Sister Time

Posleen War: Cally's War #2

by John Ringo, Julie Cochrane

Cally O'Neal is officially dead. In her over forty years of being an active secret agent she hasn't used her real name, much less spoken to her sister. So when Michelle interrupts an important mission, by seemingly appearing out of thin air, it's an unexpected reunion.

This highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times best seller Cally’s War features the return of Michelle O'Neal, the first human Sohon mentat. Sister Time is about life, love and covert operations amongst the universe's ultimate dysfunctional family.

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

439 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

John Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.

In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.

He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not usually attracted by Baen Books' gaudy cover design and art, but this one... was fifty cents at a library sale. I was pretty much expecting a b-movie and that's what I got. The writing is really not good and the characters tend to have just one trait that's repeated over and over (Cally's big chest, Grandpa's tobacco habit) and there is a lot of other repetition as well. Long, boring "tell" sequences. There was one character I did like and find interesting and the book was just this side of entertaining to make me want to finish rather than quit. I don't know if I will try Ringo again. I do have a bunch of free e-books of his on my Kobo. Another reviewer suggested that it was mostly Cochrane writing these so... maybe.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a John Ringo reader. I'll admit, I was lured in by the busty woman on the cover of Cally's War enough to read the jacket sleeve. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I still only have marginal understanding of Ringo's universe.

What I do understand is this:
* Cally is awesome, in her own right
* The writing is bogged down by a lot of really unimportant details and even entire chapters that could have been cut
* The plot itself is actually rather bland
* Cally has big boobs, which everyone except for Cally is happy about

That last point is a bit of a running gag, since Cally used to have access to a machine that could reprogram the nanites in her body to resculpt her appearance. As a covert operative, that's a tremendous advantage, but it gets taken away while she was on assignment during the first book, conveniently as an incredibly attractive woman with ridiculously huge breasts. She complains constantly about them, particularly because they're impossible to hide and draw attention to her constantly.

And honestly, if the highlight of a book is laughing at the boob jokes, then you know you're in for a rough ride. Cally's War was split into two parts which were, for all intents and purposes, wholly unrelated. All you got from the first 40% of Cally's War was learning a bit about Cally. Sister Time is better in that regard because while it's still in two parts, they're at least attached and the first part isn't *completely* pointless. The book makes up for that with bland character development, pathetic plot resolution, an uninteresting second half, a wussy secondary antagonist that literally runs away rather than being part of the action, and the plot is driven by a character that we really don't understand and a lot of political subterfuge that doesn't make a great deal of sense to someone who isn't used to this kind of writing.

I haven't read Honor of the Clan, but I'm not going to for the story, and the fact that the cover art doesn't even show the incredibly endowed Ms. O'Neal on it means I don't have much incentive for picking it up to read the jacket sleeve in the first place.

[Kevin Trainor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite of the three Ringo/Cochrane novels that bridge the gap between the defeat of the Posleen on Earth and the onslaught of the Hedren, what with the Indowy-trained mentat Michelle O'Neal coming "home" to make a deal with her Earthside clan members to retrieve an extremely dangerous sohon device - at a time when her clan is hard up for cash and Galactic technology thanks to most of the Indowy Bane Sidhe bailing on their irrational, individualistic human partners. Meanwhile, Cally's secret husband is about to trigger an interstellar business collapse...it's a ton of fun, right down to the shouting match between Cally and Michelle just before the end.

[Rushevents · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much more enjoyable than the first in the Cally's war series - less sex more intrigue.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was all right; I still enjoyed reading it (for the most part). It takes place seven years after Cally's War and introduces Michelle into the mix. Times have changed and life (and the accompanying missions) have become harder for Cally and "her" branch of the Bane Sidhe. It has alot going on in it, for such a "simple" storyline (Michelle hires Cally and her group for a mission in which only Cally and her group will be successful in completing). I do not know if the branches are really necessary for the primary narrative, but the book still moved at a decent pace while reading (it took me so long because I had to stop reading due to other priorities that came up). I am glad that I reread it. It has some "good, funny" humor in it and some really stupid humor in it. It was okay. I liked enough of it I will leave it at three stars.

In regard to the humor: two "things" come immediately to mind. What I "still" found hilarious was the "cat fight" between Cally and Michelle at the end of the novel. Michelle had been battling with another human mentat via "Jedi mind tricks" when Cally killed the mentat with a large-bore pistol. Afterwards, the two sisters got into a mini-brawl that completely grabbed the attention of the SOCOM troops and the rest of Cally's team as the men watched the two girls go at it (verbally). There were other moments of humor that were mildly funny; the spat between the sisters was the best.

The "stupidest long-running" joke about how big Cally's cleavage was and how annoying it was grew really old, really quick. It was brought up every few pages, how unhappy Cally was with her endowments versus how men loved them. It got in the way of the story. There were other "stupid moments" in the book, but my mind is drawing a blank on them at the moment.

It felt like the authors were trying to create all sorts of intrigue by having the plot go all over the place, and I cannot say that it completely worked. It seemed like the story started to lose its focus, to lose its direction, because of the many rabbit trails and sidestories bleeding off from the main narrative. Cally's husband, Johnny Stuart, learns that Cally has upset the economical balance of a Darhel corporation (the Epetar Group) and puts a plan into motion with the Tongs to bleed them dry even further. Stuart's plan could backfire and somehow cause a galactic catastrophe. The "Crabs" want Cally to (finally!) kill an important Darhel from the Epetar Group who is on Earth. The Darhel are trying to kill Michelle. The Indowy continue to be inscrutable, judgmental, and stupid. We learn that DAG (American "super-commandos") have been "infiltrated" by Cally's "clan" to the point that most of DAG are cousins and aunts and uncles of Cally. We also see the reintroduction of Mosovich and Mueller into the mix.

You get the feel that the authors were trying to make it seem like "something 'big'" was about to happen, and it really didn't in this book. Oh, there was the "big reveal" that Michelle had learned that Cally was married to Johnny Stuart, former ACS General-turned-renegade, and how it was revealed to Mike O'Neal, Senior. But it still felt like the authors were trying to build up to something "bigger" by the end of the novel, as "not much" really happens in this one. Well, an entire upper echelon of a Darhel corporation is "wiped out" because of what happens in this book. That was pretty serious. And the "nano-keys" that Cally stole were even more powerful/expensive than she realized, and could have shut down certain aspects of the Galactic economy (and the Darhel) if they had played their cards right. BUT, Cally and her "clan" know the Darhel were trying to kill Michelle O'Neal; it seems like something "more drastic" should have been done in terms of the Darhel than what happened in the book. It was very anti-climactic. And, considering what happens in the third book of this little trilogy, the final book is a huge disappointment. I will still read it, as I am trying to read the series straight through in the order in which the stories take place chronologically.

There were just too many plots and sub-plots over the course of the novel. The Tong are portrayed as being "so weak" yet virtually "all-knowing" and "super strong" to the point that they can disrupt Darhel plans on Darhel-controlled worlds. It just gets irritating when a group is portrayed both as being strong and weak when it suits some plot-point for the author. It makes the story weaker than it needs to be. This story could have had a lot going for it, and it fell kinda flat at the end.

It was interesting to see how the Earth had changed after the Darhel invasion and the subsequent devastation. The authors did touch upon some of my grumblings about the first book, which I did appreciate. At the same time, I find it hard to believe that enough officers and personnel in Fleet and Fleet Strike would have gone along with Darhel plans to cripple humanity and kill multiple members of humanity off, thereby ensuring just enough breeding stock to keep the race going but still small enough to keep them under control. It just boggles my brain, is all, as there should have been enough officers not "bought out" by the Darhel to ensure the "rules" and "regulations" of the Federation military were not so stupid and idiotic as presented in the original books [and, as the Galactic Races were unable to think of ANYTHING in terms of violence or death or killing or destruction, then the "rules and regulations" of the "Federation military" had to have been written by humans. Unless the Himmit were involved and put everything together. Regardless, it was irritating how many humans sold humanity out over the course of the books].

We also find out that supposedly the majority of the officers involved in the fleet that lifted the siege of Earth were killed off by the Darhel. Personally, I find that harder to believe, but that is the direction in which Ringo went with the "Cally" series of stories. Part of the reason I find it so hard to believe is the number of officers who show up in Eye of the Storm that probably should have been among the cadre of officers killed by the Darhel. Especially after the events in the "Posleen sidestories" that retconned a lot of the "history" between Ringo's original books and the "Cally" series. I don't believe things could have happened the way they did in the "Cally" series based on the three "sidestory" books.

We also find out that the number of human colony ships were disappearing at an increasing rate, and that the Terrans started demanding new contracts be written so that either safety inspectors inspected each colony ship before it left Terra [which should have been going on in the first place! Every other vehicle on the planet has to receive a safety inspection; colony ships even moreso should have been inspected!] or the fines and ridiculous "standards" be rewritten so that they were not so stupid or ridiculous. We also come to find out that "somebody" has been hunting down the Darhel-"controlled" ships that were murdering the colonists and removing them from circulation. We never completely find out who this group is, but it is implied the "hunter-killer"group is composed of a team of Cally's "organization."

It is equally ridiculous that the Darhel were never "removed" from power after the Posleen siege was lifted and it was revealed the levels and depths of Darhel treachery. What, exactly, were the Indowy Bane Sidhe waiting for? What moment were they waiting to occur? I realize the authors make much ado about how "alien" alien minds truly are and how beyond human comprehension they can be (are), but the same should hold true for humans. One thing Humanity tends to do is remove beings from power who are untrustworthy and treacherous, which fits the Darhel raced to a tee. I still do not believe the Darhel could have remained in power as long as they did after the siege of Earth was over.

Despite my gripes, I did enjoy the book. It was fun to read, to learn what had changed in the life of Cally and Papa O'Neal. It was also nice to see Michelle introduced "back into" the series, as she had essentially disappeared after being sent into space to ensure at least one family member survived the Posleen invasion. I am glad that I read it.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*. Tighter with more intrigue than #1 and much more galactic politics/culture.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got more political than the earlier books, sort of like the later books of Dune. This was a good read.

[Jeff J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle book of the Cally’s War trilogy, with the usual problems of such books. Looking forward to seeing how the series wraps up.

[Kubany Csongor · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least it comes clear, that the author watched David Lynch's Dune movie, which is good. And the book is not bad also.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Product Description

YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS . . .

Cally O'Neal is officially dead. In her over forty years of being an active secret agent she hasn't used her real name much less spoken to her sister. So when Michelle interrupts an important mission, by seemingly appearing out of thin air, it's an unexpected reunion.

BUT YOU CAN'T CHOOSE YOUR RELATIVES.

Michelle O'Neal has lived the life of the perfect Indowy adept, rising slowly in the ranks, honing her skills, being a good little girl. But now she needs the help of her “bad” sis when the Darhel start to put the squeeze on the first Human mentat.

In a family where her father, the war hero, thinks everyone is dead, her grandfather is a smuggler when he's not distilling moonshine, her sister is a cold-blooded killer for hire and her brother-in-law is a mobster, Michelle may look like the odd-gal out.

But when it's death or dishonor, she's gonna prove that deep down inside, she's every bit an O'Neal.

About the Author

John Ringo is author of the New York Times best-selling series known by most as “The Posleen Wars” comprising A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances, Hell’s Faire, and Cally’s War. He also co-authored—with David Weber—_March Upcountry_, March to the Sea, March to the Stars and We Few in the Prince Roger series. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, he brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his fiction.

Julie Cochrane was born in Ohio and and made her first attempts at novels in junior high and high school. Initially studying Chemistry at Georgia Tech, she got her bachelors in psychology and promptly decided that computer science was a better way to earn a living. She lives in the Atlanta Metro area with her husband, their daughter, one very enthusiastic German Shepherd, and the gerbil custodian of the secrets of the universe. Her hobbies include pistol markmanship, history, criminology, Irish language, and folk music.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cally's older sister, Michelle, was sent off planet at the beginning of the Posleen invasion of Earth. Now Michelle is back and she is alien in her thinking, and a mentat. (Yes. The mentat title comes from "Dune" by Frank Herbert. Michelle uses her mind to do some spectacular things, so it fits.)

The Story: An alien artifact of the Aldanata has been stolen from Michelle O'Neal's laboratory. This device includes the power to control the human mind. It has other powers, but that one has become the selling point for the aliens attempting to control Earth. If Michelle cannot get it back, she will be in breach of contract and as good as dead. Her only choice is to call on her sister, Cally, to get it for her... without blowing up half of North America if at all possible, please.

Any problems with this story? Not much. I found it odd that one of the characters in the story actually used the alien artifact for some really trivial and frankly sexual stuff. The book didn't describe it much, but it was clear the device was being used by fellow humans to control other humans.

Any modesty issues? The F-word is used. This book is less overtly as sexual as the previous book in the series, "Cally's War." Nevertheless, sex does happen as I mentioned above. Also marital sex occurs in the book. It is not described in detail. However, there is a scene where Cally impersonates a prostitute and grabs a guy's... well... she grabs a guy. The point was to make contact with one of her agents in public without giving away the fact that they were spies (or in Cally's case, an assassin).

The overall action was good. The Michelle O'Neal character added a lot to the story. I thought the ending was reasonably clever.

I'd read this book again.

[Doris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a lot to wade through. Incoherent, sexist drivel with a big masochistic overtone of whine.

The overall premise is good, but the descriptions in some of chapters were pages of filler material. It was what 600 pages? and in all that, he couldn't develop the Michelle or Erick characters enough to make them believable, although I did like the (unrealistic) childish fight at the end.

I like the idea of rejuv, have since I first came across it in an Asimov book long ago. But in this series its a wistful memory. Its a bit ridiculous too - how many mature men would want to look 20 again? Or mature women?

The overall plot - humans against the Galaxy-masters - is good. But there should be more thought given to developing the other races that interact, and less discussion on the size of Cally's new boobs.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so typical of Ringo! Great story with an extremely fitting title. He ties up so many loose ends, fulfills a couple of my fantasies, and then, at the last minute, introduces intriguing little snippets that have me salivating for the next in the series!

Great military fiction with lots of espionage activity. The truly fascinating aspect to it all is how Ringo has created an Earth where we're barely surviving our victory with the twistiness of the Darhel increasingly revealed and yet all those lovely hints on how the humans are overwhelming the tidy running of the universe.

In this particular story, it's seven years after Cally has met up with Stewart and and we discover the results of the fallout from Titan as well as how the Sundays and O'Neals become one Clan. With Cally getting some one-on-one time with her Indowy sister.

[Barbara Ghylin · Rating 3 out of 5]

June 2, 2014
I took a brief break from the world of john ringo. I had a chance to borrow Bill Reilly's "Killing Lincoln" from my local library. Since it a has a time limit I will read that and then come back.
June 3, 2014
I was a little bored with the library book that I borrowed so I came back to this one. When all the secrets come out and the cat fight is on. I have broken up a many a fight between my girls while they were growing up so I know how Papa O'Neil feels. Cally and her sister Michelle are both strong women who will do what it take to protect Clan O'Neil. Papa O'Neil is very proud of the way they grew up.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a continuation of Cally's War, and while I love the character of Cally, I just couldn't get into this book as much. It was supposed to be about her sister Michelle, the Indowy trained Mentat, but she doesn't get that much scene time. But I can't really blame the author for my not getting to the book, I guess I just wasn't in the mood to read his style at the moment as the plot was good and the characterization was as well.

If you like Ringo, you should read it.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good example of a book that "is what it is". Written to be a fast-paced, action tale, the book delivers on that promise. It's the second in a series and the authors have crafted this series to appeal to those looking for a more lightweight escape from the room in which they are reading. Good at what it is, but nothing deep or life-changing here. Leave your plausibility detector at the door, step in to this world and enjoy yourself.

[Cole Simchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was better. More of the back story is explained, and the main character grows a bit. Interesting world (future Earth) and plot. Lots of interesting characters. The covers for these books almost made me not read them (are these romance novels??) but the Sci-Fi / female James Bond / deep plot made the book tough to put down. Really fun read. I want to read the next one (Honor of the Clan) then go back and start at the beginning (Hymn Before Battle).

[Marsha Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to hear more about Cally and the rest of the O'Neals. It had been a bit too long, though...I was having trouble remembering who was who and all that. There's definitely potential for another book now though...how long do I have to wait this time?

[Anafielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book. Love baen's line up. Ringo is a little too sexist for my taste when he writes alone, so I've found that I like his collaborations with other authors better. The cally's war series is definitely a fun read. Wish he could go 5 pages without referencing boobs though.

[Sayomara Vesper · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about John Ringos books is that the world seems so well thought out, the people well rounded and small things are become big plot points much later. In this way Sister Time delivers on all counts. That is not to say its perfect but its a enjoyable world to read

[Kevin Halleran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another knock it out of the park work from Ringo

From his engaging characters to his excellent research (cyber attack scene), Ringo's work keeps the pages turning and ends way too soon.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tied up a lot of loose ends to my satisfaction and I was happy to get back to reading about the O'Neal clan.

[Ethan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ringo is really churning these out now. Plot fairly incoherent, characters a mishmash of stereotypes he's done to death before. Sigh.

[Gordon McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole Posleen War/Legacy of the Aldenata series is a joy to read. Or listen to as the case may be.

[Alex]

False

[Ben Eiynk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, 6/1/17 re-read. 3rd time. The best of the entire universe of books, so far.

[Priscilla Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's was exellent. I've been looking for the others.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh