- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Baen Books; 1st mmpb edition (Dec 30 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0743435842
- ISBN-13: 978-0743435840
- Product Dimensions: 17.1 x 10.7 x 2.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #646,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In the latest SF adventure novel from the creator of Honor Harrington, Weber (On Basilisk Station; Ashes of Victory; etc.) expands a short story, "Sir George and the Dragon," which appeared in the David Drake anthology Foreign Legions (2001), to good effect. The novel adheres to the story's basic plot: aliens of the Federation abduct 14th-century Englishmen to serve as mercenaries on planets where only low-tech weaponry is legal. But the author extends these events in several directions, with his usual mixture of apt characterization and historical sophistication (here regarding medieval weaponry and tactics). The Englishmen liberate themselves with the aid of the "dragon-men" (the Ternaui) and "Computer" (renamed Merlin), as well as the obstinate stupidity of their opponents. The narrative then leaps ahead several centuries to an ending that surprises both humans and aliens as they learn of the Empire of Avalon. The slam-bang action leaves little room for developing subplots beyond tantalizing hints, though this approach also means a streamlined story, in contrast to Weber's normally rather sprawling narratives. Newcomers to the author's work will do fine without having read previous books in the series. This novel makes an honorable companion to the late Poul Anderson's classic The High Crusade, which uses a similar plot idea.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.From Library Journal
An alien spacecraft from the Galactic Federation rescues Sir George Wincaster and his army of knights and longbowmen from death at sea and forces the Englishmen to act as slave-mercenaries to fight intergalactic battles against other "primitive" species. When the captive soldiers discover allies in unlikely places, they embark on a bold uprising that leads to a surprising and fitting reentry into the history of their home planet. One of the genre's most accessible and skilled writers of military sf, Weber ("Honor Harrington" series) now delivers a lively and well-told tale of displaced warriors maintaining their courage and honor in the most difficult of circumstances. Based on a short story previously published in David Drake's Foreign Legions (LJ 6/15/01), this sf action adventure belongs in most libraries.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to Weber's standard,
By
This review is from: EXCALIBUR ALTERNATIVE (Paperback)
I've been a fan of David Weber's since discovering the Honor Harrington series a few years ago, and he's never failed to disappoint me in the sci-fi military fiction genre. This book, unfortunately, is not up to par with most of his others - although the tale of a group of alien-kidnapped knights is quite readable, a large part of the book is bogged down in rather long expositionary sequences. As often characteristic of Weber, the best part of the book is the battle sequence at the end. I found myself thinking of the plot and character similarities between this story and Poul Anderson's "High Crusade," which remains one my favourites in this genre despite the fact that it was penned 40 years ago (and which I highly recommend as an example of what this book was trying to be). If you're a Weber fan, go ahead and read it, but it doesn't strongly stand up as a first impression of Weber's work.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Almost a copy,
By Shawn Case (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: EXCALIBUR ALTERNATIVE (Hardcover)
I picked out this book becuase it sounded similar to another book I had read called Ranks of Bronze. Although I am only to the first battle, I feel like I am reading Ranks of Bronze again. The only difference is Ranks of Bronze was much more discriptive and used a Roman Legion instead of English Knights and Longbowmen. Everything in this book is just like ranks of bronze. The guild the english work for, the toad faced guards, the "commander", the post battle recovery. My reccomendation....Read Ranks of Bronze it is a much better book.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice light read,
By
This review is from: EXCALIBUR ALTERNATIVE (Paperback)
It may not be great literature, but I read books to be entertained. And this book entertained me. Okay, yes, it was a bit choppy at times, and this theme, Human warriors carried off into the stars to act as surrogate soldiers isn't exactly new. But he does make the aliens nicely "human" in a nasty sort of way. I found it thoroughly entertaining. And you gotta admit it had one hell of an ending. In fact, I've re-read that ending several times. I wish Weber would write a sequel.
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