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Janissaries #2-3
Tran
Finding himself on the distant world of Tran, which is populated by humans from all Earth times, former mercenary Rick Galloway, now known as Lord Rick, must unite the warring nations of the planet to survive the time of the Demon Star.
688 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
86 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pournelle
265 books548 followersDr 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 29, 2020
Human slaves are valued for their administrative and military skills
In some places this volume is described as Janissaries combo volumes book 1. However it is not book 1 in the Janissaries series. That honor belongs to JANISSARIES. TRAN contains books 2 and 3 - CLAN AND CROWN and STORMS OF VICTORY. Which, if you are trying to read the series in order on Kindle, makes it the second book you should read. Unless of course you prefer to buy just one volume in which case LORD OF JANISSARIES, available on Kindle, combines the first 3 volumes of the series. The final volume, book 4, appears to be MAMELUKES, Janissaries book 4. If, after reading it, I discover otherwise, I will edit this review.
I did not enjoy the two books in TRAN as much as I did the first book. I particularly did not care for the devolving relationship between Lord Rick and Tylara, a tough lady I much admire. The ending of this volume does seem to offer hope for that relationship.
This volume reveals the information that more than one group of aliens is interested in the affairs of both Tran and Earth. Some of them believe that humans are becoming too dangerous but because of their value as janissary-like slaves, a proposal has been made to destroy just Earth rather than all of them. Lord Rick, Tylara and others struggle to save Tran from the alien Shalnuksis while human slaves of the Galactic Confederation work to save Earth and maybe Tran as well. Now things grow complicated.
In some places this volume is described as Janissaries combo volumes book 1. However it is not book 1 in the Janissaries series. That honor belongs to JANISSARIES. TRAN contains books 2 and 3 - CLAN AND CROWN and STORMS OF VICTORY. Which, if you are trying to read the series in order on Kindle, makes it the second book you should read. Unless of course you prefer to buy just one volume in which case LORD OF JANISSARIES, available on Kindle, combines the first 3 volumes of the series. The final volume, book 4, appears to be MAMELUKES, Janissaries book 4. If, after reading it, I discover otherwise, I will edit this review.
I did not enjoy the two books in TRAN as much as I did the first book. I particularly did not care for the devolving relationship between Lord Rick and Tylara, a tough lady I much admire. The ending of this volume does seem to offer hope for that relationship.
This volume reveals the information that more than one group of aliens is interested in the affairs of both Tran and Earth. Some of them believe that humans are becoming too dangerous but because of their value as janissary-like slaves, a proposal has been made to destroy just Earth rather than all of them. Lord Rick, Tylara and others struggle to save Tran from the alien Shalnuksis while human slaves of the Galactic Confederation work to save Earth and maybe Tran as well. Now things grow complicated.
March 8, 2009
Pulpy alt-history without needing to worry about actual history. This picks up on a non-earth planet that has through alien intervention been seeded with several different societies from throughout earth history. Then, present-day U.S. Marines come to kick ass and take names, all while trying to ensure that the aliens who brought them don't nuke the planet from orbit. You want hard charging Frankish-style knights charging Eastern Roman cataphractii while 60mm mortar rounds fall? Check. You want a cross between the Little Big Horn, the Mongolians at Mohi, and Dien Bien Phu? Check. You want medieval child ninjas and interplanetary bigamy? Check.
As I said -- pulpy.
As I said -- pulpy.
July 5, 2019
A good read, not too deep
Nice concept well executed.
A bit of military history, a bit of character development, aliens and drugs, what's not to like?
Nice concept well executed.
A bit of military history, a bit of character development, aliens and drugs, what's not to like?
March 31, 2021
Action, intrigue, and strange alliances are essential as the Time rapidly approaches
Excellent characters, plenty of twists and turns as centuries old feuds become fresh alliances and the star men are at the heart of it all. The fantastic tale continues with new challenges as resources begin to dry up and the need to cultivate the mad weed becomes overriding. A great read and well worth the time.
Excellent characters, plenty of twists and turns as centuries old feuds become fresh alliances and the star men are at the heart of it all. The fantastic tale continues with new challenges as resources begin to dry up and the need to cultivate the mad weed becomes overriding. A great read and well worth the time.
September 16, 2018
Echoes of Lord kalvan of otherwhen
The same people who have been collaborating on the kalvan series also helped with this series. This also reads like a romance novel. The idea of gunpowder and people from different epochs having to work together is an interesting one. Pournelle seems to be a good student of history, some of the battles are replays of historical events.
The same people who have been collaborating on the kalvan series also helped with this series. This also reads like a romance novel. The idea of gunpowder and people from different epochs having to work together is an interesting one. Pournelle seems to be a good student of history, some of the battles are replays of historical events.
September 18, 2021
Couldn’t help burning through this.
Of course it’s a silly premise. Of course the likelihood of warriors from different ages and technologies working together would take longer to form a working army. Who cares? Great read.
Of course it’s a silly premise. Of course the likelihood of warriors from different ages and technologies working together would take longer to form a working army. Who cares? Great read.
August 20, 2021
Good Classic Action
Entertaining action and interesting world building. Interesting characters. All in all a good read. I am looking forward to further developments
Entertaining action and interesting world building. Interesting characters. All in all a good read. I am looking forward to further developments
Read
June 29, 2014Pulpy just like Janissaries, the 1st one in the series. And then I read these (it's an omnibus with the second and third books in the series) and it turns out there's a massive 4th book that has been postponed almost 20 years. So... boo.
I understand *why* Pournelle has not finished it, it's just that I hate unfinished series, and this is not exactly ASOIAF ... Pournelle has been crazy prollific, he just never finished writing this one book to close the series.
I understand *why* Pournelle has not finished it, it's just that I hate unfinished series, and this is not exactly ASOIAF ... Pournelle has been crazy prollific, he just never finished writing this one book to close the series.
March 13, 2014
Not my thing.
August 6, 2012
This book is the previous published 3 book Jannissaries series compiled into one volume.
October 7, 2015
Great! Be warned its books 2 & 3 of the series.
Great.. be warned its books two and three of series. I will never do another review due to this stupid, assassins word requirement
Great.. be warned its books two and three of series. I will never do another review due to this stupid, assassins word requirement
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews