Rating: 
Summary: "Doc" Smith for the 90's?
Review: "Mutineer's Moon" was one of Dave's earliest books (i here insert my usual disclaimer that i am his brother), and one of his better premises. ("Path of the Fury" (q.v.), from the same period, is, i think a better book, but "Moon" is excellent.)We grew up on a diet of classic SF that has certainly shaped David's writing -- perticularly, in reading this book, i am reminded that we had access to the complete works of Edward E. ("Doc") Smith. "Doc" would begin with a relatively basic premise (Dick Seaton discovers a way to produce all sorts of energy from ordinary copper; the Arisians and the Eddoreans work to thwart each other in shaping the Universe), and then, from book to book, both the super-scientific wonders and the stakes would grow and grow. It is in the "Dahak" books that this influence on David most clearly shows, with entire moons used as weapons, ships the size of small planets, huge orbiting space defence fortresses, entire mountains resculpted to provide weapons mounts and weapons so powerful that a single bomb can destroy an entire world David's opening premise here, that the Earth's Moon... isn't, so to speak, is grandiose enough, and would serve as the basis for an excellent novel without much added material... but it's just the beginning. From the moment when astronaut Colin MacIntyre's spacecraft is snatched over Luna's Farsideby "impossible" means and he is conveyed into what appears to be a huge complex of caverns inside the Moon, the action begins accelerating and doesn't stop, as we learn that much of what we "know" of our world, our ancestors and our history is either false or the result of the conflicts of hidden forces of which we know nothing. And then we discover that those forces are merely the result of panic reactions to the REAL coming menace. And the race is on. As in Smith, the stakes and the action constantly escalate; at one point the entire Earth is essentially one huge incredibly-armed fortress, energised by a powersource which may well break its controls and ravage the planet almost as badly as the attackers whose coming has necessitated it. At the same time that Colin and his cohorts are fighting off the menace of the Achu'ultan, they are struggling to rebuild a huge stellar Empire which apprantly perished mysteriously, leaving hardware and technology behind, but no living worlds. Much of David's strength as a writer lies in the sweeping concepts of his works; a lot also is the fact that his characters (while not necessarily "real") are fun to know, and do it is here -- particularly the character of Dahak, the computer controlling the huge warship of the same name who, over many thousands of years, has gradually become self-aware, and is definitely a "character". Book One -- "Mutineers' Moon" -- chronicles Dahak and Colin's first meeting, as a result of which Colin finds himself in command of the huge ship and (nominally) Imperial Governor of Earth (which, of course, has no inkling that the Empire exists, much less than an Imperial Governor has just been appointed). Warned of the menace of the oncoming Achu'ultanii, Colin has to organise Earth's defence -- but first he has to defeat the leaders of the ancient mutiny that sets the whole story in motion. "The Armegeddon Inheritance" is the story of Colin's further adventures and of the beginnings of the rebuilding of the ancient Imperium, as Colin accidentally grants himself a rather large promotion. "Heirs of Empire" jumps tenty or so years forward from the end of "Inheritance", to a time when Colin and Jiltanith's son and daughter and a couple of their friends suddenly find themselves stranded on a backward world where change or advance is literally heresy -- burn-at-the-stake type heresy -- and where the enclave of Imperial Technology they need to reach to get themselves rescued is the Sanctum Sanctorum of the oppressive religion. Meanwhile, back on Earth and Birhat, a truly nasty plot is going forth, which Colin and friends have to discover and thwart, with the aid of some of the more endearing enhanced dogs written in a while. (Tinkerbell, the Labraweiler -- or is that Rottador -- who is the mother of the first of the superdogs, seems to be based on a huge lovely and loving dog of David's.) Now if he'd just write a fourth or even a fifth...
Rating: 
Summary: NOT a new book, but an Excellent COMPILATION.
Review: A word about the books. Deals with the actions and thoughts of a character that suddenly finds himself responsible for saving his world. A good read in that it has a good hook in the begining and then keeps your interest throughout the series. If you are already a Weber fan, it is on par with his other writing. If this is your first time reading a Weber book, be prepared to pull an all-nighter. He's that good. You will want to try his other books. Read "Path of the Fury" next. For those who are already aquainted with Dahak:
This NOT a new book in this series! I bought this thinking that it was a new Dahak book. It is a book that is a compilation of several others. However it is nice to have all three of these in one hardcover. All three of my paperbacks are getting a bit worn. If you are in the same situation then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Dahak Series Omnibus
Review: Empire From the Ashes is an omnibus edition of the Dahak series. It contains Mutineers' Moon, The Armageddon Inheritance, and Heirs of Empire. These novels are among Weber's earliest works. Before Honor Harrington there was Commander Colin Maclntyre, USN. On a routine training mission to the moon, he discovered that the Moon wasn't a natural body, but rather a 3000 kilometer diameter warship, the Dahak. Moreover, the artificial intelligence that guided the ship had been waiting patiently -- 51,000 years -- for a crew, so it immediately impressed Colin as its commander. In Mutineers' Moon, Colin has to fight the original mutiny as well as human terrorists and fanatics. Moreover, there were the long lost empire itself. In The Armageddon Inheritance, Colin must fight against an invasion of genocidal aliens, the Achuultani. These aliens periodically swarm through the galaxy exterminating all other races. Earth can't resist them, so Colin searches the long lost empire for assistance. In Heirs of Empire, Colin's children are shipwrecked during their midshipman cruise on a primitive planet, where they face an implacable theocracy that wants them dead. Meanwhile, back in the capital, an unknown enemy is threatening the empire. These novels are space opera, of the "find a starship and see the galaxy" variety, with simple plots but lots of action. The scope of these novels is much like the Lensman series, huge fleets fighting in space, but without the colliding planets. Moreover, the technology is more generic and less detailed than in the Honor Harrington series. Recommended for Weber fans and anyone who enjoys largescale space opera.
Rating:
Summary: Three Great Books in One!
Review: Empire From the Ashes tells a great story. This reprint worth buying if you don't already own the three paperback versions. Where's the fourth book? I've put it on my list of Weber books worth waiting for.
Rating:
Summary: Three Great Books in One!
Review: Empire From the Ashes tells a great story. This reprint worth buying if you don't already own the three paperback versions. Where's the fourth book? I've put it on my list of Weber books worth waiting for.
Rating:
Summary: Finally in Hardcover!!!!
Review: Finally I can get rid of my worn out paperbacks!! This book contains Mutineers' Moon, The Armageddon Inheritance, and Heirs of Empire! Not only are these three orignal books now in one large nice hardcover some of David Weber's very best writting, they are in one book! These are the stories (these 3 books) that got me hooked on David Weber and his writing style. For those of you who many not have read any of his works, Weber's writing is full of details, but the action and adventure never stop. The detail rich storylines provide that you'll never be bored! You'll always understand what he is talking about (you won't have to figure it what he's trying to tell you), he explains the technology of his story lines in crips clean sentances that while aren't baby talk don't make you look around for a dictionary for scientists!! Before I ever read a single Honor Herrington, I read Mutineers' Moon, The Armageddon Inheritance, and Heirs of Empire, now available in this one book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Empire From The Ashes - Revisited
Review: I agree with the other reviewers.I thought this was a great series - when I read all three volumes years ago. I was really excited in December to see the new title thinking it was the fourth volume in the series! I was certainly surprised and disappointed to get (a) hardback reprint. Come on Mr. Weber - I want to see the fourth volume in this series, not a repeat. The very least you can do is identify it as a reprint! However, the bottom line? If you never read the series it is definitely worth the read; otherwise save your money.
Rating:
Summary: No Brainer, relaxing entertainment
Review: I had all 3 of these novels in paper back and have worn the covers off them from rereading them, so was glad to see them in one hardback. I have probably read these books 50 or more times over the years, they are great when your favorite writers have nothing coming out, it's 7:00 PM and nothing on the tube, so dig this out, and curl up with an old friend. The war fighting scenes are believable, the leadership tactics make sense, the story line is entertaining. Of course, some of the countries of earth are changing compared to their behavior in the book, but that is the result of this book being several years old. In a general description, this is space opera. I only wish Weber would write more stories about Colin Sean MacIntire and his family and friends. The story line clearly allows expansion, and I am surprized that other writers have not jumped in with some stories about this Empire, such as the survey ships looking for other lost worlds and their experiences. I recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: No Brainer, relaxing entertainment
Review: I had all 3 of these novels in paper back and have worn the covers off them from rereading them, so was glad to see them in one hardback. I have probably read these books 50 or more times over the years, they are great when your favorite writers have nothing coming out, it's 7:00 PM and nothing on the tube, so dig this out, and curl up with an old friend. The war fighting scenes are believable, the leadership tactics make sense, the story line is entertaining. Of course, some of the countries of earth are changing compared to their behavior in the book, but that is the result of this book being several years old. In a general description, this is space opera. I only wish Weber would write more stories about Colin Sean MacIntire and his family and friends. The story line clearly allows expansion, and I am surprized that other writers have not jumped in with some stories about this Empire, such as the survey ships looking for other lost worlds and their experiences. I recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Left wanting more.
Review: I have read all three books individually and now the compendium. All I can think of is a line from Oliver Twist..."more, please." Dahak and Colin I are among the best heroes on the market.
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