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86 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ringo's Best So Far, July 11, 2004
Emerald Sea has something Ringo's work has been missing for some time -- sheer whimsy. It's FUN. The prequel to this wonderful book, There Will Be Dragons, read a bit like a Ren-Faire recreationist's dream of saving the world when technology fails (and TWBD will become known as the prequel, I am sure -- while a fine book, it never even aspired to the wonder of Emerald Sea). In contrast, reading Emerald Sea is a complete immersion in the sense of wonder to which all speculative fiction aspires, and which so few manage to achieve. This book is more focused than There Will Be Dragons, and the focus works. The main character is definitely Herzer Herrick, who has come into his own as a mature warrior between the two books. Herzer has completely left behind his "poor little abused rich kid" origins, and become an interesting, thoughtful, warrior with tremendous depth. While favorites from the earlier book are present, particularly Duke Edmund, the book moves to a new part of the world -- above and underneath the waters off the Florida coast. Add in some classic-feeling-but-original elements like a wood-built dragon-carrying aircraft carrier and a really nasty set of underwater monster-villains, and you've got a blazingly original fantasy-with-scientific-underpinnings. Then you've got tons of innovative little low-powered future-tech nifty-bits like the quantum-surveillance gadgets. And did I mention the really cool underwater monsters? I won't go more into plot or neat things, because I don't want to dilute readers' enjoyment. Trust me, they're there. Yet the book doesn't take itself too seriously. You need only read the Prologue to realize that Emerald Sea won't match your preconceptions. It's going to lead your mind down unexpected and delightful twisted paths. This book is a HUGE and welcome departure for Ringo. While there's plenty of Ringo's trademark conflict and mayhem, Emerald Sea has depth of character, surprisingly original ideas, and a sense of unadulterated sheer whimsy which will surprise and delight Ringo's earlier fans, and should give him a whole new set.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Strange but Pleasing Science Fiction Reading Like Fantasy, August 19, 2005
I had a hard time getting into "THERE WILL BE DRAGONS" at first because it seemed so far fetched. Once I did, it was well worth the effort. I had no such problems with EMERALD SEA and it was just as enjoyable. Some of the science is so far out that it seems the realm of magic. When coupled to entities like dragons, elves and the like, this just reinforces the perception but it all makes sense as presented by John Ringo. The disbelief is suspended and we are left with a good story. That is how this is supposed to work and it does.
John Ringo is known for his military SciFi and this series seems on the surface to be a stretch for him. It is not, though. He handles the disposition of his mer-folk troops as you would expect him to handle the disposition of whatever infantry he might have available and then adapts it a bit for the "wetter environment". It is interesting stuff but gets really fun when he begins to do things like re-invent carrier doctrine and procedures and adapt it for dragons instead of aircraft. It's a hoot.
The story is a continuation of his first. Duke Edmund and his aide, Herzer, are dispatched to the Caribbean to try and set up an alliance with the sea peoples in their war against the bad guys. The sea people are a bit reluctant to form any alliance but tend to be swayed by such outdated concepts as honor, integrity and the willingness of the other guys to do the right thing even after they have been turned down. It's nice to read about a situation where concepts like that are taken seriously.
John Ringo adds one more story to this book with the information that it will be important in stories yet to come. It is included as an independent novella and involves the daughter of one of the characters of EMERALD SEA. She has been captured by the head bad guy and put to work in his own personal harem. This story is much more sexual than is Ringo's normal wont but it is part of the story. At its end, we are left wondering what the young lady has up her sleeve (if she were allowed to wear any sleeves) and what chaos she has in store for the forces of evil.
This was a two for the price of one investment and either is worth the price of admission.
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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
FAST PACED EXCITEMENT FROM START TO FINISH, September 28, 2004
The jacket cover describes EMERALD SEA as a `fast paced sequel' to THERE WILL BE DRAGONS. Now normally book jackets are good only for displaying nice looking pictures of scantly clad women and keeping coffee stains off the book cover, but not so in this case. Dang if they didn't get it right this time. This book is either so fast paced or so damn engrossing that it took me less than a day to finish it, and no it's not some tiny volume with really big print!
All the major characters are back from THERE WILL BE DRAGONS with a few more thrown in for good measure. You too can thrill to the exploits of Lt. Herzer Herrick the Blood Lords Blood Lord. Wonder what is going on with Rachel (Ms. Asexual) Talbot and of course Bast (definitely NOT Ms. Asexual) the Amazon Wood Elf. And last but not least...
LOVE that bunny! Hey any being whose prime directive is to kill telemarketers can't be all bad, even if he is a bloodthirsty, traitorous, drunk!
Good sequel, nice buildup for a follow up volume. We will have to wait and see what number three brings. Unfortunately third volumes and their successors haven't been Mr. Ringo's strong suit, but while there's life there's hope. At least you can enjoy this one.
As a note there is a short story appended to at least the hardbound copy. Just to forewarn you I didn't like this one at all! The author tells you about it in the book but let me tell you it is depressing and has a really poor ending. It was so poorly done, especially the ending that you have to wonder why it was there in the first place. In fact I disliked it to the extent it almost tainted the entire book for me, but that is for you to decide for yourself.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EMERALD SEA.
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