[Mort]

First off - I thought I could remember some sort of GC thread, but I had a prowl and could only find the review and interview in the featured reviews forum (where, incidentally, may I say that GC comes off as someone who has been bothered way too often over meaningless questions at conventions) and my memories are all regarding BC anyway.

So, Nightshade Books has re-published some of Cook's older series. I picked up The first Cruel Empire Omnibus (with a foreword by Vandemeer) and his Passage At Arms recently and having read them, was wondering who else in the forum had, and what they thought.

I found Passage At Arms (PAA) excellent. It was tight, suspenseful and had the right sort of paranoia to it for such a novel. I found myself comparing it to Rimrunners (CJ Cherryh) and I think that is about as high a praise as I can give a book in this style. I suppose the other book that feels related is Frank Herbert's Dragon in the Sea (apologies if I have got that name wrong) - a science fiction submarine novel. Obviously, submarine and spacecraft novels are very similar in that the worlds are tightly encapsulated and you can only work out what is going on outside by inference.

The characters are well drawn; GC has a good grasp of what makes a man tick and draws accurate representations of the typical characters that manifest themselves within a military unit. Be aware that these aren't the BC black humour ridden characters, but rather more professional career type navy men. The narrator and the Captain stand out as very good characters, although the narrator has elements of Croaker... which certainly is not a bad thing.

I won't discuss the story too much, but it has plenty to offer. I will point out that it is the future, Humanity is at war with an alien race, which has the momentum, and the action concerns a besieged world that acts as a thorn in the side of the aliens side (think a Guns of Navarrone concept... ). From this world hunter-ships conduct patrols to intercept and destroy the alien transports (again, similar to the US Submarine tactics in the Pacific in WW2). We follow the crew of one such ship on a mission.

I should point out that this is not Reynolds, Banks or Asher style space opera. Things are low key; there are no 'miracles' of technology to allow you to cheat death and the crew is far from an all powerful, all conquering gang of reavers...

Stil, I have to say that it is poignant, and well written. One of the best SF books I have read this year.

___________________________________

Now, Cruel Empire

This I won't say that much about. I'm still mulling it over and trying to work out if I liked it or if it frustrated me to tears. Again, Cook has no qualms in killing off the sympathetic characters, and following some pretty unlikeable ones.

This has trace elements of BC, but also Leiber's Lankhmar Chronicles with FFahrd and the Grey Mouser (sic). And there's even a touch of Locke Lamorre... confused anyone?

The problem with this series (the omnibus has the first three books) is that time seems to unravell too quickly or else way too slowly. The first book seems to be wrapped up almost before its started and then the second and third seem somewhat unevenly paced...

The characters are fun, although maddeningly self-destructive... The only strong character (Haroun) remains a mystery throughout and in the first two stories is almost a Deus ex Machina.

On the other hand, Bragi Ragnarson is a interesting character. A norse-style barbarian who develops from what appeared to be a small supporting role to the main character (and one of the few left standing) by the end.

What I enjoyed about this book was the discussion of the battles and wars. A lot of effort has gone into thinking tactically and strategically about how you would use various assets and how certain warfares would play out. As per the Malazan novels, Sorcery is either annihilating or else stalemated.

If anyone else has read this, I'm curious to know if anyone else felt at times they were reading a bloodthirsty and tactically sound version of Eddings' Belgariad series. The discussions of the West vs the East, and the discriptions of Shisen (the Cruel Empire of the Title) seemed too close to the Murgos and the Malloreans... Just a thought.

[mxlm]

Passage at Arms was godly.

[Obdigore]

I just picked up Cruel Empire, and was impressed and confused.

But anyway, my favorite work of his is the new Instrumentalities series.

[Fid's Fiddle]

Having recently read "A Cruel Wind" I'd say I agree with a lot of your comments. Good story lines and characterization help to flesh out the fantastical world that pulls liberally from classic European and Asian history. Since I also read Bernard Cromwell's Lords of the North trilogy (with a Ragnarson as the lead character) I found Bragi Ragnarson's character an interestic mix of the rugged nordmen and the more gentrified aspects of old Europe. But the rich mix of characters and shifting POV in Cook's Dread Empire stories keep me moving along quickly, much like I find with Erikson's stuff.

[Ishael]

Just finished Passage at arms fantatsic very atmospheric

[Mithfanion]

Passage at arms sounds interesting.

Night Shade is also publishing The Dragon never sleeps by Cook in February.

[ObsoleteResolve]

I just picked up the Tower of Fear stand-alone and that was pretty damned good-- the city of Qushmarrah most definitely doesn't feel like a stereotypical medieval European city, and it has a much stronger flavor of the Middle East.

[opiate taylor]

I believe the name of the series is "Dread Empire", and "A Cruel Wind" is the name of the omnibus. Just saying.