Rating: 
Summary: Well-done military-political SF -- 4.5 stars
Review: A human starship has crash-landed on Ishtar, a planet inhabited by the gukuy, Bronze-age land squid. First contact is violent, and the humans (who are the titular demons) soon find themselves forced to take sides in a tribal war....This sort of thing has been done, umm, once or twice before, but seldom as well as here. Flint's aliens are well thought-out and biologically plausible. The tiny human colony's predicament is nicely portrayed: one of the human leaders is a historian, and she is painfully aware of how good intentions can lead to monstrous evil. There are some first-novel rough spots -- Flint's exposition is lumpy and sometimes preachy -- but he's an outstanding storyteller, which more than makes up for the (minor) problems. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: A first-rate first novel
Review: A very enjoyable read. Flint's world is very interesting (and quite unusual). The action is a bit slow at the beginning, but picks up. There is -- in my opinion -- just a bit too much hand-wringing and soul-searching among the protagonists. Yes, I know Flint has a point to make. And it's a good one, and he makes it. But he makes it much more smoothly in "1632" than here. But, then, this is his first novel and "1632" is, what, his 4th? There is a learning curve -- but this novel starts out pretty high up on the curve already.
Rating:
Summary: A first-rate first novel
Review: A very enjoyable read. Flint's world is very interesting (and quite unusual). The action is a bit slow at the beginning, but picks up. There is -- in my opinion -- just a bit too much hand-wringing and soul-searching among the protagonists. Yes, I know Flint has a point to make. And it's a good one, and he makes it. But he makes it much more smoothly in "1632" than here. But, then, this is his first novel and "1632" is, what, his 4th? There is a learning curve -- but this novel starts out pretty high up on the curve already.
Rating:
Summary: The Ivory Tower's Revenge
Review: As an historian (and bless Flint for getting the article right!), it is a real pleasure to see this complex and sometimes painful area of study given some respect. Flint has an engaging style, even if he does condescend just a little. The situation is pretty typical SF, the main change being one of era -- these days, we're all for ethical treatment of and alliance with the natives rather than carving out a slice of territory and going out conquering from there. The way Flint ties his human colony into dependence is truly wonderful. I still regard this as being a matter of contemporary cultural fashion, but it's not one that I mind. This book is a pleasure. There isn't a dull moment in the whole thing. But... There's always a but. Eric Flint, most unfairly, hints at future events creating legends. Ok, where's the book? As someone who kept being told that nothing I studied had any possible relevance to the real world, I couldn't help but rejoice to see the historian actually holding the keys. Long live the Ivory Tower!
Rating: 
Summary: Finish What was Started
Review: Eric Flint is a very creative individual who, by all accounts is generous with his time and is not above helping young writers. My problem w/ everything that I've read of his thus far...(can't remember how many books that would be)....is I feel as though I've read half of a really great Science-Fiction story. In this particular novel, I am guessing that the author wants you to envision what is in store for the unsuspecting aliens a hundred or so years down the road when the human star-colonists and the friendly aliens (I am dumbing down/oversimplifying this explanation so that I'm not spoiling anything.) get their act together. I wanted to see that future. I felt cut off. Another beef I have with his writing style, (to be fair others disagree), is he puts you in every character's head. The reason I object to this is it slows the book down, to meet so many characters. I'm not denying that what you read won't be entertaining but to me reading Mother of Demons was a little like taking the girl of your dreams to the prom only to have her pass out on you before you get to dance. I'm not denying the skill and artistry of someone who excels at something that I can't do, but I want to fewer characters doing more and more action. Mr. Flint, if you do read this, I really do enjoy your books but the ones I have read, have left me wishing to see, what lies ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Finish What was Started
Review: Eric Flint is a very creative individual who, by all accounts is generous with his time and is not above helping young writers. My problem w/ everything that I've read of his thus far...(can't remember how many books that would be)....is I feel as though I've read half of a really great Science-Fiction story. In this particular novel, I am guessing that the author wants you to envision what is in store for the unsuspecting aliens a hundred or so years down the road when the human star-colonists and the friendly aliens (I am dumbing down/oversimplifying this explanation so that I'm not spoiling anything.) get their act together. I wanted to see that future. I felt cut off. Another beef I have with his writing style, (to be fair others disagree), is he puts you in every character's head. The reason I object to this is it slows the book down, to meet so many characters. I'm not denying that what you read won't be entertaining but to me reading Mother of Demons was a little like taking the girl of your dreams to the prom only to have her pass out on you before you get to dance. I'm not denying the skill and artistry of someone who excels at something that I can't do, but I want to fewer characters doing more and more action. Mr. Flint, if you do read this, I really do enjoy your books but the ones I have read, have left me wishing to see, what lies ahead.
Rating:
Summary: More an essay on humanity than a sf-novel
Review: Humans crash-land on a planet inhabited by intelligent insects living in an antique society of tribal wars. Again it's modern-day princips against darwinism. (as in 1632)and again Flint shows considerable historical knowledge as the "Mother of Demons", a human historian tries to deduct the right decision for the tribes out of human history (let's talk about Hegel, then). The Concept as such is interesting. BUT.... Flint`s self-confidence in historic matters and his eagerness to communicate historic facts and lines to the average sf-reader cannot satisfy anyone seriously interested in History. It all becomes cliche. (Though, if you are the average sf-reader without historic interest, add one star). Example: He relates both to the Nazis and Steuben (one negative and one positive) but fails to point out that they both emerged from the same prussian militarism. You can't have one without the other. (Americans will hate me for this, I know) Although the story itself is interesting, the style of writing is sketchy and for my taste, Flint should have stuck to one perspective (either human of gukuy). The Gukuy part is much more interesting though. Characterization of the humans is weak. Please remember the title: As a sf-novel, it's good, as philosophical essay, it's ridicolous.
Rating: 
Summary: More of a Lesson in History than Anything
Review: I bought this book originally because it was listed as "Fantasy" on the binding of the book and looked rather interesting. Well, I don't know exactly what in particular distinguishes fantasy from science fiction, but in my eyes this book was definitely science fiction. I'm not a big fan of science fiction myself, but I know a lot of people are. If you're not a science fiction person, then don't read this book. That was my first problem with the book, although it doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the book itself. My other problem with the book was, well, it was boring. At least in my eyes. One of the main characters was a Historian on Earth, and the humans are looking to her for guidance as they try to establish a place for themselves on the planet their ship crashed on. The book turns into more of a World History lesson than anything. If you are a big history fan, then I'm sure you would enjoy the book, but I don't want a history lesson. When I read a book it's to escape. The premise to the book was actually quite interesting and I'm sure I would've enjoyed it if the author had actually expounded on it more. Instead the book turned into battle after battle with no actual plot to it. The back of the book made it sound quite funny, and there was a laugh or two to be had from one of the characters, but otherwise, this book was rather disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: More of a Lesson in History than Anything
Review: I bought this book originally because it was listed as "Fantasy" on the binding of the book and looked rather interesting. Well, I don't know exactly what in particular distinguishes fantasy from science fiction, but in my eyes this book was definitely science fiction. I'm not a big fan of science fiction myself, but I know a lot of people are. If you're not a science fiction person, then don't read this book. That was my first problem with the book, although it doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the book itself. My other problem with the book was, well, it was boring. At least in my eyes. One of the main characters was a Historian on Earth, and the humans are looking to her for guidance as they try to establish a place for themselves on the planet their ship crashed on. The book turns into more of a World History lesson than anything. If you are a big history fan, then I'm sure you would enjoy the book, but I don't want a history lesson. When I read a book it's to escape. The premise to the book was actually quite interesting and I'm sure I would've enjoyed it if the author had actually expounded on it more. Instead the book turned into battle after battle with no actual plot to it. The back of the book made it sound quite funny, and there was a laugh or two to be had from one of the characters, but otherwise, this book was rather disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Good story telling - better than the cover blurb
Review: I enjoy a good SF story... and there are only a few good _story tellers_ around these days. I've been reading Flint and Drake's Belisarus books with some enjoyment. I picked those up because of Drake's name. Flint's name didn't mean much to me, and when I saw the book in the store, it didn't impress me a lot. While at LibertyCon (an SF con in Chattanooga), I saw it on the freebie table as a promotion item. I picked it up, read it, and was hooked. It is entertaining space opera, told from both alien and human perspectives. It's not great literature - but it's a good read. I bought Flint's new book 1632 as a result and found that one very enjoyable as well. So I have added Eric Flint to my list of "buy on publication" authors. If you enjoy old-fashioned space opera and military SF, you'll enjoy Flint.
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