Andromeda’s Fall by William Dietz

Military Science Fiction

Goodreads Summary:

The roots of the Legion of the Damned lie deep within the mythology of the future. But now, national bestselling author William C. Dietz goes back to the Legion’s early days with the story of one recruit’s rebirth and redemption…

Hundreds of years in the future, much has changed. Advances in medicine, technology, and science abound. Humanity has gone to the stars, found alien life, and established an empire.

But some things never change...

All her life, Lady Catherine Carletto (called Cat) has lived for nothing but the next party, the next lover, the next expensive toy. Until, in a bloodthirsty power grab, Imperial Princess Ophelia and her cadre of synth assassins murder her brother the emperor, and go on to purge the galaxy of his friends and supporters—including Cat’s family. The Carlettos are known to be staunch supporters of the Emperor and Carletto Industries has been in the forefront of his pet project—developing cybernetic technology for use by the masses.

Now Cat, one of the last surviving Carlettos, is on the run. And, like countless others before her, she finds her sanctuary among the most dangerous of society’s misfits.

Welcome to the Legion.

Cat Carletto vanishes, and in her place stands Legion recruit Andromeda McKee. A woman with a mission—to bring down Empress Ophelia—or die trying.

I want to start this by saying a big thank you to the publisher and the cover artist.  Finally, finally, finally a female military science fiction main character who does not appear on the cover wearing a tank top and holding a big gun.  Cat does have a big gun but she is dressed in body armor looking like she could survive a battle without losing a lot of skin,  This is how a military character should look.

In Andromeda’s Fall William Dietz has written is a classic Military Science Fiction novel.  He has gone back to his Legion of the Dammed universe, in fact he has gone way back to the beginning of that universe to start what looks like a new series of stories.  This time the main character is a member of the ruling family that is marked for death when the Emperor is killed by his sister.  Cat’s uncle warns her allowing her to escape and join the Legion.  From there expect a plot filled with non-stop action, many unexpected twists, and great characters.  Cat or McKee as she becomes find she has strength's she did not know she possesses.  She is one of those people who thrive in adversity making her a great fit for the Legion.  As Andromeda's Fall ends there is  a lot of room for future stories.  I am looking forward to seeing more of Cat and more stories set in this part of the Legion of the Dammed Universe.

Ace published Andromeda’s Fall by William Dietz in 2012.

Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz

Science Fiction

The alien in Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz was so terrible it made me wonder what kind of mind had the imagination to create something that awful.  

The Sagathies are a shape-shifting species that are so vicious that they are confined to a prison planet.  Unfortunately two of the Sagathies have escaped.  Because the Sagathies are such a threat to the Uman Empire there are cops who are bioengineered to see through the shape-shifting guise of the Sagathies.  Jak Cato is one of those cops.  Cato has just been assigned to Corin the capital of the Uman Empire. When Cato catches a glimpse of Emperor Emor he sees that it is Fiss Verafti, a Sagathie shape shifter thought to be dead.   What follows is a dangerous adventure that leads Cato to a planet where a female shape-shifter has established a religion that worships her.  If she and Fiss take over the planet they will hunt down, kill and eat everyone on the planet.   While Cato is trying to catch and kill the Sagathies he is also dealing with a few of his own personal issues.  The main one is the lovely Alamy, a slave he owns and has promised to free. 

Bones of Empire is part of a Duology about the Uman Empire.  While I have read several of William C. Dietz’s books I have not read the Empire Edge's, the book that precedes Bones of Empire.  Because there is enough back-story woven in I had no trouble keeping up with the action in Bones of Empire. 

Bones of Empire is a fun Science Fiction read.  It has a horrible villain, great action, a well-developed world and a touch of romance; in other words, something for everyone. 

ACE published Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz in 2010,

I checked Bones of Empire out from the Rogers Public Library.

Bodyguard by William Dietz

Space Opera

It is Christmas and I am busy so I will just post a short recommendation. I have had Bodyguard in my electronic Too Be Read pile for awhile (loaded on my eBookwise Reader) and I finally got around to reading it.

If you get a chance read this book. Bodyguard has a unusual hero and a good story with some unexpected twists and turns. This is Space Opera as it should be written and it makes very entertaining read.

I purchased Bodyguard by William C. Dietz from Fictionwise. It was organically published in 1994.