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Two-Space War #1
The Two-Space War
Six hundred years into the future, humankind journeys between the stars by using Two-Space, a mysterious realm that uses sentient wooden ships to travel a universe hostile to technology, but Lt. Thomas Melville soon discovers that some of the alien races he encounters are none too friendly and could embroil Earth in a vast intergalactic war.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Dave Grossman
62 books283 followersLt. Col Dave Grossman is the author of On Killing and On Combat as well as several science fiction books.
In 1998 Lt. Colonel Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University. His career includes service in the United States Army as a sergeant in the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, a platoon leader in the 9th Infantry Division (United States), a general staff officer, a company commander in the 7th Infantry Division (United States) as well as the U.S. Army Rangers and a teacher of psychology at West Point.
Grossman's first book, ''On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society'' is an analysis of the physiological processes involved with killing another human being. In it, he reveals evidence that most people have a phobic-level response to violence, and that soldiers need to be specifically trained to kill. In addition, he details the physical effects that violent stresses produce on humans, ranging from tunnel vision, changes in sonic perception, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Grossman argues that the techniques used by armies to train soldiers to kill are mirrored in certain types of video games. The conclusion he draws is that playing violent video games, particularly Light gun shooters of the First-person shooter-variety (where the player holds a weapon-like game controller), train children in the use of weapons and, more importantly, harden them emotionally to the task of murder by simulating the killing of hundreds or thousands of opponents in a single typical video game.
His second book, ''On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace'', is an extension of the first, intended to provide coping strategies for dealing with the physiological and psychological effects of violence for people forced to kill in their line of work (soldiers and police officers).
Grossman uses blunt language that draws the ire of gamers - during the heights of video game controversy, he was interviewed on the content of his books, and repeatedly used the term "murder simulator" to describe first-person shooter games.
Since his retirement from the Army, Grossman has founded the Killology Research Group and continues to educate law enforcement officers and soldiers in the techniques he has studied for improving outcomes in lethal encounters. He also speaks at civilian events on ways to reduce violence in society and deal with the aftermath of violent events such as school shootings.
In 1998 Lt. Colonel Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University. His career includes service in the United States Army as a sergeant in the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, a platoon leader in the 9th Infantry Division (United States), a general staff officer, a company commander in the 7th Infantry Division (United States) as well as the U.S. Army Rangers and a teacher of psychology at West Point.
Grossman's first book, ''On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society'' is an analysis of the physiological processes involved with killing another human being. In it, he reveals evidence that most people have a phobic-level response to violence, and that soldiers need to be specifically trained to kill. In addition, he details the physical effects that violent stresses produce on humans, ranging from tunnel vision, changes in sonic perception, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Grossman argues that the techniques used by armies to train soldiers to kill are mirrored in certain types of video games. The conclusion he draws is that playing violent video games, particularly Light gun shooters of the First-person shooter-variety (where the player holds a weapon-like game controller), train children in the use of weapons and, more importantly, harden them emotionally to the task of murder by simulating the killing of hundreds or thousands of opponents in a single typical video game.
His second book, ''On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace'', is an extension of the first, intended to provide coping strategies for dealing with the physiological and psychological effects of violence for people forced to kill in their line of work (soldiers and police officers).
Grossman uses blunt language that draws the ire of gamers - during the heights of video game controversy, he was interviewed on the content of his books, and repeatedly used the term "murder simulator" to describe first-person shooter games.
Since his retirement from the Army, Grossman has founded the Killology Research Group and continues to educate law enforcement officers and soldiers in the techniques he has studied for improving outcomes in lethal encounters. He also speaks at civilian events on ways to reduce violence in society and deal with the aftermath of violent events such as school shootings.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 27, 2021
A good Science Fiction read with a novel environmental setting: worlds set in a Flatland galaxy. Interplanetary travel is by wooden sailing ships propelled by gravity generated winds. The ships are sentient and the galaxy populations humanoid, with wide variations. Co-author Dave Grossman also authored the best selling books On Killing and On Combat, both of which are widely used in training session for the police and military. They stress the psychological and physiological changes the body experiences in high stress conflict situations. This is relevant in the novel because many of the main points from these non-fiction books are worked into the many combat scenes in "sea" battles in the novel. Also interwoven are numerous pieces of war and sailing poetry. The book overall pays homage to the famed authors and works of science fiction and fantasy of our lifetimes as they remain relevant and mainstream to culture some 600 years in the future. An imaginative, well plotted work, although I must confess personal uncertainty as to the topology of the whole environment.
Recommended for science fiction and military fiction fans.
Recommended for science fiction and military fiction fans.
March 30, 2019
Even though the premise seems weird, this mix of fantasy, present and science fiction is quite a thrill. What makes it special are Grossmans psychological insights into the psychology of killing and in basic warfare. The tactics employed sound reasonable and play out realistically while still being exhilarating to read and showing glimpses of the human psyche. Even though the characters are not that rounded, I grew to like them and was especially thrilled that there were some women on board who did not fall into the cliches of either damsel in distress, or sexy badass. Another nice touch was the captains use of poetry and biblical images to boost the troops morale and make sense of the whole mess.
July 10, 2009
Written by Dave Grossman and Leo Frankowski I was more intrigued by their views of training for combat. As a sci fi fan the references to classics authors was ok but ... If you do not read sci fi it is a referenence which is not explained necessarily.
It was also not as smooth as many of the space operas. The poems at times seemed to be crammed in and close but not quite the thing. There were points were it added.
My favorites of Frankowski were the original Conrad books--tongue-in-cheek but not overwhelming. This did not quite seem to hit the stride. A good editor I think might be the key to tighten it up. I hope this series improves with sequels.
It was also not as smooth as many of the space operas. The poems at times seemed to be crammed in and close but not quite the thing. There were points were it added.
My favorites of Frankowski were the original Conrad books--tongue-in-cheek but not overwhelming. This did not quite seem to hit the stride. A good editor I think might be the key to tighten it up. I hope this series improves with sequels.
February 9, 2007
Great yarn! Imaginative and logically consistent environment/universe, great characters, & lots of action. Only one nit that I can pick. Assuming that the capabilities of the 2-space small arms used are generally comparable to those of the days of "wooden ships and iron men," I have to suspend too much belief when it comes to the defensive capabilities of the "space monkeys."
June 27, 2023
This book was sooooo boring. Now that it's over, I literally can't tell you anything about it.
July 28, 2014
I picked this book hoping for something with more in common with Flatland.
What I got: Imagine a speculative fiction novel written circa 1800. You have navies with wooden sailing ships, cannons, muskets and swords. The speculative part is that 3-D ships sail on a magic map (each ship has a part sailing on the top side fo the map & another half sailing on the map's underside). The map has pictures on it and when it shows a picture of a piece of land the crew can lower a magic ladder into the map and climb down onto a 3-D territory. If you fall onto the map without a magic ladder you disappear. The map isn't in a planet with an atmosphere to breathe and a sun for light - the ship must have a living, magical moss to provide light and air. The good guys' navy is humans, the bad guys' navy is dog-people. In Two Space War, just add techno-babble to provide pseudoscientific explanations for this being a non-magic future interstellar medium where hi-tech isn't possible, and also add periodic lectures on why militaries do things the way they do.
What I got: Imagine a speculative fiction novel written circa 1800. You have navies with wooden sailing ships, cannons, muskets and swords. The speculative part is that 3-D ships sail on a magic map (each ship has a part sailing on the top side fo the map & another half sailing on the map's underside). The map has pictures on it and when it shows a picture of a piece of land the crew can lower a magic ladder into the map and climb down onto a 3-D territory. If you fall onto the map without a magic ladder you disappear. The map isn't in a planet with an atmosphere to breathe and a sun for light - the ship must have a living, magical moss to provide light and air. The good guys' navy is humans, the bad guys' navy is dog-people. In Two Space War, just add techno-babble to provide pseudoscientific explanations for this being a non-magic future interstellar medium where hi-tech isn't possible, and also add periodic lectures on why militaries do things the way they do.
November 6, 2011
It is a very good book and was presently surprised that the middle section of the book was so gripping, since the first quarter was not. Overall a very good book and I'm happy I picked it as a random read from the library. Mr. Grossman will be added to my list of authors.
January 15, 2015
I think the author wrote this because of a desire to play with certain ideas, rather than in the pursuit of telling a great story, or of putting together a world that would fascinate or fill you with wonder.
February 21, 2016
Worthwhile for integrating Grossman's insights on psychology into a narrative context.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews