GUST FRONT (Mass Market Paperback)

First, as an military engineer veteran, it was gratifying to see the Engineers given prominence. Prominence? Hell! They taught the Posleen PAIN! There's very few alien invasions that can't be resolved by the suitable application of a few million tons of claymores and C4.

But there's more than that. He managed, technically, to portray combined arms interestingly and accurately, explain the frustration of dealing with political sandbagging, while letting us see why the politicians feel equally hamstrung. He let us feel the gut-wrenching fear of troops who know they're going to die, but get the job done anyway because sometimes there's no point in giving up.

The Posleen are an alien it's hard to feel empathy for. Reptilian centauroids that are immune to most toxins, are hatched knowing how to shoot, and slice anything animal including slow-moving children into sushi as they run, they just beg to be killed. And yet, they do have a culture and are grasping at an understanding of their first real enemy, the human race. By their own standards they are moral, and they have individuality and quirks.

Add in some hysterically entertaining NSTIW stories that are axioms among vets ("This is the USS Missouri, twenty miles offshore. Glad to help, Army!") that fit into the story without being cliche while still causing one to want to pop a beer, and you have riotous entertainment, gripping action and an ancient plot that holds up amazingly well through his telling.

And the engineers get to blow up whole DIVISIONS of Posleen.

You might want to read A Hymn Before Battle first, because it's also good. But this one ROCKS.

"Gust Front" really throws the reader into the battle for earth with gusto. You not only get glimpses into the psyche of the Posleen, but you get to know the main characters from the ground up. You feel the despair of being trapped, along with the pride of being a warrior, even in a hopeless situation. You feel the despair of being denied the technology you need, but the determination of making do with what you have.

Definitely a great choice for the Alien Invasion crowd, but also a snapping good read.