Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Book From the Drake/Flint Team
Review: I have loved David Drake since I read the Hammers Slammers book. Eric Flint is new to me. Since I am unable to say where one starts and the other ends, this review is for both.I bought the whole series to date in one shot when I learned of them, and read them all, one right after the other, though I had to fight my spouse for them. I enjoyed the stories completely, and had no trouble following the plot. The battle scenes are realistic, which I prefer, though other readers, I have noted have a little trouble with the descriptions of the bloodshed. Most likely the same people who think Braveheart was too bloody. My answer to that is, they are describing a war. War is NEVER pretty or humane, no matter how much you soften it. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens to Belisarius and all his aids, associates, allies and friends. Throughout the series, I kept thinking, if the characters are this twisted, what are the authors like? I'd love to meet them. Keep it up! And please don't sacrifice your wonderful quality for speed. I can wait. (Oh, and I loved what happenned to Valentinian, and laughed at his message. That alone would have me anxious to read the next book.)
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book From the Drake/Flint Team
Review: I have loved David Drake since I read the Hammers Slammers book. Eric Flint is new to me. Since I am unable to say where one starts and the other ends, this review is for both. I bought the whole series to date in one shot when I learned of them, and read them all, one right after the other, though I had to fight my spouse for them. I enjoyed the stories completely, and had no trouble following the plot. The battle scenes are realistic, which I prefer, though other readers, I have noted have a little trouble with the descriptions of the bloodshed. Most likely the same people who think Braveheart was too bloody. My answer to that is, they are describing a war. War is NEVER pretty or humane, no matter how much you soften it. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens to Belisarius and all his aids, associates, allies and friends. Throughout the series, I kept thinking, if the characters are this twisted, what are the authors like? I'd love to meet them. Keep it up! And please don't sacrifice your wonderful quality for speed. I can wait. (Oh, and I loved what happenned to Valentinian, and laughed at his message. That alone would have me anxious to read the next book.)
Rating:
Summary: Good but not great
Review: I've been reading David Drake since he first published Hammer's Slammers and I have never been disappointed in what he has had a hand in. Not to say that all his books have been great, but they all share those same characterics of tight plot, military background and believable characters in all their frailities. Their are only two downsides to Fortune's stroke. It didn't move the plot enough and not enough Belisarius. I have to say that the Iron Dyke crack did make laugh so hard I cried! I think the reason I enjoyed the first two books in the series was that it was gritty and focused more on Belisarius then on the supporting characters. Of course you are now dealing with a larger scope so you have to include more viewpoints, still I was a little disappointed. Still a very good read!
Rating: 
Summary: A Nice Ride Over-all
Review: If you've read the first three of these, you know the plot outline: Deadly with a blade, is Belisarius. Well, with an army, really. There are a couple nice little plot twists, which I'm not going to give away. There are a couple lightly romantic subplots, which I did enjoy. There is, really, nothing seriously wrong with this book. It's fun, and I certainly don't regret buying it in hardbound. You realize you are not hearing unqualified praise, here. The first two were unalloyed pleasure for me, and the third was pretty good. My problems have everything to do with what I'm beginning to classify as Eric Flint's verbal tics. I didn't before, because I hadn't enough acquaintance with his work to say. While David Drake has a certain grim, economical style of his own, Flint writes like a high school history teacher should speak, with both the enthusiasm and the weaknesses implied by that. He is engaged with his material, he enjoys showing us how these people in the past, who were just as smart as we are, did things. He does fail on the same point that I've never really been able to get across to young people: they weren't like us. I'd put that in caps, except that I don't approve of shouting. Furthermore, I noted this in Flint's 1632, I'm getting tired of certain characteristic phrases, like "mind you," and habits like, "tense. Tense. Tense." "Bad, bad move." And so on. In one character's mental voice, I could abide it. But have mercy! At least once a chapter, the thrice-repeated word? I started muttering, "And what I tell you three times is true." Another verbal tic, and whose fault this is, I don't know, but the word "huge" must be excised from somebody's vocabulary. Using the adjective huge twice in one paragraph? Oh, dear. I am officially declaring this to be a dead word. Perhaps it's simply the fact that I know that a complex series of maneuvers is going to lead to triumph for Belisarius, but the book just felt too predictable, and the neat details of armament, animal handling, and technology weren't there this time. Nor did the territory covered feel more than sketched in. Yeah, I liked it. Yeah, I don't feel cheated. But I'd love to see the writers pay a little more attention in the next book, or I will feel disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: This is Great Stuff!
Review: Let me begin by saying that I read a lot of books in many genres. I don't review most of them but I have to share my absolute pleasure in this series. Except for the Honor Harrington series, I don't read much military sf. I don't recall why I decided to try this series - my experience with Drake has been mixed - but I did. I can truly say that this series is fabulous! I can't remember the last time I finished a chapter in a book and said aloud "this is great stuff." There is hardly a flaw - even the history is accurate. The last time I knew I had something this enthralling was reading David Eddings. I am sure I'll be re-reading this series and sharing it with my friends. In terms of this particular volume, I believe the authors handled their task well. The growing number of characters and their far-flung locations does slow the action a bit but makes up for it by introducing some interesting developments in terms of lives and romances. At my last count, we had 4 separate major action locations and plot lines. Frankly, that's enough or the books must be longer. This is a danger. As I said in reviewing another book, separate plot lines are fine, as long as they are plot lines and not sound bites. Otherwise, to the authors: keep up the good work and words! Wonderful Stuff! Read it. Now!
Rating:
Summary: This is Great Stuff!
Review: Let me begin by saying that I read a lot of books in many genres. I don't review most of them but I have to share my absolute pleasure in this series. Except for the Honor Harrington series, I don't read much military sf. I don't recall why I decided to try this series - my experience with Drake has been mixed - but I did. I can truly say that this series is fabulous! I can't remember the last time I finished a chapter in a book and said aloud "this is great stuff." There is hardly a flaw - even the history is accurate. The last time I knew I had something this enthralling was reading David Eddings. I am sure I'll be re-reading this series and sharing it with my friends. In terms of this particular volume, I believe the authors handled their task well. The growing number of characters and their far-flung locations does slow the action a bit but makes up for it by introducing some interesting developments in terms of lives and romances. At my last count, we had 4 separate major action locations and plot lines. Frankly, that's enough or the books must be longer. This is a danger. As I said in reviewing another book, separate plot lines are fine, as long as they are plot lines and not sound bites. Otherwise, to the authors: keep up the good work and words! Wonderful Stuff! Read it. Now!
Rating:
Summary: Another Installment in a Great Series!
Review: This book carries on the tradition of a fine series. It has strong character development and good continuity with the previous books in the series. Belisarius continues to vex the Malwa with the assistance of his loyal supporters and Aide(his crystalline guide from the future). It also expands the role of those supporters considerably, making Belisarius seem more human.
Rating:
Summary: You're sending Belisarius? Sire, that's ALL you had to say!
Review: This is the fifth Eric Flint book I've read. I suppose it's possible that some day he'll write a bad book, but I won't be able to review it because the shock will have killed me. This one didn't disappoint me in the least. Belisarius doesn't figure as centrally in this one as in the previous three books, simply because Flint gives more room to the vitally-needed Rome-Axum alliance and to Shakuntala, Rhagunath Rao, and the Deccan Revolt. With the possible exception of Churchill, nobody has ever changed the course of a war single-handed, and even Belisarius can't manage this one alone. Fortunately, Belisarius has friends, without whose help he would find himself out on the end of a long tree limb, and find the Malwa standing behind him with chainsaws. Antonina, Eon, Ousanas, Shakuntala, Irene Makrembolitassa, Kungas, and Rhagunath Rao are all people well worth spending time with. I'd have liked to see a bit more of Byzantium and what's going on back there in this book, but that can wait. We'll be going back. The really neat thing about this book is that Flint understands that, while wars aren't won without combat, the true battle is always in people's minds and souls. Two scenes in the book bring this out starkly. In one scene (no spoilers here) Belisarius does more damage to the Malwa in ten minutes with his wits, wisdom and words, than in the entire Battle of Charax. He did it so neatly that I didn't even realize the Malwa had been stabbed through the belly until the book was almost over. In the other scene, we encounter the *true* depths of the Malwa evil. The key section occupied only two paragraphs, but when I finished them, I felt as if somebody had dripped icewater down my spine. This is *writing*! The book is, of course, part of a series, so we don't see how the whole story comes out, but the ending, like those of the earlier books, is both logically and emotionally satisfying. We are allowed to rejoice with our friends even as we realize that the REAL work lies ahead. There are now three living authors whose new books I'm willing to buy sight unseen on the strength of their names. Poul Anderson, Lois McMaster Bujold, and now, Eric Flint. Once more, thank you Eric. I'm looking forward to the next Belisarius book, to "Rats, Bats and Vats" later this year, and "1633" next year. Peace and blessings.
Rating:
Summary: You're sending Belisarius? Sire, that's ALL you had to say!
Review: This is the fifth Eric Flint book I've read. I suppose it's possible that some day he'll write a bad book, but I won't be able to review it because the shock will have killed me. This one didn't disappoint me in the least. Belisarius doesn't figure as centrally in this one as in the previous three books, simply because Flint gives more room to the vitally-needed Rome-Axum alliance and to Shakuntala, Rhagunath Rao, and the Deccan Revolt. With the possible exception of Churchill, nobody has ever changed the course of a war single-handed, and even Belisarius can't manage this one alone. Fortunately, Belisarius has friends, without whose help he would find himself out on the end of a long tree limb, and find the Malwa standing behind him with chainsaws. Antonina, Eon, Ousanas, Shakuntala, Irene Makrembolitassa, Kungas, and Rhagunath Rao are all people well worth spending time with. I'd have liked to see a bit more of Byzantium and what's going on back there in this book, but that can wait. We'll be going back. The really neat thing about this book is that Flint understands that, while wars aren't won without combat, the true battle is always in people's minds and souls. Two scenes in the book bring this out starkly. In one scene (no spoilers here) Belisarius does more damage to the Malwa in ten minutes with his wits, wisdom and words, than in the entire Battle of Charax. He did it so neatly that I didn't even realize the Malwa had been stabbed through the belly until the book was almost over. In the other scene, we encounter the *true* depths of the Malwa evil. The key section occupied only two paragraphs, but when I finished them, I felt as if somebody had dripped icewater down my spine. This is *writing*! The book is, of course, part of a series, so we don't see how the whole story comes out, but the ending, like those of the earlier books, is both logically and emotionally satisfying. We are allowed to rejoice with our friends even as we realize that the REAL work lies ahead. There are now three living authors whose new books I'm willing to buy sight unseen on the strength of their names. Poul Anderson, Lois McMaster Bujold, and now, Eric Flint. Once more, thank you Eric. I'm looking forward to the next Belisarius book, to "Rats, Bats and Vats" later this year, and "1633" next year. Peace and blessings.
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