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Rejuvenates fear the backlash caused by bad drugs: they want nothing to interfere with their pursuit of long lifeor the profit that comes from promising it to others. Neighbor states fear the aggressive expansion of the Familias Regnant, fuelled by population growth and extended lifespan. Within the Regular Space Service, those who have received experimental rejuvenations fear they may have been intentionally given bad drugs. Esmay Suiza's family fears that her marriage to an offworlder will show more damage their position. Barin Serrano's family fears that his marriage to a Landbride of Altiplano will damage his career and their reputation. Fear begets violent reactions. show lessTags
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This is the sixth book in the space opera Serrano Legacy, or can be regarded as the third book that focuses on Esmay Suiza. Sort of.
The Familias Regnant is in tatters after the Speaker is assassinated. The entire political system hinges on the rivalry between the wealthy Rejuvenants--the ones who could afford the treatment to become endlessly young--and the lower classes who cannot rise higher since the older generation isn't dying off or retiring. Immediate suspicion is laid on the Old Texan-based extremists who figured prominently in the last book, but more is afoot. The Benignity makes its move for dominance in space; the old allies of the corrupt Admiral Lepescu are also on the move. Meanwhile, Esmay only wishes for Serrano approval show more to marry her fiance and finds every effort stymied by ship schedules and continued acts of terrorism across the system.
This book wasn't bad, but it suffers from a lack of focus. It jumped from place to place as more attacks were orchestrated, and there was no one major character to follow. Esmay did almost nothing but pine during the entire book. Mind you, some bits had lovely tension--especially a few chapters where a tram of preschoolers were caught in a hostile invasion--but that was resolved all too quickly, with no major characters stepping in. It felt more like reading a collection of short stories set in the same universe than a cohesive novel. I wonder how everything can be resolved in the next book. show less
The Familias Regnant is in tatters after the Speaker is assassinated. The entire political system hinges on the rivalry between the wealthy Rejuvenants--the ones who could afford the treatment to become endlessly young--and the lower classes who cannot rise higher since the older generation isn't dying off or retiring. Immediate suspicion is laid on the Old Texan-based extremists who figured prominently in the last book, but more is afoot. The Benignity makes its move for dominance in space; the old allies of the corrupt Admiral Lepescu are also on the move. Meanwhile, Esmay only wishes for Serrano approval show more to marry her fiance and finds every effort stymied by ship schedules and continued acts of terrorism across the system.
This book wasn't bad, but it suffers from a lack of focus. It jumped from place to place as more attacks were orchestrated, and there was no one major character to follow. Esmay did almost nothing but pine during the entire book. Mind you, some bits had lovely tension--especially a few chapters where a tram of preschoolers were caught in a hostile invasion--but that was resolved all too quickly, with no major characters stepping in. It felt more like reading a collection of short stories set in the same universe than a cohesive novel. I wonder how everything can be resolved in the next book. show less
(Alistair) And on we go with the sequel to Rules of Engagement, booklogged here. In which some of the aftermath of the previous book's kidnapping are dealt with, and in which the Familias Regnant find themselves in increasing difficulty with assassinations, incompetent politicians, bad rejuvenation, corruption, mutiny - and our protagonists specifically find themselves in more trouble with the revelation of a long-standing feud between their families...
Anyway, I'm not really going to indulge in reviewing at this time, because this is not a standalone book, dammit, even as a member of a series and I don't much care what the official story may be on that point. Characters and subplots proliferate - which leads to the book being a bit slow show more on some occasions - and just about every single one of them leaves a dangling plot thread to hang on into the next book, almost like Wheel of Time syndrome in miniature. From the looks of things, on a brief thumb-through, they are continued in Against the Odds, so I'm hoping that this is one long book bisected and that there will be pay-off when I pick that one up.
If so, I'll tell you then. If not... well, not recommended on its own, let me put it that way.
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2008/02/change-of-command-elizabeth... ) show less
Anyway, I'm not really going to indulge in reviewing at this time, because this is not a standalone book, dammit, even as a member of a series and I don't much care what the official story may be on that point. Characters and subplots proliferate - which leads to the book being a bit slow show more on some occasions - and just about every single one of them leaves a dangling plot thread to hang on into the next book, almost like Wheel of Time syndrome in miniature. From the looks of things, on a brief thumb-through, they are continued in Against the Odds, so I'm hoping that this is one long book bisected and that there will be pay-off when I pick that one up.
If so, I'll tell you then. If not... well, not recommended on its own, let me put it that way.
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2008/02/change-of-command-elizabeth... ) show less
Several substories, a plentitude of characters, and it's easy to become all confused about who is who and what story is currently going on. The individual stories are interesting though and the book is well written and it's easy to just keep going. Still, it's a bit of a mess.
Then we have the end, and it's not enough of an end. Was this and the next book supposed to be one book and it was split up for some reason?
Not much at all about Heris Serano and Lady Cecilia, the characters that made the first couple of books so good. And not much of Esmay Suiza, the character that made book 4 so interesting. Instead it's a mix of lots of characters, few of them interesting in themselves.
And a bit of deus ex machina to kill off a few of the show more unfinished stories. Also to be able to split a longer book into two? show less
Then we have the end, and it's not enough of an end. Was this and the next book supposed to be one book and it was split up for some reason?
Not much at all about Heris Serano and Lady Cecilia, the characters that made the first couple of books so good. And not much of Esmay Suiza, the character that made book 4 so interesting. Instead it's a mix of lots of characters, few of them interesting in themselves.
And a bit of deus ex machina to kill off a few of the show more unfinished stories. Also to be able to split a longer book into two? show less
Enjoyable, but not as good as the previous book in the series. There are just too many separate plot lines and the book loses focus as we hop between characters all the time.
Although some long-running plot lines are resolved, there's still quite a bit left to be sorted out by the next book in the series.
Although some long-running plot lines are resolved, there's still quite a bit left to be sorted out by the next book in the series.
This is the next to last book in this series. I liked all the others but this one was awful. It constantly cut from one short scene to another in (at least in this book) unrelated scenarios. Very choppy. The mutiny story mechanics were boring. I barely made it through this book and the effort I put into it better pay off in this the last book in the series. I'll get that one from the library also.
I am a big fan of fantasy and science fiction novels especially if they are long and have several books in the series. I really enjoy a series of books that I can immerse myself in and I first picked up an Elizabeth Moon novel because it was long and part of a multi-novel series. I continue to read her books because I find them engrossing and highly enjoyable.
Great story teller
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118+ Works 36,969 Members
Elizabeth Moon was born March 7, 1945, and grew up in McAllen, Texas, graduating from McAllen High School in 1963. She has a B.A. in History from Rice University (1968) and another in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (1975) with graduate work in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio. She served in the USMC from 1968 to show more 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC. She married Richard Moon, a Rice classmate and Army officer, in 1969; they moved to the small central Texas town where they still live in 1979. They have one son, born in 1983. (Publisher Fact Sheets) Elizabeth Moon was born on March 7, 1945 in Texas. She received a B.A. in history from Rice University in 1968 and a B.S. in biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 with graduate work in biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio. She served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971. In the early 1980s, she wrote the Florence News column for the county weekly newspaper. She is a science fiction and fantasy author. In 1986, she published her first science fiction story in the monthly magazine Analog and the anthology series Sword and Sorceress. Her first novel, The Sheepfarmer's Daughter, was published in 1988 and won the Compton Crook Award in 1989. Her other works include Remnant Population, Oath of Fealty, Kings of the North, and Echoes of Betrayal. She has won several awards including the Nebula Award for Best Novel for The Speed of Dark in 2003 and the Heinlein Award in 2007. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Change of Command
- Original title
- Change of Command
- Original publication date
- 1999-12
- People/Characters
- Cecelia de Marktos; Esmay Suiza; Brun Meager; Miranda Meager; Barin Serrano; Gelan Meharry (show all 16); Bubbles Thornbuckle; Kevil Mahoney; Bunny Thornbuckle; Hobart Conselline; Buttons Thornbuckle; Hubert Rosco Millander; Casimir Suiza; Harlis ; Cpt Solis; Vida Serrano
- Important places
- Copper Mountain; Rockhouse System
- Epigraph
- Castle Rock Newscast: "Today the Speaker of the Table of Ministers and the Grand Council of the Famillas Regnant was assassinated while en route from the shuttle port to the Palace. His close friend and legal adviser, Kevil M... (show all)ahoney, was seriously injured and is now undergoing emergency treatment in a secure medical facility.
Three security personnel also died. Speaker Thornbuckle's youngest daughter, traveling in a separate conveyance, was not injured, but is now in protective custody... - Dedication
- For Susie and John Neary,
for all the years of friendship. - First words
- Kevil was aware of distrubing dreams, and tried to fight his way to consciousness.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)A trail of suppressed giggles followed them down the passage to their tiny - but adequate for the immediate purpose - cabin.
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