Codominium: Revolt on War World

War World #5

by Jerry Pournelle (Series creator)

The Saurons, genetic super-soldiers, met fierce opposition in Haven's inhabitants, who were shaped by the toughest survivable environment in human space. This is the grim history of Haven, where war has always been a way of life....

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Military Fiction, Anthologies, Hard Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Dr Jerry Eugene Pournelle was an American science fiction writer, engineer, essayist, and journalist, who contributed for many years to the computer magazine Byte, and from 1998 until his death maintained his own website and blog.

From the beginning, Pournelle's work centered around strong military themes. Several books describe the fictional mercenary infantry force known as Falkenberg's Legion. There are strong parallels between these stories and the Childe Cycle mercenary stories by Gordon R. Dickson, as well as Heinlein's Starship Troopers, although Pournelle's work takes far fewer technological leaps than either of these.

Pournelle spent years working in the aerospace industry, including at Boeing, on projects including studying heat tolerance for astronauts and their spacesuits. This side of his career also found him working on projections related to military tactics and probabilities. One report in which he had a hand became a basis for the Strategic Defense Initiative, the missile defense system proposed by President Ronald Reagan. A study he edited in 1964 involved projecting Air Force missile technology needs for 1975.

Dr. Pournelle would always tell would-be writers seeking advice that the key to becoming an author was to write — a lot.

“And finish what you write,” he added in a 2003 interview. “Don’t join a writers’ club and sit around having coffee reading pieces of your manuscript to people. Write it. Finish it.”

Pournelle served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1973.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid installment in the War World saga, this time, the anthology contains ten stories all taking place from the discovery of Haven to the relocation of several 'troublesome' groups from Terra via the Bureau of Relocation. I really wonder how the editor (Pournelle?) compiled and grouped these tales; by any right, Codominium should be the first installment, but ended up being the 5th. Several new authors here, along with a few 'old hands' by this point, such as Don Hawthorne and Harry Turtledove.

The first few tales concern the founding of Haven as a religious colony by the 'Harmonies' and their trials and tribulations eeking out an existence. The rest all focus on various ethic groups and such that BuLoc dumped on Haven-- American Indians culled from their reservations, Russian nationalists, 'politicals', criminals and so forth. My favorite was "Janesport War" by Leslie Fish and Frank Gasperik. Bit of a mixed bag as most anthologies are, but overall, another strong entry into the series. 3.5 stars, rounding up for GR.

[David]

Fiction anthologies are always risky reading at best, but one always hopes at least to find a gem or two hidden amongst all the dross. This one is no exception to the rule, except there are no gem(s) to be found here. In fact quite the opposite. Unfortunately anthologies of this kind appear to be written to spec and to unrealistic deadlines by often unknown authors who often attempt to shoehorn their own values and peculiarities into ill suited storylines. For a book entitled Codominium, the content is strange insofar as it has almost nothing to do with the Codominium except as a very loose parametric. Perhaps even more peculiar, but not unforeseen, is that outside of a severe but tolerable weather cycle and eccentric orbit the planetoid is not nearly as inimical to humans as are humans themselves to each other. Banal at best, but for the bulk of it unreadable .

[Charles Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be a slightly violent silly romp and yet it delivers something much greater. The violence is there but it is always intimate and personal. Yes there is excitement and adventure but it is all on a one to one basis which makes a far greater impact than massive space battles. The planet is a perfect setting with the harshness shading all the actions in the struggle to survive.

[Chris Brimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun romp, original premise