What do you think?
Rate this book
Freehold #2
The Weapon
Kenneth Chinran was a disaffected youth who joined the military and was recruited for an elite deep cover unit, shrugging off training and exercises so tough that several of the recruits did not survive. Then he was sent by his star nation to infiltrate a fascistic, militaristic planet Earth. He lived in deep cover for years, marrying and having a daughter. Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city. As a result of his attacks, billions died for lack of the food, water and power which the ravaged system could no longer supply. His sabotage was successful, but the deaths of so many weighs heavily on his mind, making him wonder if he can stay sane. Then the secret police discovered his identity. With his daughter, the only thing in his life that had so far kept him human, he was on the run, while the resources of a planetwide police state were tracking him down. He could see no way to escape from the planet, no way to keep hiding, and if he and his daughter were caught, death was the very least that they could expect. But Chinran is a warrior to the core, and even if he loses this last battle, he won't go down without a fight that his pursuers & the ones who survive will never forget.
656 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
51 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 29, 2013
I could argue that the best thing about The Weapon is the technical aspect. There is an immense amount of detail regarding weaponry, training and tactics for squad based infantry warfare, as well as infiltration and emergency extraction. However, the thing that stood out for me was how provocative this novel potentially is. Williamson dispenses with political correctness here and really gets into the mind of both protagonist and reader. Just when is murder on a planetary scale acceptable? Is it ever? How far would you go to protect something you love, be it an ideal or a person? And what then?
Something else that Williamson does really well is the extrapolation of consumerism and the current corporate culture. Is this what Earth will become in the future? It's pretty disconcerting, all the more so because it doesn't seem too far fetched at all.
An excellent military science fiction novel with more than a little food for thought.
Something else that Williamson does really well is the extrapolation of consumerism and the current corporate culture. Is this what Earth will become in the future? It's pretty disconcerting, all the more so because it doesn't seem too far fetched at all.
An excellent military science fiction novel with more than a little food for thought.
November 3, 2016
Books like this are what make me consider my friend's shelf label of 'thrown-with-great-force' as something I might adopt myself.
First off, this is a political book. I am not necessarily opposed to political books. And as a reader of a lot of military science fiction, I am frequently confronted with authors who clearly have political viewpoints to the right of my own *cough John Ringo *cough*.
This doesn't stop me from enjoying a good story and good characters, but I don't enjoy caricatures.
I picked this up, struggled through the initial polemic on the virtues of libertarian-ism and the eeeeevils of Earth's fascist government, and then got to the meat of the story.
Where the protagonist and his compatriots murder billions of innocent civilians. In great detail.
From the Amazon blurb:
Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city. As a result of his attacks, billions died for lack of the food, water and power which the ravaged system could no longer supply.
That wasn't part of the original blurb for the book or I might not have picked it up.
There's an argument put forth in the book that these civilians are complicit in the fascism of Earth's government and therefore in order to keep the flame of freedom alive on Grainne, their deaths were justified. Because the civilians fail to exercise their rights to control the government, the use of terrorism is justified.
That's where the author lost me.
In terms of military effectiveness, I am sure that such an attack would have a devastating effect on any government and could easily cause changes in governmental policy. It might not necessarily have the desired effect (they have greatly damaged us, let us crush them now since they've already shot their wad) but it would absolutely send a message.
However the moral question is entirely different.
I managed to finish the book, hoping that there was some sort of redeeming grace in the remaining chapters and did not find anything sufficient to balance the core message.
Looking at star-ratings on Goodreads, they appear to be largely positive (4.01 over 922 ratings), but this book turned me off Williamson, probably for life.
First off, this is a political book. I am not necessarily opposed to political books. And as a reader of a lot of military science fiction, I am frequently confronted with authors who clearly have political viewpoints to the right of my own *cough John Ringo *cough*.
This doesn't stop me from enjoying a good story and good characters, but I don't enjoy caricatures.
I picked this up, struggled through the initial polemic on the virtues of libertarian-ism and the eeeeevils of Earth's fascist government, and then got to the meat of the story.
Where the protagonist and his compatriots murder billions of innocent civilians. In great detail.
From the Amazon blurb:
Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city. As a result of his attacks, billions died for lack of the food, water and power which the ravaged system could no longer supply.
That wasn't part of the original blurb for the book or I might not have picked it up.
There's an argument put forth in the book that these civilians are complicit in the fascism of Earth's government and therefore in order to keep the flame of freedom alive on Grainne, their deaths were justified. Because the civilians fail to exercise their rights to control the government, the use of terrorism is justified.
That's where the author lost me.
In terms of military effectiveness, I am sure that such an attack would have a devastating effect on any government and could easily cause changes in governmental policy. It might not necessarily have the desired effect (they have greatly damaged us, let us crush them now since they've already shot their wad) but it would absolutely send a message.
However the moral question is entirely different.
I managed to finish the book, hoping that there was some sort of redeeming grace in the remaining chapters and did not find anything sufficient to balance the core message.
Looking at star-ratings on Goodreads, they appear to be largely positive (4.01 over 922 ratings), but this book turned me off Williamson, probably for life.
September 11, 2012
The Weapon is a book about Kenneth Chinran, an operative for the Freehold society. By operative he means black ops special warfare spook.
The beginning of the book starts at Kenneth getting recruited, and the first half stretches out into a detailed description of Ken's training and first experience in the field.
Then Ken gets deployed to his main mission on Earth. Unfortunately this is where the story leaves the rails. The last half the book turns into a meandering rambling essay on libertarian politics and how much Earth/America sucks. I do understand why this is done to drive the plot and give the characters a reason to carry out a terrorist plot against the UN.
Unfortunately it just becomes a repetitive few hundred pages of how much the government is ruining our lives and how people should govern themselves. Yes, while the character may feel this way, the narrative ham-fisting it down your throat for hours at a time is clearly simply a soapbox for Michael Williamson.
I did enjoy the technical aspects of the military experience, but the story simply didn't follow. I suggest you read Orphanage instead, if you are interested in a detailed military type sci-fi book. I get enough propaganda from our news outlets.
The beginning of the book starts at Kenneth getting recruited, and the first half stretches out into a detailed description of Ken's training and first experience in the field.
Then Ken gets deployed to his main mission on Earth. Unfortunately this is where the story leaves the rails. The last half the book turns into a meandering rambling essay on libertarian politics and how much Earth/America sucks. I do understand why this is done to drive the plot and give the characters a reason to carry out a terrorist plot against the UN.
Unfortunately it just becomes a repetitive few hundred pages of how much the government is ruining our lives and how people should govern themselves. Yes, while the character may feel this way, the narrative ham-fisting it down your throat for hours at a time is clearly simply a soapbox for Michael Williamson.
I did enjoy the technical aspects of the military experience, but the story simply didn't follow. I suggest you read Orphanage instead, if you are interested in a detailed military type sci-fi book. I get enough propaganda from our news outlets.
November 18, 2008
This is one of the worst books I've ever read. The story (if you could call it that) was slow. The protagonist was childish and unrelatable. The book was completely devoid of almost any human emotion except for anger. It was like the author just got dumped on in high school and took out all his rage in writing this garbage. Ninety percent of the book is the angry, jaded, self-indulgent internal monologue of the protagonist, during which nothing much happens.
Angry 15-year-olds will probably love this book. Everyone else should just avoid it.
Angry 15-year-olds will probably love this book. Everyone else should just avoid it.
August 1, 2015
Huge step up from Freehold in terms of writing. Much more engaging and evocative story.
I know comparisons to Starship Troopers for mil-sci-fi are cliche, so here I go! It is reminiscent of Starship Troopers, only grittier, darker, more intense. There are no aliens so we have only each other to kill. Starship Troopers is, in part, about what you gain when you become a soldier, and so is The Weapon. However the The Weapon goes beyond that, and looks at what it costs you as well, what you sacrifice.
I loved it. It's currently my favorite work in the subgenre
I know comparisons to Starship Troopers for mil-sci-fi are cliche, so here I go! It is reminiscent of Starship Troopers, only grittier, darker, more intense. There are no aliens so we have only each other to kill. Starship Troopers is, in part, about what you gain when you become a soldier, and so is The Weapon. However the The Weapon goes beyond that, and looks at what it costs you as well, what you sacrifice.
I loved it. It's currently my favorite work in the subgenre
January 25, 2008
If you want to look into the minds eye of a Special Operator... this is the best book (albeit placed in a futuristic setting) ever written. And to think that people who think like this walk amongst us...
December 12, 2010
Whoever wrote the blurb on the back of the book clearly never read the book.
April 7, 2016
I was in a situation where the available reading material was limited but I had loads of time to read. I’d burned through all the mystery novels and turned to science fiction in the eleventh hour.
The Weapon is not poorly written, the idea and premise of the book is interesting, as are the characters, places and events. However, this was easily one of the most boring books I have ever read in my life.
Williamson is a pro at describing action sequences. When there is combat or good old fashioned breaking and entering (espionage?), Williamson shines. Unfortunately, action sequences account for about five percent of this novel. The rest is mostly talking about preparing for or recovering from the action. Or training. Or food. Lots of talk about food.
There is an overt criticism of our society, as seen through hundreds of years of continuing down the path we’re on, which I appreciated. Pitting the forces of Earth against the protagonist’s home planet was an effective means of social commentary in the guise of a science fiction novel.
But, good gravy, there was a lot of talk about food.
The Weapon is not poorly written, the idea and premise of the book is interesting, as are the characters, places and events. However, this was easily one of the most boring books I have ever read in my life.
Williamson is a pro at describing action sequences. When there is combat or good old fashioned breaking and entering (espionage?), Williamson shines. Unfortunately, action sequences account for about five percent of this novel. The rest is mostly talking about preparing for or recovering from the action. Or training. Or food. Lots of talk about food.
There is an overt criticism of our society, as seen through hundreds of years of continuing down the path we’re on, which I appreciated. Pitting the forces of Earth against the protagonist’s home planet was an effective means of social commentary in the guise of a science fiction novel.
But, good gravy, there was a lot of talk about food.
September 6, 2012
Story:
I liked the story it seemed a lot like Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, which is one of my favorite books. However I had a lot of issues with this book.
Blood and Gore:
There is blood and gore in every battle scene. I don't mind it that much, but this wasn't PG-13 gore this was R gore, and I couldn't stomach it.
Swearing:
I love military sci-fi which means there is going to be swearing, who ever heard of a sailor who didn't swear. However, I can't stand it if there is an f-word every other sentence.
Sex:
The other thing I didn't like is that some sort of sexual encounter in every other chapter. It was never narrated, but it was talked about in detail.
Overall:
Overall I would stick to Starship Troopers. Not recommended for anyone under 18.
I liked the story it seemed a lot like Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, which is one of my favorite books. However I had a lot of issues with this book.
Blood and Gore:
There is blood and gore in every battle scene. I don't mind it that much, but this wasn't PG-13 gore this was R gore, and I couldn't stomach it.
Swearing:
I love military sci-fi which means there is going to be swearing, who ever heard of a sailor who didn't swear. However, I can't stand it if there is an f-word every other sentence.
Sex:
The other thing I didn't like is that some sort of sexual encounter in every other chapter. It was never narrated, but it was talked about in detail.
Overall:
Overall I would stick to Starship Troopers. Not recommended for anyone under 18.
October 29, 2015
Another strangely paced book. 90% of the book is telling the back story to the books cover blurb, then 5% describes the genocide of billions, and the remaining 5% actually tells the story promised on the cover. My main problem with the book was the authors note telling the reader how to judge the main character. If the author spent more time developing character and context (show not tell) this authors note would be entirely redundant.
January 8, 2008
Great science-fiction/military adventure story set in the future, with a plot not unlike The Moon is a Harsh Mistress but less focused on the politics and more on the training, equipping, and fighting of the elite force developed to defend a small nation's right to be left alone. The protagonist is well-crafted, transforming seamlessly from a kid to a warrior to a father.
June 9, 2016
Great series
Enjoying the freehold world view looking forward to the next book in the series. While the protagonist was not as like able at first, by the end of the story I was impressed
Enjoying the freehold world view looking forward to the next book in the series. While the protagonist was not as like able at first, by the end of the story I was impressed
October 5, 2016
This may be the single most offensive book I've ever read, and I'm including Mein Kampf on that list.
December 21, 2020
The Weapon is another book in the Freehold series. We step back here in time to the period before the UN invaded Freehold, described in Freehold. When the situation was dire, a group of undercover operatives from Freehold wreaked havoc on Earth's population and infrastructure through terrorist acts. This is the story of their leader, Kenneth Chinran.
Chinran enlists in the Freehold armed forces, and we get to follow along with him as he goes through basic and advanced training, culminating on becoming an Operative, something like our modern day Delta Force, except probably even better equipped and tougher. He is sent on missions to various planets, either alone or with forces of varying sizes, and faces challenges of varying degrees.
The book is full of political commentary, comparing the Freehold governing philosophy with that of the UN, which rules Earth and a number of other planets.
"Their (The UN) definition of civil rights was what the Roman Legions gave their subjects - the right to complain, pray and do nothing. We defined freedom as the right to be stupid. If you aren't allowed to ruin your life because of the 'greater good of the whole', you aren't really free, you're a cog."
Very libertarian in flavor.
On undercover operations:
"I actually hae the ideal build for an Operative. Depending on dress and presentation, I can look like a skinny, wirey laborer; a slim academic; a lean, handsome businessman; a career military officer or adminstrator or a shaggy college punk. Huge vid show muscles and chiseled features are unneccessary and a hindrance. The sniveling geeks will be the death of you."
Oh to have known this when I was young.
I had to laugh when I read this:
"I've found that there's very few personnel problems that can't be resolved by a suitable application of a boot to the head."
Some political ranting that sounds all too familiar:
"They (the UN) even taxed shit. Not directly, but there was a tax on the water and sewer service, even though a theoretically private company handled the task. Yes, they recycled it for minerals, energy and fertilizer, just as we do. Yes, they then sold it. So why tax it? Apparently, just because they could. There was even a news load where some mouthpiece for policy recommended a tax on something, I didn't catch what, on the grounds that 'it's one of the few things not yet taxed for revenue.'"
On the subject of banks:
"They do it with user fees. The more they've been restricted from charging interest, the more fees they charge, and then some...Late payment fee. Early payment fee. Payment by comm processing fee. Payment in person processing fee. Automated payment fee. Penalty for paying ahead on the account, penalty for excessive activity, penalty for insufficient activity, charge for business transaction, charge for personal account transaction, statement charge, monthly service charge, annual account charge, withdrawal charge, deposit charge, transfer fee, service representative consultancy fee, cash transaction fee, NSF fee, overdraft charge and negative balance charge..."
He wrote this before Dodd-Frank. How many of these fees does your bank charge?
About the Earth news services:
"It's not 'news', it's 'Entertainment,' with a capital 'E.' The have so little content padded by some much repetition, crap, half-assed speculation by experts who know dick and hawking of worthless merchandise, it's hard for a rational person to pick out the few gems of actual intel."
Michael Jackson, Natalie Holloway and Casey Anthony, anyone?
This is a really good story about a man who dedicates his life to serving his planet, even when it takes him past the edge of his humanity. Good action, fun political brain teasers, and a strong central character keep this one lively.
Chinran enlists in the Freehold armed forces, and we get to follow along with him as he goes through basic and advanced training, culminating on becoming an Operative, something like our modern day Delta Force, except probably even better equipped and tougher. He is sent on missions to various planets, either alone or with forces of varying sizes, and faces challenges of varying degrees.
The book is full of political commentary, comparing the Freehold governing philosophy with that of the UN, which rules Earth and a number of other planets.
"Their (The UN) definition of civil rights was what the Roman Legions gave their subjects - the right to complain, pray and do nothing. We defined freedom as the right to be stupid. If you aren't allowed to ruin your life because of the 'greater good of the whole', you aren't really free, you're a cog."
Very libertarian in flavor.
On undercover operations:
"I actually hae the ideal build for an Operative. Depending on dress and presentation, I can look like a skinny, wirey laborer; a slim academic; a lean, handsome businessman; a career military officer or adminstrator or a shaggy college punk. Huge vid show muscles and chiseled features are unneccessary and a hindrance. The sniveling geeks will be the death of you."
Oh to have known this when I was young.
I had to laugh when I read this:
"I've found that there's very few personnel problems that can't be resolved by a suitable application of a boot to the head."
Some political ranting that sounds all too familiar:
"They (the UN) even taxed shit. Not directly, but there was a tax on the water and sewer service, even though a theoretically private company handled the task. Yes, they recycled it for minerals, energy and fertilizer, just as we do. Yes, they then sold it. So why tax it? Apparently, just because they could. There was even a news load where some mouthpiece for policy recommended a tax on something, I didn't catch what, on the grounds that 'it's one of the few things not yet taxed for revenue.'"
On the subject of banks:
"They do it with user fees. The more they've been restricted from charging interest, the more fees they charge, and then some...Late payment fee. Early payment fee. Payment by comm processing fee. Payment in person processing fee. Automated payment fee. Penalty for paying ahead on the account, penalty for excessive activity, penalty for insufficient activity, charge for business transaction, charge for personal account transaction, statement charge, monthly service charge, annual account charge, withdrawal charge, deposit charge, transfer fee, service representative consultancy fee, cash transaction fee, NSF fee, overdraft charge and negative balance charge..."
He wrote this before Dodd-Frank. How many of these fees does your bank charge?
About the Earth news services:
"It's not 'news', it's 'Entertainment,' with a capital 'E.' The have so little content padded by some much repetition, crap, half-assed speculation by experts who know dick and hawking of worthless merchandise, it's hard for a rational person to pick out the few gems of actual intel."
Michael Jackson, Natalie Holloway and Casey Anthony, anyone?
This is a really good story about a man who dedicates his life to serving his planet, even when it takes him past the edge of his humanity. Good action, fun political brain teasers, and a strong central character keep this one lively.
January 20, 2025
Oh, man, did this book anger me. So here's part of the blurb from the back cover:
Kenneth Chinran ... joined the military and was recruited for an elite deep cover unit .... Then he was sent by his star nation to infiltrate a fascistic, militaristic planet--Earth. He lived in deep cover for years, marrying and having a daughter. Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city.
From this description, I thought, oh, interesting. The first novel was about a woman from Earth who has to run to Freehold for reasons, and then slowly learns about the libertarian society that she only knows through propaganda from Earth. So now we're going to get the same thing, but in reverse! Ken is going to be trained, then we're going to see his views of Earth as a sleeper agent change over time, if he's married with a kid before he gets activated.
This book is ~650 pp long. Ken is sent to Earth around page 400. The baby appears (still a fetus) around page five hundred, and unless I missed something, there's no marriage. It's just with a squadmate. So, like, even talking about these aspects of the book feels like I'm going spoiler crazy, but ... this is literally the back of the book!
The majority of the book is Ken going through training (it's a Baen book; I think that's contractually necessary), then getting assigned to different tasks and being a mindless, oftentimes racist, murderer. But sometimes he cries over it, so whatever. Ho-hum. It's mostly just tiresome. Finally they get to Earth. Okay, great! Here will be the promised 'fish out of water' story! Instead, it's just him bitching for like 150 pages, then committing some mass murder (which I didn't quote, but is also given away on the back cover, so I'm not ... spoiling here, I guess?), and eventually - well, okay, I don't want to spoil the last like 30 pages or so, unlike the back cover itself.
This book was such a letdown. I smiled a little when Kendra, protagonist of the first novel, showed up here, but she doesn't even get a line. Ken tells us pretty early on that whoever's reading this probably won't like him, and he's right. I don't like him. And I feel like I wasted my time.
Still, I think Williamson's writing is very solid, and I think the theory behind this series has such great potential, that I might give book three a try. Someday.
Kenneth Chinran ... joined the military and was recruited for an elite deep cover unit .... Then he was sent by his star nation to infiltrate a fascistic, militaristic planet--Earth. He lived in deep cover for years, marrying and having a daughter. Then the Earth forces attacked his home system, and he and his team came out of hiding, attacking and destroying the infrastructure of the crowded planet, disabling transportation and communications in city after city.
From this description, I thought, oh, interesting. The first novel was about a woman from Earth who has to run to Freehold for reasons, and then slowly learns about the libertarian society that she only knows through propaganda from Earth. So now we're going to get the same thing, but in reverse! Ken is going to be trained, then we're going to see his views of Earth as a sleeper agent change over time, if he's married with a kid before he gets activated.
This book is ~650 pp long. Ken is sent to Earth around page 400. The baby appears (still a fetus) around page five hundred, and unless I missed something, there's no marriage. It's just with a squadmate. So, like, even talking about these aspects of the book feels like I'm going spoiler crazy, but ... this is literally the back of the book!
The majority of the book is Ken going through training (it's a Baen book; I think that's contractually necessary), then getting assigned to different tasks and being a mindless, oftentimes racist, murderer. But sometimes he cries over it, so whatever. Ho-hum. It's mostly just tiresome. Finally they get to Earth. Okay, great! Here will be the promised 'fish out of water' story! Instead, it's just him bitching for like 150 pages, then committing some mass murder (which I didn't quote, but is also given away on the back cover, so I'm not ... spoiling here, I guess?), and eventually - well, okay, I don't want to spoil the last like 30 pages or so, unlike the back cover itself.
This book was such a letdown. I smiled a little when Kendra, protagonist of the first novel, showed up here, but she doesn't even get a line. Ken tells us pretty early on that whoever's reading this probably won't like him, and he's right. I don't like him. And I feel like I wasted my time.
Still, I think Williamson's writing is very solid, and I think the theory behind this series has such great potential, that I might give book three a try. Someday.
January 21, 2018
Kenneth Chinran enlists in the Freehold military and becomes, after thorough and harsh training, an Operative, essentially Freehold Black Ops.
The Freehold assists the monolithic UN, which controls most human populated worlds, in their failing counterinsurgency on the world of Mtali. There, the Operatives gain valuable combat experience, while also embarrassing the highly inefficient UN armed forces. When the UN goes to war with the Freehold, the Operatives have been smuggled into Earth society in order to sow devastation and terror.
Oh do they do so. 3 billion casualties worth.
Hell of a read, and a fantastic polemic against collective thought, authoritarianism, and intensely pro individual liberty.
Not to mention parts of this book are an instruction manual for survivalism, small unit tactics, and how a technological society is incredibly vulnerable to small cells of highly trained, utterly ruthless killers who can target infrastructure to induce massed casualties.
Easy to see why this is Mad Mike's most popular book.
Highly recommended.
The Freehold assists the monolithic UN, which controls most human populated worlds, in their failing counterinsurgency on the world of Mtali. There, the Operatives gain valuable combat experience, while also embarrassing the highly inefficient UN armed forces. When the UN goes to war with the Freehold, the Operatives have been smuggled into Earth society in order to sow devastation and terror.
Oh do they do so. 3 billion casualties worth.
Hell of a read, and a fantastic polemic against collective thought, authoritarianism, and intensely pro individual liberty.
Not to mention parts of this book are an instruction manual for survivalism, small unit tactics, and how a technological society is incredibly vulnerable to small cells of highly trained, utterly ruthless killers who can target infrastructure to induce massed casualties.
Easy to see why this is Mad Mike's most popular book.
Highly recommended.
October 17, 2022
This book is like attempting to mate with a porcupine while drunk. It's stupid, executed ineptly, and no matter what, you're going to end up miserable by the end of it.
Basically, this HARD MAN goes through HARD TRAINING to make him HARD and then goes around blowing up cities and crap, and wonders why people don't like him for blowing up their cities.
Pass.
Oh, and Mike--why the F does the HARD MAN training have a body count above the sub-single-digit decimals, and why is the only way out walking through a gauntlet of being beaten up? The way out of the SEALs is walking up to a bell and ringing it in front of everyone, no strings attached, because the SEALs only want guys who WANT to be there. If you make quitters walk through a gauntlet, then the only people who are gonna quit are the bravest and toughest--you know, the guys you WANT in the special forces.
It's like you got all your ideas for military theory from a children's book written by Charles II of Spain.
Basically, this HARD MAN goes through HARD TRAINING to make him HARD and then goes around blowing up cities and crap, and wonders why people don't like him for blowing up their cities.
Pass.
Oh, and Mike--why the F does the HARD MAN training have a body count above the sub-single-digit decimals, and why is the only way out walking through a gauntlet of being beaten up? The way out of the SEALs is walking up to a bell and ringing it in front of everyone, no strings attached, because the SEALs only want guys who WANT to be there. If you make quitters walk through a gauntlet, then the only people who are gonna quit are the bravest and toughest--you know, the guys you WANT in the special forces.
It's like you got all your ideas for military theory from a children's book written by Charles II of Spain.
December 24, 2023
Literary Trifecta for sure
For fans of Heinlein's Starship Troopers who wished for a sequel, maybe a series, here is a series just as good if not better. If you view liberalism and political machinations with disgust look no further, and lastly about all books in this series can be a stand alone novel and good ones at that. In the course of reading this book, I have found myself substituting the term UN with another: U*A. In my youth, it was a given: there is right and wrong, love of country, duty honor and responsibility. Even the President was regarded with respect and dignity. What happened? My wife's answer: "Times change". An unfortunately true answer, but beggers the response " Whose fault is it?" The mirror makes a powerful prosecutor. Sorry I don't mean to make this critique a political forum. Bottom line for this book and others- if you like military or sci-fi, or both this series is for you.
Mr Williamson, thank you for a wonderful story and for making SOME of us think.
Bill Hodges
For fans of Heinlein's Starship Troopers who wished for a sequel, maybe a series, here is a series just as good if not better. If you view liberalism and political machinations with disgust look no further, and lastly about all books in this series can be a stand alone novel and good ones at that. In the course of reading this book, I have found myself substituting the term UN with another: U*A. In my youth, it was a given: there is right and wrong, love of country, duty honor and responsibility. Even the President was regarded with respect and dignity. What happened? My wife's answer: "Times change". An unfortunately true answer, but beggers the response " Whose fault is it?" The mirror makes a powerful prosecutor. Sorry I don't mean to make this critique a political forum. Bottom line for this book and others- if you like military or sci-fi, or both this series is for you.
Mr Williamson, thank you for a wonderful story and for making SOME of us think.
Bill Hodges
August 6, 2018
Interesting, gritty and not for the faint of heart.
There is the Freehold Military, then there are the blazers, then there are the Operatives and then there is Kenneth Chinran, The Weapon....
The book reads in parallel to Freehold and follows Kenneth Chinran, the operative fated to lead the covert mission to Earth, in case Earth and The Freehold came to blows....
The book begins as Kenneth Chinran is a rookie and ends up... well after the peace treaty between Earth and The Freehold of Grainne.
Not wanting to spoil anything.
Really good read, fast-paced... Enjoyable if you like military SF
There is the Freehold Military, then there are the blazers, then there are the Operatives and then there is Kenneth Chinran, The Weapon....
The book reads in parallel to Freehold and follows Kenneth Chinran, the operative fated to lead the covert mission to Earth, in case Earth and The Freehold came to blows....
The book begins as Kenneth Chinran is a rookie and ends up... well after the peace treaty between Earth and The Freehold of Grainne.
Not wanting to spoil anything.
Really good read, fast-paced... Enjoyable if you like military SF
May 4, 2017
Military SF. The first book in this series, "Freehold." was a very good read. This one is also a good read, but not quite at the same level. The action was excellent, but the characters seemed slightly less well developed and one does not feel much investment them. Williamson's depiction of Earth is highly dystopian and polemic, almost to the point of being propaganda for a radically libertarian world view, rather than a projection of current conditions into a somewhat believable future.
September 12, 2021
The book started a bit slow as the author was building the culture around his story. Williamson does have an eye for detail around military training and tactics. Once the story got going there was plenty of action and interesting twists.
November 20, 2023
Not a bad book at all, if a little long winded. The action was decent and the world felt pretty real. The political and religious commentary I could do without but I see why they are in the story. This was good enough that I will probably check out another book from the author.
June 29, 2017
An excellent book in the Freehold series, showing the other side of the war that was told of in Freehold.
October 6, 2017
Fantastic continuation of a successfull series, really convincing world building
June 3, 2018
Really hard read. Makes one think of the ethics of war, military targets, and what constitutes terrorism.
April 24, 2019
Hell with a heart
The story is good and the dualities of a warrior and human come in to play , I enjoyed the read and the ending was appropriate
The story is good and the dualities of a warrior and human come in to play , I enjoyed the read and the ending was appropriate
June 18, 2019
If you liked Freehold, and if you can handle the diary-style, you'll like this.
If either of those questions are answered with a no, you won't.
If either of those questions are answered with a no, you won't.
January 25, 2020
A very good read.
Very well written, tight story, interesting universe. The whole series is a hoot and fun to read. Really enjoyed this book.
Very well written, tight story, interesting universe. The whole series is a hoot and fun to read. Really enjoyed this book.
July 30, 2020
Says it all from a true soldiers point of view thank you to the author
Says it all from a true soldiers point of view thank you to the author. From one soldier. To another!
Says it all from a true soldiers point of view thank you to the author. From one soldier. To another!
April 19, 2021
Working my way through the Freehold series.
Somewhat formulaic, but uite entertaining.
Scathing, prescient political commentary, considering that this was originally published in '05.
Somewhat formulaic, but uite entertaining.
Scathing, prescient political commentary, considering that this was originally published in '05.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews