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銀河英雄伝説 [Ginga eiyū densetsu] #3
Endurance
It’s the master tactician of the ruthless Galactic Empire versus the Free Planets Alliance in Japan’s greatest space opera epic!
In the thirty-sixth century, humanity has conquered the galaxy and colonized countless star systems. The Galactic Empire, modeled along Prussian lines, and the democratic Free Planets Alliance are at war, and the fate of every human being in the universe hangs in the balance. This classic Japanese space opera, adapted into a legendary anime, is finally available in English for the first time.
A grand scheme for retaking Iserlohn is delivered to Reinhard, who with renewed determination seeks to become ruler of the galaxy and to fulfill the oath he made with a dear, departed friend. But what are the aims of Phezzan, the third force at work behind the scenes? Meanwhile, no sooner is Yang breathing a sigh of relief when Julian returns from his first combat mission than he is summoned to an inquest and departs for the capital of the alliance. As if waiting for this opportunity to strike, however, the imperial military's secret weapon appears right at the gates of Iserlohn. The battle begins! Who will endure?
In the thirty-sixth century, humanity has conquered the galaxy and colonized countless star systems. The Galactic Empire, modeled along Prussian lines, and the democratic Free Planets Alliance are at war, and the fate of every human being in the universe hangs in the balance. This classic Japanese space opera, adapted into a legendary anime, is finally available in English for the first time.
A grand scheme for retaking Iserlohn is delivered to Reinhard, who with renewed determination seeks to become ruler of the galaxy and to fulfill the oath he made with a dear, departed friend. But what are the aims of Phezzan, the third force at work behind the scenes? Meanwhile, no sooner is Yang breathing a sigh of relief when Julian returns from his first combat mission than he is summoned to an inquest and departs for the capital of the alliance. As if waiting for this opportunity to strike, however, the imperial military's secret weapon appears right at the gates of Iserlohn. The battle begins! Who will endure?
265 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1984
59 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Yoshiki Tanaka
596 books145 followersYoshiki Tanaka (田中 芳樹 Tanaka Yoshiki) is a Japanese novelist. He was born in Kumamoto Prefecture and took his doctorate degree in Japanese Language and Literature in the Graduate School of Gakushūin University in Tokyo.
His major works include the fantasy novel series Arslan Senki, also known as The Heroic Legend of Arslan, and the sci-fi space opera novel series entitled Ginga Eiyū Densetsu, also known as Legend of the Galactic Heroes, both of which were adapted as anime and manga. His fantasy works also include the novel series Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings that was also adapted as anime.
Tanaka is an avid fan of Chinese history and wrote some novels set in China. He also published two arranged-translations of Chinese literature: "Sui Tang Yanyi" ("Stories of Sui and Tang Dynasties") and "Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan" ("Telling the Complete Biography of Yue Fei") as "Gakuhi-den" ("The Story of Yue Fei"). He is also familiar with Persian history, which Arslan Senki is based on.
His major works include the fantasy novel series Arslan Senki, also known as The Heroic Legend of Arslan, and the sci-fi space opera novel series entitled Ginga Eiyū Densetsu, also known as Legend of the Galactic Heroes, both of which were adapted as anime and manga. His fantasy works also include the novel series Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings that was also adapted as anime.
Tanaka is an avid fan of Chinese history and wrote some novels set in China. He also published two arranged-translations of Chinese literature: "Sui Tang Yanyi" ("Stories of Sui and Tang Dynasties") and "Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan" ("Telling the Complete Biography of Yue Fei") as "Gakuhi-den" ("The Story of Yue Fei"). He is also familiar with Persian history, which Arslan Senki is based on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 26, 2022
3.5 Stars
I'm liking this military space opera but I think I'll watch the anime before continuing on and buying more books.
I'm liking this military space opera but I think I'll watch the anime before continuing on and buying more books.
October 5, 2020
A bit slow at times and doesn't hit hard as often as the first two novels. The real gem of this installment is Yang Wen-li's "inquiry". He gets the opportunity to tell the parasitic politicians what he thinks of them and really lays it on thick, with all the venom and sarcasm one could hope for.
Aside from that, the attempt to retake the Iserlohn corridor by the empire has it's moments of strategic brilliance on both sides. Frederica Greenhill gives us her first real flashes of how clever and intuitive a character she is. Reuenthal and Mittermeyer are given a bit more depth and back story, and Reinhardt is still struggling with the death of his best friend.
We get a look at a democratic republic at it's lowest form and last stages of decay, and we get a look at despotism at it's highest form and early stages of growth after centuries of it's own decay. These are very thoughtful novels but are sprinkled with enough human drama, comedy, and action to push us along when the philosophy and moral quandaries get a bit heavy.
I still love this series; I just think the events of this book didn't necessarily warrant a whole novel for themselves. It dragged in places, but when it was great it was truly wonderful.
Aside from that, the attempt to retake the Iserlohn corridor by the empire has it's moments of strategic brilliance on both sides. Frederica Greenhill gives us her first real flashes of how clever and intuitive a character she is. Reuenthal and Mittermeyer are given a bit more depth and back story, and Reinhardt is still struggling with the death of his best friend.
We get a look at a democratic republic at it's lowest form and last stages of decay, and we get a look at despotism at it's highest form and early stages of growth after centuries of it's own decay. These are very thoughtful novels but are sprinkled with enough human drama, comedy, and action to push us along when the philosophy and moral quandaries get a bit heavy.
I still love this series; I just think the events of this book didn't necessarily warrant a whole novel for themselves. It dragged in places, but when it was great it was truly wonderful.
December 4, 2016
Review also published here
Endurance is the third part of Yoshiki Tanaka's Legend of the Galactic Heroes series. As such, please be aware that there'll be spoilers for the first two books here!
Compared to the first two books, I would argue that Endurance is the slowest. Both Dawn and Ambition had a good amount of action, big fleet movements and bloodshed. While this installment is hardly without those things, its biggest struggle takes place away from the battlefield surrounding Iserlohn Fortress. The fortress, as you might remember, protects the route between Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Aliiance, and is held by Admiral Yang Wen-li, who has taken it from the empire in a genius move. The empire, under Reinhard von Lohengramm's leadership, naturally wants it back, which is the main point of the book as far as empire and the fleet war are concerned.
Surprisingly, we see little of Reinhard in this book. With Siegfried Kircheis gone, the new de facto emperor is in a big slump. He mourns his friend, and struggles to surround himself with people he can trust unconditionally; nobody is able to understand his dream, his ambition, like Sieg did. It doesn't help that his sister, Annerose, has departed to live in solitude after news reached her. Reinhard is on his own, surrounded by selfish people and manipulators like Paul von Oberstein, who, in some ways, is responsible for Reinhard's loss. The only person who truly seems to care about the Golden Brat appears to be Hildegard von Mariendorf, who joined his side in the previous book.
Hilda's scenes here are relatively short, but set up a lot of things for future installments, and provide a possible love interest for Reinhard - something that he seems blind to. I enjoyed those scenes greatly, however, as they are well-executed and introduced some new warmth to a relatively cold state of affairs.
To stick with characters on the Galactic Empire's side, I was glad to see a few of them being developed further. The friendship between Mittermeier and Von Reuentahl, who by all rights should be bitter rivals, is palpable here, and Tanaka treats us to some genuine moments between them. We see glimpses of their upbringing, their personal lives and their own ambitions, making them far more than the genius admirals they have been presented as previously. Even Von Oberstein received a little bit of the same, giving him more depth. Generally, this reflects the entire book - character development stands front and center.
On the FPA's end, the novel makes it a point to get Julian, Yang's adopted war-orphan, into battle for the first time, piloting a Spartanian starfighter. Those scenes present a good part of the book's action, and show the nitty-gritty and misery of being a soldier below the command level. Of course, Julian is also a natural at it. Yang's discomfort and disapproval of his protégé's choice of career make for a nice bit of conflict here too, ending in a scene that is very comfortable and made me happy.
But eventually Yang gets recalled to the capital of Heinessen, to stand in front of a "court of inquiry" regarding his actions from the previous book. With no real legal authority behind them, this basically comes down to psycho-terror and a battle of wits, where Yang proves his defiance towards the FPA's government and the dangerous turns their "free democracy" has been taking lately. It is a heated part of the book that had me on edge, wondering when Yang would snap and burn all the bridges. If you haven't hated the FPA's government so far, now might be the chance to jump on the train!
Parallel to this ordeal, Yang's aide Frederica Greenhill proves herself worth her weight in gold. She's a delightful character full of strength and warmth, and I appreciate all her appearances so far. The baggage from the previous book sadly still looms its ugly head here, but just comes to show how strong Yang's aide is.
While this book is certainly slower and more reflective, giving the cast more chances to develop and grow, there of course is a big battle towards the end to look forward to. It is teased by the blurb already - the battle of two gigantic space fortresses! This part was damn exciting, especially with both Yang and Reinhard away from it, at least for the bulk of it. Yang's underlings have to step up their game and hold the fort, which also gives the recently defected Merkatz a chance to prove his mettle to his new comrades. Everyone, including Alex Caselnes, get to show off here for a change, and I loved that.
If anything, though, this book sets up a lot of opportunities for future disaster and glory. It has plenty of substance to entertain and make you think about the characters and events, but its full worth will become more obvious as the overarching plot progresses in the next few installments. Seeds are being sown, and everybody's endurance and resolve are tested greatly, and their directions might well change in the future.
Overall I believe this book is exactly what the series needed after the highly eventful first two installments. Time for the dust to settle while creating new openings to be explored.
While Endurance is relatively slow on action, it definitely had a big impact on how I view the series.
Endurance is the third part of Yoshiki Tanaka's Legend of the Galactic Heroes series. As such, please be aware that there'll be spoilers for the first two books here!
Compared to the first two books, I would argue that Endurance is the slowest. Both Dawn and Ambition had a good amount of action, big fleet movements and bloodshed. While this installment is hardly without those things, its biggest struggle takes place away from the battlefield surrounding Iserlohn Fortress. The fortress, as you might remember, protects the route between Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Aliiance, and is held by Admiral Yang Wen-li, who has taken it from the empire in a genius move. The empire, under Reinhard von Lohengramm's leadership, naturally wants it back, which is the main point of the book as far as empire and the fleet war are concerned.
Surprisingly, we see little of Reinhard in this book. With Siegfried Kircheis gone, the new de facto emperor is in a big slump. He mourns his friend, and struggles to surround himself with people he can trust unconditionally; nobody is able to understand his dream, his ambition, like Sieg did. It doesn't help that his sister, Annerose, has departed to live in solitude after news reached her. Reinhard is on his own, surrounded by selfish people and manipulators like Paul von Oberstein, who, in some ways, is responsible for Reinhard's loss. The only person who truly seems to care about the Golden Brat appears to be Hildegard von Mariendorf, who joined his side in the previous book.
Hilda's scenes here are relatively short, but set up a lot of things for future installments, and provide a possible love interest for Reinhard - something that he seems blind to. I enjoyed those scenes greatly, however, as they are well-executed and introduced some new warmth to a relatively cold state of affairs.
To stick with characters on the Galactic Empire's side, I was glad to see a few of them being developed further. The friendship between Mittermeier and Von Reuentahl, who by all rights should be bitter rivals, is palpable here, and Tanaka treats us to some genuine moments between them. We see glimpses of their upbringing, their personal lives and their own ambitions, making them far more than the genius admirals they have been presented as previously. Even Von Oberstein received a little bit of the same, giving him more depth. Generally, this reflects the entire book - character development stands front and center.
On the FPA's end, the novel makes it a point to get Julian, Yang's adopted war-orphan, into battle for the first time, piloting a Spartanian starfighter. Those scenes present a good part of the book's action, and show the nitty-gritty and misery of being a soldier below the command level. Of course, Julian is also a natural at it. Yang's discomfort and disapproval of his protégé's choice of career make for a nice bit of conflict here too, ending in a scene that is very comfortable and made me happy.
But eventually Yang gets recalled to the capital of Heinessen, to stand in front of a "court of inquiry" regarding his actions from the previous book. With no real legal authority behind them, this basically comes down to psycho-terror and a battle of wits, where Yang proves his defiance towards the FPA's government and the dangerous turns their "free democracy" has been taking lately. It is a heated part of the book that had me on edge, wondering when Yang would snap and burn all the bridges. If you haven't hated the FPA's government so far, now might be the chance to jump on the train!
Parallel to this ordeal, Yang's aide Frederica Greenhill proves herself worth her weight in gold. She's a delightful character full of strength and warmth, and I appreciate all her appearances so far. The baggage from the previous book sadly still looms its ugly head here, but just comes to show how strong Yang's aide is.
While this book is certainly slower and more reflective, giving the cast more chances to develop and grow, there of course is a big battle towards the end to look forward to. It is teased by the blurb already - the battle of two gigantic space fortresses! This part was damn exciting, especially with both Yang and Reinhard away from it, at least for the bulk of it. Yang's underlings have to step up their game and hold the fort, which also gives the recently defected Merkatz a chance to prove his mettle to his new comrades. Everyone, including Alex Caselnes, get to show off here for a change, and I loved that.
If anything, though, this book sets up a lot of opportunities for future disaster and glory. It has plenty of substance to entertain and make you think about the characters and events, but its full worth will become more obvious as the overarching plot progresses in the next few installments. Seeds are being sown, and everybody's endurance and resolve are tested greatly, and their directions might well change in the future.
Overall I believe this book is exactly what the series needed after the highly eventful first two installments. Time for the dust to settle while creating new openings to be explored.
While Endurance is relatively slow on action, it definitely had a big impact on how I view the series.
May 17, 2018
Final Rating: 4.75/5
Surprisingly the best one so far in the series. This time the major event is the empire trying to invade Iserlohn corridor in order to win it back, but that is quite a challenge considering Yang is stationed at it and is a force to be reckoned with.
Until... of course, the alliance does a very stupid thing and call Yang away to Heinessen in order to question him for DAYS about his actions taken at the civil war, his companions etc, which was in no way pleasant - neither for him, nor for the inquisitors asking the questions - because Yang's sass usually hits way too many points. And considering the fact that the only capable military force of Alliance remains in Iserlohn, it's very very unpleasant to be called away when Empire could attack... at any minute... .
We find out more about Muller, Kempf, Reuentahl and Mittermeier and see how Reinhard is dealing with his loss, and how Hilda is trying to help in her own ways, while Phezzan authorities pull strings from behind and get rid of all failures.
Anyway I pretty much enjoyed this one and consider it the strongest alongside the first book.
Hopefully more people will pick up this series, because it deserves the love.
“Of all the things that human beings do, do you know which one is the most brazenly despicable? It’s when people who have authority—and the people who flatter them—hide in safe places singing the praises of war; push a patriotic, sacrificial mind-set on the people; and then send them off to the battlefield. If peace is ever going to come to this galaxy, we should eradicate malignant parasites like those first instead of perpetuating this pointless war with the empire.”
It was as if the air itself had blanched. No one on the court of inquiry had imagined that the young, black-haired admiral would spew venom to this degree. Even Huang Rui was staring at Yang with a surprised expression.
“By ‘parasites,’ you refer to this court of inquiry?” Negroponte said. He was putting on a good show of remaining calm and composed, but there was an uneven ripple in his voice.
Yang fired back, making sure it sounded as disrespectful as possible: “Did it sound like I meant someone else?”
Surprisingly the best one so far in the series. This time the major event is the empire trying to invade Iserlohn corridor in order to win it back, but that is quite a challenge considering Yang is stationed at it and is a force to be reckoned with.
Until... of course, the alliance does a very stupid thing and call Yang away to Heinessen in order to question him for DAYS about his actions taken at the civil war, his companions etc, which was in no way pleasant - neither for him, nor for the inquisitors asking the questions - because Yang's sass usually hits way too many points. And considering the fact that the only capable military force of Alliance remains in Iserlohn, it's very very unpleasant to be called away when Empire could attack... at any minute... .
We find out more about Muller, Kempf, Reuentahl and Mittermeier and see how Reinhard is dealing with his loss, and how Hilda is trying to help in her own ways, while Phezzan authorities pull strings from behind and get rid of all failures.
Anyway I pretty much enjoyed this one and consider it the strongest alongside the first book.
Hopefully more people will pick up this series, because it deserves the love.
October 14, 2017
Starts off slow, then features a space battle involving a moving fortress. Just like the previous books it sometimes makes it too easy for its protagonists - in this instance, Wen-Li's enemies are idiots that are easily overcome. The third power Phezzan is developed a bit more and things actually start to move, but then the book ends once things come together. As the other books, this is a quick read, it took me a Canberra-Perth flight.
Luckily book 4 came out in June, book 5 will be released in November, that should keep things going.
Luckily book 4 came out in June, book 5 will be released in November, that should keep things going.
Julian’s fighter raced through spaces filled only with death and destruction. The giant shredded hulk of a damaged battleship continued to pound the enemy with beams of energy from cannons that had escaped damage, even as it buckled on the brink of death itself. Scattering the faint white light of its remaining energy, a wrecked cruiser that had lost its pilot swam right past Julian, then disappeared into the blackness. Beams seared the darkness with flashes of brilliance, missile trails threaded their way across the battlespace, and the light of exploding warships formed stars of exceedingly brief life span that illuminated all around them. Silent bolts of lightning were crisscrossing everywhere. If sound had existed in that world, eardrums would have burst from the roar of those malevolent energies, and madness would have claimed every listener as its eternal prisoner.
June 7, 2024
Yang is that sassy uncle/auntie you gravitate to when you’re in a party or family gathering.
Gosh the way Yoshiki Tanaka writes Yang is such a joy to read.
The Battle of Iserlohn corridor will forever remain my top moments in this series and the court of inquiry episode seats as one of my top Yang moments. He was just so fed up with the Free Planet Alliance’s stupidity and corruptness.
This book also showcases other characters strength such as Julian piloting the starfighter (which provides a nice conflict with Yang later on because Julian is his son 😌)
My Frederica’s cleverness is also shown (yeah I love my girl)
Schenkopp still stays my top 5 favorite character.
Reinhard, unfortunately didn’t get much spotlight which is very understandable as his most trusted friend, Sigfried died (I’m still crying over that)
Wolfgang Mittermeyer, Oscar Reuenthal both had time to shine. And as always my love for the Empire is still strong because of them.
Gosh the way Yoshiki Tanaka writes Yang is such a joy to read.
The Battle of Iserlohn corridor will forever remain my top moments in this series and the court of inquiry episode seats as one of my top Yang moments. He was just so fed up with the Free Planet Alliance’s stupidity and corruptness.
This book also showcases other characters strength such as Julian piloting the starfighter (which provides a nice conflict with Yang later on because Julian is his son 😌)
My Frederica’s cleverness is also shown (yeah I love my girl)
Schenkopp still stays my top 5 favorite character.
Reinhard, unfortunately didn’t get much spotlight which is very understandable as his most trusted friend, Sigfried died (I’m still crying over that)
Wolfgang Mittermeyer, Oscar Reuenthal both had time to shine. And as always my love for the Empire is still strong because of them.
December 11, 2017
I'm not reading these for deathless prose and that is GOOD.
More fun, although starting to double down on the heavier philosophical issues inherent in statecraft, democracy, war, and nationalism. Expecting some shocks later, and not just because the last sentence of this installment is "By the way, there's a big old shock coming up." Tanaka foreshadows with semaphore flags.
Yang remains wonderful, Reinhard will be far more interesting when he ceases mourning, and the Phezzan crew is a ball of snakes. This is a solid couple hundred pages of space opera.
More fun, although starting to double down on the heavier philosophical issues inherent in statecraft, democracy, war, and nationalism. Expecting some shocks later, and not just because the last sentence of this installment is "By the way, there's a big old shock coming up." Tanaka foreshadows with semaphore flags.
Yang remains wonderful, Reinhard will be far more interesting when he ceases mourning, and the Phezzan crew is a ball of snakes. This is a solid couple hundred pages of space opera.
January 12, 2024
Great book. Continues on the events of the second book so well and addresses the consequences for plot.
Characters are written well and this is the first point where I have begun actively rooting for some of them as they traverse the plot.
Characters are written well and this is the first point where I have begun actively rooting for some of them as they traverse the plot.
July 6, 2017
4 1/2
October 18, 2024
Might be the best one so far, interesting political maneuvering, excellent space battles. They finally introduced an actual female character. 4.5 stars.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Vol. 3: Endurance - Yoshiki Tanaka (Highlight: 23; Note: 0)
───────────────
◆ Chapter 1
▪ Julian, don’t tell me you’re buying a bunch of hot air about death from some guy who’s never even died once himself.”
▪ To go into battle was to bear the weight of duty. Duty to carry himself properly, as well as to fight the enemy.
▪ Still, if a soldier could move his odds even a micron closer to surviving, it was his duty to make every effort to do so. That was the real lesson Julian had just learned from that soldier.
◆ Chapter 2
▪ To maintain order in the ranks—and to elevate the authority of the one at the top—it was vital to avoid creating a number two.
◆ Chapter 3
▪ A first-rate leader finds purpose in the question, “What can I accomplish with my power?” Whereas a second-rate leader’s only purpose is to perpetuate that power for as long as possible.
◆ Chapter 4
▪ Military force derived its potency from political and economic well-being; if a nation allowed either of these to weaken while only strengthening its military, lasting victories could not be expected.
▪ Put in extreme terms, military force was a last-ditch effort to reverse political or diplomatic defeat and was most valuable when not put into action.
◆ Chapter 5
▪ Pit him against those weaklings back in the capital,” von Schönkopf said, “and he can probably take out a whole platoon one-handed.”
“Meaning he’s even stronger than you are?” Yang replied.
▪ Was Phezzan thinking of becoming the Uighurs of this unified “New Galactic Empire,” desiring political reunification of all humanity and working to advance that goal?
▪ Perhaps nations were nothing more than expedients created to justify human madness. No matter how ugly, no matter how despicable, no matter how cruel the act might be, it could easily be excused once the nation had become preeminent. By claiming, “I did it for my country,” deeds as vile as invasions, massacres, and human experimentation could sometimes even be lauded. Someone who criticized those actions, on the other hand, might come under attack for “insulting the fatherland.”
▪ Those who held fantasies about the things called nations believed them to be guided by brilliant, or intelligent and moral, individuals of surpassing excellence. In reality, however, that just wasn’t the case. In the center of a nation’s government, any number of people could usually be found who had less developed powers of thought, worse judgment, and lower moral standards than the average citizen. Where they most certainly did surpass the average citizen was in their passion for the pursuit of power. If such passions could have been channeled in constructive directions, they could have reformed government and society, and become the impetus for establishing the order and prosperity of a new age. But were even a tenth of the people in government like that?
▪ Yang stood on the alliance’s end of the battlefield because he believed that a democracy that ordinary people came together to operate—fraught though it might be with detours, trials, and errors—was at least better than the dictatorship of a merciful emperor. Yet here Yang was on Heinessen—a world that was supposed to be the very citadel of democracy—apparently shut up in a birdcage belonging to medieval rulers reeking of corruption.
◆ Chapter 6
▪ For example, you could round up all the prowar politicians, bureaucrats, intellectuals, and financiers, and form some kind of ‘Patriotic Regiment.’ Then, when the empire attacks, you can lead the charge. But first, you’ll all need to relocate from secure zones like the capital and come live on the front line at Iserlohn. How about it? We’ve got plenty of room for you
▪ Of all the things that human beings do, do you know which one is the most brazenly despicable? It’s when people who have authority—and the people who flatter them—hide in safe places singing the praises of war; push a patriotic, sacrificial mind-set on the people; and then send them off to the battlefield. If peace is ever going to come to this galaxy, we should eradicate malignant parasites like those first instead of perpetuating this pointless war with the empire.
▪ By ‘parasites,’ you refer to this court of inquiry?” Negroponte said. He was putting on a good show of remaining calm and composed, but there was an uneven ripple in his voice.
Yang fired back, making sure it sounded as disrespectful as possible: “Did it sound like I meant someone else?”
◆ Chapter 8
▪ Should the progress of history and the recovery of its natural currents be left in the hands of an outstanding individual like Reinhard von Lohengramm? Or should the responsibility instead be divided like it was in the FPA—among many people of ordinary morals and abilities, who advanced together slowly through cycles of conflict, anguish, compromise, and trial and error? The question was which way to choose.
▪ He had talent enough to fulfill the responsibilities of both. But what of his successor?
Society gained more by not placing excessive power in the hands of mediocre politicians than it lost by limiting the power of great heroes and statesmen who might or might not appear once every few centuries. That was a fundamental principle of democracy. After all, what a nightmare it would be if a man like Job Trünicht became a “sacred and inviolable” emperor!
▪ War can be compared to mountain climbing …;”
▪ “It’s the government that decides which mountain you climb. ‘Strategy’ means deciding which route you’ll take to the top and preparing accordingly. ‘Tactics,’ then, is the job of efficiently climbing the route you’ve been given.”
▪ Crashing a fortress into a fortress was not the kind of thing an orthodox tactician would come up with. Outside of Yang himself, it would require either an incomparable genius like Reinhard von Lohengramm or, failing that, a complete amateur who had no idea what he was doing
◆ Chapter 9
▪ I’ll make you some hot punch. I’ll mix honey and lemon with wine and dilute it with hot water. That works best for a cold.”
“Can you leave out the honey, the lemon, and the water?”
▪ Yang believed that the pen was mightier than the sword. In a society where truths were such rarities, that was one of a scant handful of exceptions, he believed.
▪ History’s not just a record of the past, it’s also the evidence of civilization being handed down to the present day. Our present civilization stands on top of a huge mound of accumulated past history.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Vol. 3: Endurance - Yoshiki Tanaka (Highlight: 23; Note: 0)
───────────────
◆ Chapter 1
▪ Julian, don’t tell me you’re buying a bunch of hot air about death from some guy who’s never even died once himself.”
▪ To go into battle was to bear the weight of duty. Duty to carry himself properly, as well as to fight the enemy.
▪ Still, if a soldier could move his odds even a micron closer to surviving, it was his duty to make every effort to do so. That was the real lesson Julian had just learned from that soldier.
◆ Chapter 2
▪ To maintain order in the ranks—and to elevate the authority of the one at the top—it was vital to avoid creating a number two.
◆ Chapter 3
▪ A first-rate leader finds purpose in the question, “What can I accomplish with my power?” Whereas a second-rate leader’s only purpose is to perpetuate that power for as long as possible.
◆ Chapter 4
▪ Military force derived its potency from political and economic well-being; if a nation allowed either of these to weaken while only strengthening its military, lasting victories could not be expected.
▪ Put in extreme terms, military force was a last-ditch effort to reverse political or diplomatic defeat and was most valuable when not put into action.
◆ Chapter 5
▪ Pit him against those weaklings back in the capital,” von Schönkopf said, “and he can probably take out a whole platoon one-handed.”
“Meaning he’s even stronger than you are?” Yang replied.
▪ Was Phezzan thinking of becoming the Uighurs of this unified “New Galactic Empire,” desiring political reunification of all humanity and working to advance that goal?
▪ Perhaps nations were nothing more than expedients created to justify human madness. No matter how ugly, no matter how despicable, no matter how cruel the act might be, it could easily be excused once the nation had become preeminent. By claiming, “I did it for my country,” deeds as vile as invasions, massacres, and human experimentation could sometimes even be lauded. Someone who criticized those actions, on the other hand, might come under attack for “insulting the fatherland.”
▪ Those who held fantasies about the things called nations believed them to be guided by brilliant, or intelligent and moral, individuals of surpassing excellence. In reality, however, that just wasn’t the case. In the center of a nation’s government, any number of people could usually be found who had less developed powers of thought, worse judgment, and lower moral standards than the average citizen. Where they most certainly did surpass the average citizen was in their passion for the pursuit of power. If such passions could have been channeled in constructive directions, they could have reformed government and society, and become the impetus for establishing the order and prosperity of a new age. But were even a tenth of the people in government like that?
▪ Yang stood on the alliance’s end of the battlefield because he believed that a democracy that ordinary people came together to operate—fraught though it might be with detours, trials, and errors—was at least better than the dictatorship of a merciful emperor. Yet here Yang was on Heinessen—a world that was supposed to be the very citadel of democracy—apparently shut up in a birdcage belonging to medieval rulers reeking of corruption.
◆ Chapter 6
▪ For example, you could round up all the prowar politicians, bureaucrats, intellectuals, and financiers, and form some kind of ‘Patriotic Regiment.’ Then, when the empire attacks, you can lead the charge. But first, you’ll all need to relocate from secure zones like the capital and come live on the front line at Iserlohn. How about it? We’ve got plenty of room for you
▪ Of all the things that human beings do, do you know which one is the most brazenly despicable? It’s when people who have authority—and the people who flatter them—hide in safe places singing the praises of war; push a patriotic, sacrificial mind-set on the people; and then send them off to the battlefield. If peace is ever going to come to this galaxy, we should eradicate malignant parasites like those first instead of perpetuating this pointless war with the empire.
▪ By ‘parasites,’ you refer to this court of inquiry?” Negroponte said. He was putting on a good show of remaining calm and composed, but there was an uneven ripple in his voice.
Yang fired back, making sure it sounded as disrespectful as possible: “Did it sound like I meant someone else?”
◆ Chapter 8
▪ Should the progress of history and the recovery of its natural currents be left in the hands of an outstanding individual like Reinhard von Lohengramm? Or should the responsibility instead be divided like it was in the FPA—among many people of ordinary morals and abilities, who advanced together slowly through cycles of conflict, anguish, compromise, and trial and error? The question was which way to choose.
▪ He had talent enough to fulfill the responsibilities of both. But what of his successor?
Society gained more by not placing excessive power in the hands of mediocre politicians than it lost by limiting the power of great heroes and statesmen who might or might not appear once every few centuries. That was a fundamental principle of democracy. After all, what a nightmare it would be if a man like Job Trünicht became a “sacred and inviolable” emperor!
▪ War can be compared to mountain climbing …;”
▪ “It’s the government that decides which mountain you climb. ‘Strategy’ means deciding which route you’ll take to the top and preparing accordingly. ‘Tactics,’ then, is the job of efficiently climbing the route you’ve been given.”
▪ Crashing a fortress into a fortress was not the kind of thing an orthodox tactician would come up with. Outside of Yang himself, it would require either an incomparable genius like Reinhard von Lohengramm or, failing that, a complete amateur who had no idea what he was doing
◆ Chapter 9
▪ I’ll make you some hot punch. I’ll mix honey and lemon with wine and dilute it with hot water. That works best for a cold.”
“Can you leave out the honey, the lemon, and the water?”
▪ Yang believed that the pen was mightier than the sword. In a society where truths were such rarities, that was one of a scant handful of exceptions, he believed.
▪ History’s not just a record of the past, it’s also the evidence of civilization being handed down to the present day. Our present civilization stands on top of a huge mound of accumulated past history.
December 5, 2017
A typical series middle book, clearly setting the stage for the future. It mostly focuses on the unwilling military genius Yang. The author's cynical view on human society is on full display, with the "democratic" Free Planet Alliance succumbing to corruption and cronyism.
Probably pointless to say in a review about book three, but calling this the "Japanese Star Wars" really does give the right feel, only it's as if it was five hundred years later, when the empire has succumbed to a weak imperial line and the alliance has become complacent and succumbed to crass cronyism and destruction.
Make no mistake, these are pure space opera, and you have to be willing to accept battle fleets with 20,000 ships and people making admiral at age 20. Also, these are, in essence, backward looking books, with the "empire" being something like 19th century imperial German and the "alliance" being a seventies era Western multicultural democracy, both very much mirroring the cultural/gender politics of those respective societies. Oh, and you have to accept that space can somehow have a "corridor". But with enough suspension of disbelief, the story is a whole lot of fun.
Probably pointless to say in a review about book three, but calling this the "Japanese Star Wars" really does give the right feel, only it's as if it was five hundred years later, when the empire has succumbed to a weak imperial line and the alliance has become complacent and succumbed to crass cronyism and destruction.
Make no mistake, these are pure space opera, and you have to be willing to accept battle fleets with 20,000 ships and people making admiral at age 20. Also, these are, in essence, backward looking books, with the "empire" being something like 19th century imperial German and the "alliance" being a seventies era Western multicultural democracy, both very much mirroring the cultural/gender politics of those respective societies. Oh, and you have to accept that space can somehow have a "corridor". But with enough suspension of disbelief, the story is a whole lot of fun.
February 25, 2025
Snackable Space Opera
Trying wind down in Whistler
Surely something better than youtube
space opera please:
lots of plot, little character development, battles
History won't do, might find something ambiguous
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Forgot why I put it down last time
Fits the craving today
12th book of 2025
1st Read: 2022
Endurance describes the state of mind needed to get through this book. Military battles give way to staid machination and cookie cutter relationships. These aspects of the series were never strong to begin with and at 30% in I hit my breaking point. DNF
Trying wind down in Whistler
Surely something better than youtube
space opera please:
lots of plot, little character development, battles
History won't do, might find something ambiguous
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Forgot why I put it down last time
Fits the craving today
12th book of 2025
1st Read: 2022
Endurance describes the state of mind needed to get through this book. Military battles give way to staid machination and cookie cutter relationships. These aspects of the series were never strong to begin with and at 30% in I hit my breaking point. DNF
July 24, 2025
Best one yet! Love all the scenes between Reuenthal and Mittermeyer. Yang got to sass the government to their faces. And Oberstein adopts an old stray dog!! This is the plot I am here for.
June 5, 2019
This is a gripping space opera. There aren't any really novel concepts as such and not much of science either except it is set in future where mankind has occupied large stretches of the galaxy and battles take place with space ships out in the cosmos. Two elements make it interesting. One is the human drama - the contrasting rise of the two protagonists - Reinhard von Lohengramm and Yang Wen-li. The first is a man of privilege, being the brother of the emperor's mistress who seeks to use the door opened to him to rise to the very pinnacle and rewrite the history of his empire. He is idealistic and full of good intentions but occasionally has slips in morality that he justifies in the name of the greater good. Generally he is too strong for all his opponents but one - the other protagonist Yang Wen Li. In contrast to Reinhhard, Wen Li is ambition less. He wants to live a quiet life as an academic. But he is forced into military. His mind for strategy brings him victory after victory that takes him higher and higher in military echelons. In some ways Reinhard's is a life of success except when he runs against Wen Li. Wen Li's life on the other hand is one of failure except when he runs against Reinhard.
Reinhard is the one who believes individuals can be sacrificed for the greater good. He is out to disrupt status quo and seize power over his empire. Wen-Li on the other hand believes that individuals are more important than a state and strives to preserve a democratic state even though the representatives are corrupt and power hungry. The circumstances in Wen-Li's Free states alliance is similar to the state of affairs in many of the democracies today. He has to serve power hungry demagogues who use the military's hard earned victories to stir up the people and consolidate their power base. In the most difficult of circumstances, he has to maintain faith in democracy and resist the temptation to use the military and seize power. One side you have a protagonist who believes in individual greatness and on the other a man who believes in maintaining the systems. So that way it is a story of dictatorship versus democracy as well.
The military conflict between the two are interesting. The strategies are like puzzles to solve and it is enjoyable to see the two protagonists match off against each other.
While all this is happening a third power is emerging in the shadows and seeking to control both these powers. A power with capitalistic and religious interests. This is the third book of a story told over 10 books. I have found it exciting so far.
Reinhard is the one who believes individuals can be sacrificed for the greater good. He is out to disrupt status quo and seize power over his empire. Wen-Li on the other hand believes that individuals are more important than a state and strives to preserve a democratic state even though the representatives are corrupt and power hungry. The circumstances in Wen-Li's Free states alliance is similar to the state of affairs in many of the democracies today. He has to serve power hungry demagogues who use the military's hard earned victories to stir up the people and consolidate their power base. In the most difficult of circumstances, he has to maintain faith in democracy and resist the temptation to use the military and seize power. One side you have a protagonist who believes in individual greatness and on the other a man who believes in maintaining the systems. So that way it is a story of dictatorship versus democracy as well.
The military conflict between the two are interesting. The strategies are like puzzles to solve and it is enjoyable to see the two protagonists match off against each other.
While all this is happening a third power is emerging in the shadows and seeking to control both these powers. A power with capitalistic and religious interests. This is the third book of a story told over 10 books. I have found it exciting so far.
February 13, 2025
Authoritarianism versus democracy, it's the underlying theme of this entire saga. Is a corrupt democracy worth dying for, especially when instead of leaving their best admiral at the frontlines, they drag him home for a dubiously legal court of inquiry to try to cripple his (non-existent) ambitions? Is an enlightened autocracy worth dying for when it all depends on and is driven by the glory of one incredible great man? Even Yang himself acknowledges that had he been born in the Empire, he would have joyfully signed up to serve Reinhard, but being born in the Alliance, he insists to himself that he must try to preserve that democracy even though he hates almost every last one of its rulers. The other side, of course, is what to do about exceptional men? Heroes like Yang are an inconvenience for a democracy, because mediocrity is the key operator in such a set up. Heroes like Reinhard are the lifeblood of an autocracy, for it is they who sweep away the build up of garbage and get things to work excellently until the garbage builds up again in a few generations.
This one is paced more slowly than the first two books, which makes some degree of sense. Reinhard von Lohengrann is digesting the Empire he has taken over and now rules. He is too busy reforming its affairs and improving life for general society at the expensive of the aristocracy. Meanwhile, Job Trunicht is busy consolidating his own hold on the crumbling Alliance, crippling rivals and potential rivals of all kinds while fattening the wallets of his faction on the way. Meanwhile, Yang Wen-li is busy being an obedient dog of the corrupt democracy that pays his paycheck since he continues to believe that autocracy is a throwback, that mediocre men working together in groups for decades are better than great men who get all the improvements that make everyone's lot better in place in a handful of a few years. After much philosophy, drama, and contemplation, what better way to get things moving fast than than to set up a battle between two mini-Death Stars?
I've noticed many complaints about the prose. It is not going to change, folks. If you're invested in this story, and you damned well should be at this point, then you either go for the next seven volumes, or you restart and watch all 110 episodes of the original OVA. Or I guess the new adaptation, if you insist on modern animation.
This one is paced more slowly than the first two books, which makes some degree of sense. Reinhard von Lohengrann is digesting the Empire he has taken over and now rules. He is too busy reforming its affairs and improving life for general society at the expensive of the aristocracy. Meanwhile, Job Trunicht is busy consolidating his own hold on the crumbling Alliance, crippling rivals and potential rivals of all kinds while fattening the wallets of his faction on the way. Meanwhile, Yang Wen-li is busy being an obedient dog of the corrupt democracy that pays his paycheck since he continues to believe that autocracy is a throwback, that mediocre men working together in groups for decades are better than great men who get all the improvements that make everyone's lot better in place in a handful of a few years. After much philosophy, drama, and contemplation, what better way to get things moving fast than than to set up a battle between two mini-Death Stars?
I've noticed many complaints about the prose. It is not going to change, folks. If you're invested in this story, and you damned well should be at this point, then you either go for the next seven volumes, or you restart and watch all 110 episodes of the original OVA. Or I guess the new adaptation, if you insist on modern animation.
December 16, 2024
(Adding this here since this was my favorite volume overall)
A two-month endeavor, I finished it a few days ago (8/12/2024) myself, and it is as exceptional as its animated adaptation was once to me. My key error was believing that its ancient debate, the merits of Enlightened Dictatorship vs. Corrupt Democracy, was something interesting but perhaps a bit outdated, relative to our contemporary context. Experiencing it now, in its original medium, has opened my eyes to its profound relevancy, asking its characters what we may ask ourselves, both strategically (preparations for the future) and tactically (what to do in our present circumstances) what are they willing to do to secure a more stable political future. Tanaka's minute understanding of history and its many eccentric actors gives this story a scope for which the word "epic" was invented.
Many memorable characters appear under Tanaka's spotlight, but perhaps none reach the heights of the supreme achievement that is Yang Wen-li. He belongs to that particular tier of characters that, possessing all the qualities to be successful in a world like our own, choose to deny themselves that and instead chase for something that is equal part foolish but noble, mostly for the benefit of many. *
Someone on Twitter mentioned that LoGH seems to be written as an exaggeration of the Great Men that appear on it, and while I initially dismissed that as nonsense, Tanaka's treatment of them through the lense of later fictional historians does lend credence to that perspective, as if exposing the audience to another of the uncountable interpretations that important figures will always be subjected to (an important criticism I have of the novel's cast is that, for all the war they engage in, they all seem awfully moral to silly degree). Even the final line "The legend ends, history begins" seems to be a departure from this quasi-romantic epoch of heroes leading humanity and now it's up to the rest of the cast, and us as readers, to built history as patiently, with all the errors that are bound to appear, as we have always done it.
(Originally this review was meant to be more comprehensive, but since I didn't write this as soon as I finished it, I lost much of my train of thought, will update if the well opens any time soon).
* It's always Ulrich.
A two-month endeavor, I finished it a few days ago (8/12/2024) myself, and it is as exceptional as its animated adaptation was once to me. My key error was believing that its ancient debate, the merits of Enlightened Dictatorship vs. Corrupt Democracy, was something interesting but perhaps a bit outdated, relative to our contemporary context. Experiencing it now, in its original medium, has opened my eyes to its profound relevancy, asking its characters what we may ask ourselves, both strategically (preparations for the future) and tactically (what to do in our present circumstances) what are they willing to do to secure a more stable political future. Tanaka's minute understanding of history and its many eccentric actors gives this story a scope for which the word "epic" was invented.
Many memorable characters appear under Tanaka's spotlight, but perhaps none reach the heights of the supreme achievement that is Yang Wen-li. He belongs to that particular tier of characters that, possessing all the qualities to be successful in a world like our own, choose to deny themselves that and instead chase for something that is equal part foolish but noble, mostly for the benefit of many. *
Someone on Twitter mentioned that LoGH seems to be written as an exaggeration of the Great Men that appear on it, and while I initially dismissed that as nonsense, Tanaka's treatment of them through the lense of later fictional historians does lend credence to that perspective, as if exposing the audience to another of the uncountable interpretations that important figures will always be subjected to (an important criticism I have of the novel's cast is that, for all the war they engage in, they all seem awfully moral to silly degree). Even the final line "The legend ends, history begins" seems to be a departure from this quasi-romantic epoch of heroes leading humanity and now it's up to the rest of the cast, and us as readers, to built history as patiently, with all the errors that are bound to appear, as we have always done it.
(Originally this review was meant to be more comprehensive, but since I didn't write this as soon as I finished it, I lost much of my train of thought, will update if the well opens any time soon).
* It's always Ulrich.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2018
"They extol the virtues of democracy with their mouths, while in reality they ignore laws and regulations, turning them into hollow shells."
This book, by happenstance, took me a year to complete. It certainly was not for lack of quality of page-turning readability. Endurance begins to hint at the sea change that is coming for the status quo of these characters, Yang and even Reinhard, who we have grown to love. This text is about growth and change. It begins with the benevolent Julian finally engaging in armed conflict.
These novels have a tremendous strength in Tanaka's aphorisms that are peppered throughout the text. They are thought-provoking and often provide insight into Tanaka's richly developed characters. Tanaka, by way of Yang, makes precise commentary on the nature of war and politics.
I often wonder what it would be like to encounter these texts in their original context of the 1980s. But Tanaka's genius is just how prescient these stories are. To call them "timeless," while perhaps true, is to do an injustice to how precisely they speak to our present moment. In Dawn, Tanaka anticipates Kaepernick with Yang's refusal to stand during the national anthem. In Endurance, the incompetence and corruption of the Trump administration are plainly evident in the rising Trunicht faction.
I have a hard time articulating the pleasant feelings these novels give me. There is something so brilliant and engaging about Tanaka's writing. And yet, he makes high art out of a textual practice that is undeniably genre fiction. This is the sci-fi franchise we deserve.
This book, by happenstance, took me a year to complete. It certainly was not for lack of quality of page-turning readability. Endurance begins to hint at the sea change that is coming for the status quo of these characters, Yang and even Reinhard, who we have grown to love. This text is about growth and change. It begins with the benevolent Julian finally engaging in armed conflict.
These novels have a tremendous strength in Tanaka's aphorisms that are peppered throughout the text. They are thought-provoking and often provide insight into Tanaka's richly developed characters. Tanaka, by way of Yang, makes precise commentary on the nature of war and politics.
I often wonder what it would be like to encounter these texts in their original context of the 1980s. But Tanaka's genius is just how prescient these stories are. To call them "timeless," while perhaps true, is to do an injustice to how precisely they speak to our present moment. In Dawn, Tanaka anticipates Kaepernick with Yang's refusal to stand during the national anthem. In Endurance, the incompetence and corruption of the Trump administration are plainly evident in the rising Trunicht faction.
I have a hard time articulating the pleasant feelings these novels give me. There is something so brilliant and engaging about Tanaka's writing. And yet, he makes high art out of a textual practice that is undeniably genre fiction. This is the sci-fi franchise we deserve.
January 30, 2023
Definitely what I was looking for after completing Ambition. I’m extremely entertained, but mostly I’m still intrigued by this series and the world. It’s been kind of difficult to find a “pausing” or “stopping” point in this series because it feels like each book almost just leads directly into the next. So part of me thinks I’m just going to have to basically read one right after the other until I finish Legend of Galactic Heroes in it’s entirety. I’m also terrified of pausing and forgetting who’s who. As I’ve said in my other reviews, there are a TON of characters.
That being said, Endurance felt very similar to Ambition in a lot of ways. There were still many internal conflicts among the Free Planets Alliance leadership, there was a lot of scheming, and of course there were a lot of power hungry politicians desperate to keep or gain a seat at the table.
However, some juicy conflict among all three of the main players took place. I feel as though I’m understanding the governments’ motives bit more now.
The two main characters are the biggest draw in this series. They’re both so enthralling, conflicted, and purely human.
That being said, Endurance felt very similar to Ambition in a lot of ways. There were still many internal conflicts among the Free Planets Alliance leadership, there was a lot of scheming, and of course there were a lot of power hungry politicians desperate to keep or gain a seat at the table.
However, some juicy conflict among all three of the main players took place. I feel as though I’m understanding the governments’ motives bit more now.
The two main characters are the biggest draw in this series. They’re both so enthralling, conflicted, and purely human.
December 23, 2016
at first i was like eh.
put the book down. forgot about it.
and then boooooooooom. finished it.
pacing starts off slow. then it flows like the first two books.
here is where we see yangs people trying to bring him down.
but that brother be like. nope.
because when sh*t was gonna hit the fans. meaning being attacked by a giant space fortress.
they was like. please. help. our sorry asses.
and then we got a third party throwing in a wrench. on a mission to f*ck sh*t up.
lets see how this goes.
put the book down. forgot about it.
and then boooooooooom. finished it.
pacing starts off slow. then it flows like the first two books.
here is where we see yangs people trying to bring him down.
but that brother be like. nope.
because when sh*t was gonna hit the fans. meaning being attacked by a giant space fortress.
they was like. please. help. our sorry asses.
and then we got a third party throwing in a wrench. on a mission to f*ck sh*t up.
lets see how this goes.
June 26, 2024
Not only does my man Yang always get impossible tasks, but these damn politicians are always throwing daggers at him! Who knew space operas had so many backstabbing going on! Glad we got to finally see The Rosenritter in action! I definitely needed more though.
On top of that, Reinhard is losing admirals left and right. Please let Oberstein be next to croak! I hate that creep! I'm hoping Reinhard is not just left with Mittermeyer and Reuenthal in the end.
Speaking of Mittermeyer, I can't get over how Mittermeyer is calmly walking down the street and then suddenly he's like, "FLOWERS! FLOWERS! I need flowers!" Why does he think he needs flowers to propose marriage? I really wish Tanaka was better at writing the romances in this! Does Mittermeyer even date Evangeline before he proposes?! LMAO!
I really wish Fezzan didn't exist in this, it really hampers the story. Please let Reinhard kill them!
I still can't get over the terrible accents the guy reads with. Now, there is a cowboy accent for some reason?! Why is there a space cowboy who isn't even fighting, he's a backstabber?!
On top of that, Reinhard is losing admirals left and right. Please let Oberstein be next to croak! I hate that creep! I'm hoping Reinhard is not just left with Mittermeyer and Reuenthal in the end.
Speaking of Mittermeyer, I can't get over how Mittermeyer is calmly walking down the street and then suddenly he's like, "FLOWERS! FLOWERS! I need flowers!" Why does he think he needs flowers to propose marriage? I really wish Tanaka was better at writing the romances in this! Does Mittermeyer even date Evangeline before he proposes?! LMAO!
I really wish Fezzan didn't exist in this, it really hampers the story. Please let Reinhard kill them!
I still can't get over the terrible accents the guy reads with. Now, there is a cowboy accent for some reason?! Why is there a space cowboy who isn't even fighting, he's a backstabber?!
October 26, 2024
The series feels like it is trying to take a more thoughtful turn, and make more social and political commentary. The problem is that the commentary is extremely hamfisted and blunt to the point of parody. Just about every person in a position of power is completely corrupt or a fool, except for the two main protagonists and a few of their subordinates. There is zero subtlety in any aspect of the story. The main space battle in this story isn't even interesting on a military level unlike earlier stories, and its predictably one sided result feels less believable than usual.
July 21, 2021
The quality of the audiobook is much the same as the prior volumes, as is the quality of the writing itself: an intelligent and deeply thought out story that occasionally veers into long-windedness.
Early on in this volume however there is a rather tiresome amount of information given from prior volumes that is repeated. Naturally this would have been due to the time between publication originally but in the digital age this really should have been edited out.
Early on in this volume however there is a rather tiresome amount of information given from prior volumes that is repeated. Naturally this would have been due to the time between publication originally but in the digital age this really should have been edited out.
January 4, 2022
Similarly to the previous installments, it's slow and detail-oriented. But compared to the first two books, it's the most cohesive, with the smoothest plot and an exciting series of political escalations and conflicts. Yang Wen-Li still has too easy a time defeating his enemies, however, just as in the previous two books. The book's pacing gets worse past the middle point but it never dragged.
March 21, 2025
Now that all sides are clearly defined after two books, this one really solves my problem of characterization. Lots more of characters interacting and developing their relationships with each other and the world at large.
The world stage is shifting, and I can’t wait to see how the books tackle the history that is to come!
The world stage is shifting, and I can’t wait to see how the books tackle the history that is to come!
April 19, 2025
Volume 3.
Phezzan isn’t hitting for me just yet, and Reinhard is more in the background this time around, but Yang Wen-li continues to be one of the most compelling characters for me, especially as the political drama surrounding the degeneracy of the FPA continues in its unfortunate resonance with the world around us.
Phezzan isn’t hitting for me just yet, and Reinhard is more in the background this time around, but Yang Wen-li continues to be one of the most compelling characters for me, especially as the political drama surrounding the degeneracy of the FPA continues in its unfortunate resonance with the world around us.
July 1, 2017
This book starts slow. We get a lot of pontificating over things that have largely already been covered in the first two volumes.
I almost docked this rating a star for that, but fortunately, once the action really starts up it just keeps going from strength to strength.
I almost docked this rating a star for that, but fortunately, once the action really starts up it just keeps going from strength to strength.
December 25, 2024
I don't give out very many 5 star reviews but this series is amazing. One of the libraries I belong to need to get their hands on book four asap.
I can't speak highly enough about this series. If you like military science fiction this series should top your list.
#TeamYang
I can't speak highly enough about this series. If you like military science fiction this series should top your list.
#TeamYang
May 13, 2017
Another quick read. Hope I can remember everyone involved by the time the 4th volume comes out in June.
December 21, 2018
As enjoyable as always
Anyone who got into this story is going to enjoy this one as well. To me Yang keeps on being the embodiment of common sense, I love his parts and words.
Anyone who got into this story is going to enjoy this one as well. To me Yang keeps on being the embodiment of common sense, I love his parts and words.
March 4, 2019
More of the same, but it's a good same!
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