High-octane action in outer space -- the fifth novel in his increasingly popular Agent Cormac series
The Line War (Ian Cormac)
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'Asher is brilliant at conveying the vastness of space, the strangeness of alien life and the sweep of planetary horizons.' -- SFX Magazine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
The Polity is under attack from a ‘melded’ AI entity with control of the lethal Jain technology, yet the attack seems to have no coherence. When one of Erebus’s wormships kills millions on the world of Klurhammon, a high-tech agricultural world of no real tactical significance, agent Ian Cormac is sent to investigate, though he is secretly struggling to control a new ability no human being should possess . . . and beginning to question the motives of his AI masters. Further attacks and seemingly indiscriminate slaughter ensue, but only serve to bring some of the most dangerous individuals in the Polity into the war. Mr Crane, the indefatigable brass killing machine sets out for vengeance, while Orlandine, a vastly-augmented haiman who herself controls Jain technology, seeks a weapon of appalling power and finds allies from an ancient war. Meanwhile Mika, scientist and Dragon expert, is again kidnapped by that unfathomable alien entity and dragged into the heart of things: to wake the makers of Jain technology from their five-million-year slumber. But Erebus’s attacks are not so indiscriminate, after all, and could very well herald the end of the Polity itself . . .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love space opera and this series, the Agent Cormac novels, has delivered in spades. Line war is billed as it's conclusion, my thoughts on that later, and contains the usual rip roaring multi threaded action we have come to expect as Cormac uncovers a very nasty conspiracy which takes him from fighting on the frontiers to the very heart of the Polity.
On the way we have gigantic space weapons, vast battle sequences, mahyem on a planetary scale, conversations with the makers of ancient booby traps and many other gripping sequences.
A great end to the series, neatly typing up nearly all the threads laid out during the previous four books but I can't see Neal Asher leaving a character as good as Cormac on the shelf for long, I wager he'll be back elsewhere in the polity metaverse, even if just as a Deus ex machina plot device.
On the way we have gigantic space weapons, vast battle sequences, mahyem on a planetary scale, conversations with the makers of ancient booby traps and many other gripping sequences.
A great end to the series, neatly typing up nearly all the threads laid out during the previous four books but I can't see Neal Asher leaving a character as good as Cormac on the shelf for long, I wager he'll be back elsewhere in the polity metaverse, even if just as a Deus ex machina plot device.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By J Stock
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
First up, Asher is just about my favourite current author, right up there along with Reynolds. When I first started reading science fiction ages ago it was Banks and Asher has kind of taken his place for me.
I gave this 5 stars as I think it's worth that in its own right but also as the (supposedly) last in a great series that has given me a lot of enjoyment.
You do really need to read the preceding Agent Cormac novels first otherwise I don't think it would make much sense. If you have read the first four you shouldn't be disappointed - I certainly wasn't.
One of the things I like about the series is that the scale is vast - both in space and time. For example, we have mega-space battles and are told of the rise and fall of inter-stellar civilisations. However, we also get right down and close-up with the characters in their own personal fights and skirmishes.
Asher brings in some familiar characters from previous novels including everyone's favourite giant brass golem, a certain draconic enigma and one of personal faves, the AI from a massive spaceship (if that counts as a character).
We follow various characters from their own personal perspectives but everything is neatly brought together. Previously unexplained matters or unanswered questions are developed and addressed, e.g. in relation to the origins of Jain tech and regarding Cormac himself.
I thought that it was well-paced throughout and built to a nice extended crescendo on lots of levels with plenty of intrigue and plot twists along the way. I really liked the ending which I think did justice to an immensely enjoyable series.
The dialogue is sharp as always and much of the humour and the best lines, as before, comes from idiosyncratic war drones with real attitude and also a "ghost" who spars with a demented AI.
A really great read and I'm just sorry that I've finished it.
I gave this 5 stars as I think it's worth that in its own right but also as the (supposedly) last in a great series that has given me a lot of enjoyment.
You do really need to read the preceding Agent Cormac novels first otherwise I don't think it would make much sense. If you have read the first four you shouldn't be disappointed - I certainly wasn't.
One of the things I like about the series is that the scale is vast - both in space and time. For example, we have mega-space battles and are told of the rise and fall of inter-stellar civilisations. However, we also get right down and close-up with the characters in their own personal fights and skirmishes.
Asher brings in some familiar characters from previous novels including everyone's favourite giant brass golem, a certain draconic enigma and one of personal faves, the AI from a massive spaceship (if that counts as a character).
We follow various characters from their own personal perspectives but everything is neatly brought together. Previously unexplained matters or unanswered questions are developed and addressed, e.g. in relation to the origins of Jain tech and regarding Cormac himself.
I thought that it was well-paced throughout and built to a nice extended crescendo on lots of levels with plenty of intrigue and plot twists along the way. I really liked the ending which I think did justice to an immensely enjoyable series.
The dialogue is sharp as always and much of the humour and the best lines, as before, comes from idiosyncratic war drones with real attitude and also a "ghost" who spars with a demented AI.
A really great read and I'm just sorry that I've finished it.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Backing off the prior emphasis of big battles and baddie beasties, Asher takes a more direct, traditional approach to a novel- a plot. Similar in standard to Gridlink, where he first created his Ian Cormac series, Asher has decided once again to put his one-trick pony show off to the side while actually trying to wrap up the series once and for all. Granted, there must be blood and blasts somewhere in the novel for Asher-sake, but it's definitely toned down.
Whereas the last three books have seen a cavalcade of enemies, horrific animals and flora and a slow evolution of the Polity's relationship with Dragon, only now in Book Five does the Dragon/Polity relationship, the Jain/Dragon relationship and the Cormac/Earth Central relationship come into play. These three pillars of the plot foundation assure the long-term Asher reader (this being my eleventh to-date) a solid good read with many glimpses of truth in the relationships stated above.
My once hitch is my once held notion that the Jain technology was one with a ferocious appetite for submission and destruction; now in Book Five we see much of dead or hibernating Jain tech. All of this Jain is repeatedly described as coral-like structures, ad nauseum. Even the live Jain tech is always portrayed as silver tendrils. It would have been nice to see a change of vocabulary regarding these adjectives but Asher does ramp up the vocab throughout the novel, though not enough for having me reach for my dictionary.
Through all the wonderful things Jain tech can do, during the trials Cormac finds himself in with his new capabilities and at the all the points where the AIs bestow their wisdom and humor to the cast is where Asher finds his niche in Book Five here. From one toehold to the next, the reader to taken casually through the well-structured, well-plotted and well-defined novel which isn't too flashy or too blasé. Not quite a re-read but well worth it for any Asher fan following the series!
Whereas the last three books have seen a cavalcade of enemies, horrific animals and flora and a slow evolution of the Polity's relationship with Dragon, only now in Book Five does the Dragon/Polity relationship, the Jain/Dragon relationship and the Cormac/Earth Central relationship come into play. These three pillars of the plot foundation assure the long-term Asher reader (this being my eleventh to-date) a solid good read with many glimpses of truth in the relationships stated above.
My once hitch is my once held notion that the Jain technology was one with a ferocious appetite for submission and destruction; now in Book Five we see much of dead or hibernating Jain tech. All of this Jain is repeatedly described as coral-like structures, ad nauseum. Even the live Jain tech is always portrayed as silver tendrils. It would have been nice to see a change of vocabulary regarding these adjectives but Asher does ramp up the vocab throughout the novel, though not enough for having me reach for my dictionary.
Through all the wonderful things Jain tech can do, during the trials Cormac finds himself in with his new capabilities and at the all the points where the AIs bestow their wisdom and humor to the cast is where Asher finds his niche in Book Five here. From one toehold to the next, the reader to taken casually through the well-structured, well-plotted and well-defined novel which isn't too flashy or too blasé. Not quite a re-read but well worth it for any Asher fan following the series!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book when are you writing the next one
Really good book, loved the way Neal brought all characters together from the other Agent books. Now just need another one written
Published 2 months ago by readsalot
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Line War by Neil Asher
I like the storyline and having read the series I would suggest that although this stands alone as a novel the Polity series should be read from the beginning to really enjoy this... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Michael J. Wood
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read, trys to be too clever with pseudo science
I like this series of books, bit of a plod to read sometimes as the author waxes lyrical with reams of pseudo science; which as a scientist, is pure bunkum. Read more
Published 22 months ago by CjW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ending the series with a bang! Excellent!
Finally I've come to the last Agent Cormac book, Line War, and up to now it's been a ride of ups and downs. Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2011 by Mark Chitty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is this the end of Ian Cormac.....
I hope not.
But after this VERY good story, where do you go with him?
He is invincible......so where do you take a character like that. Read more
But after this VERY good story, where do you go with him?
He is invincible......so where do you take a character like that. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2010 by Bear Brain
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good but it assumes you have read the previous books
Another Ian Cormac book and I have the feeling that this should be the last for the character. Simply put it feels like this character has been taken as far as it can. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009 by Russell G. Pottinger
5.0 out of 5 stars
End of the line
Overall I really enjoyed the book, nice to see the wrap of the Ian Cormac saga, as ever lots of BIG space opera. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by Dr. Stephen Culshaw
3.0 out of 5 stars
Line War by Neil Asher
Ther is no doubt that Neil Asher is a talented writer and the Ian Cormac/Polity stories are epic in their scale. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by A. J. Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and as engrossing as anticipated.
If you like his books you will know whats coming. Mid-way and enjoying this latest romp with old friends and enemies back in unwinable situations on far flung remote destinations... Read more
Published on 31 July 2009 by ANDY
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best Polity books!
This is one of Asher's best- hope its not the end of the line for the Polity series though.
Published on 29 Jun 2009 by Jhan M Rushton
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