Honor of the Clan

This is the tenth published book in the Posleen invasion/Legacy of Aldenata series, and within that the third in what looks to be a quartet of novels featuring the spy and assassin Cally O'Neal. The series began in around the year 2000, when the galactic federation contacted the governments of earth with some awful news and an even more terrible choice. An aggressive species called the Posleen, to whom all other creatures are no more than food, is rampaging through the galaxy, and Earth is in their path. If humans will act as mercenaries against them, the galactic federation will provide weapons and technical assistance. Accepting the deal means humans will be cannon fodder. Refusing would mean that when the Posleen arrive we will just be fodder. The series is sometimes called "Legacy of Aldenata" because the galactic situation is the result of meddling in the genes of almost every intelligent species by a now-vanished race called the Aldenata. They tried to play God, and were not up to the task. The Aldenata tried to programme every species to be vegetarians and unable to kill. The only species in the galaxy who can fight wars are Posleen and humans - which is why the galactic federation want us as mercenaries. But the Aldenata's meddling has not necessarily made every race into nice people. In particular, galactic politics and economics are dominated by a powerful race called the Darhel. The ruthless and evil leaders of the Darhel see humans as a threat to their position. Their plan is to use humans and Posleen to virtually annihilate each other: they intend to give humanity just enough support to enable us to eventually defeat the Posleen, but the Darhel also plan to deliberately sabotage the human war effort beyond that point and ensure that several billion humans get killed and eaten by Posleen in the process. Those humans who have worked out what the Darhel are up to have a quandary: on the one hand, we do need galactic help, however half-hearted, to avoid ending up as lunch for the Posleen: but on the other hand, the Darhel are not to be trusted. So some humans join an underground resistance to the Darhel's machinations, which has members from almost every other intelligent species and is called the Bane Sidhe. The books in this series fall into two categories: some of them concentrate on the fight against the Posleen, others follow the fortunes of the Bane Sidhe. The O'Neale family are found on both sides of the divide. General Michael O'Neale (Junior) is one of the most successful soldiers in the fight against the Posleen. He imagines that his father and daughter were killed by the Posleen many years ago. In this he is wrong: Michael O'Neale senior faked his own death when he joined the Bane Sidhe, of which he is now head of the main human sub-group, and went so deeply underground that even his own son does not know he is still alive. Cally O'Neal went underground at the same time as her grandfather and is now the Bane Sidhe's p

Lt. General Michael O'Neill lives in a world still a shambles after the Posleen Invasion, and his main duty is to prevent the recovery of the aliens and protect humanity from them. There is no greater duty - - even if it mans facing a basic betrayal, facing an estranged daughter, and eliminating danger at all costs. A gripping science fiction political thriller evolves perfect for collections strong in political sci-fi.

For those who are fans of John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series, you will likely have already read this book. If you are a fan and you haven't read this book, then you need to read it...now. This concludes the sub-series that John Ringo and Julie Cochrane started with Cally's War (Posleen War Series #5) and continued in Sister Time (The Posleen War). Cally, Michelle and the rest of the Clan O'Near Bane Sidhe face their greatest test when they finally draw the attention of the Darheel Ghin who manuevers alliances to force a direct conflict between Bane Sidhe and Fleet Strike. With "Iron" Mike O'Neal, now a Fleet Strike General, back on Earth and charged with putting down the threat to the Federation that the Bane Sidhe poses...the immovable object is truly about to be tested by the unstoppable force. Ringo and Cochrane continue to introduce and develop intersting characters that are deep in character and motivations. These are people that you care about and when they are faced with conflict it involves you in the story fully and completely. By bringing back the hero of the original tetrology (A Hymn Before Battle (Posleen War Series #1), Gust Front (Posleen War Series #2), When the Devil Dances (Posleen War Series #3), and Hell's Faire (Posleen War Series #4)) the reader is placed in an unenviable position...we have our heroes on both sides of the same battle. For those that are real fans of the Posleen Universe, this book serves to conclude the first chapter of the story and sets up the next chapter that will begin with Eye of the Storm (Posleen War) and continue with more books in the series. John Ringo, by his own words, has rediscovered the love for telling stories in this arc and his fans are very grateful.

Another excellent addition to the series! John again shows his ability weave complex characters (Human and Alien) into even more complex plots. I wouldn't recommend this book as the first to read in the series (go buy the others first) but it certainly is an excellent next installment. We just need them coming out faster! Somebody shorten his chain, he's can still move away from the keyboard!

Honor of the Clan (2009) is the fourth SF novel in the Legacy of the Aldenata series, following Sister Time. In the previous volume, Cally drove the Darhel Clan Chief of the Epetar Group into lintatai. Then the Bane Sidhe raided the Institute for the Advancement of Human Welfare. During the battle within the building, the platoon from Direct Action Group mutinied and went over to the Bane Sidhe side. Michelle battled Erick Winchon in mentat style, but Cally fired a .50 caliber bullet into the psychotic mentat. His shields failed and the attacking forces then burned him into ashes. The Indowy Bane Sidhe -- with the exception of Clan Aelool -- were unhappy with the killings and withdrew their support from the humans. They even took away the slab than provided medical miracles. In this novel, Papa O'Neal goes on a diplomatic mission to the Indowy. He is accompanied by Father O'Reilly's personal assistant to provide tutoring in diplomatic ways and means. It takes most of the trip to get Papa to cooperate somewhat with the PA. Cally O'Neal becomes acting Head of the Clan. She is no better suited for that job than her grandfather is to diplomacy. Yet, she perseveres and doesn't make too many mistakes. Michelle O'Neal is still responding to the consequences following the dissolution of the Epetar Group. Indowy clans on Adenast had pulled their workers from her projects and she has deadlines coming up. She requests a meeting with the leader of the Roolnai Clan. Major General Mike O'Neal is transferred back to Earth. On the five month long voyage, he ponders the meaning of the orders. They had just ordered his deputy to become the acting commander, but hadn't even mentioned a permanent replacement for his job as division commander. In this story, a middle manager in the Epetar Group arranges for a message to be sent to several Darhel clans and then allows himself to fall into lintatai. When the message reaches its recipients, the Darhels hire humans to exterminate the Bane Sidhe among their Indowy employees. The surviving Indowy Bane Sidhe flee to Earth. Meanwhile, Tir Dol Ron instructs his chief of dirty tricks to do something about the DAG troops who mutinied against his orders. Johnny Earl Bill Stuart discusses the mission with his cousin Bobby and they select a course of action. The first dependents of the DAG troops are assassinated in their safe houses shortly thereafter. When Cally becomes aware of the assassinations, she practically glows with icy anger. Bane Sidhe operatives are tasked with finding out who are doing the killings and then Cally sends out her own assassins to terminate the killers. They have a good idea who is behind the killings, but want to be certain. So they take temporary prisoners. This tale continues the conflict between humans and the Darhel. Some humans are trying to avoid open fighting since galactic affairs need something like the Darhel to keep the economy stable. On the other hand, th