Rating: 
Summary: Change of Command
Review: I'm *so* glad that my local library had this book available to checkout - I would have been very annoyed to have bought it in hardcover. The book starts off well, with an interesting whodunit? of who ordered Speaker's murder but quickly disolved into a series of plots that seemed to have little to do with each other. And just when things seemed to be wrapping up, <THE END> arrives, leaving one to go HUH? what happened? I'll buy this book when its sequel (actually the rest of the book) shows up.
Rating: 
Summary: A different look
Review: In spite of the negative reviews I've read, I actually enjoyed this book a great deal. I'm anxiously awaiting the opportunity to read the conclusion to what was set up in this book.
Rating:
Summary: A different look
Review: In spite of the negative reviews I've read, I actually enjoyed this book a great deal. I'm anxiously awaiting the opportunity to read the conclusion to what was set up in this book.
Rating:
Summary: New Moon Book Major Disappointment
Review: Let me start by stating that I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Moon books. The first five in this series (starting with "Hunting Party") each received between 4 and 5 stars from me. That is, perhaps, why I rated this one so low... my expectations were very high to begin with. Every year I purchase one special book for my holiday reading - it was with great excitement that I found "Change of Command" on the local shelves. Imagine my disappointment when what I read was a 436-page fluff-piece with no plot and even less character development... actually, let me rephrase... with no characters to develop. Like some awful Beverly Hillbillies remake movie, everyone we have met before has a two-line walk-on part: "The question is, does she love him?" is one of Heris's three lines. "... but - I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to do." is Livadhi's final word (his part takes almost four pages). I was going to quote Button's one scene, but couldn't find it. So, what happens? Esmay and Barin whine about getting permission to marry, Brun dabbles in politics and whines about her babies, everyone whines about bad drugs, a good twenty people solve the problem of what to do with the 100+ wives and children (while the solution was obvious to the reader from the first). Cecelia does her Cecelia thing... We are briefly introduced to a new character, Margiu, who evidently becomes a hero by knocking a guy down and suggesting they send a broadcast message. ????? Warning to potential readers: this is not classic Moon. My only fear is that it is a transition piece that we will all have to read in for the few plot tidbits so that we can enjoy future, hopefully well-written, books.
Rating: 
Summary: Rather Blah....
Review: Like the other reviewers I happen to agree this was not up to Ms. Moons' earlier work in this series. The various plots outlined in the book seem fragmented and disjointed, the book would have been more enjoyable if done as a group of short stories. I have read this book on the Baen Web page so I will not be purchasing this in hardback or paperback anytime soon. Sorry, Ms. Moon. You are going to have to do better than this next time.
Rating:
Summary: Change to the Future
Review: Ms Moon uses this book to set up plots and problems for her Familias Regnant series. More action and more attention to her main characters would have been appreciated, but there is still enough to maintain interest and continuity to future books in the series
Rating:
Summary: Do NOT plan to read this one and stop
Review: My biggest disappointment with this book: I got to spend little time with Esmay Suiza, for whose sake I bought it. But that may not be a problem for other readers, particularly those who've read the Heris Serrano/Esmay Suiza books in order, because "Change of Command" begins a two-book process of bringing this political and family intrigue saga to its conclusion. Do NOT plan to read this one and stop, because you won't find out what happened without reading "Against the Odds" afterward.
What happens in "Change of Command"? Brun Meager goes home after her long captivity, and finds herself changed. She hasn't had time to get her bearings when her father's assassination throws the Familias Regnant into turmoil. Meanwhile, Barin Serrano's rescue of the Ranger families in "Rules of Engagement" is rewarded by Fleet's decision to take his pay - all of it - toward their support, since as far as Fleet is concerned they're not political refugees. They're the ensign's dependents. This complicates the already difficult situation Barin and Esmay face as they plan to marry despite opposition from both powerful families.
Moon's enormous cast of characters overwhelmed me at times, but I seldom had difficulty distinguishing and remembering each character once introduced. This book has some slow "set-up" passages that I found a bit of a slog, but when the action came it was well written and engaged me thoroughly. The uncomfortable questions this series asks set it apart from more conventional coming-of-age and military/political SF tales. What should age and youth offer to each other? Is one more valuable than the other; and if so, why? In our own era of genetic research and leapfrogging medical advances, these are issues it's difficult (if not impossible) for readers to dismiss as belonging only to the far, far future.
Rating:
Summary: Constructive Criticism... from a fan of Moon's books
Review: My expectations of Elizabeth Moon have been set high after reading her early books (Deed of Paks, Legacy of Gird). The $1.99 teaser for "Once a Hero" caught me and hooked me into this series of books. The first two books were very entertaining... they reminded me of the Vorkosigan space-opera from Lois McMaster Bujold (also highly recommend those books by the way, a fun series). Ok, now that I've confirmed that I believe this author has skill, on to the review.... Change of Command was not as satisfying as the first two books and ends right when things were just getting interesting. The book spins several different subplots and has the reader constantly wondering when Esmay (main character from first two books) is going to jump into the plot. This never really happens in this book. Being a 3rd book in a series, I expected the story to revolve around the previous main character. Instead the story is around Brun, a character from the 2nd book. Esmay simply occupies one of the sub-stories that are in this book. This is one of the two main criticisms I have of the book. The second criticism is that the book ends.. just ends and the reader is left thinking, "ok, what was the base story that this book was about?". The two previous books in this series had a prime story (and substories as well). Instead, it looks like the 4th book is very well setup now to have a great prime story and that this book just served to set it up. Basically, I get the feeling that Change of Command was pushed to publication before it was ready. It has the basic meat of a good book, just not strung together well (in my opinion of course). I think that Elizabeth Moon is an excellent writer and would like to see more books akin to her previous writings. In fact, I'm off to buy the 3 books that take place in this universe before "Once a Hero" right now. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Constructive Criticism... from a fan of Moon's books
Review: My expectations of Elizabeth Moon have been set high after reading her early books (Deed of Paks, Legacy of Gird). The $1.99 teaser for "Once a Hero" caught me and hooked me into this series of books. The first two books were very entertaining... they reminded me of the Vorkosigan space-opera from Lois McMaster Bujold (also highly recommend those books by the way, a fun series). Ok, now that I've confirmed that I believe this author has skill, on to the review.... Change of Command was not as satisfying as the first two books and ends right when things were just getting interesting. The book spins several different subplots and has the reader constantly wondering when Esmay (main character from first two books) is going to jump into the plot. This never really happens in this book. Being a 3rd book in a series, I expected the story to revolve around the previous main character. Instead the story is around Brun, a character from the 2nd book. Esmay simply occupies one of the sub-stories that are in this book. This is one of the two main criticisms I have of the book. The second criticism is that the book ends.. just ends and the reader is left thinking, "ok, what was the base story that this book was about?". The two previous books in this series had a prime story (and substories as well). Instead, it looks like the 4th book is very well setup now to have a great prime story and that this book just served to set it up. Basically, I get the feeling that Change of Command was pushed to publication before it was ready. It has the basic meat of a good book, just not strung together well (in my opinion of course). I think that Elizabeth Moon is an excellent writer and would like to see more books akin to her previous writings. In fact, I'm off to buy the 3 books that take place in this universe before "Once a Hero" right now. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Purposeless
Review: Once upon a time Moon wrote a great book, "Once A Hero." Get it and read it. It dealt with the concerns and exciting triumphs of a talented, growing woman of adventure. Then Moon wrote a story billed as a sequel, but which had little to do with Esmay or space adventure; i.e., the subjects than made the first book so interesting. Still, it was well done, about another remarkable woman, and dealt with issues (however, depressing and outside the mainstream)that are important and need to be dealt with. Now we have another supposed sequel, which has little to do with either of the main characters of the prior stories, in fact has no main character, is disjointed, little excitement, and no point. The worse thing is that characters you admired in previous books of the truly enjoyable Heris Serrano series now display stupid values, irrational loyalties, and confusion. The devoted reader feels betrayed. Moon still writes well, but the only interesting activity dealt with a woman taking revenge on the murder of her husband. Even this would have been more satisfying if she has spent less time unnecessarily kissing up to him. This book seems obviously turned out only for the December Xmas market, and only to cash in on fans of her earlier space series books (no one else could find any interest in it). The publisher has simply been dishonest in the cover design and teasers.
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