Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)A massive Empire, consisting of many races on thousands of planets. A Senate, Governors, and a coup from within. Space faring military fleets, battling against newly discovered capabilities in a increasingly recognized two-front conflict. Mysticism in the forms of mental weapons, limited mind reading, at least one "Seer" with precognition, and a strange group mind with prophecies of galaxies going dark.
Enter the protagonists: a Wyoming ranch-raised engineer from an Earth unaware of any of this; a princess of the Empire, skilled through years of service in balancing the needs of worlds, sorting issues, rendering decisions and ably defending Empire; a Protector of the Princess - a sentient great cat armed with both natural and modern weapons; and a pair of twins from a forbidden relationship hidden for years in an orphanage, protected by a Knight, each coming of age with extraordinary talents. Oh - and hot Reba! (also from Earth). New and interesting characters are added: a Special Forces Colonel and a Naval Admiral both from Earth and an Empire "Guide" in mysticism.
In the opening book of the new space opera, the characters were each well developed by the author and the multiple plot lines were introduced amidst a rich background of cultures, planets and moral issues. In this one, the military conflicts emerge, technology is explored and slightly enhanced, and personal relationships are challenged.
The military of the Empire is as huge as the Empire, but has not seen the type of conflict that is emerging: a two-front war: one against an external race with mind weapons not previously seen, another against the forces of the coup - their own Empire ships and crews but taken over by those who overthrew the Empire ruling establishment.
The science involved is standard SF stuff: AIs controlling major subsystems of the ships; superluminal drives which only operate away from gravity wells; handheld and ship-based energy weapons; advances in healthcare that can stimulate re-growth of organs and limbs; and translators that quickly deal with language issues. In this book, the technology is being innovated: new means to "jump" within the influence of gravity wells, instantaneous interstellar communications, self-aware AIs, and ships going "stealth." The sources of innovation are interesting: the alien race that developed along completely different technological lines, a smuggler's planet that tweaked technology driven by need; and the Earth people who had never seen the technology and therefore didn't know what could and could not be done. None of the improvements came from the Empire's creators or somewhat stagnated users.
The Empire military supplements their forces with a limited draw of volunteers from yet unaware Earth. Special Forces, Air and Naval officers get brutally quick training and fill key weaknesses in the Empire. Military tactics and strategies are cobbled together, forced by the nature of the conflict, the unusual weapons, and the limited resources - mostly in the wrong place. Two planetary battles, two fleet-based space battles, and several ship to ship battles - this one brings in fighting!
Personal interactions are explored, specifically in command interactions - captains reporting to lieutenants, Admirals from different command structures, governors with illegitimate appointments. The interactions are plausible in the professional Empire and Earth recruited forces - the smuggler forces bring a bit more color and conflict.
A good addition to the series, but it would be difficult for a reader to pick up the series here. The story line(s) are continuing to develop in interesting directions. This might be more than a three book series!
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Knights of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Two)The Empire has collapsed. Aided by the Chessori, who wield an unbeatable mind weapon, Rebel domination of the sectors strengthens daily. Against such formidable opponents, hope for the future of Empire dims.The people of Earth are the only ones in the galaxy immune to the terrible mind weapon. The Chessori have been studying Earth for many years, trying to discover the reason for this immunity.The Empire asks for help, but if Earth agrees, the Chessori will surely retaliate. Yet failure to act is just as risky in the long run. Earth must save the Empire, and it must learn to save itself, as well. The process cannot be forced. It must be led, and time is short. Join the Queen and her Knights as they struggle to pull the remnants of a once great civilization from the ashes of defeat. Like the Phoenix, they will rise up, giving all that they are, and the galaxy will hear their call.
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