March to the Stars is the third installment in a tetralogy. Prince Roger Ramius Sergei
Alexander Chiang MacClintock is the tertiary heir to the throne held by
his mother the Empress. He must learn diplomacy and independence as well as leadership if he's going to return to his home and take his rightful place in the imperial government. First, however, he must cross a violent sea, traipse across a continent, conquer and spaceport and commandeer a ship - all with primitive weapons and very few remaining Marines. But he's Prince Roger and by this time, he can do anything - so long as he leaves bodies in his wake.
[the following text is the same for my reviews of all 4 books in the series.]
First the good points - It's a fast-paced and exciting military science fiction story which takes the reader from danger to danger quickly. The plot moves along and these two writers know how to spin an interesting story. I give kudos to them for hooking me and making me read to the end and want to pick up the final book in the series.
Now the bad. This book is set hundreds of years in the future, yet all the sayings, quotes, poems, and songs come from our recent military history. Everything out of the mouths of the troops was a cliche that I've heard hundreds of times. Can't these two writers create a new lexicon for a future military? Can't they replace the worn metaphors with something creative and cool for a future society? Wouldn't there have been another poet that Marines love to replace Rudyard Kipling?
Speaking of Cliches, every character was one - the tried and true marine sergeant, gruff and tough, but with a heart of gold - The commander who spouts philosophy while ordering a slaughter - the spoiled kid, born with a silver spoon who becomes an honorable man under combat duress. It's all here and it's all predictable. Don't Ringo and Weber's readers want to experience something new or are they all Corps veterans reliving a collective past rosier and more ideal than the reality?
Also, the authors' politics are front and center. I disagree with their assertions and it was starky annoying.
Still, decent reading if you can get past the negatives.
- CV Rick, April 2008
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