A Hymn before Battle

Author: John Ringo

Year: 2000

Abstract:
The Posleen, Centaur-like carnivors, are headed to Earth. The people of Earth, not yet realizing intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe, are of course unprepared. An alien alliance approaches Earth, offering wonder-weapons and an end to age and sickness. With five years before the horde arrives, will Earth stand a chance?

Advanced Mind
Exploration/Quest
Military/Fighting
Horror
Magic
Advanced Technology
Time Travel/Alternate History
Science
Aliens/Beasties
Contemporality

Other books in this series:
None

Spectre's Review
This was a good fun read. I very much enjoyed some of the perspective of a current, contemporary Earth meeting up with a genuine alien threat. I felt quite a bit of the reactions of personnel were somewhat off of what I'd expect, but it was still quite enjoyable. I very much enjoyed a couple of the characters, although the majority of characters were very weak. The technologies discussed were creative, although I detected an extreme Star Trek influence in many of the more advanced technologies.

Ringo's crown piece is the battle armor combat scenes. I felt very at home with many of the troop movements, augmented by the effects and capabilities of the battle armor. I also busted a gizzard when one of the troopers created an air-fuel bomb by blasting up an alien warehouse, blowing the crap out of a lot of stuff.

This was a fun ride. There were a couple of things I felt I didn't think should have been included in the book, and general plot movements was often painstaking, but the whole thing was definitely worth my time.

Date posted: 2001 12 20

Spectre's Rating
Minus one for some very weak characters. Minus one for a couple of badly choreographed battle scenes. Minus one for some pretty dumb alien species.

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