March to the Stars

This is an excellent series. The 1st 3 books "March to the..." have a consistent look and feel They definitly deliver a very good read. I loaned a friend the 1st of the series and he wanted the next 2 books immediately!!! I am looking forward the the next book because it will be in a completely different environment, and will require a different approach to the action. I am also reading John Ringo's Polseen series, which is good, but not as good as this collaboration with David Weber. This series is close but not quite up to the Honor Harrington series, my all time favorite SF series.

During the first two books (MARCH UPCOUNTRY & MARCH TO THE SEA) spoiled Prince Roger transformed into a warrior. At the beginning of book three, Prince Roger Ramius Sergei Alexander Chiang MacClintock and his Marines have begun crossing a treacherous sea on the planet Marduk. Many native Mardukan characters from the previous books had joined the Royal Marines. The Empire thought them all long dead. However, Roger's troop had to somehow get off the hot and boggy planet they had wrecked on before they could let the Empire know otherwise. After six long months of marches and too many battles to recall, they were finally nearing the small and secluded space port which was their destination. Information made the port seem to be hostile instead of friendly, but since nothing had been easy up until now, the information did not come as a big surprise. The hostiles would just have to learn the old truism: You DON'T mess with a MacClintock. ***** Okay, I do not think it is a spoiler to tell you this much: There is going to be a fourth book. There HAS to be. By the time you are half way into the book you just KNOW that there is no way all this can be done in one book. The authors added a few new twists to ensure the necessity of another book. Personally, I believe this series is the best, with only the Honor Harrington series being better. There is just too much time in between each of these books though. If you are just researching and have not read the first two books as yet, then do not bother to begin reading the series until after the next book comes out. You must read all the books, in order, to understand the major characters, as well as what is going on. Each book left me begging for more and this one is no exception. This is an awesome series with two well known and brilliant authors creating spectacular characters and places for readers to lose themselves in. Highly recommended book. Part of a highly recommended series. *****

Having limited space for "bought" books, I have to make decisions on which to "buy" and which to just read at the library.This one is even better than the first of the three in the series so far. It starts with the ocean voyage which is interesting in itself. We who don't sail find ourselves learning in an interesting way how to sail and how to repell boarders. It's fun and informative as well as fitting into the book.The Prince grows more in a lot of ways and becomes the true leader of the group, but I worry about his love interest. She is willing to defend the Prince (her job) but her "burn out" seems so "unprofessional". Others are also "burned out". I ponder whether this is a true thing or just a writers way of getting rid of most of the guards who went with him and changed from thinking he was a "dumb blonde" to being willing to give their lives for him and follow him anywhere. Do professional soldiers get burnt out and can't do their jobs when their lives depend on it? I don't know. I worry because the prince will have no person to help him (except the aliens from the planet) when the 4th book is written. A writers ploy to make complications or a true problems, I am leary. I think I would have preferred them to be all killed off but that is done so often that I would have probably hated it also.It sounds like I didn't like this book. I loved it!!!!! I just can't wait for the next one.....

I am probably dating myself here, but I find Weber/Ringo's works to be every bit as entertaining as Robert Heinlein's and David Eddings stories. I don't think I can pay a higher compliment. It's very apparent that one or both have some combat experience, the battle descriptions and the mental attitudes of the characters are too close to reality to be "made" up. March to the Stars did not disappoint me in any way. Nor did it proceed as I had thought it would. That was pleasant, I like a little surprise now and then. I am looking forward to the next installment. I agree that if this turns into a ten book series it may hard to keep it as exciting and fresh as it has been. But I could easily see it being a six book series. Doesn't matter I will still buy and read em all. To those Nay-sayers and armchair editors out there, write something better...I'll buy it and read it too. To David Weber and John Ringo...keep it up guys, in this old farts opinion, you're doin good. "nuff said".

Well, all I can say is it's _my_ favorite of the three. By the end of March to the Stars I was, frankly, running out of new ways to kill barbarians or even make the bad guys interesting.I _like_ the plot twists in this one. I think that Roger grew alot in this book and, what is more important, so did some of the others.As to references to, ahem, the Never Ending Wheel, this story has a very definite conclusion, thank you. You'll just have to wait a few more books to get to it.But thanks for reading.John