Customer Reviews

Tran

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

 

 

Beware Tran. Having bought it here believing it to be a new book, I discovered that it is merely two earlier Pournelle and Green novels (Storms of Victory and one other) republished under a new name. (An annoying practice, to which the Baen Book company is especially prone.) I had liked both of those books when I first read them, but not enough to buy them twice. (It should be noted that the book does warn you of its contents on the back cover -- caveat lector or net buyer.

Tran is a continuation of Janissaries, and combines the 2nd and 3rd books; "Clan & Crown", and "Storms of Victory".

If you enjoy this type of story, I'd also suggest David Drake's "Ranks of Bronze", Roman legionaries captured and sold to aliens to fight their battles. It continues with "Foreign Legions" a shared world anthology where Drake allows other authors to write their own stories in this universe. There is a follow up book, "The Excalibur Alternative", in which David Weber expands on his short story from the anthology and turns it into a novel in it's own right.

It was a very good book all the way up until the ending. When I got to the ending I couldn't believe it was really over. I had many unanswered questions and the plot never really got any closure. The book starts off good, then it has a few good climaxes, and then it just stops. There was never a resolution to many plots and subplots. It leaves you wanting to know what will happen next, but you never get to find out because the book is over and there are no sequels that I know of on the market. For a book almost 700 pages long you may want to consider this before you begin to read.

I have just started reading this series and I like it. I also visited Pournelle's site and saw this:

MAMELUKES: Latest Janissaries Novel. I have 65,000 words done of about 80,000. There are many new characters, as well as all -- ALL -- of the old ones. A lot happens. A LOT. Some happens off stage in the High Commission: I have no viewpoint characters who can see that, but the effects will be felt both on Earth and Tran.

I've been working pretty steadily on this. Watch out for Ghurkas...

Alas, as of Fall 2004 I haven't finished this. It is about next on my schedule, after Burning Tower

This is an excellent book, with battles combining modern military weapons and tactics with ancient weapons like swords and spears. Unfortunately at the end of the book there are still many plot issues which have not been resolved. A sequel is needed!

a pointless re-issue of a book that should have had a sequel years ago... unless the authors are planning to resolve the dangling plot lines some time in this century it isn't worth reading..

This is a reprinting of older books in the Tran series. Both are by now very old and there is no evidence that the series will every be continued, much less concluded. At least wait until a new book appears. Too bad since the series otherwise worthwhile, but this is one of too many examples where series never get finished.

I'd give this series a five except that Jerry Pournelle, the absolute King of Procrastination, stopped writing the final volume several years ago after putting together some 80,000 words. His publisher, and the fans of this series, are fit to be tied.

Very good book for any alternative history freak. For everybody ever dreaming about what if to give a mashinegun to Spartakus. I need a sequel !

If you like your sci-fi fast, fun, and a easy read then this is for you. Unfortunately the end is a letdown, it seemed to me that there was going to be another book or two and it never happened. Many things are left unresolved and that is a shame. I could see this as a hour-long TV show (c'mon Xena was a hit).