I always approach military science fiction with caution because some authors get carried away with weapon descriptions, unbelievably tough characters, and illogical associations, but not so in Orphanage. The characters are flawed but likeable. They are courageous when the need for courage is forced upon them. They are willing to sacrifice their own lives to save that of a friend's. And that, I believe, is the whole idea behind Orphanage.

The story takes place in the future when Earth has come under attack from an unknown enemy. This enemy is successfully killing large numbers of our population by lobbing huge projectiles from space with devastating results. Whole families are destroyed leaving behind orphans, young and old. Jason Wander is one of these orphans and makes some poor life choices that bring him to the attention of what remains of the legal system. He is given an opportunity to join a new branch of the Armed Forces which is preparing to take the fight to the enemy and beat them on their own ground. But Jason has a lot to learn about life and family, courage and luck, duty and honor, and survival.

The story is told with a sense of humour and an understanding of what makes us all human. Orphanage is an enjoyable read. ( )

A good read for me. Not great. I had some precaution in the first part of the book as it seemed too much like Starship Troopers. But the story takes a nice turn from Heinlein and ends up being a rough and tumble story worthy to stand on its own. I loved the action and loved the tech. I'll definitely be finishing the series. ( )

Jason Wander is perhaps the most unlucky human being not only in the world, but possibly in all of science fiction as well. Robert Buettner’s Orphanage has been heralded as the next Starship Troopers, and while there are several similarities, where they are different is very interesting. Sure, both have young protagonists who enter military service for less than altruistic motives. I’ll concede that both follow the coming of age in the military story arc that so many in the military science fiction genre share. I’ll even allow for serious parallels to be drawn between the choice of first person narrative and non-humanoid ultimate evils. However Buettner weaves a fast paced story that is his own.

Jason, who became a war orphan when an alien projectile killed his mother and the rest of Indianapolis, starts his unexpected journey after sucker punching a teacher. Even after being given a second chance, he again finds himself before the judge who gives him an ultimatum: join the military or go to jail. Wander picks the Space Corps Infantry. If he thinks that this was as bad as bad luck could get, he does not realize he is only at the tip of a mammoth iceberg, and basic training is nothing compared to what he would have to survive. After all, there’s a hostile alien force out there that wants nothing more than to annihilate the human race and make Earth home. Read More ( )

The blurb on the cover makes comparisons to Joe Haldeman's 'Forever War' and Heinlein's 'Starship Troops' and its obvious that these are the major influences on this book. However it lacks the emotional depth and thoughtfulness of the first and the muscular energy of the later. What it does have is a fun sense of humour. All and all its a fun, lightweight read. The ideas are hackneyed (War drives innovation; a soldier fights for his fellow soldiers etc.) but the plot is fast-paced and compelling. Overall a decent entry in the military sf subgenre with no new takes or ideas to offer. ( )

Read more at Grasping for the Wind

Orphanage, according to author Robert Buettner, is a cross between Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Joe Haldeman's The Forever War. But unlike either of those novels, this 2004 Quill nominee sees the military in light of post 9/ll sensibilities. In it, we see how a soldier can fight a just war, while still disliking many of the aspects of the army. Buettner's story sees the motivations for soldiering not in God or Country, but in the man or woman next to you, guarding your back.

An alien race of unknown origin has landed on Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, and is lobbing projectiles the size of cities at Earth. Major cities across the world are being destroyed, and humanity still only has the spaceflight technology of the 1970s. In time, the story takes place at about 2040, but by this time relative peace has been attained throughout the world. This may be wishful thinking on Buettner's part, but as background to the story it works well. Mankind has had no reason to seek to conquer the stars, and technological innovation has slowed due to lack of war or drive to explore.

When the aliens attack, humanity is galvanized to respond with their own deadly force. Buettner's protagonist, Jason Wander, is forced by circumstance and judge's order to join a military at war. Using outdated and inefficient Vietnam-era equipment, Jason and his friends learn to be soldiers. Jason, perennial screw-up, finds himself being the reason for his troop's punishment, and his Drill Sergeant gives him the dirtiest and meanest jobs. But this sort of treatment sparks a change in Jason, and the teen boy becomes a man under the pressures of war. His story is that or a hero, and when his heroism finally finds its chance to shine, it does so brilliantly in an all out assault on Ganymede.

Buettner has been derided for killing off popular characters. But in doing so, he shows the grit and grimness of war. Readers who become easily attached to characters, and get upset when they die, should not read this book. Wander himself suffers a significant loss that he must put aside from his mind for the good of the troops. Buettner emphasizes the desire of each soldier to fight for his buddy, to see himself and that partner through the orphanage called war. Unlike Haldeman, Buettner's Orphanage sees war as a necessary evil, even a useful situation that spurs innovation. But it doesn't have the God and Country idealism of Heinlein either. Rather, Orphanage finds the delicate balance between the two, seeing war as neither wholly evil, nor wholly good.

The themes of war, self-sacrifice, and honor pervade the novel. Although there is adult content, this book would be an excellent opportunity to discuss with a teen or young adult war and its attendant questions. Although the later books have Jason being much older, in the beginning of Orphanage he is but seventeen years old, only in his twenties by its end. His character will resonate with those readers searching for themselves.

Buettner tells of how some of the young soldiers who read his book will send him pictures of their drill sergeant, describing how the characters in the story so deeply resemble their real life drill sergeants. To me, this is the most powerful support for the realism of Buettner's military. Buettner, who has military experience but was never called to war, is of the Vietnam era. Orphanage ends up exploring many of the same issues raised by that war, questions we even now struggle to answer. I found his conclusions to be different from the expected.

Buettner writes a book that moves quickly. There is lots of action, and Jason finds himself on several dangerous missions on the moon and Ganymede. Buettner also manages to create emotional ties between the characters with few words, yet they are of such depth we can feel each loss much as Jason does. The sentences have a sort of military crispness to them, never wasting nor wanting words or description. I was easily able to read the entirety of this novel in a day.

Readers looking for Hard SF will be disappointed. The science plays little part in the story. Like writers of the Golden Age, Buettner has simply chosen to create believable but not wholly scientific equipment in order to provide a vehicle for the story. Some suspension of disbelief will be required for those who like their science fiction to be based wholly in reality. But if you can let that go, you will end up with a deeply emotional and adventure filled novel of particularly high quality.

Some readers may dislike Buettner's themes or conclusions, may even dislike the character of Jason Wander, but they will find little to complain about in terms of writing. There is no choppiness (although at times I had some troubles with the timeline). The plot is simple and straightforward, and does not become a complex political novel, though its themes touch on politics. It's military SF with a sword and space feel. Fans of John Ringo will likely enjoy this book, as will fans of Heinlein's Starship Troopers or David Weber's Honor Harrington series. As for me, I am looking forward to the further adventures of Jason Wander as he climbs the military ranks.

Special thanks to Robert Buettner for his recent reading at Dragon Con 2008, where we discussed his themes in detail, and for the copies of his first three books in the five part Jason Wander series. ( )