When All Seems Lost: A Novel of the Legion of the Damned [Hardcover]

William C. Dietz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2007

The national bestselling author of For More Than Glory and For Those Who Fell presents a thrilling new novel of The Legion of the Damned-dispatched on a mission that will determine humanity's future in a galaxy full of unpredictable enemies...

As interstellar war rages, the President of the Confederacy is captured by the Ramanthian enemy. But the aliens don't realize the prize they have taken, since, at the suggestion of young diplomat Christine Vanderveen, all the captives have agreed to hide his identity.

Then the prisoners are taken to a brutal slave labor camp-and Vanderveen is concerned that there may be some among them tempted to reveal the ruse. Determined to protect the President, she must face down opposition, both alien and human, all the while hoping for rescue.

And rescue is on the way-an unauthorized effort, organized by General Bill Booly, manned by a team of volunteers with nothing to lose-and headed by Captain Antonio Santana, Vanderveen's former lover, who must try to set aside his personal feelings for the sake of the mission...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The seventh Legion of the Damned novel (after 2004's For Those Who Fell) continues the unapologetically brutal military SF saga with a pedal-to-the-metal plot jam-packed with intrigue, deep space adventure and futuristic combat. With an interstellar war looming, Marcott Nankool, the president and CEO of the Confederacy of Sentient Beings, and his entourage are captured by the Ramanthians, a ruthless insectoid race bent on nothing short of complete dominion over all other intelligent species. Keeping their identities a secret, the POWs are shipped to a labor camp on a remote jungle planet about to become the hatching ground for billions of newborn (and ravenous) Ramanthians. Against the orders of the ambitious and unethical vice president, Legion Gen. William Booly and Capt. Antonio Santana mount an all but impossible rescue mission. Blending hardcore military fiction with elements of sociological science fiction à la Alan Dean Foster's Commonwealth saga, this adrenaline-fueled Clancyesque adventure is Dietz in top form. (Oct.)
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About the Author

William C. Dietz is the author of more than twenty science fiction novels, including the Legion of the Damned novels: Legion of the Damned, The Final Battle, By Blood Alone, By Force of Arms, For More Than Glory, and For Those Who Fell. He grew up in the Seattle area, spent time with the Navy and Marine Corps as a medic, graduated from the University of Washington, lived in Africa for half a year, and has traveled to six continents. Dietz has been variously employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, news writer and television producer. He and his wife enjoy traveling, boating, snorkeling, and, not too surprisingly, reading books.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ace Hardcover; First Edition edition (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441015247
• ISBN-13: 978-0441015245
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,216,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William C. Dietz is the best-selling author of more than thirty science fiction novels some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and Japanese. He grew up in the Seattle area, spent time with the Navy and Marine Corps as a medic, graduated from the University of Washington, lived in Africa for half a year, and has traveled to six continents. Dietz has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, news writer, television producer and Director of Public Relations and Marketing for an international telephone company. He writes full-time and lives with his wife in Washington State. For more information about William C. Dietz and his work visit: williamcdietz.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars action-packed graphic military science fiction thriller, October 28, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When All Seems Lost: A Novel of the Legion of the Damned (Hardcover)

The interstellar war with the ruthless Ramanthians remains heated as the vicious insectoid race fights to the death with no rules except to win. They physically overwhelm their opponents on the battlefield by accepting mass deaths on their side in order to subjugate as slaves any survivors of their pandemic slaughter.

The Ramanthians are unaware they captured President Marcott Nankool, the head of their strongest adversary, Confederacy of Sentient Beings. They send him to a labor camp where the POWs slave until they wish to die before they become food for the billions of hatchlings. One of Nankool's incarcerated aids, human diplomat Christine Vanderveen knows that any one of his loyal supporters could give away the president's identity in exchange for better conditions, which means death. She will kill anyone who might betray the president.

Ambitious Vice President Leo Jakov orders the military to do nothing as he insists Nankool is dead and he is the president. However, Legion General William Booly ignores the unimpressive buffoon and assigns Captain Antonio Santana to lead a volunteer suicidal rescue mission that Tonio accepts because his beloved Christine is one of the prisoners.

William Dietz is known for his action-packed graphic military science fiction thrillers (see FOR MORE THAN GLORY and FOR THOSE WHO FELL). His latest Legion of the Damned novel is all that, but much more as the author uses the conflict to enable fans to look deeply inside the various cultures. As expected, the Ramanthians are the most interesting as their society accepts the loss of millions in combat. The human and other alien prisoners form a prisoner group that initially bands around keeping Nankool safe; but becoming hatchery food makes everyone reconsider. The military and the politicians also have contrasting subgroups, as the politicos are self serving while the military are heroic. Mr. Dietz's legions of fans will appreciate WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Dietz has another winner, March 16, 2009

By 

W. K. Kennedy (Sausalito, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When All Seems Lost: A Novel of the Legion of the Damned (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all of Dietz's works and found the newest of Legion of the Damned a good read.

4.0 out of 5 stars this book not lost, November 25, 2008

By 

R. Phillips "bert" (outback USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When All Seems Lost: A Novel of the Legion of the Damned (Mass Market Paperback)

this book is well written like most of Mr. Dietz work. If you have followed the legion series then this is a must have.