Book Reviews

                      By David Froude

Wing Commander : Fleet Action
Author : William R. Forstchen

War in space between the Confederation and the Kilrathi Empire. An
epic story of fighting in space, diplomacy and treachery. The
Confederation has turned the tide of the war and are becoming
increasingly successful with behind-the-lines raids with the
destruction of the Kilrathi spaceships and star bases.

The Kilrathi need a breathing space to construct their secret
fleet, which when complete will win the war for the Kilrathi. A
solution is to press for peace and then when the Confederacy has
disarmed, strike and conquer humanity.

The democratic Confederacy falls for it and the military is stood
down.  Fortunately there are a few that do not trust these soft
words, who must fight a delaying action to buy time with their
lives to make the Confederation ready for the final battle.

This is an excellent science fiction story that ranges over light
years of space.

Rating: Excellent. One of the best "Space" Science Fiction stories
I have read for some time.

The computer game "Wing Commander" supplies the background world
in which "Fleet Action" is set. The inside cover identifies that
there are two other novels in the Wing Commander series, each
written by different authors.

"Fleet Action" was first published in the USA in 1994.




@~Next, Borders of Infinity.

Borders of Infinity

Author: Lois McMasters

This book contains 3 episodes from the career of Miles Vorkosigan,
an unpredictable, undersized, undercover agent who tackles
problems of cosmic proportions!

In the first, "The Mountains of the Morning", he is sent to
administer justice in a back-country murder case.

In the second, "Labyrinth", he is on the corrupt planet of
Jackson's Hole where he attempts to pick up a defecting scientist,
gets fed to a monster and ends up recruiting her.

In the third story, he turns mole to rescue an army leader from
the opalescent dome of Dogoola IV Top Security Prison.


There is at least one other book in this series and the chronology
of the three tales in "Borders of Infinity" is correct but are
three episodes with Miles at age 20, 23 and 24 years. In another
of the series his adventures after the "Mountains of Morning" are
covered in "The Vor Game". Each story is stand-alone and complete
by itself although there are oblique references to other
adventures.

The stories contain humour, mystery and adventure and are worth
reading.

Rating: VG

"Borders of Infinity" was first published in the USA in 1989 and
in the UK by Pan Books.




@~And finally, The Vor Game
The Vor Game

Author: Lois McMasters

This is another episode from the career of Miles Vorkosigan, an
unpredictable, undersized, undercover agent who tackles problems
of cosmic proportions!

The story commences with Ensign Miles Vorkosigan's first military
assignment.  Young Miles seems to attract trouble but usually
manages to overcome these "minor" problems. This adventure takes
place with Miles aged 20 shortly after the adventure in "Mountains
of the Morning" recorded in a previous volume "Borders of
Infinity", reviewed above.

"The Vor Game" is stand-alone and complete by itself although
there are oblique references to other adventures.

This is an action packed tale which ranges from base duty in a
northern outpost on his home planet to other systems and
hegemonies. Miles falls from one disaster to another, usually
manages to come out on top. His Emperor has got himself in a fix
and it is up to Miles to extricate him with a little help from his
friends, the Free Dengarii Mercenaries. If his Emperor dies, the
new Emperor will be Miles, which to Miles' eyes could be a fate
worse than death.  As a side issue he has to prevent an
interstellar war if he can.

This author employs a rare wit in his tales of Miles and has
written a very enjoyable adventure. A book which is difficult to
put down until the last word is read.

Rating: excellent.

"The Vor Game" was first published in the USA in 1990 and in the
UK in 1993 by Pan Books.



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