Rating: 
Summary: Protecting the Natives
Review: Technokill ReviewI've said it before, I'll say it again - if Tom Clancy wrote far-future SF, it would look like this. Some SF tales are "Gadget" stories - the main character is a computer, a time machine, or a space ship - the humans (or other sentient creatures) are mere window dressing. This is where a lot of SF writers start out, and these stories are sometimes, but not always, bad. At the other end are "people" stories - the story is about people and situations, and the SF elements are thrown in as a seeming afterthought. These can often be good - Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles are "not really SF", but they're good stories. The same can be said for Spider Robinson's "Callahan's Bar" series. I'll add another distinction - I consider the culture a form of technology, something a lot of writers don't consider. For example, James Blush's "Cities in Flight" follows the people of New York City a thousand years in the future. It's a good story, but I have trouble believing that a thousand years from now, after 800 years of Soviet Occupation, New York City would look and sound so much like the NYC of 1960 - especially since NYC has changed so much in my lifetime... The FIST series falls just a little right of center on this spectrum - there's a bit of science here, and neat, well thought out gadgets, but the real story is in the characters. I can believe in the Confederation culture - given the authors' assumption about the developments of the next few centuries, it makes sense. The main characters are much like the military folks I know - I can tie most of the characters to a real-life person. Mssrs Cragg and Sherman concentrate on the Marines, but they also follow the grand sweep of the action- from the highest level of the Confederation government, the smoky back rooms of power politics, the Conference rooms of the military leaders, right down to the conversations in the berthing spaces of the transport ships. That's not unusual - what's remarkable, is that they do it so well. For example, if you watch Star Trek (tm), you'd think that Starfleet (tm) lobotomizes all Admirals - I can't think of a single intelligent Flag officer in that universe, Kirk included, in many years. Back when I was an enlisted troop, I might have agreed with that, but over the last few years, I've personally met many Generals, Admirals, etc. I've concluded that, when you can see the big picture, things that looks stupid to the Line Animal and his micro view, make sense to the General and his/her macro view. This story pits the Marines against a bunch of smugglers trying to take unfair advantage of a group of intelligent avian creatures. The Confederation leadership wants the avians to develop technology on their own, without outside interference. The smugglers want to obtain some high-value gemstones that are only found on this world, and who cares what happens to the natives and their culture? Further, the Marines must stop the smugglers - but they must keep the existence of these creatures secret from the rest of the Confederation, lest well-meaning meddlers attempt to "enlighten" the natives...There is a final subplot as the Marines find they even need to protect the avians from the research scientists. The Marine Commander risks his career to end a research project reminiscent of Dr Mengele at his worst. If you are any kind of a student of sociology or history, there is a very fine, practical review of what happens when a technologically superior culture hits a low-tech culture. I took a personal interest in this, as my paternal ancestors got chased out of Scotland, came to America, walked the Northeast Trails with Thayendega (The white men called him Joseph Brant). My maternal ancestors were Samurai. My ancestors knew about lost causes and surviving the onslaught of the white man and his culture. Gunny Thatcher's historical briefing is somewhat abbreviated, but, in my opinion, is dead on. It's not Politically Correct, but it pulls no punches, and calls it straight on. That particular essay is darn near worth the price of the book right there. I wouldn't want you to get the feeling that this is an intellectuals-only book. There's plenty of blood and thunder here, and a really neat couple of light-cavalry battles. There's some of their trademark low humor here, too. My personal favorite was a take on the US military expression "I will be dipped in (fecal material)". (snicker) I'd hate to be a villain in this series - they all seem to meet particularly gruesome fates. There's rough mercy here, also. Once, I made a disparaging comment about a person, and my Gunny brought me up short with the reply, "He's not evil - he's just a messed-up guy trying to make the best of a messed-up situation. That doesn't stop me from killing him if I need to - but if I get away without killing him, that's fine, too. I can't hate him, that's for sure." I get the feeling that the authors have noticed that too, and one of the subplots address this. But this story has something for everybody - blood and thunder, intelligent cultural design, well-thought out characters and situations - it definitely falls in the top 10% of the SF on the book rack today.
Rating:
Summary: Protecting the Natives
Review: Technokill Review I've said it before, I'll say it again - if Tom Clancy wrote far-future SF, it would look like this. Some SF tales are "Gadget" stories - the main character is a computer, a time machine, or a space ship - the humans (or other sentient creatures) are mere window dressing. This is where a lot of SF writers start out, and these stories are sometimes, but not always, bad. At the other end are "people" stories - the story is about people and situations, and the SF elements are thrown in as a seeming afterthought. These can often be good - Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles are "not really SF", but they're good stories. The same can be said for Spider Robinson's "Callahan's Bar" series. I'll add another distinction - I consider the culture a form of technology, something a lot of writers don't consider. For example, James Blush's "Cities in Flight" follows the people of New York City a thousand years in the future. It's a good story, but I have trouble believing that a thousand years from now, after 800 years of Soviet Occupation, New York City would look and sound so much like the NYC of 1960 - especially since NYC has changed so much in my lifetime... The FIST series falls just a little right of center on this spectrum - there's a bit of science here, and neat, well thought out gadgets, but the real story is in the characters. I can believe in the Confederation culture - given the authors' assumption about the developments of the next few centuries, it makes sense. The main characters are much like the military folks I know - I can tie most of the characters to a real-life person. Mssrs Cragg and Sherman concentrate on the Marines, but they also follow the grand sweep of the action- from the highest level of the Confederation government, the smoky back rooms of power politics, the Conference rooms of the military leaders, right down to the conversations in the berthing spaces of the transport ships. That's not unusual - what's remarkable, is that they do it so well. For example, if you watch Star Trek (tm), you'd think that Starfleet (tm) lobotomizes all Admirals - I can't think of a single intelligent Flag officer in that universe, Kirk included, in many years. Back when I was an enlisted troop, I might have agreed with that, but over the last few years, I've personally met many Generals, Admirals, etc. I've concluded that, when you can see the big picture, things that looks stupid to the Line Animal and his micro view, make sense to the General and his/her macro view. This story pits the Marines against a bunch of smugglers trying to take unfair advantage of a group of intelligent avian creatures. The Confederation leadership wants the avians to develop technology on their own, without outside interference. The smugglers want to obtain some high-value gemstones that are only found on this world, and who cares what happens to the natives and their culture? Further, the Marines must stop the smugglers - but they must keep the existence of these creatures secret from the rest of the Confederation, lest well-meaning meddlers attempt to "enlighten" the natives...There is a final subplot as the Marines find they even need to protect the avians from the research scientists. The Marine Commander risks his career to end a research project reminiscent of Dr Mengele at his worst. If you are any kind of a student of sociology or history, there is a very fine, practical review of what happens when a technologically superior culture hits a low-tech culture. I took a personal interest in this, as my paternal ancestors got chased out of Scotland, came to America, walked the Northeast Trails with Thayendega (The white men called him Joseph Brant). My maternal ancestors were Samurai. My ancestors knew about lost causes and surviving the onslaught of the white man and his culture. Gunny Thatcher's historical briefing is somewhat abbreviated, but, in my opinion, is dead on. It's not Politically Correct, but it pulls no punches, and calls it straight on. That particular essay is darn near worth the price of the book right there. I wouldn't want you to get the feeling that this is an intellectuals-only book. There's plenty of blood and thunder here, and a really neat couple of light-cavalry battles. There's some of their trademark low humor here, too. My personal favorite was a take on the US military expression "I will be dipped in (fecal material)". (snicker) I'd hate to be a villain in this series - they all seem to meet particularly gruesome fates. There's rough mercy here, also. Once, I made a disparaging comment about a person, and my Gunny brought me up short with the reply, "He's not evil - he's just a messed-up guy trying to make the best of a messed-up situation. That doesn't stop me from killing him if I need to - but if I get away without killing him, that's fine, too. I can't hate him, that's for sure." I get the feeling that the authors have noticed that too, and one of the subplots address this. But this story has something for everybody - blood and thunder, intelligent cultural design, well-thought out characters and situations - it definitely falls in the top 10% of the SF on the book rack today.
Rating: 
Summary: Missed the Target
Review: This volume of the Starfist series appears to be an ambitious attempt by the authors to be more sci/fi-ish. While this was somewhat achieved the books focus was terrible. The first few chapters seemed out of sequence as if a manuscript fell on the floor and the chapters were hastily reassembled out of order. Also several chapters about an alien Galilleo were accidently placed in this book instead of the book they belonged to, for these chapters had nothing in common with the rest of the book except being on the same planet. LC Dean was virtually missing from the book until he and Owen made a brief cameo appearance in the last chapter. Note to authors: MORE OWEN!!! in future. Also we learn trials for criminals are optional and alien vivisection is just peachy keen, no repercussions need be faced. This is set in the 25th century but little sign of the incredible scientific capabilities are present in any book in the series. A full molecular scan of that time could probably tell what the alien had for breakfast last week, intrusive medical dissections are 19th century stuff. Even the god awful ST: Voyager gives a good idea of how future science technology can advance. Conclusion: Books I,II,IV well done, Book III poorly thought out, Book V: ambition good; poor organization, shaggy dog characters ie. Nast, Tweed, etc. bad. Take your time with the next one and win your fans back.
Rating:
Summary: Missed the Target
Review: This volume of the Starfist series appears to be an ambitious attempt by the authors to be more sci/fi-ish. While this was somewhat achieved the books focus was terrible. The first few chapters seemed out of sequence as if a manuscript fell on the floor and the chapters were hastily reassembled out of order. Also several chapters about an alien Galilleo were accidently placed in this book instead of the book they belonged to, for these chapters had nothing in common with the rest of the book except being on the same planet. LC Dean was virtually missing from the book until he and Owen made a brief cameo appearance in the last chapter. Note to authors: MORE OWEN!!! in future. Also we learn trials for criminals are optional and alien vivisection is just peachy keen, no repercussions need be faced. This is set in the 25th century but little sign of the incredible scientific capabilities are present in any book in the series. A full molecular scan of that time could probably tell what the alien had for breakfast last week, intrusive medical dissections are 19th century stuff. Even the god awful ST: Voyager gives a good idea of how future science technology can advance. Conclusion: Books I,II,IV well done, Book III poorly thought out, Book V: ambition good; poor organization, shaggy dog characters ie. Nast, Tweed, etc. bad. Take your time with the next one and win your fans back.
|
