Robert O'Riordan

This book disappointed me. It started well, with Tyree facing personal demons and the burden of ruling an empire. Add to that a murder of similar power who is murdering the Seers, the messengers of the faith. This is an excellent conflict to start a novel with. But from there, it spirals into angst-ridden nonsense and disjointed vignettes.
First, Tyrees acts stupidly. The previous novels demonstrate his power at observations, but twice in this book, he is just dumb, completely missing the obvious. It was nonsensical to spend two novels to convince the reader of his awesome ability only to have them disappear. It made the villain seem less intense or evil, and more, just a person prospered because Tyrees was an imbecile.
Second, Tyrees’ obsession with Shaamlik and with Cubas seemed a plot device with no purpose. What did they teach us about his character that we didn’t already know? Nothing.
Third, the ending. It was as if O’Riordan got tired of writing, dumped in a few half-formed ideas and ended the book. No closer. No redemption. No understanding of Tyrees, who he was and who he is. Nothing. Like the last few pages of the book were missing. I felt cheated.
A sad end to an interesting series, really. So much potential, wasted.… (mer)

This is the second in O’Riordan’s Cadre series and follows Pol Tyrees after his dramatic split from the Cadre. As I have remarked before regarding older science-fiction, there is less action and more sitting around, thinking. The characters spend much time discussing how best to accomplish their goals. The main idea centers on the necessity to kill innocents to accomplish these goals, and the mental and emotional fall-out from those actions. Tyrees, in particular, struggles with the idea that he must take life to bring freedom to the galaxy.
This isn’t to say there is no action in the story. There is plenty. Space battles and battles of wits, battles of desire and duty. In particular, the battle that leads to the acquisition of the lone female character. Often older sci-fi have caricatures of women; whore, damsel in distress, warrior etc. But O’Riordan manages, roughly, to have a female character of some complexity and depth.
The ending seemed unique to me. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen. Our intrepid heroes found themselves in very dire straits, victory impossible, and defeat already at hand. I liked it. It had the potential to be trite and weak, but O’Riordan made it fitting and interesting. Be aware, the novel ends of cliff-hanger, of sorts. Probably best to have the final book sitting next to you.

Overall, this is a fine continuation of the series, and worth reading.… (mer)

Synopsis: The Galactic Killer Elite: Since his childhood, Pol Tyrees was groomed for the Cadre, the intergalactic super-police force. And as a cadre officer, he carried out each task emotionlessly ad efficiently, whether it was investigating shady deals, interrogating prisoners, or killing traitors. But during an assignment on remote Tercet, one of that planet’s mystic Seers taught him a whole new way of thinking. And Pol began to ask questions – questions that brought him into direct conflict with the Cadre. (from the back of the book)
I found this, and its sequel buried at the bottom of a shelf in the back of a small shop in Bellingham, WA. It could tell it was just my sort of fluff: cheesy military sci-fi from the 80s. And it did not disappoint. Conspiracies and traitors, assassins and intrigue, physical violence and men in black. It even has the request fight between cadets in the arena, with only loincloths. I can see it in my mind, it all its 80s glory!
The cheese aside, the story is fast-paced and well-told. The character of Pol Tyrees is sufficiently complex to carry the plot. There is a bit more telling than showing of what the characters are thinking and doing, but it do not detract from the story.
This is a fun, science fiction read, entertaining and even thought provoking at times. Particularly when they start getting into the use of the media in a galactic conspiracy…… (mer)