Probably McDevitt's earliest and best
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If you're going to read McDevitt's novels, you can either start with this one and then ignore the rest, or read the others and save this for last to see the flair McDevitt used to have.
This is a great page-turner. It's easy to get pulled into the plot, and the frequent use of "archive" material in the chapters adds a real melancholy to the story (which in itself is both clever and somewhat moving; a very unusual combination for a sci-fi novel.). Having read Omega, Polaris, and Engines of God, A Talent For War is the one I enjoyed the most - and it's a great pity the others aren't more like it.
The story is essentially the uncovering of a semi-legendary hero accredited with saving mankind from an implacable alien enemy. The hero himself, however (Christopher Sim), has great depth and humanity, and ultimately, it seems everyone has taken what they wanted from his mythos, rather than the truth - until the events in the story take place. And the truth both is and isn't what people want to hear.
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Great detective tale!
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This is the second book by this author that I have read and it is a great feeling to know that he is no one hit wonder. The plot is clever, and twisting and keeps the reader guessing. The characters are nicely rounded and the futuristic setting is very convincing and subtly detailed. McDevitt writes very thoughtfully and at times I was inspired by his insights. He also moved me, not something that science fiction readily achieves as a rule. My only regret is the choice of cover. I have rarely seen such a cheesy old fashioned design. It is a huge pity since it might well put off those who would enjoy this finely written mystery.
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A talent for adventure
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This is the kind of book that McDevitt specialises in - the science-fiction archaeology thriller. Don't be fooled by the the date it was written - this book still stands up brilliantly today, and it's a scandal this book was out of print for so long.
Lost in the fog of an old interstellar war, legend, truth and misinformation merge in the story of how Christopher Sim built a rag-tag group of ships into the mystical guerrilla fleet that fought the alien Ashiyyur invaders to a standstill. Alex Benedict takes on the legacy of his dead uncle - a lifelong work trying to find out the truth of Cristopher Sim and his exploits. How much of the story is true? How much demon was in the hero? Was Sim really killed by a betrayal, and what happened to his lost and legendary flagship?
McDevitt builds the legend of a hero forged in a desperate war, and then dismantles the legend to find the man beneath, his triumphs, failures, and betrayals.
This book is a thoughtful, exciting, atmospheric, page turner.
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Superb story-telling with a twist
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This brilliant book opened my eyes to the possibilities of science fiction. McDevitt weaves his tale of legend and popular myth very cleverly within a futuristic world and allows the reader to view facets of our own world through new eyes. McDevitt's uncomplicated and unpretentious style introduces sci-fi ideas in a matter-of-fact way which allows the story to flow and the characters to define themselves. I found the end truly heart-rending; there are parallels here with modern day "heros". At the end of the day a legend is exactly that - a collection of wishes we formulate about a person to make ourselves feel better, when the reality might actually be quite different...
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