The Torch of Honor

Allies & Aliens #1

by Roger MacBride Allen

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Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Fiction

339 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Roger MacBride Allen is a US science fiction author of the Corellian Trilogy, consisting of Ambush at Corellia, Assault at Selonia, and Showdown at Centerpoint. He was born on September 26, 1957 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He grew up in Washington D.C. and graduated from Boston University in 1979. The author of a dozen science-fiction novels, he lived in Washington D.C., for many years. In July 1994, he married Eleanre Fox, a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. Her current assignment takes them to Brasilia, Brazil, where they lived from 2007 to 2009.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few other books by RMA-- Farside Cannon and Orphan of Creation-- and enjoyed them; RMA was a pretty 'hot' science fiction author in the 80s and TTOH was a fun, fast read. TTOH is basically a military space opera and Allen verges on being a 'hard' science fiction author, meaning that the tech is not outlandish (except perhaps the FTL drive and matter transmitter!). Published in 1985, TTOH takes place in the early 22nd century, where humanity has begun to colonize other solar systems. Initially, the colonization process was funded by individual states and pretty haphazard to say the least. After various trials and tribulations, a new political entity was formed, something akin to the league of nations, and under its jurisdiction, a space exploration agency was developed and just coming into fruition.

Our main lead, Mac, begins the tale as a recruit/trainee in the new space exploration unit, along with his wife Joz. Due to political machinations, the first ten ships are launched early and undermanned, but so be it. After several months visiting various new solar systems, Mac and Joz receive an emergency drone with bad news-- the planet of New Finland has been attacked by the 'guardians' and taken over. Worse, the guardians put some sort of hi tech missile system around the system that torpedoes any ship that comes near as soon as they drop out of FTL drive. Mac and Joz are told they have the only chance of getting to New Finland before it is completely cut off; further, they have to get there and build the receiving end of a matter transmitter so the 'League' can send an army to New Finland. So, off they go...

This was a fun romp that reminded me of golden age science fiction, albeit with a more modern tech aspect. The guardians are really nasty fascists and make for good bad guys; the League folks, spearheaded by Mac and Joz, are heavily outnumbered and outgunned, but they are the only chance New Finland has for freedom. Expect some nifty action sequences, cool space fighters (and even an afterword by G. Harry Stine on the concept of space fighters!), and lots of heroic action. This is not a deep novel by any means, but a fun adventure story/opera peppered with humor and wit. 3.5 stars rounding up!!

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was really pretty good. Space opera but well written and technologically reasonable Space Opera. I don't know why I never sought out more by this author. It was a worthy read.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 2 out of 5]

When two-thirds of the graduating class of the Republican Navy disappear it is decided the remainder will commandeer ten ships destined to be repossessed and search for the missing among a rumoured Guardian-run region. The Guardians are the remnants of a diaspora of fanatics which escaped Earth a hundred years earlier and are now in the process of annexing isolated worlds. Commander Larson and his new wife Lieutenant Roslyn are racing to a hollow planet where a newly designed teleporter has already launched 5000 troops - itis up to them to get there beforehand using Csquared drives - so that they don’t all die in transit. Roger MacBride Allen has given us a detailed piece of military SF and for about the first half it is engaging enough. There follows about 150 pages of ‘splosions, burning ships, wild space battles and plenty of rah rah rah for those that enjoy that sort of thing. I found it a tad repetitive but war buffs may find this satisfying.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an OK book. No surprises, just a bog average airport space opera. There were parts I didn’t get like the number of references to god that had no relevance to the story. Looked more like an author belief thing. There weren’t many but they stood out because they had nothing to hang on.
I listened to the audiobook ver and I suspect this is the only reason I listened to the entire thing. I can listen to a book while doing mindless chores like the kitchen, housework and mowing the yard. It doesn’t matter if you miss entire chapters, the drone in your ear rumbles on and the book is so formula you can fill in the missed parts yourself without fear of missing something vital. I won’t bother looking for a second book in the series if there is one.
Pick the book up on a sale table if you are going to spend the money. I would borrow a friends or go to the library. It’s not terrible, just the lower end of average.

[Devero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urania 1357. In appendice si dice che fu il suo primo romanzo. In effetti è acerbo, molto acerbo. Space opera militare con alcune trovate carine, soffre per l’intreccio troppo carico di coincidenze e imprevisti capitati al protagonista. Francamente è poco plausibile la sequenza di coincidenze e di scene un poco troppo tirate per i capelli, anche per chi come me mastica di super eroi quotidianamente. Inoltre non c’è traccia della Hard SF caratteristica delle opere successive quali ”L’Anello di Caronte“ o ”La Sfera Spezzata“.
Infine, a discapito di Urania, in quarta di copertina si legge, nella sinossi: ”… I due scoprono che I Guardiani si sono alleati con una razza aliena che apparentemente fa il loro gioco…“.
Ebbene, non c’è traccia di ciò nel romanzo.
Comunque l’autore è valido, e lo ha dimostrato nei due romanzi che ho citato, decisamente buoni.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really struggled with this, just wasn't to my taste and I usually very much like Allen.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was a moderately competent space opera. Slow start, and after about 60 pages some interesting battle scenes occur. This is military fiction for the vast majority of the pages. The writing was not high quality. But, I found the book interesting enough to read it all the way through and look for the sequel.

The readers who might like this are readers who can put up with average quality space opera and who accept the story being almost completely filled with war and battles. There are small unit actions on land and in space.

[The Frahorus · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'attacco contro New Finland, un remoto avamposto della Lega dei Pianeti, è solo il primo atto della guerra fra i terrestri e i misteriosi Guardiani, umanoidi dalle origini sconosciute. Il compito di indagare sull'attacco a New Finland è affidato al tenente Terrance Larson e a sua moglie, il tenente Marie Cooper. I due scoprono che i Guardiani si sono alleati con una razza aliena che apparentemente fa il loro gioco, ma in realtà persegue tutt'altri obiettivi... Un'avventura moderna, scientificamente plausibile e più che perfetta sul piano bellico.