EOS, 2001, $5.99, ISBN 0-06-1-5972-2, 306 pages

Mix a little Matrix-style action with West Point cadets at the start of the American Civil War and you have a pretty good idea of the framework of Brothers in Arms. The twist occurs when two brothers decide to attend venerable South Point Military Academy on a moon orbiting 70 Virginis B in 2301 as a way to get off a boring rock called home. One's the outgoing athlete and the other is the shy brainy one. Guess which one is going to cause most of the trouble?

Oh, you got it. It's the shy one named Scott St. Andrew, who also turns out to be the best one to do a special Matrix-style kung-fu (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon being too new to influence Weaver's book), only he doesn't realize it until war threatens and South Point cadets start thinking about choosing up sides. And what is it about the alien caves outside the training area--you know, the ones that heal all wounds and are off-limits? You can bet that Scotty will beam himself over there and find out.

Eventually, war comes to South Point and thus begins the desperate actions that mark the narrowness between victory and defeat. Weaver's action sequences carry through to bloody conclusions as the reluctant warrior fights for his life and the life of his platoon. And the traitorous twists in the midst of a civil war are well done, although on a personal nitpick, the quote from Abraham Lincoln is a bit obscure and a bit much. It's nitty gritty action on a personal level that drives this book, and Weaver's touch is a frenetic one.

Brothers in Arms--it's a rollicking ride.

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