William R. Forstchen Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: John McCoy SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"On their way to fight in still another battle of the War Between the States, Union Army Col Andrew Keane and his men board a transport ship with several other passengers. They're "diverted" by a space/time warp to either an Earth of a different timeline or a very Earth-like planet where humans are bred as food for an alien race of beings.
Actually, I never quite decided who were the aliens, the "aliens" or the humans since neither may have originated in this space/time or on the planet. Col Keane, his command and she who may become his lady bring something different into this world: the unique American way of thinking and the Yankee ingenuity necessary to effectively change the lives of all they encounter -- even the aliens.
The violence is part of war and intrigue. There is also some torture. The title has much to do with the idea of "Rally 'round the flag, Boys" which was not only a song but a way of life, one which we may need in this nation again today.
"
John McCoy, Resident William R. Forstchen Scholar
"A civil war regiment is transported to another world, where ancient human civilizations are living in constant fear of torture and a horrible death at the hands of the Horde. This band of americans are now battling against slavery for a planet, thousands of mounted man-eaters called the Horde, the lives of their regiment...and justice for all. "
Jim Fields, Resident William R. Forstchen Scholar
"This book and its seven sequels are along the lines of de Camp's "Lest Darkness Fall" and Stirling's "Nantucket" trilogy. In 1865, a regiment of Civil War soldiers is accidentally teleported to a far-off planet, where low-tech, Mongol-like aliens lord it over medieval human peasants. The newcomers, unwilling to take any bunk from the arrogant ETs, set out to modernize the world by introducing industry, gunpowder, and the American way. There is excessive violence (the aliens have a taste for human flesh...), but it does nothing to detract from this compelling tale of warfare, science, and the power of the human spirit. "
Jeffrey "Jeph" Gord, Resident William R. Forstchen Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 40% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- stranded on alien planet, fighting aliens to survive
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- missing body parts/abilities
Main Adversary
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Earth setting:
- 19th century
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
- unfriendly aliens
- primitive aliens
- very controlled society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- very explicit references to deaths and torture
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a significant amount of technical jargon
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- descript of touching personal anatomy
- description of breasts
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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