The Fires of Coventry

Rating:
Summary: More Of The Same
Review: "The Fires Of Coventry" is Rick Shelley's sequel to "The Buchanan Campaign". If you read that book, or my review of it, this book is more of the same. Kent, who has also reviewed this book, called it "distant, inconsistant, yet compelling". I, too, found it distant and inconsistant. I didn't find it very compelling.

To give "The Fires Of Coventry" its due, it was fast-paced, and Shelley is a smooth, technically competent writer. His text is very readable and his description of what is happening is clear and easy to follow. And, to his credit, he has gone somewhat further here to develop the local citizens and the plight they find themselves in than he did in "The Buchanan Campaign".

All in all, he has created a platform that could be developed into a good story, but there are several problems with it. The story he has given us is too linear and simplistic. It never goes beyond the purely tactical level of combat. There is no attempt to look at the conflict from a strategic or political perspective. Only once does he mention the cost of the fighting. Further, the basic plot is strikingly similar to the plot of the previous book. Also, as others have pointed out, the Federation enemies are little more than faceless robots. One speaks briefly, early in the story, but otherwise they are faceless and we get no insight into what drives them. Finally, there is the inconsistant technology. These people have huge ships that can leap great distances through "Q-space", but they fight with rifles and grenades, and nearly run out of bullets. Their landing shuttles are easy to shoot down, but when the "Feddies" land, this core planet with a population of millions of citizens apparently doesn't have even a single small missle to shoot at them. I understand that no invasion was expected, but there is a war going on and it is hard to believe that even the least populated worlds wouldn't have at least a few small missiles for self-defense.

There are some readers who will enjoy this. It is a simple and easily readable story with plenty of action. But most, I think, will find it less than satisfying. The story is just too limited and has too many weaknesses in it. Giving it three stars is, perhaps, being a bit generous. I can't recommend it to adult readers.

Rating:
Summary: More Of The Same
Review: "The Fires Of Coventry" is Rick Shelley's sequel to "The Buchanan Campaign". If you read that book, or my review of it, this book is more of the same. Kent, who has also reviewed this book, called it "distant, inconsistant, yet compelling". I, too, found it distant and inconsistant. I didn't find it very compelling.

To give "The Fires Of Coventry" its due, it was fast-paced, and Shelley is a smooth, technically competent writer. His text is very readable and his description of what is happening is clear and easy to follow. And, to his credit, he has gone somewhat further here to develop the local citizens and the plight they find themselves in than he did in "The Buchanan Campaign".

All in all, he has created a platform that could be developed into a good story, but there are several problems with it. The story he has given us is too linear and simplistic. It never goes beyond the purely tactical level of combat. There is no attempt to look at the conflict from a strategic or political perspective. Only once does he mention the cost of the fighting. Further, the basic plot is strikingly similar to the plot of the previous book. Also, as others have pointed out, the Federation enemies are little more than faceless robots. One speaks briefly, early in the story, but otherwise they are faceless and we get no insight into what drives them. Finally, there is the inconsistant technology. These people have huge ships that can leap great distances through "Q-space", but they fight with rifles and grenades, and nearly run out of bullets. Their landing shuttles are easy to shoot down, but when the "Feddies" land, this core planet with a population of millions of citizens apparently doesn't have even a single small missle to shoot at them. I understand that no invasion was expected, but there is a war going on and it is hard to believe that even the least populated worlds wouldn't have at least a few small missiles for self-defense.

There are some readers who will enjoy this. It is a simple and easily readable story with plenty of action. But most, I think, will find it less than satisfying. The story is just too limited and has too many weaknesses in it. Giving it three stars is, perhaps, being a bit generous. I can't recommend it to adult readers.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the science?
Review: Fast paced but where's the science. Elite light infantry combat with rifles and grenades. So far so good. But, nothing heavy, like a mortar? Artillery? Oops, left em orbit. The good guys are great and the bad guys are evil cardboard cut outs with no attempt to explain why they do anything they do. Good action, crummy story.

Rating:
Summary: Distant, inconsistent, and yet compelling stuff.
Review: I am always surprised that I like Rick Shelley's stuff. It seems like typical military SF, but it often feels emptier. His characters go through all sorts of emotionally charged conflicts and battle stress, and yet it is hard to connect with them. The books seem oddly emotionally distant. And there is no arching narrative payoff. There is a simple, very linear, narrative of a SF military action. And the technology seems oddly inconsistent, with some things very advanced, and others not at all. And yet, with all that said, something about his "just the facts mam" style makes for very compelling reading. It is hard to put down. But when it is finished and I do put it down, I feel oddly empty. So how come I keep on buying his next book?

Rating:
Summary: Rick Shelley continues the 2nd Commonwealth's struggle.
Review: Rick Shelly has written another great series of books in the military science fiction genre. In his first book, "The Buchanan Campaign," you are introduced to the Second Commonwealth's Second Regiment of Royal Marines. This unit is thrust into battle against Federation troops that invaded the independent world of Buchanan. "The Fires of Coventry" continues the war between the two star spanning powers. This time the Federation strikes at Coventry, one of the Second Commonwealth's core worlds. In this book, Rick Shelley, lets the reader view war from the perspective of Coventry's civilians, ill trained weekend warriors, and the professionals of the Second Regiment of the Royal Marines. Great book, I also recommend reading the author's other two Spaceborne."

Rating:
Summary: Rick Shelley continues the 2nd Commonwealth's struggle.
Review: Rick Shelly has written another great series of books in the military science fiction genre. In his first book, "The Buchanan Campaign," you are introduced to the Second Commonwealth's Second Regiment of Royal Marines. This unit is thrust into battle against Federation troops that invaded the independent world of Buchanan. "The Fires of Coventry" continues the war between the two star spanning powers. This time the Federation strikes at Coventry, one of the Second Commonwealth's core worlds. In this book, Rick Shelley, lets the reader view war from the perspective of Coventry's civilians, ill trained weekend warriors, and the professionals of the Second Regiment of the Royal Marines. Great book, I also recommend reading the author's other two Spaceborne."