Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant but I didn't like it
Review: I feel forced to give this book its due. This was obviously a very well-written, intensely gripping, original work, even though I completely failed to enjoy any of it. I had no sympathy for the characters, which was disappointing after my attachment to Damien and Tarrant (characters from the author's other work). If you are considering reading this book solely because you absolutely loved the semifantasy Coldfire Trilogy, just as I did, then DON'T read this because it's not only very different, but geared to a different audience. If on the other hand, you like hard and dark SF with alien races and ancient, futuristic hatreds, and savage people and barbaric civilizations...then this is a great book. The pacing was excellent, if bizarre, as the author gives us the viewpoints of different characters without being immediately clear as to what the narrations are doing there, and who these people are, and how in the world do they fit into the story? That comes later. Putting aside my dislike for all the corruption that made this such an "adult" book, I am left thinking this story very, very bizarre. That isn't neccessarily a bad thing; it's just a very confusing thing, and also makes the story haunt me, which is why I'm writing a review a year after reading the book. I didn't understand the end. Or perhaps I should say, I understood the end, but didn't understand why it had to happen. I still don't like the story, but that's me, and YOU (whoever you are) might like it, so I'll refrain from making a biased statement and just say that if you meet with the abovementioned requirements, you should like this, and if you're just a fellow Coldfire trilogy fan you shouldn't. I hope this all helps but I'm having my doubts as to my clarity. :)
Rating: 
Summary: One of the true classics
Review: I first read In Conquest Born 10 years ago and have since bought and given away more copies then I can count. It's impossible to summarize the plot and Ms. Friedman's writing style changes tense, viewpoint and format so often it can almost be confusing but this book is an authentic classic. I just finished rereading and it's lost nothing over the years. If your tired of trite sameness and want something to sink your teeth into I can't recommend anything else more highly.
Rating:
Summary: I Still Can't Figure Out Why I Liked This One So Much
Review: I had already read Ms. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy, and greatly enjoyed it, so by the time I read this book I was familiar with her style. I already knew that the book would be dense with detail and the characters complex. I also knew that the plot and characters would go in directions that I had neither imagined nor desired. I also knew that the odds were good that the ending would make me long for a sequel. In this book, my expectations were once again met.Even knowing all that, I still can't figure out why IN CONQUEST BORN seems to be stuck in my mind. This book is more hard science fiction than the Coldfire Trilogy; it's a genre that I don't normally read much. The two main protagonists, Zatar and Anzha, are people that you would definitely steer clear of, if you met them in real life. Both are strong-willed, determined, driven by hatred, and ruthless. Yet for some reason, each has their own version of honor, compassion, and loyalty, and this makes them in some way surprisingly sympathetic. This dichotomy drives both the story and the characters. The Braxin and Azean societies are total opposites, yet both are so clearly drawn that you're able to understand why the characters behave the way they do, and accept that it makes total sense in their society's context, even though it may appear totally alien to your own. Ms. Friedman once again has shown her excellent world-building skills in this book. The briefest synopsis of the plot is that the empires of Braxi and Azea have been involved in a multi-generational interstellar war. Braxi sees glory in war, Azea fights to preserve peace. Braxin society is very stratified, with a ruling class that has manipulated their genetics by ruthless evolution, while the Azeans have ruthlessly manipulated their genetics by science. The story tells of Zatar of Braxi's and Anzha of Azea's growth from childhood and adulthood, both groomed for leadership, one knowingly and one unwittingly. Both characters are complex, so there is no easily labelled good one or bad one. Of course the two of them become aware of each other and become sworn enemies. The story just expands from there. If you're looking for an interesting, engrossing, challenging story, then this is for you. And in the end, that just may be why I liked it so much.
Rating:
Summary: I Still Can't Figure Out Why I Liked This One So Much
Review: I had already read Ms. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy, and greatly enjoyed it, so by the time I read this book I was familiar with her style. I already knew that the book would be dense with detail and the characters complex. I also knew that the plot and characters would go in directions that I had neither imagined nor desired. I also knew that the odds were good that the ending would make me long for a sequel. In this book, my expectations were once again met. Even knowing all that, I still can't figure out why IN CONQUEST BORN seems to be stuck in my mind. This book is more hard science fiction than the Coldfire Trilogy; it's a genre that I don't normally read much. The two main protagonists, Zatar and Anzha, are people that you would definitely steer clear of, if you met them in real life. Both are strong-willed, determined, driven by hatred, and ruthless. Yet for some reason, each has their own version of honor, compassion, and loyalty, and this makes them in some way surprisingly sympathetic. This dichotomy drives both the story and the characters. The Braxin and Azean societies are total opposites, yet both are so clearly drawn that you're able to understand why the characters behave the way they do, and accept that it makes total sense in their society's context, even though it may appear totally alien to your own. Ms. Friedman once again has shown her excellent world-building skills in this book. The briefest synopsis of the plot is that the empires of Braxi and Azea have been involved in a multi-generational interstellar war. Braxi sees glory in war, Azea fights to preserve peace. Braxin society is very stratified, with a ruling class that has manipulated their genetics by ruthless evolution, while the Azeans have ruthlessly manipulated their genetics by science. The story tells of Zatar of Braxi's and Anzha of Azea's growth from childhood and adulthood, both groomed for leadership, one knowingly and one unwittingly. Both characters are complex, so there is no easily labelled good one or bad one. Of course the two of them become aware of each other and become sworn enemies. The story just expands from there. If you're looking for an interesting, engrossing, challenging story, then this is for you. And in the end, that just may be why I liked it so much.
Rating:
Summary: Quit wasting time on your 'puter, and read this book!
Review: I have thousands of books. 'In Conquest Born' is, without a doubt, the best one of all of them. The complicated, sophisticated plot draws you in, and you can't think of anything else for days. 'Conquest' will change everything you think you know about history, warriors, and society. Reading it is like looking at a book of pictures, and every now and then it hits you that they aren't separate shots, they're all details from one big picture. Read This Book. Now. Buy it, borrow it, steal it, sneak into your friend's house with a flashlight and sit down in her living room and READ IT. Why are you still reading this review? GO READ IN CONQUEST BORN! You'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK HAS NO EQUAL
Review: I PROBABLY WILL NEVER FIND ANOTHER BOOK QUITE LIKE THIS ONE. THE CHARACTERS ARE POWERFUL YET FLAWED, THEY ARE BOTH SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE SO ALONE. THIS BOOK HAS INSPIRED ME TO WRITE MY OWN NOVEL IF ONLY IN MY MIND. I HAVE READ THIS BOOK HALF A DOZEN TIMES AND ITS STILL ENTHRALLING. I WROTE A FIVE PAGE REPORT DESCRIBING THE CHARACTERS AND THE SETTINGS, AND MY TEACHER ENJOYED MY REPORT SO MUCH THAT SHE WANTED THE ENTIRE CLASS TO READ IT AS REQUIREMENT FOR HER CLASS. IN CONQUEST BORN IS WHAT ALL SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS SHOULD STRIVE TO BE, STAR TREK STORY WRITERS (EPISODES OR NOVELS) COULD A LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM C.S. FRIEDMAN. TO HER, PLEASE WRITE A SEQUEL.
Rating:
Summary: My Greatest Treasure
Review: I read In Conquest Born when I was 14, just a year after it was published. It was and remains my greatest treasure. I wrote to Ms Friedman after my first reading to commend her abilities, to learn about her insights and of course, to demand a sequel. Her response, like her book, made a huge impact on me. Unfortunately, I could not share with you her letters but I do encourage everyone who love this book to write to her at Daw Books. She is extremely approachable and personable. It is a shame not to let her know how much we love and appreciate her work! Perhaps if enough fans encourage her, she will write a sequel!
Rating:
Summary: Talk about Memorable sf
Review: I read this book a few years back (I think I must have got an earlier printing), and I still remember how good a book it was. I'm recommending it to a whole bunch of friends, but not before I re-read it myself.
Rating:
Summary: This would make a great movie
Review: I saw an ad for this book in Analog eleven years ago. I sent away for it and I read it. It's a good book. It's about a war being fought between two empires being fought for reasons unknown. The em- pires are bitter enemies. One trained its soldiers to use arms and the other trained its soldiers to get into their enemies' heads--literally. Buy this book. Read it. Keep it. Don't give it away.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but compares badly with more recent work.
Review: It was an engaging book. I found it interesting enough, but a little vague or confusing in places. I've reread it several times and am still wondering exactly what's going on at times..
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