3 books stretched out to 5
Let me say right off that my 2-star review is for the series, not for this book alone. This book, and the second book in the series, are both 5-star books. They're tightly plotted, intricate, fast-moving, and impossible to put down.
Books 3 to 5, however, are one good book stretched out to fill three covers. In each, I read on while wondering when something relevant was going to happen. Meaningless subplots and irrelevant characters take over, and we are given hints of excitement to come before being bogged down in more subplots. I must admit that I skimmed 300 pages of the fifth book, finding nothing relevant in them.
But the worst was yet to come. Having built expectation for five books toward the ultimate confrontation between the main protagonist and the main antagonist, the authors betray their readers by denying them that confrontation in order to provide a reason for writing future books. We are expected to be satisfied with the pair trading a few weak phrases before the series ends with a whimper.
I've rarely seen a series start with such promise, only to end in such disappointment.
Best Space Opera EVER
If anyone thinks this series is not well written or thought out, they apparently did not read the books but only skimmed them. I have read all 5 books 4 or 5 times already, and will again I am sure. This is a must have series for any serious science fiction reader. I think most hard core sci fi devotees would love the writing. Some neo-sci fi readers may not enjoy it as much because it is very technical in places, very detailed in others.
I will not delve into the storyline except to say there is intrigue, betrayal and surprise around every corner and with each turn of the page. Yes characters get killed. This is not a happy "up" series. It is very real and hits you hard with the emotions it evokes. I found myself caring greatly for all of the characters in the book, except for Eusabian of course. He is one evil person.
I do agree it is very difficult to find all of the books in one place. I even wrote to Sherwood Smith at one point to find out if the final book was written a number of years back. (He answered my e-mail within a day or two by the way). A re-issue would be great. If more people could find it, more people would fall in love with the series.
Dunnett-style space opera
.... Well this is not young adult fiction but it's the best space opera I have ever read : funny, exciting, intelligent. The characterization is very good, and if characters are not exactly what they appear at first sight, there are quite enough clues for the carefull reader, and it's part of what makes the books so vivid and intelligent.The only problem with this series is how ridiculously difficult it is to get all 5 of these books. A reissue would be nice, a book 6 even nicer - book 5 wrapps up almost everything, but there is definite room for another sequel.
Original Space Opera with High Style
Jerrode Eusabian of Dol'jhar has waited twenty years to complete his vengeance against Gelasaar hai-Arkad, the Panarch of the Thousand Suns. Eusabian's takeover goes according to plan until Gelasaar's wastrel third son, Brandon, commits the unthinkable, unforgivable sin of refusing to show up for his own coming-of-age ceremony, where Eusabian planned to have him killed. With both his brothers dead and Gelasaar captured, Brandon -- a drunken womanizer and naval academy washout -- becomes the Panarchy's last hope. Thus begins a vast and wonderful original space opera. Smith and Trowbridge have gone beyond the usual, thinly created, loosely imagined trappings of an interstellar society to create a fully realized political, social, economic and military system. It takes a little time to get into this series because of the complexity of the setting, but readers will be richly rewarded for their effort. The characters are deliciously complex, headed up by the implacable villain Eusabian, the unpredictable Prince Brandon, and the cold, inscrutable Rifter captain Vi'ya. The space battles are the best I have ever read, making great use of relativistic possibilities. The alien species of the Kelly, the Eya'a, and the Ur are more than humans-in-costume or afterthought set decoration, which was a pleasant surprise. The action is gripping, hair-raising, edge-of-your-seat as Brandon is harried across space, an unlikely hero in improbable company. More, it's laugh aloud *funny* in places -- something else that was a nice surprise. Kudos to Smith and Trowbridge. This is how space opera should be done.
Some brilliant new ideas
This series as a whole was wonderful. From an exotic and well thought out interstellar political system, to the spectacular space battles (THE most realistic in literature, with ships actually using the possibilities offered by realativity to the fullest, and AWESOME space marines!) While not a classic I certainly think it worth a read, if only for the wealth of original ideas.
