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The Gamester Wars #2
The Assassin Gambit
Alexander the Great. Napoleon. The 47 Ronin. Long dead, but the future still rides on their successes at war!
First there was war, then there were wargames, growing more and more realistic until the games themselves surpassed war as mankind's most popular sport. But with no blood, guts, or glory, boredom began to set in and strategy lost its edge. Something was needed to bring fresh excitement to an old, old game. And so the past was mined for the greatest warriors and generals history had to offer: Napoleon, Alexander, the 47 Ronin, assassins from ancient Persia—all brilliant at either combat or at tactics and strategy.
It was just a game—until mock war turned real on an unimaginable scale, and only those legendary warriors could turn the tide...
First there was war, then there were wargames, growing more and more realistic until the games themselves surpassed war as mankind's most popular sport. But with no blood, guts, or glory, boredom began to set in and strategy lost its edge. Something was needed to bring fresh excitement to an old, old game. And so the past was mined for the greatest warriors and generals history had to offer: Napoleon, Alexander, the 47 Ronin, assassins from ancient Persia—all brilliant at either combat or at tactics and strategy.
It was just a game—until mock war turned real on an unimaginable scale, and only those legendary warriors could turn the tide...
Audio CD
First published September 12, 1988
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
William R. Forstchen
116 books1,732 followersWilliam R. Forstchen (born 1950) is an American author who began publishing in 1983 with the novel Ice Prophet. He is a Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina. He received his doctorate from Purdue University with specializations in Military History, the American Civil War and the History of Technology.
Forstchen is the author of more than forty books, including the award winning We Look Like Men of War, a young adult novel about an African-American regiment that fought at the Battle of the Crater, which is based upon his doctoral dissertation, The 28th USCTs: Indiana’s African-Americans go to War, 1863-1865 and the "Lost Regiment" series which has been optioned by both Tom Cruise and M. Night Shyamalan.
Forstchen’s writing efforts have, in recent years, shifted towards historical fiction and non fiction. In 2002 he started the “Gettysburg” trilogy with Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; the trilogy consists of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War, Grant Comes East, and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant - The Final Victory. More recently, they have have published two works on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor and immediately after that attack Pearl Harbor, and Days of Infamy.
In March 2009, Forstchen’s latest work, One Second After, (Forge/St. Martin’s books) was released. Based upon several years of intensive research and interviews, it examines what might happen in a “typical” American town in the wake of an attack on the United States with “electro-magnetic pulse” (EMP) weapons. Similar in plotting to books such as On the Beach and Alas Babylon, One Second After, is set in a small college town in western North Carolina and is a cautionary tale of the collapse of social order in the wake of an EMP strike. The book has been optioned by Warner Bros. and currently is in development as a feature film. The book was cited on the floor of Congress and before the House Armed Services Committee by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R.-MD), chair of the House Committee tasked to evaluate EMP weapons, as a realistical portrayal of the potential damage rendered by an EMP attack on the continental United States.
Forstchen resides near Asheville, North Carolina with his daughter Meghan. His other interests include archaeology, and he has participated in several expeditions to Mongolia and Russia. He is a pilot and co owns an original 1943 Aeronca L-3B recon plane used in World War II.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...
Forstchen is the author of more than forty books, including the award winning We Look Like Men of War, a young adult novel about an African-American regiment that fought at the Battle of the Crater, which is based upon his doctoral dissertation, The 28th USCTs: Indiana’s African-Americans go to War, 1863-1865 and the "Lost Regiment" series which has been optioned by both Tom Cruise and M. Night Shyamalan.
Forstchen’s writing efforts have, in recent years, shifted towards historical fiction and non fiction. In 2002 he started the “Gettysburg” trilogy with Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; the trilogy consists of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War, Grant Comes East, and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant - The Final Victory. More recently, they have have published two works on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor and immediately after that attack Pearl Harbor, and Days of Infamy.
In March 2009, Forstchen’s latest work, One Second After, (Forge/St. Martin’s books) was released. Based upon several years of intensive research and interviews, it examines what might happen in a “typical” American town in the wake of an attack on the United States with “electro-magnetic pulse” (EMP) weapons. Similar in plotting to books such as On the Beach and Alas Babylon, One Second After, is set in a small college town in western North Carolina and is a cautionary tale of the collapse of social order in the wake of an EMP strike. The book has been optioned by Warner Bros. and currently is in development as a feature film. The book was cited on the floor of Congress and before the House Armed Services Committee by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R.-MD), chair of the House Committee tasked to evaluate EMP weapons, as a realistical portrayal of the potential damage rendered by an EMP attack on the continental United States.
Forstchen resides near Asheville, North Carolina with his daughter Meghan. His other interests include archaeology, and he has participated in several expeditions to Mongolia and Russia. He is a pilot and co owns an original 1943 Aeronca L-3B recon plane used in World War II.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 18, 2015
The Assassin Gambit
Author: William R Forstchen
Publisher: Del Rey / Ballantine Books
Published In: New York City, NY
Date: 1988
Pgs: 306
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
War and war games. Gambling. Then the fates and the greed of the “intelligent” species of the galaxy combined the two with time travel. Now gamblers have reached through time and grabbed the 47 Ronin and the greatest assassins of ancient Persia and set them upon each other on an alien world in the far distant future. Fortunes will be won and lost. Lives will be taken and wasted. Destiny required it’s blood debt from the Ronin and the Assassins, a debt they’ve paid once and been dragged back into life by the gamblers. A debt that will have to be paid again for their honor...all for the entertainment of the dishonorable.
Genre:
Fiction
Military
Science fiction
Space opera
War
Why this book:
This is a re-read for me. I love this book.
______________________________________________________________________________
Favorite Character:
Oishi, leader of the 47 Ronin. Honor personified.
Aldin Larice, after reading The Alexandrian Ring, has to have something up his sleeve.
Zergh, Aldin’s friend and fellow vasba, an old Gaf who was part of the Alexandrian affair and came along into The Hole to make sure his friend made it out alive.
The Feel:
The paranoia of the Al Shiga being after Larice and his Ronin was well done.
Favorite Scene:
When Oishi faces down with Kira, at the climax of the epic of the 47 Ronin. And Kira reveals himself to be without honor, to an even greater extent than previously shown by his cowardice.
When Aldin and the 47 are trying to make it to their safe house, only to have all manner of effluvia come raining down on them as the people of the houses along the street show their appreciation of outworlders among them.
Pacing:
I love the flow of these stories. The pace is great.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
Considering the context of the game, it would have made more sense if Larice and the 47 had done away with Sigma and his guards when the chance presented itself.
Hmm Moments:
We all knew that Hassan’s betrayal was going to come at the perfect moment. He was slimy from the word go.
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
Wonder if this could make a series on HBO or Syfy. It’s possible. Time travel, aliens, space, life, and death.
______________________________________________________________________________
Last Page Sound:
I love this book. I love the 47 Ronin. This book was very well done.
Author Assessment:
Would definitely read other stuff by this author.
Editorial Assessment:
Very well done.
Knee Jerk Reaction:
real classic
Disposition of Book:
Keeper
Would recommend to:
friends, family, kids, colleagues, everyone
______________________________________________________________________________
Author: William R Forstchen
Publisher: Del Rey / Ballantine Books
Published In: New York City, NY
Date: 1988
Pgs: 306
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
War and war games. Gambling. Then the fates and the greed of the “intelligent” species of the galaxy combined the two with time travel. Now gamblers have reached through time and grabbed the 47 Ronin and the greatest assassins of ancient Persia and set them upon each other on an alien world in the far distant future. Fortunes will be won and lost. Lives will be taken and wasted. Destiny required it’s blood debt from the Ronin and the Assassins, a debt they’ve paid once and been dragged back into life by the gamblers. A debt that will have to be paid again for their honor...all for the entertainment of the dishonorable.
Genre:
Fiction
Military
Science fiction
Space opera
War
Why this book:
This is a re-read for me. I love this book.
______________________________________________________________________________
Favorite Character:
Oishi, leader of the 47 Ronin. Honor personified.
Aldin Larice, after reading The Alexandrian Ring, has to have something up his sleeve.
Zergh, Aldin’s friend and fellow vasba, an old Gaf who was part of the Alexandrian affair and came along into The Hole to make sure his friend made it out alive.
The Feel:
The paranoia of the Al Shiga being after Larice and his Ronin was well done.
Favorite Scene:
When Oishi faces down with Kira, at the climax of the epic of the 47 Ronin. And Kira reveals himself to be without honor, to an even greater extent than previously shown by his cowardice.
When Aldin and the 47 are trying to make it to their safe house, only to have all manner of effluvia come raining down on them as the people of the houses along the street show their appreciation of outworlders among them.
Pacing:
I love the flow of these stories. The pace is great.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
Considering the context of the game, it would have made more sense if Larice and the 47 had done away with Sigma and his guards when the chance presented itself.
Hmm Moments:
We all knew that Hassan’s betrayal was going to come at the perfect moment. He was slimy from the word go.
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
Wonder if this could make a series on HBO or Syfy. It’s possible. Time travel, aliens, space, life, and death.
______________________________________________________________________________
Last Page Sound:
I love this book. I love the 47 Ronin. This book was very well done.
Author Assessment:
Would definitely read other stuff by this author.
Editorial Assessment:
Very well done.
Knee Jerk Reaction:
real classic
Disposition of Book:
Keeper
Would recommend to:
friends, family, kids, colleagues, everyone
______________________________________________________________________________
July 26, 2014
Първо признавам си без бой – подлъгах се по корицата – двама полуголи мускуляги размахващи хаотично закривени остриета , гледащи се на кръв и без ясна идея за цел и причина винаги са ми привличали неотклонно окото кат’ насъщний Плейгърл за средно статистически съвременен женски хуманоид. И естествено, оказа се , че корицата няма нищо общо със съдържанието. Не, че беше лошо,де, просто ги нямаше полуголите близнаци на Конанчето. И се получи тъй, че улучих втора част от трилогия, чиито други части подозрително не ми привличат никак, ама никак вниманието. Историята е малко странна – комбинация на междупланетен сай-фай с всичките му прилежащи наизлезли от декорите на Стар Трек същества, съчетано с доста интересен икономически трилър , макар и работещ в извънземни условия, комбинирайки маркетингови, хазартни и борсови стратегии плюс доста хорър свят на безпределна нечовешка ежедневна жестокост, в който имат да оцеляват странна група от неособено положителни герои. Разни главоноги извънземни с мускули на правилните места и атрактивен език се тъпчат наравно с класически средновековни самураи, режат си взаимно гърлата с отряд върли защитници на исляма – а.к.а османски нинджи от оня вид дето вярват в десетте хиляди девственици у рая, плюс два-три милиона местни изроди, за които най-якото забавление е седмичния футбол с отрязани глави от съперническата, но не винаги, секта, или хвърляне от стометрова кула върху павиран площад в религиозен унес плюс задължителното доста изобретателно бавно побиване на кол. Фън. Агресивно, динамично, забавно, може би малко твърде мъжко, но поносимо. Интересни комбинации и смяна на сцени, странни герои и доста шашави схеми на развитие на действието. Дори сай-фая не ми дойде твърде много, което е още едно положително качество, може би оценимо само от мен. Приличен гилти плежър .
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June 5, 20073 guys with 50 bodyguards each have to survive on an extremely religious, primitive, and violent planet where ranged weaponry is a religious taboo for 60 days. Will they work together or betray each another? Dude... have people ever NOT betrayed each other?
An entire civilization bets on the outcome, and the payouts are so large it could, it just MIGHT (ok, it totally will) restructure the entire society and overthrow the ruling elite. And also, one guy was allowed to use time travel so he could pick the 47 ronin as his bodyguards so that's cool.
An entire civilization bets on the outcome, and the payouts are so large it could, it just MIGHT (ok, it totally will) restructure the entire society and overthrow the ruling elite. And also, one guy was allowed to use time travel so he could pick the 47 ronin as his bodyguards so that's cool.
October 7, 2016
Wow, this was a great sequel. The first book was clever, and good. This book is very clever, and very good. Some old characters are even better developed, and some new characters a brought in that really make the story sizzle. The action is tense, the danger feels real, and the solution reasonable. At it's all played out on a weird, fascinating world. And the back story of "other, unseen players in the universe" begins to work itself out. Looking forward to book 3!
June 9, 2022
it was just as good the second time. This was a very enthralling book, but you do have to read the first one to get the context of this one.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews