Kren of the Mitchegai (The Boy and His Tank) (Hardcover)

by Leo Frankowski (Author)
Key Phrases: disappearing gun, human army, wintering centers, Leo Frankowski, Dave Grossman, Duke Dennon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A blend of Keith Laumer's Bolos and David Drake's Slammers. ..."

Product Description
First, the involuntary colonists of New Kashubia rescued their planet from crushing debt by becoming virtual-reality mercenaries, then they successfully revolted against the oppressive government of Earth. Now they are menaced by the Mitchegai, a species whose biology has made them inherently evil. The carnivorous adults lay and abandon vast numbers of eggs, some of which grow into vegetarian juveniles, which are the adults' only food supply. Their culture has no family life, they eat only meat, have nothing like sex, and their main pleasures are gambling, art, and killing each other. They are an ancient civilisation, millions of years old, with thousands of densely populated star systems in their realm. Lacking an immune system they must completely sterilise any planet before they colonise it. The region of the galaxy they occupy is rapidly expanding...and Human Space is their next frontier!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Baen (March 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743471822
• ISBN-13: 978-0743471824
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,398,163 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars High-jinx and shenanigans ahead, March 1, 2004

By A Customer

Leo Frankowski (and Dave Grossman) have done it again in the newest of the New Kashubia series which started with A Boy and His Tank then The War with Earth, very good books I might add, and now finally covers a war with some other species than humans. Namely the Mitchegai a very well done, nasty, villain species who due to their biology are seen as evil- they practice faginism (infanticide cannibal style)! However, the reason I knocked this wonderful book from 5 to 4 stars is because, and this is a bit of a spoiler, the whole book is basically a hook or rather a extended introduction to the next book, It even ends with TO BE CONTINUED!!!! But for fans of the New Kashubia series such as my self it is a invaluable must buy and I recommend this book along with the rest of the New Kashubia series to anyone who injoys good Science-Fiction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!, February 9, 2005

By	Laura K. Parke "laurakat13" (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is one of the best I have ever read of its kind. If you like the Heinlein style of sci-fi, this is a must - truly an homage to his works, and a fascinating story in its own right. I wish he would write the sequel soon!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Frankowski's best; I hope he writes more, June 21, 2004

By	Bradford Daniels (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Frankowski's New Kashubia series has been a lot of fun since the first book, but this latest work, which focuses more on the upcoming villain than on the hero-to-date, is by far the best in the series, and is in my opinion the author's best work so far.

The Mitchegai are truly nasty, sadistic critters on the scale of Moorcock's Melnibonéans, though in a definite sci-fi world rather than the fantasy land of the Elric saga. They torture and eat their own offspring alive, among other things, and Kren is no exception. Nonetheless, I really found myself rooting for Kren to succeed, and actually liked his character in many ways more than I like the human main character.

This book tells the story of Kren in parallel with the story of the humans' preparations for his invasion. The human side of the equation is a bit too reminiscent of a future Conrad Stargard, but the Mitchegai story is really original, and a real winner.

The story ends just before the big battle is about to commence. It reminds me a lot of Ringo's "Gust Front" in that (and other) ways; spending lots of time developing the villain, ending just before the action heats up, etc. I think this is a far better book, though.

According to Frankowski's web site, his publisher thinks this book should be the last in the series, which would be a terrible pity. Perhaps if the hardcover sales go well enough, they'll reconsider.