Starfist: Steel Gauntlet

Rating:
Summary: A Tradition in the making
Review: This book works on several levels- if you want a simplistic shoot-em-up with a brave band of heroes, a beautiful damsel to be rescued and an evil Warlord to be defeated...well, they're here, but it isn't that simple. In one respect this reads like a technothriller of the future - as if Tom Clancy or Larry Bond were writing in the 24th Century. This is an ensemble book - think of RED STORM RISING, RED PHOENIX or one of those books. I started my career in a Marine Rifle Company, I've been a Staff Officer for years. The Marines here are all believable - I could give you a real-life example for every character. The action in the Headquarters is believable - I could give you a real-life counterpart to every one of these Staff Officers, also. The World-building is quite credible and detailed, given the base criteria...none of the "It was raining on Mongo" foolishness here. The evil Warlord IS a evil, amoralistic megalomaniac, but there are credible reasons why he is the way he is. The Beautiful Damsel is a tough, capable lady in her own right, and is a major factor in her own rescue. The brave heroes are brave, but they are realistic, with weaknesses and quirks. Of course, setting the climax of the story in an abandoned diamond mine in an extinct volcano is a bit reminiscent of Siegfried or Frodo...naw, I won't spoil it, but there is a rather surprising twist here... If you like simplistic, straightforward plots with no surprises, lots of gore, all the bad guys are really bad, all the bad guys die, all the good guys are really good and they all survive, well, go somewhere else, sorry. If you like a plot you can set your teeth in, something to make you think, something that feels like it might REALLY happen someday...you've got to check this out. I've revised my original estimate of this series - this series IS one to keep on your referance shelf.

Rating:
Summary: oh what a joy.....
Review: this has to be one of the best books i've ever read. just when it seems like someone is going to be the hero they become a corpse. it's excellent in that it otlines excactly what can happen in a war. long missions, unforseenweather problems,and anyone at any time can "bite the mortar shell". there is no, "they're the hero they have to live". an excellent addition to detail that points out that anything can and will happen. this book consistently pulled me in a new direction and that is what made it the best. younever know what will happen next.

Rating:
Summary: A real hard-core action thriller.
Review: This is one of the best military SF books I have ever read.It isn't one of those phony thriller books that are like a computer read-out.It has tough and in your face action.Will there be more?

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!!
Review: This is the best book out of the series!! I especially liked all the action and details about the characters. Is there going to be a fourth book? If there is I can't wait for it to be released!!! This is a must-read!! :)

Rating:
Summary: Toyful wha.....?????
Review: Trouble is brewing(isn't it always) a rouge general general has resected a force rarly seen on the battlefield of the 25th century..tanks. Dean Claypole, George Bass and the rest of the 34th FIST are called in to help. This is not a particularly good book, but it is fun to read great on a plane or trian reading.

Rating:
Summary: Toyful wha.....?????
Review: Trouble is brewing(isn't it always) a rouge general general has resected a force rarly seen on the battlefield of the 25th century..tanks. Dean Claypole, George Bass and the rest of the 34th FIST are called in to help. This is not a particularly good book, but it is fun to read great on a plane or trian reading.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, good character development and plot
Review: Within the Military-Scifi Genre the Starfist series excels at projecting modern military theory into the Human Space of the future. Steel Gauntlet is an excellent addition to the series, taking the characters and scenarios developed in the earlier books, and thrusting them into an all-out war against an enemy they've never faced before. Compelling plot and well-developed characters drive the story along at a frenetic pace.