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Jon & Lobo #4
Children No More
No child should ever be a soldier.
Jon Moore knew that better than most, having learned to fight to survive before he'd hit puberty. So when a former comrade, Alissa Lim, asks for his help in rescuing a group of children pressed into service by rebels on a planet no one cares to save, he agrees. Only later does he realize he's signed up to do far more than he'd ever imagined.
Jon's commitment hurtles him and Lobo, the hyper-intelligent assault vehicle who is his only real friend, into confrontations with the horrors the children have experienced and with a dark chapter from his past. The mission grows ever more complicated as they deal with:
• An assault on a rebel fortress deep in the jungle
• A government whose full agenda is never clear
•A woman Jon once loved and who still loves him—but who will sacrifice anything for her cause
• The best con man they've ever known
• And, toughest of all, their own demons, as we learn for the first time what happened after his home planet's government yanked Jon's sister out of his life
Jon and Lobo rush straight into the darkness at the heart of humanity to save a group of child soldiers—and then face an even tougher challenge: When we've trained our children to kill, what do we do with them when the fighting is over?
Because the plight of these children is so near to the author, he is donating 100% of his hardback proceeds (including his advance) to a non-profit that helps to reintegrate children soldiers in the Congo. For every hardback book that sells, Falling Whistles will get a donation from the author. (www.fallingwhistles.com). For more details, please see www.childrennomore.com
Jon Moore knew that better than most, having learned to fight to survive before he'd hit puberty. So when a former comrade, Alissa Lim, asks for his help in rescuing a group of children pressed into service by rebels on a planet no one cares to save, he agrees. Only later does he realize he's signed up to do far more than he'd ever imagined.
Jon's commitment hurtles him and Lobo, the hyper-intelligent assault vehicle who is his only real friend, into confrontations with the horrors the children have experienced and with a dark chapter from his past. The mission grows ever more complicated as they deal with:
• An assault on a rebel fortress deep in the jungle
• A government whose full agenda is never clear
•A woman Jon once loved and who still loves him—but who will sacrifice anything for her cause
• The best con man they've ever known
• And, toughest of all, their own demons, as we learn for the first time what happened after his home planet's government yanked Jon's sister out of his life
Jon and Lobo rush straight into the darkness at the heart of humanity to save a group of child soldiers—and then face an even tougher challenge: When we've trained our children to kill, what do we do with them when the fighting is over?
Because the plight of these children is so near to the author, he is donating 100% of his hardback proceeds (including his advance) to a non-profit that helps to reintegrate children soldiers in the Congo. For every hardback book that sells, Falling Whistles will get a donation from the author. (www.fallingwhistles.com). For more details, please see www.childrennomore.com
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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160 people want to read
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February 28, 2015
Mark Van Name's Children No More is a hard, heavy book. I'm not sure I can recommend it enough. It's one of those books that makes me re-think things and stay in touch--deeply in touch--with how I feel. I'm not sure, just now, if I'll ever be able to fully say why I like it so much, why it moves me as it does, but here's a stab at that. I hope you pick it up and give it a read, and I hope you find it moves you to a depth worthy of taking the trip.
I say the book is hard and heavy because that's how I experience the emotional impact of the story. Van Name pulls few punches in the beginning and the end of the book. He doesn't shy from the awful truth even when he does spare the reader some of the horrors of what child soldiers face and what other survivors, in other contexts, struggle to cope with. I picked up Children No More because I found out just enough about it, and about Mark's personal connection to the book, to be drawn to it. I kept reading because his writing is both honest and compassionate, facing down trauma with the committment to do the right thing, to remain human in spite of inhumanity.
This is the fourth novel in Van Name's Jon & Lobo series, but the first of his books that I've read. I'm looking forward to reading the earlier books because Children No More gives you a prequel-style look at Jon's past, why he is the way he is, while telling a story set after the first three books. It's going to be fun to read how he got to this part of his life, all while knowing where his story started. You get hints of those earlier novels here and there, and a few characters from them reappear. But Van Name gives you just enough info to understand those characters, and those past stories, without needing to have read the earlier book--and without giving away what happened.
I find myself not wanting to summarize the story arc - not just to avoid spoilers, but because what kept me reading was the emotional story within the events. What held me to the page - especially during the last half of the book - was the uncertainty of how Jon, the main character, would handle the situations he was in. The plot of the story is good, serving up developments that the reader expects while offering a few well-considered surprises. But the heart of the story is Jon's heart: why he decides to do what he does, how he feels about it, and how his choices influence his relationships with those around him, both past and present.
In structure, the story is two inter-related stories. The prequel characteristic comes through via memories from his childhood, well over 100 years from the present in Jon's life. Most of the story is focused on current events, but Jon's memories haunt him. Reading the memories, you gradually understand, and anticipate, the bind he will be in as present events unfold. As the book nears the end, the two stories become intertwined in Jon's mind, clearly showing how his past influences his present--and how his present can influence his past.
Children No More is a joy to read--if one is willing to understand "joy" in a weighty and profound way. Van Name brings Jon through a crisis that touches raw nerves and ressurrects memories Jon would rather be free of. That crisis, and Jon's response to it, will hold your attention, I believe. And the ending delivers on the promise of the story, though I won't say how in this review.
If you like science fiction, tortured heroes, or a really good read, go get this book and read it. Better yet, if you like a story that has real emotional impact, makes you think about your own choices, and leaves you feeling changed, not wanting the catharsis to end, then go buy it and read it. And recommend it to your friends.
I say the book is hard and heavy because that's how I experience the emotional impact of the story. Van Name pulls few punches in the beginning and the end of the book. He doesn't shy from the awful truth even when he does spare the reader some of the horrors of what child soldiers face and what other survivors, in other contexts, struggle to cope with. I picked up Children No More because I found out just enough about it, and about Mark's personal connection to the book, to be drawn to it. I kept reading because his writing is both honest and compassionate, facing down trauma with the committment to do the right thing, to remain human in spite of inhumanity.
This is the fourth novel in Van Name's Jon & Lobo series, but the first of his books that I've read. I'm looking forward to reading the earlier books because Children No More gives you a prequel-style look at Jon's past, why he is the way he is, while telling a story set after the first three books. It's going to be fun to read how he got to this part of his life, all while knowing where his story started. You get hints of those earlier novels here and there, and a few characters from them reappear. But Van Name gives you just enough info to understand those characters, and those past stories, without needing to have read the earlier book--and without giving away what happened.
I find myself not wanting to summarize the story arc - not just to avoid spoilers, but because what kept me reading was the emotional story within the events. What held me to the page - especially during the last half of the book - was the uncertainty of how Jon, the main character, would handle the situations he was in. The plot of the story is good, serving up developments that the reader expects while offering a few well-considered surprises. But the heart of the story is Jon's heart: why he decides to do what he does, how he feels about it, and how his choices influence his relationships with those around him, both past and present.
In structure, the story is two inter-related stories. The prequel characteristic comes through via memories from his childhood, well over 100 years from the present in Jon's life. Most of the story is focused on current events, but Jon's memories haunt him. Reading the memories, you gradually understand, and anticipate, the bind he will be in as present events unfold. As the book nears the end, the two stories become intertwined in Jon's mind, clearly showing how his past influences his present--and how his present can influence his past.
Children No More is a joy to read--if one is willing to understand "joy" in a weighty and profound way. Van Name brings Jon through a crisis that touches raw nerves and ressurrects memories Jon would rather be free of. That crisis, and Jon's response to it, will hold your attention, I believe. And the ending delivers on the promise of the story, though I won't say how in this review.
If you like science fiction, tortured heroes, or a really good read, go get this book and read it. Better yet, if you like a story that has real emotional impact, makes you think about your own choices, and leaves you feeling changed, not wanting the catharsis to end, then go buy it and read it. And recommend it to your friends.
May 3, 2012
Very recommended sf here, though not without a couple potential missteps in pacing and over explanation of decisions. Our sentient high tech spaceship doesn't get too many chances to show off in terms of firepower and ship to ship combat -- but with all of Lobo's sarcasm, and a demonstration of his/its abilities as hacker, surveillance, and command and control. This is a novel which ruminates on the costs of violence and very much in particular on the psychological damage done to child soldiers; the whiz-bang fireworks of space opera or military sf are a bit on pause. It's a 2010 novel which has been tragically overlooked; it was not on the Locus recommended reading list, not in the Hugo long tail -- there's quite a quiet something to this novel and I encourage more people to give the book a try. And the previous books in the series are not required reading to jump into Children No More, if my experience here is any indication. I really enjoyed getting to know Jon Moore through the use of the alternating origin story chapters; as the adult Moore finds himself trying to help former child soldiers make some sense of their lives, he is reliving his own, violent, militarized childhood in dreams and flashbacks. (Before I get to the conclusion, I want to say another word about the "over explanation" comment; it is actually for this reason (among several others which are more obvious) that Children No More is very recommended for fans of Ender's Game; in that novel, we see Ender Wiggin work consequences out in detail in his head, and here there's a similar use of Jon-Lobo interaction to present the full extent of the thought process behind decisions. OK, back to the book.) In Children No More, super-soldier Jon Moore is called upon to do something fairly extraordinary: not fight. To stay around and deal with the political aftermath of a military engagement, to protect something he cares about rather than destroy or acquire a target. To fulfill this particular mission, Jon (and Lobo of course!) have to devise a hacked-together high stakes plan to out-politic, out-bluff, out-media their opponents. When these overtly hidden plans come to fruition, I got big grin right along with Jon. In conclusion, though, I wonder if Van Name has written Jon into a non-violent corner; he's learned a lot and grown during this book, which is saying something. I suppose we'll find out pretty soon in the next book, No Going Back, at the end of May.
October 31, 2010
While every Jon and Lobo novel is worth reading, ‘Children No More’ by Mark L. Van Name is the story fans have been waiting for. In between the fast-paced action, plot twists and humour part of Jon’s own tale is told.
Fourth in the series of novels featuring Jon Moore and his companion, the sentient PCAV (Predator-Class Assault Vehicle) named Lobo, ‘Children No More’ begins with a series of disturbing holographic messages. They sent to Jon by a former colleague, Alyssa Lim. She has a job for him and Jon is interested. Children are being turned into soldiers by rebels on the planet Tunami and if Jon has a weakness, it’s children. He cannot sit by while a child is suffering and this time there are over five hundred who need his help. Jon accepts the assignment and in the process both he and the author pull together a team of players from the previous novels. Jack and Maggie from ‘Slanted Jack’ are back and former members of the mercenary outfit, SAW, also return. While I always enjoy meeting new characters invented by Van Name, being reunited with previous favourites was a treat.
There is a personal side to every story about Jon and, to some extent Lobo, but more so in this one because of Jon’s childhood. The trials he faced during his formative years are touched upon during all the three previous novels in this series, but the inclusion of chapters set on Dump Island make ‘Children No More’ both more interesting and heart wrenching in turns. Mark Van Name has taken this personal journey, however, and given it a plot beyond the scope of reformation. He's added in obvious and not so subtle schemes and twists that keep you interested in the main plot, that of rescuing the children from the rebels, while revealing much of Jon's past at the same time.
The Dump Island chapters were very stirring. I loved reading them as much as they saddened and angered me. I detected a change in the author’s writing in these flashbacks. It became more personal. This is Jon's story. Although I’d like to see a more light-hearted novel next, I cannot deny that I would also like to learn the next chapter of Jon’s tale, that of what actually occurred on Aggro.
There are lighter moments in this novel, too, and the humour any follower of the series has come to expect. Lobo is at his sarcastic best, even when he is struggling to understand the depth of Jon’s connection with the children and the situation.
This line in particular had me smiling: ‘For some reason I don't understand, every now and again, with decisions that are particularly emotional, you waste a great deal of time denying conclusions you've already reached.’ This is typical Lobo and it illustrates not only his relationship with Jon but the struggle Jon has with his own emotional reactions to certain situations.
Unlike previous Jon and Lobo novels, the action did seem to slow a little towards the middle of the book. I found I did not mind this so much. The issues the author explores here are worth taking your time over because we get to see a much larger portion of Jon's childhood and a much deeper understanding of his character. Besides learning Jon’s personal story, Mark Van Name looks at other issues here, the differences between weakness and strength and what it is to be a child, a soldier and a human being. There are many poignant and moving moments, either in action or thought. Ideas that crop up in the wrong places but that would naturally occur were you taking part in the action: The human reaction to killing someone, the ways in which the boys bond and the fact that the children are desperate for an influence.
At first, I thought Jon would be helping these boys because of his unique perspective on the situation, but it soon became obvious that he hoped to be helped and maybe even healed a little by the process.
There is a scene where the children dance in the rain, being children, the adults join them, remembering being children, that I found really touching. It was one of those lighter moments that carried heavier import. I got all sniffly. I’m not used to doing that in a Jon and Lobo novel.
Of course, it would not be a Jon and Lobo book without some communication with appliances. Jon eavesdrops on everything from security cameras to parachuting harnesses, tuning out after the machine conversation inevitably devolves into an exchange of bragging rights. I always find the fact that he has to either flatter or insult appliances to gain their cooperation very amusing and the part where the parachute harnesses all answer in unison about the lack of thanks they get from their users had me laughing out loud.
As always there is a scene of adrenaline rush. This time it’s a parachute jump with talking, yelling, bragging harnesses that seem to get more out of the action than the soldiers wearing them.
Finally, I’d like to mention the afterword. Comments from the author regarding his own work are always welcome but, in this case, Mark Van Name had a bit more story to tell. This novel had a more personal edge than simply telling more of Jon’s own tale and he briefly talks about his own experiences while touching on the plight of child soldiers in the world today. A sober conclusion in keeping with the deeper nature of this novel.
He also talks about Jon’s departure from his usual modus operandi: ‘I also knew in that same flash of insight that the book would let me depart from the classic outsider hero story structure and instead force Jon to do the one thing outsider heroes never do: Stay after the fighting is done.’
I wonder if we will see more of this behaviour in future novels. Despite his journey though painful memories, perhaps Jon takes more away from Tunami than the satisfaction of having saved all those children.
Written for and published at sfcrowsnest.com
Fourth in the series of novels featuring Jon Moore and his companion, the sentient PCAV (Predator-Class Assault Vehicle) named Lobo, ‘Children No More’ begins with a series of disturbing holographic messages. They sent to Jon by a former colleague, Alyssa Lim. She has a job for him and Jon is interested. Children are being turned into soldiers by rebels on the planet Tunami and if Jon has a weakness, it’s children. He cannot sit by while a child is suffering and this time there are over five hundred who need his help. Jon accepts the assignment and in the process both he and the author pull together a team of players from the previous novels. Jack and Maggie from ‘Slanted Jack’ are back and former members of the mercenary outfit, SAW, also return. While I always enjoy meeting new characters invented by Van Name, being reunited with previous favourites was a treat.
There is a personal side to every story about Jon and, to some extent Lobo, but more so in this one because of Jon’s childhood. The trials he faced during his formative years are touched upon during all the three previous novels in this series, but the inclusion of chapters set on Dump Island make ‘Children No More’ both more interesting and heart wrenching in turns. Mark Van Name has taken this personal journey, however, and given it a plot beyond the scope of reformation. He's added in obvious and not so subtle schemes and twists that keep you interested in the main plot, that of rescuing the children from the rebels, while revealing much of Jon's past at the same time.
The Dump Island chapters were very stirring. I loved reading them as much as they saddened and angered me. I detected a change in the author’s writing in these flashbacks. It became more personal. This is Jon's story. Although I’d like to see a more light-hearted novel next, I cannot deny that I would also like to learn the next chapter of Jon’s tale, that of what actually occurred on Aggro.
There are lighter moments in this novel, too, and the humour any follower of the series has come to expect. Lobo is at his sarcastic best, even when he is struggling to understand the depth of Jon’s connection with the children and the situation.
This line in particular had me smiling: ‘For some reason I don't understand, every now and again, with decisions that are particularly emotional, you waste a great deal of time denying conclusions you've already reached.’ This is typical Lobo and it illustrates not only his relationship with Jon but the struggle Jon has with his own emotional reactions to certain situations.
Unlike previous Jon and Lobo novels, the action did seem to slow a little towards the middle of the book. I found I did not mind this so much. The issues the author explores here are worth taking your time over because we get to see a much larger portion of Jon's childhood and a much deeper understanding of his character. Besides learning Jon’s personal story, Mark Van Name looks at other issues here, the differences between weakness and strength and what it is to be a child, a soldier and a human being. There are many poignant and moving moments, either in action or thought. Ideas that crop up in the wrong places but that would naturally occur were you taking part in the action: The human reaction to killing someone, the ways in which the boys bond and the fact that the children are desperate for an influence.
At first, I thought Jon would be helping these boys because of his unique perspective on the situation, but it soon became obvious that he hoped to be helped and maybe even healed a little by the process.
There is a scene where the children dance in the rain, being children, the adults join them, remembering being children, that I found really touching. It was one of those lighter moments that carried heavier import. I got all sniffly. I’m not used to doing that in a Jon and Lobo novel.
Of course, it would not be a Jon and Lobo book without some communication with appliances. Jon eavesdrops on everything from security cameras to parachuting harnesses, tuning out after the machine conversation inevitably devolves into an exchange of bragging rights. I always find the fact that he has to either flatter or insult appliances to gain their cooperation very amusing and the part where the parachute harnesses all answer in unison about the lack of thanks they get from their users had me laughing out loud.
As always there is a scene of adrenaline rush. This time it’s a parachute jump with talking, yelling, bragging harnesses that seem to get more out of the action than the soldiers wearing them.
Finally, I’d like to mention the afterword. Comments from the author regarding his own work are always welcome but, in this case, Mark Van Name had a bit more story to tell. This novel had a more personal edge than simply telling more of Jon’s own tale and he briefly talks about his own experiences while touching on the plight of child soldiers in the world today. A sober conclusion in keeping with the deeper nature of this novel.
He also talks about Jon’s departure from his usual modus operandi: ‘I also knew in that same flash of insight that the book would let me depart from the classic outsider hero story structure and instead force Jon to do the one thing outsider heroes never do: Stay after the fighting is done.’
I wonder if we will see more of this behaviour in future novels. Despite his journey though painful memories, perhaps Jon takes more away from Tunami than the satisfaction of having saved all those children.
Written for and published at sfcrowsnest.com
June 30, 2013
Two stars in some ways, four in others.
First, Van Name has taken an important real-world message and embedded it in his world in a quite believable way, so good for him. It was a good story in that regard.
And full marks for the parallel reveal of Jon's past and how it's relevant to the current story.
There's never much doubt that he's going to pull off whatever it is he's planning, and the much-dragged-out tension re Jack's arrival is wasted. We never really doubt that he'll be there. And frankly, the Big Reveal is a major letdown. That's it? Your big play? Really?
There are too many characters who just stand around and watch or listen; really they're just there so Jon has someone to talk to. Not that he ever tells them anything useful, and that's just the first problem I have with this series.
I've only read two of the books in this series, and I am sure I already have the outline of the others. They go like this:
Jon's bored. The phone rings. We get the setup. Then Jon starts not telling people stuff while he plans. Enter a woman. Jon agonizes and then spends the rest of the book making her upset and not telling her why. Possibly two women. Not that he tells men anything either. But of course he tells Lobo - unnecessarily, because Lobo has already figured it out in the giant brain he got from Marvin the Paranoid Android. In the end, he wins and he explains, and everyone goes, "oh, you! You're so cute when you don't tell us stuff!"
We never learn why Jon has never had Lobo reprogrammed with a less smug and annoying personality. Maybe something more like Neal Asher's AIs would work.
Lobo is very close to infinitely powerful, and like Strak in Doctor Who he always wants to pound something, but he never really gets to do anything that would reveal what he can do. Well, gosh, folks, I can fly but I never do because then people would know I can, and we can't have that.
Jon is very close to immortal, which he can never reveal, and his nanomachines are very close to being a Universal Weapon - which he can never use because etc. etc. And this book goes one step beyond: Jon can't use his fighting skills either (although for this plot that's fair enough).
Yes, folks, the author has painted himself into a corner with Jon & Lobo. He's made them so strong that they can't USE their strengths, in which case they might as well never have had them.
A final plus for having Lobo understand that Jack is actually the SECOND best con man around - after Jon, who has to be a con man because he can't use any of his other tools.
Start another series, Mr. Van Name, and I will look forward to it. But dial back the heroes a bit.
First, Van Name has taken an important real-world message and embedded it in his world in a quite believable way, so good for him. It was a good story in that regard.
And full marks for the parallel reveal of Jon's past and how it's relevant to the current story.
There's never much doubt that he's going to pull off whatever it is he's planning, and the much-dragged-out tension re Jack's arrival is wasted. We never really doubt that he'll be there. And frankly, the Big Reveal is a major letdown. That's it? Your big play? Really?
There are too many characters who just stand around and watch or listen; really they're just there so Jon has someone to talk to. Not that he ever tells them anything useful, and that's just the first problem I have with this series.
I've only read two of the books in this series, and I am sure I already have the outline of the others. They go like this:
Jon's bored. The phone rings. We get the setup. Then Jon starts not telling people stuff while he plans. Enter a woman. Jon agonizes and then spends the rest of the book making her upset and not telling her why. Possibly two women. Not that he tells men anything either. But of course he tells Lobo - unnecessarily, because Lobo has already figured it out in the giant brain he got from Marvin the Paranoid Android. In the end, he wins and he explains, and everyone goes, "oh, you! You're so cute when you don't tell us stuff!"
We never learn why Jon has never had Lobo reprogrammed with a less smug and annoying personality. Maybe something more like Neal Asher's AIs would work.
Lobo is very close to infinitely powerful, and like Strak in Doctor Who he always wants to pound something, but he never really gets to do anything that would reveal what he can do. Well, gosh, folks, I can fly but I never do because then people would know I can, and we can't have that.
Jon is very close to immortal, which he can never reveal, and his nanomachines are very close to being a Universal Weapon - which he can never use because etc. etc. And this book goes one step beyond: Jon can't use his fighting skills either (although for this plot that's fair enough).
Yes, folks, the author has painted himself into a corner with Jon & Lobo. He's made them so strong that they can't USE their strengths, in which case they might as well never have had them.
A final plus for having Lobo understand that Jack is actually the SECOND best con man around - after Jon, who has to be a con man because he can't use any of his other tools.
Start another series, Mr. Van Name, and I will look forward to it. But dial back the heroes a bit.
August 28, 2010
Go and buy this hardcover. The author is donating his royalties from the hardcover sales to a worthy charity. I've got more than one copy. Go buy a couple and give them as gifts. Read a good story, aid a good cause. Five stars for that, four for the story.
I've done this book a disservice by not getting my review out faster. I read this book in about a day and a half, but I was attempting to get the word out about it via various methods and neglected this venue.
As I've stated in my reviews before, I like faster paced action oriented pieces. This book has action in it, but that isn't the only focus. This book has the hero hang around after all the action is over. I was very impressed with the depth of emotion shown by the characters, particularly as the story progressed.
I was very happy to see some of the women from Jon's past return. I find the characters to be believable people. They are interesting. I like to hear what they're up to. I hope we get more of them in the future.
I do think Jon's shell is becoming an obstacle to the story. If he was able to open up to Lobo, even a little they would become a significantly more powerful team. It bothers me when the hero continues to push every person he knows to the side. I'm afraid of this being a continuing trend that will drive me away from the series. The other trend digging in like a splinter is Lobo's ever expanding capabilities. Between the nanotechnology and computing power he is quickly approaching “magic” level. I would love to see him really challenged. Wouldn't it be cool if Jon was forced to use his nanotechnology to heal Lobo and form a new type of being? I have some hopes, but the end of the book didn't have any preview chapter as previous novels in the series did. I can only wait and see.
I've done this book a disservice by not getting my review out faster. I read this book in about a day and a half, but I was attempting to get the word out about it via various methods and neglected this venue.
As I've stated in my reviews before, I like faster paced action oriented pieces. This book has action in it, but that isn't the only focus. This book has the hero hang around after all the action is over. I was very impressed with the depth of emotion shown by the characters, particularly as the story progressed.
I was very happy to see some of the women from Jon's past return. I find the characters to be believable people. They are interesting. I like to hear what they're up to. I hope we get more of them in the future.
I do think Jon's shell is becoming an obstacle to the story. If he was able to open up to Lobo, even a little they would become a significantly more powerful team. It bothers me when the hero continues to push every person he knows to the side. I'm afraid of this being a continuing trend that will drive me away from the series. The other trend digging in like a splinter is Lobo's ever expanding capabilities. Between the nanotechnology and computing power he is quickly approaching “magic” level. I would love to see him really challenged. Wouldn't it be cool if Jon was forced to use his nanotechnology to heal Lobo and form a new type of being? I have some hopes, but the end of the book didn't have any preview chapter as previous novels in the series did. I can only wait and see.
December 8, 2012
This book was certainly not the best one in the series. I still classifies as okay (barely) as far as I am concerned but I did indeed hope for something better.
As with the other ones in the series, the book is well written. The dialog (bickering) between Jon and Lobo can be quite entertaining although sometimes a wee bit tiring. It could have been a really good book.
Unfortunately it suffers, at least from my point of view, from the same fault as the previous books. Jon have these powerful nano-machines in his body and he never really gets around to use them. The book just talks about them and constantly harps about how he does not wont anyone to know about them.
The same goes for Lobo. One of the most powerful and sophisticated combat machines around but all he ever does is sit around doing surveillance work, argues with Jon and talks about how sophisticated he is but he never gets around to fire his weapons even once.
In addition most of this book is spent in a captured camp where the story circles about the captured children with some occasional visits buy the bad guy senator. Apart from the initial capture of the camp itself it is not until the very end of the book that something really happens.
Unfortunately the end is somewhat disappointing as well in that the senator which have been worked up as the really nasty bad guy actually gets to walk away. Sure, there’s some hints that Jake, Jon’s con-artist friend, will take him to the cleaners but I was really hoping to read about this guy getting taken down.
Thus, I rate this book as just okay…barely.
As with the other ones in the series, the book is well written. The dialog (bickering) between Jon and Lobo can be quite entertaining although sometimes a wee bit tiring. It could have been a really good book.
Unfortunately it suffers, at least from my point of view, from the same fault as the previous books. Jon have these powerful nano-machines in his body and he never really gets around to use them. The book just talks about them and constantly harps about how he does not wont anyone to know about them.
The same goes for Lobo. One of the most powerful and sophisticated combat machines around but all he ever does is sit around doing surveillance work, argues with Jon and talks about how sophisticated he is but he never gets around to fire his weapons even once.
In addition most of this book is spent in a captured camp where the story circles about the captured children with some occasional visits buy the bad guy senator. Apart from the initial capture of the camp itself it is not until the very end of the book that something really happens.
Unfortunately the end is somewhat disappointing as well in that the senator which have been worked up as the really nasty bad guy actually gets to walk away. Sure, there’s some hints that Jake, Jon’s con-artist friend, will take him to the cleaners but I was really hoping to read about this guy getting taken down.
Thus, I rate this book as just okay…barely.
May 2, 2011
Not a lighthearted romp like the early books in the series, but instead a much more serious novel that weaves together Jon and Lobo's attempt to help rescue 500 young child soldiers with Jon's memories of his own traumatic childhood experiences. The book is more thought provoking than exciting, but not at all boring. It was really interesting to finally see Jon's backstory and the way it played out against what the kids in the camp were dealing with was very touching. It will be interesting to see where Van Name takes Jon and Lobo after this, now that things have already become so serious. They've come a long way from the fast-paced heist tale in the first book.
Van Name is donating all of his profits from this book, hardback, paperback, ebook, even the advance, to a charity that helps reintegrate child soldiers back into society. If you'd like to learn more, please see http://www.childrennomore.com/
Van Name is donating all of his profits from this book, hardback, paperback, ebook, even the advance, to a charity that helps reintegrate child soldiers back into society. If you'd like to learn more, please see http://www.childrennomore.com/
March 27, 2012
This is the 4th "Jon & Lobo" book, and it's the one with the least amount of action, and the most discussion of feelings and ideas. Which is ok, I suppose—I liked it less than the other books in the series, but it wasn't because of that facet of it. It may be that I was honestly disappointed with which part of Jon's origin story the author chose to tell. I realize that his time on Pinkelponker after Jennie left was the part of his life most like the events of the hereandnow, and therefore shed more insight on why Jon stayed to help Lim, but it felt forced. Honestly, I didn't care that much about the Pinkelponker time, I wanted to hear about Aggro, but that's only hinted at (just like in all the other books). In any case, it's very likely that there is nothing at all wrong with this book, and that the failure lies in me.
October 7, 2011
While this book in the Jon and Lobo saga isn't as action packed as the previous books in the series, I still highly recommend it. It deliverers an important political message about the effects of war on children and it also fills in many of the mysteries of Jon's past. Even more importantly the author is donating his royalties from the sales to a worthy charity which helps children who are the victims of war.
July 15, 2017
7/15/17 reread.
March 5, 2019
Science-fiction has often used speculation about the future to address the abuses and atrocities of the present. Children No More accomplishes just such a consciousness-raising task in its description of a desperate attempt to rescue and rehabilitate “child soldiers” on a jungle planet. If visions of such “child soldier” operations in modern Africa don’t resonate in your head after getting a few pages into this novel of Lobo and Jon Moore, I don’t know what would cause you to show empathy for these child victims, both of fiction and real-life.
This is the first novel featuring Moore and Lobo that I’ve read, though there are apparently several available. I like the concept. Lobo is a self-aware Predator-Class Assault Vehicle (PCAV) which belies his amazing abilities beneath an innocuous appearing exterior. As a fan of Keith Laumer’s books about military vehicles, I liked the fact that the PCAV is named with what could be an anagram for BOLO (Laumer’s futuristic tanks), just as the fact that Jon likes to operate as a “lone wolf” as much as possible would fit the name, Lobo. It’s also interesting to view a protagonist who began his existence with severe learning disadvantages, but after surgical intervention, has become quite clever at grasping situations and motives enough to be flexible “on the fly.”
When the reader discovers Jon’s secret to an extended life, it is much easier to understand the interpersonal dynamics and sexual tension between Jon and the females in his life. He doesn’t quite have the Doctor Who problem of an immortal becoming involved with the transient existence of mere humans, but it’s close. And it adds a fascinating layer of temptation and struggle atop an already satisfying buffet of challenges.
The action in Children No More is satisfactory, even more so when Van Name goes to great extent to let the reader know why things are done a certain way and given advance knowledge of most operations (except for the very clever final encounter). Allowing readers to become insiders on the planning worked in terms of building suspense, and Van Name doesn’t overdo it by giving us a military manual rundown of equipment a la the late Tom Clancy. Fortunately, the core of this story is built around motives, intrigue, betrayal, and trust. If one will pardon the expression, it turned out to be a far more human tale than I expected.
This is the first novel featuring Moore and Lobo that I’ve read, though there are apparently several available. I like the concept. Lobo is a self-aware Predator-Class Assault Vehicle (PCAV) which belies his amazing abilities beneath an innocuous appearing exterior. As a fan of Keith Laumer’s books about military vehicles, I liked the fact that the PCAV is named with what could be an anagram for BOLO (Laumer’s futuristic tanks), just as the fact that Jon likes to operate as a “lone wolf” as much as possible would fit the name, Lobo. It’s also interesting to view a protagonist who began his existence with severe learning disadvantages, but after surgical intervention, has become quite clever at grasping situations and motives enough to be flexible “on the fly.”
When the reader discovers Jon’s secret to an extended life, it is much easier to understand the interpersonal dynamics and sexual tension between Jon and the females in his life. He doesn’t quite have the Doctor Who problem of an immortal becoming involved with the transient existence of mere humans, but it’s close. And it adds a fascinating layer of temptation and struggle atop an already satisfying buffet of challenges.
The action in Children No More is satisfactory, even more so when Van Name goes to great extent to let the reader know why things are done a certain way and given advance knowledge of most operations (except for the very clever final encounter). Allowing readers to become insiders on the planning worked in terms of building suspense, and Van Name doesn’t overdo it by giving us a military manual rundown of equipment a la the late Tom Clancy. Fortunately, the core of this story is built around motives, intrigue, betrayal, and trust. If one will pardon the expression, it turned out to be a far more human tale than I expected.
August 31, 2019
The author clearly feels passionate about the subject of child soldiers – in the Afterword, he says that the groups trying to reintegrate these children have estimated that at present there are approximately some 300,000 child soldiers around the planet. As he says – that’s a shocking number of children whose childhoods have been devastated and turned into something horrific.
However, this isn’t some gritty non-fiction exposé on the issue – it happens to be the main spine running through a military space opera adventure story. So does it work? Yes, overall I think that Van Name has once more delivered a strong story with plenty of tension. I always find Jon a very sympathetic character and I enjoyed learning about the traumas in his childhood that led to him falling into the wrong hands, sealing his fate as mercenary. And in this book, we learn just how much he minds about that choice being taken away…
I love the villain of the piece in this story – it doesn’t hurt that he’s a politician, given that right now I’d happily put all the ones littering up Westminster on a boat and set them adrift in the Channel until they start behaving with some responsibility. There were also some moments of real emotional heft in the story where I had a lump in my throat. To be honest, I could have done with a few more laughs, but I do understand that Van Name’s own sense of humour wasn’t firing on all cylinders this time around – and I certainly prefer that he didn’t attempt it if he wasn’t feeling it.
Any niggles? The pacing was just a tad slow in the middle – something I haven’t experienced before in this series – I felt the lead-in to the final denouement could have come a few chapters sooner than it did. But overall, it wasn’t a dealbreaker and this was a gripping, enjoyable episode – though if you haven’t yet had the pleasure, please don’t start with this one. This is definitely a series which needs to be read in the right order.
Recommended for fans of gripping military science fiction.
8/10
However, this isn’t some gritty non-fiction exposé on the issue – it happens to be the main spine running through a military space opera adventure story. So does it work? Yes, overall I think that Van Name has once more delivered a strong story with plenty of tension. I always find Jon a very sympathetic character and I enjoyed learning about the traumas in his childhood that led to him falling into the wrong hands, sealing his fate as mercenary. And in this book, we learn just how much he minds about that choice being taken away…
I love the villain of the piece in this story – it doesn’t hurt that he’s a politician, given that right now I’d happily put all the ones littering up Westminster on a boat and set them adrift in the Channel until they start behaving with some responsibility. There were also some moments of real emotional heft in the story where I had a lump in my throat. To be honest, I could have done with a few more laughs, but I do understand that Van Name’s own sense of humour wasn’t firing on all cylinders this time around – and I certainly prefer that he didn’t attempt it if he wasn’t feeling it.
Any niggles? The pacing was just a tad slow in the middle – something I haven’t experienced before in this series – I felt the lead-in to the final denouement could have come a few chapters sooner than it did. But overall, it wasn’t a dealbreaker and this was a gripping, enjoyable episode – though if you haven’t yet had the pleasure, please don’t start with this one. This is definitely a series which needs to be read in the right order.
Recommended for fans of gripping military science fiction.
8/10
Read
February 12, 2021They say to be careful what you ask for. I'd hoped in my review of the previous book in this series that Jon & Lobo would someday take a job they walked into with eyes wide open, not having to be tricked into it. Got it in Children No More. Jon is hired by an old mercenary buddy, Lim, to rescue a group of child soldiers from the rebels controlling them on the planet Tumani. The only wrinkle at the beginning is that Maggie, from an earlier book, is part of a group funding the rescue, because one of the children is a descendent of PinklePonker.
The original operation goes smoothly, and Lim's people begin to try to re-educate the boys, who have been addicted to drugs by their captors, and have been brutalized to make them vicious fighters. As we might expect from Jon's history, the double-cross comes shortly thereafter when the local politicians renege on their promise to let the child soldiers be helped and adopted by families, finding a political use for them, instead. When you get swindled, how else do you get your revenge except by swindling right back? Jon calls his buddy, Jack, and things go a little twisty.
This book is filled with flashbacks to Jon's childhood, and we really learn a whole lot more about his history. We get to know his old friend, Benny, who trained Jon to fight after he was dumped on a planet for undesirables, and who was also part of the nanomachine expirement. This back story really fleshes out Jon's motivations for helping Lim far beyond his original contract. Nothing terribly complex or thought provoking, unless you use this book as a jumping off point for learning more about the cause of rescuing child soldiers. Van Name mentions in his afterword that there are around 300,000 children being exploited as soldiers worldwide today.
The original operation goes smoothly, and Lim's people begin to try to re-educate the boys, who have been addicted to drugs by their captors, and have been brutalized to make them vicious fighters. As we might expect from Jon's history, the double-cross comes shortly thereafter when the local politicians renege on their promise to let the child soldiers be helped and adopted by families, finding a political use for them, instead. When you get swindled, how else do you get your revenge except by swindling right back? Jon calls his buddy, Jack, and things go a little twisty.
This book is filled with flashbacks to Jon's childhood, and we really learn a whole lot more about his history. We get to know his old friend, Benny, who trained Jon to fight after he was dumped on a planet for undesirables, and who was also part of the nanomachine expirement. This back story really fleshes out Jon's motivations for helping Lim far beyond his original contract. Nothing terribly complex or thought provoking, unless you use this book as a jumping off point for learning more about the cause of rescuing child soldiers. Van Name mentions in his afterword that there are around 300,000 children being exploited as soldiers worldwide today.
January 20, 2025
This was the book I read all the others in the series to get to, and even if I hadn’t enjoyed all the others (I very much did!), this one would’ve been worth the price of admission. For such a short one, the story does a surprisingly great job conveying the reality of child soldiers—and all with respect and compassion rather than turning them into pitiable objects.
Then there is Jon, whom we come to understand more deeply through flashbacks to his childhood (and its end). I loved his journey with the boys. Bony made me cry, though in fairness they were tears for Jon, too, and of anger and hope. I appreciate that the conclusion of this mission wasn’t some halcyon lie; instead, it acknowledges that recovery will be hard and probably incomplete…but possible.
Jon’s relationship with Lobo has reached a satisfying place, too, which only heaps additional regrets onto my sadness that there aren’t more installments. (Although speaking of relationships, the intensity of mutual mooning with Maggie sure took me aback.)
There’s so much more I want to know about this duo and see them accomplish together, dammit.
Then there is Jon, whom we come to understand more deeply through flashbacks to his childhood (and its end). I loved his journey with the boys. Bony made me cry, though in fairness they were tears for Jon, too, and of anger and hope. I appreciate that the conclusion of this mission wasn’t some halcyon lie; instead, it acknowledges that recovery will be hard and probably incomplete…but possible.
Jon’s relationship with Lobo has reached a satisfying place, too, which only heaps additional regrets onto my sadness that there aren’t more installments. (Although speaking of relationships, the intensity of mutual mooning with Maggie sure took me aback.)
There’s so much more I want to know about this duo and see them accomplish together, dammit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2019
Children No More by Mark L. Van Name
This is a scifi book making a point. The point is that children should not be used as soldiers. The author’s frustration is that perhaps “only” 300,000 kids are being used as soldiers. Only 300,000 is a horrific number but it doesn’t seem large enough to get the international community outraged enough to try harder to end it. That is the point behind this novel. A good story with a very sad basis made it hard sometimes to read it.
Van Name writes a good story and apparently has a good heart as the proceeds of this book go to Falling Whistles to rehabilitate children in war. www.fallingwhistles.com or www.chldrennomore.com
I recommend the book.
This is a scifi book making a point. The point is that children should not be used as soldiers. The author’s frustration is that perhaps “only” 300,000 kids are being used as soldiers. Only 300,000 is a horrific number but it doesn’t seem large enough to get the international community outraged enough to try harder to end it. That is the point behind this novel. A good story with a very sad basis made it hard sometimes to read it.
Van Name writes a good story and apparently has a good heart as the proceeds of this book go to Falling Whistles to rehabilitate children in war. www.fallingwhistles.com or www.chldrennomore.com
I recommend the book.
July 2, 2022
A good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2012
Children No More is the title of science fiction writer Mark L. Van Name’s fourth novel. But it is the first one I’ve seen, and it was an enjoyable read. I burned through it pretty quickly.
I don’t read a lot of military sci-fi, but I guess Children No More is classifiable as military sci-fi. However, it approaches the genre from an entirely fresh, and more serious, point of view. The protagonist, Jon Moore, is a psychologically scarred professional soldier and mercenary recruited by an old comrade in arms to help free 500 child soldiers from a rebel army. Liberating the child soldiers from the rebels is the first part of the story.
After vacillating, and against the wishes of the group dedicated to deprogramming the child soldiers and returning them to their families and civil society, Jon decides to stay and help in any way he can. His unstated reason for doing so is because he was a child soldier of sorts himself. That story forms a sub-plot told through interspersions within the main story arc, and it is a good story in its own right.
Some of the best parts of the novel revolve around the difficulty of deprogramming soldiers who do not think of themselves as children. Then Jon is forced to save the child soldiers from a politician scheming to use the children against the same rebels who captured them and turned them into soldiers in the first place. Jon’s plan for saving the children from that fate is highly entertaining.
But that is just a skeletal outline of the plot. Van Name provides a wealth of detail to put flesh on the characters and create an engrossing story, with multiple conflicts and personality clashes, and an engaging sub-plot.
Not the least of those relationships, though one with little conflict and good entertainment value, is his relationship with his powerful and sarcastic warship, Lobo. Naturally, Lobo is the most powerful AI in Jon’s society. (Aren’t they always?)
If I have one knock on the novel, it is that while it is a good story with a serious theme, the plight of the child soldiers did not really engage me on an emotional level. But, then, science fiction novels rarely do. It certainly is not because Van Name fails to treat his subject matter seriously or develop it fully. He does both. In fact, he is donating his proceeds from the novel to an NGO or charitable group rehabilitating child soldiers in the Congo. Maybe it is just one of things you can can’t really feel unless you’ve been through it yourself. In all other respects Children No More is a good novel, and should appeal to readers who do not normally read military sci-fi. Give it a try.
I don’t read a lot of military sci-fi, but I guess Children No More is classifiable as military sci-fi. However, it approaches the genre from an entirely fresh, and more serious, point of view. The protagonist, Jon Moore, is a psychologically scarred professional soldier and mercenary recruited by an old comrade in arms to help free 500 child soldiers from a rebel army. Liberating the child soldiers from the rebels is the first part of the story.
After vacillating, and against the wishes of the group dedicated to deprogramming the child soldiers and returning them to their families and civil society, Jon decides to stay and help in any way he can. His unstated reason for doing so is because he was a child soldier of sorts himself. That story forms a sub-plot told through interspersions within the main story arc, and it is a good story in its own right.
Some of the best parts of the novel revolve around the difficulty of deprogramming soldiers who do not think of themselves as children. Then Jon is forced to save the child soldiers from a politician scheming to use the children against the same rebels who captured them and turned them into soldiers in the first place. Jon’s plan for saving the children from that fate is highly entertaining.
But that is just a skeletal outline of the plot. Van Name provides a wealth of detail to put flesh on the characters and create an engrossing story, with multiple conflicts and personality clashes, and an engaging sub-plot.
Not the least of those relationships, though one with little conflict and good entertainment value, is his relationship with his powerful and sarcastic warship, Lobo. Naturally, Lobo is the most powerful AI in Jon’s society. (Aren’t they always?)
If I have one knock on the novel, it is that while it is a good story with a serious theme, the plight of the child soldiers did not really engage me on an emotional level. But, then, science fiction novels rarely do. It certainly is not because Van Name fails to treat his subject matter seriously or develop it fully. He does both. In fact, he is donating his proceeds from the novel to an NGO or charitable group rehabilitating child soldiers in the Congo. Maybe it is just one of things you can can’t really feel unless you’ve been through it yourself. In all other respects Children No More is a good novel, and should appeal to readers who do not normally read military sci-fi. Give it a try.
July 23, 2014
The fourth Jon Lobo adventure is the "least adventurous" and most introspective of all and it works extremely well; alternating present happenings on a middle of nowhere poor planet where rebels pressed some 500 boys in service as soldiers and Jon and Lobo are co-opted to rescue them with the back story of Jon 139 years earlier when he became a child soldier himself, the novel is mostly about Jon confronting his personal demons and trying to do good for once rather than do the mission (hopefully a "good" one, but as we learned in earlier installments that's tricky in the amoral universe of power politics and money), get paid and leave
There is action galore and we meet old friends from Maggie, Lim to Jack who steals the show towards the end, while the back-story is super-poignant and Jon's childhood friends on the island called Dump - Benny, Alex, Han - are unforgettable as are some of the children in the present.
An A+ and a novel that goes beyond the "gung-ho" adventure style of the series so far and raises it one notch. I am truly curious where the series goes next but I hope we get to see more Jon and Lobo and start touching on some of the big-picture mysteries too
There is action galore and we meet old friends from Maggie, Lim to Jack who steals the show towards the end, while the back-story is super-poignant and Jon's childhood friends on the island called Dump - Benny, Alex, Han - are unforgettable as are some of the children in the present.
An A+ and a novel that goes beyond the "gung-ho" adventure style of the series so far and raises it one notch. I am truly curious where the series goes next but I hope we get to see more Jon and Lobo and start touching on some of the big-picture mysteries too
September 25, 2012
My boss wrote this book, so I HAVE to give it a good rating, LOL. Seriously, it was an excellent read. Another high octane, sci-fi, action/adventure story with Jon and Lobo. These characters have developed incredible depth over the course of this series and really grown through the writing of each novel. The action and the dilemmas the heroes face are intriguing and not your average "shoot all the bad guys" type of solutions. This isn't Rambo with a Space Ship.
The main theme in this book is child soldiers and how they're exploited by the groups that force them into service. I LOVE how Mark combined an excellent story with a call to action in the real world. All his profits from this book are going to the Falling Whistles organization, which helps children forced into war get reacclimated into a normal society. The story shows a lot of what these kids go through in real life and the author has a note at the end about his experience in this area. Read this and then watch the movie The Blood Diamond and you'll understand. Great book, great cause behind it. Highly recommend.
The main theme in this book is child soldiers and how they're exploited by the groups that force them into service. I LOVE how Mark combined an excellent story with a call to action in the real world. All his profits from this book are going to the Falling Whistles organization, which helps children forced into war get reacclimated into a normal society. The story shows a lot of what these kids go through in real life and the author has a note at the end about his experience in this area. Read this and then watch the movie The Blood Diamond and you'll understand. Great book, great cause behind it. Highly recommend.
January 25, 2013
Another really great episode with Jon & Lobo fighting against rebel soldiers who have captured hundreds of kids and turned them into child soldiers. Jon also stays behind after the fighting is done to witness the rehabilitation efforts, but it soon becomes clear that a corrupt senator also wants to use these same boys as child soldiers, this time fighting for the government. Jon finds a way to save the boys and get them off this poor, backwater planet, although we don't know the details of his plan and how this will (might) work until the very end. Great writing and very suspenseful. We also learn a lot more about Jon's youth and how he had to become a soldier at a young age and to learn to fight and kill to survive.
March 30, 2013
I've been a fan of the "Jon and Lobo" books since finding the first one. As others have said, this one wasn't as action-packed as others in the series, but it does dive much more deeply into Jon's background, and explores what drives Jon the way that he's driven. It doesn't give all the answers, but the way in which his background parallels the story of the child soldiers in the book was very illuminating. If you've been following the series for a while, this is a must-read. But if you're new to the series, go back and start at book one. This books presumes you know enough of the background of the setting, and probably won't make as much sense without that grounding.
January 17, 2016
The "Jon & Lobo" series just keeps getting better. Easily the best of the series, this is a very powerful emotional story, dealing with the issue of impressing children into fighting as soldiers, at an age where they should be playing with toys, and games. Filled with flashbacks to Jon's own childhood story, of being forced to grow up way too soon, and his own emotional issues because of it, this book certainly raises awareness of this significant issue. Even if you have not read the previous books in this series, this one will strike a chord. I would strongly suggest that you read this book.
March 13, 2013
The fourth book in the Jon and Lobo series
This book embraces issues we are facing in our world today.
At times it is sad, others it's confronting. What would you do if faced with the same decisions as Jon are Lobo in this book ?
Well written, reveals more of Jon's past, revealing why he makes certain choices in his life
As the author allows you to know more about his main characters, you find them more endearing and understand what drives them
This book embraces issues we are facing in our world today.
At times it is sad, others it's confronting. What would you do if faced with the same decisions as Jon are Lobo in this book ?
Well written, reveals more of Jon's past, revealing why he makes certain choices in his life
As the author allows you to know more about his main characters, you find them more endearing and understand what drives them
October 29, 2014
Happy to say the books in this series have gotten increasingly better over time. Lobo and Jon's relationship makes both of them better characters. Jon's temper has backed down (not that he doesn't have to deal with his anger) and the focus is back on his kindness. Jon's also demonstrated that he's not a virginal version of Captain Kirk, but instead is someone who remembers the people he loves from book to book. I'm sad I only have one book left to read for now.
October 7, 2010
I don't normally pick up a book in the middle of a series, but this was given to me at the right time since I just finished what I had been reading. So far, it looks promising.
March 22, 2011
It blew my mind to read about the things Mark Van Name went through as a kid after reading this fictional account of child soldiers. Bless my parents for being the wonderful people they are!
March 2, 2011
Jon and Lobo tale of child soldiers.
June 26, 2011
Jon and Lobo assist a former colleague of Jon's in liberating a large group of boys who had been made soldiers. It's deja vu for Jon. Another excellent chapter to the Jon and Lobo story.
July 28, 2011
I love this series.
November 27, 2024
On my second read, the book was harder to get through than the earlier Jon & Lobo ones. It was a tougher subject, and it felt a bit preachy at times.
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