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Federation War #1
The Buchanan Campaign
The peaceful farming planet of Buchanan is thrown into turmoil after a sonic boom and the disappearance of a planetary commissioner, and the unprotected colonists learn that they have been invaded by Federation troops. Reissue.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 24, 2020
“My mother didn’t raise any optimists. ‘Always look for the clouds,’ she told me. ‘That way all your surprises will be silver linings.’”
A competent, if pedestrian, space opera of the techno-military sort. Multiple plot treads weave among half a dozen key characters to give the reader a comprehensive yet personal view from the surprise invasion of an independent human-settled world through the moves and counter moves of the opposing militaries to support or oppose that invasion.
“Even in the best of moods, he seemed to be perpetually one match short of an explosion.”
Technology is consistent and techno-miracles are kept to a minimum. The “good guys” are based on a quasi-British commonwealth model; the bad guys are more anonymously universal aggressors.
“It looks as if the human animal will find a way to fight no matter the obstacles. I’ve become quite willing to accept the argument that it’s hardwired into our genes.”
Despite this being his series’ opener, Shelley manages a satisfying conclusion while setting many hooks to draw the reader to the next book.
“I might serve the Commonwealth more by dying in battle than I can do alive. Symbolism is important.”
A competent, if pedestrian, space opera of the techno-military sort. Multiple plot treads weave among half a dozen key characters to give the reader a comprehensive yet personal view from the surprise invasion of an independent human-settled world through the moves and counter moves of the opposing militaries to support or oppose that invasion.
“Even in the best of moods, he seemed to be perpetually one match short of an explosion.”
Technology is consistent and techno-miracles are kept to a minimum. The “good guys” are based on a quasi-British commonwealth model; the bad guys are more anonymously universal aggressors.
“It looks as if the human animal will find a way to fight no matter the obstacles. I’ve become quite willing to accept the argument that it’s hardwired into our genes.”
Despite this being his series’ opener, Shelley manages a satisfying conclusion while setting many hooks to draw the reader to the next book.
“I might serve the Commonwealth more by dying in battle than I can do alive. Symbolism is important.”
January 21, 2017
To be fair, probably 3.25.
I just couldn't take to this oldie from off my physical shelves - and I know I read the whole trilogy back in my teens so can only assume it's an age thing? Though the mid-1990's was when I discovered (thank you David Weber) my love of military SF and so was buying everything I could get my poor British schoolgirl hands on!
I struggled to carry on, I was bored and at one point I even speculated on the more interesting possibilities of a book from the enemies side of being abandoned mid-invasion! The roles of women leapt out at me - I'm not one to judge a book by it's authors views - I'll happily read whoever, just keep it consistent and try not to too overtly proselytize (religion, politics, anything) at me - I'm just in it for the story! (The way I see it is, if you're able to read, you're able to think. If you can think you should make up your own mind and if it's so small a mind it only has space for one book's way of thinking, well, you can't blame the author of the book, but the owner of the mind). But I digress - women. At first I thought it was a patriarchal military. Fine, albeit unexplained (inadequate birth control, societal structure, religioun, even just boys be boys bullshit woulda done - gimme something), but then suddenly mid-way there pop up two females in the pilot corps. They are barely fleshed out characters - a commander referred to as her, and a wing flier. No other referral to women soldiers is made. You could put it down to society being so ahead that it's not even of consequence to mention gender except that having now done so, it feels weird for there to be no references to their having shared or separate barracks, hygiene facilities, nor why they are'nt involved in other areas of the space force? So too no mention of any female leader roles either within the existing advanced society or the lesser colonial one. Then there's background details or lack thereof. I'm not saying I want a Tolkien-esque history of the Commonwealth, twelve page biographies of every character and a dossier on the extremely unknown yet supposedly menacing "baddie" The Federation. . . but I do want some connection to the world I'm reading about. Clearly we've got a very strong Manticore and Haven, British vibe going on (this should make me love it, I adore the Honor Harrington books, I am from England, what went wrong?) but why? What propelled man to the stars? What diaspora? Don't get me wrong, I love my jolly old Blighty, but let's be straight here, we ain't first in line for the space rockets right now, so how, why, where, what?
There's nothing inherently wrong here - it's more a case of damned by faint praise. So many times it made me think of other books during scenes or descriptions. It doesn't matter what came first (Honor defo did, but some bits even reminded me of Kris Longknife and Prince Roger which are actually later) as those other books were still better. In the end I sort of felt like I was reading really well written fanfic - it's pretty good but it's just not the real thing.
Now I might have to dig out some proper stuff. Dammit. The good series' are all so long!
I just couldn't take to this oldie from off my physical shelves - and I know I read the whole trilogy back in my teens so can only assume it's an age thing? Though the mid-1990's was when I discovered (thank you David Weber) my love of military SF and so was buying everything I could get my poor British schoolgirl hands on!
I struggled to carry on, I was bored and at one point I even speculated on the more interesting possibilities of a book from the enemies side of being abandoned mid-invasion! The roles of women leapt out at me - I'm not one to judge a book by it's authors views - I'll happily read whoever, just keep it consistent and try not to too overtly proselytize (religion, politics, anything) at me - I'm just in it for the story! (The way I see it is, if you're able to read, you're able to think. If you can think you should make up your own mind and if it's so small a mind it only has space for one book's way of thinking, well, you can't blame the author of the book, but the owner of the mind). But I digress - women. At first I thought it was a patriarchal military. Fine, albeit unexplained (inadequate birth control, societal structure, religioun, even just boys be boys bullshit woulda done - gimme something), but then suddenly mid-way there pop up two females in the pilot corps. They are barely fleshed out characters - a commander referred to as her, and a wing flier. No other referral to women soldiers is made. You could put it down to society being so ahead that it's not even of consequence to mention gender except that having now done so, it feels weird for there to be no references to their having shared or separate barracks, hygiene facilities, nor why they are'nt involved in other areas of the space force? So too no mention of any female leader roles either within the existing advanced society or the lesser colonial one. Then there's background details or lack thereof. I'm not saying I want a Tolkien-esque history of the Commonwealth, twelve page biographies of every character and a dossier on the extremely unknown yet supposedly menacing "baddie" The Federation. . . but I do want some connection to the world I'm reading about. Clearly we've got a very strong Manticore and Haven, British vibe going on (this should make me love it, I adore the Honor Harrington books, I am from England, what went wrong?) but why? What propelled man to the stars? What diaspora? Don't get me wrong, I love my jolly old Blighty, but let's be straight here, we ain't first in line for the space rockets right now, so how, why, where, what?
There's nothing inherently wrong here - it's more a case of damned by faint praise. So many times it made me think of other books during scenes or descriptions. It doesn't matter what came first (Honor defo did, but some bits even reminded me of Kris Longknife and Prince Roger which are actually later) as those other books were still better. In the end I sort of felt like I was reading really well written fanfic - it's pretty good but it's just not the real thing.
Now I might have to dig out some proper stuff. Dammit. The good series' are all so long!
December 5, 2023
The Buchanan Campaign is the first book in the "Federation War" trilogy by Rick Shelly. This book is classic Military Science Fiction from the 90s. It takes place in a far future with mankind split into two very different star nations. As often happens when mankind is split into different governing systems, war breaks out. The story is told from several viewpoints and the characters are interesting and mostly believeable. There is plenty of action both space-based and planet-based. Although the first book in a trilogy this book can be read as a standalone as the book has a satisfactory ending and you could stop there. I plan on obtaining the next two books and reading the entire trilogy.
July 8, 2021
The idea behind this story wasn't horrible. Some of the action scenes were even entertaining, but man was it laid on thick. This tale was chock full of these long winded monologues on why the royal marines are fighting for the commonwealth and why all the service members fight for the men and women beside them. This was written by someone who either read too many Gung-ho books growing up, or served and bought the military establishment's kool-aid to the last drop. A far far cry from the holy trinity of Armor, Starship Troopers and The Forever War.
February 1, 2014
Warning, I do give a spoiler about a few events, and a little bit of information. Nothing of too much plot importance, and nothing that really gives to much away, however, if that bothers you then don't read on.
This was a decent military science fiction novel that details the long standing cold war between two space fairing civilizations going hot. The Federation, the, "bad guys," of the novel are under the impression that all human settled worlds belong to them and have for centuries refused to acknowledge the Second Commonwealth, or independent worlds as having any right to self rule. So one evening the Federation sends a ship to the independent world of Buchanan to reassert their claim. Buchanan isn't exactly well off, having a grand total of two small towns and a small spaceport to it's name. However, it's a great way for the Federation to show that it doesn't accept independent worlds and to establish a base on a world within easy jump distance of key Commonwealth systems and an area of space that Commonwealth captains use as midway jump points. Thankfully a member of the Buchanan Planetary Commission, the governing body of the small population, is able to get a message rocket off in time to call for assistance from the Commonwealth, who gather a small task-force to come to the aid of the Buchanan people.
From there the novel creates an interesting universe, but at times, I found myself wishing for a bit more. Shelley is great at creating characters that you really do care for, but there are so many that at times it feels like he rushes their descriptions and scenes. All of the main characters get time to shine as well, but they have such different tasks that sometimes the novel can feel a bit disjointed. For example, going from the perspective of the Admiral in charge of the task-force to a the pilot of a zed-3 Spacehawk fighter to the perspective of the lead sergeant of a squad of Intelligence and Reconnaissance Royal Marines.
There were also moments when I felt that I wanted a little more information about the Federation. The novel focuses entirely on Commonwealth personal so you only have their word that the Federation is as despotic as they claim. They're obviously not very bright based on how they expected the population of Buchanan not to resist at all, leading to a sequence where a group of resistance fighters are able to sneak onto the spaceport grounds and blow three of their shuttles to smithereens. I wanted a look at the reaction of the other side. But that's understandable considering we are dealing with two populations that haven't even talked to each other in decades so don't really know much about the other. Didn't really help though that Commonwealth personal were shown to be a bit over heroic at times, and it almost felt that the Shelly was straddling the edge a few times of making the Commonwealth a Mary Suetopia. Thankfully he pulled back, but I wish that we'd seen a few acts of Federation bravery and heroics for their side to make sure we stayed a little farther from the line.
I'm not saying that this was not a good novel, I loved it. Hell there were times when I flat out cheered as Commonwealth forces went about their duty. They were damn competent at their jobs, and didn't feel the need to just dump exposition on the reader. All in all, it felt very natural at times. Essentially all my complaints can be boiled down to wanting another hundred pages or so to really flesh everything out.
This was a decent military science fiction novel that details the long standing cold war between two space fairing civilizations going hot. The Federation, the, "bad guys," of the novel are under the impression that all human settled worlds belong to them and have for centuries refused to acknowledge the Second Commonwealth, or independent worlds as having any right to self rule. So one evening the Federation sends a ship to the independent world of Buchanan to reassert their claim. Buchanan isn't exactly well off, having a grand total of two small towns and a small spaceport to it's name. However, it's a great way for the Federation to show that it doesn't accept independent worlds and to establish a base on a world within easy jump distance of key Commonwealth systems and an area of space that Commonwealth captains use as midway jump points. Thankfully a member of the Buchanan Planetary Commission, the governing body of the small population, is able to get a message rocket off in time to call for assistance from the Commonwealth, who gather a small task-force to come to the aid of the Buchanan people.
From there the novel creates an interesting universe, but at times, I found myself wishing for a bit more. Shelley is great at creating characters that you really do care for, but there are so many that at times it feels like he rushes their descriptions and scenes. All of the main characters get time to shine as well, but they have such different tasks that sometimes the novel can feel a bit disjointed. For example, going from the perspective of the Admiral in charge of the task-force to a the pilot of a zed-3 Spacehawk fighter to the perspective of the lead sergeant of a squad of Intelligence and Reconnaissance Royal Marines.
There were also moments when I felt that I wanted a little more information about the Federation. The novel focuses entirely on Commonwealth personal so you only have their word that the Federation is as despotic as they claim. They're obviously not very bright based on how they expected the population of Buchanan not to resist at all, leading to a sequence where a group of resistance fighters are able to sneak onto the spaceport grounds and blow three of their shuttles to smithereens. I wanted a look at the reaction of the other side. But that's understandable considering we are dealing with two populations that haven't even talked to each other in decades so don't really know much about the other. Didn't really help though that Commonwealth personal were shown to be a bit over heroic at times, and it almost felt that the Shelly was straddling the edge a few times of making the Commonwealth a Mary Suetopia. Thankfully he pulled back, but I wish that we'd seen a few acts of Federation bravery and heroics for their side to make sure we stayed a little farther from the line.
I'm not saying that this was not a good novel, I loved it. Hell there were times when I flat out cheered as Commonwealth forces went about their duty. They were damn competent at their jobs, and didn't feel the need to just dump exposition on the reader. All in all, it felt very natural at times. Essentially all my complaints can be boiled down to wanting another hundred pages or so to really flesh everything out.
April 8, 2015
he Buchanan Campaign (1995) 375 pages by Rick Shelley.
The Federation drops soldiers onto the colony world of Buchanan, and Doug Weintraub quickly sends a message for help off to the Commonwealth, and sneaks off into the wilderness. Buchanan is sparsely populated, only 37,000 people and two cities. The rest is uninhabited.
In this universe space travel is done by jumping into Q-space and coming out a long ways away in regular space. Because Doug was in a hurry, he had to send his message off with no regard for safety, and had the rocket jump directly into Q-space from the planet's surface. This allows Commonwealth admiral Stasys Truscott to experiment with Q-space travel.
The story follows Doug, Truscott and his aide Ian Shrikes, Prince William, a couple of spacehawk pilots, and Sergeant David Spencer and his I&R platoon. It's an interesting tale, and keeps the reader's attention, flows smoothly and wraps up neatly. With, of course, the possibility of a sequel, this being just the first battle between the Commonwealth and Feddies.
The thing that struck me was there was not one syllable of dialog to or from a Feddie. Buchanan is invaded, we follow Doug who hightails it off to the bushes and don't hear if they have made any announcements to the civilian population. The Commonwealth ships come they immediately go into battle with the Federation ship that's in the Buchanan system, but it gets away. They see the electronic signals of the Federation soldiers that were abandoned on the surface, but they immediately go into radio silence. There skirmishes that ensue between troops on the ground result in dead and wounded, but seemingly no prisoners -- either way. There is no background story of how the human population came to be split into Federation and Commonwealth. There is only a little bit, mostly Price William speaking, being said of what they are at all. Basically the Federation takes over planets and rules them, taking resources and conscripting soldiers, etc. The Commonwealth it made of members who freely join, etc.
It's like a very long novella, because it misses all of this background info. It's enjoyable, but it's more of a focus on the tactics of the Commonwealth Royal Marines than anything else.
The Federation drops soldiers onto the colony world of Buchanan, and Doug Weintraub quickly sends a message for help off to the Commonwealth, and sneaks off into the wilderness. Buchanan is sparsely populated, only 37,000 people and two cities. The rest is uninhabited.
In this universe space travel is done by jumping into Q-space and coming out a long ways away in regular space. Because Doug was in a hurry, he had to send his message off with no regard for safety, and had the rocket jump directly into Q-space from the planet's surface. This allows Commonwealth admiral Stasys Truscott to experiment with Q-space travel.
The story follows Doug, Truscott and his aide Ian Shrikes, Prince William, a couple of spacehawk pilots, and Sergeant David Spencer and his I&R platoon. It's an interesting tale, and keeps the reader's attention, flows smoothly and wraps up neatly. With, of course, the possibility of a sequel, this being just the first battle between the Commonwealth and Feddies.
The thing that struck me was there was not one syllable of dialog to or from a Feddie. Buchanan is invaded, we follow Doug who hightails it off to the bushes and don't hear if they have made any announcements to the civilian population. The Commonwealth ships come they immediately go into battle with the Federation ship that's in the Buchanan system, but it gets away. They see the electronic signals of the Federation soldiers that were abandoned on the surface, but they immediately go into radio silence. There skirmishes that ensue between troops on the ground result in dead and wounded, but seemingly no prisoners -- either way. There is no background story of how the human population came to be split into Federation and Commonwealth. There is only a little bit, mostly Price William speaking, being said of what they are at all. Basically the Federation takes over planets and rules them, taking resources and conscripting soldiers, etc. The Commonwealth it made of members who freely join, etc.
It's like a very long novella, because it misses all of this background info. It's enjoyable, but it's more of a focus on the tactics of the Commonwealth Royal Marines than anything else.
January 31, 2008
This is a good military science fiction novel. And I needed that -- given the disappointment in the last few books I have read. Nice story, well written but nothing special. Worth 4 stars.
February 2, 2017
Typical Rick, but I enjoyed it more than the other starter of his I tried and didn't find as fun. I'll be carrying on with these between other reads
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