Rating: 
Summary: Not too proud to enjoy a good space opera.
Review: Although I found the book difficult to get into during the first hundred pages, by the end I had been transformed into a chronic page turner. The characters all grew on you, the plot kept you reading, and the Zhirzh were a well constructed and truly alien culture. It may not be in the same league as Asimov, Doc Smith, or Herbert, but it will make you want to read the next installment. A good job by an extremely talented writer.
Rating: 
Summary: A thrillig Military Sci-Fi book.
Review: Conqueror's Pride is the first book in a well conceived trilogy. Commander Pheylan Cavanagh, in charge of a space task force encounter a new race of aliens, and attempt to make first contact. However, when the radio package is sent over the airwaves, the mysterious aliens attack the force, destroying all of the ships and escape pods, save for Commander Pheylan Cavanagh's pod. They find him and take him prisoner. In the meantime, Cavanagh's father finds out about the disaster and uses his influence to organize a task force to find out what happened to his son and his fleet. Among his forces are Copperheads, fighter pilots who use an interlink to fly.
They then set out to find out what happened.
Cavanagh has been taken prisoner, and Zahn writes out this well. His discriptions of the aliens, who come in periotically to check up on Cavanagh and to study him, are well done. As Cavanagh learns more, we learn more, and soon he is plotting his escape from the aliens.
What happens is that he escapes, and a war is about to be fought between the Humans and the aliens.
Zahn does a great job with this book. It's top-notch Sci-Fi writing, down to the technical and social details of a galactic civilization.
Along with the action, Zahn throws politics in, and plays with that well. The senators don't want to find out what happened, and Cavanagh's father has to play behind the scenes illegaly to get a task force together.
The first contact situation is also well done, as I mentioned above. The aliens don't quite know what to make of Pheylan and probe him for his mentality and personallity.
A well done book.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, but few female characters....
Review: First, let me say, that I actually enjoyed Conqueror's Pride. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and thought the narrator did an excellent job, and the author's writing was fun and fast-paced. The story: Conqueror's pride is the story of the Cavanaugh family. When Phelan Cavanaugh is captured during an unexpected alien attack, the Cavanaugh family bands together to try to find him.The author deserves credit for writing some fantastic battle scenes & for creating a truly 'different' alien species. Unfortunately, I felt Conqueror's Pride was seriously lacking in emotional depth and that there was a significant dearth of female characters. The male characters are all very similar and almost interchangeable. Also, all characters are almost non-seuxal, in that, they don't seem to have wives, lovers relationships of any sort. And this doesn't appear to matter. Its almost as if this aspect is scrupulously NOT mentioned. It was very strange. This is the first science fiction novel I've ever read where relationship issues are never discussed and were almost avoided. I find it hard to imagine that you have thousands of single men in Peace Keeprs and Fleet, who do nothing all day except pine for their chance to go on the next mission. I mean, come on, now. Lets have some character development. And what about the Cavanaugh's? What do we know about these characters at all? No boyfriends, wives, girlfriends etc.
Overall, if you can overlook the plastic feel of the Zahn universe's men, and the fact that there is only one female human female character, this is a great action novel which will appeal to just about everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I can say without hesitation that this trilogy includes three of the best sci-fi novels I've ever read. It starts out in a typical human vs. alien war, but rapidly evolves into one of the most delightfully subtle tales I've ever read. Even though I didn't read the books in order, due to a shortage at the local bookstore, I found the plot absolutely riveting. Even if sci-fi isn't of much interest to you, I highly recommend this series.
Rating:
Summary: Another of Timothy Zahns best
Review: I found this book awesome. Every night found my self in bed wondering what was going to happen to each different character, with their own situation and circumstances. During the day I just wanted time to read more . . . very good! Another of Timothy Zahns best! This book is about a family who is concerned over the death of their brother. While the rest of the human race is trying to prepare for war with a seemingly deadly race who they termed the Conquerors, they are planing a rescue mission for the brother they think may still be out there. You get the views from the brother who is captured (and thought to be dead), ones from the father, Lord Cavanagh, from the brother Aric who is actually on the small rescue missions boarding party, and from the sister who is stuck on a planet that is being invaded. There are a lot of clever twists in this story. Zahn cleverly adds in Humans past, bringing you into the future where they are currently. This history includes a super weapon called CIRCE, so powerful it destroyed a race. Although disassembled, it remains a threat and also keeps the peace. In this book are many interesting plots and twists, making a thoroghly enjoyable book and pushing you to read the next one. READ IT ! ! ! !
Rating:
Summary: Better than expected
Review: I have to agree with another of the reviewers in saying that, this book was better than I expected. This is my first "space opera" type of book, and while I was hopeful that it would at least be entertaining, I was surprised to find that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the story. I listened to the unabridged audiobook and the narrator, David Colacci, did an excellent job. The details of the book -- such as the ships used in flight, the aliens, alien equipment, different personalities, etc. were very interestingly described and added to the believability of this "world." The book has action, a good story, and interesting and varied characters and aliens. I will be purchasing the sequel!
Rating:
Summary: Zahn is the real thing
Review: I introduced to Timothy Zhan through his "Star Wars" trilogy and was impressed. I did wonder though how much was him and how much was just having the foundation of the Star Wars Universe to build on. Well in "Conoqueror's Pride" he gets to create his own universe and proves he is the real thing. As usual Zahn manages to put the reader in the middle of every scene as if you were watching in an IMAX theatre w/ surround sound. This first book of the trilogy tells the tale of a first encounter w/ an alien race from the human point of view. This book lays down the foundation for the rest of the trilogy so it sometimes drags a little but there's usually enough action, intrigue, politcs and a couple of nice little twists to keep the reader interested. I would definitley recommend this and the rest of the trilogy to all those who count themselves as fans of good science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Zahn is the real thing
Review: I introduced to Timothy Zhan through his "Star Wars" trilogy and was impressed. I did wonder though how much was him and how much was just having the foundation of the Star Wars Universe to build on. Well in "Conoqueror's Pride" he gets to create his own universe and proves he is the real thing. As usual Zahn manages to put the reader in the middle of every scene as if you were watching in an IMAX theatre w/ surround sound. This first book of the trilogy tells the tale of a first encounter w/ an alien race from the human point of view. This book lays down the foundation for the rest of the trilogy so it sometimes drags a little but there's usually enough action, intrigue, politcs and a couple of nice little twists to keep the reader interested. I would definitley recommend this and the rest of the trilogy to all those who count themselves as fans of good science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Zahn masters this genre.
Review: I read these books when they first came out, the whole trilogy, based on the fact that I loved Zahn's Star Wars set so well. I think no other SF writer has contrived such cool aliens or such a great misunderstanding between humans and ET's. I loaned this particular book to someone who did not return it (shame on them), and so now I am buying it again so I can reread the series over and over.
Rating:
Summary: Zahn masters this genre.
Review: I read these books when they first came out, the whole trilogy, based on the fact that I loved Zahn's Star Wars set so well. I think no other SF writer has contrived such cool aliens or such a great misunderstanding between humans and ET's. I loaned this particular book to someone who did not return it (shame on them), and so now I am buying it again so I can reread the series over and over.
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