Valor's Choice

I don't know with this book. On the one hand, it's a lot of fun, with all the virtues other reviewers cite. On the other hand, the author states that the main conflict was modelled after the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the 1879 Zulu War, aka. Britain's invasion of southern Africa. With our heroes taking the role of the British.

This really grossed me out. The battle of Rorke's Drift was a historical slaughter that occurred as part of an unprovoked invasion, resulting in the destruction of the Zulu people and culture. It is inappropriate to remove the military events from their historical context-- it would be like admiring the efficiency of the Nazi logistics for implementing the Final Solution and writing a story based on them.

I was show more left feeling complicit and nauseated. show less

Pretty standard mil-sf fare, heavier on the mil than normal because it's taken almost directly from history and one of the famous last stands against the Zulus. The heroine is a Staff Sargent, one of those odd military ranks that carries more responsibility than it sounds, as a professional soldier rather than either a fresh recruit or a titled officer.

Slightly unusual opening premise in that this sort of scenario usually occurs later in a series once we've got to know all the characters. The Staff's platoon is picked to be the ceremonial guard for a mixed race of dignitaries assessing a new race hoping to join the Confederation, in their long-term war against The Others (races unspecified). However as you can imagine it all goes wrong show more and they end up fighting for their lives in the middle of an unknown swamp, hoping that help will get to them in time.

It's not really a matter for laughter, but there's plenty of puns and quips thrown in and none of the solders take it too seriously, even though they are being picked off by the natives. Most of the casualties are just un-named Marines. The primary character is obviously the Staff, and her interactions with her nominal boss the 2nd Lt make up most of the banter - despite all the references to inept Lts, this one appears to be almost competent. There's a good gender balance in the future army with no suggestions anyone's less skilled than another, which doesn't prevent plenty of innuendo to keep morale up.

Like Elizabeth's Vatta's War, Bujold et al, I'll probably read more of them because they're fun, rather than good. show less

Напоследък съм захванал един особен жанр във фантастиката, в който хората са по-скоро силните, способните и агресивните сред разумните видове, вместо обичайното положение, в което извънземните винаги са по-интелигентни от нас, по-силни или и двете.

Таня Хъф определено разбира от военщина до степен да се учудвам, че не е служила и макар книгата да се състои в значителната си част от диалози, вместо от екшън, show more се е справила добре и човечеството унищожава извънземната сволоч и рита задници :) show less

Whee! Fluffy military sf. It was great for the commute and I always enjoy a kick-ass female protagonist.

I enjoy reading military fiction, as it offers the sense of battle that I tend to not get in my life. This book introduced me to someone who understood being under seige, stuck in a bunker, and doing what it took to survive. The lack of reaction to the deaths that they witness felt cold and heartless, but to be stuck in such a situation would require allowing such pain to be bottled until later.

That being said, there were issues within the book that frustrated me as a writer trying to learn. The author set up point of view changes through out the book, most times breaking them between the main character, Torin Kerr, and the others. Some times, she'd slip and do the change from paragraph to paragraph, especially when dealing with one show more unit from the platoon. It made following the characters more difficult.

Still a good read. Worth a look. show less

Page turner. Torin is a staff sergeant who us escorting a diplomatic mission to a new species when their ship is shot down in a swamp. Loved the different species and mentalities and the protagonist being so competent. Got a little lost with all the side characters who seemed interchangeable.

A pleasant surprise this. was recommended to me sometime ago by a second hand book dealer in Chester. I am glad I finally got round to trying it. Tanya Huff does military SF surprisingly well. The pompous sincerity and nobility that marks so many of these books is replaced with a lightly Humorous touch..
Our Staff Sergeant heroine finds herself shepherding a new second lieutenant and a troop of veterans on a diplomatic tour of a new planet they wish to recruit to the good guys side. The soldiers act like soldiers rather than the way people, especially diplomats wish soldiers would act.