World War Z

58. World War Z (Audiobook) by Max Brooks. 6 hours long. Published October 2007.

Rumors of a plague begin to spread. Beginning in rural China and quickly swarming west, the dead have begun to rise. Soon the entire world is enveloped in panic as zombies begin to feast on the unwary.

World War Z serves to chronicle the aftermath, recording live testaments from survivors around the world. From the doctor treating the initial outbreak to refugees in India and military personnel from Israel, South Africa, and the U.S., this documentary depicts how the world failed to realize the threat until it was almost too lat and then fought to regain supremacy.

I felt that for a book this theatric, the audio performance would be far more fitting. With actors like Alan Alda reading the roles and Brooks himself acting as the interviewer, even this abridged version is a real treasure. My only qualm with the performance lies in Brook’s occasional interruption to describe the behavior or feelings of the interviewee – something that comes through in their voice.

With everyone reading this book before the movie is released, the audiobook is a worthwhile and entertaining alternative to turning the physical pages.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Seeing Redd

57. Seeing Redd (The Looking Glass Wars) by Frank Beddor. 371 p. Published August 2007.

This second novel follows immediately after The Looking Glass Wars. Alyss has taken her place as Queen of Wonderland but still worries after her aunt Redd, whose daring dive into the Heart Crystal – the source of all imaginative power – provided a last minute escape. Doing what they can to piece the queendom back together after Redd’s disastrous rule, Alyss and her advisers often end the day in exhaustion, a fact that King Arch of the neighboring Borderlands is willing to exploit. Sending an attack of Glass Eyes, a weapon salvaged from Redd’s army, Arch inflames fears of Redd’s return and uses the Diamond family to get Molly, Alyss’ bodyguard, to unwittingly trigger a devastating explosion in Wonderland’s primary transportation system, the Looking Glass.

Meanwhile, Hatter Maddigan, who has taken a short vacation to mourn the passing of his beloved, stumbles upon proof that Molly is, in fact, his own daughter. He rushes back to Wonderland in hopes of finding her, but is too late, the young girl taken back to King Arch under the guise of a third party’s kidnapping. Hatter follows her into the Borderlands, neglecting a direct order from Alyss.

Redd, who had spent the intervening months on earth to gather an army, finally returns to Wonderland in hopes of navigating her long-neglected Maze and gain full control over her own powers of Dark Imagination. Alyss is hard pressed on all sides, knowing that her country cannot survive a fight on two fronts, and is forced to make a decision that will change the face of Wonderland forever.

From the start it was obvious that, unlike the first book, Seeing Redd couldn’t rely on the novelty of retelling Alice in Wonderland. Instead, Beddor begins to build upon the story, making it his own. On the one hand, he does a marvelous job, developing a sense of realism in the characters. At the same time, much of Seeing Redd came across as monotonous, spending too much time delving into motivations and machination and the story only begins to pick up towards the rear of the book. Ending with a cliffhanger, Seeing Redd leaves a lot for the third and final novel.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Cally’s War

52. Cally’s War (Legacy of Aldenata) by John Ringo. 326 p. Published October 2004.

At the end of Hell’s Faire, Cally and her grandfather were declared dead, casualties of the nuclear exchange during the final Posleen push. In reality they were snuck out by members of the Benne Sidh, a secret organization working against the industrial-political powers running the galaxy.

Finishing the training her grandfather started, the Benne Sidh raised Cally to be one of their spy-assassins, and for the last 40 years she’s been living a life of aliases, random lovers, and violent endings. As Cally finishes each mission and the miraculous medical sciences patch her up good as new, she finds pieces of herself have begun to slip away and she worries that it may be to late to start having a real life. However, any hope of that happening has to be put on hold for Cally’s next mission.

There’s a traitor in the Benne Sidh, selling information to the military. Cally, physically altered to match an actual officer, is planted as a secretary in the counter-intelligence office investigating her organization. Digging around, Cally finds herself sleeping with the general, but falling for  his aid-de-camp. Pulled between finding the traitor, keeping her secrets, and her attractions, Cally must come to terms with what she wants out of life. And the Benne Sidh must figure out whether Cally is worth the risk of extracting.

Setting Cally’s War 40 years later, Ringo gives the reader an idea of how humanity is fairing after repulsing the invasion. Despite the interesting look into the future and Cally’s development, the switch in pace from the previous 4 novels took some getting used to. Despite that and a few predictable twists, Cally’s War provides a decent enough read.

The first five chapters of Cally’s War are available on the publisher’s website.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Viewpoints Critical

51. Viewpoints Critical by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. 350 p. Published  March 2008.

Viewpoints Critical is the first collection of short stories by L.E. Modesitt. Modesitt, who is known for his work in both fantasy and science fiction,  penned one of my favorite series, The Saga of Recluse.

This collection begins with five stories from Modesitt’s early career as a writer. Covering topics like  global warming, justice, the economy, and religious belief, each story illustrates Modesitt’s ability to grasp issues critical to the future. These are followed by more short stories, many of which feed from Modesitt’s experiences in Vietnam. “The Swan Pilot,” for example, attempts to combine Modesitt’s fighter-pilot experience with futuristic mythology.

Standing distinct among the other stories are three which connect to Modesitt’s novels. Both “Black Ordermage” and “Sisters of Sarronnyn, Sisters of Westwind” tie into The Saga of Recluse while “Beyond the Obvious Wind” was the original story to inspire the Corean Chronicles.

Spanning over almost 40 years of Modesitt’s career, Viewpoints Critical provides a glimpse of this author’s gift. However, as Modesitt himself admits in the foreword, his true talents lie in novels. While many of these stories proved interesting, I found all but a few lacking that inefible depth that comes from an author’s devotion to the story and the world being created. Now, I’m not saying the Modesitt put out inferior work. Rather, the work I usually associate with Modesitt - namely Recluse and the Spellsong Cycle – is so rich in detail and character that these stories pale in comparrison. Still, Viewpoints Critical is a decent compilation and worthwhile reading for any Modesitt fan.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Dreamsongs, Volume 1

47. Dreamsongs, Volume 1 by George R.R. Martin. 683 p. Published October 2007.

Dreamsongs is composed of the collected early works and short stories of Author George R.R. Martin. As such, this book is some heavy reading, taking me two and a  half weeks to finish, though this is due more to style and content than complexity.

Divided into sections, this first volume of Dreamsongs takes us first chronologically and then thematically through Martin’s career. Each section is forewarded by Martin himself as he reminisces on his youth and the early days of modern Sci-Fi/Fantasy. As such, Dreamsongs provides an uparralleled insight into the process and development of a budding bestselling author. We progress through Martin’s early works finding familiar settings and hints of more contemporary material in a barren ice fort, a fantastic dragon, enchanting children, and dire responsiblities. Further in, Martin’s stories turn to science fiction and horror, providing a backdrop for experiments with characters and suspense.

While Dreamsongs’ tales don’t dance and shimmer effortlessly across the mind’s eye, and may not be spun of angeldust or purest gossamer, they do possess an element of the fantastic. Within this volume lies hope and dream, joy and sorrow, failure and victory. And in them we find the innocence and passion of youth, and follow along as it begins to age, darken, and mature into storytelling of the finest vintage.

However, keep in mind that reading anthologies and collections like Dreamsongs takes longer than a normal book of comparative size (at least for me). With characters, scenery, and even the laws of reality being reshaped in each chapter, the reader must constantly break from their flow. That being said, I feel this book was worth it.

If you so wish, you may find a synopsis of each story in Fyrefly’s review of the audiobook version. However, please note that there are some stories missing, as the audiobooks are composed of three parts, while print copies of Dreamsongs have 2 volumes.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other reviews of Dreamsongs Volume 1: Fyrefly’s Book Blog

Hell’s Faire

44. Hell’s Faire (Legacy of the Aldenata) by John Ringo. 336 p. Published May 2003.

This fourth book in The Legacy of the Aldenata was supposed to be part of the third, When the Devil Dances. However, the events of 9/11 being what they were, the story was postponed to the point where another book was necessary.

Continuing directly after When the Devil Dances, this novel follows Michael O’Neal and the 555th Mobile Infantry as they attempt to plug the Posleen push into the Appalachian defenses. Meanwhile, Shiva Nine is repaired and refitted; it’s mission – to move in and support the 555th before they are eliminated. However, the Posleen, having infiltrated the Human’s intelligence network, have begun to adapt their tactics, tailoring them to methods learned from mankind itself.

Nearby, Cally, Wendy, Elgars, Shari, and Mosovich have their own problems. With nuclear arms now regularly pounding the region, they will have to really work hard at surviving.

Hell’s Faire includes some of Ringo’s greatest combat scenarios. With a stunning mix of mayhem and merriment, this novel is a true pleasure to read. Admittedly, the ending comes off a little contrived, but there really is no alternative possibility.

Included with the hardcover version of Hell’s Faire is a CD containing a real cache of bonus material.

A free online version of this book is available by the publisher.

Rating: 4 out of 5

When the Devil Dances

41. When the Devil Dances (Legacy of the Aldenata) by John Ringo. 494 p. Published 2002.

 This third installment in the Legacy of Aldenata series begins 5 years after the events in Gust Front, and the invasion of Earth is in full swing. Australia, China, Russia, Japan, and the Middle East – all have fallen to the Posleen hordes. Humanity has retreated back to the colder area, leaving only token resistance in the mountain ranges of Europe and Asia. Only North America - or what remains of it -stands uniformly against the alien menace. With defensive lines in the Rockies and the Apalachian Mountains, what remains of the American and Fleet forces is stretched thin while the rest of the population seeks shelter in large underground cities.

When the Devil Dances follows many of the same heroes as Gust Front. O’Neal now commands what is left of Fleet Strike, and the stresses of a command he was never trained to occupy are begining to take their toll. When word comes in of Posleen forces making a push in Virginia, O’Neal and his troops are called off a well-deserved leave to seal the inevitable hole in the defense line.

While O’Neal and the cavalry gear up to ship out, our focus shifts to areas on the front line. We follow Elgars, our previously comatose sniper, Wendy, and Shari -survivors from Fredericksburg – as they meet our other protagonists – Mosovich, Cally, and Papa O’Niel. Each of these heroes brings their own story – Elgars, Wendy, and Shari live in the Franklin Sub-Urb, one of the oldest underground cities, and the one closest to the fighting. Mosovich is running recon all over the Apalachians, but his recent venture has brought worrying news of a change in Posleen tactics. And Cally and Papa O’Niel remain on the family farm, waiting for the world to end. The mix of these characters as they meet and seperate provides a truly encompassing view of the war against the Posleen, covering every angle.

But When the Devil Dances also introduces Commanders Chan and Mitchell. Chan leads a group of “Screeming Meemies,” tanks equiped with Metalstorm technology in an attempt to threaten Posleen ships. Mitchell commands SheVa Nine – aka ”BunBun” – the final version of anti-lander combat. SheVas are large – 7 stories tall is-that-mountain-moving large - tracked vehicles which bear a very big cannon. SheVa Nine also happens to have a very deadly webcomic bunny painted on the side. Through these two and a few other characters we get a detailed and exhilirating depiction of frontline combat in the Apalachians.

Of course, we also have a few Posleen viewpoints in When the Devil Dances, but these serve mainly to hint at the changes in how the Posleen are combating the humans.

When the Devil Dances is a decent action-packed sci-fi thriller on it’s own. With wit and wonder a-plenty, each page is a joy to flip. But the true essence of this book seems to lean towards something else – paving the way for the next book, when O’Niel and the rest of the Armored Triple Nickles enter the arena. With an interweaving plot, enjoyable characters, and mezmirizing sci-fi combat, Ringo keeps the reader hungry for more.

A free online version of this book is available by the publisher.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Gust Front

40. Gust Front (Legacy of the Aldenata) by John Ringo. 736 p. Published April 2002.

This is the second book in the Legacy of the Aldenata (a.k.a. Posleen Wars) series. Five years have passed since the events in A Hymn Before Battle. During that time, Mankind has prepared for invasion. Armies have been conscripted, weapons manufactured, and defensive structures and shelters established. Well, mostly. Because nothing has really gone perfectly. Rioting and desertion have plagued the American armed forces. Galactic weapons and supplies have not been making quota. Shelters and defense stations are all incomplete. And politics and old-school thinking is hampering what little progress has been made.

Meanwhile, Michael O’Neal, hero of Deas, is doing what he can to bring Fleet Strike up to combat standards. And he’s succeeding well enough that a few friends among the armed forces have pulled strings to get leave time for both Michael and his wife, who’s serving as XO on one of the few frigates patrolling Earth’s spacefront. The two collect their daughter Cally from Michael O’Neal Senior and go on a vacation to the Florida Keys. While there they witness the shortages and hardships caused by the war and do what they can to help.

But while everyone expects the invasion to begin in a few months, the Posleen have come to visit much sooner. A Landing in Virginia brings all the defenses of the eastern seaboard to alert, and Michael has to rush to catch up with his squad before the counter offensive begins.

The second half of the novel is completely engaged with the fight against the Posleen. From the heroics of Fredericksburg, ground zero for the invasion, to the defense of Washington D.C., each page is packed with touching stories and individual accounts of the horrible war. Among these varied accounts are those of Cally and Papa O’Neal, Michael’s father, as they defend their farm from unexpected enemies. And as the Posleen overwhelm the defenses and mankind prepares to hold their ground, only one thing is certain: life on earth will never be the same.

Gust Front serves as the a perfect second book in this military-SF series. While filling his pages with action and tactical intrigue, Ringo maintains the humor, anguish, and stubborness that makes his characters come alive. Admittedly, I’m not a fan of the few chapters done in Posleen perspective, but I an understand their utility and appreciate the depth they provide.

I have to  admit, this novel pulled me along by the nose. I was reading every chance I had, whether late at night when I couldn’t sleep, or at work, or in the movie theatre waiting for Hellboy 2 to start. This book  kept me excited till the very end as only a few others have managed. I’ve already started the next book, When the Devil Dances.

A free online version of this book is available by the publisher.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Shards of Honor

34. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. 239 p. Republished July 2000.

This is the first book in the Vorkosigan Saga. The story begins with Commander Cordelia Naismith conducting a survey of a recently discovered planet. She, along with the rest of her Beta Colony team, are attacked by Barrayan forces, and her crew is forced to retreat and leave her behind. Knocked out in the scuffle, Naismith finds herself the captive of Captain Vorkosigan, himself left for dead.

The two, leading one of Naismith’s crewmen who was injured in the battle, treck across the wilderness in hopes of reaching a Barrayan supply cache. During their journey, Naismith and Vorkosigan find themselves fighting between duty and attraction. But for both of them honor wins out, and as Vorkosigan regains control of his ship, Naismith is officially taken prisoner. Naismith takes the opportunity to learn of Barrayan society and culture, comparing its politicized militray impericism with the democracy of Beta.

After a daring escape, Naismith returns to Beta, warning of impending invasion. Restructured into the military, Naismith becomes captain of a small ship and a very important mission. Her cargo delivered, Naismith and her crew are once again captured just before the next battle. But this time Naismith must face the sadistic tastes of a Barrayan Admiral, whose penchant for female prisoners is infamous. Relying only on her own instinct and some unexpected help, Naismith must find a way to survive without compromising herself or her mission.

With Shards of Honor, Bujold begins to build a complex galaxy laced with very familiar political and ethical dillemas. While her story, with mankind spread among the stars, may be set in the far distant future, the details that provide realism to her plot and characters focus around modern issues in morality. Despite this burden, Bujold, using a perfect balance of wit, science, military action, political subterfuge, and romance, has developed a story capable of captivating any audience. For this very reason, I find myself comparing Shards of Honor to Herbert’s Dune more than anything else.

Rating: 3 out of 5

A Hymn Before Battle

28. A Hymn Before Battle (Legacy of the Aldenata) by John Ringo. 396 p. Published October 2000.

This is the first book in the Posleen Wars series and focuses on three story lines.

Michael O’Neal is torn from his family and called back to military duty for a specialty he didn’t expect – his love of science fiction. Because humanity has made first contact with alien life forms. The Galactic Federation, composed of a number of species inhabiting planets and systems surrounding Earth, have reached out to mankind to share their science and technology. But the reason for their contact is not as pleasant – The Federation, composed primarily of non-violent species, is waging a losing war with an alien race known as the Posleen, and Earth is their next invasion point.

With the first wave landing in five years, the combined military forces of Earth goes into overdrive developing weapons and training raw recruits. In America, O’Niell is in charge of developing armored suits for mobile infantry. But, as always, the military is rife with politics, and he finds the distribution of the suits and training provided to be far below any standards. While Fleet, composed of the space-based forces, is supposed to be a new division, Army oversight of the Fleet Infantry is highly prejudicial.

Shipped off world with the first set of troops to use the suit, O’Neal finds himself ostracized by the command structure, only able to provide minimal support in training. As they land and battle engages, the inability of the infantry commanders to adapt and a lack of training with the suits’ capabilities becomes apparent, and a major disaster leaves O’Neal in charge of the remaining company. Now he must rescue the allied forces that are quickly being overrun by Posleen forces, and chances are none of them are going to make it back home.

Gunnery Sergeant Pappas is selected as one of the few to undergo rejuvenation. Using alien tech, the veteran marine is made young again and put in charge of training raw recruits in an obscenely short period of time. Confronted with insubordination and a record level of desertion, the entire Army is pushed to breaking. As Pappas is reassigned to take charge of his new brigade, they arrive to find their new base in turmoil. A lack of command structure and rioting among the troops has left the base in shambles. Pappas, now the highest ranking officer on base, and his men must find a way to re-establish control.

Our third plot follows Mueller, who is put in charge of a scouting party. Their job is to land on one of the Posleen-occupied worlds and determine whether the intelligence provided by The Federation is accurate. But sudden contact with Posleen forces leaves Muller and his men out of contact with their ship and fleeing across the swamp-world.

Through all three storylines and the occasional involvement of other characters, it becomes apparent to the reader that all is not as it seems. Mankind knows the Posleen are an enemy, but they’re going to have to watch their allies or face unthinkable consequence.

I haven’t read any military-SF in a while. Returning to the genre has been fun. Ringo develops his story and characters in a pretty straight forward manner. A Hymn Before Battle reads pretty simply, more like a thriller than sci-fi, and yet its scenes are witty and action-packed. With a good head for strategy, Ringo develops a solid plot, offering the reader an enjoyable diversion. Admittedly, I found a few faults with how Ringo works his story. Among them are his aliens. the Posleen in particular are not easy for the reader to imagine, with centaur bodies, Raptor heads and eagle claws instead of hands and feet). But Ringo’s use of science/tech – a little cliche – is well described and implemented and his battles are exciting. In the end, that’s all you ask of military sci-fi.

A free online version of the book is available by the publisher.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Reviews of A Hymn Before Battle: Sunidesus Reads