Emerald Sea

Emerald Sea (2004) is the second SF novel in the Council War series, following There Will Be Dragons. In the previous volume, Lieutenant Herzer Herrick of the Blood Lords spent a year and half defending that town from Tarson, a New Destiny stronghold. Harzburg hadn't liked the way he did the job, but Herzer conquered Tarson despite their objections. One conflict, one Blood Lord, was the practical reality of that time. In this novel, Herzer returns from Harzburg with orders to report to the Academy as soon as possible. First he drops by his farm and gets a homecooked meal. At the Academy, he learns that Duke Edmund of Overjoy wants him. Edmund needs Herzer for his diplomatic mission to the Mer in the Southern Isles. The Duke is also taking his wife Daneh Ghorbani and their daughter Rachael, both medics, with them on the mission. They are flying to Newfell on dragons and then taking the newly built dragon-carrier Bonhomme Richard to the Isles. The dragons include Joanna Gramlich, a true dragon, and Chauncey, Yazov, Donal, Shep and Nebka, wyverns. Joanna is as intelligent as a human being and can talk; she is working under contract for the United Free States. The wyverns, however, are only about as intelligent as horses, but with some enhanced learning abilities. These dragons are tended and ridden by Jerry, Vickie and Koo, who are also working on contract for the UFS; two other dragon-riders backed out after trying to land on the dragon-carrier. While a certain amount of money is included in these contracts, the major part is provision of adequate foodstuffs for the voracious dragons. Meanwhile, Joel Travante is charged by Queen Sheida with guarding the Southern Isles mission from spies. Joel is a former Special Inspector of the Council, investigating the small, but bothersome, amount of crime occurring before the Fall. Joel flies on a wyvern to Washan and takes a stagecoach to Newfell. There he joins the Navy and is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard as a steward. The New Destiny is not standing idle during this mission. Chansa assigns responsibility for defeating the mission to Brother Conner, a protege of the Demon. Brother Conner then recruits Brother Martin and assigns him six warships, a pod of Changed orcas, and a school of ixchitl (modified manta rays). In this story, the dragon-carrier sails south to Flora. There they encounter a dugout canoe bearing Bast the Elf and Bun-bun the AI cyborg rabbit. Bast is very welcome, especially by Edmund, her former lover, and Herzer, her current lover. But Bun-bun is an uncertain guest, since he tends to spread chaos everywhere he goes. In a subsequent meeting with a New Destiny ship, Bun-bun demonstrates his talents to the dismay of the Orcs and crew. Following directions from the Flora natives, the Bonhomme Richard follows the Mer further south to the Bermuda Banks. There they meet Bruce the Black, the Mer leader. However, Bruce wants nothing to do with the UFS or New Desti

Emerald Sea has something Ringo's work has been missing for some time -- sheer whimsy. It's FUN.The prequel to this wonderful book, There Will Be Dragons, read a bit like a Ren-Faire recreationist's dream of saving the world when technology fails (and TWBD will become known as the prequel, I am sure -- while a fine book, it never even aspired to the wonder of Emerald Sea). In contrast, reading Emerald Sea is a complete immersion in the sense of wonder to which all speculative fiction aspires, and which so few manage to achieve.This book is more focused than There Will Be Dragons, and the focus works. The main character is definitely Herzer Herrick, who has come into his own as a mature warrior between the two books. Herzer has completely left behind his "poor little abused rich kid" origins, and become an interesting, thoughtful, warrior with tremendous depth. While favorites from the earlier book are present, particularly Duke Edmund, the book moves to a new part of the world -- above and underneath the waters off the Florida coast. Add in some classic-feeling-but-original elements like a wood-built dragon-carrying aircraft carrier and a really nasty set of underwater monster-villains, and you've got a blazingly original fantasy-with-scientific-underpinnings. Then you've got tons of innovative little low-powered future-tech nifty-bits like the quantum-surveillance gadgets. And did I mention the really cool underwater monsters?I won't go more into plot or neat things, because I don't want to dilute readers' enjoyment. Trust me, they're there.Yet the book doesn't take itself too seriously. You need only read the Prologue to realize that Emerald Sea won't match your preconceptions. It's going to lead your mind down unexpected and delightful twisted paths. This book is a HUGE and welcome departure for Ringo. While there's plenty of Ringo's trademark conflict and mayhem, Emerald Sea has depth of character, surprisingly original ideas, and a sense of unadulterated sheer whimsy which will surprise and delight Ringo's earlier fans, and should give him a whole new set.

The story of the conflict and characters introduced in There Will Be Dragons is continued in Emerald Sea. The people you love, hate and love to hate are all back - along with new characters in interesting situations.As with the first book in the series, there is a solid plot and excellent characterisation. Villians that are human and heroes that are as well. Look for the author to poke gentle fun at himself and the previous volume.Buy the book, heck buy two of them and an extra There Will Be Dragons so you can loan them out. Its a new twist on Science Fiction/Fantasy bluring the lines of both.

As usual John Ringo wrote a great book, this is a must read

John Ringo is one of the best in the world writing science fiction, from the Legacy of Aldenata series to the Council wars (which this is #2 in the series). If you want a good (make that GREAT) read, then get this book and the one before it... or anything else with Ringo's name on it. Ringo is mentioned in the same sentence as David Weber, Lois Mcmaster Bujold, Eric Flint, etc. I know I am forgetting others.The person that gave this 1 star is a pultroon.