Starfist: A World of Hurt

Wow. This series has culminated (so far) in the best plot line yet. Not only do the authors give the reader a genuine feel for war, but they also give the reader a professional analysis of current strategies in current wars we could name. Since both are Military vets, their opinions count for much more than pogues whose ideas of strategy originated the term "cluster-fu*k", which is what is going on right now (in real life). A damning accessment, and an accurate one, not to mention an action packed, edge of the seat adventure with our favorate characters, and new ones that deserve what they get. I have every book in this series, and will buy any new ones as soon as they are published, they are really that good! Meanwhile, anyone who is currently overseas must read this whole series! Then Vote!

It seems like the skinks are back and the men of the 34th will have to face them again so they ship out ready to rock and roll. Things are not, however, as they seem. If I said any more, I'd be giving away vitals so I won't. There is, however, an additional enemy. We are introduced to Admiral of the Starry Heavens Orange, the supreme naval commander of the We're Here! Navy. We're Here! is a bush league planet settled early on by a bunch of hippies. His supporting characters include Admirals Toke, Head and Crashpad. Captain Happiness is also along for the ride. Admiral Orange gets it into his head that he needs to go to war with another planet and, not incidentally, the Confederation Marines. It's a comic opera that is hilarious in its ludicrous nature. It's a relaxation break in the series.

Sherman and Cragg once again pull out all the stops in the tenth entry to the stupendous Starfist series. Incidentally the books they write separately from each other are worth checking out too. In this book, the authors combine accounts of real-life combat with a fanciful kind of science in which, to take one example, a troop of Marines gets shot at by a strange species of fighting flora. Needless to say the Marines give the plants as good as they got, decimating plant life for 100 yards around. The esprit de corps of the Starfist world is what makes you love these rough and tumble characters. I can easily picture a whole series of motion pictures outlining their adventures. However film is not necessary for enjoyment of an alien universe. It's creepy the way the Corporal in Charge, spotting a tree with vines, has to check out the vine ends in case they are not just dangling, but quivering, ready to do battle. (The vines have the power to spray acid and disgigure and maim all attackers.) You'll love Admiral Orange, the most irascible navy man since James Cagney intimidated MISTER ROBERTS. All in all, a exciting, rousing adventure for the men and women fighters of the 25th century.

When mankind went into space, it thought that it was the only sentient race, but soon found worlds with intelligent species just none as technologically advanced. The 34th Fist of the Confederation encountered intelligent and hostile space faring Skinks on two orbs and defeated them in battles, the war continues. The human populace remains unaware that the 34th Fist is under quarantine on Thorsfinni's World until humanity learns about the Skinks and other species. Just after gunnery sergeant Charles Bass is promoted, his unit the 34th Fist goes to Maugham's Station because of the recent deaths by acid of colonists there; Skinks use acid guns as part of their weaponry. While exploring the valleys of death, the marines come under attack by acid, but no reports of Skinks have surfaced. While they seek the truth, an armada from the planet We're Here is traveling to the beleaguered station because they believe that an illegal mining operation has occurred on The Rock and the planet believes it is part of their empire. They think Maugham's Station is behind that operation and a trigger happy admiral is willing to go to war to stop them from mining that uninhabited, mineral rich planet. Fans of military outer space science fiction will find action-packed STARFIST: A WORLD OF HURT fascinating. Surprisingly the hero is not featured doing solo deeds as the encounter scenes involve groups not individuals. Maugham's Station is described in vivid detail so that readers can picture the planet almost as much as filmgoers can mentally see the cantina scene of Star wars. Though in some ways all over the galaxy, David Sherman and Dan Cragg provide a terrific tale that makes military enterprises seem plausible in the deep reaches of space (see STAR WARS: JEDI TRIAL A CLONE WARS NOVEL - also released this month) Harriet Klausner