Customer Reviews

Rally Cry (Lost Regiment (Numbered))

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book almost defies description: a magnificent adventure novel, a science fiction novel that manages to be intelligent and to include true science and wonderful fiction, a military fiction novel with some of the best battle scenes I have ever read, "Rally Cry" is the opening shot in the "Lost Regiment" series and one of the best reads in any genre you'll find in the last decade. One of the most troubling aspects of science fiction -a genre I really like- is the simplistic treatment that most authors give their books, and their cavalier attitude toward the reader. Even authors with scientific background, like Asimov, wrote wrong science, as in "Nightfall", or dealt with insipid plots and flat characters that were mere copies of other characters. Forstchen has used stereotypes here, too, but his way of dealing with them is far superior to that of other writers. His Union Regiment lost in a world where humans are food to the native inhabitants, and where the Yankees spark a revolution that eventually reaches planetary proportions, is not only entertaining. It's intelligent, as well, with solid documentation of industry and warfare, and a very credible alien society of nomads. The best is, perhaps, the idealism of some of those Yankees (and Forstchen), who see their country as what it should be and fight for it, and also die for it. Stranded in a hostile world, these bluecoats will turn out to be the titans all countries want but few get. And their cause, to free people from serfdom and slaughter, is a magnified vision of the most noble aspect of the American Civil War, whose origins were somewhat removed from freedom itself, but that ended up becoming a war where a country almost tore itself apart in order to get rid of slavery. Forstchen knows that and is proud of the New England tradition of patriotism and freedom. His extraordinary science fiction, adventure, military history book is a homage to those who fought for the ideal of making this country a better place.

William Forstchen has created a great tale that includes the best of a civil war drama and a science fiction novel. An infantry regiment is transported through a hole in space to a world where humans are not the top of the food chain. They refuse to submit to the carnivorous tyrany of the dominant species. With their modern weaponry, they inadvertantly cause a rebellion against the eight foot tall warrior race that rules the planet. The natives join the Yankees in their resolve to be free of the tribute of human flesh required of them every twenty years. The book is filled with outstanding battle sequences, but goes beyond that into an area that is not covered in most war novels. That area is logistics. It adds a further dimension to the story when to survive, the new government must create an industrial society out of midevil Russian serfs. I lost a night's sleep because I could not put it down after I had read the first chapter. If you like science fiction or military fiction, I think you will like "Ra

Rally Cry (1990) is the first Alternate History novel in The Lost Regiment series. The 35th Maine infantry regiment has had a glorious history, the first to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor as a unit for their stubborn resistance to Confederate forces at Gettysburg. Now, they and the 44th New York Light Artillery board the transport Ogunquit to participate in an amphibious assault, but sail a day behind the other ships of the flotilla. The Ogunquit is caught in a storm, flounders in high waves, is sucked into a funnel of blinding light, and is then dropped elsewhere. In our timeline, neither the ship nor any of those onboard are ever seen again.

In this novel, Colonel Andrew Keane, commander of the regiment, awakes to find the ship aground, all masts down, and bodies and gear littering the deck. Sergeant Major Hans Schuder reports that two men have been killed and the other 600 are puking their guts out. Miss Kathleen O'Reilly, a nurse from the Christian Sanitation Commission, avows that she will never set foot on a ship again, then goes below to assist Doctor Emil Weiss, the regimental physician, in treating the injured. One of the privates reports a horseman on the shore and Keane uses his field glasses to discover that the rider has a long beard, a conical iron helmet and a long spear; he is wearing a dirty white tunic that buttons up one side and has rags on his feet.

When the horseman leaves, Keane gets his men and artillery ashore and dug in against a possible attack. However, the Captain of the Ogunquit, Tobias Cromwell, calls him back aboard and up the rigging to the shattered maintop, giving Keane a view of the land beyond the nearest hills. Thousands of men are swarming towards them, lead by a mounted contingent carrying square banners portraying various symbols. Some of the horsemen are wearing rough plate armor and are clustered around a portly, bearded man wearing gold-embossed armor. The infantry looks like true medieval levies, with an insane assortment of spears, swords, clubs and pitchforks.

After the stranger arrive, they form up in a line, two priests walk down the line with censors smoking, and the strangers each cross themselves...backwards. An emissary comes forward to ask for their surrender, but Keane cannot understand the language, except for the term "boyar". When the strangers charge, some of the 35th fire a volley of blank charges and the two artillery pieces fire over the their heads. At that point, the strangers leave the field rapidly, but soon some return with their catapults and attack the ship. Keane has Major Pat O'Donald, commander of the 44th New York, target the catapults and the strangers leave the field in a wild stampede.

Then the regiment sees two moons in the sky. Amidst all the excitement that this causes, another emissary approaches the camp carrying a torch and is taken to the colonel. Kalencka is a peasant, the bard of the boyar, and has been sent to gather information on the bluecoats. After a swig of Emil's gin, Kal is eager to participate in language lessons. After three days, he is sent back with a gift of spectacles for his boyar, Ivor of the Weak-Eyes, and a flask of whiskey for himself. Reporting back to his boyar, Kal urges his boyar to form an alliance with the bluecoats, realizing that he has job security as long as no one else can speak with them. He even convinces the boyar to let him, and him alone, live among the bluecoats as his permanent spy.

Soon Keane, with his escort, are invited to a huge banquet involving numerous toasts. The next morning, they awake with terrific hangovers, but Kal has the perfect cure. Then they begin negotiations with Ivor, but are interrupted by an attack led by Mikhail, Ivor's half brother, who has been incited to rebel against the boyar by Rasnar, the local patriarch, but Mikhail has not reckoned on the firepower of Keane's escort and is driven away. Impressed by this power, Ivor provides Keane with a grant of land to build an encampment and a steady supply of food, in return for protection against Mikhail.

The regiment is now essentially independent of the Suzdal Rus, the local people, but there are other Rus boyars. And then there are the Tugar horde, aliens who are the masters of all the Rus and who, although scheduled to arrive in four years, are coming earlier.

This novel introduces an alternate world which has been ruled by an alien race who traverse fixed routes around the world, harvesting humans as cattle. The Tugar is only one of several hordes and the Rus is only one of many human groups who have come through the gates of light to leave descendents upon this world. The regiment is faced with a monumental task, but the 35th Maine has fought tougher enemies and survived.

This novel is alternate world SF much like Turtledove's Misplaced Legion. The 35th Maine is a historical reality, credited for saving the Union forces at Gettysburg and lost at sea a few months later. The author is a historian and Civil War reenactor, so the historical details of the regiment are as accurate as they can be. The Rus are also true to their ancestry, medieval Russians, but their presence on the alternate world is not attributed to any historical event.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys civil war history and alternate world wars.

-Arthur W. Jordin

This is one of the best books I've read in years. Forstchen somehow manages to put some of everything a sci-fi fan would want in a mere 412 pages. Throughout the entire book the action almost never let up. I also liked the great character development. For example, the reader watches Vincent change from an innocent Quaker to a cursing, killing, soldier.
The plot goes something like this. The 35th Maine regiment goes through a time and space warp and ends up on a planet completely alien from our own. On this alien planet, all humans are merely cattle to be eaten by the horrendous monsters that rule them. Since the book would be sort of pointless if the 35th just stood by and let everybody get eaten, they naturally stand up and fight against the superior strength and numbers of the monsters.
If you are looking for a good book to read, and you enjoy science fiction, read this book. Consider that an order.

After reading and loving Harry Turtledove's World War: In the Balance and Colonization series, a reader recommended the Lost Regiment series to me. I was completely spellbound by the vivid battle scenes and outstanding characterization portrayed in Rally Cry. Needless to say, I've ordered the other 7 titles in the series and can't wait to delve into them. I can't recommend this book strongly enough--definitely 10 stars, not 5! Again, I hope for recommendations from other readers who loved this book...

Being a fan of Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Harry Turtledove lead me to this book. I had just finished Mr. Forstchen's book "1945" and was curious of his other work.

When Union Colonel Andrew Keane along with his regiment the 35th Maine borded the transport ship "Ogunquit" they had no inkling of their fantastic journey would take them to the alien land of Valdennia filled with many pockets of humanity stolen from time to be mere herds of cattle for the violent, war-mongering, nomadic tribes of the Chosen Race of Valdennia. He doubtless would have been horrified at the lot humans had been cast in this alien society.

This engrossing well written tale begins the saga of the 35th Maine (along with the 44th New York Light Artillery) as they bring hope and new ideals of freedom to the thousands of "Rus" peasants citizens of the city of "Suzdal" living in fear from the tribe of the Chosen Race known as the Fearsome "Tugars". Under Col. Keane they teach Kalenka and the peasant Suzdalians about freedom, and how to get out from under the oppresive yoke of the "Boyar" (leader) Ivor and the Church Patriarch Rasnar.

The first half of this exciting book tells of the Rus peasants overthrow of this serfdom, and preparation for the coming battle with Muzta Qar Qarth (chieftain) of the Clan of the Tugars, a viscious alien race nearly ten feet tall! This powerful, fiersome foe, a vanquishing army of over 200,000 armed with ax,spears, catapults and bows pits itself against the army of 10,000 "freemen" consisting of the combined strength of the 35th Maine, the 44th New York (L.A.), the crew of the transport Ogunquit, along with Kalenka and the citizens of Suzdal.

We read of the ingenuity of 19th century science and tech- "no how" brought by the brave Union soldiers to this vast medieval Russian society, one of many time torn pockets of humanity that are food to the Tugars. We read also of the brave citens of Suzdal, their dreams of freedom and the terrible price to be paid for it.

The second half tells the breath taking horrific onslaught of the mighty Tugars, and of the valiant fighting spirit of this "Lost Regiment". I highly recommend this book to fans of military fiction, civil war buffs, and to science fiction fans. A great page turner, an exciting well crafted read!

This book is addictively good. I started and couldn't stop. I finished the entire novel in one day! The story and characters pulled me in. The entire book was a true testament to the horror and wonder that is warfare. Opening my mind to everything from battlefield tactics to technological development. A literary wonder. If the scale gave more than five stars, this book would get it!

Rally Cry
(1990)

The following is a summary of the plot. Some may consider it as having spoilers.
++++++++++WARNING++++++++++++
If you don't want to know a summary of the plot, don't read any further! I consider it akin to what you'd find on the back of a paperback cover.
++++++++++WARNING++++++++++++

This is the first Alternate History novel in The Lost Regiment series. The 35th Maine infantry regiment has had a magnificent history, the first to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor as a unit for their stubborn resistance to Confederate forces at Gettysburg. Now, they and the 44th New York Light Artillery board the transport Ogunquit to participate in an amphibious assault, but sail a day behind the other ships of the flotilla. The Ogunquit is caught in a storm, flounders in high waves, is sucked into a funnel of blinding light, and is then dropped elsewhere. In our timeline, neither the ship nor any of those onboard are ever seen again.

In this novel, Colonel Andrew Keane, commander of the regiment, awakes to find the ship aground, all masts down, and bodies and gear littering the deck. Sergeant Major Hans Schuder reports that two men have been killed and the other 600 are vomiting their guts out. Miss Kathleen O'Reilly, a nurse from the Christian Sanitation Commission, avows that she will never set foot on a ship again, then goes below to assist Doctor Emil Weiss, the regimental physician, in treating the injured. One of the privates reports a horseman on the shore and Keane uses his field glasses to discover that the rider has a long beard, a conical iron helmet and a long spear; he is wearing a dirty white tunic that buttons up one side and has rags on his feet.

When the horseman leaves, Keane gets his men and artillery ashore and digs in against a possible attack. However, the Captain of the Ogunquit, Tobias Cromwell, calls him back aboard and up the rigging to the shattered maintop, giving Keane a view of the land beyond the nearest hills using his more powerful telescope. Thousands of men are swarming towards them, lead by a mounted contingent carrying square banners portraying various symbols. Some of the horsemen are wearing rough plate armor and are clustered around a portly, bearded man wearing gold-embossed armor. The infantry looks like true medieval levies, with an insane assortment of spears, swords, clubs and pitchforks.

After the stranger arrive, they form up in a line, two priests walk down the line with censors smoking, and the strangers each cross themselves...backwards. An emissary comes forward to ask for their surrender, but Keane cannot understand the language, except for the term "boyar". When the strangers charge, some of the 35th fire a volley of blank charges and the two artillery pieces fire over the their heads. At that point, the strangers leave the field rapidly, but soon some return with their catapults and attack the ship. Keane has Major Pat O'Donald, commander of the 44th New York, target the catapults and the strangers leave the field, after the catapults are destroyed by the artillery.

Then the regiment sees two moons in the sky. Amidst all the excitement that this causes, another emissary approaches the camp carrying a torch and is taken to the colonel. Kalencka, aka Kal, is a peasant, the bard of the boyar, and has been sent to gather information on the bluecoats. After a swig of Emil's gin, Kal is eager to participate in language lessons. After three days, he is sent back with a gift of spectacles for his boyar, Ivor of the Weak-Eyes, and a flask of whiskey for himself. Reporting back to his boyar, Kal urges his boyar to form an alliance with the bluecoats, realizing that he has job security as long as no one else can speak with them. He even convinces the boyar to let him, and him alone, live among the bluecoats as his permanent spy.

Soon Keane, with his escort, are invited to a huge banquet involving numerous toasts. The next morning, they awake with terrific hangovers, but Kal has the perfect cure. Then they begin negotiations with Ivor, but are interrupted by an attack led by Mikhail, Ivor's half brother, who has been incited to rebel against the boyar by Rasnar, the local patriarch, but Mikhail has not reckoned on the firepower of Keane's escort and is driven away. Impressed by this power, Ivor provides Keane with a grant of land to build an encampment and a steady supply of food, in return for protection against Mikhail.
Soon the Mainers have constructed a saw mill, a foundry, some damns and other "modern niceties", all the comforts of home.

The regiment is now essentially independent of the Suzdal Rus, the local people, but there are other Rus boyars. Then there are the Tugar hordes, aliens who are the masters of all the Rus and who, although scheduled to arrive in four years, are coming earlier.
As an ex-field artillery officer, I especially enjoyed the battles where the Regiment demonstrates what Civil War era field artillery could do.
+++++++SPOILER ALERT+++++++++++
Unfortunately, two Mainers are taking captive during the battle along with some weapons. Will they tell the Rus how to operate the weapons and make ammunition? Stay tuned to find out.

This novel introduces an alternate world which has been ruled by an alien race which traverse fixed routes around the world, harvesting humans as cattle. The Tugar is only one of several hordes and the Rus is only one of many human groups who have come through the gates of light to leave descendents upon this world. The regiment is faced with a monumental task, but the 35th Maine has fought tougher enemies and survived.
++++++++WARNING++++++++++
Your better have a strong stomach when you get to the Tugar segments, especially the feasting.

This novel is an alternate world SF much like The Misplaced Legion. The 35th Maine is a historical reality, credited for saving the Union forces at Gettysburg and lost at sea a few months later. The author Civil War re-enactor, so the historical details of the regiment are as accurate as they can be. The Rus are also true to their ancestry, medieval Russians, but their presence on the alternate world is not attributed to any historical event.

I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in Civil War history and alternate world wars.

All-in all, this might very well be the best book that I've read so far, this year(CHECK OUT MY PROFILES and see my reviews so far this year to see what I'M comparing it to. I can't wait to read the rest in the series. See my Listmania(entitled "William R. Forstchen Books") for the other titles in this series.I've already ordered the second volume The Union Forever and am anxiously awaiting it to arrive(it is only available through second party vendors via AMAZON AT THIS TIME. BTW, THERE ARE TWO BOOKS IN ONE IN THIS VOLUME,BOOK II STARTS ON PAGE 240.



Gunner April,2011

Imagine the idealism of the civil war transported to a world where humans are not only slaves, but food for a carvnivorous species of aliens and you have the premise of this captivating novel. William Forstchen takes the troops and fervor of the 35th Maine regiment and transports them to a new world where they set out to spread the belief in human freedoms and the American way. Along the way they abolish feudilism and throw off the yoke of man eating aliens who see humans as nothing more than cattle for their dining pleasure. A must read for those fans of alternate history.

This first book is unquestionably the best of the series. What makes it so rewarding is that the history is real on both sides of the story. Yes, as all the other commentators have noted, Andrew Keane and his Maine men are in every way equal in courage and idealism to Colonel Chamberlain and his team from THE KILLER ANGELS. It really is heart-wrenching and inspiring to see the events in this action-packed story give literal meaning to phrases like "we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more." The book shows that the "battle cry of freedom" was not merely an idealistic wish but a realistic and workable policy.

But what no one has noticed is that the book is at least as enlightening on the subject of RUSSIAN history and society. The Tugar hordes are an alien race, but Forstchen's stroke of genius was to make them human by giving them the culture, outlook and capabilities of Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes. Note that this author bucks fifty years of Science Fiction convention here. These space aliens are not little green men with huge, bulging craniums and ray guns. Rather they are eight foot giants who despise all learning, technology, and even basic handicrafts. They are trapped in a nomadic, essentially sterile way of life that goes nowhere, and little by little in each book you sense their increasing pessimism and despair. Sustained brilliance by Forstchen makes these "hordes" into characters as compelling as any in the works of Larry McMurtry or James Fenimore Cooper. The hordes are doomed to extinction just like the noble red men of the American west.

Returning to the Mongol hordes analogy, however, what makes RALLY CRY such an eye-opening book is Forstchen's analysis of medieval Russia. Here THE KILLER ANGELS meets ALEKSANDER NEVSKY. Forstchen shows how the unhealthy alliance between boyars and the church, and the suffocation of the peasants, is a long-lasting after effect of the terrifying threat of Mongol invasion. Never before did I see quite so clearly how and why Russia evolved into a backwards, impoverished autocracy. The unspeakable horror of the Tugar feasts allows the nobility and the church to rule unquestioned and with no accountability to their own people. Though this is science fiction, it is also superb social commentary and insightful history.

This book is a classic -- even if you hate science fiction, you will love this!