Baen's Eye of the Storm CD is now available

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfortunately, it's more than just "Ghost". Have you tried to read "The Last Centurion"? It reads more like a political manifesto than a novel.

An apt description of the book. I've stopped reading Ringo. But so far, I can't get enough of David Weber.

[Over]

Originally Posted by emellaich

Like any publisher, Baen has a variety of authors with a variety of approaches. Many of their books are in the military vein, and they certainly don't shy away from that approach. If you visit the Baen boards you'll find many a fond discussion of military matters, guns and swords and many have politics to the right of the spectrum.

On the other hand, conisider Eric Flint, one of their most prolific authors, the editor of the free library, and one of the brains behind their DRM-free approach (read his prime palvers in the free library). Eric is a self-avowed communist. His 1632 series of books (still clearly militaristic) feature committees of correspondence and a strong union as power centers behind the scenes. They also feature quite a few strong female characters.

In general, Baen tells the kind of stories that I enjoy. They generally have good folks and bad folks. The good folks are faced with a bunch of challenges, but they find some way to win in the end. This is often achieved through military means.

It is funny, that their strongest female leads (Honor Harrington, Path of the Fury) are written by a guy (Weber) and their strongest male lead (Miles Vorkosigan) is written by a gal (Lois McMaster Bujold). I know Miles is crippled, but he has all the testosterone of any guy out there.

I do agree that if you don't like action you won't find as much of interest in their line.

I've started to read 1632, and I think it's a little bit too "american". A bunch of guys, all possessing guns in their trucks, get together after a strange event that teleports them to the XVII century. Soon they find those RAPIST MURDERERS, who happen to be GERMANS on top of it! That's an excuse/motive enough to start killin'. Yee-haw! BANG! Mob justice!

[TheLongshot]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfortunately, it's more than just "Ghost". Have you tried to read "The Last Centurion"? It reads more like a political manifesto than a novel.

No, I haven't read that one, and probably a good thing that I haven't.

Originally Posted by derrell

Actually its a self avowed socialist. From his biography at his website.

Figures that I should have read the whole thing. Thanks for that, it was informative. I am glad that he doesn't whack people over the head with his political beliefs in his writings. Writers like John Ringo and Michael Z Williamson need to learn some of that. Subtlty is a better force. People don't like to be preached to, even if they are like-minded.

[derrell]

I actually enjoyed Michael Z Williamson's Freehold but the others set in that same universe just left me sort of bleh. The armor is what got me started reading Ringo I'm a sucker for stories where that is used. Cally's War pretty much put an end to the series for me though.

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by derrell

I actually enjoyed Michael Z Williamson's Freehold but the others set in that same universe just left me sort of bleh. The armor is what got me started reading Ringo I'm a sucker for stories where that is used. Cally's War pretty much put an end to the series for me though.

There are hot new tanks in Eye of the Storm

[NormHart]

Originally Posted by igorsk

There are hot new tanks in Eye of the Storm

Cool! I've been delaying reading that since Cally's War left me cold and I have not read any further stories from that series. (Although I own one or two)

John Ringo has to hold the record for the largest tank in SF, not counting the Bolos of course, those are in a class of their own.

[emellaich]

Originally Posted by Over

I've started to read 1632, and I think it's a little bit too "american". A bunch of guys, all possessing guns in their trucks, get together after a strange event that teleports them to the XVII century. Soon they find those RAPIST MURDERERS, who happen to be GERMANS on top of it! That's an excuse/motive enough to start killin'. Yee-haw! BANG! Mob justice!

Yes, you are correct in your facts, but I do see it different -- then again I am a U.S. American so maybe its my bias?

Anyway, I do agree that many (most? all?) Baen books involve military, guns, and shooting. Someone once defined proper science fiction as the exploration of an alternate reality given one 'miracle' event. In this case the miracle is the transposition in time. Scientifically, everything else is pretty accurate. Personally, I find it believable, but it does seem that they get inventions to occur a bit faster than normal -- I put this down to a war time mentality.

Your mention of Germans and Mob Justice are ones that I must disagree with. This implies that there may be a version of racial bias in this story. However, I would point out that in 1632 many of the ancestors of modern day Americans were Europeans. In subsequent books, the English don't come off any better. On the other hand, there were many locals who become heroes and admirable figures.

In regards to Mob Justice, well that wouldn't be out of line for some of the books that I enjoy, but I don't think it applies in this case. The transplanted folks had their own government. They acted in line with their own laws and beliefs. My rusty memory recalls some discussion of deputation in their first encounter. Furthermore, they didn't just randomly shoot people. They shot those who were actively attacking them. They didn't hunt down and lynch anyone -- they caught them in actual attack mode and defended themselves. And later they capture some of these murderers as part of a battle and actually convert them to the 'right way'.

I see the series as more of a clash between modern ways and medieval not between American and Europe.

[TheLongshot]

Originally Posted by derrell

I actually enjoyed Michael Z Williamson's Freehold but the others set in that same universe just left me sort of bleh. The armor is what got me started reading Ringo I'm a sucker for stories where that is used. Cally's War pretty much put an end to the series for me though.

I enjoyed Freehold as well, but he wacks you over the head repeatedly with his political views and has a strawman society to compare it to. If he toned it down he might have had a stronger book, IMO.

[vsalvaggio]

Originally Posted by derrell

I actually enjoyed Michael Z Williamson's Freehold but the others set in that same universe just left me sort of bleh. The armor is what got me started reading Ringo I'm a sucker for stories where that is used. Cally's War pretty much put an end to the series for me though.

I agree with you. "Freehold" was fun. "The Weapon" and "Better to Beg Forgiveness" were meh. I didn't buy the most recent one (can't remember the title).

Ringo is definitely way conservative and I wish he wasn't so heavy handed with it in his books. I enjoyed the first 4 Posleen books but the collaborations were only OK and "Cally's War" in particular stunk. I will try once more (3rd try) to get through "Sister Time" just so I can be up-to-date for "Honor of the Clan" and "Eye of the Storm" with the return of the main characters from the first 4 books.

I REALLY enjoyed all of the Looking Glass books and eagerly await any new ones. They are just a LOT of fun. "Von Neuman's War" - the collaboration with Travis Taylor - same guys as Looking Glass series - is enjoyable too.

Empire of Man series with David Weber was great and I highly recommend them. Who knows when these two busy guys can get together to write some more.

"Princess of Wands" was interesting. I will definitely pick up next book in series (whenever that comes out).

"Last Centurion" was just AWFUL. AWFUL. AWFUL. I'm just glad I got it for free off of one of the CD's.

"Ghost" was not for me. I did not read the rest of the series.

Ringo is an author that I follow but I check out his stuff much more carefully nowadays.

[derrell]

Originally Posted by vsalvaggio

I agree with you. "Freehold" was fun. "The Weapon" and "Better to Beg Forgiveness" were meh. I didn't buy the most recent one (can't remember the title).

Ringo is definitely way conservative and I wish he wasn't so heavy handed with it in his books. I enjoyed the first 4 Posleen books but the collaborations were only OK and "Cally's War" in particular stunk. I will try once more (3rd try) to get through "Sister Time" just so I can be up-to-date for "Honor of the Clan" and "Eye of the Storm" with the return of the main characters from the first 4 books.

I REALLY enjoyed all of the Looking Glass books and eagerly await any new ones. They are just a LOT of fun. "Von Neuman's War" - the collaboration with Travis Taylor - same guys as Looking Glass series - is enjoyable too.

Empire of Man series with David Weber was great and I highly recommend them. Who knows when these two busy guys can get together to write some more.

If you want to be beaten over the head, stomped, kicked, then fed to bears by an authors political views, read Kratman. I actually read and enjoyed A Desert Called Peace and Carnifex. All I could keep thinking, after I exited the bears digestive tract, was 'No, really tell me how you feel about the U.N.'

My problem with Cally's War I think was that I had really started liking the Cally character and the way that book started out soured me on that whole arc of the story.

The last Looking Glass Novel, the one with the concert space station and the anime characters was just so over the top I didn't really enjoy it the others were fun reads.

Weber has so many commitments that I doubt the two of them will ever get back to the Empire of Man series. Thats alright I would much rather see the Honorverse move forward.

[derrell]

Originally Posted by igorsk

There are hot new tanks in Eye of the Storm

I was really talking about the powered personal armor suits.

Although the tanks were sort of sexy.

[psevetson]

Originally Posted by Over

I've started to read 1632, and I think it's a little bit too "american". A bunch of guys, all possessing guns in their trucks, get together after a strange event that teleports them to the XVII century. Soon they find those RAPIST MURDERERS, who happen to be GERMANS on top of it! That's an excuse/motive enough to start killin'. Yee-haw! BANG! Mob justice!

In 1632, the _real_ 1632, mob justice for rapists and murderers would have been a big step up for most people. And unfortunately "rapist murderer soldiers" is historically accurate. I have to disagree with you calling them all Germans, though -- large parts of Wallenberg's armies were low-rent mercenaries from all over Europe.

And has it escaped your attention that most of the good guys from downtime are also Germans? You don't get to call it racist, or whatever you're calling it, if everybody, good and bad, is from the same ethnic group, dangit.

--Phil

[vsalvaggio]

Originally Posted by derrell

The last Looking Glass Novel, the one with the concert space station and the anime characters was just so over the top I didn't really enjoy it the others were fun reads.

Agreed. Claws that Catch wasn't my fav. They seem to have started plot points and then ignored them (like Berg's wife going to Navy wife meeting, among others). Anime station was weird. Still I enjoy the series overall and really like the character of Eric "Two Gun" Bergstresser.

Originally Posted by derrell

Weber has so many commitments that I doubt the two of them will ever get back to the Empire of Man series. Thats alright I would much rather see the Honorverse move forward.

Agreed again. Honor Harrington is what brought me to Baen. I picked up "On Basilik Station" when I was still reading pback and it was $3.99. Great series.

[ahi]

Originally Posted by KarateMonkey

I can't say that I've ever read any John Ringo books, but after reading Oh John Ringo no I don't know if I can.

OH

MY

GOD

!!!