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The David Birkenhead Series #6
Commodore
"War is cruelty," General William Tecumseh Sherman famously asserted. "There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over." David Birkenhead is not by nature a cruel Rabbit. Yet he's been assigned one of the most miserable missions an officer can ever receive—to bring two renegade Houses of Nobility back into the fold, by force if necessary. And he's in a terrible hurry as well; the Imperials are certain to strike again at any moment. Will David once again manage to make do with what he has instead of what he might wish for and somehow prevent a civil war and Royal catastrophe? Even if he has to face the entire Imperial Fleet along the way?
300 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 14, 2020
9/10: Fantastic, left me wanting more.
The chains of duty were forged from cold, pitiless iron. Oh how they chafed!
Fantastic and fun series. For a full review of the series, check out book one: My Review.
The chains of duty were forged from cold, pitiless iron. Oh how they chafed!
Fantastic and fun series. For a full review of the series, check out book one: My Review.
January 27, 2016
Gene-gineered David Birkinhead, Rabbit. Ex-slave and adopted brother of the new Prince has had quite an interesting and surprising successful life in the universe that created him to serve.
In Commodore, David know must face the perhaps the hardest challenge of his career: Continued Success. Up until now, David has been able to survive and thrive because when your back is against the wall, desperate gambles are the only game in town.
Now, running across the galaxy, trying to wage diplomacy and heal the Empire, it's the supposedly loyal subjects that stand in his way. Slow to change, his fellow Space Navel officers follow the same text book the Imperials do. Every draw is a win for the nearly exhausted Imperials and only a David and a few seem to see this.
Perhaps the problem was that David took all the brains from the Navy with him.
The military adventures here are top notch from the ground warfare to the space battles with more death and controlled mayhem than you can shake a stick at!
Oh, and I finally get to see my Horses! Mute and no hands! Oh my gosh! The poor things! And here I imagined them to be big beefy stevedores. :-C
But this is all nothing to the return of Jefferies, a former superior officer who proved to be anything but during David's time in the Graves Registration division. Nestor nearly becomes undone at the sight of him.
David and Nestor continue to do nothing beyond a few Bunny Hugs, but I forgive Guesz, and I'm so grateful that David brings the subject up himself several times in the book. Because not only am I curious about the sex lives of characters I enjoy, but it does set up a major plot point in the next book.
In Commodore, David know must face the perhaps the hardest challenge of his career: Continued Success. Up until now, David has been able to survive and thrive because when your back is against the wall, desperate gambles are the only game in town.
Now, running across the galaxy, trying to wage diplomacy and heal the Empire, it's the supposedly loyal subjects that stand in his way. Slow to change, his fellow Space Navel officers follow the same text book the Imperials do. Every draw is a win for the nearly exhausted Imperials and only a David and a few seem to see this.
Perhaps the problem was that David took all the brains from the Navy with him.
The military adventures here are top notch from the ground warfare to the space battles with more death and controlled mayhem than you can shake a stick at!
Oh, and I finally get to see my Horses! Mute and no hands! Oh my gosh! The poor things! And here I imagined them to be big beefy stevedores. :-C
But this is all nothing to the return of Jefferies, a former superior officer who proved to be anything but during David's time in the Graves Registration division. Nestor nearly becomes undone at the sight of him.
David and Nestor continue to do nothing beyond a few Bunny Hugs, but I forgive Guesz, and I'm so grateful that David brings the subject up himself several times in the book. Because not only am I curious about the sex lives of characters I enjoy, but it does set up a major plot point in the next book.
August 29, 2013
Book 6, Commodore, of the David Birkenhead Series continues to display one of the three things I LOVE about this series. The character's attitudes and abilities change as he gets older and gains experience.
He has hit his mid-thirties in this book (a guess - actual age isn't mentioned) and has left behind the fire of his youth. Before, as a youth, he just changed the world to win - didn't build it, direct it, channel it - he just changed it. Change could be for better or worse. Now older, wiser, he plans the changes and makes compromises to make the change possible with the least amount of damage TO OTHERS. Compromise always damages one self. He has learned as you change the world, it also changes you.
From the first book where he was a kid, to the second book as a teen, to now, the character not only grows based on experience - but also reflects actual changes sentient beings go through in their thinking process. Great worldbuilding/character building many books lack.
Of course the action of the youth books has diminished in the older books. But David is back in space, and that is a good thing. Rocking Military Space Opera is the second thing I love about this series.
Third is the sociological worldbuilding of a slave culture. Strangely as the series has moved more into the political non-action end of things, the slave culture items have faded. Did love the war bunnies drill of welcome scaring the crap out of the Empire's military staff. Nothing like realizing your opponent is about to tap a potential to double military numbers if you give them time.
He has hit his mid-thirties in this book (a guess - actual age isn't mentioned) and has left behind the fire of his youth. Before, as a youth, he just changed the world to win - didn't build it, direct it, channel it - he just changed it. Change could be for better or worse. Now older, wiser, he plans the changes and makes compromises to make the change possible with the least amount of damage TO OTHERS. Compromise always damages one self. He has learned as you change the world, it also changes you.
From the first book where he was a kid, to the second book as a teen, to now, the character not only grows based on experience - but also reflects actual changes sentient beings go through in their thinking process. Great worldbuilding/character building many books lack.
Of course the action of the youth books has diminished in the older books. But David is back in space, and that is a good thing. Rocking Military Space Opera is the second thing I love about this series.
Third is the sociological worldbuilding of a slave culture. Strangely as the series has moved more into the political non-action end of things, the slave culture items have faded. Did love the war bunnies drill of welcome scaring the crap out of the Empire's military staff. Nothing like realizing your opponent is about to tap a potential to double military numbers if you give them time.
December 17, 2012
This books brings back some of the elements that I liked with these books in the first place and tones down the politics a bit although it’s not entirely removed. David again has a active mission in space and this time he has enough authority to give orders, not the other way around. As usual his mission ends up with some difficult decisions as well as desperate fighting.
Unfortunately a lot of the action ends up being down on a planet, mostly as guerilla warfare, and it’s not until the end that we see some fleet action and even then it’s somewhat rushed and over and done with fairly quickly which is a bit of a shame. I miss the well written fleet action that authors like David Weber can produce.
Still, overall I liked this book.
Unfortunately a lot of the action ends up being down on a planet, mostly as guerilla warfare, and it’s not until the end that we see some fleet action and even then it’s somewhat rushed and over and done with fairly quickly which is a bit of a shame. I miss the well written fleet action that authors like David Weber can produce.
Still, overall I liked this book.
October 12, 2013
This longest book of the seven-book series is neither plodding nor padded in any way -- it's quite the blockbuster, proving that the penultimate piece is often more important than the conclusion. I temper that statement by saying that I'm now reading the conclusion, and therefore may have to revise my opinion.
Without proffering spoilers, let me just say that the old adage is true: Whatever it is that hits the fan will not be distributed equally. The next time someone says that rabbits are cowardly, offer them David Birkenhead... then stand well back.
Without proffering spoilers, let me just say that the old adage is true: Whatever it is that hits the fan will not be distributed equally. The next time someone says that rabbits are cowardly, offer them David Birkenhead... then stand well back.
April 21, 2013
The life of rabbit continue. Saving the kingdom of people and free the rabbit nation.
It has few interesting points and actions. The story is going to big final. Just curious if rabbit Birkenhead sacrifices yourself for glory of James or rabbit nation. Perhaps it's more question how.
Will probably finish the last book of the series.
It has few interesting points and actions. The story is going to big final. Just curious if rabbit Birkenhead sacrifices yourself for glory of James or rabbit nation. Perhaps it's more question how.
Will probably finish the last book of the series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews