Claws that Catch

Claws that Catch by John Ringo, 343 pages

Sadly this marks the current end of Ringo's Looking Glass series. I had come to enjoy the hard science that supported these books and I think I might even have learned a thing or two about particle physics. I really hope that Ringo is able to return to this series eventually so I can see how the Dreen war that has been building the past four books will end.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

East of the Sun and West of the Moon by John Ringo, 307 pages

East of the Sun and West of the Moon is the most current book in the Council Wars series. Sadly it will be the last one for awhile as Ringo had said that all work on this series is on hold for the next half a dozen years. Its a shame to see a series that is as well done as this be discontinued. It was interesting to see a society that had had it all fall so low and attempt to achieve something better. Through these books came the fall of an advanced civilization back to the middle ages. We got to see them build a society and ships and expand until finally they made it into space. Through this all there were great characters and a storyline that makes putting down the books near impossible.

It is a great series and I do hope that Ringo does return to it eventually.

PS The title describes the location of a thing in the book and might be the most unhelpful directions ever given, besides saying over there somewhere.

Manxome Foe

Manxome Foe by John Ringo, 341 pages

Manxome Foe continues the Looking Glass series with the A.S.S. (Allied Space Ship) Vorpal Blade still looking for the Grik. Along the way they meet new allies, a shadowy unaligned entity, and have lots of in depth scientific discussions that seem to get more and more above my head.

As I have emphasized with the previous books in this series this science fiction book actually gives you the science behind why things work. It doesn't just tell you a spaceship can fly, or that it has energy shields but goes into a long discussion on how they work and the semi believable science that supports it.

For that reason I really like this series. The fact that everything is somewhat supported by a possibility makes it more believable and more engaging, though the explosions and heavy doses of action help too.

Vorpal Blade

Vorpal Blade by John Ringo, 400 pages

This is the second book in the Looking Glass series. Vorpal Blade is a science fiction novel in every sense of the word. Where most books gloss over the science details that allow things to theoretically happen Ringo goes into, at times, agonizing detail. Not only does he explain how the spaceship is flying, but also all the little things that science geeks/lovers would ask.

While I enjoyed this detail, and could understand most of it, it might be too much for some. If you don't care how the space ship is flying, and just want them to get to the action, you probable don't want to read a couple pages worth of scientific explanations and this book is not for you.

That being said I think this is one of the most theoretically possible science fiction books involving aliens and space travel that I have ever read.

Against the Tide

Against the Tide by John Ringo, 550 pages

This is the third book in the Council Wars series. I have really enjoyed reading this series so far. Despite being mainly good vs evil, it never sinks to the point where the good always win. Granted that is what tends to happen at the end of series and books but in this one there are some major setbacks.

Despite being three books into the series, overall nothing or true consequence has really happened. Not that there hasn’t been action, just action and counteraction. Both sides are still in control of pretty much what they started with. Against the Tide does brings in a host of new characters, some of which are very unique physically. For an example see the cover art.  There is also the introduction of a true aerial element to the battles.

I very much like this series and despite wanting to mix in other books, I feel myself being drawn back to it time and time again. 

Into the Looking Glass

Into the Looking Glass by John Ringo, 388 pages


Having enjoyed all the books by John Ringo that I read so far I picked up this first book in the Looking Glass series. The titles of this series were all taken from phrases from Lewis Carroll. The series is about the accidental creation of wormholes across the world that sometime connect to other worlds. With all of these gateways comes a new foe that threatens the planet.

There are times in the novel that get quite detailed in the science behind what is happening and for some could be a little intimidating or boring. But for me it only adds to the realism and possibility that this could be possible. There is also plenty of action, explosions and battles to spice it up. Overall I enjoyed this book, and while I think I like his Council Wars series more, I like where this is heading and plan to read the rest of the books.

Emerald Sea

Emerald Sea by John Ringo, 600 pages

Emerald Sea continues the Council Wars series that started with There Will be Dragons. While the first book focused on the Fall and the building of society, this one focuses more on the making of alliances and some of the oddities still in the world, namely the Mer. The Mer are merfolf, some natural from when they were first created centuries ago and some who are Changed trapped in that form since the fall.

In this book we see the emergence of dragon carriers along with a fledgling navy. Dragon carriers are boats that carry dragons. It seems simple enough, but if you picture the large semi clumsy beasts of old trying to land on a bobbing ship it gets interesting fast. Also seasick dragons...

This series is just starting to ramp up. All of the signs of an upcoming large conflict are clearly evident. Stay tuned here as I will likely be blogging about it next month.

P.S. At the end of Emerald Sea there is a short novella called Megan's Tale. It likely takes place after Emerald Sea and gives insights to various characters. As Ringo points out in a warning before it, it is very much so for adults only.