A Talent For War
by Jack McDevitt
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jack McDevittEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2004-06-29
ISBN: 0441012175
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Ace
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780441012176
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Book Reviews of A Talent For War
Book Review: Hardy Boys for Adults in Space!
Summary: 4 Stars
First let me comment on the Alex Benedict series in general. Several of my friends and myself have really enjoyed reading the Alex Benedict series of books, starting with A Talent For War. However, you must really understand what you are getting into here. This writing is formulaic genre writing at its best, with the primary genre being mystery adventure, not scifi. It is so reminiscent of the episodic adventures of my youth, except set in an adequately conceived scifi setting. This series is pure fluff and absolutely fun. It's the most exquisite guilty pleasure.
If you understand that you will be reading a well conceived mystery woven amidst a network of interesting historical enigmas from a science fictional world, investigated by cardboard characters who find themselves in ridiculous situations of peril which will likely elicit laughter at the author's audacity, and that you will find yourself merrily going along with it all without protest until you get to a rather satisfying ending, then these are the books for you. I don't normally read this type of novel, preferring the work of Banks, Reynolds, Brin, Simmons as well as classics like Sturgeon, Bester, Asimov and Heinlein. McDevitt's writing is like none of them (with the exception of Brin's Sundiver.) It is far more accessible, less taxing, and more addictive than any of those others. It's just good fun and provides the perfect break from more involved reading.
This particular book is the least formulaic and has, by far, the largest payoff at the end, which seemingly has caused readers who prefer the more simplistic formulas of the next three books to be put off. Don't be! This is the one that absolutely can't be missed. This is the only one of the series that will really give you any kind of perspective on the protagonists and is also the best for establishing the shape of the culture and landscape of this fictional world. Combine that with the best mystery unraveling of the bunch, and you have a great book.
Summary of A Talent For War
Christopher Sim changed mankind's history forever when he forged a rag-tag group of misfits into the weapon that broke the alien Ashiyyur. But now, one man believes Sim was a fraud, and Alex must follow the legend into the heart of the alien galaxy to confront a truth far stranger than any fiction. Reissue.McDevitt, Jack Books
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