Ian Douglas likes the theme of humanity against a huge galactic empire where the American military by human ingenuity and flexibility overcomes both the aliens and the stupid civilian administration that tries to lead them astray. The civilians are not so over the top stupid this time but that is not to say they are smart.

Center of Gravity starts in the aftermath of Earth Strike and Admiral Alexander Koenig and his crew are officially the heroes that saved the day. The closeness of it all scares the political leadership so much that they want to pull more forces back to defend earth, a posture that would put the center of gravity of the conflict right on top of earth. Admiral Koenig knows a strong defense is futile against an aggressor with overwhelming resources. He has to take the initiative and bring the fight to the Sh’daar. He eventually gets a reduced task force he has to sneak away with fully knowing that an order to stay and bolster earth defenses is only hours away.

As usual in Ian Douglas series the focus is on the military actions with vivid descriptions of combat and what is happening with the people involved including the alien point of view. The humans are a bit bland compared to the aliens’ interesting psychology. Ian introduces a few more races and starts to reveal more about the Sh’daar, the mystic race leading the galactic empire and their motivation behind the edict against transcendence technologies that started the war.

The humans all have their struggles beside the obvious military ones Alexander struggles with the death of Karyn Mendelson in the recent destruction of the synchorbital military base Phobia above Mars while Lieutenant Trevor Gray struggles both with prejudices against Prims and his feelings for Angela who he had to enroll for to pay for the treatment that saved her life but also made her another person, a person not in love with him.

Center of Gravity was all in all an enjoyable read but it is on familiar grounds. I hope Ian Douglas deviate more from the formula in forthcoming books. I still want to read the next book No Return when it comes out in 2012.

Information

Ian Douglas is a pen name for William H. Keith.

Title: Center of Gravity
Series: Star Carrier book 2
Author: Ian Douglas
Genre: Military Science Fiction
Paperback: 389 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (2011)
Order from: Amazon US | UK
Copy: bought it from Amazon

In the evolution of every sentient race, there is a turning point when the species achieves transcendence through technology.

The warlike Sh’daar are determined that this monumental milestone will never be achieved by the creatures known as human.

On the far side of known human space, the Marines are under siege, battling the relentless servant races of the Sh’daar aggressor. With a task force stripped to the bone and the Terran Confederation of States racked by dissent, rogue Admiral Alexander Koenig must make the momentous decision that will seal his fate and the fate of humankind. A strong defensive posture is futile, so Koenig will seize the initiative and turn the gargantuan Star Carrier America toward the unknown. For the element of surprise is the only hope of stalling the Sh’daar assault on Earth’s solar system—and the war for humankind’s survival must be taken directly to the enemy.

Most popular posts have been First look at Felicia Day in RED that got some 3000 hits, followed in popularity by Major Casting Change in HBO’s Game of Thrones, Interesting TV Pilots Round Up, New Science Fiction Books in April 2010 and 18 Science Fiction Podcasts.

Reading has been good, though I am a bit behind in my review writing as you can see. Of the books I enjoyed Oath of Fealty, Shadow Prowler, The Crucible of Empire and Gardens of the Sun best, in that order. None of the books where really bad, though I was a bit disappointed with Trade of Queens it didn’t give as much closure as I wished for.

Books read in March 2010 in reading order:

1. The Quiet War by McAuley, Paul (The Quiet War & Gardens of the Sun Series)
2. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
3. Earth Strike by Ian Douglas (Star Carrier 1)
4. This Paper World by Jeff Lane
5. Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov (Chronicles of Siala 1) *1st review copy ever
6. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon (Paladin’s Legacy 1)
7. The Crucible of Empire by Eric Flint & K. D. Wentwoth (Empire 2)
8. Coyote Destiny by Allen Steele (Coyote Chronicles 2)
9. Trade of Queens by Charles Stross (Merchant Princes 6)
10. Gardens of the Sun by Paul McAuley (The Quiet War 2)
11. The Myriad by R. M. Meluch (Tour of the Merrimack 1)
12. Wolf  Star by R. M. Meluch (Tour of the Merrimack 2)

I took on myself to write down some of the idle observations I make while I read Science Fiction and call it an article Series on Trends in Current Science Fiction. So far I have written three articles, and I plan on writing about one a week until I run out of trends.

1. Nanotechnology
2. Enviromental disaster
3. Singularity

Arrived or shopped books is always interesting. You can always check out my latest arrivals if you like. You should also know that I didn’t receive any free books for review this month (I reviewed one I received in February), I put my money where my Science Fiction is.

1. The Crucible of Empire by Eric Flint & K. D. Wentworth
2. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon
3. Coyote Destiny by Allen Steele
4. Gardens of the Sun by Paul McAuley
5. Trade of Queens by Charles Stross
6. Geosynchron by David Louis Edelman
7. Xeelee an Omnibus by Stephen Baxter (Raft, Timelike Infinity, Flux, Ring)
8. Shadow of the Scorpion by Neal Asher (an agent Cormac novel)
9. A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda (The Trade Pact Universe #1)
10. Ties of Power by Julie E. Czerneda (The Trade Pact Universe #2)
11. To Trade the Stars by Julie E. Czerneda (The Trade Pact Universe #3)
12. Dust by Elizabeth Bear
13. Chill by Elizabeth Bear (sequel to Dust)
14. The Myriad by R. M. Meluch (Tour of the Merrimack #1)
15. Wolf Star by R. M. Meluch (Tour of the Merrimack #2)
16. Servants of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard (Obsidian & Blood 1)

It’s been a good month, I haven’t finished quite all I would have liked to do but it is a good start.

Next month will have quite a few more books, you can see what I ordered in New Science Fiction Books in April 2010. I also have some Elizabeth Bear, David Louis Edelman, Aliette de Bodard and more to look forward to.

Don’t forget Walker of Worlds upcoming Sci-Fi Appreciation Month starts April 1. I have made a contribution and will let you know when it’s there.

I will also guest blog a few reviews for Temple Library Reviews starting April 6th with my review of Gardens of the Sun by Paul McAuley.

The first book in the epic saga of humankind’s war of transcendence

There is a milestone in the evolution of every sentient race, a Tech Singularity Event, when the species achieves transcendence through its technological advances. Now the creatures known as humans are near this momentous turning point.

But an armed threat is approaching from deepest space, determined to prevent humankind from crossing over that boundary—by total annihilation if necessary.

To the Sh’daar, the driving technologies of transcendent change are anathema and must be obliterated from the universe—along with those who would employ them. As their great warships destroy everything in their path en route to the Sol system, the human Confederation government falls into dangerous disarray. There is but one hope, and it rests with a rogue Navy Admiral, commander of the kilometer-long star carrier America, as he leads his courageous fighters deep into enemy space towards humankind’s greatest conflict—and quite possibly its last

The plot is similar to the Star Marine series. Humanity is set against a vast galaxy spanning empire  this time with different kinds of alien in it. The war has been going on for some thirty years by the time this story begins. The star carrier CVS America and her task group attacks and evacuate a Marine contingent under siege by the Turusch, a race subservient to the Sh’daar from a planet thirty-seven light years from earth. The Marines have captured two Turusch soldiers and they are the task forces real objective, since no live Turusch have ever been captured before. Nice believable battle and really good introduction to the characters.

After their mission they return to earth and we get more than a glimpse into life of the twenty-fourth century. World building is good even if Ian’s usual stereotypes shine trough a bit. Politicians and Civilians are stupid and don’t know what to do.

The Turusch launch a surprise attack on earth that America and her crew has to repel.

Characterization in Earth Strike is even better than in Semper Human. Lt Gray has a complex and believable background in the Manhattan swamps, beside him you also gets to follow Rear Admiral Koenig point of view. The alien Turusch  are also quite interesting and they have names like Tactician emphatic blossom at dawn. Their psychology is interesting with different minds the Mind Below , the Mind Above and the Mind Here. The Sh’daar reminds behind the scene so far, but I guess we will learn more about them later in the series.

Earth Strike is a solid uncomplicated military science fiction I would recommend to all readers of military SF. It is also an excellent book to start the with if you haven’t read anything by him before. Characterization and storytelling have never been better in any of his books, the lore part is still second to the first star marine trilogy.

The next book will be out 2011 and might cover a strike at the aliens forward base.

Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov (Chronicles of Siala 1)
- review copy

Also in the mail or recently arrived books:

Geosynchron by David Louis Edelman (Jump 225 3)
- this one took its sweet time getting here from the US, much awaited too.

Earth Strike by Ian Douglas (Star Carrier 1)
- I liked his three Space Marine Trilogies so I have great expectations for this one

I also recived an ebook for review

Obama Jones & The Logic Bomb (Kindle Edition) by Rod Kierkegaard Jr.