The Heart of Valor

Tanya Huff delivers another fast paced story in the Confederacy universe. This is not just another "shootem up" military SF novel. Her characters, even the alien allies, have personalities whith which one can empathize. Sergeant Kerr has to deal with the mistakes of the "brass" above her as well as confront the enemies facing her. Her use of her training, experience and willpower in dealing with her problems makes for a very enjoyable read.

Another great book about Torin Kerr. The books have a really nice pacing. You can believe that it takes the characters a little longer then you to figure out the mystery since they are also fighting to stay a live. This is one of my favorite series and I'm glad to see its still got a great plot and great action. I would highly recommend it.

Heart of Valor (2007) is the third SF novel in the Valor series, following The Better Part of Valor. In the previous volume, Craig Ryder exited from the Big Yellow in an escape pod and then brought back spare vacuum suits in the Promise. He then evacuated the survivors and took them toward the Berganitan. An Others fighter attempted to ram the Promise, but Lieutenant Commander Sibley deflected it with his munitions depleted Jade. In this novel, Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is temporarily assigned to Ventris Station to give briefings on the Silsviss. She starts with field grade officers and works her way down to the recruits. Naturally she also has to discuss the lizards during informal encounters around the station. Important as this duty is, the whole subject is beginning to drive her crazy. Major Goran Svensson is newly released from the tank. He was so badly injured on Carlong that the medical personnel had practically rebuilt him from the ground up. He was known on the station as the brain in the tank. Svensson has escaped from the hospital for a short while and meets Torin on the upper gallery of the public terminal. He mentions how surprisingly cute the new recruits are when young. Then they watch the recruits mill around on the lower floor and bring each other up to date. Staff Sergeant Beyhn had been Torin's DI during her recruit days. Although he should have been long gone from the service, she meets him on Ventris Station. He is still shepherding recruits and she has to restrain herself from responding to him as one of his charges. The civilian salvage operator Craig Ryder is also on Ventris Station. He and Torin rendezvous and fall into bed together. Torin wonders if the rumors of their romance are true. They are definitely a number, but romance? Kathleen Sloan is the physician treating Major Svensson. She is fairly certain that he is recovering well from his injuries, but she has used some new techniques and would like to test his system under stress. She wants him to go to Crucible with the next group of recruits. In this story, Major Svensson would like Torin to go to Crucible as his escort. Torin is very tired of lecturing on the Silsviss, so she jumps at the chance to get offstation. Doctor Sloan puts in a medical request for Torin's services and suddenly she is going back to the recruit training planet. Sergeant Beyhn will be going also, taking his recruit platoon. Just like old times, but now she will know what to expect. Unfortunately, things don't work out according to schedule. First the training drones don't attack on time, but they use deadly force when they do attack. Next a tank starts firing HE rounds at the camp from a frozen lake. Then the Orbital Platform is blown up by an antisatellite missile. The recruits are getting some very realistic training. This tale again shows Torin as an exemplary noncom, taking charge of the troops and guiding the officers. The plot has many twists and tu

Tanya Huff books are always very well written. Normally,I don't care for military books, but Ms. Huff keeps to her main story and doesn't get bogged down in military lanquage. I highly recommend all of her books!

In the very far distant future, the Confederation consisted of the elder races whconvinced other species to join them in the fight with the Others by making them space-faring species. The military consisted of various races who coexisted in harmony with one another. The heroine of the hour is Guunnery sergeant Torin Kerr, who single-handedly brought in the Silviss, a fighting sentient race into the Confederation, defeated an alien space ship and brought her squad home safely. Tired of the scrutiny, Torin agrees to go to Crucible where the newly enlisted marines will have their last stop in their training. Accompanying Torin is Major Svension recently released from the regeneration vat and his doctor to see if he has returned to his full fighting capacity. From the time they land nothing goes right as Torin's unit comes under attack from the Others. They destroy the Operations Unit and hacked into the computers that simulate the marines fighting the others. Torin has to use all her units and all the experiences that she gained to get them out of what looks like a hopeless predicament. Tanya Huff uses a different voice when she writes pure fantasy than when she writes urban fantasy and military science fiction. Readers who like the Honor Harrington series will thoroughly enjoy the Confederation novels. The protagonist is a strong and peaceful commander easily able to relate to men and women of different species because they know if the chips are down she will be for them. There is plenty of battle scenes and some shocking surprises in this fantastic military science fiction thriller. Harriet Klausner