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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Significantly Improved Sequel, August 13, 2001
John Ringo's second book in his saga of an Earth threatened by alien invasion is a distinct improvement over his first effort "A Hymn Before Battle". He still needs some more seasoning as an author, but most of the major flaws of his first book have been eliminated and/or reduced to the point that they don't interefere with the enjoyment of a rock-em-sock-em adventure. Our story: In the near future, mankind is approached by the Galactic Federation, which is composed of a number of alien races, none with the psychological makeup to be warriors. Soldiers are needed because an alien horde has been ravening, unchecked through the galaxy. It won't be long before they arrive at Earth. To save dear ole Earth, half-trained expeditionary forces were sent out to learn more of the alien menance, try to delay the horde, and find ways to fight the bad guys. "A Hymn Before Battle" featured recalled former Airborne enlisted man Michael O'Neal, who ended that book as a true hero, who helped gain humanity's first victory over the bad guys. Now a captain, commanding a company outfitted with the new battle armor which he helped design, O'Neal faces bureacratic fights, but the big show is coming. For the aliens are due to arrive by the millions on Earth. And mankind is not yet prepared, with too few modern weapons, officers and generals who are still fighting the last war, and the secret dealings of some of the "good" aliens. The bulk of this novel deals with the alien invasion itself, and Ringo indeed has a talent for writing action scenes. This book benefits by the additional length to expand the back story, characters are much more realistic and human, and although we don't see much more of the "good" alien plotting, a new, yet (presumably) related level of intrigue is introduced. Still, there are flaws, as certain changes in American society have not been fully explored. Some of the problems to this book are merely the result of the poor foundation laid in the first book of this series, "A Hymn Before Battle." Mr. Ringo still needs to work on his characters, (the 8 year old Rambo was just a tad much) although he has made vast strides. This book packs an undeniable emotional punch, and I had a difficult time deciding whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars. (If there was a half star rating, it would have received 3 1/2.) I gave it 3 stars, partly because 2 stars was an overgenerous rating for the first book, but mainly because there are still just a few too many rough edges to merit 4 stars. However, sci-fi action fans will not be disappointed. I look forward to the next volume of this saga, and compliment Mr. Ringo for his improved writing skills.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Military SF with mucho gusto, May 6, 2003
This review is from: Gust Front (Posleen War Series #2) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a good continuation of the saga started in A HYMN BEFORE DYING, and I do urge you to read that book before this one. The first book deals with preliminary battles aimed at slowing down the dreaded Posleen before they land on Earth. In this book, they indeed land on Earth and the armed forces battle them and also rather muddled military bureaucracy. The main characters are of course largely carry-overs from the first book: Michael O'Neal, Duncan, Pappas, and others. Some new characters are introduced including two or three that are only very briefly introduced but who will undoubtedly play much larger roles in the third book. Music is introduced in this book and specific music is recommended for both the fictional characters and for the reader to listen to while reading. Also noticeable in this installment is the author's use of dialogue. Several times, a scene ends with a piece of dialog from one character and is followed by the same piece of dialog from another character's mouth in a very different scene. Interesting technique. The reader is credited with intelligence. In at least one instance, a couple of characters are mentioned, but not by name. Yet, you do know of course who they are, and do realize that they undoubtedly will be more important characters in the next installment. One more thing to notice here is that we get a better look at the enemy which was largely faceless in the first book and will probably become even more of the next book. I'm inclined toward being a dove and not into military fiction, but this book is well written and kept me interested all the way through. Those who really are into the military frame of mind should really love it.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ringo fans won't be disappointed, May 11, 2001
Fans of military science fiction have a new friend in John Ringo. His first novel A Hymn before Battle was a respectable freshman effort which sold well and generated a good deal of excitement. The sequel Gust Front is longer, better and more action-packed. In the not-too-distant future, humanity discovers that "we are not alone." The Galactic Federation, a complex and technologically advanced society, are on the losing end of a vast war with the Posleen, a vicious race of reptilian centaurs who overrun one planet after another like army ants, intent on making food-stock out of captured sentients. Unfortunately the Galactics have two fatal flaws. They handcraft their amazing technology and have never developed the mass production techniques needed to support a protracted war. Even worse, they lack the will to battle - both genetically and as a society. The Galactics decide it is wise to bring the humans into the fold. With Galactic technology in the hands of the aggressive humans, there is a slim hope that the Posleen can be turned back. In Gust Front, humanity, having encountered the terrifying Posleen on distant worlds, must now prepare for an all-out invasion of Earth itself. The military is quickly absorbing Galactic technology, but it's still not commonplace. When the Posleen land en masse near Fredericksburg, Virginia, it's up to traditional troops to stem the tide until the Armored Combat Suit (ACS) units can come into play. Leading the ACS charge is Mike O'Neal. Now a Captain in Fleet Strike (a new UN-style military branch devoted to alien combat), O'Neal is known world-wide as the Hero of Diess (the far-off planet where the climactic battle in Hymn occurred). Can human ingenuity and will-power defeat the dreaded Posleen - and more immediately, can they prevent the fall of Washington, DC? Ringo combines Tom Clancy with Starship Troopers to bring us a pulse-pounding combat adventure filled with patriotic, can-do warriors. Gust Front is heavy on "military-speak" and descriptions of battle tactics, but there's a fair dose of gritty humor as well. John Ringo is quickly rising to the top of the military SF sub-genre. The third installment in the Hymn trilogy (tentatively titled When the Devil Dances) won't be out for some time.
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