Book Diary Entry Mamelukes
Book: Mamelukes
Author: Jerry Pournelle with contributions by David Weber and Phillip Pournelle
Pages: 592
Hard Core Scale:2.5/4
Normal Scale: 7/10
Publish Date: 2020
About: Rick Galloway, a military Janissary slave from earth on the world of
Tran, has just reunited with his wife. Political treachery from his allies
after his recent victory begins to reveal itself. The island Nation of Nikiean
has isolated itself. And the shinning lights in the sky only mean one more
thing, more Star Men from Earth.
Review: I read the first one of these long ago… the first one written so long
ago, back when there was a Soviet Union. The book had to catch up with the
times in this installment. The fourth and final book in the Janissaries series.
The last book Jerry Pournelle ever wrote due to his passing. Finished by his
son and David Weber from his notes. Such a long wait… and many I feel would be disappointed.
Hard to gauge success when it was written partially by other people and cobbled
toegether. Its almost like a few more books were planned. Only a weak author’s
promise of maybe and that is the best Janissaries fans will get to have sadly. Out
of all of them the first book was entertaining and began to fall down hill in
escalation. This thing is double the original size and most of it could be cut.
It is just dialogue discussing what the audience already easily knows. Anything
of note happens basically in the last 100 pages. 400 pages to cover my summary. It saddens me
that this is the last of Janissaries and Jerry Pournelle’s work we will receive.
He apparently also finished the last Herot book, so I will get to that. The
dead dream of a book is a sad affair. One could argue for at least the things
we receive. The what ifs drag the
strengths away. There is little conclusion here, only the fury of your own
imagination.
Cover Arty by Dominic HarHarman, Baen Publishing Enterprises 2020.
