Tom Rogneby

Informative and Intriguing

Revisado: 12-31-20

Spymaster follows the career and exploits of Sergei Kondrashev as he wended his way through the different departments and intrigues of Soviet state security between the end of World War II and the fall of the Soviet Union. We hear about everything from the subversion of staff at the American embassy in Moscow to the suppression of anti-Communist movements in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The author's obvious personal connection with Kondrashev, as well as his own experience as Kondrashev's competitor in the CIA, gives Spymaster a seasoned, well thought out perspective on the shadowy workings behind the scenes in some of the most important bits of modern European and global history.

Bronson Pinchot is a master storyteller, and his narration of Spymaster was just another example of his art. His pacing is, as always, in that sweet spot of not too fast, but not too slow. He does an excellent job of keeping the listener's attention and helping to visualize the scenes and people that flow through the book.

If you're interested in true-life spy-versus-spy stories, or are just a history buff who needs to fill in some blanks about the Cold War, I think you'll enjoy Spymaster.

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Intriguing exploration of a character

Revisado: 06-12-20

We first met Andien Broxin on Kublar in Legionnaire, the first book in the series, and the character became more and more important to the series in later books. She’s tough, talented, and dedicated to her mission. Forget Nothing takes us back to when Andien was an officer in the Republic Marines. This female warrior is capable, but believable. Yes, she kicks ass and leads from the front, but she’s not a cartoonish GI Jane who beats up grown men and has a pithy comment to spit out over their prostrate bodies.

Meyers and Anspach wrote this character in a way that reminds me of the best leaders I have known, regardless of their gender. She pushes herself constantly, but the characters has limits that push back. She’s experienced, but has things to learn as the story goes on. She’s brave, but is written in a way that you can feel her overcoming the shock and fear of combat.

The other character that stood out in the story was Gunny O’Neill. If you’ve ever known an old, crusty NCO who was a master at motivating his troops with sharp comments and wry wit, you’ll recognize him immediately. I laughed long and hard at some of his absolutely genius dialogue. I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve heard some, but not all, of it before, because it’s been directed at me.

Forget Nothing is well-paced, and Khristine Hvam’s narration is almost 100% spot on. The story flows through several sequences that flesh out Andien Broxin as a person and an officer, then rushes into several excellent combat sequences. The character is allowed to make mistakes, then struggle to overcome them.

If you’ve enjoyed the other books in Galaxy’s Edge, I think you’ll enjoy how the authors filled out this character and gave us a good understanding of her backstory and how she’s put together. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Andien.

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Two Books in One

Revisado: 04-14-20

Gods and Legionnaires is really two books in one.  The first part is told from the perspective of Crometheus, a Savage marine who was part of the conquering force at New Vega.  In the second part, Tyrus Rechs puts the first volunteers to The Legion through a crucible designed to weed out the weak and perfect the strong.

In the "Gods" part of the book, we learn more about the Savages.  Crometheus delves into his own history and how it intertwines with the Uplifted, as they call themselves.  The tale is reminiscent of Imperator, which dealt with the origins of Goth Sullus.  The authors crank it up to eleven here, though. 

There is some action as the Savages continue their crusade to conquer the known galaxy, but most of the story occurs in the main character's head.  You definitely have to pay attention to the story as it unfolds, because it wraps around itself at several points.  

"Legionnaires" follows a group of recruits as they go through Tyrus Rechs' version of boot-camp, Ranger indoctrination, and hourly gut-checks.  Characters from the battle of New Vega return, but they're joined by new faces that join them in the grueling training put on by the galaxy's supreme warrior.  

Stephen Lang's narration is very good.  His telling of the almost stream of consciousness "Gods" part of the book is excellent.  We already know he can narrate an action scene, so seeing him deal with the psychology and inner voices of all of the characters in Gods and Legionnaires was a treat.

This is the middle book of a trilogy, so we know where they came from and we know they're going somewhere.  Gods and Legionnaires is a great way to spend a few days trying to map out the road between those two places.

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The Savages have come in from the dark

Revisado: 03-03-20

We’ve read about the Savage Wars in the other Galaxy’s Edge books. It’s normally talked about in hushed tones, and we learned how Savages impacted Tyrus Rechs and Goth Sullus.

Now, Anspach and Cole bring us to the first true battle in the Savage Wars. Savage Wars Book 1 introduces us to the galaxy in the time after the diaspora from Earth, but before the founding of the Republic. Mankind is splintered and only works together in the most academic sense of the word. We get to see a titanic battle to retake a planet from the Savages and glimpses of the adventures to come.

The action is fast paced and constant throughout this yarn. A new cast of characters just as engaging as Chuun and Ford fill out the story. There are a few side plots that slow things down and make you think, but I found myself staying in the truck to listen to the end of a chapter several times. I didn’t want to go all night without finding out what happened next.

Stephen Lang did an excellent job narrating Savage Wars. He easily changed his cadence, tone, and vocalizations to match the story and characters.

If you’ve gone as far out on Galaxy’s Edge as you think you can, take a breath, close your eyes, and step into the Savage Wars.

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Interesting and entertaining

Revisado: 02-12-20

Charles Brandt did a masterful job of mixing quotes from Frank Sheeran's discussion of his life with historical facts to make The Irishman / I Heard You Paint Housesinto an interesting living history lesson on the American underworld in the second half of the 20th Century.

The book covers Sheeran's life, starting with his youth in Depression-era Philadelphia, through his service in World War II, and his career as a soldier in organized crime and the Teamsters.  We get to meet people like Russ Bufalino and, of course, Jimmy Hoffa.

The author spends quite a bit of time humanizing his subject, which makes his crimes even more shocking when they are discussed.  Sheeran goes into detail about his deeds, explaining how he would approach and eliminate his targets, how crimes were planned and executed, and how the syndicates controlled government, business, and the unions.

If you're looking for an insider's look at crime and the people who live in its world, this one is a great source.

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A tense, character-driven story

Revisado: 02-02-20

It's not often that the umpteenth book in a series can be read without having to go back and read the rest of the series, but The Best of Us is that rare gem.  It's set in the Galaxy's Edge universe, exploring events hinted at by Tyrus Rex and Goth Sullus, but it doesn't depend on the other Galaxy's Edge books to stand on its own and shine.

Traviss takes us back to the collapse of the United States and introduces us to what could be the founders of the world Jason Anspach and Nick Cole created for us in Legionnaire and it sequels.  She paints a bleak picture of a future in which our world is on the brink of starvation and dissolution, but also has sparks of hope.

This tense, tightly woven tapestry is set in rural America a decade or so after bio-terrorism and nuclear holocaust brought civilization to its knees.  Her characters strive toward the same goal, but the story's conflict arises when they try to get to it using vastly different means.

Where Galaxy's Edge is wonderful military science fiction highlighted with political and heist subplots, The Best of Us is entirely driven by Traviss' characters and how they deal with life, the past, and their own futures.  There is the old soldier and the farmer, trying to keep their folks safe and together.  The author also introduces us to managers and scientists who have been shielded by the increasingly harsh conditions outside their bubble.  Intermixed with all of this is Solomon, an artificial intelligence that tries to guide all of them toward a better tomorrow.

The plot does not race toward its conclusion. This is a book that takes its time, letting us get to know the characters.  Fred Tatascoire did a good job giving all of them voices and painting their pictures through words, tone, and pacing.

Whether or not you've enjoyed the other Galaxy's Edge books, The Best of Us will make for great reading or listening.

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An excellent start to Season 2 of Galaxy's Edge

Revisado: 02-02-20

Takeover is set in the aftermath of the death of Goth Sullus and the Republic. The stories of Carter, a former Legionnaire, and Bowie, a former spy, intertwine as their new employer tries to wrest control of Kublar from what’s left of Republic forces.

Carter’s story is pure military fiction. Raids, battles, and gunfights burn through his tale. Any reader who enjoys run-and-gun fiction will get their money’s worth just from Carter.

The plot of Bowie’s exploits is more understated, but just as riveting. This is pure cloak-and-dagger storytelling, and it’s done masterfully. There’s a lot of action here, but it’s short and violent when compared to Carter’s firehose of non-stop combat.

Both stories are done by masters of the art. The plots flow beautifully, and I found myself glued to Takeover as Ray Porter read it to me. His narration was spot on, changing tone and cadence when switching between the two plot lines.

If you’ve enjoyed the first season of Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll love Takeover’s introduction to Season Two.

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A fun romp that sucks you in and holds on tight

Revisado: 09-23-19

Sarah Hoyt’s Darkship Thieves is a fun romp that sucks you in and holds on tight. I started out reading a bound copy I purchased from the author, but liked it so much I sprang for the audiobook so I could listen during my commute.

If you’re a fan of Heinlein, you’ll enjoy this book. It is part Friday, part I Shall Fear No Evil, and part excellent world building and storytelling. Hoyt’s attention to details in her settings and characters comes through in three dimensional Technicolor, and I found myself sitting in the car to listen to the end of a chapter more than once. The story has space opera, intrigue, and future history, all of which kept my attention.

Kymberly Dakin was an excellent choice to give voice to the main character, who narrates the entire book. She did an impressive job of conveying the world and characters that Mrs. Hoyt created.

Because this is the first book in a series, the author had to spend quite a bit of time describing the word in which it happens. Some readers will find this to be a bit of a drag on the plot, but the world that Hoyt builds is intricate and well filled out. Otherwise, the plot moves along at a good clip.

Like I said, this reminds me a lot of Heinlein’s later works, and so the story is probably a bit too adult for readers under 15 or so. There is some language, but it’s not gratuitous.

I’ve packed the sequel, Darkship Renegades, for a business trip, and I can’t wait to get started. I think that once you give Darkship Thieves a try, you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

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Grabs you early on and doesn't let go!

Revisado: 09-01-19

I attended Sarah Hoyt's reading of the first chapter of this book a couple of years ago at LibertyCon, and I'm very happy to see how it came together into a full length novel.  Julie is expertly painted as a young mother desperately searching for her child.  Between the writing and exceptional narration by Bailey Carr, the listener feels her anguish, anger, and determination in every word.

Guardian moves quickly, only occasionally slowing down to let you catch your breath.  Where MHI stories usually center around a team of people with a few principle heroes, Julie spends the vast majority of the story on her own, with not much more than her wits and a gun to aid her in her search.  Hoyt and Correia used this to develop her as a character, and I hope that they continue this in more MHI novels.

Ms. Carr's narration is excellent.  Her voice and pacing keep the listener riveted as the plot moves along.  She was a perfect fit for Julie Shackleford.

Guardian is definitely a great addition to the MHI series and makes for a wonderful listen during morning commutes and long summer evenings.

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An excellent adaptation of an excellent book

Revisado: 07-18-19

I discovered About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior as a private in 1990. I saw Colonel Hackworth do an interview to support the book, and I was fascinated by his quiet demeanor as he talked about a lifetime of service and combat. When I saw the book on display at the PX, I scooped it up and devoured it. It's been on my "Read This Often" reading list ever since.

About Face is a memoir, but it's one that's been tempered with the viewpoints of many of the people it talks about. Colonel Hackworth and Julie Sherman did a good job of coordinating his recollections with those of his friends and comrades from 3 decades of Army life. The book is made up of in-depth discussions of Hackworth's views on politics, the military, and leadership, all punctuated by mesmerizing tales of combat and the men he served with.

The final chapter, in which Hackworth talked about his views of the United States and her military circa 1988, is, to me, the most interesting of all. When the authors wrote those words, we were on the brink of the Berlin Wall falling, but were still poised for World War III starting somewhere in the Fulda Gap. The First Gulf War, Somalia, the Balkan War, 9/11, and the War on Terror were still in the future. Hackworth's insights are a remarkable look back at where we were. They lead me to look at where we've come and how the Reagan military he discusses were and were not prepared for the world we fell into in the years after his writing.

The narration by John Pruden is spot on. The book is liberally salted with military jargon, and it was very rare that it wasn't used or pronounced correctly. Pruden paced the story, over 40 hours long, very well. You could hear the emotion come through where it was appropriate, and his characterizations during the combat sequences painted a vivid picture.

If you already know Hackworth and Sherman, you'll enjoy this opportunity to experience this seminal work again. If you haven't read About Face or any of Colonel Hackworth and Ms. Sherman's other works and you enjoy good living history, you're in for a treat.

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