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Gangs ruled Cantilucca. Guns were the only law, and there was no lack of guns. It was hard to imagine matters getting worse. Until the survey team arrived . . . Major Matthew Coke was not a squeamish man, but the state of affairs on Cantilucca turned his stomach. He was only human after all. Where some of the rest of his team were concerned, it was difficult to be sure. Five professional mercenaries who'd learned the hard way that in the end they could defeat anything - except their own show more consciences. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I loved the construction: the first chapters show each of the main characters reaching a crisis, of conscience or just professional, that shapes their personalities going forward. Then the main story begins. Lots of action and strategy and believable situations. That is what Drake does so well.This was a re-read, and I appreciated it more this time.
The Sharp End: All is not fair in love and war. Lines are not clean and easy to deliniate. Join Hammer's eclectic survey team on a mission to solicit business for the most lethal and successful mercenery force in the galaxy.
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Author Information
269+ Works 34,928 Members
David Drake was born on September 24, 1945, in Dubuque, Iowa. He attended University of Iowa, where he graduated with a degree in History (with honors) and Latin. He then attended Duke Law School. He was drafted out of law school, served in the army for two years and then returned to school. He worked as an Assistant Town Attorney of Chapel Hill show more and then part-time as a city bus driver before he became a full-time writer. Drake is considered a master of Science Fiction and Fantasy. The Hammer's Slammers, military science fiction, was his first published series. His other titles include Northworld series, The Dragon Lord, Starliner, Ranks of Bronze, and Redliners. In recognition of his work, he won a World Fantasy award in 1976. He currently resides in North Carolina. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1993-11
- People/Characters
- Matthew Coke (major); Sten Moden (captain); Robert Barbour (lieutenant); Mary Margulies (lieutenant); Niko Daun (specialist); Johann Vierziger (sergeant)
- Important places
- Cantilucca
- Dedication
- To our architect and builder Derwood Schrotberger. Writing a novel and moving to a new house are both stressful occupations. The fact that I was able to combine them is a comment on Derwood's consummate skill, which reminds m... (show all)e that architect originally meant Master Builder.
- First words
- The room housing the Officers Assignment Bureau was spacious enough to have three service cages and seats for twenty around the walls of colored marble.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Coke's sub-machine gun and holstered pistol remained on the crate where he'd been sitting.
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- David Drake is the author.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 412
- Popularity
- 74,767
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.55)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 4
