Northworld

Northworld #1

by David Drake

The Consensus ruled twelve hundred worlds - but not Northworld. Three fleets had been dispatched to probe the enigma of Northworld. Noe returned.
Now, Commissioner Nils Hansen must face the challenge of this distant planet...a gateway to nine alternate worlds. There, he will confront a world at war, a world of androids, a world of sentient machines...all unique, all lethal.
But deadliest of all are the men who would be gods. Who rule these worlds with absolute power. And who challenge all trespassers...
Like Commissioner Hansen.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Military Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, Military Science Fiction

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1990

About the author

David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended these books to be a while ago. And by a while ago, I mean close to 15 YEARS ago. That little tidbit might let you know something about how far behind I am in my reading.

These days, I don't read much SF, and even back in the day when I read a lot more, I never was a big aficionado of military SF.

That said, I enjoyed these.

Positives: Cool concept, good action, and the writer is obviously smart, drawing disparate elements together to make a different type of story. Also, the central character, Hansen, is cool.

Negatives: The book is a hard start and doesn't coddle you. I was confused about what the hell was going on for the first 6-7 chapters. Also, the language was occasionally confusing for me, and I was occasionally left wondering what exactly had just happened because of that.

Language is a big deal to me, so normally I'd probably give this a 3/5. But given that this is a retelling of Norse Eddas using sci-fi and power armor, I'm willing to bump it up to a 4/5.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm at Chapter 18 (p.124) of the first book of the trilogy and I'm not having much fun. The first 7 or so chapters made little or no sense. Now that they do, I don't much like any of the characters (except Hansen, who is OK+) and I don't much care what happens to them.

I've liked a lot of Drake's books, but I'm afraid this one isn't one of them. We'll see.

OK, it's a week later, and I haven't the slightest desire to go on. Hell with it.

The trilogy is available for free download at the Baen Free Library.

[Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I suspect my dislike of this book is completely subjective as I like David Drake's work generally (and truly loved his Belisarius series) but this was a complete miss for me. The author starts with a police standoff to introduce his main character. Then the MC is shipped off to Northworld and its bizarre circumstances and characters. MC is on Northworld for about 10 minutes before being shipped to Ruby world. At this point I realized I didn't care about any of the characters or their worlds and stopped reading.

[Gio C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little confusing at first. Once you get through about the first two or four chapters it kind of all starts coming together. I do like how the characters are very much as I would have envisioned the Norse people to act within that time frame. If you like Norse mythology mixed with a good bash of sci-fi the you will like this one. I look forward to the next book.

[Andrew Finazzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a Trekky, but the opening sections of Northworld felt remarkably similar to an episode from Star Trek the original series. The sections that captured the campy sci-fi bravado of Kirk were the best parts of Northworld.

On the flip side are the sections (over a third of the book) involving the Gods of Northworld. If you've read the Wheel of Time series, these sections are like the chapters directly involving the Forsaken in their lairs. They are overwrought with confusing jargon and incomprehensible descriptions. Often the Jargon felt redundant as there are (and were in 1990) existing terms that would have worked better.

Northworld is crammed full of ideas, ranging from Mech Battles (cool, but over simplified), to feudal politics, space travel, and modern versus historical military strategy. All of this and more is part of an overarching plot involving multiple overlapping dimensions in space time. And god figures.

In the end it's just too much. It ends in a cliffhanger (with no closure on any of the story arcs) which is frustrating for me because I don't really want to continue with this trilogy.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me nearly 100 pages before I could understand the general nature of what is going on in this book. It's also very heavy on battle scenes which isn't really my taste. MC is an interesting mix - decisive when in command but often unsure of himself in other situations.
At least it was all making more sense by the time I finished so I will press on with the second volume and see how it goes.

[John Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

An old school military sci-fi that reimagines Norse myths. The story is meandering but moves fast, but the characters are two-dimensional (especially the women).

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started listening to an audiobook of this, and I've decided not to finish it. It's not bad. Some parts are really impressive. The author put together something 30+ years ago that still is strong conceptually.

As I was listening, though, a few decisions of both the writer and narrator struck me. This novel feels like it was created a while ago by a male scifi writer, which it was. He doesn't act like a dude-bro or chauvinist, and yet it definitely had a shadow of Heinlein. (If you like Heinlein, then yay for you!) Also, the narrator used accents like anvils. One culture sounds French. Another sounds Russian. Applause for being able to do it, but it's still a choice and not a particularly original one.

There are good things here, but ultimately my decision to DNF goes back to the depth of my To Read/Listen collection and the nature of being a mortal being with finite and ever decreasing time.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

It definitely took me longer than it should have to get through this one... there were alot of cuts from one scene to another that left you guessing at what was going on. While it was fairly obvious, the fact that it wasn't spelled out definitely was disconcerting.

Drake has some good action scenes here with the main character being a one man wrecking crew, or a few time commanding a small unit, and he's an interesting character, not quite the same as the usual hero type. The plot leaves something to be desired though. I'm hoping the new book will make it clear (since I have the whole trilogy already)

[Julio Gilarranz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran accross this book while looking for some David Drake's works to read. I confess that it was difficult for me to catch up with the storyline at first, but as I kept on reading I started enjoing it. I ended up satisfied with the closing of the plot and I will start on book two soon, to see if the series improve.

[Gavin Waterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never read a book like it. Originally set in the future, Hanson, the main character, goes to a world that has incredible technology, but is governed by a primitive feudal system. Great book, dry wit and intense action makes it a worthwhile read.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mix of sci-fi and Norse myth, well worth the read

[Niraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Not sure what is going on, but neither does the main character. Learning with him. The main character is no nonsense which makes the action so much fun!

[Hugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few interesting concepts, but it felt like too much of a hodge podge with no interesting characters. Not my cup of tea.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gritty 'retelling' of Norse mythology via the lens of science fiction [military sci-fi]. I think this might be the fourth time I have read this book; it is the first story in a trilogy set in an 'extra-dimensional system' [my wording] composed of eight worlds joined by a ninth reality called 'the Matrix' [not to be mistaken for the three movies starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne].

The story starts off slow. We encounter the 'hero', Nils Hansen, and his 'Special Unit' as they attempt to apprehend a rogue band of androids before too many innocents are killed. He is a type of enforce, I suppose one might say, for 'the Consensus', the ruling intergalactic body for humanity, and is enlisted/drafted to solve a mystery. Three separate fleets have attempted to discover the mystery known as 'Northworld' and failed; the 'Consensus' feels that one man might succeed where three entire fleets did not. From there, the story takes many twist and turns as Hansen arrives on a planet called 'Diamond' before being dropped onto 'Northworld' where he has to fight for his life. Surviving members of the earlier expeditions and fleets have somehow attained a form of godhood and have created their own little universe composed of nine worlds/realities/dimensions. They have their own plans that involve the various eight worlds as they attempt to entertain themselves; they have learned the hard way that godhood does not bring contentment. Despite their abilities to satisfy their every whim and/or appetite, they are still not happy or content with their power or lot in life.

Hansen joins the entourage of a king, acquiring ever stronger armor as spoils of war as he tries to find his way in this hostile environment. It is an environment in which he thrives. He is also amazed to discover primitive technology and living standards paradoxically existing in conjunction with high tech suits of armor. His ultimate goal [as far as he is aware] is to solve the mystery and complete the job given to him by his superiors; he has to ally himself with various individuals in order to survive. In the end, he allies himself with a being called 'Walker' and acquires a godlike suit of armor to avenge the death of the peaceful planet Diamond.

I see other reviewers have discussed how slow this book is, how long it takes to get invested in the book. I would have to agree. The first few times I read the book I thought the same thing myself. In fact, even after this most recent 're-reading' I found myself thinking how long it takes before the reader arrives at the 'meat' of the story. Also, the first chapter or so is a major rabbit trail; it leads the reader to assume a satisfactory resolution of the initial mission parameter[s] [story line], but this is not the case. The ending actually veers in a different direction, and this unexpected turn of events can be quite unsatisfying.

While not obnoxiously graphic or violent, per se, it still has an 'earthy grittiness' to it. The sex, while not exceptionally graphic [per se] is still 'not quite dirty' [?] - I am not sure how to describe it except to say it is not nearly as bad as some of the garbage I have read in other books [including other novels by Drake]. Men are killed by energy discharges from the suits of armor, but it is not as bad as it could be. I do not get into graphic descriptions for the sake of violence or sheer graphicness; neither do I care for 'the titillation factor' - I think a story can be good without over-the-top situations or descriptions. I felt the author managed to find a good balance in this book [overall].

I thought the character development for Hansen was okay. He was not quite a cutout as a character, but he did not have that much depth to him, either. The other characters on Northworld do not really stand out to me. Walker does stand out in my mind, but mostly because I have always enjoyed the Marvel Comics series 'Thor' and he most definitely reminded me of Odin [even down to how Walker is described]. Fortin stands out to me as well [what with him being the 'son' of Walker].

I thought the mishmash of technology and feudal systems worked out okay for this book. It was not a horrible idea; neither was it a horrible concept. For the most part, I felt Drake did a good job with this first book of the trilogy.

[D.w. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was refreshing.I do not want to gush and take with a grain of salt the authors anecdote in the book about how well received it is.

Fantasy often falls into familiar rhythms and sometimes a work comes along to break them. Here we have a tale that twists things about so that you are left unsure, even in the final cadence of how things here turn out. Those twists will keep you engaged and surprise you.

We have seen works that start with the world viewed through the eyes of children, and this tale starts that way. Some of the adult concepts given to children who have yet to reach puberty, in a world that does not have the modern medias onset of accelerating the maturing of our children, seems a little too much, but by the end of the tale this is forgotten.

Some devices are a little too pat, where our protagonist hero perhaps gains too many advantages too offset the hard tasks he will face. Or that the spider at the center of the web of evil that our hero ultimately is poised against continues to increase in its corruption.

Then action sequences might also be too many as the conclusion nears its end. There should be a balance between action and character development. But these are really minor quibbles for as the novel continues the whole is a really good read. Well worth the effot and worth reading again for delving into its nuances.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Publishers Weekly

The latest military science fiction from Drake ( Hammer's Slammers ) supplies fast-paced adventure with convincing depth. A planet has been "stolen," a vague concept here, and Commissioner Nils Hansen is assigned to investigate. The prime suspect is Captain North, who prepared the planet for colonization and for whom it is named: Northworld. Hansen arrives in Northworld and his first stop is Diamond, a beautiful and non-violent section where his weapons evaporate, and he is received warmly by a kind populace. Then he is suddenly tossed into the Open Lands--unarmed in a region of almost constant warfare. With brains and strength his greatest assets, Hansen fights Lord Golsingh's appointed champion to win battle armor and a place in the noble's entourage. As Hansen continues his search for Captain North (who has become North the War God), treachery within the world's panoply of gods threatens massive destruction. The story stands on its own, but readers with a taste for literary allusions will enjoy spotting the origins of several key plot points, situations and character types in Norse saga, Greek myth and Arthurian legend.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A science-fiction retelling of parts of the Norse Eddas (primarily the Elder Edda), in some ways this reads like Jack Chalker without the twisted sex. Not that there isn't sex, and some of it is as distasteful as you might expect from a Viking Edda.

Ultimately, though, the characters are not well developed and the plot is mostly a lot of rather bloodthirsty fighting. Much as I expect of the Elder Edda, though I haven't read it.

There's also a whole subplot where one of the gods causes the destruction of one of the 'planes' (as in Norse mythology, there is the plane where the gods live, the plane where ordinary humans live, and then separate planes for giants and other monsters). This plot must have been snatched straight out of the Edda, because in his afterword, Drake talks about how the Elder Edda is an assemblage of fragments rather than a coherent story, and this is definitely a disjoint fragment. There's no explanation for the god wanting to destroy the plane, or why it even matters.

[Allan Ashinoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author moved Norse (?) poems into a science fiction realm. At time the overlying slipping through the "matrix" and simultaneous existences on multiple planes was confusing. The action sequences were well done. But I often wondered why the "smith's" with the remarkable ability to simply manifest things from the matrix never manifested some EMP based weapons to turn armies of battle suit, electric arc wielding warriors into prisoners in their own armor.

Large portions of the book kept me from skimming (but I had to at times). I must add that it was a bit long and laborious to read.

[Timothy VanderWall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I didn't care much for this SF novel from the beginning, I decided to give it a chance. I read 1/4 of the book before giving up. the writing itself was good, but each chapter left me more confused about what the book was about and where it was going. The author must have had a direction, but I'm darned if I could figure it out. Maybe it gets better after the part that I read, but I will likely never know. Sorry.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in an afternoon or two, dipping into it like a bag of potato chips and enjoying its light-footed story and inoffensively silly mash-up of medieval fantasy and far-future warfare. This is the first of a trilogy, and Drake outlines a greater mystery that, likely, he resolves in the later books. I actually own this as an ebook omnibus, so if the urge strikes, I can read on.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason I couldn't connect with any of the characters. It just didn't flow well for me. Whatever happened to his original mission for the concensus? That wasn't addressed at the end and that's what really bothered me.

[Angel · Rating 1 out of 5]

See my note on it in my blog:

http://itinerantlibrarian.blogspot.co...

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loads of hot humpin'. Ludicrous middle ages/futuristic action. The 16 year old me was in heaven.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and a half stars. Good military SF with some mystery thrown in.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rambles.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting series - never re-read them as yet

[Matthew Bauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. It gets a little confusing with the hopping back and forth but all in all a good read and I really liked the take on the 'gods'.

[M.A. Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing I read of Drake's has quite measured up to "The Dragon Lord." I suppose it was readable, but after a beginning I could sink my teeth into, I wanted to let go.

[Glenn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, complicated first book of what looks to be a fascinating trilogy. The action is intense and the universe multi-leveled.