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Dirigent Mercenary Corps #6
Colonel
he year is 2804 AD. Humanity has colonized the universe. But the authority of the Confederation of Human Worlds is spread thin. Where the Army of planet Earth cannot reach, mercenaries must keep the peace--and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps are the best of the best.
As a young cadet, all Lon Nolan ever dreamed of was serving in the military of planet Earth. After a dishonorable discharge on trumped-up choices, he saved himself and his honor by joining up with the Dirigent Mercenary Corps. Over the decades he’s forged himself a place with the DMC, and shown himself to be a true hero. There’s even talk that he might become the next General.
But Lon isn’t after a promotion--in fact, he’s thinking about retirement. With his son in the Corps, he’s hoping he can leave the fighting to the next generation. But when the political machinations of the Confederation of Human Worlds get in the way, Lon has to return to the front lines, leading not just his troops, but his son among them, into a final bitter campaign.
The Dirigent Mercenary Corps books are classics of military science fiction. Rick Shelley was himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, and his experience and knowledge shine through on every page.
As a young cadet, all Lon Nolan ever dreamed of was serving in the military of planet Earth. After a dishonorable discharge on trumped-up choices, he saved himself and his honor by joining up with the Dirigent Mercenary Corps. Over the decades he’s forged himself a place with the DMC, and shown himself to be a true hero. There’s even talk that he might become the next General.
But Lon isn’t after a promotion--in fact, he’s thinking about retirement. With his son in the Corps, he’s hoping he can leave the fighting to the next generation. But when the political machinations of the Confederation of Human Worlds get in the way, Lon has to return to the front lines, leading not just his troops, but his son among them, into a final bitter campaign.
The Dirigent Mercenary Corps books are classics of military science fiction. Rick Shelley was himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, and his experience and knowledge shine through on every page.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 2, 2024
Good simple sci-fi action war.
April 29, 2026
3.5 stars.
In this last book in the series, we see Lon commanding a multi-regimental job to defend a university world from Earth domination.
Lon's mental agonies about his son's safety and the losses caused by his command decisions are among the best character work in the series. Other than that, though, the characters don't have much depth.
The combat scenes are drawn well for what they are, but as with the whole series, there is little in the way of real combined arms action at any point. But at least this time, the other arms do get mentions and important jobs.
There is still very little that firmly makes this series SF other than the spaceships. The weapons would occasion hardly any surprise on a late-20th century battlefield, and there is no indication that technological change has driven significant tactical changes.
As with the other books, this book ends with very little in the way of a denouement, which is more a choice than a failing, but it does feel rather abrupt.
Overall, the series was entertaining, but it will never be a favorite. The military descriptions are strong (both the military tactics and the military culture), but the character work, world design, and science fiction elements are lacking. I would only recommend this for a serious MilSF fan who has already read the better offerings in the sub-genre.
In this last book in the series, we see Lon commanding a multi-regimental job to defend a university world from Earth domination.
Lon's mental agonies about his son's safety and the losses caused by his command decisions are among the best character work in the series. Other than that, though, the characters don't have much depth.
The combat scenes are drawn well for what they are, but as with the whole series, there is little in the way of real combined arms action at any point. But at least this time, the other arms do get mentions and important jobs.
There is still very little that firmly makes this series SF other than the spaceships. The weapons would occasion hardly any surprise on a late-20th century battlefield, and there is no indication that technological change has driven significant tactical changes.
As with the other books, this book ends with very little in the way of a denouement, which is more a choice than a failing, but it does feel rather abrupt.
Overall, the series was entertaining, but it will never be a favorite. The military descriptions are strong (both the military tactics and the military culture), but the character work, world design, and science fiction elements are lacking. I would only recommend this for a serious MilSF fan who has already read the better offerings in the sub-genre.
February 2, 2010
The last of six books that trace the career of a soldier of Dirigent, a planet whose main industry is providing mercenary services. Good, solid military stuff.
May 31, 2010
hard to believe I've finished these. They weren't anything truly amazing, but it was nice to always fall back on a book where you knew how things would go.
September 20, 2014
A satisfying conclusion to the series. Exciting action sequences and believable character development.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews