A Talent For War by Jack McDevitt
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Book Reviews of A Talent For War
Book Review: Interesting Story...Interesting Backdrop
Summary: 5 Stars
A Talent for War presents an enjoyable trek through a future history...a history with it's own figure-heads and heroes, and shows us how those people actually were. McDevitt gives us the science fiction equivalent of taking us back to the American Revolution and putting us into the heads of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. McDevitt exquisitely executes this future history through the backdrop of the protagonist, Alex Benedict, and his search for the truth about what happened to the longterm exploratory ship Tenandrome. What did the crew find that they thought they had to erase all public records of the journey, and essentially swear themselves to silence about that journey.
McDevitt's only flaw in this book is that he seems to get sidetracked a bit with minutae...who said what at this meeting or that, who did what, where...etc. Some of this was clearly needed...but he goes overboard just a bit. This detracts from the story only a little though. Mostly, I just desperately wanted to find out the answers to the mysteries McDevitt poses. A Talent for War is a really good read, McDevitt's character analyses are dead-on and consequently he does a wonderful job of making you feel what the characters feel. As long as you enjoy good storytelling this book is highly recommended to anyone, period.
Book Review: Great writing transcends genre
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I went through a period of busy reading in science fiction, I don't have any on my shelves today except this one. Great characters, great plot, and a backdrop built on an obvious passion for history, acracheology, and the classics. I recently re-read it, and it is just as good as when I got it from the SF book club (in hardback). I can't say enough good about this book. Whether you're an exclusive SF reader, or never read SF but have heard a friend talk about this work, you won't be disappointed by A Talent For War. But c'mon, Ace Publishing, great writing deserves great cover art! Both the paperback and hardcover editions are poorly served in that regard.Book Review: A Talented History
Summary: 5 Stars
I believe this is Jack McDevitt's second novel. McDevitt seems to have come out from nowhere, and it actually took me years to discover him. And like I have said in a previous review, I began reading science fiction as a devoted Larry Niven fan. And since the mid- and late-Niven writings are a chore to read, McDevitt is to the rescue. ATFW is about history, how its participants try to create a historical record to suit their own goals. Is history that really pliable? How much of history is mythology? Who are the Heroes? The Cads? Thank you Jack for coming onto the SF scene. Read star-traveler if you dare, and learn.Book Review: One Of My Favorite Books
Summary: 5 Stars
A Talent For War is one of those rare books you can read over and over. A classic tale of mystery set upon a backdrop of a fallen hero and a two hundread year old war. Follow the mystery with Alex Benedict and his offsider Chase Kolpath as they unravel the ancient mystery of Christopher Simm and the war against an alien menace that united Humanity. I re-read this book every year, and every year I enjoy it even more. Highly recomended.Book Review: A good mystery worth reading
Summary: 5 Stars
Part of the book reads like a travel guide, and it doesn't have much humor, but the mystery is good, and the history is interesting, so it kept me going. The ending is a bit too quick, but satisfying, although not all loose ends are explained.