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Forbidden Borders #3
Counter-Measures
In the stunning conclusion to Gear's remarkable trilogy, the rift between father and son--both trained killing machines--will reach an explosive climax. Lines must be drawn. Traitors must be divided from friends. And the final battle begins....
720 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1993
11 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
W. Michael Gear
181 books730 followersW. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the family lived in Lakewood, Colorado, until 1968. At that time they moved to Fort Collins so that Joe could pursue his Ph.D.. During those years the family lived in the foothills above Horsetooth Reservoir.
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 15, 2020
I'm going to let this review stand for the entire trilogy rather than just the final volume.
Forbidden Borders is Science Fiction, but really has the pacing, depth, and style of a classic fantasy trilogy. Staffa has been the go-to mercenary for decades in Free Space, a sector of space with an alien constructed barrier meant to contain the human race. He has conquered worlds, put down rebellions, and brought Free Space into a balance between two warring political groups. As time has gone on, those two powers have no other powers to challenge but one another, and both groups are competing for Staffa's services. But in the final battle before this situation-- Staffa faces the man who raised him and discovers that the man has "programmed" him into a killing machine. The man removes the hypnotic blocks and Staffa realizes for the first time what human feelings are really like and it creates a terrible conflict. This creates a sub-adventure to the storyline as he discovers for the first time how much he deserves the title "The Star Butcher." He begins to work on a plan for atonement-- which entails uniting mankind in Free Space and breaking the forbidden barriers.
The story has tons of complications. One of them is Sinklar Fist, who is rejected for the university, and being drafted begins a meteoric rise to military genius. Along the way, he discovers what the reader divines long before its revelation-- that he is Staffa's son.
Another wrinkle is Arta-- an assassin who exudes female sexuality-- and there is a secret about her that isn't revealed until the second volume. She kills every man she seduces. And the head of internal security for one power, Illya, uses her for her own means and gain. In fact, for a time she uses Sinklar. Eventually, Sinklar and Staffa unite, build a real father-son relationship, while Staffa deals with the super computer on one of the worlds to preserve the human race. Meanwhile, Illya has a plan to break into the mercenaries stronghold to wreck destruction. And, while it is a clever plan, the clues of what she is going to do are right there in front of the reader all along, and sadly, Staff's lover and wing commander should have figured it out a long time before she did.
Gear's writing is good enough, but from time to time his desire to reflect on all that came before and deal with the character's ongoing personal traumas ad nauseum. The reader has to endure the repetitive bad dreams of Staff, Sinklar, and Skyla (After her abuse at Illya and Arta's hands).. After a time, it is just a bit too repetitive as the author tries to make the reader feel the depth of these three people's terrible pain. By doing it like this-- the author makes every volume in the trilogy longer than it needs to be. Rather than making the reader care and comprehend-- it tends to numb the reader to the tragedy of each of the main characters.
Further, Gear has to populate the novel with nothing but beautiful, attractive women (with only 1 variation)-- Every man turns their heads and lusts after these women. Every woman exudes sexuality, not just the assassin clone who has been genetically enhanced to give off sexual hormone to drive the men mad. The author spends a great deal of time describing how no matter what the costume is their high breasts and sensuous hips cannot be concealed. As the second volume kicks into gear- the author ratchets up the sexual content as well. In an effort to demonstrate the depravity of the evil women, he increases the level of sick sexual activity and discussion of such. This does nothing really to improve the novel. He makes his point a long time but then rubs the filth in the reader's face a bit-- trying for shock value-- but eventually just making the reader numb to that as well.
We finally, get to the story's conclusion-- when happens entirely too rushed to be too much fun. The slow-pacing is thrown out the window as if there was an author's deadline. Suddenly gone is the deliberate wallowing of character, the indecision, the thinking things out-- and suddenly, the action ramps up faster than a downhill skier with WD-40 on the bottom of his skies. In fact, too fast. Much too fast. We wander through the 3rd volume waiting for Skyla to realize Illya's obvious plan-- and then BOOM-- the author rushes through it.
Don't get me wrong. It's an interesting story even if it gets lost within itself from time to time.
Forbidden Borders is Science Fiction, but really has the pacing, depth, and style of a classic fantasy trilogy. Staffa has been the go-to mercenary for decades in Free Space, a sector of space with an alien constructed barrier meant to contain the human race. He has conquered worlds, put down rebellions, and brought Free Space into a balance between two warring political groups. As time has gone on, those two powers have no other powers to challenge but one another, and both groups are competing for Staffa's services. But in the final battle before this situation-- Staffa faces the man who raised him and discovers that the man has "programmed" him into a killing machine. The man removes the hypnotic blocks and Staffa realizes for the first time what human feelings are really like and it creates a terrible conflict. This creates a sub-adventure to the storyline as he discovers for the first time how much he deserves the title "The Star Butcher." He begins to work on a plan for atonement-- which entails uniting mankind in Free Space and breaking the forbidden barriers.
The story has tons of complications. One of them is Sinklar Fist, who is rejected for the university, and being drafted begins a meteoric rise to military genius. Along the way, he discovers what the reader divines long before its revelation-- that he is Staffa's son.
Another wrinkle is Arta-- an assassin who exudes female sexuality-- and there is a secret about her that isn't revealed until the second volume. She kills every man she seduces. And the head of internal security for one power, Illya, uses her for her own means and gain. In fact, for a time she uses Sinklar. Eventually, Sinklar and Staffa unite, build a real father-son relationship, while Staffa deals with the super computer on one of the worlds to preserve the human race. Meanwhile, Illya has a plan to break into the mercenaries stronghold to wreck destruction. And, while it is a clever plan, the clues of what she is going to do are right there in front of the reader all along, and sadly, Staff's lover and wing commander should have figured it out a long time before she did.
Gear's writing is good enough, but from time to time his desire to reflect on all that came before and deal with the character's ongoing personal traumas ad nauseum. The reader has to endure the repetitive bad dreams of Staff, Sinklar, and Skyla (After her abuse at Illya and Arta's hands).. After a time, it is just a bit too repetitive as the author tries to make the reader feel the depth of these three people's terrible pain. By doing it like this-- the author makes every volume in the trilogy longer than it needs to be. Rather than making the reader care and comprehend-- it tends to numb the reader to the tragedy of each of the main characters.
Further, Gear has to populate the novel with nothing but beautiful, attractive women (with only 1 variation)-- Every man turns their heads and lusts after these women. Every woman exudes sexuality, not just the assassin clone who has been genetically enhanced to give off sexual hormone to drive the men mad. The author spends a great deal of time describing how no matter what the costume is their high breasts and sensuous hips cannot be concealed. As the second volume kicks into gear- the author ratchets up the sexual content as well. In an effort to demonstrate the depravity of the evil women, he increases the level of sick sexual activity and discussion of such. This does nothing really to improve the novel. He makes his point a long time but then rubs the filth in the reader's face a bit-- trying for shock value-- but eventually just making the reader numb to that as well.
We finally, get to the story's conclusion-- when happens entirely too rushed to be too much fun. The slow-pacing is thrown out the window as if there was an author's deadline. Suddenly gone is the deliberate wallowing of character, the indecision, the thinking things out-- and suddenly, the action ramps up faster than a downhill skier with WD-40 on the bottom of his skies. In fact, too fast. Much too fast. We wander through the 3rd volume waiting for Skyla to realize Illya's obvious plan-- and then BOOM-- the author rushes through it.
Don't get me wrong. It's an interesting story even if it gets lost within itself from time to time.
May 15, 2023
As usual, this author develops his characters so well they seem real and the readers become endeared to them. The only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is its length. I have ADD & found its length daunting.
May 5, 2019
Finally finished this pus licking book! OK end to the trilogy, but the second in the series was the best. 3.5 stars
August 15, 2020
Think I enjoyed more first time around. On reread many years later most parts felt slow and unneeded. Still ok.
December 6, 2021
Довольно затянутая боевая космоопера про космического мачо.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2016
Now I'll admit, I skipped the second book, but it just felt like the author kept dragging out the final showdown longer than necessary. Then the conclusion of the goal seemed like an anti-climax. A whole lot of talking about what happened in the first two books, but not much happened here. I finished it, so it couldn't have been that bad.
February 4, 2014
I had a little trouble finishing the series, which I don't recall happening before when I've enjoyed the first two books of a trilogy so much. The 3rd book seemed to have alot less plot than the other books and I found the dialogue to be repetitive in places.
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April 18, 2012excellent book
April 1, 2013
Все-таки дочитал эту книгу.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews