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Avg. Rating: 4
Pointless Civil War
The picture I got from the setting backdrop was that a pointless civil war broke out between Earth and it's colonies during Scott St. Andrew's first year of military training. No real bad guys; merely a war of involving distribution of wealth between world government, colonies, and corporations.
After finishing the novel, I'm not sure which side I'd root for, or even if there is much of a difference between sides, much like the United States own Democrat and Republican parties. As far as the reasons behind the war, they are nebulous and largely unexplained.
As for the main character, Scott St. Andrew is no Miles Vorkosigan (Bjold). Heck, he's no Honor Harrington (Weber). He comes across as painfully earnest, self-righteous in his desire for self-improvement, the guy who sits in the front in class and keeps asking questions everyone isn't interested in. Scott is enmeshed in emotional tragedies, but Weaver writes how he's numb, and they don't touch him. As a reader, they didn't touch me, either. I found myself liking the foil character Halitov way more than St. Andrews, because his character was more developed.
Overall, a fast paced sci-fi military war novel with a main character who follows orders and doesn't think too much about them. Ok if you like the genre.
Very well done. Recommended!
Colonist Scott St. Andrew knows that the only route off his poisonous rock of a home planet is the elite South Point Military Academy on the moon called Exeter. He must complete the military's most grueling training program in order to become an officer in the Guard Corps of the Terran Alliance. But like all born on his miner planet, he has a genetic defect that shows plainly in the form of a birthmark on his face. This mark makes him the target of ridicule and ritual hazing by his classmates.
Long standing colonial resentments against the Alliance erupt into violent open rebellion. Cadet St. Andrew is forced to choose a side to die for. He is sent into deep-space combat long before his training is complete. He must survive the deadly "conditioning" process of a vanished alien race. Those with St. Andrew's birthmark get an extra advantage from all the others. But something happens during his "conditioning" and side effects happen.
**** Here is a word of warning for everyone...this book has no closure. Make sure you have all three books in this trilogy BEFORE you begin reading it! I wish someone had warned me before I began it. As for the story, plots, and characters, they are very well done. The author seems to have a natural talent at making the characters seem alive! Readers see everything through the eyes of St. Andrew and his loyalty to "the Code". The action begins on the very first page and never ends. Wonderful story thus far. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
War is hell but this is a good first novel
For Scott St Andrew the only way off his home world is to join the military where he can get an education, see the universe and possibly end up as a commissioned officer. What he doesn't count on is war breaking out between earth and the colonies while he is still in his first year of training. This forces his superiors to rush the students through a "conditioning" process which turns them into super-soldiers.Unfortunately for Scott the process was bungled while he was going through it and much of this book explores the consequences of mistakes and explores themes of justice and loyalty. This is an easy to read book and Scott is a likeable character. Even, if like me, you aren't normally into military books this is still a good quick read that easily carries you through to the end of story. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 in this series REBELS IN ARMS.
A conflict of loyalties
Scott St. Andrew is a cadet in the elite South Point Military Academy where he is training to become an officer in the Seven Systems Guard Corps. Scott and his brother Jarrett entered the academy to escape the mines on their home colony of Gatewood-Callista, but Scott is a gennyboy (someone with a genetic defect) and is considered unworthy to be there by many of the other cadets.When war breaks out between the Earth Alliances and the colonies, choices have to be made, but Scott believes whole heartedly in the Code and does not want to break it even to support the colony that is his homeworld. Circumstances overtake him however, and he is forced to undergo the Racinian conditioning three years ahead of schedule so that he can fight in the war. When Exeter is invaded and the academy taken, Scott and a number of other cadets make a break for it. In the process, many of them are killed but Scott, Paul, Halitov and others steal a ship and escape. Upon landing at a base on a far colony, Scott is summarily promoted to 2nd lieutenant and thrown into the deep. He is given troops and a mission to perform, which he does despite a mutiny. Then he is promoted again! Scott is bewildered. One year on from joining the academy, he is a captain and leading men into battle despite his fears and insecurities. This is an action packed and fast paced book. A little too fast in my opinion. From cadet to captain in less than a year? The book felt very rushed... good, but rushed. This one has more action within its pages than perhaps three normal books and the promotion thing stretches believability too far. If you can ignore the tempo of promotions, which you can if you like mil sci-fi as much as I do, you will fing this one well worth buying. :¬) Mark E. Ccooper
Warrior Within (ISBN0954512200)
A Tale of Conflicting Loyalties
Brothers In Arms (2001) is the first SF novel in the In Arms series. South Point Academy is a colonial institution established by the Seven Systems Guard Corps. Relations between the Seven Systems Alliance and Terra has been steadily deteriorating and the Guard Corps foresees the need for many more officers with the anticipated onset of war. Exeter was chosen as the site of the Academy due to the extensive ruins left by the alien Racinians.
Scott St. Andrew is a colonist from Gatewood-Callista who has entered the Academy to escape the mines. He and his brother Jarret have been assigned to the same squad under Squad Sergeant Judiah Pope, a second year cadet. Scott is despised by his squad mates as a genny, the bearer of a birth mark that indicates that he has the mutated genes resulting from a virus infection several generations earlier.
In this novel, someone cuts the line that Scott is using to rappel down a cliff. Although saved by Pope with a anti-gravity gun, another of his squadmates, Roolsin Halitov, tries to have him kicked out for the incident, but is thwarted by the evidence of the cut rope. Halitov, also from Gatewood-Callista, is determined to get rid of Scott because of his low scores and unimpressive performance.
After they return to the barracks, Halitov attacks Scott but is driven off by two other squadmates, Dina Anne Forrest and Paul Beauregard. Since the attack was observed by the barracks surveillance devices, Pope punishes Halitov by placing Scott in his charge, so that both will graduate from the Academy or wash out together. Later Jarret is beaten by other cadets because he defends his brother.
This novel tells the story of Scott as he learns to be a soldier and a leader of soldiers. When war breaks out between the Seven Systems and the Terran Alliances, he is placed in command of a unit and gains actual experience in combat. He is by no means an ideal officer, but learns from his mistakes.
This novel is loosely based on the circumstances among US Army officers prior to the Civil War. The West Point graduates from the South were faced with conflicting loyalties and many later found themselves facing their former classmates in battle. However, Scott faces a further conflict between opposing forces within the Seven Systems Alliance itself.
This story also explores the advantages and drawbacks of a conditioning process developed by the Racinians which provides a degree of control of the laws of nature, even to the extent of countering gravity. While he has some superhuman capabilities, there are unforeseen consequences.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys Combat SF tales.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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