Siege of Earth

by John M. Faucette

Genres: Science Fiction

158 pages

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating is higher than most admittedly. Is the book anything like modern SF? No and if that is your expectation you will be disapointed. If you are a fan of classic (circa 1950's) SF, like me, then it may be worth your while.

After attacking an alien empire, Earth has been beat back until all that remains of their 'empire' is Earth itself, and the Earthlings are defending it to the death - they really have no choice in that though.

It reads kind of loke a pulp. It will not test your intelligence or comprehension but it can be just what it is supposed to be - enjoyable SF in the classic sense. I read it as a teen way back. LOVED it then and recently saw a copy and had to buy it to replace the copy I lost decades ago. It has a place of honor on my SF book shelf right beside Starship Troopers and other things that fired my imagination as a teen.

[Philipp Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read John Faucette's Siege of Earth 30 years ago and have thought about it frequently over the years. Whenever I read military fiction involving planetary bombardment and/or siege, I think of this story as an example of just how hard and deep you can bury your defenses and resources. And how much a damage a determined resistance can inflict on an invader. For instance, incinerating Earth's service doesn't deter her defenders one bit. It just infuriates them and fills them with a terrible resolve. That furious resolve and knowing they face extermination only makes them fight harder, and the loses the invaders suffer become unsustainable.

I saw a copy of Siege of Earth in the bookstore today while my mom was getting her hair done and grabbed it. It is a gripping fast paced story that establishes the background economically and pulls the reader into the desperate action quickly. I read the whole 158 pages of the book in a single sitting.

Faucette shows and tells us that the central character, Dane Barclay, is a passivist first and a brilliant strategist out of sheer desperation. His predecessor has bungled hideously in attacking but not defeating the alien Spartan Empire, and Barclay has conducted a masterful retreat back to Sol System and then back to Earth. Earth stands alone against an empire.

The Spartans are in a decreasing returns trap. The time and resources they expend against Earth weaken them on other fronts. They must finish humanity quickly enough and while preserving sufficient strength to deter invasion by their neighbors. The urgency to destroy humanity totally rather being contented to drive them back to a ravished earth is from their knowledge of the insane and insatiable warlike nature of humanity. This is the story's main theme- man's insane and insatiable warmongering. The Spartans know humanity must be exterminated, or they will attack Sparta again. Humanity has been beaten back to subterranean bunkers and caves, but remains unbowed.

The story offers a masterful portrayal of the escalation of the conflict as the Earthers' defenses exact an ever increasing toll on the overwhelmingly powerful Spartans and as Barclay repeatedly counters the Spartan commander's attacks brilliantly. Interspersed are glimpses of Barclay's humanity and hatred of war seen in poignant vignettes as members of his family become casualties and he is wounded. Things are getting hopelessly fraught when at last Earth's defenses finally begin to crumble, but I won't spoil the ending.

[Scott Nieradka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible, especially for 1971. Reads like a bad 50s sci-fi, the genius of one milatary man saves earth through his genius alone, and all the previous setbacks were caused by beaucracy, blah, blah blah. The aliens kill everyone on the surface of the earth, all plant life, everything by page 20, then spends 150 pages in really stupid tactical crap which makes little sense, why the aliens just didnt leave and allow the surviors to sufficate is never entirely clear. Oh, nevermind, this book isnt even very fun to make fun of, its like a dull toothache.

[Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago. It is a beautiful example of an extended siege of a planet. The author brilliantly makes the alien invaders really work for it.

Earth loses one inch at a time. While there is no hope for victory, or even survival, the home team does not waver. Earth stands alone, but does so page after page.

This is not a gee wiz technology story, it is a story of people who have determination and an incredible stubbornness.

This is a book that sticks with you long after you have read it.

Enjoy!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good space-battle based sci-fi book. Faucette knows how to write space battles and even space marine encounters.

A very engaging, very quick read. If sci-fi space battles are the sort of thing you like, you'll like this one alot.

[Paul Jarzabek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read of mankind's last stand.

[David Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's more like a synopsis of a novel than an actual novel. It's almost as if Faucette published his notes for an upcoming book. He glosses over everything. The characters are less than two-dimensional, they're just names, and the story goes by in a flash with no details of any kind. DNF

[Mitch Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Siege of Earth is a pulp SF novelette through and through. While clearly inspired by older Golden Age SF, Siege of Earth has little in the area of character development and a lot to be asked for concerning the general setting of the story. Faucette opens the book right to the point, and details each battle in extreme detail, and every loss in blunt brevity, making the emotional passages appear as simple afterthoughts.

If you're looking for a quick, pulpy and easy read with little "active reading" involved, this may be for you.

[A. · Rating 1 out of 5]

lousy, lousy, lousy.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 07.06.84