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Poor Man's Fight #2
Rich Man's War
The action-packed sequel to Poor Man's Fight!
“They will never let you go…because there’s no money in it.”
No one walks away from business with the three biggest corporations in the Union of Humanity. Cutthroat trade deals, relentless propaganda and bloody covert operations drive that point home as the star system of Archangel slips further away from corporate dominance. Yet despite all their power, the Big Three are more vulnerable than anyone knows—leaving them desperate to make an example of Archangel.
Tanner Malone would gladly avoid such struggles. He’d rather just run out the clock on his enlistment in the Archangel Navy. Instead, he’s been ordered back into the front lines of a cold war that quickly grows hot. He doesn’t know about his government’s shady deals, or about the old enemies lurking in the shadows. All he knows is that the sky is falling—and he’ll have to fight like hell if he doesn’t want to be crushed beneath it.
“They will never let you go…because there’s no money in it.”
No one walks away from business with the three biggest corporations in the Union of Humanity. Cutthroat trade deals, relentless propaganda and bloody covert operations drive that point home as the star system of Archangel slips further away from corporate dominance. Yet despite all their power, the Big Three are more vulnerable than anyone knows—leaving them desperate to make an example of Archangel.
Tanner Malone would gladly avoid such struggles. He’d rather just run out the clock on his enlistment in the Archangel Navy. Instead, he’s been ordered back into the front lines of a cold war that quickly grows hot. He doesn’t know about his government’s shady deals, or about the old enemies lurking in the shadows. All he knows is that the sky is falling—and he’ll have to fight like hell if he doesn’t want to be crushed beneath it.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2014
285 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
July 8, 2022
The Archangel system has put the plan to obtain independence from the oppression of the corporations into action. As a result, the corporations are directing all kinds of punitive maneuvers toward Archangel. Not all of the sanctions and punishments are legal, and some of them are quite dirty-handed.
On a lighter note, MA Tanner is finally on a decent ship. I really felt for the guy. He didn't quite know how to handle decency when he joined this new command. That last ship in the first book was filled with a really unfriendly crew. Except for the XO. Tanner's still trying to deal emotionally with all of the events and the trauma from Poor Man's Fight, so I was glad that the author gave him a bit of a reprieve.
Also in the positive column was the reappearance of Gunnery Sergeant Janeka. I really liked her character when Tanner was in boot camp in the first book. She's a tough egg! There were a few more welcomed, and not so welcomed, characters popping up.
By far the best section of this book started around page 247 with Operation Beowulf. From that moment on the crap hit the fan, let me tell ya! It became one long non-stop adrenaline rush. I had to force myself to stop reading last night otherwise I would have been up really, really late reading. Darn the work responsibility 😥 I hate having to pause in the middle of endgame until the next day because I lose all of the tension and momentum that had built up to get to that point, but I finished it tonight and all was well.
I bought the next one in the series, (I believe there are five books in total), and I plan to read it after a brief detour to another genre.
On a lighter note, MA Tanner is finally on a decent ship. I really felt for the guy. He didn't quite know how to handle decency when he joined this new command. That last ship in the first book was filled with a really unfriendly crew. Except for the XO. Tanner's still trying to deal emotionally with all of the events and the trauma from Poor Man's Fight, so I was glad that the author gave him a bit of a reprieve.
Also in the positive column was the reappearance of Gunnery Sergeant Janeka. I really liked her character when Tanner was in boot camp in the first book. She's a tough egg! There were a few more welcomed, and not so welcomed, characters popping up.
By far the best section of this book started around page 247 with Operation Beowulf. From that moment on the crap hit the fan, let me tell ya! It became one long non-stop adrenaline rush. I had to force myself to stop reading last night otherwise I would have been up really, really late reading. Darn the work responsibility 😥 I hate having to pause in the middle of endgame until the next day because I lose all of the tension and momentum that had built up to get to that point, but I finished it tonight and all was well.
I bought the next one in the series, (I believe there are five books in total), and I plan to read it after a brief detour to another genre.
August 2, 2025
Outstanding sequel to Poor Man's Fight in one of the best military science fiction series I have read in some time. Our lead, Tanner Malone, awarded the highest medal possible for his heroics in the last book, now faces some choices. While his 15 minutes of fame have passed (to some degree), he took up embassy duty and now ponders his next choice. Still not enamored with a career in the military, but yeah, he still have some years to go. After a talk with the Admiral of the system, he picks Master of Arms for his rating. MAs basically work as cops on military ships, but are also trained for boarding operations and such.
I do not want to get too much into the plot, but the Archangel system finally decided to break with the three large corporations that dominate human space in the Union; they do everything from providing education, medical services, military operations and postal services among the stars. These same corporations have also rigged the system (with the help of corrupt politicians) to profit immensely. Well, Archangel has had enough, breaks all contracts with them and even goes as far as refusing to pay any extended loans. Further, they decide to provide all the services these corporations provided in house. To say the corporations dislike this would be an understatement! Finally, Kay weaves into the story how the loss of Archangel will likely bankrupt some of these firms, much like what happened in the financial crash of 2008 (I really liked this part!!).
The story follows a range of covert operations by the Archangel military and spooks, along side the planning boards of these corporations as they try to respond to events. Some killer action sequences, often starring one Tanner Malone push the pace to boiling at times. Kay can write, and I loved the newsclips and such scattered throughout the text to bring in the rest of the Union space. 4.5 blazing stars, happily rounding up!!
I do not want to get too much into the plot, but the Archangel system finally decided to break with the three large corporations that dominate human space in the Union; they do everything from providing education, medical services, military operations and postal services among the stars. These same corporations have also rigged the system (with the help of corrupt politicians) to profit immensely. Well, Archangel has had enough, breaks all contracts with them and even goes as far as refusing to pay any extended loans. Further, they decide to provide all the services these corporations provided in house. To say the corporations dislike this would be an understatement! Finally, Kay weaves into the story how the loss of Archangel will likely bankrupt some of these firms, much like what happened in the financial crash of 2008 (I really liked this part!!).
The story follows a range of covert operations by the Archangel military and spooks, along side the planning boards of these corporations as they try to respond to events. Some killer action sequences, often starring one Tanner Malone push the pace to boiling at times. Kay can write, and I loved the newsclips and such scattered throughout the text to bring in the rest of the Union space. 4.5 blazing stars, happily rounding up!!
August 2, 2014
Good action and amazing groundwork for this universe
The first book laid the ground work for this universe and was like Die Hard with space pirates. This second book develops Tanner Malone and introduces some new characters. It also expands the political / corporate / intelligence intrigue which may give us other spinoffs. Overall with the exception of one typo I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and look forward to the next one.
On a sidenote, this series is very anti-corporation and paints them very villainous and ruthless. If you don't mind plenty of action and one dimensional corporate bad-guys this book is a lot of fun. I only hope that the author develops his antagonists more in the next book for this series.
The first book laid the ground work for this universe and was like Die Hard with space pirates. This second book develops Tanner Malone and introduces some new characters. It also expands the political / corporate / intelligence intrigue which may give us other spinoffs. Overall with the exception of one typo I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and look forward to the next one.
On a sidenote, this series is very anti-corporation and paints them very villainous and ruthless. If you don't mind plenty of action and one dimensional corporate bad-guys this book is a lot of fun. I only hope that the author develops his antagonists more in the next book for this series.
July 28, 2014
Rich Man's War, one of the rare times the sequel is better than the original. Elliot Kay ratchets up the action and drama with the inevitable escalation between the world's of Archangel and the debt holding mega corporations that have a stranglehold on humanity.
With all the world building out of the way, Rich Man's War holds plenty of action and space battles for the connoisseur and plenty of intrigue and plot twists to keep me flipping the pages. Well done, Mr. Kay.
Lovers of space opera and military science fiction will enjoy this book, and the other novel in the series, Poor Man's Fight.
This book has a definite conclusion, and sets the state for the next novel. Which I hope comes out sooner than later.
With all the world building out of the way, Rich Man's War holds plenty of action and space battles for the connoisseur and plenty of intrigue and plot twists to keep me flipping the pages. Well done, Mr. Kay.
Lovers of space opera and military science fiction will enjoy this book, and the other novel in the series, Poor Man's Fight.
This book has a definite conclusion, and sets the state for the next novel. Which I hope comes out sooner than later.
March 2, 2017
Really good mil-SF novel with nice socio-economic depth. Fair characterization, lots of excellent action, mostly troop combat at individual or squad level, although there is one major space battle. Fast pace, very well told story, this second book in the series adds layers of intelligence fencing, political intrigue, strategic military scheming, corporate oppression (and dirty tricks), occasional personal grudges, and while Tanner Malone is still a national hero, and still lucky, he now needs some help to survive. The gore level is still quite high. The language and military slang is sometimes 20th/21st century American. An outstanding military SF slugfest, which I suggest is comparable to David Weber's Honorverse books (Honor Harrington series), or Bruno Goncalves, for well written action and entertainment.
August 14, 2014
In the follow-up to "Poor Man's Fight", the same characters are given some more room to grow and expand. It suffers from the same problem of unwieldy social and political commentary, but it really is a compelling story, and I feel like I'm invested in understanding what is driving the main characters. This book, and it's predecessor both take on some tough mental topics, and expose that mental stress as something that is NOT shameful, and can be addressed and worked on. Those parts of the book where the characters deal with problems that real soldiers deal with on a day-to-day basis will keep me coming back for more.
June 20, 2016
“Wounded men screamed . MacAllan’s comm channel went dead. Rivera fired back from the other side of the open passageway, hanging on only by virtue of the inadvertent protection offered by the dead marine slumped in front of him. A security officer with a riot gun went down after taking a blast from Baldwin’s rifle but he was replaced almost immediately by another man in an identical dark vac suit. Someone else threw another stun grenade through the hatch while the ship’s defenders kept the pressure up. Tanner looked away, his eyes searching the passageway behind them for some sort of escape route, but all he saw were the flashes of the enemy’s weapons fire shooting past.”
Tanner Malone’s a young man in the center of the action. You can learn the how and why by reading the previous book, Poor Man’s Fight. It’s either his luck or his fate to be in the right spot at the wrong time…….and to live to tell about it. Rich Man’s War has plenty of Space Opera aspects, but Elliot Kay has taken the genre beyond the conventional. Having said that:
We do have a hero, Tanner Malone; he does save lives; and, there are long and exciting military encounters.
I have come to realize that this is a complex Space Opera, not the simple formula for good guys/bad guys; high-tech battles; and, occasional romance. Kay isn’t satisfied to have a compelling plot. He gives us multiple characters (aside from Malone) whose background, motivation and actions are fully delineated. This gives us a depth of intersection and involvement that is absent from most military space operas.
Beyond that Kay gives us a very well thought out universe with a “Union” of humanity and a world beyond of several alien species. This story is a continued unveiling of the Union and the three major trading companies (“The Big Three”) that have financed humanity’s expansion and the planet system of Archangel that has begun to realize that these companies are screwing their clients and the member planets. They have "cooked the books" so that students and citizens are in their debt to the point that they have to sign up for indentured servitude, if they can't find a way to pay the charges and debt service interest that they accumulate just from living on one of these planets or going to school. Kay has the governments so influenced by The Big Three that there isn't even a court where they can be sued. [If this sounds strange, just read again the "arbitration clause" in your credit card agreement. You did read it before using that card, didn't you? Oh, and by the way, if you have a private health care insurance policy, you might want to check that, as well.]
What I think you should know is that, though there are battles in space, this work is more encompassing than usual with politics, public relations, boardroom discussions, military training and generational relationships. There are economic issues, education policy issues, ethical issues including those involving covert operations. In addition to the actions of Tanner Malone and others in the Archangel defense forces, we get time with people at various levels and responsibilities within The Big Three, and some indication of the role of the Union, as well as the pirates we met in the first book.
The action builds and, by the time we are past the halfway point, we get all the characters coming together for a make it or break it ending. Did I say “ending?” Sorry, this is an ongoing saga with enough character interest that I will certainly pick up the next (#3) when I need a break from all the current bad news and political bluster.
Tanner Malone’s a young man in the center of the action. You can learn the how and why by reading the previous book, Poor Man’s Fight. It’s either his luck or his fate to be in the right spot at the wrong time…….and to live to tell about it. Rich Man’s War has plenty of Space Opera aspects, but Elliot Kay has taken the genre beyond the conventional. Having said that:
We do have a hero, Tanner Malone; he does save lives; and, there are long and exciting military encounters.
I have come to realize that this is a complex Space Opera, not the simple formula for good guys/bad guys; high-tech battles; and, occasional romance. Kay isn’t satisfied to have a compelling plot. He gives us multiple characters (aside from Malone) whose background, motivation and actions are fully delineated. This gives us a depth of intersection and involvement that is absent from most military space operas.
Beyond that Kay gives us a very well thought out universe with a “Union” of humanity and a world beyond of several alien species. This story is a continued unveiling of the Union and the three major trading companies (“The Big Three”) that have financed humanity’s expansion and the planet system of Archangel that has begun to realize that these companies are screwing their clients and the member planets. They have "cooked the books" so that students and citizens are in their debt to the point that they have to sign up for indentured servitude, if they can't find a way to pay the charges and debt service interest that they accumulate just from living on one of these planets or going to school. Kay has the governments so influenced by The Big Three that there isn't even a court where they can be sued. [If this sounds strange, just read again the "arbitration clause" in your credit card agreement. You did read it before using that card, didn't you? Oh, and by the way, if you have a private health care insurance policy, you might want to check that, as well.]
What I think you should know is that, though there are battles in space, this work is more encompassing than usual with politics, public relations, boardroom discussions, military training and generational relationships. There are economic issues, education policy issues, ethical issues including those involving covert operations. In addition to the actions of Tanner Malone and others in the Archangel defense forces, we get time with people at various levels and responsibilities within The Big Three, and some indication of the role of the Union, as well as the pirates we met in the first book.
The action builds and, by the time we are past the halfway point, we get all the characters coming together for a make it or break it ending. Did I say “ending?” Sorry, this is an ongoing saga with enough character interest that I will certainly pick up the next (#3) when I need a break from all the current bad news and political bluster.
September 5, 2021
I very much enjoyed POOR MAN'S FIGHT so I was interested in picking up the second book. This is really where the main story arc begins with relations deteriorating between the Big Three megacorporations and the Archangel system.
The Big Three want to have a short but victorious war against them due to the latter defaulting on all its corporate debts. Tanner has moved up to being a Master at Arms and hopes to stay out of the fighting but we know that's not going to happen. I really enjoyed this book, significantly more than the previous one, and think the space fleet action was every bit as good as the ground stuff.
We also get some more development of Casey and his "peculiar" relationship to the Archangel system.
The Big Three want to have a short but victorious war against them due to the latter defaulting on all its corporate debts. Tanner has moved up to being a Master at Arms and hopes to stay out of the fighting but we know that's not going to happen. I really enjoyed this book, significantly more than the previous one, and think the space fleet action was every bit as good as the ground stuff.
We also get some more development of Casey and his "peculiar" relationship to the Archangel system.
June 16, 2019
As much as I loved the first part, I was disappointed by the second, even if I read it without displeasure.
In the first part there was a small dose of politics, but it was in the background and did not take up too much space. Here it becomes much more present, and most political scenes have absolutely no interest. The multiplication of points of view takes us far too often from Tanner, the story becomes at times completely disjointed.
Overall the story remains interesting but the narrative choices of the author displeased me. He takes the same turn as David Weber with his Honor Harrigton series, except that he takes the turn much earlier than his model.
Such a waste.
In the first part there was a small dose of politics, but it was in the background and did not take up too much space. Here it becomes much more present, and most political scenes have absolutely no interest. The multiplication of points of view takes us far too often from Tanner, the story becomes at times completely disjointed.
Overall the story remains interesting but the narrative choices of the author displeased me. He takes the same turn as David Weber with his Honor Harrigton series, except that he takes the turn much earlier than his model.
Such a waste.
July 16, 2015
I won this novel in a goodreads drawing.
A more or less regular guy goes into the military to relieve his college debt in the 23 century. He hasn't gone to college yet, which I found kind of strange. I guess things evolved.
It's the usual corporate dystopia, with evil corporations running everything. All but the wealthiest are in debt to their eyeballs. A fairly minor star system pulls out and cancels all debts with the corporations. The corporations start out with a harassment strategy, then invade with a spaceborne Spanish Armada.
It's pretty entertaining, quick reading, with a likable protagonist. As space opera, it works. However, the author makes a point of saying the book was inspired by the collapse of 2008, and mentions debt over and over again. However, this debt doesn't seem to have a whole lot of impact on people, except that a slightly greater proportion of citizens join the military than join up now. Also, the author makes a point of having the rebel star system be a Catholic Christian somewhat theocratic system. This is said several times, but there is little if any impact on the story, either. Possibly, the author was a little too ambitious for his own good.
A more or less regular guy goes into the military to relieve his college debt in the 23 century. He hasn't gone to college yet, which I found kind of strange. I guess things evolved.
It's the usual corporate dystopia, with evil corporations running everything. All but the wealthiest are in debt to their eyeballs. A fairly minor star system pulls out and cancels all debts with the corporations. The corporations start out with a harassment strategy, then invade with a spaceborne Spanish Armada.
It's pretty entertaining, quick reading, with a likable protagonist. As space opera, it works. However, the author makes a point of saying the book was inspired by the collapse of 2008, and mentions debt over and over again. However, this debt doesn't seem to have a whole lot of impact on people, except that a slightly greater proportion of citizens join the military than join up now. Also, the author makes a point of having the rebel star system be a Catholic Christian somewhat theocratic system. This is said several times, but there is little if any impact on the story, either. Possibly, the author was a little too ambitious for his own good.
November 19, 2015
The ONLY complaint I have about this book is we end in a sort of "semi-cliffhanger" and the next book isn't on the horizon yet. I looked up the author's web sight and the next book has apparently been 'submitted for editing but may not be finished and hasn't been accepted yet.
I hate this.
That said if you like action this is another for you. If anything it gets faster moving then the first in the "series". You're going to get fleet action as well as hand to hand combat with a plot that keeps growing.
We got people and plot points returning from early on.
I'd say good book, lots of action, even some thoughts provoked as we break out of the gate at full throttle and don't slow down until the epilogue.
As with the first highly recommended (and don't miss the first.)
I hate this.
That said if you like action this is another for you. If anything it gets faster moving then the first in the "series". You're going to get fleet action as well as hand to hand combat with a plot that keeps growing.
We got people and plot points returning from early on.
I'd say good book, lots of action, even some thoughts provoked as we break out of the gate at full throttle and don't slow down until the epilogue.
As with the first highly recommended (and don't miss the first.)
June 19, 2015
This book is absolute junk. Sounds like an existentialist office aid from Nancy Palosi's office wrote this book. Far too much focus on politics and just plain stupid characters. Plot dragged on for no reason. Forced myself to finish reading. Doesn't live up to the good character development in the first book. Don't waiste your time, it gave me a headache.
September 22, 2015
SHORT VERSION - Space Opera, escalating battles, prerequisite training sessions (which is also standard for real-world navy), mild love interests, likable & identifiable main character, and final HUGE big battle with multiple ships taking up at least a quarter of the book, making the book impossible to put down. A wide ride.
LONG VERSION
Second in the Poor Man's Fight series and still pretty awesome. A lot more profanity on this one and some editing issues which hopefully will get ironed out as a publisher has picked up his series and is now republishing them. Even the profanity may get adjusted as it is being published under a New Adult imprint. Look to reviews after mid-2016 for more up-to-date details on if the editing is improved; I read this Sept 2015.
Again a rocking space opera, and Tanner Malone still is a grunt - a well-known person for the antics in the last book, but a naval grunt (I know, every military reader just winced - sorry, but I don't know the term for the lowest-level, should-just-follow-orders guy of the naval variety). And he now needs to learn how to operate with a team behind him. Every now and again he flashes back to being all alone and the only one able to do anything to save a boatload of people. And his trainers and supervisors go "and you were thinking....", at which point he blinks and realizes he actually has people beside him who expect him to follow a chain of command and he relaxes. Boy has some Post-Traumatic issues but thanks to modern pysch is functioning fairly well.
I really, really like the fact in this book everyone in the military - marine and navy - truly does need everyone else on the team; they are a FORCE, not just "an army of one".
The layers of the world haven't gotten more complicated than the last book and that disappoints a little. But the twist of wide-spread school debt still permeates this world; as it does, sadly, our own. Should we ask problem-solving & most creative children to mortgage their future with school debt? Letting the weight of it drag down their hopes and dreams? Does the debt drive them to higher creativity (and our economy to greater growth) or leaves them locked in their parents homes, in dead-end jobs? All the people in this world who do not come from money face either military (killing many of the most driven (the entrepreneurs)), crippling debt of additional schooling locking people into limited job choices (the intellectuals), or working with their parents. These choices limit growth of a nation or world, and cause a slow slide back because no one can get ahead. This universe has locked everything into status quo for 200 years because the corporations have rigged the game.
Then Tanner Malone's home system found out about the rigging. The whole system has disintegrated with people not knowing what the new world will look like. Will the debt remain, will the corporations survive, heck ... will they live through the war?
The world-building done in the first book makes the fall-outs in the second book lovely from a sociological standpoint. And you are are not as into intellectual exercises about what happens if... as I am, this still is an awesome, kickin' space opera about 19-20 year old man in the navy.
I look forward to the third book of the series: Dead Man's Debt. Will likely come out sometime in 2016.
LONG VERSION
Second in the Poor Man's Fight series and still pretty awesome. A lot more profanity on this one and some editing issues which hopefully will get ironed out as a publisher has picked up his series and is now republishing them. Even the profanity may get adjusted as it is being published under a New Adult imprint. Look to reviews after mid-2016 for more up-to-date details on if the editing is improved; I read this Sept 2015.
Again a rocking space opera, and Tanner Malone still is a grunt - a well-known person for the antics in the last book, but a naval grunt (I know, every military reader just winced - sorry, but I don't know the term for the lowest-level, should-just-follow-orders guy of the naval variety). And he now needs to learn how to operate with a team behind him. Every now and again he flashes back to being all alone and the only one able to do anything to save a boatload of people. And his trainers and supervisors go "and you were thinking....", at which point he blinks and realizes he actually has people beside him who expect him to follow a chain of command and he relaxes. Boy has some Post-Traumatic issues but thanks to modern pysch is functioning fairly well.
I really, really like the fact in this book everyone in the military - marine and navy - truly does need everyone else on the team; they are a FORCE, not just "an army of one".
The layers of the world haven't gotten more complicated than the last book and that disappoints a little. But the twist of wide-spread school debt still permeates this world; as it does, sadly, our own. Should we ask problem-solving & most creative children to mortgage their future with school debt? Letting the weight of it drag down their hopes and dreams? Does the debt drive them to higher creativity (and our economy to greater growth) or leaves them locked in their parents homes, in dead-end jobs? All the people in this world who do not come from money face either military (killing many of the most driven (the entrepreneurs)), crippling debt of additional schooling locking people into limited job choices (the intellectuals), or working with their parents. These choices limit growth of a nation or world, and cause a slow slide back because no one can get ahead. This universe has locked everything into status quo for 200 years because the corporations have rigged the game.
Then Tanner Malone's home system found out about the rigging. The whole system has disintegrated with people not knowing what the new world will look like. Will the debt remain, will the corporations survive, heck ... will they live through the war?
The world-building done in the first book makes the fall-outs in the second book lovely from a sociological standpoint. And you are are not as into intellectual exercises about what happens if... as I am, this still is an awesome, kickin' space opera about 19-20 year old man in the navy.
I look forward to the third book of the series: Dead Man's Debt. Will likely come out sometime in 2016.
May 28, 2019
A plus
Highly recommended. Space combat and space opera as good as you'll find anywhere. Well written too; grammar and spelling excellent. Add to this an indomitable hero. What's not to like?
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended. Space combat and space opera as good as you'll find anywhere. Well written too; grammar and spelling excellent. Add to this an indomitable hero. What's not to like?
Highly recommended.
March 1, 2018
Way better than the 1st book.
May 13, 2018
This is the second in the “Poor Man’s Fight” series and I started it immediately after finishing the first. (You’d want to start with book #1 – but don’t bother.) This is a lite space opera action genera set in the year 2276. While the low ranked Navy Tanner Malone is back, the story lost much of its appeal for me. It’s plot has become more involved with the politics of the planet, Archangel, ceasing its debt repayment to the all-powerful corporations, which inevitability leads to a battle.
I didn’t find it as interesting as the first in the series. It was Tanner Malone that keeps me reading. He seems to me, to be an accurate representation of a military ‘grunt’ as well as a reluctant hero. While I’d like to see what happens to him in the future, I don’t want to wade through the series to find out. Too bad.
(BTW, David Drake’s “Hammer’s Slammers” does a much better with military science fiction combat sequences.)
I didn’t find it as interesting as the first in the series. It was Tanner Malone that keeps me reading. He seems to me, to be an accurate representation of a military ‘grunt’ as well as a reluctant hero. While I’d like to see what happens to him in the future, I don’t want to wade through the series to find out. Too bad.
(BTW, David Drake’s “Hammer’s Slammers” does a much better with military science fiction combat sequences.)
September 30, 2014
Disappointed
I enjoyed the first book,Poor Man's Fight and had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately the terrible editing makes the darn book unreadable. Pages repeat and sections of the story are skipped.I got to the second chapter in hopes that this stopped but I couldn't take it anymore and skipped to the end so I could write this complaint. I am very disappointed because I liked Tanner and was looking forward to his further adventures. Had the story been properly formatted and edited, it would have been 4 stars.
I enjoyed the first book,Poor Man's Fight and had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately the terrible editing makes the darn book unreadable. Pages repeat and sections of the story are skipped.I got to the second chapter in hopes that this stopped but I couldn't take it anymore and skipped to the end so I could write this complaint. I am very disappointed because I liked Tanner and was looking forward to his further adventures. Had the story been properly formatted and edited, it would have been 4 stars.
October 2, 2022
Just as much fun as the first book--and I love this narrator so much! Sadly, I listened to this so fast I can't remember much of the details--just that it was nice to see Travis landing in somewhat better situations than the first book, with crew who treat him like a brother instead of a slug. And it was also cool to see him dealing with the fame he racked up, rather uncomfortably. I also liked getting to see more of Alicia. I do think the book needed more Gunny. Every book needs more Gunny.
October 17, 2014
A good second helping
Moving forward from the student loans angle to full scale interstellar war, Elliot Kay continues to deliver on the promise of his last book. Tanner keeps finding himself in over his head but when his back is up against the wall he's at his best. If you like David Weber or John Ringo you'll enjoy this book.
Moving forward from the student loans angle to full scale interstellar war, Elliot Kay continues to deliver on the promise of his last book. Tanner keeps finding himself in over his head but when his back is up against the wall he's at his best. If you like David Weber or John Ringo you'll enjoy this book.
August 3, 2018
2.5 to 3 stars, not as good as the first book but not a bad book either. If you liked the first book I think you will think this one was okay as well. I think I will continue with the series but I am not sure if the series will ever get over 3 stars at this point.
November 12, 2021
Slightly preferred this to Poor Man's Fight. The second half made for a pretty well put together space battle including solid marine boarding-capture operations.
3.5 stars. I find the characters a bit shallow, fine for action which is very competent, just not much else on top of that.
3.5 stars. I find the characters a bit shallow, fine for action which is very competent, just not much else on top of that.
January 11, 2016
This was a very well told story. It is evident that the author put a great deal of thought into constructing it.
February 14, 2019
The system of Archangel is in dire straits at the start of Rich Man’s War as three major interstellar corporations twist the screws on its government after a spectacular series of security failures led Archangel to suspend both its security contracts with the corporations and suspend its debt payments to them. We the reader know that Archangel covertly arranged those spectacular security failures in the last book. For their part, the corporations only know that the game is supposed to be rigged in their favor and that they cannot afford to let Archangel get away with rewriting the rules or else other governments within the Union may try and do the same. They must do everything possible to keep that from happening including using their tremendous influence to stop other companies from dealing with Archangel and attacking the government through its citizens by jacking up the interest rates on already incurred private debt. They also try and embarrass and hurt Archangel by taking covert military action against them in other areas of the Union.
As the tensions continue to increase, we return to the POV of Tanner Malone who is trying to come to grips with his fame and to hold on to his decision to serve out his term and return to private life. Unfortunately, his commanding officers understand what kind of a man they have serving under them and keep putting him into troubled areas where his unique combination of qualities might prove the most useful. This works very well as we see Tanner pulled into another fantastically depicted military action.
We also get to see more of life for a normal enlisted man in the Archangel navy. Tanner finally gets to go to school, this time to become a military policeman, finishing his training just in time to be involved in the defense of the system against a major corporate fleet which should crush Archangel like a tiny bug on the tarmac. The corporations are convinced they are using overwhelming force, but Kay has permitted the Archangel navy brass to construct a truly clever (if far fetched) counter plan. It requires a little conscious suspension of disbelief, but if you give it that little bit of extra leeway, the action (as in the first novel) is absolutely superb right to the end of the novel.
Yet action alone does not make a great sf novel and once again Kay comes through with superb characterization. Tanner with his regrets and grudging acceptance of the role he has to play in the military crisis is totally credible, but once again it is the secondary cast—recurring and new—that really make this book so wonderful. They’re real people—many of whom you’d want as friends. There are also a couple of really great enemies—including the pirate from the first novel—who manage to be both cool and despicable at the same time.
A lot of times sequels are weaker than the first book, but not in this case. Kay has delivered a worthy follow up to Poor Man’s Fight and I’m looking forward to reading book 3.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
As the tensions continue to increase, we return to the POV of Tanner Malone who is trying to come to grips with his fame and to hold on to his decision to serve out his term and return to private life. Unfortunately, his commanding officers understand what kind of a man they have serving under them and keep putting him into troubled areas where his unique combination of qualities might prove the most useful. This works very well as we see Tanner pulled into another fantastically depicted military action.
We also get to see more of life for a normal enlisted man in the Archangel navy. Tanner finally gets to go to school, this time to become a military policeman, finishing his training just in time to be involved in the defense of the system against a major corporate fleet which should crush Archangel like a tiny bug on the tarmac. The corporations are convinced they are using overwhelming force, but Kay has permitted the Archangel navy brass to construct a truly clever (if far fetched) counter plan. It requires a little conscious suspension of disbelief, but if you give it that little bit of extra leeway, the action (as in the first novel) is absolutely superb right to the end of the novel.
Yet action alone does not make a great sf novel and once again Kay comes through with superb characterization. Tanner with his regrets and grudging acceptance of the role he has to play in the military crisis is totally credible, but once again it is the secondary cast—recurring and new—that really make this book so wonderful. They’re real people—many of whom you’d want as friends. There are also a couple of really great enemies—including the pirate from the first novel—who manage to be both cool and despicable at the same time.
A lot of times sequels are weaker than the first book, but not in this case. Kay has delivered a worthy follow up to Poor Man’s Fight and I’m looking forward to reading book 3.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
January 9, 2019
War breaks out
War breaks out between the Catholic sovereign star system, Archangel, and the three major corporations that have been cheating entire generations of young people throughout the Union of Humanity. I love the scene where Andrea tells the representatives of the companies that their government is declaring all contracts and debts null and void. Combat is great in this story, like the first. The return of Casey to the captain chair is clever but he was more fun when he was a pirate. Tanner has another great story though still bad luck with the ladies.
Yet, the best moments of the novels are the short scenes when young men and women perform heroic acts during the massive naval battle and get killed. These passages are emotionally moving and well written. The tragedy of the war is that those fighting for Archangel are mostly youths who enlisted to pay off debts owed to the corporations, and many of the soldiers serving as Mercenaries in the private (and illegal navies) of the corporations are in their jobs for the same reason. It makes for a subtle but powerful undertone to the tragedy of loss of life. As Admiral Yeoh observes in the book, the only good victories are the ones where no one dies.
Now that the war is underway, and Tanner is closing in on realizing that Casey is still out there, but now fighting for Archangel, I’m excited to see where the next book takes the series. This book clearly indicates that Tanner will never be commissioned as an officer, but maybe he will end up a master chief or something. I hope he has great showdown with Casey, but I’m better any resolution between the characters waits until the fourth or fifth book.
War breaks out between the Catholic sovereign star system, Archangel, and the three major corporations that have been cheating entire generations of young people throughout the Union of Humanity. I love the scene where Andrea tells the representatives of the companies that their government is declaring all contracts and debts null and void. Combat is great in this story, like the first. The return of Casey to the captain chair is clever but he was more fun when he was a pirate. Tanner has another great story though still bad luck with the ladies.
Yet, the best moments of the novels are the short scenes when young men and women perform heroic acts during the massive naval battle and get killed. These passages are emotionally moving and well written. The tragedy of the war is that those fighting for Archangel are mostly youths who enlisted to pay off debts owed to the corporations, and many of the soldiers serving as Mercenaries in the private (and illegal navies) of the corporations are in their jobs for the same reason. It makes for a subtle but powerful undertone to the tragedy of loss of life. As Admiral Yeoh observes in the book, the only good victories are the ones where no one dies.
Now that the war is underway, and Tanner is closing in on realizing that Casey is still out there, but now fighting for Archangel, I’m excited to see where the next book takes the series. This book clearly indicates that Tanner will never be commissioned as an officer, but maybe he will end up a master chief or something. I hope he has great showdown with Casey, but I’m better any resolution between the characters waits until the fourth or fifth book.
September 28, 2019
Once again Elliott Kay has written a stonker! After the epically brilliant Poor man's fight, how could he possibly follow it up & improve? Well it was breathtakingly awesome!! I found myself up until 4am to finish it.
This second instalment of Tanner Malone's tale, is faster paced, more action packed & has much more of an epic scale, yet still has plenty of deep character development, intelligent observations, & good old fashioned drama.
Moving on to more of a war footing the Archangel system had for months been victim of pirate attacks, corporate lawsuits, blacklisting & economic pressure. The 3 main corporations who have an absolute stranglehold over the known galaxy bring things rapidly to a head after their stock prices take a tumble following Archangels decisions back in the previous book 'Poor man's fight'. Elliot Kay has managed to weave geopolitics seamlessly into the backbone of this novel, never boring or slowing the pace of the story down.
Tanner Malone is dealing with the real consequences of his actions, & the emotional toil of life in the services, while still managing to be a major player in the galaxy. It was with real skill that Kay has put Tanner as the forefront of all the momentous battles in a plausible realistic way. I can't wait to see where the story will next go
This second instalment of Tanner Malone's tale, is faster paced, more action packed & has much more of an epic scale, yet still has plenty of deep character development, intelligent observations, & good old fashioned drama.
Moving on to more of a war footing the Archangel system had for months been victim of pirate attacks, corporate lawsuits, blacklisting & economic pressure. The 3 main corporations who have an absolute stranglehold over the known galaxy bring things rapidly to a head after their stock prices take a tumble following Archangels decisions back in the previous book 'Poor man's fight'. Elliot Kay has managed to weave geopolitics seamlessly into the backbone of this novel, never boring or slowing the pace of the story down.
Tanner Malone is dealing with the real consequences of his actions, & the emotional toil of life in the services, while still managing to be a major player in the galaxy. It was with real skill that Kay has put Tanner as the forefront of all the momentous battles in a plausible realistic way. I can't wait to see where the story will next go
January 23, 2025
well, what do I say?
Great characters. Good dialogue. Nice scene shifts. No clue about the physics that would define ship combat possibilities in space. I am going to give the next book a go, but the end of this book needs rework with accurate physics of ship-to-ship combat in space.
The lack of basic understanding such as missiles exploding with no ship hull contact was like someone scratching the needle across a prized vinyl album. For example, there is no “shockwave” in a vacuum , because there is no matter such as air or water for an explosion to push. The small amount of gases an explosion can generate dissipate at the square of the distance the gases travel. There is simply not enough mass in the gases and missile components to do what was described.
Please get some physics help on how a missile might be effectively used. A bomb pumped laser missile perhaps although it has to be a nuclear bomb. A mass driver missile firing a small mass at extremely high acceleration (i.e. a canon mounted in a missile of sufficient mass with explosives of sufficient power to make F = mass x acceleration useful in space combat). This a lower tech option other than electronics/software for seeking/hunting/targeting/aiming.
Suspension-of-disbelief was shot down at the first missile engagement for me.
Great characters. Good dialogue. Nice scene shifts. No clue about the physics that would define ship combat possibilities in space. I am going to give the next book a go, but the end of this book needs rework with accurate physics of ship-to-ship combat in space.
The lack of basic understanding such as missiles exploding with no ship hull contact was like someone scratching the needle across a prized vinyl album. For example, there is no “shockwave” in a vacuum , because there is no matter such as air or water for an explosion to push. The small amount of gases an explosion can generate dissipate at the square of the distance the gases travel. There is simply not enough mass in the gases and missile components to do what was described.
Please get some physics help on how a missile might be effectively used. A bomb pumped laser missile perhaps although it has to be a nuclear bomb. A mass driver missile firing a small mass at extremely high acceleration (i.e. a canon mounted in a missile of sufficient mass with explosives of sufficient power to make F = mass x acceleration useful in space combat). This a lower tech option other than electronics/software for seeking/hunting/targeting/aiming.
Suspension-of-disbelief was shot down at the first missile engagement for me.
July 16, 2017
3.5 stars really. This book has two main problems: First, it is clearly a bridge book only telling enough of a story to set up book 3. Second, it has a "cheat" ending, buy which I mean that the author pretends to be telling you the whole story until the last 10 pages or so and then he tells that something else was happening that changes everything. I have a friend who is an author and we fell to discussing this at one time. A large part of the skill in writing is foreshadowing so that the reader doesn't feel like the author is just giving him/her the middle finger. Here you get a bit of a middle finger but the book was otherwise well enough written to still be enjoyable.
I noted in my review of book 1 that the author also has his main character do everything- to the point where his entire ship is destroyed but he still launches himself to the pirate ship and single-handed defeats 700 pirates and saves thousand of lives. That trend continues here albeit somewhat abated. At least this time the main character had significant help in winning the big battle, which made the story all the better.
I noted in my review of book 1 that the author also has his main character do everything- to the point where his entire ship is destroyed but he still launches himself to the pirate ship and single-handed defeats 700 pirates and saves thousand of lives. That trend continues here albeit somewhat abated. At least this time the main character had significant help in winning the big battle, which made the story all the better.
February 12, 2022
Poor man's fight was a good novel hence I continued to this 2nd installment. Writing was decent and so were fight scenes although I had to suspend disbelief for a few of them. Like 3 Archangel people going up against double their of enemies in powered body armor and still managing to come through unscathed? And Janeka telling North Star to get off their own ship and they actually took an escape pod and left!?! Wtf!!!! However what really annoyed me was the direction the plot took in the story. Corporations exist to make money and I fail to see how invading a nation is going to bring profits. Added to that with archangel part of the Union, the Union should be backing its members against the corporations especially as gross misconduct has been found. Instead the companies get to kill civilians and get away with it, and daring to compare that to archangel killing their soldiers in an assault carrier!!! I mean civilians versus soldiers who signed on and know they are going into battle!!! How is this possible! How is it that the Union doesn't slap the top executives into jail for murder!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2021
After the first novel, I should not been surprised of the high quality of the second. As far as I see it, Elliott Kay has pushed military scifi to a higher level by not only focusing on battle between fleets but also on the development of Tanner Malone and friends as time progresses. Tanner is a nice mixed breed of heroism and realism which gives the ongoing conflict a human touch. Some people hate him, he hates others, he gets hit, wounded and torn in thoughts. His friends are his friends which share friends things. I think this truly adds to the story and makes it more real.
I loved the views of the high brass from all sides and the newsflashes that provide framework of the story. Pretty awesome is the writing technique Kay uses to progress actions. In the middle of an action sequence, the camera switches to a complete other view to continue. This makes the story dynamic and interesting to read. Solid 4 star novel.
I loved the views of the high brass from all sides and the newsflashes that provide framework of the story. Pretty awesome is the writing technique Kay uses to progress actions. In the middle of an action sequence, the camera switches to a complete other view to continue. This makes the story dynamic and interesting to read. Solid 4 star novel.
March 9, 2020
Top notch military sci-fi/space opera
I have read a lot of science fiction/ space opera over the last few years and this series is up there with the best (Honor Harrington is my yardstick). It has politics good character development. Student debt is an important plot element and one which could not be more topical! A great main character who is always at the centre of the action - of which there is a great deal. Compulsive and addictive - I will not delay long before reading the next book in the series. Audio book devotees will not be disappointed by the excellent narration
I have read a lot of science fiction/ space opera over the last few years and this series is up there with the best (Honor Harrington is my yardstick). It has politics good character development. Student debt is an important plot element and one which could not be more topical! A great main character who is always at the centre of the action - of which there is a great deal. Compulsive and addictive - I will not delay long before reading the next book in the series. Audio book devotees will not be disappointed by the excellent narration
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