Sten [Mass Market Paperback]

Allan Cole (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Ballantine (1988)
• ASIN: B0012VLFJ6
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

More About the Author

ALLAN COLE is a best-selling author, screenwriter and former prize-winning newsman. The son of a CIA operative, Cole was raised in Europe and the Far East. For details see Allan's website at www.acole.com. Here's what critics have said about Cole's work: The Sten Series: Landmark science fiction -Publishers Weekly; When The Gods Slept: Page turner of the year - Locus; The Far Kingdoms Series: Glorious... Swashbuckling - Locus; A Reckoning For Kings: Classic war novel - SF Chronicle; Lucky In Cyprus - A haunting, enlightening experience - BookLoons.com; A Cop's Life: Must read by anyone with a badge - Philadelphia Fraternal Order Of Police.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Start to a Great Series, August 2, 2002

By 

C. Pellitteri (Upland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sten (Paperback)

This is the first of the "Sten" series. It's a great sci-fi read with pleanty of classic sci-fi premisies with a few twists.

One of the nice things about this series is that it ends. Once you get excited about reading these books and become attached to the characters, you can simply pick up the next book and continue on. There is no waiting through years of writers block or movies deals (a la Robert Asprin and JK Rowling).

Yes, it's sad that a series you enjoy ends, but at least you have the sense of completion and closure to the story. Since no series can go on forever it's nice to finish strong.

This, as the first installment, is a great read on it's own merits. It's a great story with great characters.

If you're a fan of books like Starship Troopers (book NOT movie) and Ender's Game - I think you'll like this book and it's sequels.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a smart, fast paced sci-fi adventure series., September 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sten (STEN Adventure #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Sten series offers sci-fi diehards the opportunity to explore a universe where the greater good isn't all that's cracked up to be. Follow our hero Sten as he slices, kicks and punches his way through some of the toughest and dangerous assignments for the Eternal Emperor. An unlikely man thrust into unlikely dangers, only to survive and come back for more. With his heavy-worlder sidekick Alex at his side, trouble is never too far away! Follow plot twists more crooked than a Campbell! If high adventure in space is your game then Sten is your man.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good SF Adventure., August 5, 2010

By 

J. Perkins (Abingdon, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sten (STEN Adventure #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked this up at a used book store recently because I have enjoyed other series by these authors (Anteros series, Last Legion series, Star Risk, and Seer King trilogy). None of their books, including this one, have ever bored me. They keep the action fast-paced, and their plots and characters are always engaging.

This is an exciting SF tale of revenge set in the far future. A very brief summary: Sten lives on Vulcan, a constructed factory world that basically enslaves its workers, never allowing them to get ahead on their contracts and thus never allowing them to leave. Sten's family is killed in an apparent accident, but it turns out that the ruler of Vulcan callously sacrificed them to cover-up his plot against the Eternal Emperor. Sten rebels and lives among outcasts who haunt the long-unoccupied sections of Vulcan. Sten then aids one of the Emperor's undercover operatives, who offers him the chance to get off-world and escape the misery of Vulcan. Sten then joins the Emperor's special forces and later returns to Vulcan to exact his revenge on the ruler of Vulcan.

This is a promising beginning to a multi-volume series. You get a glimpse of an interesting world and entertaining characters, including Sten's team members. One of the most interesting characters is the Emperor, who is hundreds of years old. He is eccentric and is constantly trying to recreate food and liquors from Earth long ago. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a readable and exciting action tale in a scifi setting.