Disturbing: The only reason I don't give it 5 is because it is a reprint in a different format, with all stories previously published.

Spoiler alert for the main story.

That said, Rolling Hot, the prime story, is one you simply must read if you want to grasp the military mindset. It ranks up with Heinlein's Starship Troopers (the novel, not the stupid movie with the same title) and Haldeman's The Forever War.

Drake always manages to impart wisdom under the horrific gore. It's actually incredibly subtle in its own perverse way. Drake loads on the blood as a cautionary tale. He served with the 11th Armored Cavalry in Vietnam, and it still shows in his writing and occasionally in his talk. This isn't gore to titillate, this is gore to revolt, just in case you start to develop the theory that violence is a neat thing. It's harsh enough it will probably override years of stupid shootemup computer games in the current generation. Yes, it's THAT grisly.

But the characters are where the story is. Along with a decrepit, burned out, wrung out bunch of leftovers from previous engagements, a civilian reporter rides along. His goal was to investigate the "Waste" of money on the mercenaries that could be spent on additional indigenous forces. All he sees at the beginning is the rough, crude exterior of the unit.

On post during an attack, he winds up dragging along during a hell for leather chase across the continent, a desperate attempt to relieve the capital with the only troops available--the Slammers' sick list. It's that or be left as fodder, and the enemy doesn't care that he's a "noncombatant." Violating the non-interference concept reporters try to embrace, he mans a gun and offers his best military skill--shooting a grenade launcher as he learned as a reservist years past. "That's it, Turtle! you flush 'em, we'll shoot 'em!" one of his squad mates advises through a burst of fire. Even more than the Slammers, this is the last place he wants to be, and there's simply no choice.

At the end of a brutal, casualty-ridden drive across a hostile wasteland of enemy action, bad roads, "friendly" fire and inadequate supplies, he has the answer to his question. Why spend money on professionals? Because they're the only ones who can accomplish the impossible. As Montesquieu said, "A rational army WOULD run away."

That's when the story took a twist. Upon relieving the town, the mercs are shunned and ridiculed for their "disgusting and unprofessional" appearance by the alleged professionals of the local army and government. Our reporter reacts with righteous indignation and murderous rage that troops brave enough and dedicated enough to pull off the impossible are regarded as trash by pretty boys with no trigger time...

...and is stopped by one of the gunners, who tells him, "It don't mean nothin'."

I was appalled by the ending. I was outraged. It seemed to not be an ending in any fashion. It was six months later, during a discussion where I was trying uselessly to explain the concept of military duty to a civilian who simply CANNOT understand what it means. Some can, some can't. Those who can't never will. That's when I understood. "It don't mean nothin'."

Nineteen years of service. A few hours to read. Six months for it to make sense. And a story I will never forget.

And sadly, most civilians will never get it. That's not an insult, it's a cultural observation.

Bravo, Dave.

A great "kick butt and take names later" book. ( )

Read Online: http://webscriptions.net/10.1125/Baen...

I'm not a big fan of miltary sf - I prefer some plot in addition to relentless battle scenes where it is hard to keep track of where everybody is - but this was an enjoyable read. A diversion for a few days while LT was down.

A collision of short stories all featuring different personal and situations within the Tank Lords - Hammer's Slammers. A mercenary company in the 21st century of galactic troubles. Personal sacrifice backed up by the hardest weapons and a desire to use them meant they were always on the winning side - that is whoever paid them.

The appendix of background details is quite interesting and Drake has gone to some efforts to think about the consequences of today's miliatry situation and how technology could change that. ( )