3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Devilkid on the Loose, July 14, 2004
The Silent Warrior continues to follow the devilkid Gerswin as he attempts to procure biological technologies that will aid in the recovery of his home, Old Earth. Gerswin uses the OER Foundation and its administrator, Lyr D'Meryon, to cultivate these new technologies. But, after many decades spent in the cause of restoring Old Earth to its former glory, Gerswin is getting restless at the slow pace and takes drastic action to speed up the process. Oh...and he is also being hunted by the Empire-spanning Assassins Guild, who will stop at nothing to get to Gerswin...they will even go through those he loves.
The Silent Warrior was a better book than its predecessor, Dawn For a Distant Earth. The pace was faster and more "stuff" just seemed to be going on. But...Modesitt's prose is still clunky, and at times a bit difficult to read because of it. Also, there were too many characters that just seemed to show up to advance the plot along -- usually this entailed dying. I think Modesitt would have been better off developing two or three of the more minor characters to show us the depth that Gerswin is willing to go to use these people...even if they do benefit at times (not every minor character dies). My finally criticism is that the ending to this book, like the last, was incomplete and not very satisfying...it just served to lead us into the third and finally book (which hopefully does have a satisfying conclusion...seeing as how it's the conclusion to the trilogy).
Despite these criticisms, this book really was much better than the first. As mentioned above, Lyr -- the administrator of the OER Foundation -- was really an interesting character...at least from the point of view of her running the Foundation (we only get a few hints at her personal life). Her interaction with Gerswin helps to transform him a bit as a character. She shows him that he must rely, at least in some small way, on other people.
Overall, this book should only be read within the context of the trilogy, but is nonetheless a decent overall book and I look forward to topping off the trilogy.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Sequel!, December 14, 2001
Silent Warrior continues Gerswin's quest to restore and rebuild a nuclear war ravaged Earth in the face of opposition from a powerful galactic empire. In this, the second part of the trilogy, Modesitt examines both the political and economic labyrinths that Gerswin has to navigate through to to gain the leverage he needs to accomplish his massive undertaking. The book's also not short on action, as Gerswin has to battle and outwit the assasins guild, commerical rivals and the galactic intelligence service, while trying to keep his agenda and the fact that he's immortal hidden.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forging the Tools, June 11, 2004
This review is from: The Silent Warrior: The Forever Hero, Volume 2 (Mass Market Paperback)
The Silent Warrior is the second novel in The Forever Hero trilogy, following Dawn for a Distant Earth. In the previous volume, Gershwin and his compatriots liberate a shipload of arcdozers for the reclamation effort. When they return the (mostly) unhurt crew of the stolen ship, the Empire quickly determines the perpetuators of the hijacking and move in force on Old Earth. The Court of Inquiry soon establishes guilt, but is reluctant to publicize the crime. They recommend leaving the arcdozers in place and transferring the current garrison to the newly formed Imperial Reclamation and Restoration Corps.
In this novel, Gershwin turns down the opportunity to become Commandant of the new Recorps and instead leaves Old Earth to take command of an underpowered and overtasked cruiser, the Fleurdilis, to make initial contact with a previously unknown alien species. Despite a xenophobic executive officer and an ignorance of native customs, Gershwin establishes friendly relations with the aliens, who he names Ursans, and smoothes their further contacts with the Empire. He and his crew are commended for their performance.
After fifteen years on the fringes, Gershwin requests a change of duty to Maintenance in an outbase station. He is assigned as the Commander of an underutilized and obsolescent refitting center and salvage yard. Naturally, he starts turning it into a Galactic class refit station. He marries Allison and they have a son, Corson.
Gershwin also becomes active as the trustee of the OER Foundation founded by Caroljoy, his first lover. He steers the research grants toward less conventional biological technology. Later, he starts forming small commercial companies to market the new biological products.
When the Guild tries to assassinate Gershwin, he determines to destroy the organization. With the assistance of Lyr, the Administrator of the OER Foundation, and some new companies, Gershwin tracks the movements of the Guild leadership. Then he starts to terminate them using their own methods.
Highly recommended for Modesitt fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of individual daring, dedicated perseverance, and commercial intrigue with a touch of romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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