HYMN BEFORE BATTLE (Mass Market Paperback)

The main problem with A Hymn Before Battle was that it had too many characters trying to share the spotlight. For the first 200 pages or so, 1 or more characters were added each chapter, so that by the end you can't remember any except for 2 or 3 main ones. As a consequence of this, there is very little if any character development. Also, the chapters jump around in time. You'll be reading a chapter set in May 2002, then the next chapter will be from January 2002, and then the next chapter will be taking place in December 2002. This lack of order really confused issues to me. While this might be a "trendy" method of writing, it seems senseless and amateurish to me. Also, out of the blue, in the last 70 pages or so, we actually get into the Posleen's heads, and they basically just speak ghetto Klingon, and use words that the author just made up off the top of his head. The Posleen's awkward entry into the narrative just underscores how unalien these aliens are. I mean I would think beings from another planet would have thought processes a little different than a Mongolian horde.

I found it a little hard to be scared of the Posleen, seeing as how they have centaur-like bodies and crocodile like heads. It would have been a lot better if the narrator had not got into their heads and left them more mysterious. The armed forces of America got lousy treatment in this book. All the high-ranking commanders are incompetent. Most of the soldiers have a streak of corruptness. Our forces wouldn't do this bad. They have a higher character than this.

I guess the only thing that redeems this book is its very pulpiness. It reminded me of the sci-fi of the 40s when you didn't have to reason why your technology worked and your aliens were just anthropomorphized humans. I guess it has its own mindless charm, kinda like a Spider-Man movie. I actually couldn't buy the fact that the Federation was so pacifist. I think any race that gets into space has to have an aggressive nature or else they would not overcome the difficulties of spaceflight. Another problem is that this is a mindless action book, but it takes about 300 pages to get to the action. I guess this is a thinking man's B-movie. This book was worth reading if you just want to be entertained on a rainy day.

John Ringo does seem to have a common problem, that of modeling the main character on himself and his experiences. As he progresses in his writing the character moves away from being an alter ego and developes into a solid creation.

Definitely a 'keeper' that will become a mainstay of the Military SF world.

Then again, if you are more into 'feel-good' novels where all the stories are Pollyana clean and tied up like Star Trek episodes will be disappointed.

As many of the other reviewers have noted, the plot line to "Hymn" is not the most original. It does however maintain it's individuality in it's handling and it's characters. Mr. Ringo does an excellent job breathing fresh life into old veins.

Aside from purely literary criticism, there are few faults. For example, the employment of a 50 caliber sniper rifle in the book is misleading, as are some of the other military "facts". Finally, Mr. Ringo's bias against military officers is plainly visible in the book. He repeatedly reiterates how incompletent senior officers are while praising virutally every enlisted man. Lastly, if you're only reading this for combat, you're reading the wrong book. The book spends a small time in actual combat, mostly dealing with preparations for the series. The next book, "Gust Front" is much more focused on action.

Overall, the book is wonderful and I have reread it more times than I care to count. No matter the blemishes, Mr. Ringo writes an exciting and engaging novel designed to please Military SF fans. Good job Mr. Ringo!