A Talent for War

Rating:
Summary: The BEST Science Fiction Novel Ever
Review: I have read this book repeatedly and I will soon again. I borrowed it from a friend and has no intention of giving it back.
It has become my most favorite book! First time I read it, I was
hooked! Then I re-read it again and again, focusing on different
aspects of this book, the military, the space combat, the Dellacondan strategy and tactics, the mystery of Sim and Tanner,
the individual Dellacondan Frigates(Corsarius, the technology,
Rappaport,Staraczynski, Pauline Stein, Mercuriel, Morimar, Povis, Proctor, Regal, Korbal) named in the book and their
fates in battle, the protagonist Alex Benedict and his search for the truth...No Doubt About it The Best SCi-Fi Book Ever

Rating:
Summary: Agreed; this is a great book!
Review: I have to agree with the first review. This is a great book. It's definitely *not* military SF, but more along the lines of a great mystery. What would you do if you began to discover that your "history written in stone" was, in fact, completely wrong? If you can find this book, read it... you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Agreed; this is a great book!
Review: I have to agree with the first review. This is a great book. It's definitely *not* military SF, but more along the lines of a great mystery. What would you do if you began to discover that your "history written in stone" was, in fact, completely wrong? If you can find this book, read it... you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: I just finished this book about ten minutes ago, and I'm feeling sort of stunned and in awe. This is an incredible book. It is books like these that make science fiction a legitimate genre of LITERATURE.

Rating:
Summary: I've worn my copy out
Review: I've read alot of S.F. in my time from DUNE to THE GAP series, but A TALENT FOR WAR is my favourite. I picked my copy up in a nameless second hand bookstore in Sydney Australia before a long bus journey and read it twice before I arrived at my destination some 24 hours later. It is a human story, of heroism and sacrifice, set in the context of an historical detective story where the main character is thrust into a mystery that he must see through to its conclusion for his own peace of mind. The combination of fast packed action, mystery, romance and brilliant S.F. projections of where some of our latest technology could lead, has me going back again and again and again. The characters are human (for the most part)and admirable. Perhaps the feature that I admire most about this book and that keeps me coming back is that it keeps you thinking about the events that unfold within the pages well after the book is finished. You want to reread it to figure out another angle. This, coupled with terrific "Historical" battle descriptions and well written prose has me hooked. I'll leave this here....I must go and start it again....

Rating:
Summary: A Talent for Storytelling
Review: Jack McDevitt shines as one of the greatest new authors in sci-fi this decade. A Talent for War shows his ability to weave an intricate story that both grabs the reader and propels him into a futuristic, yet still familiar universe. With both visual and emotionally evocative prose, McDevitt charges ahead full force into the military mystery that will leave you sitting on the edge of your bed until you finish the last page. Gripping and well-realised. A must read. You won't be disappointed

Rating:
Summary: A classic to read and reread.
Review: My personal experience of this novel has been similar to that expressed in 'Hrinwar's review. I can across it in a remainders bin in '94, one of my most fortunate finds ever. Since then I have read it pretty much every year, sometimes more. This is not from lack of other material to spend my time on but the levels that unravel as the story progresses, the sheer thrill of watching the clues come together, the intrigue built up around the historic mysteries, never fail to hold me entranced. I love this book and only wish others by the same author, or anyone else for that matter, could ignite my interest in the same way. However it would be an irrelevance to make comparisons with other works - put simply it is one of my most deeply held personal favourites and has stood the test of nine years repeated reading. A supreme example of a deeply satisfying reading experience.

Rating:
Summary: Good historical sleuthing.
Review: Not McDevitt's best book, but if you like a historical mystery, you'll find this an interesting diversion. The protagonist is trying to uncover mysteries which surround a great military leader who united humanity in the face of an alien threat. Not particularly fast moving, but it's interesting seeing the puzzle being pieced together. McDevitt illustrates a world with a lot of convincingly scholarly background, unfortunately as another reviewer said, the mystery isn't too hard to solve, and you wonder why noone else managed to.

Rating:
Summary: A Not-So-Good Mystery
Review: The back of this book outlines the story of a certain Alex finding clues that indicate that a interstellar hero, Christopher Sim, might not actually be what everyone thinks he is. Sounds great. I'd love to read about some of the socio-political ramifications of having someone running around trying to rewrite history based on new evidence. There might even be some cloak-and-dagger elements as Alex crosses whoever propped Sim up as a war hero.

Why was two-thirds of the book dedicated to Alex's search for this information that might prove that Sim was something other than an interstellar hero? I had already assumed he was. There's nothing really remarkable about those 200 pages. The last third of the book isn't much better. Alex eventually stumbles across the right person who tells him where is late-uncle was headed before he died (was murdered? -- it's never addressed) and the rest of the book recounts the "real" Christopher Sim.

I really wish there was something for me to sink my teeth into here. I spent a long time waiting for something to happen and I don't feel that much ever did. What's the point of a mediocre mystery novel if you've already given away the major plot point on the book jacket?

Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite books
Review: This is the book that I push on people when they complain that there's no good science fiction out there. It is a personal favorite and when a friend "borrowed" it to never return it, I was very disappointed. Then I found another paperback copy at a used book website before it was reprinted.

This book is a treat for anyone who enjoys real science fiction.