GALACTIC CORPS

EOS

Written by Ian Douglas

Copyright 2008 by William H. Keith, Jr.

Cover art by Fred Gambino

In Galactic Corps, Book Two of The Inheritance Trilogy, after searching for centuries, intelligence has found the home world of Earth's foe. The Xul, otherwise known as The Hunters of the Dawn, has been found deep in the Galactic Core. The 1st Marine Interstellar Expeditionary Force is sent to strike at the Xul, but political forces on Earth do not support the Marines and their mission.

Because the people of Earth have forgotten that the human race was nearly destroyed centuries before by the Xul from an asteroid attack from space, political groups have a different approach and are more concerned with the various human space governments being at war with each other. The current administration is more intent on exploiting the Marines for their own military agenda. As a result, they want to stop the Marine strike force from engaging the Xul, and bringing them home to use on the other governments, by creating a compromise which ensues that the 1st Marine Interstellar Expeditionary Force become part of a Peace Mission with the Xul. It is fortunate that the Marines have a strong sense of Marine history, which includes various Marine offensives against the Xul - including a star ship full of Marines that was absorbed by the Xul.

It is amazing how the Internet and computer usage has changed over the centuries. When you consider how much you can do on your phone, having virtual reality conferences through Marine-issued artificial-intelligence implants is mind-boggling.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - 501st

A Del Rey Mass Market Original

Written by Karen Traviss

Copyright 2009 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

501st, an Imperial Commando novel, has, after the Great Purge of the Jedi, several clones deserting the Grand Army of the Republic and joining former clone trainer Kal Skirita's group of adopted clones at a secret hideout on the planet Mandalore who is making a safe haven for the clones. While Kal has the best scientists in the galaxy trying to find a cure to the clones rapid aging. A couple of clones formally of Kal's group are now serving as Imperial Commandos in the 501st Legion searching for refugee Jedi survivors after the infamous Order 66.

What is sad is that the book really is not about the 501st, but more about Kal Skirata and his clones. Even with Darman and Niner in the 501st, the story really is about them than the 501st. As much as I love Kal's clones, the title can be misleading if you wanted to learn a lot more about the 501st Legion.

The Jedi are not as well loved in this book with many ordinary people having grievances with the Jedi as well as believing the Jedi are traitors to the Republic. The Jedi also are not portrayed as being very enlightened either. As much as the clones were originally bred to serve the Jedi, the clones have grown not to trust the Jedi. It is rather disconcerting that the Jedi are not the heroes of the galaxy that we always believed them to be. Having Darman actively hating Jedi and trying to capture/kill refugee Jedi is also rather tragic as he is trying to protect his Jedi son from being taken by the Jedi. This also seems contradictory since he was married to a Jedi and refuses to return home to his son.

It is sad that this is the last of Karen Traviss's books for the Star Wars books. I was hoping that she would be able to finish her clone series, at least one more book with Darman and Niner eventually getting out of the 501st Legion and returning home.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR FIST - STEEL GAUNTLET

A Del Rey Book

Written by David Sherman and Dan Cragg

Copyright 1999 by David Sherman and Dan Cragg

In Steel Gauntlet, Book III of the Starfist series, the planet Diamunde has been taken over from the corporations by industrialist Martin St. Cyr with an army of tanks in a form of civil war. The Confederation Marines must take back the planet with weapons 300 years out of date.

St. Cyr is a sadistic tyrant who graphically deals with the people in his way - even the alien Woos, which is almost like child abuse against the Woos. As tanks with their artillery have not been used in 300 years, the Confederate Marines must learn old/new tactics to defeat the tanks - along with learning how to use the 300 year old rocket weapons that made tanks obsolete in the first place. The lack of these shoulder-launched rockets puts a damper on the Marines ability to deal with a planet full of tanks.

With the Army waiting in space for the Marines to secure a planetary beachhead for the Army to land, the Marines are getting their butts kicked in what was supposed to be an easy beachhead, according to the military planners, for the Marines to take.

The ambassador sent to broker a peace treaty with St. Cyr has a disdain for Marines in general. Arrogant Ambassador Wellington-Humphreys was so sure of her being able to broker a peace treaty - until St. Cyr has her and her Marine guard kidnapped. The Marines desperately want to get the ambassador and the Marines back, and get St. Cyr - especially after the way he killed his Marine prisoners.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - DEEP SPACE NINE - THE SOUL KEY

POCKET BOOKS

Written by Olivia Woods

Copyright 2009 by CBS Studios Inc.

The Soul Key, has insane Cardassian agent Iliana Ghemor from an alternate universe - who was trained to be the double for Kira Nerys - dreaming to be the one true Emissary of the alternate universe.

When reading about the Mirror/alternate Universe, it is often difficult to remember which universe you are in. What makes it even more difficult to keep track of which universe you are in, is that Iliana wants to conquer and eliminate all the other Kira Nerys/Iliana Ghemor in the other universes as well. With this messiah complex, Iliana also wants to gain access to the Celestial Temple so the Prophets can make her the one true emissary. Insane, power-hungry Iliana has Intendant Kira from the Mirror Universe killed and takes her place. While you recognize the other characters, it can be disorienting to see them performing in other roles. These roles are often roles that would have been appropriate for the characters if the series were revamped. We have good guys being bad guys and bad guys being good guys in the alternate universes. The crew of Deep Space Nine are now resistance fighters, with Deep Space Nine/Terok Nor targeting Cardassian cities on Bajor.

After a method of communication with the Mirror Universe is developed, Commander Vaughn is sent from our home universe to the Mirror universe to go after the insane Iliana. It is painful to see his relationship with his Mirror Universe's daughter - especially after meeting his infirmed self in the Mirror Universe. A sane Iliana Ghemor from the Mirror Universe tries to help our universe's Captain Kira Nerys in stopping her insane counterpart, despite Kira's mistrust of Iliana.

Pancho 
All people smile in the same language.