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Tooner's Reviews Creator and designer of FOLKLORE, Tooner has been into Science Fiction and Fantasy novels for over 15 years. Enjoys Fantasy primarily over Science Fiction, and plans to write an epic of his own.
David's Reviews |
TJ's Reviews Co-designer of FOLKLORE, TJ has been an avid Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan for over 23 years. His personal library contains more than 500 titles. He has no preference of one genre over the other.
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"The General", S. M. Stirling and David Drake, ©1991
![[IMG: 4 Worlds Rating]](images/z0000020.jpg)
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000205.jpg) |
Baen books paperback edition, February 1991 - Cover art by Paul Alexander, ©1991 The Characters in the story are very human in their strengths and weaknesses. Raj Whitehall is that story's main character and hero. At the start of the book Raj is a young man who is not yet the General but is equipped with all of the tools that he will need to become the General. This is not one of those stories that the hero just suddenly becomes what the hero should be without any reason for the change. Raj also has an ace up his sleeve that he uses when he needs it and it seems to be fairly often but that would give to much of the book away. This Ace is used well and isn't to powerful so it doesn't unbalance the book. Suzette Whitehall is the beautiful, sophisticated, and court wise wife of Raj. She is one of the most enjoyable characters in the entire book. She does not have a lot of pages dedicated to her but when she is involved her character is very strong and intriguing. Through out the book she is a surprising in her strength of character and will. She not only defies the traditional role of a noblewoman on the world of Bellvue she becomes an unsuspecting, powerful, behind the scenes power broker. The only disappointment I had with the book was that I bought the book right after it was published in paperback and I had to wait for the next book in the series to be released. If you are a military and/or history fan as well as a Science Fiction Fan, this is definitely a must read book.
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"Hammer's Slammers", David Drake, ©1974, 1975, 1978, 1979
![[IMG: 5 Worlds Rating]](images/z0000021.jpg)
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000179.gif) |
An Ace Science Fiction paperback edition, April 1979, Cover art by Paul Alexander - Introduction by Jerry Pournelle ©1979 "Hammer's Slammers" is the first book in an ongoing Series of stories of the men and women that make up the most elite Mercenary company in known space. The first book contains 7 short stories, 6 interludes and an Introduction By Jerry Pournelle. Don't let the fact that because "Hammers Slammers" is a series of short stories put you off of this book. They are all tied together and the way that they are written tell a much larger story. I am not one that usually reads the forwards and introductions of books but the Introduction by Jerry Pournelle in this book is one of the most insightful looks into why Soldiers fight that I have ever read. This Introduction is a perfect opening for this book. "Hammer's Slammers" is a book about a leader who understands that Generals don't win wars, it is the men and women on the front line doing the fighting and dying who win the wars. Alois Hammer is the Leader of these hard bitten mercenaries. He has ensured that they are equipped with the finest weapons and Armor anywhere. Col. Hammer rarely makes an appearance in the stories but his persona pervades all of them. When it is all said and done, machines and guns don't win wars, soldiers do, and Hammer's men and women are the best and these are their stories. I have read comments that state that "Hammer's Slammers" is a good book but will never become a classic. I wonder just what makes a book a classic. Is it a story the transcends the time when it is written? Is it a story that brings about a new understanding of a subject that you are familiar with? Is it a story that brings about an understanding of a subject that you have no interest in? Is it a story that is easy to read, in a quick clean manner? Is it a story that makes you think? I really don't know what makes a book a classic, but I do know that this book will be required reading for my kids when they get old enough to understand it. I also know that the stories in this book will be as entertaining and meaningful in 50 years as they were when I first read them 17 years ago. "Hammer's Slammers" sound like a classic to me. |
"Cyber Way", Alan Dean Foster, ©1990
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000189.jpg) |
Ace Science Fiction paperback edition, May 1990 - Cover art by James Gurney, ©1990 Foster masterfully weaves a story of Navajo Heritage, Myth and Legend in a near future Earth. While the Story is pure Science Fiction it awakens an interest and curiosity about the rich Navajo culture, both past and present. The characters are vibrant and remain in character through out the book. At this time this is the only appearance by Vernon Moody, the stories main character in a Alan Dean Foster narrative. The story well paced, and raises several interesting possibilities that are clearly Science Fiction from our current understanding of the universe, but who knows? I would clearly welcome a sequel or any additional stories about Vernon and his adventures. |
"A Small Colonial War", Robert A. Frezza, ©1989
![[IMG: 3 Worlds Rating]](images/z0000019.jpg)
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000190.gif) |
A Del Rey paperback edition, Febuary 1990 - Cover art by Stephen Hickman I was drawn to this book initially by the cover, and as I read the back flap I started to get that little itch on the back of my neck of concern. The back flap described a typical Hollywood formula story, good but not enough troops, bad leadership at a high level, an even more inept off world corporate/governmental ruling body, and a determined resourceful local rebel population. Then the real kiss of death for a book, the need for a "Principal Characters" list and a Military Organizational chart. In spite of all of the initial fears that I had, "A Small Colonial War" turned out to be well written and interesting. I just had a very hard time getting comfortable with the story because of all of the military organizational groupings and titles of the various characters. This was especially disconcerting for me because I spent almost 7 years in the Military, and I was still confused. I feel this 1 issue really cripples the entire book. There were no unique plot twists or even any surprises in this basic formula plot line and to Robert Frezza's credit "A Small Colonial War" is still a pleasant story. I found myself spending too much time trying to figure out how all of the Soldiers fit in the scheme of things and what unit they belonged to or who their commanding officer was, to really enjoy reading this book. Once it is all said and done, if you understand army organization inside and out, you might like this book a lot more than I did, if you don't you might want to stay away from it. |
"Requiem For The Conqueror", W. Michael Gear, ©1991
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000177.jpg) |
Daw paperback edition, July 1991 - Cover Art By Sanjulian Staffa kar Therma and Sinklar Fist are the 2 central characters or this massive book, 621 page to be exact. The story is an intricate yet interstellar work. The characters are not real deep, but in no way can they be considered one dimensional, but they all seem to be mental. There is some type of mental instability in every one of the main and even most of the supporting characters, and I suppose under the circumstance's in the book that might be expected. My problem is, all of them? Come on, how about a little originality, in some of them at least. The other issue I have with the story is that with this incredibly powerful race that is keeping the Human Race bottled up in this little corner of space. They are supposedly so powerful, yet they can't destroy us because a computer won't obey their commands? If the wanted to destroy the entire Human Race why don't they just do it. I know, that would kill the story, but then the author needs to get a better story. The size of this Space Bottle, was also a issue for me. It is so big that entire space fleets, can sneak around one another, but it is now to small to hold all of the people. Huh? After millions and millions and millions have died at the Hands of Staffa kar Thema and others like him. One of my favorite and best written parts of this story is when Staffa is in the desert, it gives the reader great insight into what makes up one of our chief Protagonists. It also show us how great hardship can change a person and the power of forgiveness. There is nothing about this book that I found to be glaringly distracting just a lot of little things that kept me from becoming completely immersed in the world. It is well written, and even though I had some difficulty with some of the premises in the story, it is an entertaining book, brought to life around a neat concept. It just misses the mark in my opinion. If you are looking for a decent book and want a long one, Requiem For The Conqueror, just might meet your needs.
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"The Voyage of the Star Wolf", David Gerrold, ©1990
![[IMG: 1 World Rating]](images/z0000017.jpg)
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000194.gif) |
A Bantam book, 1990 - Cover art by John Harris, ©1990 Good Title, OK cover, and a Hugo nominated Author, this is a book that has promise. Unfortunately it turns out to be unfulfilled promise. The story was written in a very light manner, it is written in a manner that you would write for a very young teenager or even a pre-teen, but some of the subject matter and character interactions show that "The Voyage of the Star Wolf" was clearly written for an older audience. The Technologies that makes Interstellar Space flight possible in the story is not done well, and I was never comfortable with the way that it was described. I realize that in almost all Intergalactic Science Fiction the reader is ask to buy into a theoretical or even a totally impossible "Star Drive" of some sort. The key is in allowing the reader to accept this ability, what ever it is, to travel between the stars. The failure to allow me to be comfortable with the "Star Drive" caused the whole story to be doomed from the start even if "The Voyage of the Star Wolf" had no other problems and it has a few. A large percentage of the characters are very thin and were nothing more than a one dimensional caricature of a supporting actor/actress in a low budget film. There is also the classic Hollywood scene where the very powerful, and totally invincible enemy Flagship comes right up to the defenseless good guys and basically says your not even worth killing. It then flies off and out hero's ship is allowed to limp home so that it can return to fight another day. The best thing about this book is I never paid for it. "The Voyage of the Star Wolf" was given to me by a friend, I suppose you could call them a friend but I am not so sure after reading this book. There is not a lot of positives about this book accept that it is rather short. |
"The Number of the Beast", Robert A. Heinlein, ©1980
![[IMG: 2 Worlds Rating]](images/z0000018.jpg)
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000200.jpg) |
Fawcett Gold Medal paperback edition, 1980 - Cover Art unknown If Robert A. Heinlein wrote it can't be a waste of a tree and is the only reason that I didn't give this novel a "One World" rating. The Number of the Beast was written in Heinlein's later style and is loosely tied into the Lazarus Long series of books. I found the book slow, complicated and difficult to read. There were long stretch's of verbal debating and trivial conversation that I found totally uninspiring and boring. This was the first Heinein Book that I ever had force myself into finishing. I can only recommend this book to those diehard fans of Robert A. Heinlein that read every thing from a particular author no matter how bad it is. |
"Starship Troopers", Robert A. Heinlein, ©1959
Review by TJ, ©1997
![[IMG: Book Cover]](images/z0000202.jpg) |
Berkley Paperback edition, 1984 - Cover Art by Carl Lundgren ©1979 "Starship Troopers" is the single most influential book that I have ever read. A lot of the ideas and values that Heinlein offers in "Starship Troopers" have had a profound effect on me and the way that I have molded my life If you judge a book by its cover this book is the proto-typical Science Fiction Military story, and you wouldn't be wrong, but inside this classic novel is a story about social ills we are faced with today. Unlike many authors Heinlein offers ideas and options as to possible reforms. Heinlein's genius is at it's height in this timeless classic that is meaningful today as when it was written in 1959. Starship Troopers is a fast paced novel that never gets preachy. This is a definite must have, must read book. You will want to own the book so that you can read the book again and again. Starship Troopers is currently being made into a major motion picture that is scheduled to be released in the summer of 1997. I can only hope that the movie stays true to one of the true all-time classics in literature. |
 
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