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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
best of this series by a large margin, December 16, 2006
This review is from: Unto the Breach (Paladin of Shadows, Book 4) (Hardcover)
This is the fourth book (third novel) in a contemporary military fantasy. The books feature lots of violence (discussed graphically -- more so in this one than any of the others), lots of sex (discussed graphically -- although not nearly so much in this one as the others), and lots of right-wing political commentary. The violence, sex, and politics have been both a strength and a weakness of the series. While they have made the books feel real, they have also been a little to obtrusive, interrupting the flow of the story. But in this book, that doesn't happen nearly as much.
Mike Harmon/Jenkins still inhabits the perfect fantasy world for a Spec Ops soldier. He has a great team to work with, all the luxury and women he could want, his pick of arms and military technology, the unstinting support at a personal and professional level of President Bush (renamed "Cliff" in the novels), and not a single problem soldier in his entire command structure (except for possibly one sociopathic former whore turned spy/assassin). Plus, he doesn't have to take any missions he doesn't want to take.
But unlike some of the previous books (and especially the last one), this novel shows that Mike also has some problems to deal with. In a nutshell, he has become responsible for the welfare of an entire culture, and he struggles to be worthy of this burden. I thought that the previous book was much too self-indulgent, but in this book I felt more sympathy for Mike. I also thought the supporting characters were better drawn and more "characters" than "supporting" -- a welcome improvement.
There are a few slow moments early on in the book, and a certain amount of (what seemed to me to be) unreality. The setup takes a long time, and yet still manages to happen too fast. It's not just that in the span of about a week he pulls off a hugely complicated operation, but he also recruits helicopter pilots, buys and arms Hind helicopters, hires a spymaster who trains his current spy, trains his soldiers for mountaineering, trains some of them for HALO drops, and otherwise does months or years work of work, mostly personally. During that time he also manages to fly to the White House (from the country of Georgia) and dine with the President while his executive assistant and hareem-master hits it off with the First Lady and does some shopping. All of this is entertaining, though not convincing.
But when the operation actually starts, so does the real heart of the book. I won't describe it in great detail, since the book itself does that. But you feel pulled in to the action with the Keldera, especially when they end up in the classic situation of a small force of light infantry stuck on fortified high ground and surrounded by a much larger enemy force. The result is a battle that reminded me strongly of the best work by Jerry Pournelle.
It would be hard to recommend that new readers start with Unto The Breach. This is the fourth book in the series, and while the basic story does stand alone, the characterization does not. To understand Mike, and perhaps more importantly, the Keldera he rules, you have to at least read Kildar. Even though there was an annoyingly large amount of "Previously...." recapping exposition, that is not enough to actually understand where the characters are coming from. But that's always an issue in a series, and this book is more independent than many.
If you are looking for an exciting thriller, and especially if you liked the previous books but disliked the graphic sex, this is a book you want to read. If you are squeemish about depictions of violence and graphic death, then this is one you want to avoid -- but then you probably wouldn't be looking at reading it anyway. And if depictions of President Bush and his cabinet as the perfection of leadership, wisdom, and and honor infuriate you, well then those sections of the book can be glossed over without any real harm to the story.
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pity About the Chechens, December 12, 2006
This review is from: Unto the Breach (Paladin of Shadows, Book 4) (Hardcover)
Unto the Breach (2006) is the fourth novel in the Ghost series, following Choosers of the Slain. In the previous volume, the distaff side of the operation against the Albanians pulls their weight. Creata -- Mouse -- saved the DVDs by disemboweling Boris with her laser after he has killed her guard Ivan. Elena and Catrina rescued Oleg and Juris with three boxes of ammo for the MG-240. Katya -- Cottontail -- saved Natalya by beating Bezhmel to death. Mike did get a little fun by offering the Senator the choice of getting out of politics or going down in flames; of course, Mike billed him for the full five million.
In this novel, Mike gets a request from the President for him to drop by for a visit. Mike takes Anastasia along for a shopping spree and she thoroughly enjoys meeting the First Lady and shopping with the General's wife. Meanwhile, Mike is briefed at the Pentagon on a meet between Russian mafiosi and the Chechens to hand over three pocket nukes.
The weapons had been liberated from a Russian research facility by Dr. Telegen Arensky. Apparently his daughter Marina had been taken by the Russian Mafia and used to buy his cooperation. He would be guarded by Sergei Rudenko, a former Spetznaz colonel, and his group of former Spetznaz.
Then Mike has a very private briefing by Colonel Erkin Chechnik, a Russian intel officer, on the real nature of the items being traded in the Pankisi Gorge. He learns that the stolen containers actually house a biological weapon of great potency. Mike still doesn't want to take his Keldara into the Chechen controlled area, but the stakes are exceeding high.
In this story, Mike sets up an operation into the Pankisi Gorge and starts acquiring weapons, equipment and training devices, including a freefall trainer. He also acquires the services of Jay, a humint specialist, whom he puts in charge of Katya. Jay gets her attention at the first meeting and keeps her interest throughout the operation.
Mike is finally forced into acquiring two helicopters -- new Hind-J models -- and two ex-Marine pilots to fly them; fortunately he has no problems with female pilots. Ex-Captains Tammy Wilson and Kacey Bathlik have prior experience with Mike, having meet him after the nuclear explosion in the Bermuda Islands. He also gets the services of a US Army Ranger company to guard the home area while the Mountain Tigers are away and an Ukrainian AN-70 to drop them into the valley.
Then there is the young male tiger roaming the Keldar area. A symbol of Keldara empowerment?
Once again, this work contains explicit violence and sex. Even the President gets sick at the gore in this story. Don't read this book unless you have a strong stomach.
Highly recommended for Ringo fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of special operations, political intrigue, and a touch of romance.
-Bill Jordin
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11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harlequin Romance for us guys. . . and then some. . ., December 23, 2006
This review is from: Unto the Breach (Paladin of Shadows, Book 4) (Hardcover)
As others have mentioned, John Ringo's writing just keeps getting better and better. Yes, the tales of the Kildar and his crew are perhaps the ultimate in male military fantasy: Bold men, sexy women, riveting action. And yet John goes beyond pure testosterone slush: we care more and more about Mike Harmon, the Keldara, and the rest of his merry band of warriors. Deep pathos, unsuspected romance, realistic politics, it's all there.
I've been following the tales of Mike Harmon, aka "Ghost", and more recently known as the Kildar, since John posted what he called "the Wanker Piece", years ago, on the Baen Bar. It just doesn't get better than this. . . until, of course, the next volume comes out in 2007 ("A Deeper Blue". . .and I've seen the first 9 chapters, it IS even better. . .).
So sit back with a cold bottle of Mountain Tiger beer, and hang on for the ride of your life. . .
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