Showing posts with label Baen Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baen Books. Show all posts

Thursday, November 14, 2013

A Few Good Men (Darkship #3) by Sarah A. Hoyt


A Few Good MenScience Fiction

What Goodreads says:

Original trade paperback, sequel to Darkship Renegades and Darkship Thieves. The son of a ruler on Earth instigates civil war and revolution when he attempts to take the place of his assassinated father and uncovers a terrible secret that has been used to enslave humanity.
The Son Also Rises

On a near future Earth, Good Man does not mean good at all. Instead, the term signifies a member of the ruling class, and what it takes to become a good man and to hold onto power is downright evil. Now a conspiracy hundreds of years in the making is about to be brought to light when the imprisoned son of the Good Man of Olympic Seacity escapes from his solitary confinement cell and returns to find his father assassinated.

But when Luce Keeva attempts to take hold of the reins of power, he finds that not all is as it seems, that a plot for his own imminent murder is afoot and that a worldwide conflagration looms.  It is a war of revolution, and a shadowy group known as the Sons of Liberty may prove to be Luces only ally in a fight to throw off an evil from the past that has enslaved humanity for generations."

While this says it is a sequel to Darkship Renegades and Darkship Thieves the action does not happen after the first two books,   Most of the action is happening at the same time but on Earth instead of in space.  There are several places where the characters and action from both are together but the author assumes you  have read Darkship Thieves and does not repeat what happened in the other book.  As a result you could be very confused.  
Luce Keeva tells A Few Good Men in the first person.  He has been in prison for 14 years and escapes where there is a prison break.  He goes home to find all of his family dead.  When he tries to take his Father’s place some long held secrets are revealed.  As a result he joins in with others to bring about change.  His story is the story of the revolution that follows.  Because it is what one man remembers there are large sections of the book that just present information and there is action only where Luce is present. 

Books where you spend a large amount of time in a characters head are not my favorites.  I prefer getting information through dialog and action and there was just not enough of that in A Few Good Men to satisfy me.   As a result it took me a long time to read the book.  I would read a little and then put it down, as it just was not holding my attention.  I did finish because I had read the first two books and kept going back to see if it wouldn’t get better. 

This would stand along but there are sections where the actions from the other books intersect.  Where that happens some things just would not make sense if you only read this one book.  I am glad I finished the book but it is far from one of my favorites.

Baen published A Few Good Men by Sarah A. Hoyt in 2013.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (WOW) February 1, 2012


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week I am waiting on The Road to Danger by David Drake, the latest in the RNC series.  It is due out April 1, 2012.   Here is what Baen Publishing has to say about The Road to Danger.  



"Captain Daniel Leary with his friend—and spy—Officer Adele Mundy are sent to a quiet sector to carry out an easy task: helping the local admiral put down a coup before it takes place. But then the jealous admiral gets rid of them by sending them off on a wild goose chase to a sector where commerce is king and business is carried out by extortion and gunfights.
With anarchy and rebellion in the air, a rogue intelligence officer plots the war that will destroy civilization and enlists the help of a brute whom even torturers couldn't stomach.
And, of course, it's up to Leary and Mundy to put a stop to the madness."




Friday, December 30, 2011

Book Beginnings on Friday December 30, 2011

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Katy from A Few More Pages. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.


I am readin Catherine Asaro's Carnelians, the lastest book in her Skolian Empire series. 
Prologue:
It was one of the most effective weapons known.
It didn't explode.  It shot no projectiles.  It didn't spread chemical, biological, or physical poison  It created not flames or shrapnel. It could being down empires."
I love this series and Carnelians brings together many of the elements from previous books.  Carnelians is a combination of Space Opera and Science Fiction Romance.  I purchased it in ebook form from Baen.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Monster Hunter Vendetta by Larry Correia


Monster Hunter VendettaParanormal 

In the previous post about Bones of Empire I wondered what kind of mind could come up with such a horrible alien villain.  After reading Monster Hunter Vendetta by Larry Correia I wondered what kind of out of this world mind came up with the monsters in this book.  There are some really weird creatures, both good and bad, in Monster Hunter Vendetta.

Owen Zastava Pitt found out there were really monsters when a year ago his boss turned into a werewolf and tried to kill him.  That is when Owen became a member of Monster Hunters International, met the love of his life Julie Shackleford, found out his mother-in-law to be was a vampire (not the nice kind in other books and on TV) and helped save the world from a truly horrible fate.  Now a year later he is enjoying life while going out on routine monster kills.  Then a Shadow Monster releases the undead while attempting to capture Owen.  Owen is thrown in a Mexican jail, his mother-in-law to be comes to visit him, and the Monster Control Bureau breaks him out.  All hell is about to break out and Owen’s nice quite year of routine monster hunts ends.

Get ready for another non-stop exciting ride.  There are more great characters, more danger, and a lot of past history in Monster Hunter Vendetta.  At the end of the book we also know there is more to come in this series.  Look for Monster Hunter Alpha in August of 2011.

Baen published Monster Hunter Vendetta by Larry Correia in 2010.

I purchased Monster Hunter Vendetta from Baen as an eBook.  It is one that has been on my eBook TBR pile for several months. 

Just a Footnote:  This February there is a free short story by Larry Correia  set in the Monster universe on the Baen Web Site.  

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Reconstruction Con (North American Science Fiction Convention)


The Con started today at noon. I went to several panels. The first was The Urban Fantasy Make-over with Jean Marie Ward and Toni Weisskopf. Toni is the Executive Editor at Baen Books. I found two things Toni said interesting enough to pass on. One was Toni's take on Baen's difference from some other SciFi publishers. She said the Baen book tend to have ethical and moral issues very clear cut and that Baen books are usually PG13 (less explicit sex). Since I tend to just skim the sex scenes I am all for that.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia


Paranormal

All Owen Zastava Pitt wanted was a normal boring life. That was why he became a CPA but now he was having a really bad night. He was working late when his boss transformed into a werewolf. In a fight for his life Owen managed to push his boss and his desk out of the fifth story window. Suddenly Owen found out that monsters were real. When he woke up in the hospital there were Fed’s threatening to kill him if he ever revealed what he had seen and Monster Hunter International offering him a job. That was the start of a new life and a wild ride for Owen and the other members of his team at Monster Hunter International.

Monster Hunter International gives a whole new slant on fighting the paranormal. The story is filled with humor while losing none of the tension. If you want a wild ride, a little romance and monsters galore read Monster Hunter International.

Baen published Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia in 2009.

I purchased Monster Hunter International from Borders.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Tau Ceti Agenda by Travis S. Taylor


Military Science Fiction

In The Tau Ceti Agenda the Separatist movement is at it again. Not satisfied with escaping the Solar System (One Day on Mars) they now are trying to wipe out a large city and kill the President. Travis Taylor has written another fast paced military science fiction thriller. The Tau Ceti Agenda solves some of the mysteries left in One Day on Mars, sets up some new loose ends and has a shocker in the last chapter. It had been over a year since I read One Day on Mars but there was enough back-story included to keep me from feeling lost. I do recommend that you read One Day on Mars before reading The Tau Ceti Agenda.

Travis S. Taylor is a physicist and when he uses science he doesn’t just give it a name, he also explains how it works.

Baen published The Tau Ceti Agenda by Travis S. Taylor in 2008. If you follow the Baen link you can read several chapters of The Tau Ceti Agenda free before deciding if you want to purchase.

I purchased The Tau Ceti Agenda from Baen as an E-Book and read it on my e-Bookwise reader.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Fledging by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller


Space Opera

Fledging is a side story in the Liaden Universe. On the last two pages of I Dare, the last book in the five book Liaden arc, Theo Waitley arrives looking for delm of Korval. She explains “I’m here because my father’s missing and he told me-he always told me to go to the delm of Korval, if ever there was really bad trouble”. The last line in the book has Theo talking about the trouble and saying, “It’s kind of complicated.” Theo is a totally new character from a period in Daav’ yos’ Phelium’s life that we know little about. All of the fans of the Liaden series started asking questions about Theo and pestering the authors for more information about this new character. At the same time Steve and Sharon’s publisher went out of business without paying for books that had already been sold. Writers like to get paid for their work so they went to their fans with a proposal for Theo’s story. They would write Theo’s story and published it on the web if fans would contribute to the effort. A chapter would be written and published for every $300 contributed. Fans wanted the story and enough money was donated for the entire first draft of Fledging to be written. During this time a new publisher, Baen Books, picked up Steve and Sharon for publication. Baen agreed to publish a final edition of Fledging.

Fledging is a book written for fans of the Liaden universe and is not a good first book it read in this series.

I enjoyed watching the writing process from first draft (what I read on the web) to the final published book. The first draft of Fledging told the story but without the details that moved the story smoothly toward a climax. The problems were often confusing and hard to follow in the draft. In the published version everything flows, characters are defined and more of the details of Daav’s life while away from Clan Korval are revealed. What Fledging does not answer is what problem Theo brought to the delm of Korval. The answer to that is in the next book about Theo, Saltation. The first draft of Saltation was also written on the web and like Fledging Baen contracted to publish the polished copy. Look for it in April of 2010.

If you are a fan of Liaden you have to read Fledging. Don’t stop with the first draft. Buy the book, it tells a much better story.

Baen published Fledging by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee in 2009.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Search for the Star Stones by Andre Norton


Space Opera


Growing up I wanted a life of adventure. Unfortunately my Mother wanted a quiet, ladylike daughter. Real life adventure was out so I got mine vicariously through books. On a trip to the local library when I was 9 I found a book with a space ship on the spine and checked it out. Trouble on Titan was the first Science Fiction book I read and I was hooked. I had found the ultimate adventure. The only problem was the lack of female characters but I solved that by mentally rewriting the story with a role for me. After that I read all the Science Fiction I could find. Some of those books were by Andre Norton.

I read Star Man’s Son soon after it was published in 1952 and it became one of my favorites. Not only was the story good but the author was female. I read all of her early books, most as soon as they were published. At that time many of her books had mostly male characters but at least here was a female writing the adventure I loved.

I still go to the library. Science Fiction books are still my first choice. I have lived some of my own adventures, but I still love to sink into a good Science Fiction story. On a recent trip to the library I saw Search for the Star Stones by Andre Norton on the new bookshelf. Originally published in 1968 as two books (The Zero Stone and Uncharted Stars), Andre Norton’s estate has renewed the copyright and Baen has re-published the two novels. The stories read better as one book. The Zero Stone leaves a lot unfinished and Uncharted Stars picks up right where the previous book left off.

Reading the Search for the Star Stones was like revisiting an old friend. There is adventure, action, suspense and a strange new creature woven into a great story. While later books have females in lead roles Search for the Star Stones has primarily male characters. If you have never read any of Andre Norton’s books you have missed some good reads. If you have already read any of her books this is a chance to go back and revisit some old friends.

Search for the Star Stones is not the only Andre Norton book Baen has re-published. Check the Baen web site for others. They are all available as hardcopies or as e-Books.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Diamond Star by Catherine Alsaro


Science Fiction

Diamond Star by Catherine Alsaro is a side story in the Skolian series. Del is a member of the Ruby Dynasty. He along with other members of his family have been held as hostages on Earth. The others are rescued but Del chooses to stay on Earth where he feels that he can be free from the expectation of his family. His singing talents lead to a contract and he becomes a rock star something his family would not condone or understand. Although Del tries, even on Earth he cannot be free of interstellar politics. Earth as one of the three interstellar civilizations wants to stay clear of the conflict between the Skolian Imperialate and the Eubian Concord. Del brings that conflict to Earth. Diamond Star does not move the main story line along, but it does tell more of the story of the Ruby Dynasty. This is a nice addition to the Skolian series.

Baen published Diamond Star by Catherine Alsaro in 2009. I purchased Diamond Star as an eBook from Baen.


Interesting piece of trivia:

*In the book Del visits a antique store that sells paper copies of books. One book that he picks up is a book I just recommended; The Rake by Mary Jo Putney. It must be on Catherine Alsaro's favorite list.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

In the Stormy Red Sky by David Drake


Space Opera

I have two favorite space opera series. One is the RNC series by David Drake and the other is Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series. New books in both series came out this month (May 2009). Look for a post on the new Lost Fleet book later this month.

In the Stormy Red Sky is the 7th book in the RNC series featuring Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy. Daniel and Adele are again sent on a mission that should be peaceful but as we all know nothing is peaceful when Daniel and Adele are involved. The previous books were mostly Daniel’s story; In the Stormy Red Sky is mostly Adele’s story. It makes a nice change of pace. As usual the plot is fast moving and the action intense. The story expands the world building and shows how Adele’s character is growing and changing. In the Stormy Red Sky keeps the series moving at a brisk pace. I loved this book and look forward to more in the RNC series.

Baen released In the Stormy Red Sky by David Drake as a hardcover on May 5th, 2009. I purchased In the Stormy Red Sky as an eBook from Baen for $6.00.

My December 8th, 2008 post highlighted the RNC series. Check it out for all the previous RNC titles.

Baen www.baen.com/
David Drake www.david-drake.com/

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Slow Train to Arcturus by Eric Flint and Dave Freer


Science Fiction/Space Opera are in my Mixed Book Bag today.

In Slow Train to Arcturus Eric Flint and Dave Freer have written science fiction at its best. Man has decided to live in space not on planets. The space around Earth is filling up and man wants to move out to the stars. The journey to new stars is made on a slow train that accelerates and does not slow down. The slow train is a series of habitats strung together like beads on a necklace. As the train approaches a system a habitat is disconnected and slows down to reach its new home in a new solar system.

That takes care of the science to get from Earth (point A) to the new system (point B) but who goes and what happens in each habitat? Like the frontier of old it is the misfits that want to leave and each habitat has a different group with a reason to leave and never return. There is no communication between the habitats and as time passes strange changes take place. As the story opens the slow train is approaching a solar system where another intelligent species has developed. They decide to visit what they expect to be a dead artifact. Action and adventure, romance and drama, comedy and tragedy all result. This is a cliffhanger that keeps you reading. Pick up Slow Train to Arcturus and enjoy.

Baen published Slow Train to Arcturus in 2008. If you like to read e-Books go to the Baen web site and purchase the book there. For hardcover go to any bookstore.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

RCN Series by David Drake

Space Opera

David Drake writes a lot of military science fiction but to quote him this series ” is something quite different: space opera”. The first book in the series, With the Lightnings introduces the two unlikely protagonists. Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy are both citizens of Cinnabar and a more unlikely pair would be hard to find. Their differences are one thing that makes this series so engaging. Daniel is in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy. Adele is an exile from Cinnabar. Her parents were convicted of treason and killed. Adele escaped death only because she was off planet at the time. Add to the mix Tovera, a psychopath who serves Adele and Hogg a gentleman’s gentleman who serves Daniel and you have a crack team ready for adventure. The books are a mix of adventure and politics. With a male and female main characters you might expect a little romance thrown in, but when you read the book you will understand why there is none. The books are published by Baen and are available as eBooks as well as hard cover and paperbacks. Here is the list of books in the order of publication:

WITH THE LIGHTNINGS RCN Series (Baen/1998)

LT LEARY, COMMANDING RCN Series (Baen/2000)

THE FAR SIDE OF THE STARS RCN Series (Baen/2003)

THE WAY TO GLORY RCN Series (Baen/2005)

SOME GOLDEN HARBOR RCN Series (Baen/2006)

WHEN THE TIDE RISES RCN Series (Baen/2008)

With the Lightnings and Lt Leary, Commanding are available as eBooks in the Baen free library. This is a series that is best read in order so go to Baen and download With the Lightnings to check the series out.