Warstrider: Netlink

Rating:
Summary: Mottly space opera, but good hard SF
Review: On the plus side, this book is definitely hard SF with few fantasy elements. The technology is pretty well presented and basically plausible. Some of the technology seems to be based on the Kim Stanley Robinson series about Mars. The warstriders of the title are basically improved tanks that appear in many hard SF stories. However, though well described, they are not particularly central to the story.

There are various minor negatives. Characterization is so-so, and it's hard to feel much involvement with any of the characters. Lots of the plot involves pretty peripheral stuff, and though it is well told, those parts could pretty much have been cut out without harming the main plotline of the story. The big negative is the ending, which is a real wimp out. Happy ending, but totally unlinked to the rest of the story, just an easy out.

All in all, basically a book to painlessly kill a few hours.