Carnifex

Carnifex (2007) is the second SF novel in the Carrera series, following A Desert Called Peace. In the previous volume, Patrick got another lesson about family vengeance. Then the FSC gave him responsibility for Pumbadeta and lent him FS troops to hold his old ZOR. First, the Legion took out the bridges and surrounded the city. The Legion let out the sick and injured, pregnant and nursing, and small children, but everybody else was kept in the city to consume the food. After the dogs and cats and rats became scarce, the Legion let out the remaining women and children. At the request of a friendly imam, Carrera allowed the local populace to organize a revolt against the mujahadin and then the Legion el Cid took the city. In this novel, Fadeel al Nisa is tortured onboard the Hildegard Mises after his capture at Pumbadeta, but he provides little information until his parents are brought aboard. While still holding some things back, Fadeel does perform a scripted interview for the TV cameras. The primary message is the foolishness of those who are blown to bits while taking out innocent bystanders. Using one item of information from Fideel, a Legion assassination team takes out three Ikhwan chiefs and leaves calling cards implicating the Tauran press. Then an Ikhwan team takes out a Tauran News Network truck and everyone inside it. The press is now becoming disillusioned with the terrorist cause. On the UEPF Spirit of Peace, Captain Wallenstein returns from Terra Nova with a distinct aversion to ever going back again to visit Mustafa ibn Mohamed ibn Salah min Sa'ana. She briefs High Admiral Robinson on the situation down below. Sumer is basically lost to the Ikhwan, but they might be able to stretch out the defeat. Still, the Ikhwan seems to be doing well in Pashta, although they need more time to rearm and train new leaders. In this story, the Progressive Party has ousted the Federalists in the last election within the Federated States of Columbia. Ron Compos is no longer the Secretary of War. Instead, James K. Malcolm now occupies that position. Carrera knows that the FSC will not employ the Legion much longer in Sumer, but he has a plan to tide over his troops for the next year or so. Shipping in the Nicobar Straits and along the Xamar Coast is suffering severely from piracy. Patrick has acquired several surplus Anglican Navy ships, including an aircraft carrier. He intends to use the carrier and auxiliary vessels to provide protective services to any shippers willing to pay his price. One side theme of this novel is the strains on marital relationships. The couples featured in the story include Carrera and his second wife Lourdes, but this marriage also has the ghost of his first wife Linda lurking in the background. Mendoza is a blind and legless veteran of the Legion who is strongly dependent upon his wife Marqueli to read his textbooks. Cruz is a serving legionnaire whose wife Cara is very anxious about his time in com

Carnifex is an excellent read. Kratman continues his exploration of Terra Nova and what is needed to fight terrorism that is aided and abetted by the United Earth forces. There is much more action and less time spent building the background for the Legion Del Cid. With each book Kratman's writing gets better and smoother. The use of interludes to give snap shots of the history of Terra Nova are very interesting just by themselves, and will hopefully lead to at least one book set in beginnings of Terra Nova society. The really scary part of the series is having seen events unfold in real life that Kratman had written about before they happen.

This book is a great sequel to ADCP A Desert Called Peace The story is well writen and can be read as an alternative history on the post 9/11 world or an traditional Science fiction book. The authors millitary experience and attention to facts are hard to miss and the book presents a lot of interesting ideas. Perhaps a good read for all presidential candidates this season ? I strongly recomend this book and hope to se more stories from this facinating universe created by Tom Kratman.

The sequel to "A Desert Called Peace", Carnifex dives into the increasingly open warfare between the United Earth and the Terra Novans. The Legion, formed by Patrick Carrera and allies in Balboa, continues the fight against the radical Islamics. The good guys experiment with a naval contingent, and take on both Salafi pirates and the shipping conglomerates supporting them. Interestingly, Patrick Carrera, like Edmond Dantés, struggles mightily with the cost of seeking his revenge. The next generation of Carreras looms large as the Legion forges strong ties with the tribal societies of Pashtia to oppose the dominant Salafi mujahideen, as well as their supporters, the United Earth representatives and their allies the perfidious cosmopolitan progressives. A great read for all military science fiction fans, Carnifex, like ADCP, explores the darker side of warfare against an unprincipled enemy.

"Carnifex" is exactly the right title for this book. If you liked "A Desert Called Peace", you'll like this book. If you think that we're being too nice to the terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, etcetera, you'll like this book. If you agree that the Laws of War only protect those who ABIDE by the Laws of War, you'll like this book. Neither "ADCP" nor "Carnifex" are for the weak of stomach. There's explosions, and fires, and bullets flying. As Arlo Guthrie said, there's "blood, 'n gore, 'n guts, 'n veins in muh teeth, 'n dead burnt bodies...". On the other hand, watching the bad guys get theirs is truly inspirational. I hope that there's another coming in the series. It's time to go back to Earth. Baen's military SF isn't for everyone. It's very much an acquired taste. But then, so is Kimchee, or Habanero peppers.