ISBN: 0-7434-3562-1 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
Despite exciting battles and sympathetic characters, this third installment is quite repetitive, only partly redeemed by some significant plot progress at the end of the book.
Reviewed by David on March 15, 2003 (rev. 1)
Genre: Science Fiction (Military, War, Politics, Aliens)
Synopsis: In March Upcountry, the spoiled Prince Roger of the Empire of Man was stranded on Marduk as a result of enemy action. Roger and his company of bodyguards found themselves marooned on a dangerous, low-technology world as a result of sabotage, with malfunctioning weapons and deadly enemies in orbit.
Over the first and second book in the series, the Prince and his marine company have come halfway around the world towars Marduk's only starport, changing kingdoms and their wake and becoming a finely-honed military force. This progress came at a high price—the company have left their dead scattered over their path, slowly replacing some of them with the alien Mardukans.
In this novel, the journey continues, with additional perils, from deadly sea, to more civilized and better armed enemies. Unfortunately, the closer Prince Roger comes to his goal of escaping from Marduk back home, the more complex the task becomes.
Full Review: The previous books featured likable characters and tense battles, with the well-drawn portrayal of a spoiled youth coming of age under pressure. Unfortunately, this book continues with much the same plot until very nearly the end. While the specific perils change, the general travelogue is quite familiar, with the Bronze Company (Prince Roger's bodyguards) facing biological and military threats, and using courage, ingenuity, superior weapons and tactics overcoming them, frequently paying a bloody price in the process.
While the tight pacing and good writing keep the reader's attention, the book is devoid of any significant development until nearly the end, when some progress is made in achieving the company's goal, and new things are discovered about the galactic situation.
While the series has been moderately enjoyable one hopes for significant new development in the next book, preferably—if one dares to hope—the conclusion of the saga.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 2003, Baen Publishing Enterprises (Baen), January 2003, Cloth, 526 pages
ISBN: 0-7434-3562-1 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com