Mutineer

This series of four books (with number five on the way) is fantastic. Each is impossible to put down once started, so pour yourself a refreshing beverage and pick a comfortable chair to read in. The characters are well drawn and quickly become people you care about. The situations are realistic, the combat sequences intense. It's always such a pleasure to make a find like this.

If you like the Hornblower or Honor series you will like Kris Longknife: Mutineer. Lots of combat, both planet side and in space, lots of plots within plots, good characters, a happy ending and the plot is not weighed down by the science. Kris Longknife is from a rich and powerful family yet joins the Navy. Why? Even she didn't know at first but as we follow her from conflict to another we watch she develop and become more than just a confused Ensign to a complete human being.

I just finished reading this book and now ive ordered the 2 followup sequels. A very well written novel and as a former military man myself, I couldnt get over how the dialogs read like the characters were actual real conversations from real people. This is some of the best science-fiction writing I've read in recent years. Reminds me of Jerry Pournelle's works on Falkenberg's Legion, and with all the gutsy raw combat definitions that keep you glued to every page. I rarely recommend an author's book, but this one you sci-fi lovers of space warfare--empires have really got to read.

Not to be too repetitive but Kris is a better Honor Harrington. I can't help but wonder what I would think of the book without the Honor Harrington series to compare it to. This was more fun and gosh darn it, what's wrong with a main character that's a bit more likable... Oddly enough, while I enjoyed most of the Honor series, most other military sci-fi leaves me yawning, including other David Weber books. But somehow, the snappy writing and enjoyable characters, boneheads included, make for a book with very few places where you can set it down long enough to grab a cookie. The Laiden novels probably do a better job at character, of the people and the culture, and might edge this novel down to 4 3/4 stars in comparison, but there are darn few 5 stars on my list to quibble over a tiny margin.

I love Elizabeth Moon's space navy books for their excellent characters and great politics and battles. In Kris Longknife: Mutineer, Mike Shepherd visits similar territory, but the Longknife family runs the place, and Kris's family are in the history books and sometimes in her parent's house (her great grandfathers are still alive and kicking). Kris is young, smart, and most important, she pays attention. I enjoyed this book immensely, and am looking forward to the next one. (I wonder what Mike's title was; this title sounds more like marketing than anything else.)