Not for Glory

Metsada Mercenary Corps #3

by Joel Rosenberg

To maintain the integrity of their reputation as the galaxy's mercenary elite, the soldiers of the barren world of Metzada adhere to a rigid code of loyalty and honor reminiscent of their Jewish-Israeli ancestors. When a veteran soldier apparently betrays the code, it becomes the ongoing task of his nephew to terminate himif he can. With the same gritty realism found in Emile and the Dutchman , this delivers fact-paced sf action-adventure with a refreshing twist.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Military Fiction, Space Opera

232 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Note: This is a different person than the political/thriller author, Joel C. Rosenberg

Joel Rosenberg was the author of the bestselling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He made his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Leelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it very much. It was a completely different take on the space mercenary story. In most of the others the mercenaries or their captain/leader have a very certain and much harped ideological goal for all of their battles. In Rosenberg's book his mercenaries are truly mercenary. Don't get me wrong. They don't choose to fight for "the bad guys". But they are not overly concerned with the motives of those that hire them. Only with whether or not their fee is paid. For most of the book you believe that what they are after is money. But Rosenberg keeps the trues payoff, what they are really fighting for, for the very end. And once you read it you understand.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid military SF novel. The planet Metsada is colonized by Jews, and mercenaries are the only export of the planet. Rosenberg sprinkles this book with Jewish history to explain the strong bonds of this society. The books is structured as three linked episodes. Each feature Tetsuo, the Inspector General of Metsada, and his uncle Shimon, a general who was exiled for suspected treason. The stories themselves are nothing special, but the interplay between these two characters is compelling. Warning, this is a violent novel.

[Michael crowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good store interesting premise.

[William Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome.

Reread it again after about 20 years. Awesome. I'll read it again later. Still have the paperback on my shelf.

[Wilson Hawk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost endearing in its bloodcrazed Zionism and sexual neurosis.

[IMHO · Rating 5 out of 5]

RECOMMENDED

[Robert H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book back in the early 1990s, after reading and enjoying other books by Joel Rosenberg, particularly the "Guardians of the Flame" series, and I have to say that my enjoyment of the book hasn't dimmed in the intervening time.

The concept revolves around the people of the planet Metzada, who struggle to survive on an inhospitable world, while trying to continue the traditions of their Jewish-Israeli ancestors. So in this sense, everything they do is focused on the survival of their planet and their people, which allows a somewhat different view of the standard mercenary soldier. The Metzadans will take any contract, and honour it to the letter, because that money will help keep their people alive.

The book focuses largely on the activities of Inspector-General Tetsuo Hanavi, particularly in relation to the activities of his disgraced uncle, Shimon Bar-El, a man who once supposedly betrayed Metzada and was exiled as a result. However, Bar-El was also once one of the brightest and most talented Metzadan generals, which makes permanently disposing of him a difficult choice - however much he may know.

The pacing of the book varies, with action sequences being fast paced and well written, while there are longer, more reflective passages in which the man character, Hanavi, dwells on the choices and decisions he has made. And while much of this focuses on Israeli history or Metzadan politics, it's all relevant to the plot.

Overall I enjoyed the story, which is well written, and am saddened that Joel Rosenberg died two years ago at the age of 54.

[catechism · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I had been thinking of this book as "ninja spacejews" but I now think "Jewish spaceninjas" is more accurate. Anyway, I enjoyed reading it but didn't follow it fantastically well, likely because it's #3 in the series. Liked it enough to check out the previous books, though.

[Cheri Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like his other stuff better but it was interesting.

[Avi Feygin · Rating 5 out of 5]

an incredible story that parallels the nation of Israel's position in history and teaches valuable lessons about us and how we survive and will continue to whether on this world or the next.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent sci-fi story about mercenaries and why they might fight.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, quite dark, written in the first person. If you liked The Cold Cash Wars you'll like this.

[Joel Flank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, gritty, military sci-fi story, that mixes high and low tech issues and solutions, along with an interesting group of mercenaries.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average SiFi story. I enjoy Rosenberg's fantasy books much better. Recommended