Partisan

Hostile Takeover #2

by S. Andrew Swann

This sequal to Profiteer returns readers to the 24th century universe at a time when humans have built a star spanning Confederacy that encompasses 84 worlds minus one--Bakunin. Now the Confederacy wants control of Bakunin. But Dominic Magnus has spent years building his own corporate empire there, and he and his allies intend to hold on to what they've built.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

About the author

S. Andrew Swann is the primary pseudonym of Steven Swiniarski, who also writes as S.A. Swiniarski, Steven Krane, and S.A. Swann.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swann continues the saga of Bakunin here and develops the world in more detail, all the while building up for the next installment. Yes, this does suffer a bit as a 'place holder' in the trilogy, with the denouement pending for the finale, but the character development and overall story line is enough to keep up a high level of engagement.

The last volume culminated with the successful heist and Dom and company are now quite wealthy with Dom's employees safe in their mountain retreat. The people Dom (and Tetsami) put together for the heist are now the board of directors of a new holding company aiming to take over another arms manufacturing company; the machinations regarding this 'friendly' takeover compromise one story arc. Tetsami has had enough of Dom, however, and cashes in her shares in the new holding company and aims to leave the planet pronto; unfortunately, the 'stage two' of the mission Dom's brother Klaus is masterminding (and leading) kicks in and the planet is blockaded. Shane, the former marine who 'turned traitor' to save Dom's employees from execution via Klaus, is still on the fence regarding her loyalties and the the strange AI team Tetsami added the heist are working overtime with the takeover and keeping the personnel safe.

In essence, the heist team disperses across the planet, but you know they are going to get back together somehow. It is the somehow that contains most of the action here. I still love the quotes and quips from famous historical figures that adorn the opening of each chapter the politics regarding the invasion of Bakunin are starting to make sense. Good stuff from Swann, and I am ready for the next installment! 3.5 stars, rounding down due to the sappy love interest between Dom and Tetsami.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the same as the first. Again, it kept my attention more than I expected it to. This one expanded on the big interplantary conflict being fought out on the one unalligned planet in the systems. It's solid sci-fi with lots of political and economic philosophy not deeply hidden within the text.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed parts of this installment in the trilogy, unfortunately I think it suffers from what I think most second books in trilogies do.

It's a placeholder. Yes, I say the same ting about LOTR. There is some forward movement about Kalus' and the TEC's plans, and where Dominic might be headed. Otherwise it feels like a lot of treading water.

But, it really feels a at this stage this could be a two book series, and the storytelling would be tighter.

[Bookbrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series grows on you.