Star Strike: Book One of the Inheritance Trilogy

While the characters aren't quite as strong as those given in the original trilogy, the story goes to a new level. The tech has advanced significantly, the society itself has evolved and changed, etc. Extrapolating out 1,000 years and taking into account a devastating asteroid collision with Earth, the author does a wonderful job in figuring out social evolution. This is an excellent start to another grand, legendary tale.

I have read the previous two triologies, Heritage and Legacy. This is a great start to the new series. Mr. Douglas/Kieth has done it again. Being a former Marine, I feel he captures the feel and attitude of the Marines he is writing about. He brings in the stress of combat and the aftermath into the forefront and does not make the characters supermen and women. He brings out the depth and emotion of what it feels like to be close to a small group of people. He also, for me at least, captures the antipathy and bigotry that Marines run into. He shows that the Marines are not killing machines but real people. The universe he has created over the last six books is a very deep and rich one. It is not a perfect universe where everyone gets along and all push together. He brings out the competion that humans have and the conflicts that arise. If you have not read the previous books, go back and read them. You will not be sorry. But you can pick this book up and will not be disappointed.

I enjoyed this book so much I purchased the six previous books in the series. I have now read the first three and my opinion is still the same - I highly recommend them all.

There is a lot of plot refreshing and background explaining in the first third part of this book, all things that are known to those who read the first 6 books. But it playing hundreds of years after book 6 justifies some explaining and also opens up for a new readership of course. It essentially gets started with this new trilogy on how (hopefully) humanity destroys the Xul. I must say they are off to a good start with the help of a new alien race ally. The end of this book leaves taste for more and I can not wait for book 2 of this trilogy where things should get really interesting. Overall I love it and would recommend a new reader to get started with the very first book though: Semper Mars.

I picked up and read Star Strike the moment I saw it on the bookshelf. I have been waiting none to patiently for it. It is set in a universe where the Fermi paradox has been answered in a way that humanity was not prepared for and rather than humans being the lords of creations striding among the stars, we are more like foxes and rats, trying to hide and not get noticed. There is a distinct colonization going on from the solar system, and has been for a long time, there are distinct political entities all with the "sure" answer to avoiding extermination (while of course fighting with all the other humans to bring their way of life to the uncultured). Unfortunately an incident brings our existence back up to the forefront of the xenophobic and incredibly powerful race and makes some decisions inevitable. Not surprisingly, the political infighting at home isn't much affected by the truth, but more on who gets what out of the deal. Rather like politics today. All in all a very enjoyable read, showing soldiers willing to put their lives on the line for a system that doesn't think much of them. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the set.