Rating: 
Summary: One - dimensional drivel
Review: Finishing this book was a chore. The author indulges in that worst of author's sins - worshipping his own characters. Consequently the characters are bland and one-dimensional, almost reminiscent of an L. Ron Hubbard novel.
Which is about where the action and plot stands. One *tries* to get past the absolutely implausable plot and comically inept enemies - hoping that at least some slam-bang action will redeem it and make for an entertaining diversion. Alas, no.
Science fiction doesn't have to be this cheesy. There's plenty of great military SF around...
Rating: 
Summary: A Soldier's story
Review: For all of those who quibbled about things like smoking , you obviously have no idea what the life of a soldier is like. As a former 82nd airborne trooper, a lot of what he writes stikes a cord in me. This is a very well paced series with well developed characters, and the posleen basic ineptitude is more than made up for in sheer overwhelming numbers. I am eagerly awaiting Hell's Fair and any follow on books. Weber and Drake are both good, but Ringo has a very unique aura of authenticity to anyone who has been there.
Rating:
Summary: Hard-hitting Military SF
Review: GUST FRONT is John Ringo's second novel, the sequel to A HYMN BEFORE BATTLE. It's harder-hitting than AHBB, and is better written. Michael O'Neal, the hero of AHBB is back, not as the central figure, but as one of several well-developed characters in this novel. The Posleen attack Earth, but much sooner than expected. Earth's defences are half-prepared, the politicians are unprepared, with disastrous and heroic consequences. One of America's most historic cities is attacked, and the defenders make every foot count. Vignettes of the fighting give a spine-tingling depiction of combat as it really is, down, dirty, and in the mud. Mysterious plots begin to unfold and reluctant private turns into a hero. GUST FRONT has it all, heroes, smugglers, plotters, politicians, good guys, bad guys and the soldiers on the front lines. Read it, you won't be disappointed. Leon Jester
Rating:
Summary: Alien Invasion at its best
Review: Having enjoyed "A Hymn Before Battle", the prequel to "Gust Front", I eagerly awaited this book with itching hands. The wait was most assuredly worth it. "Gust Front" really throws the reader into the battle for earth with gusto. You not only get glimpses into the psyche of the Posleen, but you get to know the main characters from the ground up. You feel the despair of being trapped, along with the pride of being a warrior, even in a hopeless situation. You feel the despair of being denied the technology you need, but the determination of making do with what you have. Definitely a great choice for the Alien Invasion crowd, but also a snapping good read.
Rating:
Summary: Alien Invasion at its best
Review: Having enjoyed "A Hymn Before Battle", the prequel to "Gust Front", I eagerly awaited this book with itching hands. The wait was most assuredly worth it. "Gust Front" really throws the reader into the battle for earth with gusto. You not only get glimpses into the psyche of the Posleen, but you get to know the main characters from the ground up. You feel the despair of being trapped, along with the pride of being a warrior, even in a hopeless situation. You feel the despair of being denied the technology you need, but the determination of making do with what you have. Definitely a great choice for the Alien Invasion crowd, but also a snapping good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Heir to David Drake, Not that he needs one
Review: I am very impressed with Mr. Ringo's work. As I continue to read both series my only regret is that I can't make him write any faster. He is becoming a must read for Military SF readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Unsatisfying as a flat Domino's Pizza
Review: I concur with the earlier unsatisfactory reviews. I admit I didn't read the earlier books, but each part of a series should be able to stand alone. It was frankly unbelieveable. Lots of stupid aliens being shot up as cannon fodder for brave earthlings facing impossible odds. There should have been more story about the Posleen's and their origins and drives. There should have been more about the aliens (the Darhel or whatever) and their mechanations. Also frankly, any species with FTL capability and science is pretty much going to kick our [rears]. Their materials science alone would provide defense against our hand weapons and artillery.
Alan Dean Foster did a better and more readable job in his stories about the Weave and the Amplitur.
Boring!!!!
Rating:
Summary: "Gust Front" worth the read
Review: I enjoyed Ringo's first book in this series, and was even happier with "Gust Front". The editing and pacing of this book was "tighter", and the story was more fleshed out. The characters in this novel were well developed, with real emotions, goals, and attitudes. What I really liked was that there were few of the black/white/good/bad stock characters, and that even the fools and the cowards were given real personalities and real motivations. The plot was well paced, and the climax was a real payoff. Both "Gust Front" and "A Hymn Before Battle" are sort of a combination of Harold Coyle's "Team Yankee", Drake's "Slammers" series, and Turtledove's "Worldwar" series. The story is definitely told from a soldier's point of view, and the quotes from Kipling are a nice touch. I finished "Gust Front" in a weekend. An excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: "Gust Front" worth the read
Review: I enjoyed Ringo's first book in this series, and was even happier with "Gust Front". The editing and pacing of this book was "tighter", and the story was more fleshed out. The characters in this novel were well developed, with real emotions, goals, and attitudes. What I really liked was that there were few of the black/white/good/bad stock characters, and that even the fools and the cowards were given real personalities and real motivations. The plot was well paced, and the climax was a real payoff. Both "Gust Front" and "A Hymn Before Battle" are sort of a combination of Harold Coyle's "Team Yankee", Drake's "Slammers" series, and Turtledove's "Worldwar" series. The story is definitely told from a soldier's point of view, and the quotes from Kipling are a nice touch. I finished "Gust Front" in a weekend. An excellent read.
Rating: 
Summary: A page turner, but with some very strange deficiencies
Review: I found this book hard to stop reading. But as I read along, I found that more things cropped up. As a military novel it falls seriously short in the realism department. The author has clearly studied ordnance. But after killing 10,000 heavily armed aliens, how on earth could nobody have the idea of stealing their weaponry, which is clearly superior for close range engagement? How on earth could nobody have the idea to steal the floating platforms that the god-kings ride? At the very least, those could be used as giant floating mines since the blow up so nicely. But the armament on board - any soldier worth his boots would grab it. This is all so obvious, but nobody explains it. Then there is the question of nuclear weapons. While it is understandable why missiles would not be used, in such an invasion scenario nukes would be used, from the ground, disassembled from their rockets. The incompetence of the alien invaders is also kind of hard to explain, as is the weirdness of multiple intelligent species in a federation that have star travel (and its attendant high energies) but no ability to wage war, as well as no modern manufacturing ability. Not well enough explained, that. The other incompetence of the alien invaders is that they don't bombard the earth with rocks first. This is another obvious strategy. Maybe one could guess that they assume they want to preserve everything phsyical. But that's not clear. But what was really weird is the economics of the invaders. That isn't thought out very well at all. How could a few square miles of arable land and a chemical plant or two make these god-kings rich? That wouldn't come close to paying for the transport of his ship and its warriors. The numbers don't add up.
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