What do you think?
Rate this book
War 2.2
An action packed investigation, from Delta mud to the palaces of Merchant princes, Haldar is back in War 2.2
Haldar Drom is starting to worry. The long running insurgency in the Zala Delta suddenly starts to spiral further out of control. Who is arming the insurgents? How and why? Then a leading local politician who is using his influence to try and keep things calm is threatened with assassination. It's obvious that things are moving to a climax.
All Haldar has immediately available is a third year university student who gets given a dissertation project she'll never forget; young journalist who he convinces to investigate the situation of the ground; and a retired marine librarian whose job is to keep the politician alive. As the investigation proceeds, from the mud of the Delta to the luxurious surroundings of the Drake Islands, Haldar comes to realise that he may be facing Wayland Strang's counter-attack. Faced with a coup d'état spearheaded by off-world mercenaries Haldar has to react quickly to stop a major war.
Haldar Drom is starting to worry. The long running insurgency in the Zala Delta suddenly starts to spiral further out of control. Who is arming the insurgents? How and why? Then a leading local politician who is using his influence to try and keep things calm is threatened with assassination. It's obvious that things are moving to a climax.
All Haldar has immediately available is a third year university student who gets given a dissertation project she'll never forget; young journalist who he convinces to investigate the situation of the ground; and a retired marine librarian whose job is to keep the politician alive. As the investigation proceeds, from the mud of the Delta to the luxurious surroundings of the Drake Islands, Haldar comes to realise that he may be facing Wayland Strang's counter-attack. Faced with a coup d'état spearheaded by off-world mercenaries Haldar has to react quickly to stop a major war.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
3 people want to read
About the author
Jim Webster
90 books74 followersOld enough to know better and young enough not to care. I'm married with a wife and three daughters.
Since I left school I've supported myself with farming, freelance writing and some consultancy.
The consultancy dried up a bit so having time on my hands I wrote the fantasy novel 'Swords for a Dead Lady'. This is on Amazon as an e-book. It didn't hurt so I did it again, and 'Dead Man Riding East' is also available on Amazon. A third book, 'The Flames of the City,' and a fourth book, 'Learning a Hard Trade', set in the same background, are now available.
Then as a bit of a change I produced a shorter book, 'The Cartographer's Apprentice' which is something of a 'prequel' to the story of Benor Dorfingil.
The whole 'facebook/twitter/blogging' experience is something I'm not very good at. I'd far rather chat to people on forums, or better still talk over a pint or a really good cappuccino.
Since I left school I've supported myself with farming, freelance writing and some consultancy.
The consultancy dried up a bit so having time on my hands I wrote the fantasy novel 'Swords for a Dead Lady'. This is on Amazon as an e-book. It didn't hurt so I did it again, and 'Dead Man Riding East' is also available on Amazon. A third book, 'The Flames of the City,' and a fourth book, 'Learning a Hard Trade', set in the same background, are now available.
Then as a bit of a change I produced a shorter book, 'The Cartographer's Apprentice' which is something of a 'prequel' to the story of Benor Dorfingil.
The whole 'facebook/twitter/blogging' experience is something I'm not very good at. I'd far rather chat to people on forums, or better still talk over a pint or a really good cappuccino.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 7, 2015
This second book in Jim Webster’s Tsarina Sector science fiction stories was, for me, far easier to engage with than the first. We met some characters from the first book, notably Haldar Drom and the young journalist, Willon Carfit. Willon takes part in a war in order to take freelance footage of the insurrection in the Delta. This book is heavy on battles and includes some very feisty ladies who can use more weapons than a crochet hook.
We keep coming across the Starmancer Wayland Strang and it’s evident from this that we will meet him again. I’m backing Haldar! This is a fast-paced action story and will no doubt be devoured by readers of war books. I don’t particularly like war stories – but I do like Jim Webster’s books which are driven by strong characters and wry humour. My only reservation, one which I often have with science fiction, is that a lot of made-up names refuse to lodge in my memory and I have to keep flicking back to see who people are. A well-paced read with some satisfying conclusions.
We keep coming across the Starmancer Wayland Strang and it’s evident from this that we will meet him again. I’m backing Haldar! This is a fast-paced action story and will no doubt be devoured by readers of war books. I don’t particularly like war stories – but I do like Jim Webster’s books which are driven by strong characters and wry humour. My only reservation, one which I often have with science fiction, is that a lot of made-up names refuse to lodge in my memory and I have to keep flicking back to see who people are. A well-paced read with some satisfying conclusions.
September 28, 2015
This is the second book in the author's Tsarina Sector series and while I enjoyed the first book a lot, this one outshines it by quite some margin! As with the first book this story does an excellent job with the world. Many sci-fi stories fall for the trap of shoehorning technology in to make it more spacey, but the setting is so naturally described that the technology just slots into place.
More importantly it's a believable world that the author creates. In many ways it doesn't feel like a sci-fi story simply because of how easily everything slots together. I enjoy hard sci-fi and can happily enjoy reams of technical data this is more easily accessible and is something I think the genre needs more of.
Marvelling at the world building is one thing, but if there isn't a decent story in there then it becomes a dry exercise. Thankfully the story is excellent and flows at a decent page. The insurgency has a Vietnam war feel (the French one) that is well captured. There's either some personal experience or effective research here as it all feels quite authentic for the action and military sequences.
It isn't all about the troops on the ground though, there's also an investigative thread that adds background. The characters are all well drawn with some new faces along with those from the previous book. The reporter carries most of the story and I did eyebrow raise a few moments of how he flitted from one role to the next he carries the central role well.
It's at this point in the review that I talk about the bits I didn't like and to be honest I'm having to dig deep here. The first is something that I rarely comment on and that is the cover. This is definitely a case of not judging a book by its cover as it really doesn't really reflect the quality of the story or the writing. So if you are a reader who's usually put off by this type of thing then don't be in this case.
The other issue was a few proofing errors, there aren't many and to be honest I'm scraping the barrel to counter how much I enjoyed this book! For me this is a solid five star read and a second book in the series that surpasses the first. I can't wait for the next in the series to be released.
More importantly it's a believable world that the author creates. In many ways it doesn't feel like a sci-fi story simply because of how easily everything slots together. I enjoy hard sci-fi and can happily enjoy reams of technical data this is more easily accessible and is something I think the genre needs more of.
Marvelling at the world building is one thing, but if there isn't a decent story in there then it becomes a dry exercise. Thankfully the story is excellent and flows at a decent page. The insurgency has a Vietnam war feel (the French one) that is well captured. There's either some personal experience or effective research here as it all feels quite authentic for the action and military sequences.
It isn't all about the troops on the ground though, there's also an investigative thread that adds background. The characters are all well drawn with some new faces along with those from the previous book. The reporter carries most of the story and I did eyebrow raise a few moments of how he flitted from one role to the next he carries the central role well.
It's at this point in the review that I talk about the bits I didn't like and to be honest I'm having to dig deep here. The first is something that I rarely comment on and that is the cover. This is definitely a case of not judging a book by its cover as it really doesn't really reflect the quality of the story or the writing. So if you are a reader who's usually put off by this type of thing then don't be in this case.
The other issue was a few proofing errors, there aren't many and to be honest I'm scraping the barrel to counter how much I enjoyed this book! For me this is a solid five star read and a second book in the series that surpasses the first. I can't wait for the next in the series to be released.
March 26, 2015
This is the second of the Jim's Tsarina Sector books and follows on from Justice 4.1. The titles of both books give away the fantasy nature by the use of computing speak, implying that the scenarios in both books are a re-imagining of the concepts of War and Justice in a future or different world. Although I'm not a huge fan of war or fantasy books, I do love good characters and complex political shenanigans. Where these work well they will always draw me in because I find out more about people and societies in the process - we can often draw similarities with the world we live in and the people we know.
Jim's characters are well-rounded, not in any psychological sense but rather in that they are complete - you could imagine them standing next to you having a conversation with you - although you might feel that this wouldn't be the safest thing to do with some of them! This is essential when it comes writing fantasy because the reader has to see something believable. Overall, it's a good book and worth reading.
Jim's characters are well-rounded, not in any psychological sense but rather in that they are complete - you could imagine them standing next to you having a conversation with you - although you might feel that this wouldn't be the safest thing to do with some of them! This is essential when it comes writing fantasy because the reader has to see something believable. Overall, it's a good book and worth reading.
December 13, 2021
A great read for Military SF Fans
Haldar Drom certainly has his work cut out for him in this episode, but fortunately he has some uniquely talented people to help out.
Willon Carfit, a bored journalist who wants a more interesting assignment, Tara, a keen crocheter and armaments expert, a Gendarme called ‘Sarge’, plus many more.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-2-2-Tsar...
Haldar Drom certainly has his work cut out for him in this episode, but fortunately he has some uniquely talented people to help out.
Willon Carfit, a bored journalist who wants a more interesting assignment, Tara, a keen crocheter and armaments expert, a Gendarme called ‘Sarge’, plus many more.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-2-2-Tsar...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews