- Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Baen Books; New edition edition (1 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 074348830X
- ISBN-13: 978-0743488303
- Product Dimensions: 17.1 x 10.5 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,460,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Drake is one of the most gifted users of historical and military raw materials at work today."
Product Description
A prime volume of best-selling author David Drake explores a future world where the police have cameras watching everybody, everywhere, 24-7...and introduces Lacey, the man who watches the watchmen. Then Drake segues to a very different, but no less foreboding future where the Fleet preserves the peace in the galaxy-in theory, at least, and at a cost which is extremely high, and not just in money or even in lives. And much more, as the reader is taken on a guided tour of the many worlds of David Drake...a tour in which the luxuries are few, the gritty realism is ever-present, and the excitement never stops
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Overall not a bad compilation of David Drake short stories. Like his hammers slammers books? Then this may be for you. I like the "fleet" stories the best, very good, I would give them 4 stars, the rest are varied I would give them 3-4 stars each.
Not as good as his best writing, not as bad as his worst!
Andy
Not as good as his best writing, not as bad as his worst!
Andy
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Grim But Good
14 Feb 2003
Format:Hardcover
I would usually read a book like this in one or two sittings, but had to break this one up in daily readings over a week due to the relentlessly "Grimmer Than Hell" tone of the stories. Not that I didn't enjoy the book but just found I enjoyed it better in smaller doses. I mainly know David Drake's work through "The General" series, so it was interesting to see the darker side of his writings. Be sure to read the author's introduction for background on why the stories are so much more cynical than his more recent work.
Although this is a collection of previously printed stories, the only one I had read previously was the Draka story. I especially enjoyed the first set of stories (The Fleet series) and the last set (Lacey series).
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Thought-provoking military stories
10 Oct 2003
Format:Hardcover
In a series of short stories, author David Drake explores the dark side of war and a dystopic future. Drake is a Viet Nam veteran and that experience gives his stories a gritty realism that shows through even in the more space-opera stories of 'the Fleet.' In his world, battles never go well, the enemy doesn't miss all the time, and commanding generals, admirals, back-room intelligence, and civilian 'suits' don't have a clue what they're asking for.
GRIMMER THAN HELL is an apt title for this set of dark stories. Whether set in the futuristic universe of the Fleet, the monitored and dying world of Lacey, or even the wars of Hell itself, Drake chooses to show humanity at its best and worst--in deadly action.
If you're looking for a light and upbeat read, stay well away from GRIMMER THAN HELL. But in a world where politicians continue to order soldiers into harms way, GRIMMER is a brutal and useful reminder that harms way can be very harmful indeed--not just for the physical violence that warfare brings, but also for the emotional damage done to soldiers and, at a more hidden level, to those sending young warriors into battle. GRIMMER delivers a few enjoyable twists, a couple of intriguing characters in Captain (Major) Kowacs and Jed Lacey. If you're looking for the kind of SF that makes you think, GRIMMER is a great choice.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Classic David Drake that You'll Love or Hate
13 Aug 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
If you love Drake's "classic" combat science fiction, and you missed one or more of these short stories the first time around; get the book. Each story measures up to the high standards that Drake sets for himself and which his fans have come to expect. You'll love this one, too.
If you do not know Drake's work yet, and "space operas" do not thrill as much as they once did, maybe you should try something stiffer. Drake deserves your attention, and this volume is as good a place to start as any.
Not everyone loves Drake's future nightmare documentaries. If you prefer Drake's softer side (or just plain don't care for hard core "realistic" combat science fiction), you won't find much pleasure here; route your attention elsewhere.
If you do not know Drake's work yet, and "space operas" do not thrill as much as they once did, maybe you should try something stiffer. Drake deserves your attention, and this volume is as good a place to start as any.
Not everyone loves Drake's future nightmare documentaries. If you prefer Drake's softer side (or just plain don't care for hard core "realistic" combat science fiction), you won't find much pleasure here; route your attention elsewhere.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
