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Carerra #4
The Amazon Legion
The Sequel to A Desert Called Peace , Carnifex , and The Lotus Eaters. What Happens When You Need Everyone to Fight? Bring on the Amazons.
On the colony planet of Terra Nova, Carrera has achieved his revenge, destroying those who had destroyed his life by killing his wife and children in a terrorist strike. And, with this help of his second wife, he has thwarted an attempted coup that would have restored the rule of the oligarchy and undone his hard-won victory. But his fight is not over yet . . .
The problem of the Tauran Union’s control of the Transitway between Terra Nova and Earth remains, as does the problem of the nuclear armed United Earth Peace Fleet, orbiting above the planet. The Taurans will not leave, and the Balboans—a proud people, with much recent success in war – will not tolerate that they should remain.
And yet, with one hundred times the population and three or four hundred times the wealth, the Tauran Union outclasses little Balboa in almost every way, even without the support of Old Earth. Sadly, they have that support. Everything, every one , will have to be used to finish the job of freeing the country and, if possible, the planet. The children must fight. The old must serve, too. And the women?
This is their story, the story of Balboa’s Tercio Amazona , the Amazon Regiment.
On the colony planet of Terra Nova, Carrera has achieved his revenge, destroying those who had destroyed his life by killing his wife and children in a terrorist strike. And, with this help of his second wife, he has thwarted an attempted coup that would have restored the rule of the oligarchy and undone his hard-won victory. But his fight is not over yet . . .
The problem of the Tauran Union’s control of the Transitway between Terra Nova and Earth remains, as does the problem of the nuclear armed United Earth Peace Fleet, orbiting above the planet. The Taurans will not leave, and the Balboans—a proud people, with much recent success in war – will not tolerate that they should remain.
And yet, with one hundred times the population and three or four hundred times the wealth, the Tauran Union outclasses little Balboa in almost every way, even without the support of Old Earth. Sadly, they have that support. Everything, every one , will have to be used to finish the job of freeing the country and, if possible, the planet. The children must fight. The old must serve, too. And the women?
This is their story, the story of Balboa’s Tercio Amazona , the Amazon Regiment.
420 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2011
44 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 14, 2024
Bought this for 85 pesos from the remaindered bin at a Puerto Vallarta bookstore, as a beach book. It proves the expression 'you get what you pay for.' I've seen worse writing in military sci-fi, but the big turn off for me was the war porn: gratuitous descriptions of charred corpses, scattered body parts, soldiers trying to stuff their intestines back in, brutally sadistic training, etc. I'm not adverse to graphic descriptions of war when it authentically serves the story ( Sven Hassel's books being one example) but here it seems to me calculated and titillating.
It's evident Kratman knows some military history and throws in bits of it: St. Patrick's Battalion, the MInute Men, the Greeks-again ( is there a single aspiring military sci-fi author who hasn't read 'Gates of Fire'?)
As for the right wing ideology, I found that boring. He appears to want to emulate Heinlein's libertarianism but without Heinlein's knowledge of how politics and society actually work. The story also bears a resemblance to some of John Varley's later books.
I got a chuckle out of the cover illustration, of an elven amazon in a full metal tank top, toting a huge, phallic, futuristic rifle. It doesn't seem in touch with the gritty, nasty tone of the book but it's a welcome bit of comic relief.
The book did it's job, it kept me occupied on the beach. I'll never be fan but I recognize there are many who will love it. "To each, their own."
It's evident Kratman knows some military history and throws in bits of it: St. Patrick's Battalion, the MInute Men, the Greeks-again ( is there a single aspiring military sci-fi author who hasn't read 'Gates of Fire'?)
As for the right wing ideology, I found that boring. He appears to want to emulate Heinlein's libertarianism but without Heinlein's knowledge of how politics and society actually work. The story also bears a resemblance to some of John Varley's later books.
I got a chuckle out of the cover illustration, of an elven amazon in a full metal tank top, toting a huge, phallic, futuristic rifle. It doesn't seem in touch with the gritty, nasty tone of the book but it's a welcome bit of comic relief.
The book did it's job, it kept me occupied on the beach. I'll never be fan but I recognize there are many who will love it. "To each, their own."
August 15, 2012
Sometimes I wonder why I bother. I do like reading military sci-fi but reading stuff from an ex-American service personnel makes me cringe. Granted this is Kratman's world and his worldview, which tend to be simplistic - black and white. It makes me wonder why he bothers try to create a fantasy-futuristic Earth-like world with similar real-world geopolitiks to present his philosophy - I guess he is not Tom Clancy. Why are the armies in his futuristic world still using 20th century weapons? Knowing how military technology improves by leaps and bounds, it appears that aspect slows down in his books but then I'm presuming he is describing weaponry systems he knows to fill the pages.
Granted he made some points regarding women in the armed forces especially if they are still using 20th century weaponry. I figure in the future the weapons would be more lighter to carry and more destructive, and perhaps more simpilfy in their usage, ie. no need to used different types of mortar rounds, perhaps there would be one fits all type and for all situations. This way there would be no limitations regarding the mass loading of female soldiers. In any case, I served with women in the front line units (Canada has woman combatants since 1982) and I see no issues with them. They carried their weight and fought just as well in combat (ie. Afghanistan). I have a feeling that Kratman never fought with women but then he is old school - I get the feeling he is sexist..... "
Granted he made some points regarding women in the armed forces especially if they are still using 20th century weaponry. I figure in the future the weapons would be more lighter to carry and more destructive, and perhaps more simpilfy in their usage, ie. no need to used different types of mortar rounds, perhaps there would be one fits all type and for all situations. This way there would be no limitations regarding the mass loading of female soldiers. In any case, I served with women in the front line units (Canada has woman combatants since 1982) and I see no issues with them. They carried their weight and fought just as well in combat (ie. Afghanistan). I have a feeling that Kratman never fought with women but then he is old school - I get the feeling he is sexist..... "
August 4, 2018
Rather monotonous in parts, I skipped whole sections of monologue and description. But the action made up for the rest 3.5 stars.
May 7, 2014
Well it’s over, my voyage of discovery into the world of Ubergruppenfuhrer Kratman is finally at an end. Danke Gott!
On the upside he can write decent action….presumably his own experience is a help there. On the downside the books and characters are a little on the shallow side.
Still, he did try this time, we follow a bunch of girls and their gay drill instructors through boot and then on into the war with the TU….sadly we spend too much time in boot for me but hey ho. To give him his due it must have been hard for him to write from a female/gay perspective given his treatment of those groups in his previous works and I almost found myself going along with it, right up until the main man Carrera surprises his new female soldiers with plastic surgery to make them look beautiful again after their training….so close to treating them as equal but different and then blam, old Kratman is back and women are only valued for (and value) their looks.
Under the shallow characters and simplistic plot and setting there does seem to be the hints of an interesting story (well at least a nice action romp anyway) struggling to get out, I doubt I will bother picking up anymore of his books – though the completionist in me is curious to see how this story pans out.
On the upside he can write decent action….presumably his own experience is a help there. On the downside the books and characters are a little on the shallow side.
Still, he did try this time, we follow a bunch of girls and their gay drill instructors through boot and then on into the war with the TU….sadly we spend too much time in boot for me but hey ho. To give him his due it must have been hard for him to write from a female/gay perspective given his treatment of those groups in his previous works and I almost found myself going along with it, right up until the main man Carrera surprises his new female soldiers with plastic surgery to make them look beautiful again after their training….so close to treating them as equal but different and then blam, old Kratman is back and women are only valued for (and value) their looks.
Under the shallow characters and simplistic plot and setting there does seem to be the hints of an interesting story (well at least a nice action romp anyway) struggling to get out, I doubt I will bother picking up anymore of his books – though the completionist in me is curious to see how this story pans out.
January 5, 2016
If you are looking for an in-depth idea of what it might be like to have an all-female infantry military unit, this is probably the book for for you. About two-thirds of it is spent on the training, so there's not a whole lot of action. There's about as much crudeness as you'd expect from the military, and a lot of homosexuality you wouldn't, so I'll chalk that up to authorial obsession.
Unfortunately, there's almost nothing in here that makes it science fiction. Although technically it occurs on another planet, almost everything is taken directly from Earth and the planetary distinction seems mostly so the author can mix and match a lot of stuff from Earth without having to be real accurate. This is unfortunate when Kratman tries to preach about politics and democracy in the middle of the book, since it's apparent he is really talking about Earth and the thin patina of science fiction wears away. The lack of even some current technology and military-paid plastic surgery for all female soldiers further wears away at the feeling of reality, which is too bad because the military part seems very accurate and well-described.
Unfortunately, there's almost nothing in here that makes it science fiction. Although technically it occurs on another planet, almost everything is taken directly from Earth and the planetary distinction seems mostly so the author can mix and match a lot of stuff from Earth without having to be real accurate. This is unfortunate when Kratman tries to preach about politics and democracy in the middle of the book, since it's apparent he is really talking about Earth and the thin patina of science fiction wears away. The lack of even some current technology and military-paid plastic surgery for all female soldiers further wears away at the feeling of reality, which is too bad because the military part seems very accurate and well-described.
May 10, 2016
Wow. This is truly pathetic "military sci fi." Remind me to never read Kratman again. This book centers around a division of female warriors defending their country against a bigger, tougher, stronger, richer invader, and presumably how they overcome their weaknesses in kicking ass. I guess. All I got out of the first few pages was, "Oh, look at the baby. How cute. Who's going to take care of the baby. Oh, it's good that she was hired to take care of children and babies. She may be a grandmother, but she's damn good for the military. And my baby does so well with her." And on and on. Jesus.
Needless to say, I didn't get far. There was another reason too, and this is a pet peeve of mine. It's the 24th century, I believe. Colonies have been established by Earth, spaceships/warships abound, technology has come far, right? So, why the HELL are we still fighting with 20th century weapons??? Most sci fi writers invent new types of weapons as technology in the future advances, certainly, lasers being the easiest and most popular. Plasma weapons are also quite popular. Asimov had his neuronic whips, and he wrote these in the 1950s. So, why the HELL do some authors, including this so called one, persist in using antiquated weaponry like M-16s and AK-47s, 1911s and RPGs? Is it not possible that the defense industry, the most heavily financed industry in America, could advance its technology just a L I T T L E bit in the next 300+ years? Is that too much to ask for? To me, authors like Tom Kratman, desperately trying to prove their military sci fi legitimacy, do just the opposite in writing their military units using antiquated weaponry like that. Every now and then, I'll read an author that includes some "slug throwers" with lasers and the like and to me, that's acceptable because at least they're mixing it up, but when everything is exactly as it was in the Vietnam War, screw that bullshit!
Furthermore, this information comes from reviews I read online, but it appears that about 70% of this book is taken up with basic training and with the "Amazonian" warriors trying to have all sorts of lesbian encounters as often as possible. I have nothing against lesbians. I have several who are good friends. It's just when you use that to get your rocks off without advancing the plot that it makes me suspect that you're a shitty writer with no talent whatsoever.
Finally, the only thing actually "sci fi" about this novel is it happens upon another planet. Otherwise, it might as well happen upon Earth. There's no sci fi in this book. This book is an imposter to sci fi. The author is a fake, a fraud, and should be called on it. I'm doing that right now, as a matter of fact. It's just a shame he's written other similar books because I'm certain that if they're like this, they're equally as bad and shamelessly fraudulent. Most military sci fi writers have a bio on the backs of the books, usually inside the back cover. He does not. Perhaps it's because he was never in the military and therefore knows nothing about which he speaks. I certainly wouldn't attempt to write a military sci fi book. I'd criticize one though, because I know good ones and bad ones when I see them. David Weber is the standard by which all great military sci fi writers are measured. Kratman is the antithesis of Weber. Avoid this book. It's truly horrible and at times, simply laughable. One star. Definitely not recommended.
Needless to say, I didn't get far. There was another reason too, and this is a pet peeve of mine. It's the 24th century, I believe. Colonies have been established by Earth, spaceships/warships abound, technology has come far, right? So, why the HELL are we still fighting with 20th century weapons??? Most sci fi writers invent new types of weapons as technology in the future advances, certainly, lasers being the easiest and most popular. Plasma weapons are also quite popular. Asimov had his neuronic whips, and he wrote these in the 1950s. So, why the HELL do some authors, including this so called one, persist in using antiquated weaponry like M-16s and AK-47s, 1911s and RPGs? Is it not possible that the defense industry, the most heavily financed industry in America, could advance its technology just a L I T T L E bit in the next 300+ years? Is that too much to ask for? To me, authors like Tom Kratman, desperately trying to prove their military sci fi legitimacy, do just the opposite in writing their military units using antiquated weaponry like that. Every now and then, I'll read an author that includes some "slug throwers" with lasers and the like and to me, that's acceptable because at least they're mixing it up, but when everything is exactly as it was in the Vietnam War, screw that bullshit!
Furthermore, this information comes from reviews I read online, but it appears that about 70% of this book is taken up with basic training and with the "Amazonian" warriors trying to have all sorts of lesbian encounters as often as possible. I have nothing against lesbians. I have several who are good friends. It's just when you use that to get your rocks off without advancing the plot that it makes me suspect that you're a shitty writer with no talent whatsoever.
Finally, the only thing actually "sci fi" about this novel is it happens upon another planet. Otherwise, it might as well happen upon Earth. There's no sci fi in this book. This book is an imposter to sci fi. The author is a fake, a fraud, and should be called on it. I'm doing that right now, as a matter of fact. It's just a shame he's written other similar books because I'm certain that if they're like this, they're equally as bad and shamelessly fraudulent. Most military sci fi writers have a bio on the backs of the books, usually inside the back cover. He does not. Perhaps it's because he was never in the military and therefore knows nothing about which he speaks. I certainly wouldn't attempt to write a military sci fi book. I'd criticize one though, because I know good ones and bad ones when I see them. David Weber is the standard by which all great military sci fi writers are measured. Kratman is the antithesis of Weber. Avoid this book. It's truly horrible and at times, simply laughable. One star. Definitely not recommended.
October 22, 2020
Note 1: Fiction though they may be, everything in these books are from the perspective of a US citizen, and a far right one at that.
Note 2: I am giving books 2, 3 and 4 the same review for a couple reasons. First, the story is slow to develop, so much so that it seems unnecessary to review each book individually. There is a lot of world-building in each book, but sensible world building related to the story. Still, world-building does not a story make and so ignoring the world-building leaves the reader with a straight-forward good guys vs. bad guys story. Second, I am pressed for time and have pretty much the same thing about each book to say.
In book 1 of the Carrara Series Mr. Kratman shows how a more militaristic approach would have won the 2003 Iraq war. He does this in a sci-fi setting where earth has sent its unwanted population to the one earth-like planet discovered, Terra Nova. On Terra Nova humans set up equivalents to the countries they knew on earth, the Federated States for the United States, the Republica de Balboa for Panama and Taurus for the European Union.
In book 1 an extremely wealthy Federated States retired officer living in Balboa at the time of the 9/11 equivalent attack manages to create a private army. Thanks to the stamp of approval given by Balboa the army isn’t technically a mercenary army but in practice it essentially is. The MC takes his private army and wins the Terra Nova equivalent of the 2003 Iraq War.
In book two the MC takes his private army and wins the Terra Nova equivalent of the 2001 Afghan war. In book three the MC takes his private army and wins the war on drugs and a Balboan civil war prompted by the interference of Taurus. In book four the MC is largely absent, the perspective switched to female members of the private army (now the Balboan army albeit with many foreign members). The point of book four is essentially to show how women and homosexuals fit into the author’s political philosophy which is (greatly simplified) that only military personnel should be allowed to vote.
Since book four is freshest in my mind a lot of this review is based on that book. Virtually the first 3/4ths of the book is a training montage which is little more than a vehicle for explaining the author’s political philosophy. In the last third combat with the evil Taurans commences. However, the focus is on one small unit involved in the fighting and so the larger events of the war are pretty much lost to the reader. I do plan on moving on to book five and, if that tells the full Tauran war story I will be wishing I had skipped book four altogether (in spite of its interesting characters).
So, this series is essentially far right American propaganda and, from what I’ve read of Mr. Kratman he is aware of that fact. I believe Mr. Kratman to be both intelligent and deserving of respect. So please don’t take anything in this review to contradict the foregoing. Nevertheless I feel compelled to address Mr. Kratman’s overall points: that socialism is evil and the US should combat this through increased militarism. While I don’t believe Mr. Kratman’s blanket condemnation of socialism is supportable I don’t disagree with the author about many of the advantages of a military life. (Note that Mr. Kratman is a retired US Army officer with combat experience whereas I am a civilian.)
Mr. Kratman and I come to a similar conclusion from very different perspectives. For example, I feel that my generation would have been greatly benefited by a more structured school experience, particularly one meant to instill a sense of self-discipline. As a result I actually favor a military high school approach to education. However for many decades improvements to education have left to liberals in America since all the conservatives are willing to do is cut taxes regardless of the long-term costs of such headline grabbing jingoism. Mr. Kratman, however, comes to this same position from a conservative pro-military position. What Mr. Kratman appears unwilling to credit is that the vast majority of American liberals actually value its military. Liberals tend to be more aware of the shortfalls of military force and value the lives of American soldiers more and so American liberals are less willing to actually send soldiers into combat. Mr. Kratman seems to see that as a negative while I see it as a positive.
Still, where Mr. Kratman and I seem to differ most is in the goals for a military high-school. I see such an education as a way to empower and motivate individuals but, reasoning by analogy from his fiction, Mr. Kratman seems to believe that such an education should be used to point out the flaws of socialism and any possible worldwide government. In other words, indoctrinate students into a conservative mind set.
It also seems to me that Mr. Kratman overlooks the two biggest problem with excessive militarization- the loss of innovation and a coup. Regarding innovation: I have heard it said by many current and former military men that one of the greatest weaknesses of the military mindset is its lack of innovation and even today virtually all innovations come from the private sector. In his fiction Mr. Kratman essentially just denies this by having his military continue to innovate. Likewise in his fiction Mr. Kratman has a character state that a coup won’t happen because anyone who wants power can just join the Balboan military. That is, of course just naïve as history is rife with people who want power without having to work for it or, given a small taste, want more.
That’s enough of debating Mr. Kratman’s political philosophy. I’m sure I’ve done a poor job of it but then it is spread out over multiple books and the amount of time it would take to truly analyze it is prohibitive. Bottom line is all the real world examples I have ever come across of military lead governments have failed and so it seems Mr. Kratman’s theory for one that would succeed is optimistic and the cost of Mr. Kratman being wrong would be excessive.
Why, you may ask, do I continue to read Mr. Kratman’s books? Two reasons: First, he is a good writer. I found his suggestion of indoctrinating high school age students disturbing to the extreme- that is, after all, the sort of thing that happened in Nazi Germany, but Mr. Kratman is an American and I am certain he does not draw that comparison. Further, given his experience in military education (where I have none) I suspect he is aware of many valid distinctions that can be made to disqualify the comparison. Still, a disquieting suggestion, which brings me to point two: Mr. Kratman has a set of experiences to draw from that I don’t and frankly I am interested in those experiences. I considered joining the army when I graduated high school but, obviously, decided against it. By the time 9/11 came around I was too old for induction, although not too old to have still been in service if I had joined out of high school. My inability to contribute meaningfully at that time disappointed and troubled me and leads me to value the insights of those who did. I believe Mr. Kratman to be one such.
Bottom line: Too political for my tastes and a lot of world building but still above average writing by a man with knowledge. Still, should only be read by fully developed individuals capable of evaluating Mr. Kratman’s underlying arguments for themselves.
Note 2: I am giving books 2, 3 and 4 the same review for a couple reasons. First, the story is slow to develop, so much so that it seems unnecessary to review each book individually. There is a lot of world-building in each book, but sensible world building related to the story. Still, world-building does not a story make and so ignoring the world-building leaves the reader with a straight-forward good guys vs. bad guys story. Second, I am pressed for time and have pretty much the same thing about each book to say.
In book 1 of the Carrara Series Mr. Kratman shows how a more militaristic approach would have won the 2003 Iraq war. He does this in a sci-fi setting where earth has sent its unwanted population to the one earth-like planet discovered, Terra Nova. On Terra Nova humans set up equivalents to the countries they knew on earth, the Federated States for the United States, the Republica de Balboa for Panama and Taurus for the European Union.
In book 1 an extremely wealthy Federated States retired officer living in Balboa at the time of the 9/11 equivalent attack manages to create a private army. Thanks to the stamp of approval given by Balboa the army isn’t technically a mercenary army but in practice it essentially is. The MC takes his private army and wins the Terra Nova equivalent of the 2003 Iraq War.
In book two the MC takes his private army and wins the Terra Nova equivalent of the 2001 Afghan war. In book three the MC takes his private army and wins the war on drugs and a Balboan civil war prompted by the interference of Taurus. In book four the MC is largely absent, the perspective switched to female members of the private army (now the Balboan army albeit with many foreign members). The point of book four is essentially to show how women and homosexuals fit into the author’s political philosophy which is (greatly simplified) that only military personnel should be allowed to vote.
Since book four is freshest in my mind a lot of this review is based on that book. Virtually the first 3/4ths of the book is a training montage which is little more than a vehicle for explaining the author’s political philosophy. In the last third combat with the evil Taurans commences. However, the focus is on one small unit involved in the fighting and so the larger events of the war are pretty much lost to the reader. I do plan on moving on to book five and, if that tells the full Tauran war story I will be wishing I had skipped book four altogether (in spite of its interesting characters).
So, this series is essentially far right American propaganda and, from what I’ve read of Mr. Kratman he is aware of that fact. I believe Mr. Kratman to be both intelligent and deserving of respect. So please don’t take anything in this review to contradict the foregoing. Nevertheless I feel compelled to address Mr. Kratman’s overall points: that socialism is evil and the US should combat this through increased militarism. While I don’t believe Mr. Kratman’s blanket condemnation of socialism is supportable I don’t disagree with the author about many of the advantages of a military life. (Note that Mr. Kratman is a retired US Army officer with combat experience whereas I am a civilian.)
Mr. Kratman and I come to a similar conclusion from very different perspectives. For example, I feel that my generation would have been greatly benefited by a more structured school experience, particularly one meant to instill a sense of self-discipline. As a result I actually favor a military high school approach to education. However for many decades improvements to education have left to liberals in America since all the conservatives are willing to do is cut taxes regardless of the long-term costs of such headline grabbing jingoism. Mr. Kratman, however, comes to this same position from a conservative pro-military position. What Mr. Kratman appears unwilling to credit is that the vast majority of American liberals actually value its military. Liberals tend to be more aware of the shortfalls of military force and value the lives of American soldiers more and so American liberals are less willing to actually send soldiers into combat. Mr. Kratman seems to see that as a negative while I see it as a positive.
Still, where Mr. Kratman and I seem to differ most is in the goals for a military high-school. I see such an education as a way to empower and motivate individuals but, reasoning by analogy from his fiction, Mr. Kratman seems to believe that such an education should be used to point out the flaws of socialism and any possible worldwide government. In other words, indoctrinate students into a conservative mind set.
It also seems to me that Mr. Kratman overlooks the two biggest problem with excessive militarization- the loss of innovation and a coup. Regarding innovation: I have heard it said by many current and former military men that one of the greatest weaknesses of the military mindset is its lack of innovation and even today virtually all innovations come from the private sector. In his fiction Mr. Kratman essentially just denies this by having his military continue to innovate. Likewise in his fiction Mr. Kratman has a character state that a coup won’t happen because anyone who wants power can just join the Balboan military. That is, of course just naïve as history is rife with people who want power without having to work for it or, given a small taste, want more.
That’s enough of debating Mr. Kratman’s political philosophy. I’m sure I’ve done a poor job of it but then it is spread out over multiple books and the amount of time it would take to truly analyze it is prohibitive. Bottom line is all the real world examples I have ever come across of military lead governments have failed and so it seems Mr. Kratman’s theory for one that would succeed is optimistic and the cost of Mr. Kratman being wrong would be excessive.
Why, you may ask, do I continue to read Mr. Kratman’s books? Two reasons: First, he is a good writer. I found his suggestion of indoctrinating high school age students disturbing to the extreme- that is, after all, the sort of thing that happened in Nazi Germany, but Mr. Kratman is an American and I am certain he does not draw that comparison. Further, given his experience in military education (where I have none) I suspect he is aware of many valid distinctions that can be made to disqualify the comparison. Still, a disquieting suggestion, which brings me to point two: Mr. Kratman has a set of experiences to draw from that I don’t and frankly I am interested in those experiences. I considered joining the army when I graduated high school but, obviously, decided against it. By the time 9/11 came around I was too old for induction, although not too old to have still been in service if I had joined out of high school. My inability to contribute meaningfully at that time disappointed and troubled me and leads me to value the insights of those who did. I believe Mr. Kratman to be one such.
Bottom line: Too political for my tastes and a lot of world building but still above average writing by a man with knowledge. Still, should only be read by fully developed individuals capable of evaluating Mr. Kratman’s underlying arguments for themselves.
August 20, 2014
This piece of lengthy military crap was something I only read since it is the selection for the Powell's Science Fiction group. To some degree it was a bit like Starship Troopers and Spirit of Dorsai - the difference being both of those were good and relatively short and actually contained elements of science fiction or so I thought the last time I read them. Actually the author implied in the afterwards that having female and gay soldiers WERE the sf element.
So what didn't I like about this book? I didn't like the preachiness that implied the author knew THE TRUTH about how the military has worked and will always work including in the far far future when we settle planets a long distance away. I didn't appreciate the realism - yes Charge of the Light Brigade quality pointlessness does happen but that is not a good thing. And atrocities do happen but that is not something I'm interested in reading more than a page or two per hundred pages of story - and it better be justified for the story. Or non-fiction.
If this book were half the size and set as in an alternate past on Earth - it might have worked somewhat. But in an unstated future on another planet - no.
I don't expect to read anything by this author ever again.
So what didn't I like about this book? I didn't like the preachiness that implied the author knew THE TRUTH about how the military has worked and will always work including in the far far future when we settle planets a long distance away. I didn't appreciate the realism - yes Charge of the Light Brigade quality pointlessness does happen but that is not a good thing. And atrocities do happen but that is not something I'm interested in reading more than a page or two per hundred pages of story - and it better be justified for the story. Or non-fiction.
If this book were half the size and set as in an alternate past on Earth - it might have worked somewhat. But in an unstated future on another planet - no.
I don't expect to read anything by this author ever again.
November 12, 2012
The opening of the book goes as I expect, but it is really nothing. The author wants to get away from Earth where you may argue about things specific to our history, so it is an almost Earth. Then the story goes where I have been with other military SF, in the training, but very specific to training women. It also explains training techniques, which would be of interest to anyone looking to join the military. Trainers may not want recruits to understand the method to their madness, but oh well, immersed in the experience would probably overwhelm any cerebral understanding anyway.
Taking women as the core subject, it is a treatise on the relationship of a military to it's society as a whole, with their equipment, with each other. It is an intellectual discussion disguised as a story. It is an instruction manual on unconventional warfare. It is always something to think about. One of the features I love about science fiction is that it is a camouflage for anything, even gritty, detailed works on what soldiering is about. This goes on the must reads of serious works.
Taking women as the core subject, it is a treatise on the relationship of a military to it's society as a whole, with their equipment, with each other. It is an intellectual discussion disguised as a story. It is an instruction manual on unconventional warfare. It is always something to think about. One of the features I love about science fiction is that it is a camouflage for anything, even gritty, detailed works on what soldiering is about. This goes on the must reads of serious works.
March 1, 2013
I absolutely loved this book -- it was well thought out and it made me ashamed (slightly) of my own plush training/experience in the military. It would be thrilling to test one's mettle in the way that the women in this book did (most of whom ended up paying the ultimate price for it).
This was my first experience with this author and the book's structure, switching between 1st and 3rd person, with interludes of related action that don't include the protagonists, was a little surprising at first, but I rather liked it. The semi-odd plot structure -- start in the middle, go back to the beginning and then work your way to the end -- worked pretty well for the book, establishing as it did the frenetic pace and ultimate necessity of what the women in the Amazonas did.
So after reading book #4, I have picked up book #1 of the series. I hope I haven't spoiled the series too much for myself by reading it out of order! (And I hope the next book comes soon to give some sense of how the war is going.)
I absolutely recommend this book -- if you can handle realistic war scenes and violence in your reading. If not, you might want to pass.
This was my first experience with this author and the book's structure, switching between 1st and 3rd person, with interludes of related action that don't include the protagonists, was a little surprising at first, but I rather liked it. The semi-odd plot structure -- start in the middle, go back to the beginning and then work your way to the end -- worked pretty well for the book, establishing as it did the frenetic pace and ultimate necessity of what the women in the Amazonas did.
So after reading book #4, I have picked up book #1 of the series. I hope I haven't spoiled the series too much for myself by reading it out of order! (And I hope the next book comes soon to give some sense of how the war is going.)
I absolutely recommend this book -- if you can handle realistic war scenes and violence in your reading. If not, you might want to pass.
Read
December 20, 2020In The Amazon Legion, Carrera is desperate for more troops, and proposes a novel experiment, especially for the male-centric culture of Balboa, training up a legion of women warriors, and another one consisting solely of homosexual males.
Most of the book has as its protagonist Maria Fuentes, a young woman of impeccable family, who gets herself in the family way by trusting the blandishments of a young man of good family. When he denies being the father, she is disgraced and runs away to raise the baby on her own. This doesn't work out too well, as she is repeatedly victimized in the underbelly of Balboan society. A chance meeting with Carrera, however, puts her on track to apply for the new Amazon Legion where, if she succeeds, she and her daughter will be taken care of, and once again feel part of a family.
We follow Maria through her training, which is about as brutal as basic in the U.S. Marine Corps, aside from some minor modifications made to account for the relative strength and endurance of female troops as compared to males. After she graduates from basic, she goes on to a form of OCS intended to turn her into the equivalent of a noncommissioned officer in the Legion.
When the Taurans finally lose patience with Balboa, and attack, we get to tag along with Maria and her Amazons on some fairly normal military missions, and also a long sojourn as a guerilla fighter against the invaders. As we've come to expect from these stories, there's plenty of blood and gore to go around.
One great quote:
"All the courses and books in the world on building self-esteem are largely exercises in learning how to be a bad judge of character."
Kratman spends a great deal of time in this novel expounding on the idea that social experimentation, in the form of attempting to integrate gay soldiers and female soldiers into the general military population, has serious consequences and repercussions upon fighting effectiveness and morale. There are quite a few discussions, as well, on the subject of "why we fight".
More good reading in the ongoing saga of Terra Nova by Kratman.
Most of the book has as its protagonist Maria Fuentes, a young woman of impeccable family, who gets herself in the family way by trusting the blandishments of a young man of good family. When he denies being the father, she is disgraced and runs away to raise the baby on her own. This doesn't work out too well, as she is repeatedly victimized in the underbelly of Balboan society. A chance meeting with Carrera, however, puts her on track to apply for the new Amazon Legion where, if she succeeds, she and her daughter will be taken care of, and once again feel part of a family.
We follow Maria through her training, which is about as brutal as basic in the U.S. Marine Corps, aside from some minor modifications made to account for the relative strength and endurance of female troops as compared to males. After she graduates from basic, she goes on to a form of OCS intended to turn her into the equivalent of a noncommissioned officer in the Legion.
When the Taurans finally lose patience with Balboa, and attack, we get to tag along with Maria and her Amazons on some fairly normal military missions, and also a long sojourn as a guerilla fighter against the invaders. As we've come to expect from these stories, there's plenty of blood and gore to go around.
One great quote:
"All the courses and books in the world on building self-esteem are largely exercises in learning how to be a bad judge of character."
Kratman spends a great deal of time in this novel expounding on the idea that social experimentation, in the form of attempting to integrate gay soldiers and female soldiers into the general military population, has serious consequences and repercussions upon fighting effectiveness and morale. There are quite a few discussions, as well, on the subject of "why we fight".
More good reading in the ongoing saga of Terra Nova by Kratman.
May 18, 2024
It’s obvious to me that the author has spent a lot of time considering the role of women in the military. He raises valid points of discussion and methods to overcome a female's physical attributes that are lacking when compared to a male's. Note, I am not saying that the differences are deficiencies per se, but differences in strength, height, stamina, etc., are established realities. Kratman addresses the differences with logic and solutions that make sense in the real world. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next in the series
February 2, 2023
The other books of the series are 5/5
But this is a detached story about a bunch of women and homosexuals.
I hope book 5 resumes the story about Duque Carrera and Hamilcar.
This book was a complete waste of time. Women do not belong in an army, and reading about women getting slaughtered and tortured is horrible. Too much misery.
Just skip this book and you won't regret it.
But this is a detached story about a bunch of women and homosexuals.
I hope book 5 resumes the story about Duque Carrera and Hamilcar.
This book was a complete waste of time. Women do not belong in an army, and reading about women getting slaughtered and tortured is horrible. Too much misery.
Just skip this book and you won't regret it.
January 12, 2021
This book in the series was very hard to read. I skipped whole sections in the middle. I only read it because of the overall series which I liked up to this point. If the next one is as bad I’ll stop.
November 2, 2017
PC Segue to Carerra Series
Not an essential part of the storyline.
70% of the book is a discourse on homosexuals and women in the military. Better than the obligatory Politically-Correct-Bad-Science of the liberal power elite propaganda machine, this is actually thoughtful.
Worth reading from a philosophical perspective, but can easily be skipped if you only want the storyline.
Not an essential part of the storyline.
70% of the book is a discourse on homosexuals and women in the military. Better than the obligatory Politically-Correct-Bad-Science of the liberal power elite propaganda machine, this is actually thoughtful.
Worth reading from a philosophical perspective, but can easily be skipped if you only want the storyline.
April 12, 2012
I picked up this book for train-wreck reasons, expecting an adolescent male sex fantasy I could laugh at, but found something completely different.
Instead, Mr. Kratman follows the training and military career of a single mother, Maria Fuentes, desperate to provide for her toddler. She joins the first set of recruits for the first all-female infantry in the also desperate country of Balboa.
But the book is more than just Maria's story. Mr. Kratman explores the psychological and practical problems of training women to fight on the front lines, and how their presence affects the overwhelmingly male majority of this planet's armed forces.
For example, a group of the most attractive graduated female soldiers are used in a promotional recruitment advertisement...and the video increases the MALE enlistments, while reducing the female.
The physical limitations of women are also flat-out addressed in the book. The female platoons are a third larger than their male counterparts, to account for maternity leave without significant reduction in strength, and because it takes more women (and a couple mules!) to carry the same amount of supplies. Also they are NOT issued smaller and lighter weapons, because the price and hassle of manufacturing and shipping them isn't worth the inevitable resulting SNAFU.
My favorite segment dealt with the women learning how to drive tanks. Almost none of them learned to drive cars in their civilian life, so they do not have any ingrained habits when it comes to driving tanks. Who needs to follow a road? Who cares if there's a patch of trees blocking the shortest route? And apparently jumping a tank at speed over a creek is a great deal of fun. Particularly when it makes their instructors turn a bit pale. Haha!
The novel does not gloss over the horrors of war. Indeed, the opening scene is a flash-forward where the women are sent into their first actual battle in a way reminiscent of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Beloved characters are killed, tortured, maimed, and occasionally even survive.
The Amazon Legion was fascinating to me, particularly since it explored the psychological and political problems of an all-female infantry. I've always said technology is the great equalizer between the sexes, but it is interesting to see how that is true, within physical limits.
I plan to propose this book to my sci-fi book club in the future. It can generate some amazing discussion!
Instead, Mr. Kratman follows the training and military career of a single mother, Maria Fuentes, desperate to provide for her toddler. She joins the first set of recruits for the first all-female infantry in the also desperate country of Balboa.
But the book is more than just Maria's story. Mr. Kratman explores the psychological and practical problems of training women to fight on the front lines, and how their presence affects the overwhelmingly male majority of this planet's armed forces.
For example, a group of the most attractive graduated female soldiers are used in a promotional recruitment advertisement...and the video increases the MALE enlistments, while reducing the female.
The physical limitations of women are also flat-out addressed in the book. The female platoons are a third larger than their male counterparts, to account for maternity leave without significant reduction in strength, and because it takes more women (and a couple mules!) to carry the same amount of supplies. Also they are NOT issued smaller and lighter weapons, because the price and hassle of manufacturing and shipping them isn't worth the inevitable resulting SNAFU.
My favorite segment dealt with the women learning how to drive tanks. Almost none of them learned to drive cars in their civilian life, so they do not have any ingrained habits when it comes to driving tanks. Who needs to follow a road? Who cares if there's a patch of trees blocking the shortest route? And apparently jumping a tank at speed over a creek is a great deal of fun. Particularly when it makes their instructors turn a bit pale. Haha!
The novel does not gloss over the horrors of war. Indeed, the opening scene is a flash-forward where the women are sent into their first actual battle in a way reminiscent of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Beloved characters are killed, tortured, maimed, and occasionally even survive.
The Amazon Legion was fascinating to me, particularly since it explored the psychological and political problems of an all-female infantry. I've always said technology is the great equalizer between the sexes, but it is interesting to see how that is true, within physical limits.
I plan to propose this book to my sci-fi book club in the future. It can generate some amazing discussion!
March 9, 2012
First of all my rating is 3.5 stars but you can't give a half star.
Kratman goes way from Carrera as a main character and tells the story through a few women who go through basic training and Cazador training together. He then takes the protagonist, Maria through Centurion Candidate School as well as shows her life prior to the Amazon Legion.
The book is a brutal portrayal of war, and it shows how Kratman, a former infantry officer would go about training women for combat as well as how he would deal with "Don't ask don't tell" by allowing male shield mates to marry and be in a separate legion.
In this book, the Tauran Union (the European analog) and their Zhong (Chinese) allies invade Balboa. Everyone willing to fight does, and the horrors of war are not watered down in this book. War is hell and Kratman writes from that point of view. The book is often times brutal but shows a gritty realism. You grow fond of the characters and it hurts when they die.
Looking forward to book 5.
Kratman goes way from Carrera as a main character and tells the story through a few women who go through basic training and Cazador training together. He then takes the protagonist, Maria through Centurion Candidate School as well as shows her life prior to the Amazon Legion.
The book is a brutal portrayal of war, and it shows how Kratman, a former infantry officer would go about training women for combat as well as how he would deal with "Don't ask don't tell" by allowing male shield mates to marry and be in a separate legion.
In this book, the Tauran Union (the European analog) and their Zhong (Chinese) allies invade Balboa. Everyone willing to fight does, and the horrors of war are not watered down in this book. War is hell and Kratman writes from that point of view. The book is often times brutal but shows a gritty realism. You grow fond of the characters and it hurts when they die.
Looking forward to book 5.
January 19, 2015
While I have enjoyed Tom's other books, this one leaves too many questions unanswered for me to give it a higher rating. It took me a little while to realise that I'd started in the middle of the story, then went back to the beginning, and then jumped back to the ending. This I can partially excuse, but there is just too much that gets left out along the way.
While the parts that deal with Maria's training make for great reading, and some of the action is specific and detailed, I want to know more about the Tauran Invasion, how the battle for the "impregnable" island went, how did the Zhong get involved, how did the Amazons manage to travel without difficulty once the invasion had started, who was it that (presumably) rescued Maria, and how much time elapsed from the beginning of the creation of the Gorgidas tercio, to the epilogue where Maria is a senior Centurion.
I hope and pray that this will all be dealt with in the next book, whenever that is forthcoming.
While the parts that deal with Maria's training make for great reading, and some of the action is specific and detailed, I want to know more about the Tauran Invasion, how the battle for the "impregnable" island went, how did the Zhong get involved, how did the Amazons manage to travel without difficulty once the invasion had started, who was it that (presumably) rescued Maria, and how much time elapsed from the beginning of the creation of the Gorgidas tercio, to the epilogue where Maria is a senior Centurion.
I hope and pray that this will all be dealt with in the next book, whenever that is forthcoming.
April 8, 2013
I couldn't finish this one. It looked to be an endless exposition on the training sessions for the first 100 pages (and beyond?). Nothing about the women bonding as you would expect men to do in similar situations. I just couldn't sympathize with any of the characters.
The only SF feature seems to be that the action takes place on another planet. But, when they went to this planet, they left behind some very basic DNA testing technology and any advanced weapons that might have been developed between now and 2037.
This is more of an alternative history. The social scene seems to be more in the '60s and early '70s. Setting it there, on Earth, and tweaking the idea that women could be allowed to train for and participate in combat would have been slightly more interesting and true to the first quarter of the book.
The only SF feature seems to be that the action takes place on another planet. But, when they went to this planet, they left behind some very basic DNA testing technology and any advanced weapons that might have been developed between now and 2037.
This is more of an alternative history. The social scene seems to be more in the '60s and early '70s. Setting it there, on Earth, and tweaking the idea that women could be allowed to train for and participate in combat would have been slightly more interesting and true to the first quarter of the book.
June 24, 2019
This was my second reading to The Amazon Legion, I am speeding through all of them in preparation for The Rod and the Axe. I picked up a few things I'd missed (or forgotten) in my first read. That being said, it's still pretty good.
The Amazon Legion overlaps Come And Take Them, in several places the text is identical. This doesn't hurt, but I get the feeling that this book could be skipped if the reader wants. They'd miss out on several key points regarding the formation of the two units that are a key point in a later battle.
Something to keep in mind is that Kratman has a particular style. If you haven't liked his work up to this point, you're not going to like this one either. If one the other hand you like the story happening on Terra Nova so far; while it isn't essential is does broaden the story.
The Amazon Legion overlaps Come And Take Them, in several places the text is identical. This doesn't hurt, but I get the feeling that this book could be skipped if the reader wants. They'd miss out on several key points regarding the formation of the two units that are a key point in a later battle.
Something to keep in mind is that Kratman has a particular style. If you haven't liked his work up to this point, you're not going to like this one either. If one the other hand you like the story happening on Terra Nova so far; while it isn't essential is does broaden the story.
July 27, 2016
Another chapter in the epic -scoped "Carrera Series". This one focusing predominantly on how one the creation of a regiment of female soldiers. More so than many of the prior (and thats saying something) it focused on a lot of nuts and bolts of training. So-so as far as plot progression, but then again, I'm easily distracted and after multiple prior books talking about building an army, I was hoping for a bit more on the primary plot arc and the Geo-politics and fighting therein.. As before, a lot of philosophical discussions that I had mixed feelings on.
November 14, 2014
Tough to get into, it jumps around in time and at one point changed narrator in midstream -I missed the notation and got confused.
The author has definitely thought about women in combat and brings his ideas out quite explicitly in this story. Almost to the point where it was like being lectured too instead of told a story. Got annoying at times.
Good story, neat world, strong characters but flawed, so they seemed real instead of tropes.
The author has definitely thought about women in combat and brings his ideas out quite explicitly in this story. Almost to the point where it was like being lectured too instead of told a story. Got annoying at times.
Good story, neat world, strong characters but flawed, so they seemed real instead of tropes.
May 2, 2012
Slightly disappointed. I was really looking forward to reading AL after reading LE but once I started the story was something of a letdown. I enjoyed the first three books of the series much more. The book felt disjointed especially with the number of interludes and the way the main story was told out of chronological order.
A good read but not my favorite out of the series.
A good read but not my favorite out of the series.
December 10, 2014
What the hell. I swear, the time jumping these books are doing is going to drive me insane. Not only does this one take place before the last one, it also takes place after. AND it also takes places in the middle of the second one.
Tom, what are you doing? Please stahp.
Other than that it was decent, but man. PLEASE WE JUST WANT A MOSTLY LINEAR STORY PLEASE
Tom, what are you doing? Please stahp.
Other than that it was decent, but man. PLEASE WE JUST WANT A MOSTLY LINEAR STORY PLEASE
February 2, 2012
On Terra Nova, the country of Balboa fights for its life and its women are soldiers in the front lines. Also read 'The Amazon's Right Breast' in Free Nonfiction 2011 at baen.com for Kratman's more concise description of what women in combat could look like.
August 13, 2012
Liked it, but not as much as the earlier ones in the series this one had (it seemed) quite a bit more time spent on the mundane stuff of how you'd train an Amazon legion. Took me a while to get through certain parts.
October 22, 2012
I thought it was a good read. Usually not a fan of the style of writing that Tom took (the switching to first person with some interludes and back to third person and the like) but he made it work. The story was well done and I can't wait to read more from this universe.
January 28, 2013
Kratman does a relatively good job of surprising the reader with the content, as the Amazon Legion as imagined it was not what was inside the story. The story is well crafted, and though at certain times quite cliche, it was an enjoyable book to read,
March 31, 2013
While a good book, it was really kind of weird. It's a jump to a new character and into the future from the other books. The characters from the previous set were in the book, but didn't play a huge role in the story. I'd consider this an supplemental story than a core part of the series...
February 18, 2014
not as good as the 1st 3 books in the series! in the 1st 3 books there was constant fighting and battles but the 1st 400 pages in this book was about training which got a bit tedious after awhile! when the action finally started in the last 200 pages it was just as good as the 1st 3 books !
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