ACE, 2000, $5.99, ISBN 0-441-00715-5, 261 pages, paperback

I suppose invoking--or provoking--a reaction from the reader is a good thing. So I guess I'll call Stark's War a good thing. Mind you, my reaction is mostly negative, and a good chunk of that concerns the setting.

Sgt. Ethan Stark traces a career in the US Army that includes decorations, promotions, and a considerable distain for officers. Some inner demon battles for his soul, he represents a "tough but fair" type of combat NCO, and his personal life needs CPR. He goes on missions and comes back with most of his squad alive.

All in all, Hemry crafts a decent character, perhaps not the most original, and introduced in a series a jarring flashbacks, but a pleasant enough hero to cheer for. However, as for the setting, Hemry has a vision less disturbing than, well bizarre.

The US, a hyper power, rules the Earth, or as much as it wants. The gaggle of insurgencies is no match for the US armed forces. No other power can stand against pax-Americana. In fact, the US Army has exactly three divisions. That's it. Three.

So why is there a major war erupting on our moon, and how did the gaggle of minor powers ever put together a space navy to contest Earth's dominance? Where did all these vacuum-capable mercenary units come from? Why is the US Army so outgunned?

And that's just for starters.

Let's talk about the US Army. Every officer is to be despised, and the level rises with the rank--not a good one in the bunch. The equipment is old, threadbare, and held together with proverbial spit and tape. Tactical combat information can be limited during a battle--an "off" switch so to speak. Ammo is also limited. Artillery support is virtually non-existent and cannot be called down by platoon lieutenants. I don't even want to get into intelligence lapses that cadets in junior ROTC wouldn't ignore. Oh, and civilians hate the military.

It's a bleak military future that Hemry paints, and my problem with it is that I don't buy it. You would need a complete collapse of all military education combined with a complete collapse of all moral tenets. Civilizations don't last with even a part of this scenario becoming reality, much less a hyperpower-level force. But that's my soapbox.

Hemry has an axe to grind, which is odd since in the dedication, he mentions that his father is a Lt. Commander. And some of the battle scenes, although reminiscent of the WWI Somme instead of future war, are well done. But it's tough to overcome the premise, and the plot that flows from it. I get the sense that this debut novel is something written by a teenager.

The publishers knew the book needed help--they got their stable of writers to write breathless endorsements: four (4) to be exact. That should tell you something. Also, there's no bio of Hemry. That should tell you more. All I can say is there's something not right with this book--steer clear of it.

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