Brothers in Arms [Mass Market Paperback]

Ben Weaver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2001

One Way OutNo Way Out

For colonist Scott St. Andrew, the only route off his poisonous rock of a home planet is the elite South Point Military Academy on the moon Exeter. If he can complete the military's most grueling training program, he will qualify to become an officer in the Guard Corps of the Terran Alliance. But genetic defects have reduced Scott's one-in-a-thousand chance for escape to practically nil and have made him a target of ridicule and ritual hazing by his classmates.

Then long-smoldering colonial resentments against the Alliance erupt into violent open rebellion. And suddenly Cadet St. Andrew is forced to choose a side to die for.

Sent into deep-space combat long before his training is complete -- tested and toughened in a horrific baptism of blood -- he must now survive the deadly "conditioning" process of a vanished alien race. For only then can Scott St. Andrew know his true destiny -- and his role in the imperiled future of a universe at war.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ben Weaver is a military scholar who spent years conceiving, researching, and writing Brothers In Arms.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager; First Edition edition (January 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061059722
• ISBN-13: 978-0061059728
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,622,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My, Oh, My what has he wrought?, January 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Brothers in Arms (Mass Market Paperback)

Judging from the reviews, the authors are either pseudonyms of the writer, Ben Weaver, or his mortal enemies. I read science fiction for enjoyment (of course, I thought that the author of Lady Chatterly's Lover was a pretty good writer considering he wrote dirty novels, I was 15 then) and I enjoyed this book. Let's face it, great novels need criticism, but most don't need to be de-constructed. So lighten up. Of course there are criticisms to be made, but so what. The bottom line of any SF book is whether you would want to read it again or its sequel. I want to read the sequel. If all I get is warmed over first novel, then forget it. Brothers in Arms was a set-up for what could be an interesting ride, especially if the hero continues to be somewhat aimless and troubled. I understand the next book is still in the contract stages. The author is more than willing to discuss his books with you at [e-mail]. Try that with Tom Clancy.

Mike Keyes

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Racinian enhancements, March 15, 2001

By 

Darrell Clarke (The Woodlands, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brothers in Arms (Mass Market Paperback)

Weaver does a bang-up job in introducing our hero and his allies. Technologies depicted in this novel pass muster when compared to similar novels I have read. I am drawn to the fact that StAndrew has a distaste for war, but Weaver threads some real life heroism into this character that makes the reader think about ideas such as "duty, honor and country" much as the protagonist does every time he is called upon to perform for his government. Weaver's writing style is easy and proved to be a fast read for me. It held my interest and threw me some curves. I would recommend this book for an avid sci-fi reader. If you don't enjoy this genre and are looking for something to occupy yourself..., this could be one of the books stacked on the back of the commode.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great story, too big for such a tight book., August 27, 2001

By 

Sailoil - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brothers in Arms (Mass Market Paperback)

Brothers in Arms falls into the category of Military Sci-Fi. In the tradition of these novels it is short, punchy, heavy on technology and light on plot or characterisation. It draws heavily on books such as Haldeman's "Forever War" and Steakleys "Armour". For me I think it lacks the punch that Forever War displays, but is better written than either of the above books. The standard genre elements such as the basic military setting, the hard cadet training and the soldier being thrown into war at the deep end are all fleshed out by other elements. There is the Alliance/Colony power struggle which erupts into Civil War, so that the cadets are pitted against each other rather than some faceless enemy. There is a racist undertone of being a colonist, and the worse stigma of being a genetic freak. There is the poorly understood technology of a disappeared race, and what exactly it does to you. Because Weaver has actually done his research and constructed a plausible galaxy for us, there are enticing visions of worlds and ideas that lie outside the story. Weaver is obviously keeping back a larger picture and letting us see only a glimpse of this world. This may be a prelude to a series of books, or it may merely be good technical writing skill. I have not given Brothers in Arms a great rating because I think the book fails in a number of its key objectives. Weaver wanted to show us the transmogrification of his central character from uncertain idealistic boy to a pragmatic and confident officer. In this he fails. The character at the end seems to me no different from the one at the beginning. I felt the characterisation of Halitov (the sidekick) was better managed and the layers beneath him were explored better. Also, there are issues in the book that needed better development, such as the political ramifications of the split between colonies and alliance etc. I suppose it is a feature of Mil/Sci/Fi that you get only the grunts view of the world. I like to see things on a broader canvas and for that reason I find the genre unsatisfying. I think Weaver had the makings of a great speculative fiction novel here but that he harnessed it to the wrong genre, a bit like hitching a racehorse to a cart. If you have got to the bottom of this review you will probably feel much the same as me about the book. Those who lost interest in my review in the first paragraph will probably get a kick out of it. Plenty of bang bang flash and guts falling out.