Ace of Aces Books

'A Gathering of Heroes', MAY be the best sword and fantasy novel of all time. A terrific story that you wish could go on and on..., and one that you wish you could be part of. Read the companion novel 'Ingulf the Mad' too, and find out more about this perflexing character.

As many other's, I was also shattered to hear of Mr. Zimmer's untimely death. I remember the Goosebumps that would continually envelope me when reading his books. That to me, was the mark of a great novel...a rare occurrence to this jaded reader of thousands of Fantasy/Sci-Fi books over the last 25 years. A Gathering of Heroes was among his best work, right up there with the wonderfully fabulous Dark Prince & King Chondos' Ride. Only David Gemmell has since written books that can equal Mr. Zimmer's in grandeur. That rare intuitive grasp of human nature & complexities was his forte, & he wielded it with uncanny precision & care. You were thrust into his visions & imagination within the first few pages...& you felt lost & alone when the last page was read & the journey done. I HIGHLY recommend his books to anyone who wants 'Mature', 'Realistic', 'Dark' Fantasy. Except for David Gemmell, there is NO substitute.

I was devastated to read of this author's death. This book ranks second only to "Ender's Game" in my library of favorites. Though hard to find, it is worth the effort.

After stumbling upon "The Lost Prince" and "King Chondos Ride" in a local library I was determined to locate this book. At the time I believed the trilogy unfinished, and desparately desired the outcome for Istvan and Jodos.

Some ten years later, I stumble upon it in a tiny book shop in the middle of nowhere. In those ten years I had managed to purchase only one of the two original novels!

Regardless that I lacked the opening novel, I re-read the KCR, and read for the first time The Gathering of Heroes. The first thing that grabbed my attention was (of course) the extensive list of the main characters at the start of the novel. Paul Edwin Zimmer had already proven that he does not rely on perhaps two or three main characters but a score, and this novel seemed epic even compared to prior efforts.

The next thing I noticed was that while this was a sequel, it was not the direct continuance of the story. It was not long before that fact was long overlooked!

Gripping is hardly the word to describe Paul Edwin Zimmer's work, as the word seems to lack the substance that Paul deserves. Indeed, Paul gives substance in his novel. Every character has a background, and while you do not know the entire background of these some twenty heroes (and at least three or four main enemies!) you certainly get the feeling of a well fleshed character in Paul's mind. The interaction between characters perfectly implies the status it deserves - so many heroes meeting the heroes they aspire to, or other heroes whom "nobody has heard of" regardless of their great deeds and weapons blessed by the Hasturs.
Once these heroes arrive at Rath Tintallain, it is incredibly hard to put this book down. The combat just grows upon itself with the next fight being bigger than the last. And just when you can't believe how enormous that last combat was, another awaits to completely blow your mind away. And then the dyole is summoned. And then the dragons come.

On top of all the combat exhausting the men, they are also forced to endure the songs of the elves, and the box that is kept secret from all but a few in the hidden city of Rath Tintallain. Come learn why it is so secret, and why the Sarlow want it.

From the first page you are thrust into the action. Istvan after a season of campigning for the Airian Empire is weary and is looking forward to period of relaxation. Away from the savage Norians and the armies of Sarlow but it is not to be. Answering urgent summons from the Mystic Hasturs, the mysterious guardians of the world. Istavan finds himself on a wild Elven ride in the company of the greatest heroes of the Island continent of Y'gora. Riding to the aid of a hidden city, which contains a secret that must be protected at all costs. Ranged against them are the dreaded armies of Sarlow augmented by evil sorcerors, dark demons of great power, werewolves and ancient Dragon and his brood. And if that were not enough the heroes must face the trio of warriors that lead this fearsom crew; Svaran the Black, wearer of an armour that is proof against all mystic swords ;Grom Beardless skilled deadly swordsman a match for Istvan himself and Vor halftroll a giant warrior possessing great speed and strength. For you readers who love their heroic fantasy to be dark, uncomprising, intelligently written and leaves you with a sense a wonder at it's epic scope. Then buy this book. Sadly Paul only wrote 5 of these Dark Border books and a few short stories relating to them. Quality not quantity what was mattered unlike a large number of his more verbose contemporaries. His last book is called 'The king who was of old". As I understand it, the executors of his estate are still attempting to find a publisher. Well I for one wish them luck and god speed

I got a copy of this in a second-hand store when I was a kid and I've practically read the covers off. Absolutely magical. I have never read a better imagining of the Cinderella story.

you can not give this book enough stars. this book brings cinderella to the next level very tastefully. thank you to the author for this teenage level.

The book is very good story. The author has done a very good job of telling the story. I have readed this book since 6th grade and now I'm first year in college. I have enjoy this book every time I read it. I recommend it to every one.

I found it! Like one of the other reviewers, I read this book, and re-read it and re-read it, in Elementary school and loved it! The internet and places like Amazon.com have been a god-send for finding those treasures of childhood I thought I'd never see again. This remains to this day my very favorite version of the Cinderella story. Well worth the read no matter how old you are!

Like Robin Grunder's (New York, New York March 1999) review I just saw on this page, I had read this book (from my church library, no less!) when I was about 10-12 years old. I fell in love with it, and it left a marked impression upon me. Sort of "Cinderella at a whole 'nother level." But as a teenager I could not find the book anywhere. As a young adult, I would revert back to childhood books in times of stress (Madeleine L'Engle, Carolyne Keene) and looked for Eleanor's "Glass Slipper" many times to no avail. Then, in my late 30's, when Internet searching became all the rage, I one evening put the title in a search engine and VIOLA! There were several used (collectible) hardback copies available through Amazon.com! ... but I have my used 'library' copy and I'm ecstatic. I'll pass this on to my child's children, who will hopefully love reading as much as I do.

A FEW GOOD MEN:

ROB JENNE - He was a good boy from a backwoods planet - until he met the recruiting officer from the Slammers.

DANNY PRITCHARD - A brilliant officer who had achieved command rank the hard way, through the ranks, he had one fetal flaw - a conscience.
SALLY SCHILLING - She was tough as any man - and far meaner then most.

JOACHIM STEUBEN - A Killer's Killer, some thought him not even human - he was Hammer's special tool.

COLONEL ALOIS HAMMER - He made the Slammers what they were - the meanest, toughest bunch of mercenaries who ever killed for a dollar, or wrecked a world for pay. No one could stand against them.

THIS IS THEIR STORY, THE STORY OF
HAMMER'S SLAMMERS

This book is short stories, starting from when (and why) the Hammer's Slammers were formed to when Colonel Alois Hammer finally came home. These stories show us a little more than later stories of the Hammer himself, a man who is ruthless towards his enemy yet loyal towards his own men (and women). The stories are; But Loyal to His Own, The Butcher's Bill, Under the Hammer, Cultural Conflict, Caught in the Crossfire, Hangman and Standing Down. It also has tiny interludes inbetween the stories that explain a lot about the background of this universe and also has an introduction by Jerry Pournelle.

I first picked up this volume 20 years ago and it left an impression ever since. Drake has a brutal and realistic angle on why men kill for a living, and these stories convey so strongly the cost and responsibility of war, and the way that responsibility is used by competent leaders and abused by beasts and politicians. And most of all, how the soldiers pay the cost.

And it's rocking fun sci-fi too.

This is one of my all time favorite books. David Drake is the author and this is a collection of short stories that started a whole series of books about an elite mercenary outfit called "Hammer's Slammers". This series is an exercise in reading for me as I start off well in the books, always struggle to read in the middle, but am always satisfied with the end result. I have a compulsion to buy these books whenever I find one I don't already have, even though it may take me seemingly forever to get through it.

David Drake takes the struggle of warfare and the soldiers own feelings regarding war giving them life to the reader, while giving it a futuristic setting without loosing the the thrill of war and horror. I rate as a must read military sci-fi.

I read virtually everything Burroughs wrote that I could lay my hands on when I was in my early teens. This one escaped me. Having finally discovered it, even at an advanced age, I can say it is one of the jewels of ERB's work. While I am partial to his series works, there are times when a single volume story is all you want to read. This is a prime candidate.

Written in 1914 and published serially, ERB makes a departure from his plot formula (at least a little) in order to write this tale of ultimate vengeance. The main character, Norman of Torn, aka Prince Richard of England, becomes the prime tool for the revenge of another. There are the usual elements of romance, but in effect this is a novel about knights and sword fights, outlaws versus nobility, chivalry versus lusts. Life was never this black and white, but it makes for good reading. I found the story to be reminiscent of both Ivanhoe and Robin Hood, and well worth the read. P-)

This book shows the dark side of Robin Hood. The main character robs and plunders castles. While the readers know that he is believing he is doing good. This book has various sub plots and the reader is completly entertained by them. This book is a short and quick reader. An average person can sit down and read this whole book in about six hours. This a great book and has all the pages of a great novel. Romance, fighting, and misunderstanding of a good, curl up around the fire place, and read till you are finished type book. I own serval versions and always looking for the books to give to friends.

Although one of Burroughs' greatest works, curiously this book still remains relatively unknown. Set in wild and lawless 13th Century England, "The Outlaw of Torn" details the life of a bloodthirsty outlaw who becomes one of England's noblest heroes. As this outcast from society learns life's lessons about love and war, loyalty and betrayal, and friendship and hate, the reader will be rapidly swept along by Burroughs' masterful storytelling. I've read this book at least two dozen times, and each time it gets better. "The Outlaw of Torn" has my absolute highest recommendation.

Edgar Rice Burroughs is best known for his Tarzan novels and better known for his Mars, Pellucidar and other science-fiction series, but "The Outlaw of Torn" is one of his best pulp fiction yarns. It was actually the second story Burroughs wrote. Apparently the editor at "All-Story," which had published "Tarzan of the Apes," suggested ERB write it and then rejected the story when it was submitted. It was then published in five parts in "New Story Magazine" (January-May 1914), and the first book edition was published in 1927.

Burroughs begins with his standard storytelling device: the author comes across the story of Richard, the lost prince of England and tells it to his readers. Henry III of England insults Sir Jules de Vac, who takes his vengeance by kidnapping young Prince Richard. As Norman, the Outlaw of Torn, the young man becomes the greatest swordsman in England and a fearless outlaw with a price upon his head who raises an army loyal only to him. Of course, although he is ignorant of his noble birth, he is drawn to the lovely Bertrade de Montfort, daughter of the King's brother-in-law, the Earl of Leicester. This romance fits in nicely with the plans of de Vac, who contrives situations in which the king will be responsible for killing his own son. Yes, the ending is predictable, but ERB has a great sense of pacing and you have to remember that he was writing this decades before all of the Errol Flynn movies that would define the swordplay genre.

The obvious comparison for "The Outlaw of Torn" is with Robin Hood, but Burroughs' pulp novel has its own tale to tell. This really is one of his best novels and as an example of the pulp fiction of the early 20th century it is a first-class work. Keep in mind that he tended to do a lot of sequels, and they started to get rather redundant and repetitive (especially in the last half of the Tarzan novels). But "The Outlaw of Torn" stands out because as a historical novel it is unlike pretty much everything else Burroughs wrote. I read every ERB novel I could get my hands on as a kid, and "The Outlaw of Torn," in my 75 cent Ace Paperback edition with the Roy Krenkle cover, has been the one I have re-read the most.

Fiction meets historical fiction in a pleasant departure from what I term "the ERB formula", The Outlaw of Torn takes place during one of the most difficult and violent times in English history. Resulting from hatred, jealousy and the continual struggle for power between King Henry III and Earl Simon De Montfort, the stage is set for a vengeful man to nurture and manipulate a child to become the most feared and ruthless warlord of his time. But, can a man live his life in constant conflict with his true nature? I first read this book in the early seventies and I've re-read it many times. It still remains my all-time favorite book. I'm tempted to send a copy to Hollywood.

This is the book that put Leslie Charteris on the map and made best-sellers of all the previous Saint books in retrospect.

Set shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, this tale of revenge is one of the grimmest, and the certainly the most violent, of all the Saint stories, so that when it was filmed, it was considerably toned down (and all hint of corruption in the New York judiciary removed, of course).

Nevertheless, most Saint fans, including myself, seem to regard it as one of the best (as witness the other reviews). To take just one example: as a synopsis of all the previous Saint books -- vital, if new readers are to understand the story -- the prologue (which takes the form of a letter to the NYPD from Simon's old adversary Chief Inspector Teal of Scotland Yard) is one of the most original ideas I've seen.

Charteris knew New York well, along with its denizens and their culture and language. The characters are drawn with great verve, especially Inspector John Fernack, the various members of the gangland hierarchy, and the mysterious Fay Edwards, who falls in love with Simon at the same time as she is helping him to kill just about everyone she knows.

Above all, Charteris shows himself once again a first-rate story-teller. Gripping from start to finish.

P.S. For a list of -- and discussion of -- all Charteris's Saint books, see my So You'd Like To... Guide.

If you only ever read one saint story ,you will be missing out on some great stuff, but THE SAINT IN NEW YORK would be the one to try . The saint at his best reckless as ever ,but coming very close to getting a set of wings to go with his halo . His way of expression ,english wit to hardend new york thugs is very amusing.Dont confuse this guy with the later tv saint, in this he bumps off the ungodly as quick as they would him ,with the help of gun ,knife and a mysterious female,beautiful but deadly.Trying to free the city from the clutchers of nicely sewn up crime ring,the saint works his way through some of the smaller fish,and gets dangerously closer to the sharp and powerfull jaws of the big fella,but who is the big fella ? GREAT STUFF .

If you only ever read one saint story ,you will be missing out on some great stuff, but THE SAINT IN NEW YORK would be the one to try . The saint at his best reckless as ever ,but coming very close to getting a set of wings to go with his halo . His way of expression ,english wit to hardend new york thugs is very amusing.Dont confuse this guy with the later tv saint, in this he bumps off the ungodly as quick as they would him ,with the help of gun ,knife and a mysterious female,beautiful but deadly.Trying to free the city from the clutchers of nicely sewn up crime ring,the saint works his way through some of the smaller fish,and gets dangerously closer to the sharp and powerfull jaws of the big fella,but who is the big fella ? GREAT STUFF .

When Simon Templar, alias the Saint, is hired to avenge the murder af a millionair's son, he comes to New York to find a totally corrupt system. With impudence only he has, he cheerfully takes on the task of single-handedly cleaning up the City. We see the colder side of his personality when he swears to be completely ruthless after witnessing the mob's impersonal fatal "rides." This book is fast paced with a completely unexpected ending, with no dull spots anywhere. I would recommend it to anybody, even if you are not a Saint fan.

As the other reviewers wrote, the Saint was unusually cold and merciless in this book. Because the enemy was so big, so strong and so merciless; even the Saint was severely cornered several times. But I was glad because he still held his characteristics that made him so charming; impudence, recklessness, sense of humor and sense of justice. I also enjoyed the story very much; well-plotted, fast-paced and thrilling. And the climax was so dramatic! It will be one of the best Saint novels. Highly recommended.

I enjoy historical mysteries as well as fantasies, so this richly detailed portrayal of late Renaissance Venice, with its ancient palazzos, labyrinthine politics and committees, old noble families and a soupçon of magic, very much as the first book in this enjoyable series, is a great read for me.

Nostradamus's resourceful, witty apprentice with attitude, Alfeo Zeno is once again involved in a mystery that is intellectually and physically challenging. As his master's amanuensis, he braves kidnappers and spies and swordsmen and plots and set-ups that may lead to prosperity and renown or to prison and torture. It begins with an old and powerful family with a missing daughter who may be kidnapped or more likely has eloped, who request Nostradamus to find her. Woven into this is a mysterious spy that the Committee of Ten want found. Nostradamus and his apprentice work through ordinary means but with a dab of the supernatural--always careful not to slip into witchcraft and sorcery which could end up with burning at the stake. The supernatural elements are in accordance with the period and not high fantasy stuff, and it's more the little grey cells that are used to solve the mysteries, which are intriguing and involved. And Zeno's personality is fun, fresh and lively.

I hope this series continues, and that fantasy fans and fans of historical mysteries will find these books and enjoy them as much as I.

Everything Dave Duncan writes is wonderful. The only problem, is that once you've caught up with ALL his books, you have to wait for months and months to get a new one. This year we get two, though!

The Alchemist's Code is great. I spent the first two nights I had it doing nothing but reading. One line (with no spoilers) was so good I had to call my husband on a business trip to share it with him.

Alfeo narrates the Alchemist books, and sometimes he talks directly to his readers, which adds a wonderful reflexivity to parts of the book.

Read the books. Duncan can say more in a sentence than I can in a page.

I love fantasies, historical novels, and humor and this book has it all. Duncan also excels at cleverly drawn characters and the ability to keep the story moving. No extraneous detail here (sorry, the huge fantasy volume I read just before this book could have used some editing so I really appreciated the flow of this story) Reading it brought me back to my childhood, reading my father's Rafael Sabatini collection - books that took place in the Italian states. If you enjoyed the first of this series or Duncan's King's Blades series, you should enjoy this one too!

Maestro Nostradamus is many things; he is physician to the Venetian doge, a clairvoyant, an astrologist, and a spell weaver. His reputation is so great that he and his apprentice Alfeo Zeno live in grandeur on the top floor of the Mansion of Alvise Barbolano.

Zuanbattista Sanudo and his wife Eva Morosini come to Nostradamus to ask him to use his clairvoyance skills to locate their missing daughter Graziaa. The Maestro has a vision in his crystal ball; he tells Alfeo to go to a certain place at a certain time in order to find Grazia. He not only finds her, he sees her new husband Danese Dolfin, a gigolo who has done many unsavory things. The Council of Ten including the Doge summons Nostradamus to their meeting place. They direct him to uncover the identity of a spy who is selling secrets to a foreign government. The operative Algol has written letters that were intercepted but are in a code that no one has broken. The Maestro tries to decipher the code, but he realizes he is under magical attack which leads Alfeo to the home of Sanudo; he finds the abode under the spell of a curse. Alfeo tries to lift the curse using magic only to catch the eye of the Chief Inquisitioner whose aide accuses the maestro's apprentice of murder and practicing the black arts.

When one thinks of Dave Duncan, normally fans would think of an entertaining superior fantasist. However, his Alchemist saga (see THE ALCHEMIST'S APPRENTICE) shares the same quality of excellence, but is different with a fantasy flavoring to a historical saga. Readers join the Maestro and his apprentice in trying to figure out who the spy is, why someone the hero knew was murdered, and what object caused the curse. Told by Alfeo, the audience sees through his awed eyes how his master is a Machiavellian wizard who pulls people into his way of thinking.

Harriet Klausner

I like fantasy, I like mysteries, and I like historical novels. The series of which this is the second but not, I hope, the last, manages to combine all three genres and do it very well.

While nobody else seems to have noticed it, both books in the series have an unacknowledged co-author--the ghost of Rex Stout. Nostradamus and his apprentice are their own characters. But they are also Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin transformed to a very different setting. The author has fun slipping in bits from that world along with passing hints at other sources ranging from _The Princess Bride_ to "My Last Duchess." A lot of fun, and some of the best entertainment fiction I have read of late.

I'm not an expert on 16th century Italy, but the historical elements felt right, including a convincing picture of renaissance magical beliefs. I am giving the book four stars not because there is anything wrong with it--so far as I can tell there isn't--but only because I prefer to reserve five stars for books that are not only very good but extraordinary.

I've been reading about baseball for almost 50 years, and for some reason I didn't come across this book until recently. What a life Fred Lieb led! He reported on major league baseball for almost 70 years, most of it in New York City. He knew everybody worth knowing. This book is probably the best baseball book that hardly anyone has heard of (yet). Gehrig was Lieb's best friend from baseball. Lieb was an honorary pallbearer for Babe Ruth -- the only sportswriter so chosen by Ruth's widow. Lieb is in baseball's Hall of Fame. The book is filled with revelations, candid conversations, and reminiscences of many of baseball's greatest stars of its Golden Era. Lieb is the source of many stories that baseball biographers have drawn from. You get the feeling from reading this book that he is an impeccable source. He claims to have originated the phrase "The House That Ruth Built" in an inspired moment. I believe him.

Fred Lieb wrote a gem that will have you referring back again and again. His matter-of-fact, focused writing style is a delight. He was a sports journalist in the 20's and 30's and knew many players, managers, and owners well. He takes sports stars out of the realm of mythology and humanizes their foibles and follies. His tales of Babe Ruth and the chapter about good friend Lou Gehrig is worth the price of the book alone. This is what writing is about! You may even get a few chills when his wife's work is elaborated upon, and how premonitions sometimes come true. You will also get a huge kick out of The Babe's response to her avocation- and the stories about Damon Runyon are fascinating.

This book never gets old or out dated..........Lieb was a great writer and storyteller...........It's more fun reading this than watching some of the guys playing the game today...........Highly recommended...............

Fred Lieb knew the players he talks about personally. Anything written by Fred Lieb about baseball is coming from a true authority on the subject. Baseball has a history unlike any other sport. No other sport can touch it, and in reading about it from Fred Lieb you are getting it from a true master. Do yourself a favor. Buy the book.

Because Fred Lieb saw so many old time players and told about them in such an interesting way. I also thould he was very fair in his comparing of the players abilities.

Banquet continues the adventures of Liam and his Dragon familiar Fanuilh. It takes place a month or two after the events of Wizard's Heir. A priceless jewel is stolen under mysterious circumstances, Liam investigates, bodies start piling up.... It's everything you want in your Mystery-Fantasy crossover! "Fanuilh" and "Wizard's Heir" gave me an entertaining read and impressed me with Hood's clever concept of mixing the Fantasy genre with the Mystery genres of hard-boiled dectective (in Fanuilh) and Sherlock Holmes style (in Wizard's Heir.) In Banquet he blends Fantasy and Agatha Christie style mystery. If that was all there was it would have been good enough. But Hood throws in a shock twist ending that blew me away. A big improvement over the first two books and I LIKED the first two books!

The book was given to me by my friend, he said nothing about it being a mystery, or I wouldn't have read it. But from the first few pages I realized the author had talent, and did'nt even think about as being a mystery until after I was finished. The book was excellent. I reccomend it to any fantasy lover or mystery reader. Wait, I reccomend it to anybody.

This is the third book in Hood's series about Liam Rhenford and his dragon familiar, Faniulh. This story takes place a short two months after Wizard's Heir, just enough time for Liam to get bored. Liam's friend, the Aedile, recommends Liam to widowed Mistress Priscian as a merchant partner. Then a mage shows up at his door to hide from the Wizard's Guild and to go through Tarquin's things. The next morning, a body with his throat cut washes up on Liam's beach. Liam brings the body to the Aedile and finds that Mistress Priscian's priceless family heirloom, the Priscian Jewel, has been stolen. The story catches Liam's interest and he volunteers to investigate the mysterious theft - all of the suspects have a motive, but who did it? In short order, Liam finds himself embroiled in a duel, receiving invitations from rich, bored women, mingling with the "upper crust", hunting down thieves and beggars and trying to keep his houseguest happy!

Another thrilling adventure with Liam and Faniulh! If you love fantasy and mystery, then this is a great series for you. Once again, Daniel Hood uses superb characterization and beautiful detail to bring the land of Southwark to life. Find this book - you will not want to miss it!

I always believed few authors try to mix genres. It is not that it's impossible, or that it doesn't sell. I imagined it was because of the difficulty of writing well in the first place: one should master one genre before attempting to blaze new trails. This series has lifted the blinders from my eyes.

In this story, Liam Rhenford must troll the sewers of society and game with the glittering aristocracy to solve a murder. I've read one other author who does such a good job of combining fantasy and mystery, and that is Glen Cook, whose Garrett series combines fantasy with hard-boiled noir detective fiction. This is far more the gentleman detective, a genre that seems to be entering decline. With Daniel Hood searching out new territory, it can only get better.

Its not that I believed a legitimate honest-to-gosh whodunnit puzzler murder mystery COULDN'T be done in a full-fledged fantasy realm (after all, Randall Garrett came close with his Lord Darcy tales). I just didn't think it WOULD be done. Or at least not well. Daniel Hood has created a series of novels that are both wonderful fantasy and terrific mysteries, complete with first-rate characters. I can't overstate how impressed I am! More more more please!

I loved this book. The characters were real and raw, the plot moved smoothly, and the elegance of the writing made the love story even more touching. I felt like I was transported right into the middle of the story, and I never wanted to put the book down! I highly recommend this novel -- this is some of Wolf's best work. I cried more than once!

Book deserves every 5 star rating it receives

I have read this book 10 times for the last 30 years. Each time is fresh and new. Historically accurate and a darn good yarn. Deserves to be kept on the shelf with "The Daybreakers" by Louis L'mour and "The Bubbling Spring" by Ross Santee.

I first read this in a Reader's Digest Condensed Book. It whetted my desire to read the full length version. Every incident, every character, rings true in a coming of age classic, set in post-Civil War Texas. It is a must-read for all western fans. It is one of my all-time favorites. I always enjoy taking it off the shelf, and indulging in the pure pleasure of following Kid as he journeys from boy to man. There are many great Westerns out there, but none will give you the same feel for the West as this book. Find it, and read it. You'll be glad you did.

This book has it all. Adventure, humor, the dangers and hardships cowboys went through. Love, friendship...

The second book in a series, this space naval courtroom drama nonetheless contains sufficient explanation of what happened in the prior book that it can be read without leaving the reader lost.

Lt. JG Paul Sinclair, legal officer on the starship USS Michaelson by dint of a 2-week elective Academy course, is experiencing some ups and downs. A close friend is being promoted off of his ship, and the too-slick officer who replaces him (who happens to be a high-ranking Admiral's son) is not pulling his own weight. His relationship with his girlfriend's father gets off to a rocky start. And then there's a fatal accident onboard the ship with some questions remaining as to its cause, and Sinclair cannot in good conscience stay silent when he finds some evidence that the investigation into it missed.

There are plenty of space-naval dramas out there, David Weber's Honor Harrington being the best-known example. There are also many realistic courtroom dramas. What's rare is to find a book combining the two genres. In Burden of Proof, Hemry does an excellent job. Of course, there is nothing really requiring this book to be set in space; it could just as easily have been transposed to modern-day Earth in almost every respect, right down to replacing the "Greenspacers" who interfere in a military weapons test with modern-day Greenpeace protesters doing the same thing. But the SF elements are handled ably and well, and do not feel like window-dressing the way they could have in such a book.

The courtroom drama, though it only occurs relatively late in the book, is also handled well. By presenting it from the point of view of the inexperienced Sinclair, the reader gets to learn about elements of legal strategy as Sinclair learns, rather than simply being presented with them as in the average Matlock or Perry Mason episode. Although Sinclair insists that he does not want to become a lawyer, there are signs that his fascination with matters of law may lead him down that path despite himself.

Of all the books I read on the bus on the way to and from GenCon a couple of weeks ago, I think this is the only one for which I will actively seek out other books in the series (which currently contains four books in all). I'm glad that I bothered to pick it up in the dollar store after all.

I devoured this book and its predecessor (_A Just Determination_) in one weekend. They're both excellent.

As I said in my review of the earlier book, John G. Hemry may not have personally invented the genre 'military-SF legal drama', but there can't be too many examples of it out there. And reading these two superbly crafted novels will show you why: if you pay attention to the details, you'll see a lot of expertise lurking unobtrusively in the background. There can't be all that many authors who can write with confidence about the US Navy, the physics of space travel and spaceships, _and_ military law -- let alone keep all that stuff in the background while competently _telling an interesting story_ that doesn't bog down into technical exposition.

I'm not going to tell you a great deal about that story itself, and as with the earlier book, I strongly advise you _not_ to read the cover blurb and other book information if you haven't done so already. In each case, Ace has seen fit to promote the book by giving away things that happen well over a hundred pages in, and I would have enjoyed each of them more if I hadn't known in advance what was going to happen.

I can safely tell you that as this one opens, Paul Sinclair has just made Lieutenant Junior Grade and is still serving aboard the USS _Michaelson_. Again, the first hundred or so pages follow him through his shipboard experiences as we watch him grow and mature as a naval officer.

I can also tell you that early on, there's an extremely well thought out (and, incidentally, extremely funny) sequence involving a protest by an organization called 'Greenspace', who apparently do much the same sorts of things in space as their present-day predecessors do at sea. Hemry's portrayal of the Space Navy's personal and professional responses to these 'hippies' is both hilarious (this is where the meat of the humor is) and accurate (as a measure of Sinclair's assimilation to Navy life); his portrayal of the Greenspacers themselves is a _little_ bit of a caricature, but no one will have any trouble recognizing their real-life counterparts. One of my complaints about Heinlein's mostly-excellent _Starship Troopers_ is that Heinlein sets up and shoots down way too many straw men; Hemry doesn't make that mistake.

(Any actual hippies who read this book should read the narrative and dialogue very carefully. Hemry isn't taking sides at the authorial level; if he's making a sociopolitical point here, it's the one Commander Sykes makes: by all means question assumptions and challenge beliefs -- every society needs people who will do that -- but don't, don't, don't do foolish things that put lives in danger. And if anybody out there is still under the illusion that people in military service are 'fascists', Hemry's books should help to disabuse them of such silliness.)

Otherwise I won't give anything away. This is some of the best recent SF I've read, and I'm looking forward to reading the next Paul Sinclair book (due out in March 2005, I think).

This is a good legal procedural novel. It isn't a whodunnit, more a howcatchhim book. Hemry does a fine job with the naval atmosphere and setting.

The two things keeping this from a 5 star review are:
the exposition is a bit clunky in places -- the exposition doesn't flow smoothly from the characters, it is there to make sure the reader is keeping up. This can be a persistent problem both in the SF genre and in legal stories.

the antagonist seems to lack any redeeming features. It is fairly clear who the antagonist will be within pages of his appearance in the story. It would have been nice to see some redeeming features to flesh him out as a 3D person. As it is, even the people who liked him are doubting their judgment by the end.

An explosion occurs on the galactic cruiser USS Michaelson, killing Chief Petty Officer Asher and destroying much of the Forward Engineering section. While repairs are made, an inquiry into the accident occurs. The investigation team concludes that Asher violated regulations by working solo.

However, legal officer Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Sinclair hears rumors from distraught sailors that they not only mourn the loss of a peer, but they have lost confidence in the leadership as it seems to the crew that a big cover-up happened. Everyone insists that Asher followed orders given by rising superstar Lieutenant Scott Silver the son of a very powerful Rear Admiral. Paul knows that the BURDEN OF PROOF is on him. However, all the JUST DETERMINATION in the galaxy could lead to the destruction of his own career and the end of his relationship with the woman he loves, the daughter of the head of the investigation team because if Paul succeeds it will embarrass the officer he wants as a father-in-law.

John G. Henry has pioneered a new sub-genre with his superb space ship military legal thrillers. As with the first tale (JUST DETERMINATION), BURDEN OF PROOF is more a tour of duty than an action packed tale as the plot focuses on relationships on an outer space vessel. The story line cleverly enables the audience to ride along with the crew and taste the pressure of the vastness of space inside relatively tight quarters, the seemingly endless stretches of time, and the protocol of rank. The legal aspects are brilliantly intertwined within a fantastic relationship military science fiction drama that should promote Mr. Hemry to a best selling admiral.

Harriet Klausner

With Burden of Proof, the follow-up novel to A Just Determination, John G. Hemry cements his position as the best writer of legalistic military science fiction working today. Drawing on his own Naval career, Hemry brings the world of the United States Space Navy of 2100 to vivid life, populating it with some of the most human, realistic, vibrant characters I've ever been introduced to. Paul Sinclair, recently promoted from Ensign to Lieutenant Junior Grade, is a remarkable hero. Committed and hard-working, he cares only about doing his job to the best of his ability and he constantly chides himself for his own small mistakes. While he struggles to live up to the expectations of some of his senior officers, he is on the best of terms with most of his fellow junior officers and the ranks of enlisted men and women, actively seeking the advice of those around him and always acting in the most thoughtful, ethical of ways.

Things are going pretty well for Paul. His relationship with Jen Shen remains strong, even though she now serves on a different ship, and he has finally witnessed a return to normalcy after his critical involvement in the court-martial trial of his previous captain. Unfortunately for Paul, that two-week legal training course he took early in his career is about to come back and bite him once again.

I love the opening of this novel, as it features the disruption of a test firing mission by protestors. In a remarkable scene, Greenspacers fly in and launch themselves in to the target zone in individual pods, forcing Sinclair's ship, the Michaelson, to pick them up one by one and take them back to port. Soon thereafter, most unexpectedly, an explosion rocks the ship and takes out most of Forward Engineering. With the chief engineer missing in action and the fire suppression system not working, Sinclair takes it upon himself to lead the dangerous fire-fighting mission in to the affected area. It soon becomes clear that Chief Asher died in the explosion, and an investigation concludes that Asher caused the disaster by working on a critical piece of equipment alone - a clear violation of Navy policy. The man in charge of that investigation just so happens to be the father of Jen Shen, a man who has already made it clear that he finds Sinclair unworthy of his daughter's affection. The official report actually blames Paul - indirectly - for the tragedy, but the most galling thing of all is the awarding of a medal to Lieutenant Silver, the new replacement for Paul's best buddy on the ship. Anyone with eyes can see that Silver gets by on his personal charm alone while foisting all of his work on his subordinates (including Sinclair), and Silver was particularly useless at the time of the explosion.

Soon, information reaches Paul's ears that casts the official report's conclusions in doubt, and Sinclair is anxious to clear the name of Chief Asher and see that justice is done. The focus of attention quickly becomes Lieutenant Silver, putting Sinclair in a tough position. If he recommends court-martial proceedings against Silver based on his growing evidence, some will question whether he is trying to make Silver the scapegoat in order to deflect the doubts cast upon his own performance. There's another tiny little matter to consider, as well - Lieutenant Silver just happens to be the son of a powerful vice admiral. Once again, Sinclair is forced to make a tough choice that could threaten his reputation and Naval career - not to mention his relationship with Jen Shen, as her father will of course be called to testify for the defense.

The case against Silver is far from a slam-dunk because virtually all of the evidence is circumstantial. Clearly, though, that evidence points to Silver's wrongdoing. As in A Just Determination, the climax of the novel plays out in a military courtroom. It is here that Hemry's incredible skills at characterization really come to the fore, as this is by no means a boring courtroom drama.

Hemry has done the impossible and actually produced a novel more exciting, more engrossing, and more impressive than A Just Determination. I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that Hemry is the best science fiction writer working today. No other author manages to hook me mind, body, and soul from the very first page, and no other author creates characters who become such an integral part of my life. The first hundred pages are quite telling, as Hemry spends all of that initial time describing Sinclair's performance on the job and his interaction with friends and fellow officers. Only when the reader is firmly grounded in Sinclair's character and the nature of life aboard a Space Navy vessel does the central action of the novel, namely the explosion, take place. It's a picture perfect approach to making this legalistic science fiction thriller such an engrossing, addictive reading experience.