish an unpleasant surprise. The fight against the giant coll fish shakes Roger out of his funk. This is fortunate, for a couple of days later they discover another ship apparently fleeing with six others in hot pursuit. Despite the other possibilities, the pursuing ships really are pirates and Captain Pahner temporarily relinquishes command to Roger, who is much more knowledgeable about surface naval warfare. Roger leads the five smaller ships into an attack on the pirates, leaving the Snarleyow behind to guard the merchanter. The pirate ships are designed with a bow-mounted bombard for attacking in a stern chase and only have a few swivel guns on the sides. Since the goal is to capture the pirate ships rather than sink them, Roger maneuvers to the windward, swoops directly at the pirates with the wind behind him, and then pummels the pirate ships with grape and ball broadsides, even slowing down as they draw near to allow multiple strikes. Although a lucky shot temporarily disables the Prince John, Roger's ships disable four of the pirates immediately, the disabled Prince John takes another with a plasma rifle from the stern, and the Hooker chases down the last ship. As the Hooker overtakes the pirate and rakes her with broadsides through the stern, Roger returns command to Captain Pahner and sits out the boarding in the ratlines, where he can see the action. Cord and Denat, Roger's asi and his nephew, stay with Roger to protect him with their shields, but Cord sees that the pirates are killing prisoners and leaps aboard to save them. Noticing Cord board the pirate, but not really understanding why, Roger follows him -- with a curse or two -- to guard his back. Dogzard, Roger's pet, also jumps aboard. Bad luck for the pirates, who make the mistake of attacking the threesome and don't survive the experience. Nonetheless, Roger is the center of angry attention as his companions assume that he has yielded to his impulses once more. After everybody quietens down enough to hear, Roger explains that Cord started it, but he still gets chewed out, even by Cord, for not staying safely aboard the Hooker. This little exercise in piracy suppression gains them an important ex-prisoner, a Shin princess, Pedi Dorson Acos Lefan Karuse. She is an excellent source of intelligence as well as humor, for she has become benan -- the Shin equivalent of an asi -- to Cord due to his rescue. Since Pedi is young and pretty, everyone is soon teasing Cord about his new girl friend. After the snickering dies down, Eleanora O'Casey, Roger's chief of staff, explains the geography and politics of the area. The pirates are Lammar Raiders from an island based political entity similar to the Barbary Sultanate. The Krath Temple rules a riverine civilization in the principal valley to the south of the mainland. The Shin and the Shadem are barbaric highlanders in the small vales covering most of the mainland from the north to the Temple lands. The Marines are running out of time. While the giant coll fish extended their supplies of dietary supplements, there still isn't very much left. Moreover, a hunter/killer team from the spaceport is following their trail. Now they are faced with a theocratic society that takes slaves and uses them up quickly, not to mention unfriendly pirates. And then they must take the spaceport and capture a ship in orbit. Note that the girl in the mirrored armor is not visible on the front or back covers. However, the pirate ships changed from two masted cogs in the story to something like three masted galleons on the front cover. Artists, can't live with them ... This installment of the series does not lack for excitement, yet it left me wanting a sequel. I am happy to see the post by one of the authors stating that there will be more volumes. Recommended for Weber & Ringo fans and for anyone who enjoys deadly environments and competent soldiers in a SF setting.
Rating: 
Summary: My family away from home
Review: March to the Stars is third instalment of the growth of Prince Roger. Each book grows in scope as the characters grow and sadly die. This one has more sermons and soapbox ideas than the others. The Marduks now begin to become more rounded as characters and take on distinct personalites. I guess this is to take the place of those marines who die as Roger nears the space port. The battles become fewer but larger. The authors take the battles to the next level, that of space. Though a long book, except for the preaching towards the end, the book moves quickly.
One point in the book's favor is that there doesn't seem to be a happy nor quick end to the series. I do admait to being sad because of twist of fate at the end of the book. I am looking forward to the next chapter, March to.....
Rating: 
Summary: frustrating and infuriating
Review: March Upcountry and March to the Sea were two of the best books I have read in a long time--everything that good science fiction ought to be. Great storytelling, the takeoff on Xenophon was a clever idea, and the authors handle it well, with a good plot, intelligent background, interesting characters who actually evolve and change, terrific action, a sneaky sense of humor, and all those wonderful Kipling quotes... This was setting out to be a really exeptional trilogy which I would have wanted to own, to read and re-read and recommend highly. And I would have happily dived into a new trilogy (or two) featuring this universe and character set.
With March to the Sea (although the sea battle is truly worthy of Hornblower himself), the character development halts, the action grinds along and the authors seem bent on systematically unravelling their tapestry, setting their plot on its ears and starting a whole new series without ever finishing the first one. Conceivably, they could finish up in one more book, but it looks like they are thinking of more (Robert Jordan and his unending Wheel of Time, anyone?)...
I was thoroughly hooked, involved in the characters, intrigued with the possibiliies of the setting, enjoying the way the story was unfolding; I really wanted to see how it all ended. What a letdown! Assuming the tale ever ends, will it be one I want to read? Will I care?
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a series that is getting better!
Review: Ok, I have read 3 of this series now. March Upcountry I liked, and it got me hooked. March to the Sea got bogged down with endless build-up to slaughterhouse battles...over and over. I almost didn't buy this one from the bad taste I still had from March To The Sea. Well, I was at Wal Mart at 2:00 AM, looking at what passes for their "sci-fi" section. They had this book and little else. I decided, why not? March To The Stars is the best book in this series. There is tons of stuff going on this book. Good stuff. Interesting stuff. Different stuff. And not just slaughterhouse stuff. And it keeps moving at a fast pace. A sea voyage fraught with menacing sea creatures and pirates. At the end of the vogage...discovery of a more advanced (tho slightly perverted) Mardukan society and culture that, btw, has some familiarity with humans and their technology. First contact with the elusive "Star port" and its internal politics and external dealings with local natives. The battles to get to the Starport. The taking over of the Starport (not much of a battle, but interesting nevertheless.) The first dealings with the people who may have shot down Roger and the Marines in the first place...the "Saints." And a space battle. There is a ton of good stuff happening here. I had a great time flying through it. Book ended well, while still leaving you wanting more. A great, fun read. Good work guys. Oh, and thanks Walmart.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific military science fiction -- Very highly recommended
Review: Prince Roger Ramius Sergei Chiang Alexander MacClintock, Heir Tertiary to the Throne of man proved himself to be such a spoiled and foppish distraction that his mother sent him on a useless mission to keep him busy in MARCH UPCOUNTRY. In MARCH TO THE SEA, he and his Marines battle their way across the remote planet of Marduk in their attempt to return to earth. Now in MARCH TO THE STARS, Roger leads the Bronze Barbarians of the Imperial Guard across the Eastern Ocean of Marduk in quest of the spaceport that will get them home. During a deadly sea crossing, more than a hundred men are lost to a giant sea monsters or pirates. But more danger threatens, as half way through the novel stakes are raised when Roger learns of the changes of political climate affecting himself and his mother the Empress. Indeed, he will have to take more than just the spaceport if he ever wants to return home. Further, those changes threaten everything he holds dear, including the romance he shares with Despreaux. Authors David Weber and John Ringo continue their highly successful military science fiction series in MARCH TO THE STARS. While collaborations can be easily flawed by a mix of writing styles, Weber and Ringo offer a seamless blend of voices that becomes an impressive tour de force. Roger comes of age through these novels, growing from court foppishness into a true leader. Written on multiple levels, Weber's background as a historian and Ringo's military background add not only technical proficiency but an insider's observation of our own times and past. As with many of these author's works, many of the characters are amazingly expendable, resulting in exciting action but caution on the reader's part regarding emotional involvement for secondary characters. Nevertheless, readers that have not indulged in the first two books of this series, MARCH UPCOUNTRY and MARCH TO THE SEA, will be scurrying to the bookstore. MARCH TO THE STARS comes very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Military action on the sea, land, and space
Review: Prince Roger, his small band of surviving human marines, and his larger group of native allies has slogged their way across a continent, built a fleet, and now have only one more continent, one high technology human base, and one spaceship to go. Or so they think. Proving once again that Murphy's law is in full force, things are about to get worse. MARCH TO THE STARS continues the series begun with MARCH UPCOUNTRY and MARCH TO THE SEA. Roger has fully matured as a fighting machine with barely a trace of the obnoxious youth that began the adventure. MARCH delivers battles against a sea monster, pirates on sailing ships, an Aztec-like civilization as disciplined and organized as any that Roger and company have trained, the high-tech space port, and finally a surprisingly equipped 'merchant' ship. Authors David Weber and John Ringo deliver a carefully thought out series of military tactics and weaponry designed for each type of combatant that Roger and his marines face. Weber and Ringo raise the stakes considerably at the halfway point--it is no longer enough merely to survive the planet Marduk. Instead, Roger will be forced to confront a galaxy of enemies once he emerges into 'civilized' space. This realization raises the emotional stakes as Roger realizes that his future plans for a marriage with Despreaux have become a wishful fantasy. Fans of military fiction will enjoy the way Roger's native allies have progressed from pike-carrying cannon fodder to hightly skilled skirmishers who now have asparations to fight in space itself. A few author-intrusive digressions into the nature of religion and whether abortion constitutes a type of infanticide similar to that encouraged by the Baal faith and discussions of twenty-ninth century archeological discoveries pull the reader out of the fantasy without adding anything to the plot, but these are forgettable once we get back into the action.
Rating:
Summary: Political intrigues and battles mark his days
Review: Roger is having a rough year: the worst of events is his discovery of his heritage to be a warrior prince and to embark on a world adventure. Political intrigues and battles mark his days and Roger and his allies must face an impossible civilization in order to hijack a starship to find the way to his true home. Tongue-in-cheek wry humor blends with fast-paced political confrontation.
Rating:
Summary: Wicked Good
Review: The book was wonderful! I really enjoyed the little snippets of humor from Julian and is monitoring of Roger and Nimashet's relationship ... as well as Roger chasing after Dogzard ... It was a really exciting book with lots of battle and of course the trials of a journey ... From Marduk what else is to be expected ... I highly recommend this book ... and the end ... truly, truly ... I can't wait until the next one!
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