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Posleen War #3
When the Devil Dances
"After five years of battling the Posleen invaders, human civilization is down to this: A handful of valleys in the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachians, Fargo, North Dakota and the Cumberland Basin. The scattered survivors in the Andes, the Himalayas, the Alps and the Gujarat can't be defined as civilization. They're just meat in a lobster-leg; tasty but too much bother to pull out." "Only in the Cumberland Basin and the Ohio Valley do humans retain culture, philosophy and learning. Only in the Appalachians and the Rockies do the humans hold onto their shattered defenses. Only there do they create larger aud larger engines of war to oppose the hated Posleen. Only there do they have hope. As they wait for the return of their forces. As they pray for survival." After five years of battling the Humans, the Posleen are tired and angry. Humans don't fight fair. They hide and borrow like the pestiferous abat. They strike from above with their hated artillery and from behind with their long range reconnaissance. After five years of hammering their crocodilian heads on the Appalachian Wall, the Army Corps of Engineers, the armored combat suits of Fleet Strike and the steel-hard veterans of the Ten Thousand, even the Posleen are ready for a change. And the name for that change is Tulostenaloor. He was beaten in Aradan V. But he has learned. And this is his day.
Audiobook
First published April 1, 2002
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About the author
John Ringo
99 books1,822 followersJohn Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
May 24, 2017
3rd re-read 05/23/17 - Very good, characters and situations mature.
December 30, 2016
This third installment in the Posleen Wars series takes place about five years after the end of GUST FRONT. The Posleen invaders have overrun nearly the entire planet, with only America still putting up any significant resistance. While it was a bit of a disappointment to find that we've missed reading about a large part of the war, it is acceptable that Ringo has a larger story to tell. WHEN THE DEVIL DANCES is another long book, being over 700 pages in the mmp edition, but Ringo does a great job of keeping your attention. You won't be bored while reading this one.
This book devotes a lot of energy and time to secondary character development. In particular, Cally O'Neil, Annie Elgars, and Wendy Cummings (pictured on cover) are greatly expanded upon and will undoubtedly play major roles in future books. Mike O'Neil is for the most part left on the sidelines for this one, but some of the other characters from the previous books play significant roles, including Mosovich, Mueler, and Ryan. A new Posleen commander (Tulo'enstolar or something) is introduced and promises to be extremely troublesome to the human defenders.
The other major thread in this book focuses on changes in weaponry and tactics of the war. The humans have developed the gigantic SheVa gun (basically a mobile, anti-lander cannon) and have relocated most of the civilians into enormous underground bunkers/cities called 'Urbs'. They have also finally accepted that using nukes has to be considered. The posleen have also developed a bit, particularly because of the cunning of the new commander. Flying tanks and changing tactics make the posleen in this book much more of a threat than in the previous books.
The book ends with a major cliff-hanger which better be concluded in the next book or many people will be disappointed. Looking forward to reading HELL'S FAIRE.
This book devotes a lot of energy and time to secondary character development. In particular, Cally O'Neil, Annie Elgars, and Wendy Cummings (pictured on cover) are greatly expanded upon and will undoubtedly play major roles in future books. Mike O'Neil is for the most part left on the sidelines for this one, but some of the other characters from the previous books play significant roles, including Mosovich, Mueler, and Ryan. A new Posleen commander (Tulo'enstolar or something) is introduced and promises to be extremely troublesome to the human defenders.
The other major thread in this book focuses on changes in weaponry and tactics of the war. The humans have developed the gigantic SheVa gun (basically a mobile, anti-lander cannon) and have relocated most of the civilians into enormous underground bunkers/cities called 'Urbs'. They have also finally accepted that using nukes has to be considered. The posleen have also developed a bit, particularly because of the cunning of the new commander. Flying tanks and changing tactics make the posleen in this book much more of a threat than in the previous books.
The book ends with a major cliff-hanger which better be concluded in the next book or many people will be disappointed. Looking forward to reading HELL'S FAIRE.
November 9, 2014
Military SF and combat.
Is it just me or is this like a bad TV sci fi show?
Actual quote from page 424
After reading A Hymn Before Battle, I knew that Ringo could write great combat scenes and fun, cheesey characters. In Gust Front, the quality of the large scale battle is compromised by too frequent and poorly executed changes in perspective. In When the Devil Dances, Ringo takes the main weakness of the previous book and applies it to the entire book switching back and forth among multiple and unrelated story lines, not just among different vantage points of a large engagement. The effect on combat scenes is disruptive. The worst part of changing to a different story line during a battle is that when Ringo returns to it, large portions have transpired. Why would anybody read this except for the battle scenes? Apparently Ringo has become such an accomplished writer that now his books can carry themselves without the action. With that in mind things get odd while going downhill.
Ringo delivers a story line centered on Elgars, a minor character from Gust Front. She now has amnesia so complete she can't speak correctly yet retains her combat skills. The writing of her speech impediment is so incomprehensible that it shouldn't have been written at all. This is an example of an idiotic idea coupled with a corny cliche. These mashups were entertaining and humorous in A Hymn but this is just plain stupid. Later the reasons for Elgar's condition are revealed. It's a SF idea that can be tolerated if it serves a purpose but Elgars doesn't ever do anything significant military wise to justify such a ridiculous premise.
Ringo writes unlikely family scenes and delves into girl talk including how to know when it's the right time to have sex for the first time and how to put on make up. It reads like a 12 year old boy made these conversations up. Awful! In addition to taking on feminine topics, things get a little sloppy. O'Neal is now 5'4" instead of 5'2". The consequences of sniping God Kings has changed, or has it? The Elgars group has access to a repair, rejuve, upgrade machine and ignore poor Kelly who has been shot in the leg. Kelly's wound isn't even mentioned again. I guess she walked it off. The extremely disorganized narrative gets more disorganized with chapter breaks in unnecessary places while missing breaks where needed. What seemed like a minor subplot became a major plot and in fact becomes the center of the so-called climax and the end of the book. There is no actual climax just a handy place to end the book. This is a rambling account not a novel.
Ringo apologizes for this book's flaws in the afterword of Hell's Faire. At least he realizes there is a problem. The only reason this is 2 stars instead of 1 is because I enjoy the combat scenes when Ringo sticks with them. Hopefully the next book picks up seamlessly from when this ends because obviously it just isn't finished. If there is backstory and explanation I don't know if I can bear to read it.
Is it just me or is this like a bad TV sci fi show?
Actual quote from page 424
After reading A Hymn Before Battle, I knew that Ringo could write great combat scenes and fun, cheesey characters. In Gust Front, the quality of the large scale battle is compromised by too frequent and poorly executed changes in perspective. In When the Devil Dances, Ringo takes the main weakness of the previous book and applies it to the entire book switching back and forth among multiple and unrelated story lines, not just among different vantage points of a large engagement. The effect on combat scenes is disruptive. The worst part of changing to a different story line during a battle is that when Ringo returns to it, large portions have transpired. Why would anybody read this except for the battle scenes? Apparently Ringo has become such an accomplished writer that now his books can carry themselves without the action. With that in mind things get odd while going downhill.
Ringo delivers a story line centered on Elgars, a minor character from Gust Front. She now has amnesia so complete she can't speak correctly yet retains her combat skills. The writing of her speech impediment is so incomprehensible that it shouldn't have been written at all. This is an example of an idiotic idea coupled with a corny cliche. These mashups were entertaining and humorous in A Hymn but this is just plain stupid. Later the reasons for Elgar's condition are revealed. It's a SF idea that can be tolerated if it serves a purpose but Elgars doesn't ever do anything significant military wise to justify such a ridiculous premise.
Ringo writes unlikely family scenes and delves into girl talk including how to know when it's the right time to have sex for the first time and how to put on make up. It reads like a 12 year old boy made these conversations up. Awful! In addition to taking on feminine topics, things get a little sloppy. O'Neal is now 5'4" instead of 5'2". The consequences of sniping God Kings has changed, or has it? The Elgars group has access to a repair, rejuve, upgrade machine and ignore poor Kelly who has been shot in the leg. Kelly's wound isn't even mentioned again. I guess she walked it off. The extremely disorganized narrative gets more disorganized with chapter breaks in unnecessary places while missing breaks where needed. What seemed like a minor subplot became a major plot and in fact becomes the center of the so-called climax and the end of the book. There is no actual climax just a handy place to end the book. This is a rambling account not a novel.
Ringo apologizes for this book's flaws in the afterword of Hell's Faire. At least he realizes there is a problem. The only reason this is 2 stars instead of 1 is because I enjoy the combat scenes when Ringo sticks with them. Hopefully the next book picks up seamlessly from when this ends because obviously it just isn't finished. If there is backstory and explanation I don't know if I can bear to read it.
November 10, 2022
Great character writing. Not the best plotline even within this series.
September 2, 2024
Another in a series of SF war novels. This one doen't end with an exciting battle. But it does end with one. The author definitely left room for another novel.
September 3, 2017
I still enjoyed this book; I would probably rate it somewhere between 3.7 and 3.9 stars. With the addition of the "Sidestories", though, this book does have some discrepancies (continuity errors? holes in logic?) that are all the more glaring and which hindered by enjoying it as much as I thought I might have. It has quite a bit of new characters introduced, and the author attempts to develop all of his characters, to some extent, so there is not nearly as much "action" in this book as there was in, say, Gust Front. Some of the character development works, some of it does not. The story also takes place five years after the initial landings, so there is a lot of "middle story/back story" that is remarked upon but never told as well as a lot of "info dumps" at the start of the novel to "bring the reader up to speed" on "current events" as they stand in this novel.
I am happy to say I am still enjoying this series, overall. After not having read this book for so many years, it does not quite have the "gut-clenching" "OH.MY.GOODNESS! HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS?!?" that it had the first time (and even second time) I read it. I was very grateful I did have the fourth book in the series; otherwise, I would have been impatiently sick waiting for the next one to come out. hahahah As it was, I could move on to the next book and discover "what comes next."
There are various weaknesses in the story. I am sure there are other weaknesses in the book, but they still did not take away from my over-all enjoyment of re-reading this book or the series.
This book does have a lot of humor in it.
This book had a lot of "character development" in it and not as much action [it seemed] until towards the end. Even then, it still felt like it was "missing something" (never mind the abrupt ending as the book was clearly meant to continue but was cut off so it could go to the printer's and be put out on the market). The author explains the reason why it ends like it does (a combination of writer's block and 9-11 occurring). The ending was pretty jarring and rather unsatisfactory.
I know I "talked more" about its weaknesses and none (few) of the strengths. The battle sequences are pretty good, when they happen and he takes the time to describe them. At first, I loved the SheVas and thought they were pretty cool, despite their weaknesses. Now, after having read Watch on the Rhine, I still like them, but not so much.
Overall, it was a fun book to read. In general, I think it still has held up well over the course of time. I enjoyed revisiting it, despite its warts and weaknesses. I am glad I (re)read it.
I am happy to say I am still enjoying this series, overall. After not having read this book for so many years, it does not quite have the "gut-clenching" "OH.MY.GOODNESS! HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS?!?" that it had the first time (and even second time) I read it. I was very grateful I did have the fourth book in the series; otherwise, I would have been impatiently sick waiting for the next one to come out. hahahah As it was, I could move on to the next book and discover "what comes next."
There are various weaknesses in the story. I am sure there are other weaknesses in the book, but they still did not take away from my over-all enjoyment of re-reading this book or the series.
This book does have a lot of humor in it.
This book had a lot of "character development" in it and not as much action [it seemed] until towards the end. Even then, it still felt like it was "missing something" (never mind the abrupt ending as the book was clearly meant to continue but was cut off so it could go to the printer's and be put out on the market). The author explains the reason why it ends like it does (a combination of writer's block and 9-11 occurring). The ending was pretty jarring and rather unsatisfactory.
I know I "talked more" about its weaknesses and none (few) of the strengths. The battle sequences are pretty good, when they happen and he takes the time to describe them. At first, I loved the SheVas and thought they were pretty cool, despite their weaknesses. Now, after having read Watch on the Rhine, I still like them, but not so much.
Overall, it was a fun book to read. In general, I think it still has held up well over the course of time. I enjoyed revisiting it, despite its warts and weaknesses. I am glad I (re)read it.
May 7, 2010
I took a break from the Honorverse for a while and dove into John Ringo again with the third book in his Posleen War series, When the Devil Dances. All in all, it was much different from the previous entry, and an enjoyable one, at that.
Part of the issue I had with Gust Front came primarily from the author's propensity for excessively detailed military maneuvers. Given a map of the United States and an Axes and Allies game centered on US territory, one could easily plot out each action and counteraction for hours. That level of detail is fine, but I for one am not capable of retaining such intricacies in my brain for the duration of a novel; there's just too much going on to be constantly embroiled in minutiae.
There's still a certain aspect to that with When the Devil Dances, but it's much less pronounced. Instead, Ringo seems to have gone another direction entirely and instead launched several interwoven plot threads, some of which originate all the way back in A Hymn Before Battle. And once again, Mike O'Neal play the central role we saw in Hymn, yet clearly his involvement is intrinsic, as is that of his daughter Cally and his father. But instead of getting mired in these characters, we get to see what Jake Mosovich, Anne Elgars, David Mueller, Wendy Cummings, Shari Reilly, and whole metric ton of other characters are doing. Most amusing among these is Bun-Bun the SheVa tank. SheVa guns are new creations for this book which are basically stadium-sized mobile cannons armed with immense antimatter rounds. Bunbun is actually named after a character from Sluggy Freelance, an online comic I read daily, and one I never expected to see in this context. It's clear Ringo is a fan, which just makes it more surreal.
Though the Darheel are clearly still manipulating the situation, the state of the war is such that they're never really incorporated directly, but operating on momentum. I'd say I was disappointed in that, but the novel also abruptly cuts off right before O'Neal and his team dive into battle for presumably the last time against insurmountable odds. That suggests to me that Hell's Faire, the sequel, is actually a continuation of what was becoming a book that was simply too long to publish without splitting it in half.
So why don't I mention the all-vaunted plot? It's hard to explain. It's set about five years after Gust Front, millions of people are living underground in 'burbs, fighting is still going badly and the Posleen have eliminated about six billion people, while their own numbers have climbed past two billion thanks to their ability to breed quickly. That's the setting, and within that, some characters meet up, more military maneuvers occur, some of which are ill-advised, and Mike yells and gets frustrated a lot whilst killing Posleen. Basically, it's more of the same, but within that are several microcosms of punctuated action and development that I couldn't possibly cover them all. Ringo really did go crazy introducing new characters and fleshing out old ones, and so much is happening here, I almost felt like I needed a notepad to keep track of everything. This isn't necessarily bad, but I find myself diverting to other series to convalesce, instead of rushing to finish this one and see what happens. I never thought I'd say a novel had too much action.
All in all, an enjoyable novel with some surprising and welcome twists. I'll work up the courage in a few weeks and start Hell's Faire, and hopefully not drown in the exposition.
Part of the issue I had with Gust Front came primarily from the author's propensity for excessively detailed military maneuvers. Given a map of the United States and an Axes and Allies game centered on US territory, one could easily plot out each action and counteraction for hours. That level of detail is fine, but I for one am not capable of retaining such intricacies in my brain for the duration of a novel; there's just too much going on to be constantly embroiled in minutiae.
There's still a certain aspect to that with When the Devil Dances, but it's much less pronounced. Instead, Ringo seems to have gone another direction entirely and instead launched several interwoven plot threads, some of which originate all the way back in A Hymn Before Battle. And once again, Mike O'Neal play the central role we saw in Hymn, yet clearly his involvement is intrinsic, as is that of his daughter Cally and his father. But instead of getting mired in these characters, we get to see what Jake Mosovich, Anne Elgars, David Mueller, Wendy Cummings, Shari Reilly, and whole metric ton of other characters are doing. Most amusing among these is Bun-Bun the SheVa tank. SheVa guns are new creations for this book which are basically stadium-sized mobile cannons armed with immense antimatter rounds. Bunbun is actually named after a character from Sluggy Freelance, an online comic I read daily, and one I never expected to see in this context. It's clear Ringo is a fan, which just makes it more surreal.
Though the Darheel are clearly still manipulating the situation, the state of the war is such that they're never really incorporated directly, but operating on momentum. I'd say I was disappointed in that, but the novel also abruptly cuts off right before O'Neal and his team dive into battle for presumably the last time against insurmountable odds. That suggests to me that Hell's Faire, the sequel, is actually a continuation of what was becoming a book that was simply too long to publish without splitting it in half.
So why don't I mention the all-vaunted plot? It's hard to explain. It's set about five years after Gust Front, millions of people are living underground in 'burbs, fighting is still going badly and the Posleen have eliminated about six billion people, while their own numbers have climbed past two billion thanks to their ability to breed quickly. That's the setting, and within that, some characters meet up, more military maneuvers occur, some of which are ill-advised, and Mike yells and gets frustrated a lot whilst killing Posleen. Basically, it's more of the same, but within that are several microcosms of punctuated action and development that I couldn't possibly cover them all. Ringo really did go crazy introducing new characters and fleshing out old ones, and so much is happening here, I almost felt like I needed a notepad to keep track of everything. This isn't necessarily bad, but I find myself diverting to other series to convalesce, instead of rushing to finish this one and see what happens. I never thought I'd say a novel had too much action.
All in all, an enjoyable novel with some surprising and welcome twists. I'll work up the courage in a few weeks and start Hell's Faire, and hopefully not drown in the exposition.
January 26, 2014
Sub-genre: Military Sci-fi
Solid editing/polish: ✔
Fun characters: ✔
Witty repartee: ✔
Great "how-it-works" technology descriptions: ✔
Idiot aliens won't retreat 'til their dead piled 5+ meters high: ✔
Unbelievable moments: ✔
I've slogged through some of this author's battle scenes in books like March Upcountry that did not "payoff" nearly as well as this book. By payoff, I mean that there's a twist at the end of When the Devil Dances that wouldn't make sense without those elongated battle sequences. The relentless battles wore on the aliens too. .
That said, if you don't enjoy reading about tech-heavy marines for hundreds of pages, no twist at the end will make the book fun for you.
I like character of Major O'Neal. I read this book first and liked it enough to read a couple more in the series and got good and obsessed with it.
June 16, 2012
Note : This review is from the Kindle edition.
This 3rd book in the series is a little different. As the rest of the world has slipped into darkness under the weight of the alien invasion, North America (USA and Canada) hold out. Unfortunately the war is a version of the WW1 Western Front. Humans have fixed defences in a long defensive line, the aliens make massed assaults that would have made Haig and Foch deliriously happy, and the war is in a pseudo stalemate. The reality is that humanity is being bled to death, slowly but surely.
Then along comes that most dangerous of creatures, a thinking alien.
We have many of the same characters as in the first two books, though the alien ones are more difficult to keep track of. The same themes of human incompetence and laziness, with occasional cupidity, recur once again, mixed with heroism and faith, in places bordering on fanaticism.
Yet again a fine read for the military SF fan.
This 3rd book in the series is a little different. As the rest of the world has slipped into darkness under the weight of the alien invasion, North America (USA and Canada) hold out. Unfortunately the war is a version of the WW1 Western Front. Humans have fixed defences in a long defensive line, the aliens make massed assaults that would have made Haig and Foch deliriously happy, and the war is in a pseudo stalemate. The reality is that humanity is being bled to death, slowly but surely.
Then along comes that most dangerous of creatures, a thinking alien.
We have many of the same characters as in the first two books, though the alien ones are more difficult to keep track of. The same themes of human incompetence and laziness, with occasional cupidity, recur once again, mixed with heroism and faith, in places bordering on fanaticism.
Yet again a fine read for the military SF fan.
May 15, 2017
I can't help myself
This review is from: When the Devil Dances (Legacy of the Aldenata Book 3) (Kindle Edition)
I like a lot of John Ringo's work. I like the Legacy of the Aldenata series even if it has become slightly formalistic (or do I mean formulistic, formulaic? The dictionary at hand is of no assistance) . This series reminds me of the movie, "The Magnificent Seven". Look past the entertainment and there is a lot of wisdom there.
This review is from: When the Devil Dances (Legacy of the Aldenata Book 3) (Kindle Edition)
I like a lot of John Ringo's work. I like the Legacy of the Aldenata series even if it has become slightly formalistic (or do I mean formulistic, formulaic? The dictionary at hand is of no assistance) . This series reminds me of the movie, "The Magnificent Seven". Look past the entertainment and there is a lot of wisdom there.
March 16, 2016
The action, characters and universe continue to evolve and drag you through one hell of a adventure that will leave you swearing, laughing and stunned with what John Ringo can come up with. If you want Military fiction of the highest calibre, go grab the first of the Polseen series and strap in. This is one series you don't want to miss!
February 18, 2011
I had a lot of fun reading this one. It was interesting to see the book focus on other characters besides the ACS battalion.
May 17, 2020
Review in the first book in the series, “A Hymn to Battle.”
May 24, 2024
A Thrilling Continuation: "When the Devil Dances" by John Ringo
"When the Devil Dances" by John Ringo is the third installment in the "Legacy of the Aldenata" series, a gripping military science fiction saga. With this book, Ringo masterfully continues the story of humanity's desperate struggle against the alien Posleen invaders, delivering a thrilling and action-packed narrative that captivates readers from beginning to end.
Set in a near-future Earth under siege, "When the Devil Dances" picks up the threads from its predecessors, "A Hymn Before Battle" and "Gust Front." The Posleen, a relentless and carnivorous alien species, have decimated much of the planet, leaving humanity on the brink of extinction. Against this bleak backdrop, the story follows multiple characters, each contributing to the war effort in their unique ways.
Ringo's strength lies in his ability to create vivid, multi-dimensional characters whose personal struggles resonate deeply with readers. Mike O'Neal, a seasoned and battle-hardened soldier, continues to be a standout character. His leadership and tactical acumen are crucial to the human resistance, and his emotional depth adds a poignant layer to the relentless action. Alongside him, we see the growth of other key figures such as Michael O'Neal Jr., who is grappling with the immense responsibilities thrust upon him at a young age.
The narrative pace of "When the Devil Dances" is relentless, with Ringo expertly balancing large-scale battle scenes with intimate character moments. The combat sequences are meticulously detailed, showcasing Ringo's extensive knowledge of military tactics and technology. These scenes are not just about the clash of forces but also highlight the strategic thinking and split-second decisions that can turn the tide of battle. The sense of urgency and high stakes is palpable, making for an exhilarating read.
One of the notable aspects of this book is its portrayal of the broader human experience during an apocalyptic war. Ringo does not shy away from depicting the horrors and sacrifices of conflict. The struggles of civilians, the ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers, and the psychological toll of continuous warfare are all explored with a stark realism that adds depth to the story. This approach makes the reader appreciate the resilience and determination of the human spirit even in the darkest of times.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the sheer number of characters and subplots overwhelming, occasionally causing the narrative to lose focus. Additionally, while the detailed descriptions of military hardware and tactics will appeal to hardcore sci-fi and military enthusiasts, they might be a bit too technical for the average reader.
Despite these minor drawbacks, "When the Devil Dances" remains a compelling read. John Ringo's ability to weave complex storylines with intense action and genuine emotional moments ensures that this book stands out in the crowded field of military science fiction. It's a story of survival, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
In conclusion, "When the Devil Dances" earns its four-star rating for its thrilling action, well-developed characters, and insightful exploration of the human condition during wartime. It's a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi military adventure. Ringo has crafted a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat while making you care deeply about the fate of its characters and the future of humanity.
"When the Devil Dances" by John Ringo is the third installment in the "Legacy of the Aldenata" series, a gripping military science fiction saga. With this book, Ringo masterfully continues the story of humanity's desperate struggle against the alien Posleen invaders, delivering a thrilling and action-packed narrative that captivates readers from beginning to end.
Set in a near-future Earth under siege, "When the Devil Dances" picks up the threads from its predecessors, "A Hymn Before Battle" and "Gust Front." The Posleen, a relentless and carnivorous alien species, have decimated much of the planet, leaving humanity on the brink of extinction. Against this bleak backdrop, the story follows multiple characters, each contributing to the war effort in their unique ways.
Ringo's strength lies in his ability to create vivid, multi-dimensional characters whose personal struggles resonate deeply with readers. Mike O'Neal, a seasoned and battle-hardened soldier, continues to be a standout character. His leadership and tactical acumen are crucial to the human resistance, and his emotional depth adds a poignant layer to the relentless action. Alongside him, we see the growth of other key figures such as Michael O'Neal Jr., who is grappling with the immense responsibilities thrust upon him at a young age.
The narrative pace of "When the Devil Dances" is relentless, with Ringo expertly balancing large-scale battle scenes with intimate character moments. The combat sequences are meticulously detailed, showcasing Ringo's extensive knowledge of military tactics and technology. These scenes are not just about the clash of forces but also highlight the strategic thinking and split-second decisions that can turn the tide of battle. The sense of urgency and high stakes is palpable, making for an exhilarating read.
One of the notable aspects of this book is its portrayal of the broader human experience during an apocalyptic war. Ringo does not shy away from depicting the horrors and sacrifices of conflict. The struggles of civilians, the ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers, and the psychological toll of continuous warfare are all explored with a stark realism that adds depth to the story. This approach makes the reader appreciate the resilience and determination of the human spirit even in the darkest of times.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the sheer number of characters and subplots overwhelming, occasionally causing the narrative to lose focus. Additionally, while the detailed descriptions of military hardware and tactics will appeal to hardcore sci-fi and military enthusiasts, they might be a bit too technical for the average reader.
Despite these minor drawbacks, "When the Devil Dances" remains a compelling read. John Ringo's ability to weave complex storylines with intense action and genuine emotional moments ensures that this book stands out in the crowded field of military science fiction. It's a story of survival, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
In conclusion, "When the Devil Dances" earns its four-star rating for its thrilling action, well-developed characters, and insightful exploration of the human condition during wartime. It's a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi military adventure. Ringo has crafted a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat while making you care deeply about the fate of its characters and the future of humanity.
September 17, 2021
When the devil dances, troisième tome de la série "The Posleen war saga" de John Ringo
Lu en anglais
5 ans ! 5 ans déjà depuis le premier débarquement des Posleen, et les autres vagues n'ont pas tardé à suivre. Depuis, les Posleen, des extraterrestres avec une allure de centaure et une tête de crocodile, se sont imposés presque partout sur terre. Pas d'entente possible, pour eux, toutes les autres formes de vie ne sont que de la nourriture. Des milliards de morts ! Mais quelques poches d'humains résistent, surtout aux États-Unis près des obstacles naturels comme les chaines de montagne et au nord du Canada à cause du froid. Les Posleen ont l'avantage du nombre maintenant, sans compter qu'ils sont matures à deux ans seulement. Les terriens ont de rares avantages comme l'artillerie à cause des trajectoires paraboliques des obus, des ingénieurs qui s'y entendent pour miner des objectifs ou carrément des villes entières et l'infanterie cuirassée mobile malheureusement très peu nombreuse. Et, acculé au mur, on envisage d'utiliser les armes nucléaires, malgré les pertes humaines.
Un peu plus lent que les deux précédents. On creuse un peu plus les personnages et on décrit la vie dans les gigantesques villes souterraines. Mais les combats sont toujours aussi palpitants, sans compter que l'on peut compter sur une nouvelle arme, assez monstrueuse merci, pour affronter les vaisseaux ennemis quasi invulnérables. Et, ce que je déteste, le roman finit en suspens, la suite au prochain qui a l'air difficile à trouver.
J'ai beaucoup aimé. Mon regret principal, c'est le manque de batailles spatiales; il y en a eu pendant les 5 ans de combat, mais elles ne sont pas décrites. Dommage ! Le rythme est plus lent, mais je ne chipote pas.
De la science-fiction militaire à son meilleur. Si je peux trouver la suite.
Lu en anglais
5 ans ! 5 ans déjà depuis le premier débarquement des Posleen, et les autres vagues n'ont pas tardé à suivre. Depuis, les Posleen, des extraterrestres avec une allure de centaure et une tête de crocodile, se sont imposés presque partout sur terre. Pas d'entente possible, pour eux, toutes les autres formes de vie ne sont que de la nourriture. Des milliards de morts ! Mais quelques poches d'humains résistent, surtout aux États-Unis près des obstacles naturels comme les chaines de montagne et au nord du Canada à cause du froid. Les Posleen ont l'avantage du nombre maintenant, sans compter qu'ils sont matures à deux ans seulement. Les terriens ont de rares avantages comme l'artillerie à cause des trajectoires paraboliques des obus, des ingénieurs qui s'y entendent pour miner des objectifs ou carrément des villes entières et l'infanterie cuirassée mobile malheureusement très peu nombreuse. Et, acculé au mur, on envisage d'utiliser les armes nucléaires, malgré les pertes humaines.
Un peu plus lent que les deux précédents. On creuse un peu plus les personnages et on décrit la vie dans les gigantesques villes souterraines. Mais les combats sont toujours aussi palpitants, sans compter que l'on peut compter sur une nouvelle arme, assez monstrueuse merci, pour affronter les vaisseaux ennemis quasi invulnérables. Et, ce que je déteste, le roman finit en suspens, la suite au prochain qui a l'air difficile à trouver.
J'ai beaucoup aimé. Mon regret principal, c'est le manque de batailles spatiales; il y en a eu pendant les 5 ans de combat, mais elles ne sont pas décrites. Dommage ! Le rythme est plus lent, mais je ne chipote pas.
De la science-fiction militaire à son meilleur. Si je peux trouver la suite.
March 12, 2017
This book continues the military sci-fi series I started a couple of months ago, which overall has been excellent. There are twelve books in the series, but I have read in reviews that only the first four books are good. And as I look forward to future volumes, I can see why. After book #4, John Ringo has handed off the series to other authors to complete, and the characters and the formula that has been successful up to that point are abandoned to explore tangential stories.
When the Devil Dances starts off five years after Earth's invasion by the Posleen, an event that had been predicted by the alien federation that came to earth five years before that and asked for help. Even though individual battles have been won by the humans, the numbers and the technology are against Earth, and by the time Devil Dances comes along, Earth's defenses are down to only a fraction of what they were. In North America, U.S. forces are holding the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians from Canada all the way to Georgia.
The book focuses on two fronts: the area around Rochester, New York and toward the end in northern Georgia and southwestern North Carolina. The book runs into the same problems the first two books had: it tries to get too technical with information, and tries to tell too many stories at the same time. But while the other two books got caught up in action that made the technobabble forgivable, this one doesn't seem to have that saving grace. The solution here is nuclear weapons. And even in this case, most of the action with nuclear weapons is missed and not discussed.
In addition, I have a hard time with books that see women as all gorgeous and horny. In this case, it even brings in a 13-year old girl, viewing her by another character who says that she "must be at least 17 or 18," and she is attracted to an older Marine, stating that "he's kind of cute, in a teddy bear kind of way." And of course, all of these women are excellent fighters as well.
Most series tend to lose some of their quality as time goes on, and as good as this series is, I'm sad to say this is the case here. Books one and two were excellent, book three was good, but only so. I will probably read book four, but I don't plan on going any further in the series.
When the Devil Dances starts off five years after Earth's invasion by the Posleen, an event that had been predicted by the alien federation that came to earth five years before that and asked for help. Even though individual battles have been won by the humans, the numbers and the technology are against Earth, and by the time Devil Dances comes along, Earth's defenses are down to only a fraction of what they were. In North America, U.S. forces are holding the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians from Canada all the way to Georgia.
The book focuses on two fronts: the area around Rochester, New York and toward the end in northern Georgia and southwestern North Carolina. The book runs into the same problems the first two books had: it tries to get too technical with information, and tries to tell too many stories at the same time. But while the other two books got caught up in action that made the technobabble forgivable, this one doesn't seem to have that saving grace. The solution here is nuclear weapons. And even in this case, most of the action with nuclear weapons is missed and not discussed.
In addition, I have a hard time with books that see women as all gorgeous and horny. In this case, it even brings in a 13-year old girl, viewing her by another character who says that she "must be at least 17 or 18," and she is attracted to an older Marine, stating that "he's kind of cute, in a teddy bear kind of way." And of course, all of these women are excellent fighters as well.
Most series tend to lose some of their quality as time goes on, and as good as this series is, I'm sad to say this is the case here. Books one and two were excellent, book three was good, but only so. I will probably read book four, but I don't plan on going any further in the series.
January 30, 2020
This book was almost entirely about a single battle in the war. It didn't even finish the battle by the end. That is kind of boring. I like a bit of variety in stories and don't like battles in books that much. It reminds me of that show Dragon Ball Z, which made a single fight between two combatants last like an entire season. That sort of thing tended to really annoy me. There was a really interesting element introduced to the Posleen War universe with Wendy later into the book. I am curious to see what happens next but don't like the downturn in the series. John Ringo is a great storyteller, so it is a bit frustrating to see mostly descriptions of battle rather than story.
February 1, 2020
A very confusing plot with far too many characters, some of which are rejuvenated old war
heroes, roll your head around that one! There are the usual sexual endos with a young girl
contemplating sex before make up. At this point in time I lost patience with it.
This book is like a cross between an episode of Falling Skies and Independence day.
As usual the author's obsession with sex rears its ugly head and I gave up on the series at
this point.
The series started well but this book just runs away with itself.
Read Larry Niven's Footfall instead.
A classic! And better written!
heroes, roll your head around that one! There are the usual sexual endos with a young girl
contemplating sex before make up. At this point in time I lost patience with it.
This book is like a cross between an episode of Falling Skies and Independence day.
As usual the author's obsession with sex rears its ugly head and I gave up on the series at
this point.
The series started well but this book just runs away with itself.
Read Larry Niven's Footfall instead.
A classic! And better written!
May 11, 2019
First 2 books of this series were excellent. This one was good and even great in parts but had too much padding with weapons descriptions, etc along with static scenes that were too elaborate in their descriptions where they could be considered as padded whilst the well built character plots from prior books moved forward at a snails pace. That said, IF you read books 1 and 2, then this is worth the read even as a bridging book to book 4...
June 24, 2022
It is a nicely written book, but inconsistent with the series' universe. Since we have learned in the previous book that the suit gestalt could operate the suit on its own, they don't really need human bodies inside them! They could have robot suits fight the war and robotic artillery and self advancing robotic mines controlled by AIDs to deal with the Posleen on the fields even high altitude bombing raids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2022
DNF at 20%. I thought the first book was pretty good, lots of action, not too much military lectures and fun characters. The second book was bad compared to the first one and this one is more of the same. The POV jumps around between multiple characters and plots and it's just boring. I was wanting to read these so that I could get to Cally's War and learn more about her but these books are just too boring and not for me.
September 30, 2017
More of the same ... death and destruction. However, there are a few more side stories and back stories this time. Of course, it's still "Americans are the only ones who know how to save the world" as is usual in fiction. This is usually only annoying but having learned more about John Ringo's background it is more so than usual.
Still, it's been a good way to relax away from reality.
Still, it's been a good way to relax away from reality.
March 10, 2018
I am really enjoying this series. It is definitely "hard" military science fiction with detailed descriptions of weapons, tactics and battlefields. Within these settings, Ringo is able to introduce tons of characters and, even after just a few pages, make you care deeply about what happens to them (which is often some gruesome combat death).
June 12, 2019
Third book in the Posleen War series, with the introduction of nuclear weapons in the battle against the alien invaders. The mid-Atlantic states are pretty much devastated at this point. Fans of military SF will appreciate the fanatical attention to detail.
August 26, 2020
Love John Ringo
This is my sixth or seventh reading of this series. It gets better every time. I recommend all his books except "Ghost". That series is not for most. It is way over the top.
This is my sixth or seventh reading of this series. It gets better every time. I recommend all his books except "Ghost". That series is not for most. It is way over the top.
September 1, 2017
Good stuff! Enjoyed this and I think you will too, .. assuming you are following the series.
November 7, 2018
These books get better the more of them you read. Intense military action with a delightful premise; the earth invaded and losing (mostly) the fight.
July 25, 2019
The books kind of run together but I do like them. This is a Good Read.
September 10, 2019
Good read.
March 31, 2020
Another great read! On to Hell's Faire!
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