Watch on the Rhine (Posleen War Series #7) [Hardcover]

John Ringo (Author), Tom Kratman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2005

In the dark days after the events in the book Gust Front, but before the primary invasion, the Chancellor of Germany faces a critical decision. Over the years, with military cutbacks, the store of experienced military personnel had simply dwindled. After the destruction of Northern Virginia, he realized that it was necessary to tap the one group he had sworn never, ever, to recall: the few remaining survivors of the Waffen SS. Watch On the Rhine is perhaps the most unbiased, and brutal, look at the inner workings of the Waffen SS in history. Meticulously researched, it explores all that was good, and evil, about the most infamous military force in history using the backdrop of the Posleen invasion as a canvas.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. An axiom of military science is that an army reflects the society it protects, but what happens when that society is confronted with a crisis its dominant ideology can't solve? In this provocative addition to the Posleen War series, a galactic civilization genetically predisposed toward pacifism offers humanity advanced technology so that we can defend ourselves (and them) from the only other sentient species capable of violence—think "Mongol horde in space." After the first enemy landings in 2004, the German chancellor decides, despite fierce opposition, to rejuvenate survivors of the Waffen SS. Eager to redeem their tarnished honor, these veterans display the same steadfastness and fortitude that they did in Russia and Normandy. Ringo (Hell's Faire) and Kratman (A State of Disobedience) pull no punches in this audacious and deliberately shocking effort, contrasting the ruthlessness of the (mostly) former Nazis with the contemporary politicians' disastrous insistence on forcing reality into a politically correct mold. Readers who can overcome their ideological gag reflex will be rewarded with an exciting view from "the other side of the hill." (Aug.)
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About the Author

John Ringo is author of the New York Times best-selling Posleen War series which so far includes A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances, and Hell¿s Faire, as well as the connected novels Cally¿s War (with Julie Cochrane), The Hero (with Michael Z. Williamson), and Watch on the Rhine (with Tom Kratman), and is the hottest new science fiction writer since David Weber. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his novels of high-tech future war.

Tom Kratman, in 1974 at age seventeen, became a political refugee and defector from the PRM (People's Republic of Massachusetts) by virtue of joining the Regular Army. He stayed a Regular Army infantryman most of his adult life, returning to Massachusetts as an unofficial dissident while attending Boston College after his first hitch. Tom is currently an attorney practicing in southwest Virginia. Baen published his first novel, A State of Disobedience and will soon publish his second collaboration with John Ringo, Yellow Eyes. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Baen; 1st ed edition (August 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743499182
• ISBN-13: 978-0743499187
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,028,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kratman improves as Ringo's Posleen series gets darker, July 27, 2005

By 

Walt Boyes "Walt Boyes" (Aurora IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Watch on the Rhine (Posleen War Series #7) (Hardcover)

Tom Kratman's first book, A State of Disobedience was good but filled with first novel issues. Some of his characters weren't fleshed out, and some were intentionally cardboard. It was a didactic novel in the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein, but Kratman did not have the technical skills to bring it off at the level that the Master could.

Now, with John Ringo (it appears that Kratman did most of the writing), he has written a mature second novel, Watch on the Rhine.

His characters are excellently well drawn, and his writing style has matured considerably since his first book. He also stays unblinkingly <u>real</u> in his portrayal of humans in desperate straits.

His Greens and Watermelons are so bad that I kept asking myself, would they really do that? And I kept sinking back into the novel when my answer came back to me as "yes." And finally, his Posleen appear as more than evil BEMs...they have feelings, a culture, and are 'people' too.

I was very put off by the idea of resurrecting "Nazi Supermen" to fight the Posleen. Kratman and Ringo rang some surprising changes on the theme, with enough skill and daring to make you really think over what the Waffen SS really was, and if they were tarred with the Nazi brush somewhat mistakenly...and then they hit you in the face because even good people can fight for evil causes. When asked, one of the characters replies, "Oh, yes, there is one real Nazi here, and we all hate him, but he is a really good tank driver." Sometimes needs must, when the devil drives.

-----WARNING! SNERK ALERT!----

One subplot that just sticks with me, and is pivotal in the plot of the novel, is the death of Gudrun and especially the last scene in which we see her head. Kratman's writing is uncompromising and even though the scene bears all the hallmarks of the grotesque, it forces the reader to care about not only the humans, but in a strange sort of way, for the Posleen too. They are, after all, victims of the Aldenata and the Darhel, too.

Kratman (and Ringo, who must be an excellent teacher) have scored big this time.

Walt Boyes
The Bananaslug. at Baen's Bar

45 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars, July 25, 2005

By 

Amerigo Vespucci (Fairbanks, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watch on the Rhine (Posleen War Series #7) (Hardcover)

Watch on the Rhine is an excellent book for both veterans of the Posleen series as well as new readers. Far more graphic and dark than Ringo's four original books, and far more battle-intensive than Julie Cochrane's "Cally's War," Watch on the Rhine covers the German response to the evil alien invasion of the Posleen.

The story centers on the reconstitution of the SS after the events in Ringo's "Gust Front." Prompted by the destruction of Fredericksburg and the devastation of Washington, D.C. the German chancellor realizes that no measure is too great to defend against the aliens. Kratman writes from a viewpoint that may be too right-leaning for some readers, but his treatment of the SS is very even-handed, and and the larger story is executed quite well. The story is somewhat light on character development, and moves too quickly at times, attempting to cover too much, but the story definitely comes together at the end, with the characters becoming more rounded as the book allows character details to come through. Kratman isn't afraid to kill off characters, and in this story, it aids the story.

Overall, an excellent story, with elements thrown in to delight long time followers of the Posleen series. Although rough in places at the beginning, the story comes together at the end, and is well worth the read.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard soldiers fighting the impossible war, July 31, 2005

By 

Magna Storm "Magna Storm" (Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watch on the Rhine (Posleen War Series #7) (Hardcover)

If you haven't read John Ringo's A Hymn Before Battle and Gust Front, they set the background for the war in Watch On The Rhine. Reading the 3rd and 4th Ringo books in the Posleen war series aren't as necessary. In summary there's several waves of evil alien invasion coming, and some warning and technology from some supposedly friendly aliens is the only help we'll get.

In WOTR, the German Chancellor views the aftermath of the bloody battles in Northern Virginia described in Gust Front. Realizing the brutal nature of the impending invasion, he decides with the reluctant support of his government to use alien rejuvenation technology used to recreate an SS combat unit. In this war no negotiation is possible and every tool available must be used.

The story centers on a super-tank crew of 2 rejuvenated WW2 veterans and several young recruits. The tank commander names the Tiger III after his long dead Jewish wife. Several flashbacks occur throughout the book detailing his past history of WW2 combat, survival, love shared with a Jewish woman, and witnessing deathcamp horror. The story progresses through their training, friction with civilians violently opposed to a reinstated SS unit, and brutal combat with the aliens.

This isn't a Walt Disney portrayal of good vs evil. This is more of a "use one evil to fight another evil". There are no magic pills or roads to military victory: their battlefield successes are the result of harsh, realistic training, close comradeship, cunning tactics, and careful weapon design influenced by early combat experience against the aliens. Unlike Disneyish entertainment, the SS veterans relish combat. They pass on their unique trade skills to their new recruits like parent wolves training their cubs. Similarly, they have no patience or compassion for soldiers or civilians who flee their duty or get in their way. Their ruthlessness will become necessary against the alien Posleen invaders who reveal a shocking new battlefield tactic.

The research into both WW2 history and German language and culture is impressive. You can easily visualize the scarred veterans leading their recruits in verboten Third Reich marching songs and flaunting their black uniforms. At the same time the authors communicate well the pride of these soldiers in themselves and their brothers-in-arms.

The story centers heavily on the super-tanks created for fighting the Aliens. If you liked reading Keith Laumer's Bolo books or Hammers Slammers by David Drake, you'll love this story.

If you like military science fiction, written with a hard edge of reality of a desperate situation with characters both young/rejuvenated/old you can identify with, this is a very good read.