Rating: 
Summary: An Amendment
Review: A suggestion that could make the series more enjoyable is to read 'Fateful Lightning,' which is the continuation of the series, immediately after 'Terrible Swift Sword.' The reason being that this book ends in a suspenseful cliffhanger that might seem at first unsatisfying, but preceedes a completely adequate closure for the Merki Campaign in the next book. The two stories are better apprached as one large volume.It might not appeal to everyone but perhaps to most that are reading this series for the first time. Either way, it is a good bet the reader will thoroughly enjoy this series nonetheless. I sure did.
Rating: 
Summary: One of a series
Review: I have read the whole "missing regiment" series. It's good, addictive and very, very thorough and realistic. Some people may be shocked by the cruelty of some scenes, but the books try to show part of what a conflict is.
You will have to read most or all the books in the series to really appreciate it. Pity that for now Mr. Forstchen has interrupted this series.
Rating:
Summary: One of a series
Review: I have read the whole "missing regiment" series. It's good, addictive and very, very thorough and realistic. Some people may be shocked by the cruelty of some scenes, but the books try to show part of what a conflict is.
You will have to read most or all the books in the series to really appreciate it. Pity that for now Mr. Forstchen has interrupted this series.
Rating:
Summary: An Author Who knows his market
Review: I like this guy because he never tries to sell you something other than what you know you are already getting. Sure his charecters in the 35th Maine can wax, wane and moan about the injustice of slavery and the horror of canabalism but it is always limited. Eventually he just shuts up and tells a good story. Therefore this book is engaging and you can turn off your mind. You still care for the charecters on some level but you do not have to think a lot.
Rating:
Summary: An Author Who knows his market
Review: I like this guy because he never tries to sell you something other than what you know you are already getting. Sure his charecters in the 35th Maine can wax, wane and moan about the injustice of slavery and the horror of canabalism but it is always limited. Eventually he just shuts up and tells a good story. Therefore this book is engaging and you can turn off your mind. You still care for the charecters on some level but you do not have to think a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Forstchen is amazing...
Review: It doesn't get any better than this... Okay, maybe it does, but not by much. I like how Tamuka was attempting to get the Merki to advance into a new age free of "cattle" by wholly slaughtering the lot of humans, but then Jubadi and the other elders wanted to supress the Republic and go back to munching on us people. There was some nice tension with that. And I totally hated Vincent Hawthorne in this book; Forstchen did a good job of transforming his character from a pious Quaker into a bloodthirsty maniac who'd shoot the enemy while they're nailed to a cross. The description of the Moon Feast was gloriously nauseating. And the retreat and subsequent burning of Rus showed just how desparate the humans were to prevent the Merki from taking their beloved land. Yuri's endeavors toward the end of the book were exciting, as well. Although, my only real complaint was the horrendous editing problems, which seem to run rampant throughout the entire series. ie. Hank Petracci--Jack Petracci, and so on. In short, Terrible Swift Sword was a great novel that moved with the speed of a bullet.
Rating:
Summary: Forstchen is amazing...
Review: It doesn't get any better than this... Okay, maybe it does, but not by much. I like how Tamuka was attempting to get the Merki to advance into a new age free of "cattle" by wholly slaughtering the lot of humans, but then Jubadi and the other elders wanted to supress the Republic and go back to munching on us people. There was some nice tension with that. And I totally hated Vincent Hawthorne in this book; Forstchen did a good job of transforming his character from a pious Quaker into a bloodthirsty maniac who'd shoot the enemy while they're nailed to a cross. The description of the Moon Feast was gloriously nauseating. And the retreat and subsequent burning of Rus showed just how desparate the humans were to prevent the Merki from taking their beloved land. Yuri's endeavors toward the end of the book were exciting, as well. Although, my only real complaint was the horrendous editing problems, which seem to run rampant throughout the entire series. ie. Hank Petracci--Jack Petracci, and so on. In short, Terrible Swift Sword was a great novel that moved with the speed of a bullet.
Rating:
Summary: Fun Science Fiction War Story
Review: The Merki, evil creatures of the Horde (or Chosen People), are invading the nation of Rus. It is up to Colonel Andrew Keane of the Union's 35th Maine to lead his troops into battle and defend his new country. The Merki are enemies who consider human beings to be nothing more than cattle and/or pets, they must wipe out Keane and his Union soldiers. Interestingly enough, the Merki are also fighting for their way of life. As twisted as it seems, you almost feel sorry for them, if the Merki were a little less gruesome you could come to admire their culture. However, the Merki dine on human flesh and perform weird ritualistic murder/torture on their human cattle. In order to defeat the Merki, Colonel Keane must drag Rus into a mechanized 19th century industrial society. To make matters worse the Merki create their own invention, a dirigible like balloon. This leaves the humans behind the technological curve because the Merki's airforce can perform airborne reconnaissance and aerial bombing raids. One of the best chapters in the book revolves around the invention of the balloon by the human population. Forstchen adds a lot of interesting ideas to the war. "Terrible Swift Sword" by William R. Forstchen is a neat blend of science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction. It is the 3rd installment of "The Lost Regiment" series. Forstchen is a good writer and I like his style. The story has a quick pace and the author uses snappy dialog to keep the plot moving. So far I enjoy the series and I recommend the books to readers that enjoy some science fiction mixed with historical fiction. My only criticism is that in "Rally Cry", the first "Lost Regiment" installment, Forstchen included a map which helped me visualize the battle field, however, here no map is included.
Rating:
Summary: "Once more unto the breach" but has time finally run out?
Review: The roar of cannons blazes across a battlefield strewn with the smoking wreck of two mortal enemies. Armies grapple in a deadly war for survival. The resounding clash of arms once again explodes across the nighmare world of Valennia as the proud but fragile Republic of the Rus, now firmly in league with the Roum Alliance and thousands of Cartha that have managed to escape death under the Merki occupation, fight in a brave but deperate war against immeasurable odds. Having failed in their attempt to passify the Rus through the manipulation of the traitor, Cromwell, the Merki are now forced to press an uneasy truce with their rivals in order to pursue an invasion of the renegade humans and crush them once and for all. "Terrible Swift Sword" matches the previous books in the series in all its fiery intensity and spectacular glory; the continuation of a chronicle of a world at war, of a people allied against tyranny, and of a cause fighting to stay alive.
Rating:
Summary: "Awesome Story; The Characters Really Come To Life"
Review: This is the first book I have read in "The Lost Regiment" series. I've had this on my to read list for quite some time and now must ask myself "why did I wait so long?" Forstchen did an excellent job making these characters flesh and blood people you come to care about. Many of them are either beaten down by 8 years of fighting Rebs and the Horde, or have actually come to love war. While Col. Keane seems a clone of real-life Maine Col. Joshua Chamberlain of Gettysburg fame, I did like the self-doubt that kept cropping up in him throughout the war. It made him more of a real person instead of some super leader-type. Still he goes out and does his job, even though he has to do some very unpleasant things that will eat at his soul forever. You also really felt the sense of desperation of the humans as the Horde keeps winning one battle after another, threatening the civiliaztion they worked so hard to build. Very good battle scenes, especially the dogfight between the human and Horde airships. I definitely want to read more of "The Lost Regiment" series.
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