Customer Reviews

Fateful Lightning (The Lost Regiment #4)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Wow, this is the series that just keeps on going and going. Excellent. This was perhaps the best one I've read so far next to Rally Cry. Again, there's that great sense of dread and forboding on the humans' part, as they attempt to fight off the ever encroaching Merki Hordes, now, of course, led by that rat Tamuka. The funeral of Jubadi was sickening... I loved it. Showalter's and his Cavalry's final, desparate charge into the Merki ranks was glorious. John Mina was a total nutball, picking on ol' Fergie like that. Oh, and I'm glad Ferguson, my favorite character in the series, got the girl. He deserves her. The Battle of Hispania was marvelous, so many troops in a battle of annihilation, fighting for their lives against vicious alien monsters, it filled you with pride for being human. Mutza's role in the whole story was satisfying-- I always liked him for some reason, even when he was attempting to destroy the old 35th. At least he had that glimmering of doubt, of whether or not fighting the humans was such a good idea, something which Tamuka did not. Bullfinch's endeavors, however, were very underexplored. I would've liked to see more of his liberation of the Cartha. Young Gregory's recitation of Shakespeare's Henry V-- "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."-- was very emotional and moving. And, yes, the editing is very, very bad here, as it is in the other Lost Regiment novels, but it did not take away from this rich story. Fateful Lightning is a masterful end to the Merki War, a stupendous entry in the Lost Regiment series, and a true gem in the realm of science-fiction.

Four amazing books so far. Or, if you prefer (As I do), one very long book, a sort of "War and Peace" of the sci-fi genre. No matter how you look at it, this developing tale by Forstchen only gets better. He is not afraid to kill off some of his main characters to add realism to the story, and he is not afraid to surprise the reader with tactics that are rather unexpected. "Fateful Lightning" presents a massive migration of Rus toward the land of Roum, pursued by the relentless Merki hordes. The humans will burn the land behind them, poisoning wells and setting traps for their foes, so that by the time of their final confrontation we can realistically see that the Merki, in spite of their great superiority in numbers, are overextended and will not be able to withstand a severe blow from the humans. The humans are at the end of their rope, too, but one of the most endearing characters in the series will have a shot at saving his people by refusing to obey orders. And Muzta, one of my favorite characters, will also have a chance to save his own people. Again, the battles are almost unforgettable: the horror of war, the worst of men, and the most noble in them is presented by Forstchen in a gripping, spectacular way. Hawthorne becomes a sort of Dark angel of the battlefield, and the Roman Marcus figures as a key participant by now. Four out of four. And it only gets better.

A wonderful, entertaining book. More realistic than any of the others so far. It resolves several key points, yet also leaves a perfect trail to the next book. The ending is one of the best parts, by far the most realistic and yet still dramatic one yet. The resolution of the Hawthorne problem in particular was a long time coming. Also, for this one several detailed maps were provided. The only very minor criticism is the presence of the aerosteamers. Still, there presence provides a new thrill. An enchanting book.

This book picks up right where the last one left off. There is a 30 day lull in the battle with the Merki due to the assasination of the Merki leader. The Merki have a ceremonial 30 days of mourning when the leader dies.

During this time, the humans begin there final withdrawal and buildup. They leave behine a scorched earth. The Merki do not know how to handle an enemy that will not fight in the open. There is no honor in this battle. They look forward to a single big confrontation and swift decisive end.

The humans have several tricks up their sleeves, including traps, guerilla warfare and deception.... And as usual, new surprising weapons.

This is an excellent addition to the series. The end of the book opens a new chapter for the next book. I hope we can find out more information about the technology and history of the "ancients"....

I read the original three volumes and believed that the author was done, because I never saw another volume. Just recently I realized I had missed four volumes!!! I could not put them down. Characters are believable with battle scenes that remind me of Viet Nam. I enjoy the military very much, recognizing all the elements in the Hordes versus Keane. I only wished that he would spell Civil War names correctly, JEB Stuart and not JEB Stewart. I still enjoy this series very much and I am glad that it continues.

Very good book, an excellent continuation of the series, would recommend this book and the series to any avid reader of this genre.

When Newt Gingrich was considering the alternate history series that started with Gettysburg, he needed another author to do much of the writing. Based on this excellent series, Gingrich selected William Forstchen for a very good reason, the man can write Civil War fiction. This author combines an understanding of the military with the ability to make convincing characters. The result is a fun to read hybrid story that combines time travel, space travel, exploration and deadly battles with a Civil War regiment's actions.
The forth book in the Lost Regiment series continues the neat blend of science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction. However, this story is darker and more desperate than the preceding books. Both sides are aware that this is a fight to the death with no chance of anything but victory. There is more death, more suffering in this book than the others. Endless war is taking a toll and people die. As always, this book is a very good read and an excellent continuation of the story.

The land of the Rus had for nearly five war-torn years endured torments of such terrible magnitude that half of her people lay dead beneath her soil and, yet, not since the Yankees first arrived to liberate the people from the manipulation of the church, the tyranny of the boyars, and the terror of the Tugars had she confronted a more desperate hour. Caught before the murderous fury of the Merki advance, Colonel Andrew Keane, leader of the forces of the human coalition of the Rus, Roum, and thousands of Cartha refugees, had bought a precious respite of thirty days through the assasination of the Merki Qar Qarth allowing the Army of the Republics to evacuate east and prepare for one last stand against the coming darkness. A fierce page turner that will undoubtedly shock even those familiar to this magnificent series, "Fatefull Lightning" will consume the full breath of your immagination with a passionate flare and dramatic intensity surpassing even that of "Rally Cry." A truly momentous spectacle invested with a fearfully graphic tone that remains true to the format, the book, nevertheless, envelops the full compass of exitement up to the breathtaking conclusion. A book that should be the standard by which all action sci-fi/fantasy novels are measured.

... the additon of campaign maps are a great asset when following the procession of events throught the story and help project the physical world of Valennia into a perspective which is far easier to understand than just the narration used in the previous two volumes.

Excellent story . Only criticism is the lack of continuity in some of the names of the characters. E.g Mantu the youngest son of Jubadi (the Merki Horde Qar Qarth - Books 2and 3) becomes Mupa. Jim Hinsen , the renegade 35th Maine soldier, becomes Dale Hinsen.Olivia , Chuck Fergusons bride, becomes Valencia later in Book 5 as well. Small things that mar the continuity of an excellent read.

Andrew Lawrence keane and the survivors of the regiment and the losing Republic must now cope with Hans Shuder's apparent death. Now that an assasin's bullet has ended the Merki advanceby30 Days. He and every single human must find a way to destroy the Hordes or the Republic and all the dreams of the people will be extinguished.This book is a must read! Tons of adventures! Will make you cry,laugh and hope all at the same time!