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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
This was the most meh book I've read in a long time. It was fine. I didn't hate it or not like it, but there just wasn't anything overly interesting about it. It honestly felt like a worse version of the newer Thrawn series by Timothy Zahn. The first Thrawn book does a similar thing with its timeline where you jump from point to point throughout the beginning stages of Thrawn's military career. And throughout The Clone Republic all I could think was "Thrawn did this better." And I thought this in many facets, from general story telling, to character strength, character relationships, combat, intrigue, etc.
I try not to just sit and compare books to one another, but when it's so easy to draw parallels (which I don't think is always a bad thing), it's hard not to compare. Especially when one clear outshines the other. I will not be picking up book 2.
I try not to just sit and compare books to one another, but when it's so easy to draw parallels (which I don't think is always a bad thing), it's hard not to compare. Especially when one clear outshines the other. I will not be picking up book 2.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The story was decent, although the middle section felt like mostly filler. I enjoyed Wayson's first assignment and everything that happened there, and the last battle was pretty thrilling. The middle section was kind of a slog, only hitting you over the head with how terrible some of the characters are and Wayson's plot armor. The only women in this book solely exist as sexual objects for the men to gawk at. Like I get that most of your military is clones, but you're telling me that not a SINGLE woman in the entire galaxy has ever wanted to enlist? Come on. This could have been a great way to write in some genuinely strong, badass female characters, but I guess that was beyond the author's comprehension. Another thing that was odd was that everyone was wearing armor, but somehow that armor never offered any protection? Every battle had someone being shot in the back of the head and dying, so what is the purpose of the helmet? You would think that technology so far in the future would have better protection (for people other than the main character and his best friend).
The writing style was all over the place. Repetitive sentences using the same words over and over, commas in the wrong places, the author's inability to decide whether or not to use contractions for some reason? At best it took me out of the story, at worst it made me confused, angry and wanting to get out my editing pen.
The writing style was all over the place. Repetitive sentences using the same words over and over, commas in the wrong places, the author's inability to decide whether or not to use contractions for some reason? At best it took me out of the story, at worst it made me confused, angry and wanting to get out my editing pen.
I was forced to read this by my cousin which he apparently hasn’t read this in 20 years and just remembers how much he loved it as a kid. This is very YA and I just couldn’t do it. Also doesn’t help that I listened to the graphic audio and it was terribly performed.
It's a nice idea for a universe, similar to Scalzi's "Old Man's War", but nowhere near as engaging.
The protagonist doesn't really move the plot. Instead of being a part of the plot, the plot is all stuff that is happening to him.
The protagonist doesn't really move the plot. Instead of being a part of the plot, the plot is all stuff that is happening to him.
This story felt clumsily cobbled together and all the relationships between the characters felt superficial. When characters died I didn't feel anything and it didn't seem to me that the surviving characters felt much more. The story kicks off with a prologue that finds the MC in the year A.D. 2510, about to face likely death in some remote outpost on some dumpy planet. The rest of the book details the two years leading up to that point but a lot of it just wasn't that interesting. The whole story circles back around to the beginning but I'm just not sure what the whole point was.
The mediocre ratings of this book make me wonder whether everyone else missed something or whether I have. I liked it enough for me to have decided to read the rest of this series, which is something I rarely do with sagas.
As military sci-fi, this book really isn't that spectacular. Not that it isn't action-packed, but the most memorable action sequences are brawls (some really fine brawls, I should add). The maneuvering, the shootouts, these are pretty bland, and it isn't filled with fun gadgets of the sort you have in [b:The Forever War|21611|The Forever War (The Forever War, #1)|Joe Haldeman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386852511l/21611._SY75_.jpg|423] or [b:Old Man's War|36510196|Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)|John Scalzi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509467059l/36510196._SY75_.jpg|50700]. The exception might be the clones, perhaps, although they technically aren't gadgets.
Nevertheless, the military isn't just tacked on. The plot, the characters, the overall atmosphere, they plain couldn't exist without the military background.
I think the author did a very good job in creating unique scenes that are each fun to read in their own right, without making the story a sequence of unrelated events. You have a Jarhead-esque sequence on a backwater world, Magnum-esque rest and recreation, underground fights, grueling suicide missions and more. The visuals come to live when I think back about this book, and they're pretty cool.
The idea of a clone army isn't new, but here, it's executed better than elsewhere, including in Scalzis novels. Each individual clone is hardwired to think he's the only orphan in the entire armed forces, yet they also all know every clone is hardwired that way. Hardwired as in, it's a completely unshakable belief but if it was shaken, the clone would automatically die. This makes for some really hilarious scenes, but the clones are not just comic relief. They play an integral role in the thriller, for one. They also seem to collectively make a statement against genetic determinism, as all clones have individual personalities, ranging from complacent, overweight administrators to bodybuilders. How this happens, the novel never explains, although it mentions the mystery. Given the authors religious views, it might have to do with either their soul or the existence of free will. Both are nice to see implied in a sci-fi novel, for a change. Lastly, that the clones are treated as expendable tells us something about the rest of the entire society, in the light of the fact that they are individuals and not just factory-produced automatons. There's a surprising humanity in this novel, and not just in what I mentioned, but throughout it, particularly in the characters.
So yes, I think it's a really good book.
As military sci-fi, this book really isn't that spectacular. Not that it isn't action-packed, but the most memorable action sequences are brawls (some really fine brawls, I should add). The maneuvering, the shootouts, these are pretty bland, and it isn't filled with fun gadgets of the sort you have in [b:The Forever War|21611|The Forever War (The Forever War, #1)|Joe Haldeman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386852511l/21611._SY75_.jpg|423] or [b:Old Man's War|36510196|Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)|John Scalzi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509467059l/36510196._SY75_.jpg|50700]. The exception might be the clones, perhaps, although they technically aren't gadgets.
Nevertheless, the military isn't just tacked on. The plot, the characters, the overall atmosphere, they plain couldn't exist without the military background.
I think the author did a very good job in creating unique scenes that are each fun to read in their own right, without making the story a sequence of unrelated events. You have a Jarhead-esque sequence on a backwater world, Magnum-esque rest and recreation, underground fights, grueling suicide missions and more. The visuals come to live when I think back about this book, and they're pretty cool.
The idea of a clone army isn't new, but here, it's executed better than elsewhere, including in Scalzis novels. Each individual clone is hardwired to think he's the only orphan in the entire armed forces, yet they also all know every clone is hardwired that way. Hardwired as in, it's a completely unshakable belief but if it was shaken, the clone would automatically die. This makes for some really hilarious scenes, but the clones are not just comic relief. They play an integral role in the thriller, for one. They also seem to collectively make a statement against genetic determinism, as all clones have individual personalities, ranging from complacent, overweight administrators to bodybuilders. How this happens, the novel never explains, although it mentions the mystery. Given the authors religious views, it might have to do with either their soul or the existence of free will. Both are nice to see implied in a sci-fi novel, for a change. Lastly, that the clones are treated as expendable tells us something about the rest of the entire society, in the light of the fact that they are individuals and not just factory-produced automatons. There's a surprising humanity in this novel, and not just in what I mentioned, but throughout it, particularly in the characters.
So yes, I think it's a really good book.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good read, the plot is interesting and I enjoy Wayne as a character. The prose is a little rough, we jump through time and locations with little notice, and some things that seem important are skipped through in a page, while some small details are drawn out.
The ending is particularly jarring. I understand the desired cliff hanger, but feel an additional chapter would help flesh things out.
I'll definitely continue reading as I enjoy the military/sci-fi aspect, but wouldn't consider this a genre defining work. A guilty pleasure to pass the time in the airport.
The ending is particularly jarring. I understand the desired cliff hanger, but feel an additional chapter would help flesh things out.
I'll definitely continue reading as I enjoy the military/sci-fi aspect, but wouldn't consider this a genre defining work. A guilty pleasure to pass the time in the airport.
Titan Books in the UK are currently catching up on a lot of authors that our US readers have already met: Jack Campbell, Kevin J Anderson and John Birmingham, for example.
Their latest conscript is Steven L Kent, whose nine book series has already been quite popular in the US. The Clone Republic, the first in the series, is standard mil-SF for those who want to upgrade from those clones in the Star Wars novels. These are books that cover similar ground but are much more adult in nature (and please note, the language used often reflects this.)
It is the year 2508AD. The Unified Authority rules over the galaxy, using clones for much of its policing across the colonies. The story is told from the perspective of one of these clones, Private First-Class Wayson Harris, initially newly assigned to the small and obscure desert outpost of Gobi on a planet called Ravenwood. As a clone, he’s trained to obey without question, and clearly finds the rather laidback setup at Gobi disconcerting.
A most-wanted rogue ex-general attacks the base in an attempt to gain arms. Wayson saves the base and is promoted to become a corporal on the battle cruiser Kamehameha. Here the world of the Clone Republic suddenly becomes broader, as the view widens to events on a much wider scale. We discover more about the difficulties of implementing a ‘one size fits all’ policy for the Unified Authority as Wayson and the battle cruiser Kamehameha are sent to the planet Ezer Kri to deal with an incident: namely that the planet wants to rename itself and follow old Japanese traditions, something seen as against the principles of the Republic. Add to this an embittered troop Sergeant from an earlier war, political infighting between the senior officers of the Republic and a lead character trying to come to terms both with his own identity and casual racism whilst battling in difficult circumstances and you have a mix that fans will find attractive.
Part of this attraction may be that initially, for all intents and purposes, the book doesn’t stray too far from the tried and trusted model for military stories. The Marines of 2508 pretty much act and talk like soldiers in 2013. What happens here on a desert-type world in 2508 is very similar to, say, Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan in 2013, a point further emphasized when some of the hardware used has familiar names such as Harrier and Tomahawk which could place the book as easily in the 1980’s as the 2500’s. This reminds the reader that a Marine is a Marine, regardless of time, and nothing really changes that, whether now or in the future. Here they complain, gamble, sleep around and fight one another like any other typical armed force, past, present and (presumably) future.
Think The Hurt Locker but in an SF setting.
At about halfway through the tale my thoughts were that Clone Republic was solidly entertaining, easy to read and a good page turner. The battle scenes were suitably visual and emotive, the main character likeable and engaging, if a little naïve. I thought I pretty much had it pegged as a book that told a standard mil-SF plot that highlights the importance of comradeship and loyalty, even when stupid decisions, resource issues and incompetent leadership do their best to destroy that.
Well, it is that. But what elevates this book a little is that there are some interesting points made along the way about the logistics of running a large Republic state based on Plato’s ideals. Whilst the idea is laudable, the reality of such a society is quite different, and Steven does a good job of getting that point across by showing us the ambiguity of such a society. In a universe where people are spread over vast distances and views are various, the author gives good reasons why Space Empires probably wouldn’t work, or at least have to use extreme measures to maintain some degree of order.
Whilst the book deals with such issues, it will work best for many readers because, perhaps most of all, this is a book that shows the life journey of a man in a difficult situation. Wayson starts as a naïve and unquestioning clone and by the end of the book realises his place in the bigger picture. It’s a book that gets you to question authority whilst maintaining loyalty and comradeship, and has a nice twist at the conclusion that leads (no doubt) to the next book in the series.
Despite what might appear to be a rather gung-ho nature in the book initially, there’s some developments towards the end of the book that suggest that the book isn’t as conservatively right-wing as you might have expected at first, and caused me to revise my mid-point assessment. In the end, this is a book that delivers what you expect and doesn’t disappoint on that score. It’s exciting and well written, showing the reader that future conflict can be just as difficult, complex and dangerous as it is now. A no-frills, recommended read for mil-SF fans that know what they want and expect it from their reading material, but it also makes them think about the consequences of some of the actions undertaken here in a way that George Lucas hasn’t.
I’m pleased that Titan are catching up with the series by releasing the books in batches, one month apart. I want to read the next book in the series now, which can only be a good thing.
Their latest conscript is Steven L Kent, whose nine book series has already been quite popular in the US. The Clone Republic, the first in the series, is standard mil-SF for those who want to upgrade from those clones in the Star Wars novels. These are books that cover similar ground but are much more adult in nature (and please note, the language used often reflects this.)
It is the year 2508AD. The Unified Authority rules over the galaxy, using clones for much of its policing across the colonies. The story is told from the perspective of one of these clones, Private First-Class Wayson Harris, initially newly assigned to the small and obscure desert outpost of Gobi on a planet called Ravenwood. As a clone, he’s trained to obey without question, and clearly finds the rather laidback setup at Gobi disconcerting.
A most-wanted rogue ex-general attacks the base in an attempt to gain arms. Wayson saves the base and is promoted to become a corporal on the battle cruiser Kamehameha. Here the world of the Clone Republic suddenly becomes broader, as the view widens to events on a much wider scale. We discover more about the difficulties of implementing a ‘one size fits all’ policy for the Unified Authority as Wayson and the battle cruiser Kamehameha are sent to the planet Ezer Kri to deal with an incident: namely that the planet wants to rename itself and follow old Japanese traditions, something seen as against the principles of the Republic. Add to this an embittered troop Sergeant from an earlier war, political infighting between the senior officers of the Republic and a lead character trying to come to terms both with his own identity and casual racism whilst battling in difficult circumstances and you have a mix that fans will find attractive.
Part of this attraction may be that initially, for all intents and purposes, the book doesn’t stray too far from the tried and trusted model for military stories. The Marines of 2508 pretty much act and talk like soldiers in 2013. What happens here on a desert-type world in 2508 is very similar to, say, Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan in 2013, a point further emphasized when some of the hardware used has familiar names such as Harrier and Tomahawk which could place the book as easily in the 1980’s as the 2500’s. This reminds the reader that a Marine is a Marine, regardless of time, and nothing really changes that, whether now or in the future. Here they complain, gamble, sleep around and fight one another like any other typical armed force, past, present and (presumably) future.
Think The Hurt Locker but in an SF setting.
At about halfway through the tale my thoughts were that Clone Republic was solidly entertaining, easy to read and a good page turner. The battle scenes were suitably visual and emotive, the main character likeable and engaging, if a little naïve. I thought I pretty much had it pegged as a book that told a standard mil-SF plot that highlights the importance of comradeship and loyalty, even when stupid decisions, resource issues and incompetent leadership do their best to destroy that.
Well, it is that. But what elevates this book a little is that there are some interesting points made along the way about the logistics of running a large Republic state based on Plato’s ideals. Whilst the idea is laudable, the reality of such a society is quite different, and Steven does a good job of getting that point across by showing us the ambiguity of such a society. In a universe where people are spread over vast distances and views are various, the author gives good reasons why Space Empires probably wouldn’t work, or at least have to use extreme measures to maintain some degree of order.
Whilst the book deals with such issues, it will work best for many readers because, perhaps most of all, this is a book that shows the life journey of a man in a difficult situation. Wayson starts as a naïve and unquestioning clone and by the end of the book realises his place in the bigger picture. It’s a book that gets you to question authority whilst maintaining loyalty and comradeship, and has a nice twist at the conclusion that leads (no doubt) to the next book in the series.
Despite what might appear to be a rather gung-ho nature in the book initially, there’s some developments towards the end of the book that suggest that the book isn’t as conservatively right-wing as you might have expected at first, and caused me to revise my mid-point assessment. In the end, this is a book that delivers what you expect and doesn’t disappoint on that score. It’s exciting and well written, showing the reader that future conflict can be just as difficult, complex and dangerous as it is now. A no-frills, recommended read for mil-SF fans that know what they want and expect it from their reading material, but it also makes them think about the consequences of some of the actions undertaken here in a way that George Lucas hasn’t.
I’m pleased that Titan are catching up with the series by releasing the books in batches, one month apart. I want to read the next book in the series now, which can only be a good thing.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced