The Hub : Dangerous Territory (edition 2001)

baen ebook

I could only get through the first story and it was a mess. The pace of the book and the lack of back story just made for a fast push to the purple energy monster. Could not stomach it.

Not recommended! ( )

http://www.webscription.net/p-215-the-hub-dangerous-territory.aspx

This is part of a series of 'resurrection' or rediscovery efforts if you like, spearheaded by Eric Flint at Baen. This publisher has done some very cool stuff here, and some of these (including this book) are available in the Baen Free Library.

There are nine stories and a novel in this book, the novel being a pretty short and highly entertaining combination of sea with a bit of space adventure.

Also part of Schmitz's future history which you can call the Hub, or the Federation of the Hub - a huge number of loosely connected worlds in space, and what goes on therein.

Basically what you get is optimistic fun light space opera, in general, with the depiction of female characters well ahead of the times, in general. The Demon Breed itself reminds me of Elizabeth Bear's Undertow, for a very recent and more sophisticated take in a quite similar situation plotwise.

I'd suggest to SF fans in general it is worth taking a look at this author (who I had only come across in a rare story or two before, until relatively recently thanks to the evils of publishing oligopoly geography).

So thanks again to Flint and Baen for these, and also to Guy Gordon who has a James H. Schmitz encyclopedia which should tell you most of what you want to know bar reading the stuff. Google will find it, and under non-fiction on the appropriate blogs, too.

I am quite looking forward to reading the rest of these.

Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : The Searcher - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : Grandpa - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : Balanced Ecology - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : A Nice Day for Screaming - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : The Winds of Time - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : The Machmen - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : The Other Likeness - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : Attitudes - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : Trouble Tide [Nile Etland] - James H. Schmitz
Hub : Hub Dangerous Territory : The Demon Breed [The Tuvella; Nile Etland] - James H. Schmitz

A purple people eating alien energy monster, gangsters, and two interstellar secret agents who I am sure Blaise and Garvin would have invited to dinner many times if they knew them.

3.5 out of 5

Big ol' beast ride.

4 out of 5

Violent diamondwood negotiator humbugged.

3.5 out of 5

Pseudospace robot servo stop surprise.

3 out of 5

Charter return betrayal with worm guy secret makes for a quick trip.

3.5 out of 5

Cyborg takeover shutdown.

3.5 out of 5

Mutability experiment failure.

2.5 out of 5

We really could use a bunch of zombie bodies.

3 out of 5

Nile Etland's investigation of missing Sea Beef is a rather transforming experience.

3.5 out of 5

Alien repulsion otter assist.

On an obscure planet an alien force that had previously tried to take territory in the Hub has a breakaway political group that decides to do some smalltime invasion.

A smart scientist, a local agent and their highly intelligent new species mutant otter friends are up to the challenge, though, at least until the Federation warships can get there to offer a hand.

A fast-paced action adventure with some superhuman subterfuge and an interesting epilogue type overview of some of what is really going on.

3.5 out of 5

3.5 out of 5

http://freesf.blogspot.com/2008/03/hub-dangerous-territory-james-h-schmitz.html ( )

Read Online: http://webscriptions.net/10.1125/Baen/0671319841/0671319841.htm

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/855089 ( )