Change of Command (Mass Market Paperback)

by Elizabeth Moon (Author) "Newscast: Today the Speaker of the Table of Ministers and the Grand Council of the Familias Regnant was assassinated while en route from the shuttleport..." (more)
Key Phrases: rejuv drugs, inflated rim, message cube, Ruth Ann, Lord Thornbuckle, Hobart Conselline (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Continuing her epic, intergalactic series set in the distant future (Rules of Engagement, etc.), Moon's latest novel follows the tumultuous romance of Esmay Suiza and offworlder Barin Serrano while tracking a bevy of new political intrigues among the Familias Regnant. When Bunny Thornbuckle, head of the dynastic Family, is assassinated, slimy Hobart Conselline maneuvers into power as the new council speaker and solidifies his position with harsh new laws aimed at isolating Thornbuckle's widow, Miranda, and his daughter, Brun. As a suitable new home is found for the bastard children Brun was forced to bear in Rules of Engagement, Miranda allies herself with a former aide of Thornbuckle's who has survived the assassination and is now battling opposing elements within the Family. Meanwhile, young lovers Esmay and Barin are betrothed, despite some difficulties with their military posts and the bad feeling between their families. Even with the proliferation of subplots, the novel moves slowly at times and may appeal more to readers who appreciate romance than space opera. Still, series fans should enjoy it and, with so many plot threads left unresolved--who will assume leadership of the Family? what waits in battle for the young lovers?--there's little doubt that epic will continue into the next millennium. (Dec.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal
The assassination of Speaker Thornbuckle throws the Grand Council of the Familias Regnant into chaos as ambition, revenge, and greed threaten to upset the delicate political balance of the galaxy. Moon's sequel to Rules of Engagement follows the fortunes of Regular Space Service officers Esmay Suiza and Barin Serrano as they attempt to overcome the obstacles of their marriage while coping with the greater problems that beset their home worlds. Political intrigue, mutiny in space, and ideological battles of war and weapons lend variety to this fast-moving space opera set in the distant future. For most sf collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Baen; Reprint edition (November 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671319639
• ISBN-13: 978-0671319632
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,026 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 6 in The Familias Regnant Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Constructive Criticism... from a fan of Moon's books, April 30, 2000

By	blueness (North America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Change Of Command (The Serrano Legacy) (Hardcover)

My expectations of Elizabeth Moon have been set high after reading her early books (Deed of Paks, Legacy of Gird). The $1.99 teaser for "Once a Hero" caught me and hooked me into this series of books. The first two books were very entertaining... they reminded me of the Vorkosigan space-opera from Lois McMaster Bujold (also highly recommend those books by the way, a fun series).

Ok, now that I've confirmed that I believe this author has skill, on to the review....

Change of Command was not as satisfying as the first two books and ends right when things were just getting interesting. The book spins several different subplots and has the reader constantly wondering when Esmay (main character from first two books) is going to jump into the plot. This never really happens in this book. Being a 3rd book in a series, I expected the story to revolve around the previous main character. Instead the story is around Brun, a character from the 2nd book. Esmay simply occupies one of the sub-stories that are in this book. This is one of the two main criticisms I have of the book. The second criticism is that the book ends.. just ends and the reader is left thinking, "ok, what was the base story that this book was about?". The two previous books in this series had a prime story (and substories as well). Instead, it looks like the 4th book is very well setup now to have a great prime story and that this book just served to set it up.

Basically, I get the feeling that Change of Command was pushed to publication before it was ready. It has the basic meat of a good book, just not strung together well (in my opinion of course). I think that Elizabeth Moon is an excellent writer and would like to see more books akin to her previous writings.

In fact, I'm off to buy the 3 books that take place in this universe before "Once a Hero" right now.

Enjoy!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Come on guys it's not that bad, January 31, 2000

By	Mfitz... "Mfitz..." (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Change Of Command (The Serrano Legacy) (Hardcover)

I have only recently discovered,or perhaps I shoud say re-discovered Ms. Moon. I had read her earlier fantasy series and thought they were ok, but nothing to write home about. Ove the holidays I picked up Once A Hero on a wim and I was hooked her Familias Regnant series. I do love a good Space Opera and this is one of the better ones going. I will admit that Change of Command does have a tendancy to suddenly grow subplots, but I found myself getting sucked into them and only being anoyed later that the main plot was crawling along. How can you not love the brassy big haired Lone Star ranger? I'd like to read a book about her case file. I'll be browsing my local bookstores for Ms. Moon's next book. I think she is going someplace fun with the loose ends at the end of this one.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wait for the paperback...or until the next one comes out..., January 10, 2000

By	Chris Summers (Vancouver BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Change Of Command (The Serrano Legacy) (Hardcover)

I like Elizabeth Moon's books, and this series (i.e, the Esmay Suiza series) in particular, at least, until this book. Why this book? Well, first , this book just ends in the middle of the story, making sure that you have to buy the sequel just to figure out how it ends (this is the main reason why Robert Jordon books frustrate me...you're left hanging until the sequel to find out what's going on, if you're lucky). Second, this book tries to weave several different plots together, at the expense of ignoring what is (at least what I thought was) the main characters and plotline. Third, the different plot lines and all the jumping around tends to muddle any flow that the book has. So, if you want to continue reading this series (and the first two books, Once a Hero, and, Rules of Engagement, are quite good) you should read this book, but wait until the paperback, or the sequel, comes out (when you have to know what happens in this book to figure out the sequel).