Customer Reviews

Rally Point (Demontech, Book 2)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rally Point (2003) is the second novel of the Demontech series, following Onslaught. In the previous volume, Spinner and Haft have escaped from the Jokapcul invasion of New Bally and start their trek northeastward through Bostia, intending to cross Skragland and then turn south to the port of Zorba City, where they can get passage to Frangeria. After a bit of excitement over a hungry gray tabur, a large feline, they meet Silent, a Tangonine giant, who joins them in combat against a Jokapcul unit at the Skragland border. Unfortunately, one of the Jokapcul gets away, so Haft and Spinner take three of the Jokapcul horses and ride east.

After a spot of trouble at the Burnt Man Inn, Spinner and Haft depart in the company of the Golden Girl, Doli, Zweepee, and Fletcher. A few days later, Wolf starts following them and, occasionally, leading them to battle sites. They follow the path of a Zorban unit and arrive just as a Jokapcul company attacks them. Although they drive off the enemy for a short while, the Jokapcul soon return and are wearing down their small group when Silent roars into the Jokapcul rear and sends them tumbling like bowling pins. After finishing off the enemy, they add the horses to their own and continue on their way, gathering fighting men and some refugees as they travel.

In this novel, the Dark Prince demands that the Jokapcul magicians find out more about the bandits attacking their men in the north. One of the mages sends out a hive of bees to hunt for the group led by Haft and Spinner.

Meanwhile, the group has been fleeing east from the Jokapcul advance, but soon discover that they have insufficient food and water for travel across the Eastern Waste. They follow the borders of the waste south toward the Princedons. They now have enough fighting men to make up a reinforced platoon: Zorbans, Skraglanders, and a few sea soldiers who have escaped from Zorba City. They are beginning to pick off small units of Jokapcul and any bandits foolish enough to attack them. They even rescue a Skragland unit from a bandit ambush. Then they come to the town of Eikby.

While Spinner and Haft are negotiating with the town mayor, the group camps nearby and prepares a meal. Shortly thereafter, numerous bandits attack the camp, deliberately inflicting injuries to several women and children, but are driven off by the returning fighting men. The bandit gang is well known to the townsfolk and the group are warned that they will gather as many other bandit gangs as possible and return to attack them once again as retaliation for previous losses. The town mayor wants to send the newcomers away, but is overruled by the Commander of the Eikby Guard. The townsfolk start preparing for an attack by the bandits.

Then refugees from Penston brings word that the Jokapcul have taken that city and are coming up the peninsula toward Eikby.

This novel shows the development of Haft and Spinner into leaders as they accept responsibility for more and more refugees and finally for a full town. While they still have a duty to report the invasion, they can't just walk off and leave these men, women and children to their own device.

Spinner is especially conflicted by the number of people who have died under their leadership. He can't see where these losses could be prevented and assumes that his incomprehension proves his lack of competence. On the other hand, Haft still has a problem with impetuosity. He clearly sees the enemy's weaknesses, but fails to consider the consequences of accident and error. However, the fighting begins to teach him a little more about prior planning and, in particular, the value of contingency planning.

Recommended for Sherman fans and anyone else who enjoys ground combat in a fantasy setting.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Ok! If you read my comments on Onslaught you would know that while I enjoyed it I was unhappy with its lack of a conclusion. Well, here it is with all the page turning action and derring do you could hope for. While it (of course) sets the stage for further books in the series, Rally Point completes the story arc begun in Onslaught with a satisfying, bang up ending. Sherman's use of demons as analogs for modern weapons adds an interesting dimension to the story telling while adding an element of humor as well. It lends new meaning to the term 'smart weapon'. No spoilers here, just buy it, but make sure you have both Demontech I and II. If you are into action and military oriented fantasy these books are guaranted to satisfy. I now look forward (without the frustration) for the next book in the series.

I am not going to put a synopsis of the book here, others have already done it and probably done it better than I ever could. I just want to say that I own all 3 books in the series and was very disappointed to see that that last 3 books will NOT be published. It seems sales are low even though reviews are rating this series very highly. I urge you to buy this book is you like Sword and Sorcery and/or Military SF, this series seamlessly combines both. The book is entertaining, well written, with great fully realized characters. Recommend this book to others you think would like it and take a moment to write the publishers and ask them to please release the rest of the books.

Haft and spinner have picked up a small band and are being pushed across the land by the armies of the Dark Prince, entering the lands of Zobra as they trek looking for a sea port to take them back to their home port of Frangeria to get help.

Silent, a giant from the Northern steppes, out on an adventure to see the known world.

Wolf, a beast that moves in stealth watching and warding from afar and eventually befreinds and joins the group.

The Golden Girl, spiteful and course, having Spinner beguiled, and hating him and haft for taking away her musician.

Doli, love struck tavern girl, who was freed from slavery by Our Marine Duo.

Flecher and Zweepee, a married couple also freed from slavery and joined the escape from the dark minions.

The small group grows into hundreds as they move thru the lands, they encounter a town beset by bandit gangs, as they run from the Jokapcul armies ravaging the lands behind them.

Demontech weapons are discovered and employed by their new magician, Xundoe. He teachs the company how to use Demon spitters and other weapons. He sets off Phoinex eggs and fire salamanders as they battle and struggle against their old and new foe's.

The reader is introduced to the concept of the Rally point, a place where people go when the fog of war gets out of hand.

Great Battles, great charcters, running adventure, page turning fun, like Lord Gunny says, "Buy this book too, you cant go wrong!"

The first book in the DEMONTECH series described how 2 marines managed to flee the invasion of the country their ship was visiting and gather a small following of fellow refugees in the process. This second book expands on that. They are still wandering and looking for a way to catch a ship back to their home but it is becoming harder and harder. The bad guys are after them and route after route is blocked. They are also picking up more refugees and stragglers.

Most of the refugees are just that. They are helpless women and children but they are also picking up the occasional soldier of defeated armies. Sometimes they have to fight. That leads them to a singular position in this world. These are the only guys to fight the bad guys and WIN. That makes them hero and attracts more followers. That is also how privates Haft and Spinner become "Lords" Haft and Spinner.

These guys are the stuff of heroes but they don't have the training to lead large bodies numbering in the thousands. That they succeed and even save a town makes them more heroic.

There is more yet to come. The wandering is still not at an end and the BAD guys are still expanding their empire. I look forward to more.

I read this book awhile ago and just recently reread the series. I am not a big fantasy fan, but this is a great read. If you are looking for something that is exciting, fun and a page turner, read this series, you will not be disappointed.

The second book in an excellent Science Fiction/Fantasy series, it continues building on the concept of what the impact of USMC training and tradition would be on the inhabitants of a low tech society. I found it to be a well written book with entertaining characters and a good story line. I highly recommend this book along with the others in series.

The Dark Prince's invasion is going flawlessly, everywhere except where it has run into a small band of sea warriors--self-styled marines. Admittedly, a few marines shouldn't be able to do much against nation-destroying hordes, but the Dark Prince doesn't believe in taking chances. He sends his magicians to spy on the marines, determine their plans, and to prepare for their complete destruction.

Spinner and Haft, guided by the immortal readings from a Marine Sergeant, have gathered a small group of refugees--troops whose nations were destroyed or who deserted before they could fight (few other than Spinner and Haft have actually survived a battle with the Dark Prince's army). But with the Dark Prince's eye on them, and with bandits, bad weather, and restless locals, the Marines are in big trouble. Still, when they have an opportunity to ambush and defeat a small band of the Prince's men, the defeated soldiers in their band start to perk up. With the help of their mage, and of a wolf who understands human speech, they develop a plan to make the Prince pay more than he wants for his victory. Of course, this assumes that their own differences, including romantic complications, don't cause the Marines to self-destruct first.

Author David Sherman delivers an action-packed tale of magic and heroism. The Marine elements give the story a bit of grounding in our own universe, and the magic system is close enough to modern technology to allow Marine doctrine to work. Sherman's writing is effective and helps compell the reader through the story. The character development and interactions helps raise the novel above a purely adventure story. RALLY POINT is an enjoyable light read.

This book was better written than the first of the series. The scenes seemed to flow smoother than in the first one. However, certain characters keep getting on my nerves (Spinner and Alyline most of all). Yet, that's a sign of excellent characterization on the author's part.

So overall, the author did a wonderful job with book 2!

I love this series. I bought all three books at once and read them all in one sitting, only stopping long enough to take bathroom breaks. I want this series to continue. I think it was a lose to the readers of the world when this series was cancelled just because book three didn't sell as fast as the other two. I only picked up this series because I was waiting for the authors I follow to publish something new.
I would keep following this series if someone would figure out it's a good idea to keep publishing it.