Customer Reviews

Starfist: Wings of Hell

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

 

 

I have read all (13) Starfist First to Fight (Starfist, Book 1) and (3) Starfist:Force Recon books Starfist: Force Recon: Recoil . I am disappointed with this one. It lacks the development of previously introduced characters and plots. I was hoping to get more progression/development of the aliens. Who have been the main antagonist of the Marines since the early books. Where do they come from? what are there goals? It is well past time for this series to get into these issues. The story is stale and running out of steam without it. This is like reading a long simple short story. If you are new to the series start at the beginning (which are excellent) and work your way to this one. Two Stars for me - Buy this one USED!

Writing style was easy to read and fun. But all in all a disappointment. The book seem to be a collection of random short stories that might eventually come together some day some way.. a preacher and mistress. a child skink and mad doctor. a recon team. a couple small fights. Guess this should be listed as a continuing publication and not a book...

Although it reads well and keeps the storylines moving in the series, this entry is somewhat forgetable and thus only gets 4 stars.

Wow. Unexpected. My copy has a review by a R. Peters: "Caution! Any book written by Cragg and Sherman [who have a deep knowledge of warfare] is bound to be addictive ". Well, I had expected more action from a military sci-fi book. Still a somewhat entertaining book, but not my favorite. I found Old man's war books by Scalzi or "Legion of the Damned" by Dietz more entertaining. I've heard/read great things about the StarFist series and have ordered the first 2. I hope this one was the odd one in the series.

I am always glad to see a new book in this series but this seems to be a mixture of romance novel, soft porn and cigar advertisement, with a little military action against the bad guys.
Ten or fifteen centuries into the future, I would hope tobacco addiction would have been put to rest. It certainly adds nothing but words, and just slows down the story line.
And I'll accept a little romantic involvement, but not page after page of rambling feelings that have nothing to do with the story.
While the goings on at Big Barbs is acceptable as part of the character of soldiers, it doesn't require page after page of who's doing what and where.
The sad thing, in my opinion, is most of it is just filler before the war begins. The weapons used on both sides do not allow for a lengthy military engagement, so fewer pages are needed to describe the destruction of the bad guys.
All the "filler" aside, it's always a pleasure to escape reality for a while as FIST wins the day! I've read all the FIST and Force Recon series... and look forward to the next one.
Norm

Get the entire series and plan on a longterm involvement with the characters in these books!

$3.50 more for the Kindle edition rather than the the paperback edition? This is incredulous. A Kindle edition should be LESS than a paperback edition. Shame on this publisher.

This is another great book from David Sherman and Dan Cragg about the 34 FIST. You should read Starfist: Force Recon Recoil first because the story starts in that book with Recon finding the aliens first. Lots of action as is normal in this series. I would reommend you read all the Starfist books. They are well worth your money.

The troops of the 34th FIST (Fleet Initial Strike Team) marines feel like A WORLD OF HURT after their latest battles with the alien Skinks (see FIRESTORM). Those who survived are mentally and physically tired and looking forward to R&R at their home station installation on the planet Thorsfinni's World.

One thing the latest fight did do was to raise the consciousness level of the Confederation, which is no longer in denial, that the Skinks exist. However, some politicians running for office on earth strongly resent the marines trying to cause a war as they from their safe haven believe the aliens are not dangerous. Out in space light years away from the mother planet, the Skinks manage to establish a landing on Haulover. Rest, relaxation and healing are over as the 34th is deployed to repel the invaders from Haulover while other military components and economic and political interests especially the presidential election campaign interfere for differing reasons.

WINGS OF HELL may be the best entry in this superb military science fiction saga. What makes this tale and the entire Starfist universe (see Force Recon series) excellent is the insightful look at the psychology of the individuals of a unit and the team building sociological aspects in which the squad supersedes the person. For instance outside events like politicians pandering for reelection especially harm the morale. Fans will enjoy this fabulous interstellar military science fiction that cleverly uses space like it is the Pacific Ocean and planets are islands where battles occur.

Harriet Klausner

Wings of Hell (2008) is the thirteenth SF novel in the StarFIST series, following Firestorm. In the previous volume, the President of the Confederation announced the existence of the Skinks. Then she rescinded the quarantine on the personnel who have faced the Skinks in combat. This news slowly spread throughout the member worlds.

The whole Confederacy was ordered to supply troops to the Aguinaldo Taskforce. The Coalition worlds were heavily tasked since they are within the region and their troops have recent combat experience. Of course, most worlds sent their worst troops.

In this novel, Jak Daly is an Ensign in Force Recon for the Fourth Fleet Marine Force. He was sent to Haulover with two squads to solve some disappearances in the colony. They found Skinks causing the problems.

Anders Aguinaldo is a General in the Confederation Marines, the only four star general in the Corps. He commands Task Force Aguinaldo, a joint command that was created in response to the Skinks.

Alistair Cazombi is a Lieutenant General in the Confederation Marine Corps. He is also Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Patrice Carano is a Lieutenant General in the Confederation Army. Pat commands XVIII Corps.

Theodosius Sturgeon is a Brigadier in the Confederation Marine Corps. Ted is commander of the 34th Fleet Initial Strike Team.

Rene Raggel was a Colonel in the Coalition forces, an aide to General Davis Lyons. Now he has been preempted by Task Force Aguinaldo. He commands the Seventh Independent Military Police battalion.

Charles Bass is an Ensign in the Confederation Marines. Charlie commands the Third Platoon, Lima Company, Infantry battalion of the Thirty-fourth FIST.

Puella Queege is a senior sargeant in the Seventh MP Battalion. Puella works as clerk for Colonel Raggel. She may be the best shot in the Confederation forces.

Moses is a young skink. He had been found in some bulrushs near the river, hence the name. He was taken from the Brattle family of New Salem on Kingdom by two scientists and never returned to his family. Zechariah Brattle writes a letter to Charlie Bass explaining the situation.

In this story, the President of the Confederacy is being challenged in the upcoming elections. It looks very much like she will lose. Then her War Minister calls in a favor.

Zechariah's letter reaches Charlie on Thorfinni. He is very concerned and takes it to his company commander. The letter travels up the chain of command to Cazombi. Then he takes it to the War Minister and thus to the President. The Attorney General starts a search for Moses and the two scientists.

The 34th FIST gets orders to join the Aguinaldo Taskforce at Haulover. Before their departure, Brigadier Sturgeon promotes Charlie Bass to Lieutenant. Then the troopers store all excess baggage and prepare to leave. Corporal Dean gets an embarrassing surprise in the departure formation when Jenti runs out to intercepts him and express her love.

The 34th leaves Thorfinni on the CNSS Grandar Bay. When they arrive off Haulover, their ship joins the rest of the gator fleet in orbit. General Carano summons Daly to his flagship and they have a conference with all the major commanders. Although scheduled to leave with his marines, Daly asks to stay onplanet and Carano accepts him as an aide.

General Carano meets with the civilian government heads and declares martial law. Then Colonel Raggel, his battalion CSM, and Puella give them a short introduction on the laws that will apply. Raggel has to threaten Smelt Miner with indefinite confinement, but the civilians settle down for a while.

The Skink Grand Master has been waiting for the Confederation forces. The Skinks soon attack with aircraft to the great surprise of the Confederation troops. But the Grand Master is disappointed that few of the newcomers are Marines.

Then Aguinaldo arrives with the XXX Corps and takes the war to the Skinks. The 34th FIST gets more than their share of fighting. After all, they are the most experienced Skink fighters in the Confederation.

This tale contains numerous surprises from the Skinks. The Marines save Army troopers on many occasions. The Army starts learning to expect the unexpected.

This novel concludes the Haulover storyline. But the 34th finds new troubles in Double Jeopardy. Read and enjoy.

Recommended for Sherman & Cragg fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed combat, political maneuvers, and personal courage.

-Arthur W. Jordin