Customer Reviews

Where the Ships Die (Ace Science Fiction)

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

 

 

I just finished this book, and I must say, Mr. William C. Dietz is the best. No matter what he writes, no matter how many characters he starts out with, everything comes together nicely in the end. Ever since I picked up "Galactic Bounty" at the airport, I've been amazed by all of his books. This one is no exception. Although there is not much military aspect to this book, the way things work out for everybody is the thing that keeps me wanting more of his work. Mr. Dietz writes so well, that you even get to like some of the bad guys in them. I also like the fact that he writes strong female characters in every one of his books. No matter what you're in the mood for, Where The Ships Die has a little of everything for everybody. Defenetly a good read. Of course this is not hard military sf like his Legion of the Damned series, but Mr. Dietz manages to insert interesting characters along with more than interesting situations. Go out and get this book NOW! Keep'em comming MR. DIETZ.

The reader who wants the usual military sf or high-tech/hard-boiled style, usually delivered by Dietz, might be a little disappointed with this book, which might explain the lower average rating it has receved compared with others from the same author. However, "Where the Ships Die" is a very good and entertaining story/adventure in the grand style that reminds me a lot of Jack Vance and a little of Robert Heinlein. If you like these authors; you will not regret afterwards that you got this book.

Dietz's story is compelling, well-constructed, and intriguing. The idea of wormholes as economic assets is viable and exciting, and the young Dorn Voss is a character to care about. Where the Ships Die tells the story of a young man born into wealth who has to regain his status and his family against great odds, and carries himself with courage and honor in pursuit of justice. A fine story, with some cultural commentary to boot.

This book was really good, but the thing I enjoyed most about it was the orininal plot. The antics of the detective team and the Sal'yant showed great improvement in his characterizations. It was fun to read.

Wow - the reviewer from Philadelphia mirrors my sentiments exactly. I wondered as I was reading if the book was actually something the author wrote in high school. I've read and enjoyed other books by Dietz but was stunned by how bad this book was.

The first two pages of this book are acceptable. But it crumbles quickly. The characters are tedious & infantile. The plot would be transparent except it doesn't make enough sense. The concept of these wormholes, and the economics associated with them is totally ill-conceived. I would have thought this was the promising, but not ready for publication, work of some teen-ager, except the author bio indicates the writer to be a middle aged Navy man. What was Ace thinking of when they published this

I was excited to read the book because of his other works. I was let down and dissapointed.

Well the book starts off well, then heads into a downward spiral impossible to recover from, even for the best author. The banalities of this fictional work stress the limitations of tolerance. The hero and the old man's daughter are scarce adventuring and more oft in the sleep chambers. Never has a wider crevasse been seen, or a more unappealing cast of characters wrote. Whether dreams of youth on rolling fields of wheat come true, enough ferreting in trousers she do. Her smile white of pearly drops, yet heart so stained and black with deceit.