Strength and Honor: A Novel of The U.S.S. Merrimack (Tour of the Merrimack) (Hardcover)

~ R.M. Meluch (Author)
Key Phrases: near space, attack group, killer bots, Kerry Blue, Jose Maria, Captain Farragut (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Peace between earth and the star-born Roman Empire seems about to break out. But the peacemaking Caesar is assassinated, and his successor wants to fight some more. The Merrimack is on a diplomatic mission deep in Roman space when the ship’s resident Roman disappears, and the all-devouring alien menace the Hive returns in force. Fast action, hairbreadth escapes, and Meluch’s facility for humor in an astonishing range of situations incumbent on military life become the order of the day. Whether you favor the marines, the pilots, or the Romans, a fine yarn to chuckle along with, just like the previous Tour of the Merrimack adventures. --Roland Green

Product Description

Captain John Farragut and the crew of the U.S.S. Merrimack face their greatest challenge as Caesar Romulus declares war on the United States of America with a direct attack on Earth. The Merrimack retaliates with an assault on the Roman capital world of Palatine, and in the midst of the chaos, the Hive descends on Earth. With the battle raging, Farragut finds himself in the middle of a final deadly showdown.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover; First Edition edition (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756405270
• ISBN-13: 978-0756405274
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #277,045 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic military science fiction, November 4, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Roman Empire never died; it just went underground waiting for the right time to emerge. That time came when FTL ships made traveling to the stars possible while the internet connected the Romans all across the globe. They took a spaceship and colonized the planet Palatine, modeling it after the ancient Roman Empire. They have since colonized planets all over the galaxy and they have conquered their sector of space. Caesar Romulus declares war on the United States for breaking a treaty which America never did.

It is believed that Romulus' father was assassinated on his son's orders and the Patterner Augustus is still on the USS Merrimack determined to pay Romulus back for killing his Caesar. In a surprise move, Romulus has his troops attack the United States; while they hold their own the government orders the space armada to attack Palatine. Romulus has a plan to conquer earth and make it another Roman colony, but someone who is dead reaches out from the grave to try to foil his scheme. Captain Farragut of the Merrimack is in the thick of the hostilities on earth and Palatine even as Augustus makes a move and the Hive feels regenerated.

R.M. Meluch writes a fantastic military science fiction tale with vivid battle scenes, intricate plotting, and great characterizations. Although Earth and Palatine are home planets to humans, their cultures are radically different, making it seem like two diverse species. The key element is how well the author makes a case that war is waste and the fool's folly of politicians who care nothing about expendable soldiers except the bottom line. The Patterner (a super cyborg who seeks intelligent patterns in the midst of seemingly random chaos) adds to the overall feel of a distant future in which the earth is still at war.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best space opera around!, July 30, 2009

By	James Tortolano (Garden Grove, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strength and Honor: A Novel of The U.S.S. Merrimack (Tour of the Merrimack) (Hardcover)

Oh, what a guilty pleasure this series is. "Strength and Honor" is the fourth in the U.S.S. Merrimack series, and it's as fun as the ones that preceded it.
As with the previous books in the series, "Honor" features a strong cast of characters, a healthy mix of action, sex, intrigue, physics and humor. There are two enemies (the bad space-Romans and the hungry Hive). Of particular interest to a nationalist like me, the heroes of the book (mostly) are clearly Americans, who appear to be the leading power in outer space.
There are some resemblances to the "Star Trek" concept; the captain of the Merrimack has some James T. Kirk in him, and there are a host of "minor" characters who are intriguing and amusing in the Spock and Scotty tradition.
This book -- like the whole series -- is well-written, fast-paced and fun quite on its own merits. There are lots of cliff-hanging moments, and the term "page-turner" seems to have been coined for these stories.
One minor flaw seems to be the resolution of plot points. Frequently, when the Merrimack is about to be destroyed, captured or eaten, Capt. Farragut has some last-second "It's-crazy-but-it-might-just-work" idea that saves the day. You can only go to that well so often, and perhaps author R.M. Meluch even knows that.
Despite that, I'd quickly scarf up a fifth "Merrimack" book. It's that much fun.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Conclusion to the Series, January 18, 2009

By	Robert I. Katz (Port Jefferson, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this book, Romulus, the newly declared Caesar (who is not entirely in his right mind) decides to take over the Universe.

Naturally, his plans come close to succeeding but our heroes are still heroes and justice has to triumph. The ending (I won't give it away) was brilliant, though the whole scenario leading up to it was (to say the least) improbable. Why then do I give this book five stars? I love the characters. I love the dialogue and I love the sheer preposterous grandeur of the whole idea: the Roman Empire never died, it just went underground for a couple of thousand years until it could reconstitute itself in space.

I have always loved the work of Rebecca Meluch. She is one of the best writers of science fiction around. This series is excellent and I hope it gains her the acclaim it deserves, but it is not in fact her best work. Try The Queen's Squadron or Sovereign or, best of all, Jerusalem Fire. We had more than ten years between The Queen's Squadron and this series. I hope that this author keeps it up. We need more great books and R. M. Meluch can give them to us.