Customer Reviews

The Vang: The Military Form

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Oh boy, this is one scary story. I remember having some fabulous nightmares after reading the first novel in this two part series, (not including Star Hammer). "The Vang: The military form" is fast paced, graphic and horrifically personal. Rowley wrote it nearly ten years after the movie "Alien" was released, so he must have been aware that comparisons would be made. In reality the similarities are more in feel than in format. If Hollywood ever gets around to making a film of the Aliens reaching earth, they could do a lot worse than to use Rowley's book as a template.

The Vang is an aggressive militaristic species that was supposed to have been exterminated by a race, now long dead. The evidence of this is found in archaeological records as well as a large number of post nova solar systems. It seems that the only way this ancient race found to eradicate the Vang, once it had a foot hold on a planet, was to destroy the solar system with a special "Star Hammer" weapon. Such a high price was deemed necessary because the Vang's method of expansion was always at the expense of the species around it. In fact this race was quite happy to utilize the bodies of any other life form as a temporary source of mobility and food. Over all, the Vang are not pleasant neighbors.

The story starts some thousands of years after the last Vang sighting. They are almost considered a myth by this time and so an illegal prospector is unprepared for what he finds on an old derelict in a remote asteroid belt. Naturally he becomes the Vang's first host and as the story progresses we find that this species has many forms, like bees or ants. The genetic codes for each form are contained in each individual and will only be expressed under certain conditions. For example when a bee hive looses it's queen some of the new hatchlings will automatically become queens.

The horror of the story is always generated from a human's point of view as the Vang manage to infest one of the outer worlds, undetected. We are allowed to follow their take-over from multiple view points; the as yet uncaptured humans, the Vang's victims (who are impotent spectators to their body's horrific actions) and the Vang themselves. The Vang are intelligent. They have individual desires and perspectives but are ruled by a hive mentality. It is fascinating and creepy to get into the mind of such a powerfully destructive life form.

I could not put this book down. As soon as it was finished I went straight on to read the sequel, "The Vang: The Battlemaster" which shows us a new twist on the Vang and what drives them. If you're not afraid of nightmares and you love a book that will not let you go, then consider this novel a must.

I first read this book many years ago and have read the entire novel 3 times, which is very rare in my reading habits. I am a fan of horror scifi and military scifi, and The Vang delivers on both.

It has been at least 10 years since I last read it, but images and ideas from the book still remain, and I often wonder why I can't seem to find more recently published works that measure up to this one.

I have never yet read any fantasy by christopher rowley as I find his science fiction to compelling to even even risk the disappointment of another genre by this author.

This may sound preachy but to any reader of Rowleys sci-fi it would sound accurate.

These are books that can be read and read again.

The Vang: The Military is the sequel to Starhammer, and it succeeds at being a great book for many reasons.

First, it has the same feel as the first. You almost immediately feel familiar with the book, even though it's totally different than Starhammer.

Second, as I just stated, it's totally different from Starhammer. You never feel like you're reading something that should be called "Starhammer 2," which is a good thing. Starhammer was a great book, but if I wanted to read it again, I would.

Third, after the book got started, I was on the edge of my seat for most of the remainder of the book! I had to keep reading to see what happened next, and it rarely let up.

Finally, like Starhammer, it didn't feel very dated, despite its age. My main fear when reading old sci-fi books is that it will feel old, due to the nature of the topic. These books didn't leave me with that feeling, which only added to the enjoyment of reading them!

A gritty hard hitting fantsy novel set in the distant future. It makes no excuses and pulles no punches, a well written book.
read the first books, star hammer, and the vang to see how this series progresses.

I bought this book after I found a few blurbs that it was this author and this book + Starhammer that inspired the creators of HALO: Combat evolved. The other being a book called "ring world" (different author).

I am a huge Halo fan. I love the games, but I love the books more. I have read them all many times through, and I must say that I hope people don't overlook the series simply because its a video game, there is a rich, deep story there that easily stands on its own.

This book offers great insight to things from Halo like the flood. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who might be interested, but this book has many many similarities that a Halo fan will spot easily.

On its own, the book is a very good quick read. It has excellent pacing, and many over arching story paths that meet for a great climax at the end. I must say I was surprised by the ending, I was expecting it to be a classic cliff hanger, but this ends on a great note. I was very satisfied reading it.

There are no new copies to my knowledge, I can only find used, but very cheap.

If you are a Halo fan, this should be required reading.

If you are a fan of general sci-fi, this book will not disappoint. It will make you scared of space and the things that could be out there......

I believe I've read every SF book Rowley has written, and this is in my top two or three favorites. It's evil, horrific, cool... All the things I like in my SF. Don't miss this one if you can get a copy. I only hope he has the rights to put it up on Kindle, he could make a nice sum (as I have with my own SF) and revive a classic.

This book is SPOOKY-GOOD. I read this book so long ago, that I remember more about how I felt while reading it than the actual facts of the story. I just know that I read it all in about 24 hours. I've never done that before or since. I was completely gripped by my fear for the characters lives while reading the book. I did not get much, if any, sleep because the story had me hooked from the beginning and I could not put it down. I've never been so compulsive about a book since. Great book.

Bloody and graphic with ideas far in advance of anything previously imagined, The Vang is a race of "Omni-Parasite" capable of taking over any human host much like 'The Invisibles' in the old Outer Limits show - but more than that, reproducing other forms rapidly from victims and retaining all the intelligence needed to use advanced weapons. Also speeds up the metabolism and nervous system to a peak, re-engineering the host body to suit whatever is needed (soldier/attack form, leader form, ect.)

The Vang's ability to conquer (and exterminate) is equaled only by its unequaled vileness. Death would be far preferable to capture if facing the Vang. Not for the squeamish.

This is the best example of a civilized planet under attack by an alien abomination EVER WRITTEN. Simply Superb (what a movie this would make!)

I can't even count how many times I've read this book since it was originally published. They just don't write great creepy hard-science fiction like this anymore. The Vang is an omniparasitical being that considers all other life forms to be host or food. 'nuff said? Well written, fast paced and enough sub plots to keep you quickly turning pages until you run out of them way too soon. Good luck finding a copy. It's a thrilling ride if you do.