Customer Reviews

Never Sound Retreat (The Lost Regiment #6)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although this series is interesting enough for me to go out and buy all the volumes, I'm getting tired of reading one battle scene after another. It seems that if you open the book at random, pretty much any page you turn to has fighting on it. And I'd like more maps, please. Without maps and diagrams I find it pretty meaningless to read a battle description. It's getting predictable, too: just when ALL is lost for the humans, some super-human effort is made, and they triumph. I would like to read more about the characters, what they do when they're not fighting, for example. Also, I'd like to know more about the effects on the social organizations of the Cartha and the Roums of having made contact with such a vastly different social paradigm as the Yankees represent. I wonder if it's a male/female thing; I notice that most of the reviewers give all the books in the series 5 stars, and I get the impression that these reviewers are all men.

Tanks and machine guns. Ha'ark has been forced to attack the Republic before he was absolutely ready, but the Republic buckles under pressure. This time both armies are modern and their leaders understand modern war. Also, expect the unexpected from Hans, who will turn the tide once more. A very interesting aspect of the series is how fallible Keane is. He inspires his people, but makes terrible mistakes that must be payed for with lots of blood later on. This destroys him little by little. Forstchen manages to make him very human, very far from a legend, and closer to what people really are. This book is transitional. Not as spectacular as those before, it still is very good and sets the stage for more to come. Also, a new major character is developed: the tank commander Timokin. And since Ferguson is dead, the technological edge that the Republic could always count on seems threatened. Read on.

Everytime before a new book comes out in this series I try to guess the next plot line. I knew the humans wouldn't have gotten away so easy. So I figured on everything from another modern set of humans (Confederates I planned), Horde rediscovery of ancient weapons, to different alien races would arise to challenge the 35th. But a new Horde leader is genius. But 1 criticism. I feel Forstchen is writing himself into a corner by allowing weaponry to advance too fast. He will lose the civil war theme soon by bringing in airplanes 45 years too soon. And why havent the humans adapted aerosteamer engines to land transport? And certainly at least some humans must have tried to rebel before? But all in all a good work. Please hurry and give a map also.

Another great book in this series. I found myself recommending the series yet again in a local store. One request to the author (hope he reads these!): Whenever he decides to end this series, I would LOVE to read a good postlogue about the world 100 years after the "Horde Wars" is over...I would really enjoy seeing what world they create after they defeat (which I'm sure they will!) the hordes. The technology would certainly be beyond where we are today since the wars pushed technological advancement faster than it went on earth...and of course there's that secret place at the pole where the lost horde technology exists...maybe a book about the search for that stuff??? Anyway, there's some ideas I'm sure we'd all love to read! That's all! -- Scott Will

The only problem is that after the last volume Mr. Forstchen never ends the series. You are left hanging. If I would of know this, I would of never started the series.

The sixth book in the series returns us to the normal viewpoint and emphasis. This return results in one of the most exciting and enjoyable books in the series. We have moved from a Civil War, 19th Century technology into modern warfare. Many of the readers found this change unsettling but others felt it was a logical progression of technology forced forward by war. The fact that others have come into our world from what is the Lost Regiments future makes change much faster.

This is the sixth installment of the series. Haark is back ain as the evil Bantag leader. In the previous book, he had arrived through one of the "tunnels of light" from a world that is roughly 100 years ahead of Civil War era Earth. He is aware of many advanced technologies...

The humans are still struggling to throw off the bonds of the Bantag and the Merki. The Merki are licking their wounds to the West and appear to be out of the war for the time being. However, the Bantag have been sitting in the Chin cities for two years developing new weapons and training in tactics under Haark.

When the strike finally comes, the humans are ill prepared to counter it. It is one retreat after another. Of the three large human armies, two are cut off and surrounded. Hans with an army of over 50,000 is stranded the farthest away. Over 200 miles to the coast and 500 miles to the nearest human city. Keane and O'Donnal are stranded to the south near the Great sea with an army of around 40,000 including several thousand wounded in the opening battle.

The third army, under Hawethorne, is held in reserve. It numbers around 80,000.

Hans decides to retreat towards the sea instead of back to the city. His retreat is across open steppe. His orders to the soldiers are walk or die. Wounded are left behind with a weapon and ammo.

New weapons are introduced by both sides in this conflict. Haark comes up with winged flyers, mortars, and land ironclads. The humans come up with faster and more menueverable flyers, armor piercing artillery rounds, and a secret weapon at the end....

This is a book on a grand scale. Several large, continuous battles. Not as fast paced as previous books, but it sets the groundwork for the next book which should be very action packed.

I started reading the series last week and have read all 6 now. Just found out about A band of brothers and am going to buy as soon as possible. Keep it up and I will keep on reading.

This book and the next instalment are almost inseperable due to the cliffhanger at the end, but the suspense pays off in a resounding fashion in 'A Band of Brothers.' It retains all the favorable qualities of the previous books that have enamored the Civil War, fantasy enthusiast in me.

Just like the first 5 in the series this book rocks! I couldn't put it down. I think I read it in three sittings.....very long sittings...I'm not sure if I can wait for Number 7.