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Aneka Jansen #4
The Winter War
The Jenlay, Herosians, and Torem have lived in peace for almost five hundred and thirty years. The Lorenti Federation was founded specifically to stop anything like the Xinti War happening again and, through all that time, a woman named Winter has sat at the top of the Federal Security Agency ensuring that the peace is kept.
Long before even the Xinti War, Aneka Jansen was torn from her home on Earth and converted from a flesh-and-blood woman to a robotic version of herself. Then she was trapped in deep space for a thousand years, waking up to find the world she knew was long dead, and her new home was New Earth.
Now forces are at work which could tear the Federation apart, and Aneka and Winter are at the centre of their plans. Neither woman is what she seems and now their secrets could mean the end for everyone.
Long before even the Xinti War, Aneka Jansen was torn from her home on Earth and converted from a flesh-and-blood woman to a robotic version of herself. Then she was trapped in deep space for a thousand years, waking up to find the world she knew was long dead, and her new home was New Earth.
Now forces are at work which could tear the Federation apart, and Aneka and Winter are at the centre of their plans. Neither woman is what she seems and now their secrets could mean the end for everyone.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2014
35 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
74 books294 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 13, 2014
I love this series! I believe that this nay be the best yet. Teasdale has created an alternate reality, or future reality that is utterly acceptable and does not call for much suspension of disbelief at all. Our heroine, Aneka Jansen, while in a combat robot's body, presents as quite human including both physical and emotional vulnerabilities.
The story is as complex as the world of Earth 2014. it is full of twists and turns which i found completely unexpected. There is a very surprising revelation of one of the major characters, specifically, Winter, the head of security for the Federation, to which Aneka is allied.
Adding to the enjoyment of the series is Teasdale's skill at creating believable characters whom he develops nicely as the series progresses. Another factor which warms the cockles of this 64 year old reviewer's heart, are the little sneaky references to recent and not recent sci=fi classics. They add much to my enjoyment of this book in particular.
Teasdale also excels at description, be it of an object or a new planet. He is masterful in his description of action scenes. They have that "you are there' feel to them.
i recommend this book strongly with the caveat that one must read the 3 preceding volumes for this book to be understood. Believe me, if you are a sci=fi fan, it is worth your time to do so.
The story is as complex as the world of Earth 2014. it is full of twists and turns which i found completely unexpected. There is a very surprising revelation of one of the major characters, specifically, Winter, the head of security for the Federation, to which Aneka is allied.
Adding to the enjoyment of the series is Teasdale's skill at creating believable characters whom he develops nicely as the series progresses. Another factor which warms the cockles of this 64 year old reviewer's heart, are the little sneaky references to recent and not recent sci=fi classics. They add much to my enjoyment of this book in particular.
Teasdale also excels at description, be it of an object or a new planet. He is masterful in his description of action scenes. They have that "you are there' feel to them.
i recommend this book strongly with the caveat that one must read the 3 preceding volumes for this book to be understood. Believe me, if you are a sci=fi fan, it is worth your time to do so.
March 21, 2016
Aneka Jansen is back on track with The Winter War. It's light fun with my favorite hot bisexual robot 1,000 years in the future.
QOTD
The most interesting parts of Winter War are those dealing with AI's and their role in Teasdale's future society. Obviously, there's Aneka, who's a robot. And she has Al, her wise-cracking AI assistant who lives in her body/computer/mind (?!?). And there's the whole AI planet and their role throughout. This part of the story is really well done. The rest is pretty much sex and violence and that's good as well.
A good read.
thanks... yow, bill
QOTD
'Vashma, no! No, Ape's in a solid partnership with his ship. No woman alive comes between him and her. I mean, we've had sex, but that's just stress relief. Sometimes we spar, sometimes we fuck...' She grinned. '...and occasionally the sparring ends up with us naked, but it's nothing serious. Ever'
- The Winter War
The most interesting parts of Winter War are those dealing with AI's and their role in Teasdale's future society. Obviously, there's Aneka, who's a robot. And she has Al, her wise-cracking AI assistant who lives in her body/computer/mind (?!?). And there's the whole AI planet and their role throughout. This part of the story is really well done. The rest is pretty much sex and violence and that's good as well.
A good read.
thanks... yow, bill
January 22, 2016
First part of the book is sooo slow, story almost grinds to a halt. Fortunately second half picks up speed and we finally get rid of boring "old earth"-storyline. It's almost like there's two very different books in one.
On a whole, it is more or less same as all the other Aneka Jansen-books, but i feel like Niall has grown as a writer. Sex is still there but it is toned down, action is as solid as previous books. What we see more is glimpses of really great space opera. Too bad it isn't fleshed out more, and this is where Niall would benefit to have professional editor onboard.
Even with it's flaws, so far it is the best book in Aneka Jansen-series.
On a whole, it is more or less same as all the other Aneka Jansen-books, but i feel like Niall has grown as a writer. Sex is still there but it is toned down, action is as solid as previous books. What we see more is glimpses of really great space opera. Too bad it isn't fleshed out more, and this is where Niall would benefit to have professional editor onboard.
Even with it's flaws, so far it is the best book in Aneka Jansen-series.
April 21, 2014
I've finished the whole series now and i must say they were very fun. Most of the situations were inventive, with some homage to classics. But what did it for me was the characters, they were just fun to read. As some of the reviews noted there is a lot Sex, but its different from just about every other book, its not romance as it is sex, and usually a paragraph or maybe a page.
I hope the adventures continue, now om off to read the authors first series :)
I hope the adventures continue, now om off to read the authors first series :)
July 8, 2016
Things are heating up and a cold war turns downright frosty.
Back on new earth things are going a bit unhinged. Someone ore something is slowly destabilizing the federation and only a few people are even aware its happening. Aneka, Ella and Winter the federation security chief get to do quite a few covert things to get to the bottom of this.
The story turns just a bit grim, but rises in quality.
(For adults only)
Back on new earth things are going a bit unhinged. Someone ore something is slowly destabilizing the federation and only a few people are even aware its happening. Aneka, Ella and Winter the federation security chief get to do quite a few covert things to get to the bottom of this.
The story turns just a bit grim, but rises in quality.
(For adults only)
June 18, 2015
Another Heartwarming and Action-filled Tail
Another fast-pasted read from the fertile mind of Naill Teasdale. This will read well as a stand-alone story. But I would really recommend that you start at the beginning of the Aneka Jensen series. You will be glad you did. Highly recommended.
Another fast-pasted read from the fertile mind of Naill Teasdale. This will read well as a stand-alone story. But I would really recommend that you start at the beginning of the Aneka Jensen series. You will be glad you did. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2014
As with the other ones, I really loved the story and characters and I must say Winter was not exactly the surprise I was thinking she was.
April 1, 2014
Many story lines in one book
l really enjoy the fact that there is more than one story line in the books. and they flow perfectly. can't wait to read more.
l really enjoy the fact that there is more than one story line in the books. and they flow perfectly. can't wait to read more.
June 11, 2015
A more solid book that the last couple.
March 30, 2017
Enjoyed it just as much as the first time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews