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Genellan: Earth Siege | Rating | |
| A | |||
| Scott G. Gier | |||
| Series | Related Books | ||
| Genellan | Genellan: Planetfall, Genellan: In the Shadow of the Moon, Genellan: First Victory, Genellan: Earth Siege | ||
The ravening Ulaggi have determined the location of Earth. An invasion is inevitable. And humanity's current fleets and system defenses are simply not up to the job of protecting the planet. Worse, the disparate governments are too busy fueding - when they're not making open war - to be able to make a decent defense. Can Sharl Buccari be the one to get the human leaders to cooperate? Her victories in battle and several successful ventures with aliens have elevated her past hero and into nearly legendary status. If anyone can do it, she can. But is it really a burden she can bear? And does she even want to?
This book starts right where the last one left off. The author includes a quick summary of how and why marines got stranded behind enemy lines, and of the imperative to return to Earth, true. But it could hardly be called extensive. It gives readers the more important facts but little depth. Gier relies on readers being familiar with the previous books. This isn't bad, mind you; plenty of other books do the same. But it's something to keep in mind. And I can hardly blame him, here, either. Unlike the first three volumes, Earth Siege is self-published. It's unlikely anyone but those who are already fans will find this book at Third Millenium Publishing.
The Genellan series continues to get more focused, and better for it. It is not just the main plot of this book, it is almost the only plot. The only subplot that the author takes any time with consists of Quinn's experience with the Ulaggi as a captive. Through her we learn a great deal about the aliens - their history, their motivations and drives, their internal politics. And this in turn helps make the conflict all the more believable. No longer are the Ulaggi faceless aliens who kill for no reason. Readers may not like or believe the reason, or think it's a good one, but it's a reason - something that was very much lacking in the last few books.
Also pleasantly different is that tactics of battle continue to change. With the new discoveries the kones are making regarding hyperlight physics, and with the more advanced (or at the least more experienced) Ulaggi to demonstrate certain techniques, the allied way of fighting ship-to-ship continues to evolve. It's a nice change from most settings, where the author figures out the metaphysics and how they can be used, and they're utilized to their full potential right from the start.
The space battles themselves are also very nicely choreographed. They lack some of the intensity of, for instance, the Honor Harrington novels, where readers are on the edges of their seats and biting their nails from the dramatic tension. But Gier has a style all their own, and it works well.
Lastly, the political scheming that arises from the human adoration of Buccari is more believable than it was previously. A large part of that is because the most unlikable characters are usually offscreen. Their motives can thus be explained without being overblown.
I did, however, have two problems with the novel. The first, simply put, is that Buccari has either been the cause of or at least present at every human victory and major success. The likelihood of this stretches credibility. Luckily, not to the breaking point, and her reluctance to use the power her reputation has given her mitigates much of its effect. The other problem I had is more like a nit. The Ulaggi are descibed as far older than humanity, and it is explicitly stated that they are not just resting on their laurels - they are still exploring the frontiers of the galaxy as well as of science. So why aren't they much more advanced than they are? Internal strife can't be the complete explanation, not if, "ancient were the Ulaggi before the ancestors of man walked upright."
But overall, I loved this book. It's pretty clear that Gier wrote the ending very carefully and deliberately so that he could either continue the series or leave it where it lies, as he determines feasible. But it works. It can be continued, and it can end right where it does. Either way, this is a splendid addition to the Genellan series. And if you've read the first three books, I highly recommend you buy this one. I doubt you'll be disappointed.
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