Against the Tide (The Council Wars)

Rating:
Summary: As Good as Emerald Seas
Review: I really think Ringo has matured as a writer. His last two solo books, Emerald Seas and Against the Tide, have been multi-dimensional, subtle, deep, and ... FUN!

The book's initial premise is that now the nano-tech modified strong-but-dumb forces of the tyrannical council faction headed by Paul Bowman have a real admiral, a real fleet, and real dragon-carriers. And now Duke Edmund and Herzer Herrick are in a bit of a tight spot, after the yacht-club-trained new aristocratic admiralty has lost most of the fleet, and all of the sea advantage, Edmund built up in Emerald Seas. Hmmm, there might be some parallels with certain current politico-military establishments in recent history *grin*.

Along the way of attempting to deal with this little crisis, we get to see what happens to Paul Bowman in his relationship with his beautiful "slave" Megan ... and meet silkies ... and fly with a "fallen angel" ... and meet true highlanders ... and so many other great and beautiful things that I must refrain from speaking so as to avoid spoiling things for the reader.

A new depth of political satire, particular of "political admirals and generals", a great and novel space-twisting invasion, more great characters, and Ringo's uniquely visceral battles, all combine to make this book what I predict will be one of the best novels of 2005.

Rating:
Summary: terrific military science fiction
Review: In the distant future, the United Free States felt safe inside its paradise. The UFS avoided war for centuries but spent a fortune on a military deterrent leading to a collective national ego believing that the country had military superiority over everyone. Thus a terrible defeat at sea to the tyrannical enemy New Destiny is a major shock though it should not have been since the UFS was using untrained dragons with sportsmen on a lark against skilled Dragon Carriers.

The New Destiny invading force contained more than just Dragon Carrier superiority; other legendary warriors out of myth attacked a shocked nation turning it from a place of waste and plenty to a place of starvation and waste. Desperate to stem a tide that seems heading to certain defeat, the UFS names military genius Edmund Talbot to head the Navy. Stomping on Naval egos (not that defeat to the enemy would ever do that), foot soldier Herzer Herrick is selected to command a critical Dragon Fleet consisting of inexperienced dragons, untrained pilots, and unqualified combat support to go up against a superior in number, highly skilled war tested military machine.

This novel is a sequel to THERE WILL BE DRAGONS and EMERALD SEA. AGAINST THE TIDE is military science fiction tale (with fantasy elements) that is well written and the plot can stand alone or follow the previous well written tales. The strong story line hooks the audience with plenty of action (much more than described above), terrific characters including a neat romance, and a fascinating differing historical perspective on real events. John Ringo provides a fantastic tale that will elate sub-genre readers, but also fascinate historiographers with the thought provoking look at history.

Harriet Klausner