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Metsada Mercenary Corps #3
Not For Glory
Metzada is an inhospitable planet of Epsilon Indi whose inhabitants -- most descendants from refugees forced to leave Israel -- can survive only because its men are highly skilled mercenaries, Metzada’s one export that brings in revenue. When young Ari Hanavi freezes in combat twice, he has one last chance to survive and even become a “hero”. Scenes of battle, military command and operations are expertly portrayed in this novel about a young man who must overcome his terror while dealing with his fellow soldiers and fighting an enemy force. Set in the same world as NOT FOR GLORY, which David Drake called “a swift-paced, brutal, excellent political novel about the soldier of the future”.
on NOT FOR GLORY:
“Joel Rosenberg has taken some tried-and-true elements of military SF and breathed new life into them with intelligence and superb characterization. An original and powerful book.” – Roland J. Green, author of PEACE COMPANY and STARSHIP SHANANDOAH.
“A swift-paced, brutal, excellent political novel about the soldier of the future.”
- David Drake, author of HAMMERS SLAMMERS
“Rosenberg’s best yet! His hundreds of thousand of regular readers will love it.”
- Mike Resnick, author of SANTIAGO
“Superb . . . Compelling . . . Intriguing . . . It has the feel of reality and life . . . truly outstanding . . . I loved it!”
- John Dalmas, author of REALITY MATRIX
“Skillful and entertaining . . . The combination of action and tactics keeps the plot rolling.”
- Cincinnati Post
on HERO:
“…exhibits Rosenberg's talent for fast-paced, readable military SF with a unique twist.”
- Library Journal
on JOEL ROSENBERG:
“A major star in the fantasy firmament”
- Mike Resnick, author of STALKING THE UNICORN
“One of the leading lights in fantasy, Joel Rosenberg burns as brightly as ever.”
- William R. Forstchen, author of ONE SECOND AFTER
“One of the few writers I deliberately seek out . . . His splendid stories are intricate and fast-paced and exciting.”
- Dennis L. McKiernan, author of VOYAGE OF THE FOX RIDER
“If I see a book with Joel Rosenberg’s name on it, I buy it . . . His plots are fast-moving, meticulously crafted . . . his works are page-turners from first to last.”
- S.M. Stirling, author of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA
“If you’re one of the few people who haven’t read Joel Rosenberg, you owe it to yourself to change that right away.”
- John E. Stith, author of REDSHIFT RENDEZVOUS
“Joel Rosenberg writes fantasy rich with intelligent humor and gritty, well-researched detail.”
- Janny Wurts
“Joel Rosenberg is one of the emerging talents in our field today!”
- Raymond E. Feist
author bio:
Joel Rosenberg (1954-2011) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was raised in eastern North Dakota and northern Connecticut. Joel grew up reading Robert A. Heinlein, L. Sprague de Camp, Gordon R. Dickson and Rafael Sabatini, and found himself becoming a writer pretty much as a natural outcome of such early influences. His fantasy series include the New York Times bestselling “Guardians of the Flame” series, “Keepers of the Hidden Ways” series, “D’Shai” novels and two “Mordred’s Heirs” novels. He is survived by his wife Felicia and their daughters Judy and Rachel.
on NOT FOR GLORY:
“Joel Rosenberg has taken some tried-and-true elements of military SF and breathed new life into them with intelligence and superb characterization. An original and powerful book.” – Roland J. Green, author of PEACE COMPANY and STARSHIP SHANANDOAH.
“A swift-paced, brutal, excellent political novel about the soldier of the future.”
- David Drake, author of HAMMERS SLAMMERS
“Rosenberg’s best yet! His hundreds of thousand of regular readers will love it.”
- Mike Resnick, author of SANTIAGO
“Superb . . . Compelling . . . Intriguing . . . It has the feel of reality and life . . . truly outstanding . . . I loved it!”
- John Dalmas, author of REALITY MATRIX
“Skillful and entertaining . . . The combination of action and tactics keeps the plot rolling.”
- Cincinnati Post
on HERO:
“…exhibits Rosenberg's talent for fast-paced, readable military SF with a unique twist.”
- Library Journal
on JOEL ROSENBERG:
“A major star in the fantasy firmament”
- Mike Resnick, author of STALKING THE UNICORN
“One of the leading lights in fantasy, Joel Rosenberg burns as brightly as ever.”
- William R. Forstchen, author of ONE SECOND AFTER
“One of the few writers I deliberately seek out . . . His splendid stories are intricate and fast-paced and exciting.”
- Dennis L. McKiernan, author of VOYAGE OF THE FOX RIDER
“If I see a book with Joel Rosenberg’s name on it, I buy it . . . His plots are fast-moving, meticulously crafted . . . his works are page-turners from first to last.”
- S.M. Stirling, author of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA
“If you’re one of the few people who haven’t read Joel Rosenberg, you owe it to yourself to change that right away.”
- John E. Stith, author of REDSHIFT RENDEZVOUS
“Joel Rosenberg writes fantasy rich with intelligent humor and gritty, well-researched detail.”
- Janny Wurts
“Joel Rosenberg is one of the emerging talents in our field today!”
- Raymond E. Feist
author bio:
Joel Rosenberg (1954-2011) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was raised in eastern North Dakota and northern Connecticut. Joel grew up reading Robert A. Heinlein, L. Sprague de Camp, Gordon R. Dickson and Rafael Sabatini, and found himself becoming a writer pretty much as a natural outcome of such early influences. His fantasy series include the New York Times bestselling “Guardians of the Flame” series, “Keepers of the Hidden Ways” series, “D’Shai” novels and two “Mordred’s Heirs” novels. He is survived by his wife Felicia and their daughters Judy and Rachel.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
About the author
Joel Rosenberg
87 books241 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Note: This is a different person than the political/thriller author, Joel C. Rosenberg
Joel Rosenberg was the author of the bestselling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He made his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Note: This is a different person than the political/thriller author, Joel C. Rosenberg
Joel Rosenberg was the author of the bestselling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He made his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 25, 2008
I liked it very much. It was a completely different take on the space mercenary story. In most of the others the mercenaries or their captain/leader have a very certain and much harped ideological goal for all of their battles. In Rosenberg's book his mercenaries are truly mercenary. Don't get me wrong. They don't choose to fight for "the bad guys". But they are not overly concerned with the motives of those that hire them. Only with whether or not their fee is paid. For most of the book you believe that what they are after is money. But Rosenberg keeps the trues payoff, what they are really fighting for, for the very end. And once you read it you understand.
December 28, 2022
A solid military SF novel. The planet Metsada is colonized by Jews, and mercenaries are the only export of the planet. Rosenberg sprinkles this book with Jewish history to explain the strong bonds of this society. The books is structured as three linked episodes. Each feature Tetsuo, the Inspector General of Metsada, and his uncle Shimon, a general who was exiled for suspected treason. The stories themselves are nothing special, but the interplay between these two characters is compelling. Warning, this is a violent novel.
November 30, 2018
Good store interesting premise.
December 28, 2019
Awesome.
Reread it again after about 20 years. Awesome. I'll read it again later. Still have the paperback on my shelf.
Reread it again after about 20 years. Awesome. I'll read it again later. Still have the paperback on my shelf.
March 6, 2023
Almost endearing in its bloodcrazed Zionism and sexual neurosis.
April 1, 2025
RECOMMENDED
March 9, 2013
I first read this book back in the early 1990s, after reading and enjoying other books by Joel Rosenberg, particularly the "Guardians of the Flame" series, and I have to say that my enjoyment of the book hasn't dimmed in the intervening time.
The concept revolves around the people of the planet Metzada, who struggle to survive on an inhospitable world, while trying to continue the traditions of their Jewish-Israeli ancestors. So in this sense, everything they do is focused on the survival of their planet and their people, which allows a somewhat different view of the standard mercenary soldier. The Metzadans will take any contract, and honour it to the letter, because that money will help keep their people alive.
The book focuses largely on the activities of Inspector-General Tetsuo Hanavi, particularly in relation to the activities of his disgraced uncle, Shimon Bar-El, a man who once supposedly betrayed Metzada and was exiled as a result. However, Bar-El was also once one of the brightest and most talented Metzadan generals, which makes permanently disposing of him a difficult choice - however much he may know.
The pacing of the book varies, with action sequences being fast paced and well written, while there are longer, more reflective passages in which the man character, Hanavi, dwells on the choices and decisions he has made. And while much of this focuses on Israeli history or Metzadan politics, it's all relevant to the plot.
Overall I enjoyed the story, which is well written, and am saddened that Joel Rosenberg died two years ago at the age of 54.
The concept revolves around the people of the planet Metzada, who struggle to survive on an inhospitable world, while trying to continue the traditions of their Jewish-Israeli ancestors. So in this sense, everything they do is focused on the survival of their planet and their people, which allows a somewhat different view of the standard mercenary soldier. The Metzadans will take any contract, and honour it to the letter, because that money will help keep their people alive.
The book focuses largely on the activities of Inspector-General Tetsuo Hanavi, particularly in relation to the activities of his disgraced uncle, Shimon Bar-El, a man who once supposedly betrayed Metzada and was exiled as a result. However, Bar-El was also once one of the brightest and most talented Metzadan generals, which makes permanently disposing of him a difficult choice - however much he may know.
The pacing of the book varies, with action sequences being fast paced and well written, while there are longer, more reflective passages in which the man character, Hanavi, dwells on the choices and decisions he has made. And while much of this focuses on Israeli history or Metzadan politics, it's all relevant to the plot.
Overall I enjoyed the story, which is well written, and am saddened that Joel Rosenberg died two years ago at the age of 54.
October 22, 2013
3.5 stars. I had been thinking of this book as "ninja spacejews" but I now think "Jewish spaceninjas" is more accurate. Anyway, I enjoyed reading it but didn't follow it fantastically well, likely because it's #3 in the series. Liked it enough to check out the previous books, though.
November 20, 2009
I like his other stuff better but it was interesting.
December 12, 2009
an incredible story that parallels the nation of Israel's position in history and teaches valuable lessons about us and how we survive and will continue to whether on this world or the next.
March 2, 2010
An excellent sci-fi story about mercenaries and why they might fight.
July 3, 2012
A good book, quite dark, written in the first person. If you liked The Cold Cash Wars you'll like this.
August 28, 2013
A fun, gritty, military sci-fi story, that mixes high and low tech issues and solutions, along with an interesting group of mercenaries.
January 27, 2016
Average SiFi story. I enjoy Rosenberg's fantasy books much better. Recommended
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews