Hard military science-fiction

I wasn't terribly impressed by the narrator, partly due to what is to my ears an odd cadence to his voice, but he does a competent job. The writing, though not spectacular, is similarly competent, but the technical and procedural details were quite wonderful -- aided by the author's two physics degrees and around 2 decades in the US Navy. The latter is demonstrated most clearly in the second chapter with a great depiction of a near future naval engagement.

After having just finished reading some disappointing "pop" sci-fi, I was eager to read something more thoughtful and carefully written. Too often, authors rely on creating drama and heroics via the incompetence of the protagonists or their adversaries. This sort of contrivance often has the effect of inducing me to vocally rage at my car stereo as I listen to the books during my daily commutes. While I recognise that sometimes people do stupid things, it has to sit properly within the context of character and plot. It cannot be used to contrive a way for the plot to progress. A Sword Into Darkness doesn't rely on any of this. Characters are developed quite well with their own strengths and limitations, none of which being hyperbolic, and their behaviour follows logically from these traits.

The starship depicted in the latter parts of the book, the Sword of Liberty, is very carefully designed. Its weaknesses are the result of necessary facts of physics and aren't contrived to create drama. I really liked such details as the crew being fitted in vacuum suits and individually cocooned in armoured acceleration couches during combat. The author really tries to envision how space combat would really work, rather than writing it as an analogue of modern (or more commonly, WW2-era) air-naval combat. It's not Star Wars.

One other aspect that must necessarily be addressed in any plot involving alien visitations or invasions is: why do the aliens bother coming at all? I certainly won't spoil the plot, but I will say that the answer provided for this book is unique. It's weird, but... well, aliens, eh?

Highly recommended, if you're into the hard stuff.

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