Future Wars

Rating:
Summary: One of the worst anthologies I've ever read
Review: I know that I'm being pretty harsh on this book with a one star rating, but really, that's what it deserves. In total I only finished reading about half the stories; I ended up skipping the rest after a few pages.

The main problem with the stories is that although they are (sometimes) fairly interesting, they all suffer from poor editing and below-average writing quality. The plots, although filled with interesting technological gadgets, are poorly executed and often have nothing to do with military conflict.

For example, the story "Ranger" has a unique premise: a squad of US operatives are using non-lethal weapons to send a message to a third-world despot. However, I got about a third into it, was turned off by the amateurish writing style and skipped to the end.

Honesttly, this book is a complete waste of time and money. I reccomend reading something like "Best Military Scifi of the Twentieth Century" or "Starship Troopers" or "The Forever War".

Rating:
Summary: A Pick and Choose Collection of Stories.
Review: There where a number of enjoyable stories in this collection, but also a number which I personally didn't carefore.

BiFrost Crossing by Barry B. Longyear: Is a short story about a soldier in the future who has ended up in the psych ward because he is having flashbacks, it is from these flashbacks that we learn what is going on. (A little strange but interesting.)

Faith On Ice by James H. Cobb: Personally Mr. Cobb is one of my favorite authors and he doesn't disappoint in this short story. Set on the Antartic Ice in about 100 years, a skimmer pilot keeps the faith and goes to find two missing fellow soldiers. (A very good little tail, perhaps a glimps of a future series by the author.)

Sparks in a Cold War by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: A story about a hunting expedition to a forbidden planet gone wrong. (Strange but interesting.)

Los Ninos by William H Keith Jr: A tail about humanity attacking a weaker species for political and econmoic reason. And the soldiers reactions to this and in particular one tough female marine when confronted with the truth. (Interesting and thought compelling, a good read.)

An Admiral's Obession by Kathrine M. Massie-Ferch: The story of a woman who is now only a Admiral in the navy, who once was the crowned princess to a now over-turned throne. A woman who will do anything to protect her home. (A great story.)

Ranger by Bill Fawcett: A rather funny little tale once you've read it and thought it over. In the age of non-leathal weapons how you teach someone that they are not beyound the reach of the US Military. (A great story.)

The Vaction by Ron Collins: Two old biddies take a vaction to a world that without Terrian support would have been crushed by the enemy. (A so so story.)

On the Surface by Robert J. Sawyer: If you liked H.J. Well's "The Time Machine" This story is a spring off from that idea. (Didn't care for it)

Air Infantry by R. J. Pineiro: Earth has been invaded, and now the humans have figured out how to finish off the last of the invaders. (A intersting story.)

Toy Soldiers by Robin Wayne Bailey: A great little read about a "Super weapon" gone wrong. (Neat little story.)

Most of the stories in this collection I would call decent to great, but the ones I didn't enjoy I really didn't like at all. Pick it up fore yourself if you enjoy any of these authors. A Decent read all in all.