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pjonsson's review against another edition
2.0
What I hoped to get from this book was some nice science fiction story with some British naval traditions, stiff upper lip and all that. I thought the idea of the British Empire reaching out into space sounded fairly cool. I am not much into what…if pondering and if they had just…stuff. Unfortunately the author seems to be into that…a LOT.
The author is spending a lot of time on why things did not turn out as the history books tell us they did, about the political machinations around it and so on and so forth. Way too much for this reader.
Instead of being a book about naval adventures in space the story get bogged down into historical analysis and rewriting and when the author isn’t going down that route he takes the route of new political conspiracies and machinations with not only “American” separatists but a thirteen on a dozen religious caliphate thrown in for good measure.
There are actually a few aliens in the book as well but they are pretty much playing second fiddle as far as the bulk of the story goes.
The book is not poorly written in any way, it’s just not about things that interests me. Well mostly at least. Most of the action events are assassination attempts, kidnapping and such like “mundane” stuff. I was hoping for some nice “traditional” British Navy style action and there are indeed some of that in the book but, although it was fairly well executed, it was simply too little too late for me.
This book was a bit of a disappointment for me actually.
The author is spending a lot of time on why things did not turn out as the history books tell us they did, about the political machinations around it and so on and so forth. Way too much for this reader.
Instead of being a book about naval adventures in space the story get bogged down into historical analysis and rewriting and when the author isn’t going down that route he takes the route of new political conspiracies and machinations with not only “American” separatists but a thirteen on a dozen religious caliphate thrown in for good measure.
There are actually a few aliens in the book as well but they are pretty much playing second fiddle as far as the bulk of the story goes.
The book is not poorly written in any way, it’s just not about things that interests me. Well mostly at least. Most of the action events are assassination attempts, kidnapping and such like “mundane” stuff. I was hoping for some nice “traditional” British Navy style action and there are indeed some of that in the book but, although it was fairly well executed, it was simply too little too late for me.
This book was a bit of a disappointment for me actually.
brucehoward's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting premise, distantly reminiscent of Harrison’s “A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!”.
Felt like the author Steve White put all of his effort into the back story and initial plot development only to trip over the challenges of writing convincing dialogue and avoiding stereotypical character development.
I’ve a soft spot for this kind of alternative history and predisposed as I was to give 4 stars, had to take back a star for its obvious shortcomings.
For what he got right, I’d definitely give the author’s next book a shot.
Felt like the author Steve White put all of his effort into the back story and initial plot development only to trip over the challenges of writing convincing dialogue and avoiding stereotypical character development.
I’ve a soft spot for this kind of alternative history and predisposed as I was to give 4 stars, had to take back a star for its obvious shortcomings.
For what he got right, I’d definitely give the author’s next book a shot.
lexmechanic's review against another edition
2.0
The idea for the world is interesting but the execution is boring. At times it's really hard to believe that the mind behind the Starfire series created those wooden, one-dimensional characters in 'American', who keep making the same stupid mistakes because 'character flaw'.
I'll give the next book a shot but without much hope. It's like John Ringo, just PG-13.
I'll give the next book a shot but without much hope. It's like John Ringo, just PG-13.
jmoses's review
1.0
Boring, predictable and juvenile. All the characters are one dimensional and childishly idiotic and naive. Nothing was surprising about this book except how bad it was.
I'm usually a fan of White's work, but maybe I usually read him in a collaboration.
I'm usually a fan of White's work, but maybe I usually read him in a collaboration.
jameseckman's review
1.0
What's to like about this book? The author's note on James Wilkinson (Wikipedia), a slimy Revolutionary War American general, and that's it. And why is this brought up at all you might ask? Because America needs a queen, there is no democracy in space opera.
First bizarre thought when reading this book is why do they keep Grey Goldson, the exposed female double(triple?) agent around? Because she's the only female character, and she's also the hero's love interest and prize for winning at the end.
Then there's the mini-ringworld installation that can't shoot at the hero's ship because he flew through the hole? Along with a plethora of other highly improbable nonsense. Like the hero's builtin phone that was used once and then must have broke down or the hero forgot about it, otherwise the story would have ended on chapter 3.
I've generally enjoyed White's books in the past, I'd recommend any of his other books and forget this book was ever written.
First bizarre thought when reading this book is why do they keep Grey Goldson, the exposed female double(triple?) agent around? Because she's the only female character, and she's also the hero's love interest and prize for winning at the end.
Then there's the mini-ringworld installation that can't shoot at the hero's ship because he flew through the hole? Along with a plethora of other highly improbable nonsense. Like the hero's builtin phone that was used once and then must have broke down or the hero forgot about it, otherwise the story would have ended on chapter 3.
I've generally enjoyed White's books in the past, I'd recommend any of his other books and forget this book was ever written.
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