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Warstrider #2
Rebellion
The second volume in an action-packed military sf series. Devis Cameron, hero of the Xenophobe War and the Empire's reluctant champion, has been called upon to eliminate a newly discovered underground colony of Xenos . . . and to deal harshly with civil unrest spawned by Imperial repression. But is the nuclear option the only alternative? Original.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
28 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
William H. Keith Jr.
126 books179 followersBill Keith was raised in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, and served in the Navy as a corpsman for many years. In addition to writing fiction and non-fiction works, he is an award-winning illustrator/artist.
He has also published under the psuedonyms:
Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark)
H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series)
Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series)
Bill Keith
Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series)
Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)
He has also published under the psuedonyms:
Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark)
H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series)
Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series)
Bill Keith
Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series)
Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 12, 2022
Keith continues his Warstrider saga here focusing more on the political dimensions of the world, with rag-tag group of rebels largely infused with a libertarian philosophy versus imperial Japanese Hegemony. Once again, our main protagonist is Dev Cameron, who ended the last volume by being the first person to actually communicate with the enigmatic Xenophobes. While Dev is feted by the Japanese for 'ending' the Xenophobe war, his fellow striderjacks are becoming more and more disgruntled by the heavy-handed Imperial Japanese and decadence of their leadership.
This is aptly named Rebellion as various colonial worlds, via the 'Network' organize to declare freedom largely based on libertarian ideals (lots of references to the USA's declaration of independence here!), but as the Japanese Hegemony controls the media and all star travel, the outcomes are far from certain. Great action scenes galore and a fast, complex plot make this a fun read, but like its predecessor, a more bubble-gum read than something profound. This did develop the characters in more complex detail, and yes, they are all flawed in various ways. Good stuff from Keith aka Ian Douglas. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the exciting ending!
This is aptly named Rebellion as various colonial worlds, via the 'Network' organize to declare freedom largely based on libertarian ideals (lots of references to the USA's declaration of independence here!), but as the Japanese Hegemony controls the media and all star travel, the outcomes are far from certain. Great action scenes galore and a fast, complex plot make this a fun read, but like its predecessor, a more bubble-gum read than something profound. This did develop the characters in more complex detail, and yes, they are all flawed in various ways. Good stuff from Keith aka Ian Douglas. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the exciting ending!
Read
September 11, 2022I tried to read this twice...I got bored and set it aside both times. Doubt I'll try again. Since I only got a short way in i won't give it a poor rating. I'll just tell you here I was bored. Who knows, maybe it picks up later...much later. Probably won't find out as my hope of a good read pretty much died with this attempt.
April 14, 2015
ABR's full Warstrider: Rebellion audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
It is assumed you have read/listened to Warstrider, the first book in this series and the comments here will not be spoilers.
Rebellion is certainly book 2 of the Warstrider series, but it is also a distinctly different book. Much of the technology and weapons are described in detail in this volume. It is more introspective, more descriptive than the first volume. But certainly if you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this one too.
Rebellion is about the struggle between the settled outer worlds and the repressive Japanese Imperium and its puppet hegemonic government. They have managed to keep mankind in peace for 5 centuries but at the cost of personal and planetary freedom. Dev Cameron is caught up in the fight, as a highly decorated soldier and later on the other side of the fight with his girlfriend (who has joined up with the rebels). There is quite a bit of political philosophy that some listeners will find very interesting and some quite uninteresting. The author doesn’t exactly embrace the libertarian ideals of the rebellion leader, but does outline its manifesto clearly and in depth.
There is plenty of fighting using super high-tech futuristic weapons. Most of the scenes are well done and exciting. Unfortunately, Douglas insists on giving us acronyms and manufacturing names for these devices that the listener can’t possibly remember or keep straight. Futuristic model numbers for fictional machines might sound like it will give the story substance, but generally just registers as “bigger, stronger or better.” The pace in “Rebellion” is a bit slower, certainly not in a bad way, just that there is more description and back story to tell us how the future arrived at this state. It works as the listener is now invested in the story and can take a break from the action to find out why the world(s) is the way it is.
David Drummond does a generally good job with the narration. Though it is distracting at times as some of the military recruits or younger soldiers whine and scream in fear more than one would expect from trained men, especially ones with neural implants designed to keep them calm. He has a sonorous voice that is wonderful to listen to, and these quirks are easily overlooked.
Like the first volume, the second wraps up the story nicely and stands well on its own. It ends well, not with a cliffhanger, but a resolution that points to the next volume. Clearly if you are in for one, you are in for the whole Warstrider series.
Audiobook provided for review by the publisher.
It is assumed you have read/listened to Warstrider, the first book in this series and the comments here will not be spoilers.
Rebellion is certainly book 2 of the Warstrider series, but it is also a distinctly different book. Much of the technology and weapons are described in detail in this volume. It is more introspective, more descriptive than the first volume. But certainly if you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this one too.
Rebellion is about the struggle between the settled outer worlds and the repressive Japanese Imperium and its puppet hegemonic government. They have managed to keep mankind in peace for 5 centuries but at the cost of personal and planetary freedom. Dev Cameron is caught up in the fight, as a highly decorated soldier and later on the other side of the fight with his girlfriend (who has joined up with the rebels). There is quite a bit of political philosophy that some listeners will find very interesting and some quite uninteresting. The author doesn’t exactly embrace the libertarian ideals of the rebellion leader, but does outline its manifesto clearly and in depth.
There is plenty of fighting using super high-tech futuristic weapons. Most of the scenes are well done and exciting. Unfortunately, Douglas insists on giving us acronyms and manufacturing names for these devices that the listener can’t possibly remember or keep straight. Futuristic model numbers for fictional machines might sound like it will give the story substance, but generally just registers as “bigger, stronger or better.” The pace in “Rebellion” is a bit slower, certainly not in a bad way, just that there is more description and back story to tell us how the future arrived at this state. It works as the listener is now invested in the story and can take a break from the action to find out why the world(s) is the way it is.
David Drummond does a generally good job with the narration. Though it is distracting at times as some of the military recruits or younger soldiers whine and scream in fear more than one would expect from trained men, especially ones with neural implants designed to keep them calm. He has a sonorous voice that is wonderful to listen to, and these quirks are easily overlooked.
Like the first volume, the second wraps up the story nicely and stands well on its own. It ends well, not with a cliffhanger, but a resolution that points to the next volume. Clearly if you are in for one, you are in for the whole Warstrider series.
Audiobook provided for review by the publisher.
Read
October 29, 2014This book is more about the politics of the Warstrider universe and less about both aliens and Warstriders than the first book. This is of course not my preferred direction to go for a book but I still found Rebellion a good book. The goal for these political machinations is a good one, the liberation from the oppressive Japanese rule. I never really liked that set up of how humanity was ruled in the first book anyway so I guess this helped me be more accepting to the politics and the fact that the Xenos played second violin in this book.
The fact that the book takes a somewhat different track does not mean that there are no action though. There are quite a lot of action as a matter of fact and it is not just Warstrider action but we even get a few rounds of it in space.
The two main characters from the first book is back although they, at first at least, appears to be on separate sides. The book is well written and I had no problem taking interest into what was going to happen to Dev and Katya. The aliens are taking a bit of a backseat in this book since they are not the main opponents but that does not mean that they are absent. Quite on the contrary. They play an essential role in the book and they are as incomprehensible to the human mind, and we to them, as before. As far as I am concerned the author is making a good job of portraying these Xenos which definitely are not your ordinary out of the box alien bad guys.
The scene is quite well set for an interesting third book in the series now. I am tempted to consider both book one and book two as stage setters for the real story. I am quite looking forward to read the next one.
The fact that the book takes a somewhat different track does not mean that there are no action though. There are quite a lot of action as a matter of fact and it is not just Warstrider action but we even get a few rounds of it in space.
The two main characters from the first book is back although they, at first at least, appears to be on separate sides. The book is well written and I had no problem taking interest into what was going to happen to Dev and Katya. The aliens are taking a bit of a backseat in this book since they are not the main opponents but that does not mean that they are absent. Quite on the contrary. They play an essential role in the book and they are as incomprehensible to the human mind, and we to them, as before. As far as I am concerned the author is making a good job of portraying these Xenos which definitely are not your ordinary out of the box alien bad guys.
The scene is quite well set for an interesting third book in the series now. I am tempted to consider both book one and book two as stage setters for the real story. I am quite looking forward to read the next one.
September 9, 2014
Recruitment
When the inevitable split between the hegemony and empire happens Dev needs allies badly. This book is less about the aliens and more about the disintegration of human society. There is a lot less mech action as well making this more like the David Weber Honor books than Battletech.
When the inevitable split between the hegemony and empire happens Dev needs allies badly. This book is less about the aliens and more about the disintegration of human society. There is a lot less mech action as well making this more like the David Weber Honor books than Battletech.
April 25, 2015
Book Two of the series, what can I say well story progression, after talking to the Dalriss and communicating with their first Xenophobe, It's now Katya's turn to speak to one......story wise everything is becoming more interesting....and we now have a rebellion.......can't wait to see if they are able to unite the xenophobe's tech with human ingenuity........
July 4, 2015
Going really downhill compared to the first book. To much personal political views of the author get inserted so blatantly into the story, it was like reading political pamphlets.
January 7, 2022
The Mech combat was decent as usual. The non-mech combat was alright but I wish there was more of the starship combat. The ending felt rushed. The worst part of the story is that the politics were stupid, mainly that of the rebels. There wasn't much to the Imperial Japan side. A power hungry administrator with ties to the royal family manipulating things but finding everything get out of hand. That's typical of Keith's writing for a villain. For the rebels it's admirable that the New American's would want to have their freedom, but they're stupid about it. One of the rebels remarks at one point there thoughts which is a variation of Make America Great again. Make it great like it was before Imperial Japan outdid the rest of the world and gained and maintained their superiority since. This was published in 1993 so it's before the current debacle of ultra-conservative attempts at playing politics here in the States so it's proven this concept is in poor taste and doesn't hold up in practice. The rebels also bring up libertarianism and minimizing government interference. I feel it is a mistake to portray a feasible belief of the rebels that it's better to reduce/remove the influence of the bad government and replace it with little to no government instead of removing the bad government and replacing it with a just and responsible government that does its job for all citizens. And last of all the rebels bring up the point that America and other world super powers failed and ceded their right to power to the ingenuity and will of Imperial Japan. So what is it? Do the rebels want to be great like the failure that the America and other world powers were in this stories universe before Imperial Japan took over? Do they want the failed big corporate influenced government that never reached for the stars or do they want to be "free" and anarchic? The rebels have got to get their crap together or else this is going to drag. But like I said in my review of Warstrider. I'm here for the mechs and not politics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2021
Warstrider tome 2 : Rebellion
Lu en anglais
Un roman de science-fiction militaire et de cyberpunk.
Quelques centaines d'années dans le futur, la puissance dominante est le Japon impérial, auquel est subordonnée l'Hégémonie, une fédération de 57 nations. Quelques étoiles proches ont aussi été colonisées. Mais, un ennemi mortel menace, les Xénophobes, qui s'attaquent à toute forme de vie.
Après que Dev Cameroun ait réussi à communiquer avec les Xénophobes, et à enrayer l'attaque sur Loki dans le roman précédent, il devient un héros pour l'Hégémonie et on l'envoie sur Eridu pour essayer de faire la même chose. Mais un haut fonctionnaire de l'empire japonais ne veut rien savoir de donner autant de prestige à un non japonais et lui met donc des bâtons dans les roues. Et c'est sans compter que les habitants de la planète en ont assez du joug de l'Hégémonie et veulent s'en libérer.
Les Xénophobes menacent, mais il y a aussi l'Hégémonie qui veut écraser toute révolte par la force. Donc, on a des combats sur deux fronts.
Des humains connectés, des univers virtuels, des liaisons homme-machine. Un peu moins d'action que le tome précédent et plus d'accent sur la problématique politique, qui est calquée sur le modèle de la guerre d'indépendance américaine face à l'Angleterre. Tout cela écrit par un ancien vétéran du Vietnam, ce qui ajoute de la crédibilité à l'environnement militaire, aux tactiques et aux combats, sans compter une science plutôt crédible. Plusieurs de ses romans sont publiés sous le pseudonyme Ian Douglas.
Un peu trop de politique à mon goût et pas assez d'action, mais cela ne m'a pas empêcher d'apprécier ce roman.
Lu en anglais
Un roman de science-fiction militaire et de cyberpunk.
Quelques centaines d'années dans le futur, la puissance dominante est le Japon impérial, auquel est subordonnée l'Hégémonie, une fédération de 57 nations. Quelques étoiles proches ont aussi été colonisées. Mais, un ennemi mortel menace, les Xénophobes, qui s'attaquent à toute forme de vie.
Après que Dev Cameroun ait réussi à communiquer avec les Xénophobes, et à enrayer l'attaque sur Loki dans le roman précédent, il devient un héros pour l'Hégémonie et on l'envoie sur Eridu pour essayer de faire la même chose. Mais un haut fonctionnaire de l'empire japonais ne veut rien savoir de donner autant de prestige à un non japonais et lui met donc des bâtons dans les roues. Et c'est sans compter que les habitants de la planète en ont assez du joug de l'Hégémonie et veulent s'en libérer.
Les Xénophobes menacent, mais il y a aussi l'Hégémonie qui veut écraser toute révolte par la force. Donc, on a des combats sur deux fronts.
Des humains connectés, des univers virtuels, des liaisons homme-machine. Un peu moins d'action que le tome précédent et plus d'accent sur la problématique politique, qui est calquée sur le modèle de la guerre d'indépendance américaine face à l'Angleterre. Tout cela écrit par un ancien vétéran du Vietnam, ce qui ajoute de la crédibilité à l'environnement militaire, aux tactiques et aux combats, sans compter une science plutôt crédible. Plusieurs de ses romans sont publiés sous le pseudonyme Ian Douglas.
Un peu trop de politique à mon goût et pas assez d'action, mais cela ne m'a pas empêcher d'apprécier ce roman.
May 8, 2017
This is the second book in the Warstrider series by William H. Keith Jr. a.k.a. Ian Douglas. In this one Dev is till trying to believe in the Empire/Hegemony and fight for their cause against the Xenophobe's and against human rebels but he soon finds that the Empire has dark motives and he must rethink his position. Meanwhile Katya has resigned from her service with the Hegemony military and is fighting for the rebels. She also tries to contact the Xenophobe's in a effort to find new allies against the Empire/Hegemony. This book is a great read in the Military Science Fiction/Space Opera genre and I recommend it.
September 23, 2017
I gobbled this book in one day. Same characters from the previous book, but with more drama. i wanted Katya to make up her damn mind about Dev, and at the end of this book I am still wondering what she feels for the poor guy. I think Dev is confused as well as to what his feelings are for Katya now with everything that has happened between them. Military is hard on relationships, and places stress that few in any civilian relationships go through. Having the added stress of what is going on between the Empire and planets is a whole 'nother can of worms in a relationship.
March 26, 2022
This book made me wish I could give half stars. It was a fairly bland follow up to a pretty good book. Never seemed to focus enough on any of the plotlines. Still good enough for me to continue the series though. 3.5/5
January 9, 2023
Boring...
October 31, 2016
Summary: I thought book 2 was better than book 1, good take on the aliens, good military SF, plot was a bit more thoughtful than the first book, although still too many coincidences. Not totally sure about the anti japanese theme, but ignoring that, a good book.
Plotline: Sort of works possibly could have been strengthened, a few things didn't quite work and a bit too linear.
Premise: Generally good, but again some weaknesses
Writing: Simple descriptive. Could have done with some stronger characters
Ending: Lucky escape, great victory ?
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: Sort of works possibly could have been strengthened, a few things didn't quite work and a bit too linear.
Premise: Generally good, but again some weaknesses
Writing: Simple descriptive. Could have done with some stronger characters
Ending: Lucky escape, great victory ?
Pace: Never a dull moment!
December 6, 2013
While always setting up an interesting futuristic setting/political org in his series, within a few books Kieth's books fall back on a rah-rah America is the best, no matter how actually functional the in book alternative is. Characters essentially have to do things outrageously bad for no real reason to justify this happening.
Apart from that, fantastic book!
Apart from that, fantastic book!
March 17, 2015
All the action from the first book, but weighed down by Libertarian dogma. Even if this was something I agreed wholeheartedly with, it was just too preachy and got in the way of the story.
September 20, 2014
Did not finish due to Libertarian dogma.
March 29, 2015
Nice read great series I think will read them all looking for the next one in line -- fighting the imperial galactic empire that does not treat its colonies well - nice little piece of war sci fi
Want to read
June 13, 2015Great sequel!
I am excited where this series will go from here. Number 2 definitely kept pace with the first book. So far it has been a great ride.
I am excited where this series will go from here. Number 2 definitely kept pace with the first book. So far it has been a great ride.
February 21, 2016
Enjoyed these books. However, there is a racist underlining theme that runs through the books. Worth reading, but mind the cultural stereotypes.
May 20, 2016
lots of action, plot moves along... just didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, can't put my finger on why. on to book three!
September 11, 2016
Not my total favorite in the series, but still a fun ride..
April 24, 2017
Mid two stars.
Heavy handed politics , and direct exposition in the style of Atlas Shrugged. No matter how much you might favor libertarian political thought, it's painful to read when it's being wielded like a hammer. Also, could use an editor / proof reader. Too many places in the book, the wrong word appears - like an over eager autocorrect made a substitution or two at seeming random.
Heavy handed politics , and direct exposition in the style of Atlas Shrugged. No matter how much you might favor libertarian political thought, it's painful to read when it's being wielded like a hammer. Also, could use an editor / proof reader. Too many places in the book, the wrong word appears - like an over eager autocorrect made a substitution or two at seeming random.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews