An alternate-universe version of [b:The Myriad|218479|All the Myriad Ways|Larry Niven|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|2015552]. ( )

I wouldn't exactly recommend this book to anyone, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. ( )

I enjoyed this book very, very much. I had started to read the first book, something held me back and I put it aside. Months later, I ended up reading this one and this one clicked with me. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I ended up reading the one I put aside, and enjoyed that one quite a bit.Many characters from The Myriad have interesting roles in WolfStar. This is the second novel in the series, yet the first novel I read - has the Merrimack not only fighting the Romans, but dealing with the Gorgons (those pesky eating machines). There is much more to both stories, but I've already let loose with enough spoilers. The action scenes keep you pumped, and in general this novel is a compelling read. I might have become re-addicted to space opera from reading WolfStar.

John Farragut and crew have been fighting the Roman Empire - which has risen again in the far future, now claiming their own planet and trying to claim many others. The new Roman Empire would like nothing more than to subjugate The U.S., or course. But John Farragut is one of those charismatic leaders who seem gleefully crazed and yet his whole crew follows him loyally.

There's a lot going on in Wolf Star - fights with Roman ships, quite a few close calls and those pesky insects that have killed many planets and ships. There is of course, some SciFi facts inserted, though inserted in a non-boring way. Not being a scientifically minded person, I'm not sure how accurate the scifi is, but it's presented in an interesting and easy to swallow way. Works for me. Because even though I don't consider myself a Scientist Genious, I love reading SciFi - especially SciFi with plenty of female characters who actually have important parts to play.

What I enjoy about the series so far - besides the crazed plot and events - is the narrative style and the dialogue. M.J. Meluch really can write great dialogue - the characters read like the people they're supposed to be. Sometimes when reading a book, you KNOW you are reading dialogue. Other times, it's such a seamless part of the story that you almost forget you're actually reading a novel. Know what I mean? It's hard for me to emphasize enough how important dialogue is to me while reading. But Meluch does a great job of writing dialogue. The narrative is damned good too - it just flows. Now that I've read both books, I'm not sure why exactly I put aside The Myriad the first time I read it. I think I just hadn't really become absorbed by the character of Farragut yet - who is one of those annoyingly charismatic leader who you can't help but become fond of - even though at first you might not like him. Ever meet anyone like that? They are so good at seemingly letting things roll off their backs, so easygoing that it's refreshing when they show their beserker side - and Farragut loves a good fight. He's also sly like a fox - only one is never sure if it's by accident or for real. Either way, once you get used to his sheer exuberance, he's one of the favorite characters.

If you like your SciFi kind of crazed with lots of twists, turns, some gore (not too bad) and suspense with a teeny bit of romance, then this will be a great series to read. It's got it all, light on the romance (no heaving bosoms, but there are some lingering hot looks - though not a huge part of the stories), heavy on action, great dialogue with laughs and sarcasm; wonderful characters who are can be full of honor and yet can surprise you. This series is really feeding my SciFi cravings. :) I am looking forward to reading more from Meluch. ( )

Superb. Really clever writing in this, the author has attempted and succeeded in an area that many make a complete mess of - time travel and it's consequences. This very definetly is the 2nd book int he series, and must be read after the first one, preferably whilst the details of the first at still in mind.

The first book ended with a bizarre time travel twist, and our heroes emerged into a universe somewhat different from when they'd left it. Of course to them they had known no other existence, and everything was as expected. What Meluch has done so excellently in this book is gently and subtly twist events so that by the end of the book everything is back where it started from. It is the subtlness of this which really appeals. The characters do not realise - as they shouldn't - and if you hadn't recently read the first book in the series, the reader wouldn't either. There is no sudden Duex et Machina, no large jumps, everything proceeds entirely naturally, but then you realise how close it all fits together.

Contrary to the beginning of the first book, the Roman space empire and the US are at war, the League of Earth Nations are arbiters of the terms. Mercy missions exist and are inviolate on both sides for space is every wide and deep. The US has the temporary upper-hand, with the biggest ships (although less of them by far) and with a displacement tech to send them further than Rome can manage. However Rome is building it's own Catapult system to regain the upperhand, something the US wants to stop at all costs. Hence the location of the battleship Merrimack deep in disputed Galactic teritory, and prime opportunity for the Romans to try and bait a trap. This is something two sides can play at however - even if the Captain has little patience for such indirect actions, and would rather stand and fight alongside his crew. After a few reversals the Merrimack encounters something truly alien, and suddenly you know where this is going.

At times, especially towards the beginning, this really feels like the first book of the series, there are some discontinuities as if it were written for more of a chapter book format, but it does all hang together. It is setting up, how events already noted in the first book, came to be. But then through occasional references, you realise that they haven't come to be yet, because history is different to what it was - and at the same time is trending back together. There is also some clever justification for why the space Marines end up being issued with (and trained how to use) the antique swords that were so necessary in the first book. Really technically excellent writing.

The characters are themselves, as they were in the first book. Outward facing, big bold and brash. The US Marines don't take no stick off of anyone, thing or body. The action mostly centers around the captain, John Faracut, and one of the marines way down in the chain of command - the ship's moral officer "Easy" Kerry Blue. The differences between their two love lives, mark out the characterisation in the book, such as it is. All the rest is action, and the pretty good it is too.

A very worthy sequel, better than the first I think. A Series well worth reading, and an author to watch out for. ( )

ZB13