Saturday, May 28, 2011

Sunday eBook Review: Imperial Stars 1: The Stars at War


 
Jerry Pournelle (editor), Imperial Stars 1: The Stars at War

Published 12/1/1986
SKU: 0671656031
Ebook Price: $4.00


1. Short review: 
(Full disclosure:  I am a friend of Jerry's.
Imperial Stars is a series of collections of short stories.  I have given each component a review as well as reviewing the work as a whole.  I have not reviewed the editor's introductions to the pieces.)

"In Clouds of Glory" (8 chapters), Algis Budrys
"The Star Plunderer" (4 chapters), Poul Anderson
"Tradesman, Barbarian, anc Citizen", John W. Campbell
"The Barbarians from Within", John W. Campbell
"Hymn of Breaking Strain", Rudyard Kipling
"The Miracle of Government" (3 chapters), James Burnham
"To a Different Drum", Reginald Bretnor
"The Whirligig of Time", Vernor Vinge
"Nightmare, with Angels", Stephen Vincent Benet
"The Aristocrat" (3 chapters), Chan Davis
"The Sons of Martha", Rudyard Kipling
"Mail Supremacy", Hayford Peirce
"Herbig-Haro", Harry Turtledove
"The Fighting Philosopher", E. B. Cole
"The Voodoo Sciences", Jerry Pournelle
"Pax Galactica", Ralph Williams
"The Proper Study of Mankind", Jerry Pournelle
"All Ends of the Spectrum", Jerry Pournelle
"Finger Trouble", Edward P. Hughes
"Yellow Rain", Adrian Berry
"Space Wars", Adrian Berry
"That Share of Glory", C. M. Kornbluth
"The Stars at War", Jerry Pournelle
   
2. Long reviews:
2.1. What I liked:  Some very memorable stories; for example, "That Share of Glory."
     Roller coaster or walk in the park?
     Both.  Some roller coasters.  Some walks in the park.

2.2. What I did not like:  The volume begins with two stories which I found slow.  And it ends with Jerry's diatribe against the now-dead Soviet Empire. 

2.3. Who I think is the audience:  Military sf fans.

2.4. Is the book appropriate for children to read?  Yes.

2.5. On the basis of reading this book, will I buy the next book in the series?  I already have.  The book gave good value for $4.00.

2.6. Other:
     This book is from the Baens Books collection.

2.7.  Links: Jerry Pournelle

2.8.  Buy the book:  Imperial Stars 1:  The Stars at War