The Silent Warrior

Forever Hero #2

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Thousands of years in the future, Earth is a desolate ruin. The first human ship to return in millennia discovers an abandoned wasteland inhabited only by a few degenerate or mutated human outcasts. But among them is a boy of immense native intelligence and determination who is captured, taken in, and educated, and disappears--to grow up to become the force behind a plan to make Earth flower again. He is, if not immortal, at least very long-lived, and he plans to build an independent power base out in the galaxy and force the galactic empire to devote centuries and immense resources to the restoration of the ecology of Earth.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy, Ebooks

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to the more military tone of the previous book, this one has all the feel of political intrigue, assassin-type SF without going all out with either. In other words, it's mild and builds slowly.

We continue the career-life of Gershwin, the man who doesn't seem to age, after the debacle that ended his career in the military. It seems to be mostly concerned with playing a long game that would forever keep the Empire at bay.

Overall, the novel is decent, not flashy, and will never be on my top list of anything, but I wasn't disappointed. It's mild entertainment for the SF-intrigue crowd.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in order! This is the second book, so spoilers for the first may show in this review. Get the entire trilogy before you start reading & then read all 3 without a break. There are too many subtle details to spread this out.

I've read this in paperback several times (Reviewed here) but this was even better. One of the problems with rereading text is that I tend to skim which I can't do in audio. I caught a lot of seemingly minor points that prove how much craft went into this trilogy. Modesitt must have either written all 3 together or had some really good & detailed notes since there are numerous threads that run through the books. Mere hints in the first book are fleshed out a bit more here & brought to fruition in the third.

While there is plenty of action, it seems somewhat disjointed at first since the book spans a long period of time. The reader has to keep the overriding themes in mind & remember clues. Gerswin's murky beginnings as barbaric 'child' to his becoming part of the galactic civilization are covered in the first. His mission is set there, too. This book covers the bulk of that mission & the personal costs.

Modesitt does a great job describing an empire & its members along with their diverse political systems. He paints the gross economics, political powers, & bureaucracy that runs them. He then puts Gerswin's mission into the mix. He needs biologic systems that supplant the traditional industrial ones. 'Water-political systems' are undercut. Some survive, some don't over the long run. In the short run, it's interesting reading as forces clash. Communications & other legs of power are also tested & changed. While it's fictional, his background in economics makes it quite instructive & applying the principles to our own systems is pretty hard not to do. Makes for some interesting thoughts.

I can never remember where this book leaves off & the next begins, so I'm off to listen to it!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the trilogy. I read it before either of the others, back before the Internet was available & finding books was much tougher. There were a lot of these around in used book stores, but I never could seem to find the first & the third. It took years, but I finally got them. Yay!

Perhaps part of its charm was that I knew so much went on before & would come after, although I really liked both of those books, too. (Unlike what happened in a similar situation with Piers Anthony's Battle Circle. I loved the first 2, but the last ruined the trilogy.)

The hero is one of those silent types, more than human, in a wonderfully painted future world. Modesitt shines with his sketches of diverse political & economic systems, too. The way they help paint the story makes it really interesting.

[Pickyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging still a bit choppy but enjoyable enough that I have to read the last book in the trilogy to find out what happens.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am interested in continuing to read this series because I sort of like following the story of the Devil Kid, but the writing on this series is not great:


The characters don't really show much depth.
The main character is seriously overpowered. Not sure if "Invincible Hero" is exactly the right trope, but when he is apparently immortal and the world's best hand-to-hand fighter and he personally destroys the entire assassin's guild himself, you know you are getting a bit ridiculous.
The writing is super stilted. The biggest problem with Modesitt's writing is that he is constantly referring to characters obliquely in different ways in the same scene. Like, "Bob sat down with Cathy. He looked at the lieutenant with disdain. 'I need you to understand that I don't like you', he said to the Venusian." This is not a real example, but it's confusing stuff like this, where he introduces new information and you are supposed to infer from the way people are being referred to that they are a Lieutenant from Venus or something. There is lots of amateurish writing like that in this book


One big thing in this book that was actually probably the most thought-provoking thing that happened is actually also the one that seems most out of character for Gershwin. When he uses some sort of tactical nuke to destroy the assassin's guild at their conclave or whatever, there are apparently thousands of random innocent vacationers that he vaporizes. He's sick over it, but he doesn't exactly justify doing this in any satisfying way. Is it supposed to be that he has gone insane with rage over the murder of his son? Is it some sort of utilitarian calculus that he's saving more than 5000 innocent lives by doing this? Gershwin is consistently portrayed as having a reasonably strong moral compass and being extremely patient and methodical, and this seems kinda out of character for that.

2.5 of 5 stars

[Nicholas E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. This book was kind of "cringe." After such a strong opening book in the trilogy I was a bit taken aback at book 2. There is still a great, long-term earth reclamation story here but it somehow got interuppted by several really bad B-movie revenge flicks that were totally tangential to the main plot. I mean like John Travolta direct-to-video level bad revenge plots. Just way over the top, excessively complicated revenge plotting and an excessive focus on how awesome the main character is and how he is the wrong guy to cross. It really got in the way of the main story of his building an economic machine to reclaim old earth. The time spent on the economic machine vs the 'don't mess with me' revenge stuff should have been reversed with the old earth getting top billing. Other than that, it is still worth reading in the context of the larger trilogy. I hope the finale raises the tone. I am off to read the last book.

[Boremomsn.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number 2 in the Forever Hero series. It is better than the first one - just enough to notice. Gerswin is still on his mission and he seems to be successful at whatever he turns his hand to, though he does have enemies. When you get to Helene, the way Gerswin handles the situation is odd, and I suspect it will figure into book three. The one thing Modesitt seems to like is a hero who has no compunction about killing thousands of people. Sure, he does it for what he sees as a good cause. Still, thousands? Hopefully the human race doesn't ever get that calloused. Give this one a read if you enjoy Modesitt. It is early Modesitt, but in this series, you can see the author he eventually becomes.

[F. Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not LE Modesitt best story, at least in my opinion. So if you don't know his work, there are other books from him which will be better introduction.

Now, if you are fans, go and dive into the silent warrior. The scope of his imagination is stunning and the ideas are fascinating. Definitely a must read for fans of the great master

[Robin M. Pettit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent long time SF book

I like the way the author captures the feeling of loneliness and long time in these novels. Also the SF is reasonably good for a hard SF book. This is not a great read,but it is a very good read. Anyone who enjoys SF should enjoy this book, IMHO

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the far future, when Earth is a devastated ruin, an immortal is born, wishes one great wish, and takes on a great task: revitalizing his planet. His fanatical defense of the environment crosses the line into deadly terror.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I liked the coldness of the book, there is no sentiment, just cold hard choices without a base of reason.

[Victor Vilchiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book... just seems to miss info from chapter to chapter as you can FF 5-10 years

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Scycer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pace on this novel is very different compared to the first book. It brings in a certain quality that maturity of the mind brings. Considering the capability of the protagonist it is remarkable how he does not go insane given the situations he is been in.

Here we bring out a lot more on the politics of taking action and the challenges of taking a stance.

[Tony Fecteau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this novel recently and quite enjoyed the story. The things that could be done when you are long lived is incredible.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my earlier remarks regarding "Dawn For A Distant Earth"-Volume #1 in The Forever hero trilogy.

Teens should gravitate to the young survivors rescued for a valiant purpose.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is stronger than the first book, though the time jumps do occasionally feel disconnected.

[Nemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as the first in the series, a number of illogical plot twists and decisions, coupled with its somewhat disjoint nature make it less interesting than the previous book.
3.6 stars.