- Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Baen Books; First Edition edition (1 Jan 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671319574
- ISBN-13: 978-0671319571
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.5 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 912,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"A good addition to the Bolo mythos. . . . fun, entertaining...". -- Heliocentric Network
Product Description
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
The onslaught of the Melconians was not the last conflict that humanity's interstellar Concordiat would have to face. For now the Kezdai -- a newly encountered species with war at the center of their philosophy -- have taken to arms against the Concordiat and its colony worlds. For war, the Terrans have only one answer:
Break out the Bolos!
Self-aware robotic tanks, the Bolos have fought bravely and well since the days when humans fought each other. Now they battle across the stars to defend us all...and though the times are perilous, we've never been in better hands than those of our old metal guardians: Keith Laumer's greatest creation, the Bolos.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
It started as just a flicker of X-rays, high above the orbital plane of the bright orange star Epsilon Sindri. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
It started as just a flicker of X-rays, high above the orbital plane of the bright orange star Epsilon Sindri. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is a compilation of short stories by different authors. What I found unique was the fact that all of the short stories take place on the same planet. A look into the future of AI and future applications in war. The stars of the books, of course, are the Bolos. A self-aware robotic tank with a long distinguished history. Some of the story lines move to fast, so as to not be developed to my taste. But I assume that is the problem with short stories in this series....
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Not your usual military science fiction.
21 Dec 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Bolos, sentient robotic tanks, are humanity's guardians. We build them, and then send these beautiful children out to die in our stead. But war, any war, engulfs all those involved; not just the front-line Bolos, but every human on the planet. Some will live, some will die, but all, humans, Bolos, and the Enemy, will be forced to face their own strengths and weaknesses before the fighting is done.
These are beautiful stories of "grace under fire," and I am not ashamed to admit that, at the end of the third story, I was weeping for the Bolos, and for the humans who love them, but must send them out still.
This book was more than worth my time.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Jane's Guide to future war machines!
14 Feb 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
An outstanding read. The compilation of stories collectively paint a portrait of future warfare as few series do. And with today's ground breaking research on AI and robot technologies, these stories may prove to be prophetic. A common thread weaves its way through each story in the anthology, yet with each author contributing thier own image, a quite complex tapestry is woven for the reader. The differences between the stories are sometimes subtle, and at other times easily apparent. Yet together they blend an awesome tale of firepower and willpower, immersing the reader into the minds of both the men and the machines. Perhaps the most intriguing short is 'Rook's Gambit' by John Mina. The reader is tangled in the web of interactions between a green officer, with all his pride and naivete; a crusty old general, set in his quirky ways; and of course, the bolos, given the name Turkey. Through these three, a tale is spun that soon becomes a futuristic version of Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'. Any more would give away the story. This book is a must for any sci-fi fan, futurist, or military connoisseur.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Send in the Bolos!
31 Dec 2002
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I enjoyed the three stories contained in this book. having not known that before I read the book, it was interesting to discover it. I believe the stories gave an impression of the flow of war, and that Bolos provides protection, or at least a menance to the Concordiate's enemy on all fronts.
The Bolo's and their commanders see alot of action in and around the Delas system by a horde of attacking Kezdai - creatures that resemble bird-like reptiles. Hellbores away! Infantry, tanks, and and full scale battles rage over the planet systems. And the book shows that Bolos should be left alone to do their jobs - to protect humanity.
The book earned a 4 stars instead of 5 stars because the first story - seems like it was cut off. 3 characters were introduced, and two at great length, but each had no impact on the story's ending. It seemed the story was cut off. In the second story, a Concordiate Officer ignores his Bolo, and the result is death and and some destruction to a Concordiate task force. The commander, supposedly academy trained, is told to "just forget about it" and to get back into the war because "he did a good job" because he came up with a good idea prior to his terrible orders. Only one sentence was givin to a possible court martial. I wanted the character to be punished, not patted on the back. I believe the first two stories dragged a little when they went into the Kezdai personal worlds, except for one plot line.
The third story, the shortest - was marvelous. And the final moments of the the battle should have been made into artwork for the book cover with the vivid descriptions of the battle.
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