Live Free or Die

December 7, 2009
Prolific military SF author Ringo (the Posleen War series) imbues this near-future epic with a somewhat self-indulgent air, mixing lengthy and sometimes interminable discussions of science and economics with do-or-die action. Three years after the alien Grtul drop a transport gate in our solar system and welcome Earth to the galactic community, a Horvath warship shows up and destroys several major cities before extorting protection payments. Fast-thinking entrepreneur Tyler Vernon exploits the literally universal appeal of maple syrup to make a fortune, defies the Horvath, and reveals his ideas for keeping Earth safe, but intergalactic war threatens to derail his plan. This extended thought exercise is infused with plenty of old-fashioned two-fisted can-do attitude, a heavy dose of science, and occasional bursts of dry humor, but shallow characterization and an ambling plot detract from the overall experience.

January 15, 2010
The first aliens that came through the space "gate" were friendly traders called the Glatun. Then the Horvath came, demanding a monopoly on the supply of maple sugar, their latest "drug" of choice, and claiming ownership of the planet. Leading the resistance, despite opposition by the world's governments, is Tyler Vernon, short in stature but tall in his convictions that humanity bows to no one. VERDICT This trilogy opener from Ringo ("Posleen War" series) displays the author's fine sense of humor, his love of pulp sf, and his keen knowledge of military strategy and tactics. First-rate military sf with believable human and alien characters and a slam-dunk approach to storytelling should please genre fans who demand both action and excellence.

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