A Boy And His Tank [Mass Market Paperback]

Frankowski's books got my attention due to the Kashubian & Poland connection. I read the author's sci-fi series but allow only two stars for the author's vivid imagination; his Polish name even though I am not sure of his ancestry and where his heart lies... and less stars due to the negatives for his presentation of the story(ies) with obvious outlandish chauvinism (resolved bachelor or not), his blatant and insulting unsuitable comedy of the Polish people, and his spite, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination throughout the whole series of his sci-fi pundits... his books do not "Stand Tall" in the science fiction category of reads. Readers look more for James Luceno; Kevin Anderson; Kathy Tyers; Vonda McIntyre; Matthew Woodring Stover; Kathryn Rusch, and so many more who deserve readers attention.

To readers interested in Poland's history - novels, etc. I strongly refer you to fiction and non-fiction translated classics by authors including Henry Sienkiewicz (classic "Quo Vadis"), plus his trilogy including "With Fire and Sword", trilogy made into theater movies in recent years, and don't miss Sienkiewicz's other novels; Nobel winner writer/poet Czeslaw Milosz (whom I had the humbling experience and honor to personally meet in Manhattan); author W.S. Kuniczak ("The Thousand Hour Day"); Norman Davies' "God's Playground - A History of Poland Volume I and II"; "The Way of My Cross" by Father Jerzy Popieluszko, the Polish priest who was brutally murdered for participation in the 1990's revolution led by Lech Walesa, and the shipyard workers; and I cannot fail to mention Nobel Laureate - Poetess Wislawa Szymborska. And don't stop there... and I cannot forget Massachusetts USA author - Polish Suzanne Strempek Shea and her novels such as "Lily of the Valley", and her own biography of her fight with cancer... there are many Polish authors and writings of people to admire for courage and talents, including patriots Kosciuszko (Foundation in Manhattan NYC), and Casimir Pulaski; classic composer Chopin; intellectualist Copernicus; and histories of the Jagellonian influences, with further reference to Poland's nobility.

The aforesaid are deeper in intellectual content vs. the sci-fi of Leo Frankowski. Outstanding are writers who call attention to beautiful country of Poland, its heartwarming people, rich culture, history and amazing architecture, but especially the strength through so many centuries of living through conquering factions. Frankowski is not one those writers; again, his imagination is lively but his "honor" to the people of Poland is more than ill.

My opinion of the bookï¿if you are a high school male interested in military sci-fi, and can fantasize about making love to a tank (literally), youï¿d probably think itï¿s great.

The part that bothered me the most is that the bookï¿s core plot actually had some potential, but was very poorly written. It should have taken place in an entirely different setting. Mr. Frankowski thinks itï¿s important to perpetuate racial stereotypes and conflicts, even hundreds of years into the future. In fact, the whole book is based on the ï¿Wealthy Nations Groupï¿ giving each minority its own planet. Well, after all those people are given their own planet, who the heck is left in the ï¿Wealthy Nations Groupï¿?? He never does explain. The Japanese, who are one of the wealthiest nations in the world is not part of the group, although they apparently live on Earth. The American Blacks are given a planet by the name of ï¿Soul Cityï¿ (puh-lease Mr. Frankowski, this is pitiful!), but he never explains what happens to the African Blacks, or any of the Hispanic or Native Indian cultures. However, we do know that the Chinese, Kashubians, Croats, and Serbs are all given their own planets.

But then the rules get even more confusing. He states that even if a person is one-sixteenth Kashubian that they have to go to New Kashubia, which results in both blacks and Chinese ending up on New Kashubia because someone in their background is Kashubian. So, why couldnï¿t they go to the Black or Chinese planet?? They apparently have a higher percentage of those ethnic groups in their background. And if you are required to move with only one-sixteenth of a ï¿minorityï¿sï¿ bloodline in you, well, as I said before, very few people would be left on Earth.

This is definitely a male fantasy book. The only thing I found to fantasize about, as a female, was the picture of Mickolai on the cover. If all male Kashubians looked that way, Iï¿d speed up my planned trip to Kaszuby. Heck, Iï¿d even spend the time to learn the Kashubian dialect! But, alas, the picture is probably only indicative of how Kashubians look in Frankowskiï¿s Dream World.