Huff, Tanya Books

Blood Price (BLOOD SERIES)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $3.65

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> Short Stories

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Vicki Nelson, PI, teams up with a most unusual partner 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

In Blood Price, the first in Tanya Huff's Blood books, we meet tough-girl Vicki Nelson, who's left the Toronto police force due to failing eyesight, as she hunts a demonic killer terrorizing the streets of Toronto. Along the way, she runs into 450-year-old Henry Fitzroy, the bastard son of Henry VIII, who also happens to be a vampire. The two team up to solve supernatural cases over the next books.

To be honest, I'd never heard of the Blood books before learning about (and becoming dangerously addicted to) the Canadian TV series Blood Ties, based on Huff's Blood books. The two-part pilot, Blood Price, is a stellar condensed version of Blood Price, although naturally, changes were made.

I've read my fair share of vampire novels over the years, including brushes with Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, Jennifer Colt, and Susan Garrett (Forever Knight), so I'm no stranger to the genre. Huff makes modern-day Toronto come alive, even more so when viewed through the lens of a protagonist who's lived for over 400 years. The historical sidenotes and various flashbacks are well-fleshed out, although Henry's character seemed less solid than Vicki's(kudos to Kyle Schmid for a small-screen Henry that amply makes up for these shortcomings). Huff's take on the vampire mythos both adds and subtracts (Henry's religious, so no problem with religious symbols, and he's able to see his reflection in mirrors).

Much like her small-screen counterpart (played by Christina Cox), Vicki is a take-no-nonsense, physical, don't-pity-me ex-cop who at first has difficulty coming to grips with the fact that her new partner is a vampire who writes lurid romance novels under the pen name Elizabeth. Her on-again, off-again romance with fellow Torontonian cop Mick Celluci becomes complicated by the appearance of Henry, who is also attracted to Viki.

Many battles in the name of good and evil ensue, and Huff's pacing and well-written action scenes carry Blood Price along at a snappy, pageturning pace. The book has held up well since its original 1991 publication; the only things that hint as to its age are a lack of cell phones, Internet, and faxes. This is the TV-tie-in edition, although it appears to be the original version of Blood Price and not the TV adaptation. Fans of the TV show will definitely want to read the original source for many of the plots and characters in their favorite TV shows.

Editorial Review:

It began with blood and death. And Vicki Nelson, PI was at the scene. The victim had been brutally, inhumanly opened up. Messy work. She'd had to cover the corpse with her coat. It had sort of made her feel involved. Now Vicki is caught up in the deadly pursuit of a mass murderer with an inhuman appetite for mayhem and destruction. And her advisor on the case is doing nothing to dampen her growing sense of foreboding. But then, with a being of unspeakable evil stalking the city, only Vicki Nelson would ally herself to Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate child of Henry VIII and a five-hundred-year-old vampire.

Valor's Trial: A Confederation Novel (The Confederation Novels)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Hardcover Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $8.49

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> Short Stories
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Better than before! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The last in the series, was good, but if I had read it in advance I would have waited to buy until the paperback came out, (or sniped it on e-bay)
This book was more to my liking. I don't do spoilers, but the characters are more mature, more believable, and I can't wait for the next one!

Great SCI FI book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is the latest book following the adventures of the Confederation Marines. This book was almost as good as the first book but was way better the middle books. It is worth your money.

Editorial Review:

The “rousing military adventure” (Locus) continues with a brand new Valor novel.

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is a Confederation Marine’s marine. She’s survived more deadly encounters—and kept more of her officers and enlistees alive—than anyone in the Corps. Unexpectedly pulled from battle, Torin finds herself in an underground POW camp that shouldn’t exist, where her fellow marine prisoners seem to have lost all will to escape. Now, Torin must fight her way not only out of the prison but also past the growing compulsion to sit down and give up—not realizing that her escape could mean the end of the war…

The Heart of Valor: A Confederation Novel

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $7.99 List Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $1.44

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> Short Stories
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Sergeant Kerr Shines Again 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Tanya Huff delivers another fast paced story in the Confederacy universe. This is not just another "shootem up" military SF novel. Her characters, even the alien allies, have personalities whith which one can empathize. Sergeant Kerr has to deal with the mistakes of the "brass" above her as well as confront the enemies facing her. Her use of her training, experience and willpower in dealing with her problems makes for a very enjoyable read.

wow 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

a great continuation of a great series, ive been reading Huff for years and like her work but this series is well up to her best standards. i bought this in paperback and seeing the blurb for Valor's Trial: A Confederation Novel (The Conferedation Novels) i went and ordered the hardback right away. a great read.

Editorial Review:

The “fast-paced” (Publishers Weekly)third novel in the Confederation series— now in paperback,,.

Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr jumps at the chance to go to Crucible, the Marine Corps training planet. It is supposed to be an easy assignment—after all, Crucible was set up to simulate battle situations so recruits could be trained safely. But Torin’s barely on-planet when someone starts blasting the training scenarios to smithereens...

Blood Trail (BLOOD SERIES)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 10 new & used starting at $3.69

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> Short Stories

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Shooting In the Country 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Blood Trail (1992) is the second fantasy novel in the Blood series, following Blood Price. In the previous volume, Norman Birdwell used Vicki Nelson as a living sacrifice to call a Demon Lord. As the demon appeared, so did Henry Fitzroy. Then Mike Celluci advanced through the shattered door.

Coreen kicked Norman into Hades, Henry made a deal with the infernal creature, and Mike took care of Vicki until the ambulance came. Coreen paid her bill while Vicki was still in the hospital. Mike created a masterpiece of indirection for his report.

In this novel, Vicki is tired and sweaty from working a case on industrial sabotage and is just starting to shower when the phone rings. Being a compulsive phone answerer, she quickly dries off and races for the receiver. It is her mother calling about spending time together. Mothers!

Vicki finishes the shower and is preparing supper when the phone rings again. This time it is Celluci. He wants to know some information about a previous case and is using Vicki's memories instead of the files. Former partners!

She is eating cold eggs and watching the Jays play in Milwaukee. It is the bottom of the seventh, the Jays behind by two runs, two out and one man on second. Just as a Jays power hitter steps up to the plate, the phone rings. This time it is Henry. He has some friends who need the help of a private investigator. Phones!

In this story, Vicki goes over to Henry's apartment to meet his friends. The security guard recognizes her and buzzes her through, but also gives her a suspicious look. When she reaches the condo, the door swings open to reveal a huge russet colored dog.

A young woman is waiting with Henry in the living room. Henry introduces her as Rose Heerkens and then Rose introduces the dog as Storm. Sitting on the couch, Vicki puts on her professional face and asks why she is needed.

Rose tells her that two members of her family have been shot in the past month. When Vicki asks about the police findings, Rose tells her that they don't know about the shootings. Vicki is puzzled about this remark, so Henry tells Rose to show her.

Rose takes off her sandals, then stands up and removes her sundress. Standing there naked, she suddenly transforms into a white dog and the russet dog turns into a young man, who now introduces himself as Peter. The pair are werewolves.

This tale has Vicki hired by the werewolves to investigate the murder of their kin. Since the Heerkens live on a farm which is three miles outside London, Ontario, Henry drives her there. On the way, he tells her how he met the family during the Second World War.

Since the victims have been shot with silver bullets, the murderer obviously knows that they are werewolves. Only three people are known to be aware of their affliction: an elderly doctor, the local game warden and a police officer.

This story is full of action and suspense. Naturally, Vicki finally learns who has been doing the shootings after much work and a little luck. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for Huff fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of preternatural entities, police procedurals, and a touch of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

When a pack of werewolves is discovered on a London, Ontario, farm, Henry Fitzroy, a Toronto-based vampire and writer of romance novels, calls upon private investigator Vicki Nelson to help him trace the trail of destruction to the killers. Original.

The Blood Books, Vol. 2 (Blood Lines / Blood Pact)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $8.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $1.20

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> United States

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

urban fantasy 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Tanya Huff's Blood Lines series covers a lot of ground. It's horror, romance, and mystery a.k.a. urban fantasy. I am not a fan of these genres, so why did I pick up this book? First of all, my daughter recommended it and we tend to like the same books. Secondly, Ms Huff worked in a science fiction bookstore in Toronto that I liked to visit whenever I was in that city. While as a mystery she gives away the "who-dunnit" relatively early in the book, she still holds your attention because the reader has no idea as to how the perpetrator (not necessarily human) will be brought to justice. As a romance, the love interests antagonize each other, making the romance more horrifying than the horror. But Huff tells a great story, the pace is rapid, and the people very realistic and very flawed like all of us. Her creatures are very human and sympathetic and her writing is laced with humor. There is much more I would like to say about the books but I can't tell you everything I would like to without giving away surprises, plot lines, etc. I will say that the books were well worth the time invested.

Editorial Review:

Vicki Nelson is an ex-homicide cop turned private detective. Mike Celluci, Vicki's former partner, is still on the force. Henry Fitzroy is an author of bodice rippers-and a vampire. Together, the trio are caught up in mysteries with a supernatural slant-from demons to werewolves and every otherworldly creature in between.

Blood Bank (Blood Ties)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $7.99 List Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $3.88

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Movie Tie-Ins
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> Contemporary

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

4 stars 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

**** Over the years, there have been several short stories following the further adventures of Vicki Nelson and Henry Fitzroy, and readers have had varying levels of success in tracking them down. Now, they have been collected in this anthology that will prove itself to be a great favor for those of us who had just about given up on locating the tales. Henry's past, how he and Vicki cope with life, or unlife, after they part, and how Mike copes with being in love with a vampire are the main focus. An added bonus is the shooting script to one episode of Blood Ties, the series. Blood Bank is a must read for Henry/Vicki fans. There's humor, angst, and passion on every page, making this a worthy continuation of the full length novels. ****

Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

Editorial Review:

Originally collected in one volume as half of the omnibus edition of The Blood Books: Volume Three, all of Tanya Huff’s short stories featuring homicide cop turned P.I. Vicki Nelson, her partner Mike Celluci, and vampire Henry Fitzroy are now being released in a separate edition to tie-in with the Lifetime television series, Blood Ties.

Blood Lines (BLOOD SERIES)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $2.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> Short Stories

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

5+ Stars - Excellent Book and Excellent Series 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Series - This is the third novel in Tanya Huff's excellent vampire series. This book and the entire series gets 5+ stars. It's excellent! (If you have not read the entire series, you must read it, you will not be disappointed. The series order: Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact and Blood Debt).

This third book continues with Vicki, an ex cop turned private investigator, who had to leave the police force because she is losing her night vision. From previous novels you met Henry, a 400 year old vampire who is also a romantic writer, and Vicki's friend and lover. Also, you met Mike, Vicki's ex-partner, who is also involved with Vicki.

This third novel begans with Henry. Once Henry became a vampire he stopped having dreams. Suddenly Henry is dreaming again, and the dreams are slowly driving him mad. He is dreaming of the sun, and very afraid. He does not know if he is losing his mind, or if this is signaling his upcoming death. He calls Vicki for help.

At the same time Mike is working on a weird case involving two deaths at a museum both involving heart failure. This seems strange to Mike. As he contnues the investigation, he realizes something not quite human may be causing these deaths. Mike asks Vicki for help, and soon it will take Mike, Henry and Vicki working together to keep more people from dying. Also there are complications with all three of them working together because the two men are becoming jealous of each other as their attraction to Vicki grows.

Excellent excellent book!

Editorial Review:

Fearing for his sanity, 450-year-old vampire Henry Fitzroy calls upon his sometime-lover and comrade, ex-cop Vicki Nelson, whose friend and former partner is in the middle of a murder investigation involving a museum mummy. Original.

Smoke and Ashes (The Smoke Trilogy, Book 3)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $7.99 List Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 59 new & used starting at $2.30

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Contemporary

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Has everything a good book should have... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Interesting characters, witty humor and sex scenes done right (which is to say, not overdone) the Smoke series really does it for me. The third book is definitely the strongest of the series and they have gotten progressively better. My only complaint is that I wish there were more in the recent future, as I'd much rather be reading more Smoke books than more Valor books as I much more enjoy the wit Smoke contains.

fine 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The third and up to the moment last book of the "smoke" series has left me somewhat unsatisfied.

As of now I tend to ascribe this to the plot, sort of a remix of the one in volume one, that is demons invading the world and Tony fighting them. I felt less suspense than I would have liked and even if I never got bored I am not able to say the usual "I couldn't put it down".

In spite of this rather annoying limit this book is quite fun all the same, an entertaining read.

Side characters here tend to step backward and spotlights close on Tony who is likeable to the point of being adorable, uneducated but now, finally, mature and the main tool for the author's puns: Tony's dialogues with himself are outrageously funny, those with Henry hardly less so.
Henry here is quite likeable too. Ms Huff slightly alters his general attitude and he turns from a possessive demon more concerned to safeguard his property from harm to an affectionate if not a little possessive ex lover. He cares for Tony a lot but in this volume he seems to have given up any hope of being with him again. Whether this was an author's deliberate choice or simply an inconsistency in characterization I cannot tell.
Even the romance between Tony and Lee takes a new turn. Gone is the angst of the first two book where Tony was caught up with Lee and the latter behaved ambiguously enough to make the reader scream.
Even in this case I got the very strong impression this was no more a meditated progress than Ms Huff's giving up consistent character development for the sake of building up a good story. I appreciate the characters here more than in the former two episodes but this also keeps me from giving a five star rating.

The writing is proficient and proficiently pushes the story forward: the 400+ pages flow unhindered to a nice if not really memorable ending.

Other reviewers keep on mentioning sex scenes: I have found them quite tame and unlikely to cause any reaction except from very prudish readers; a rather generous amount of four letter words again can only disturb above mentioned readers.
This book can be read by teens too, if mature enough even from the age of 14 or so. They will probably miss some of the interpersonal depth (especially the subtext of the relationship between Tony and Henry) but they will not miss the fun.

Editorial Review:

This third novel in Tanya Huff's action-packed series features Tony Foster and the crew of "Darkest Night," a TV series about a vampire detective. This time they find themselves facing another supernatural menace, a Demonic Convergence. Tony-with the help of vampire Henry Fitzroy and Leah, a stuntwoman who is the last surviving priestess of a sex demon, plus a tabloid reporter and a Canadian Mountie-must keep the key to the convergence alive to prevent a demonic invasion so large scale that it could be the finale-for the whole world.

The Blood Books, Vol. 1 (Blood Price / Blood Trail)

Tanya Huff

List Price: $8.99 By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $5.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( H ) -> Huff, Tanya
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> United States

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Private Investigator and Her Vampire Friend 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.

The Blood Books, Volume 1 (2006), is an omnibus edition of the first two fantasy novels in the Blood series. It includes Blood Price and Blood Trail.

Victoria Nelson -- Vicki -- is a former Toronto homicide detective who had resigned for medical reasons. She had been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and experienced various visual disorders, including night blindness, tunnel vision and myopia. Now she works as a private detective on cases that don't overtask her senses.

In Blood Price (1991), eight months after leaving the force, Vicki witnesses the death of a young man attacked by something that tore out his throat. Her former partner -- Mike Celluci -- responds to the call. As usual, she and Mike fight over everything, but even Mike confesses that he had missed fighting with her.

Now she can't seem to let go of the case, particularly when similar deaths occur. The media start speculating about the murders being vampire slayings. She keeps calling her friends in the coroner's office and the Criminal Investigation Division to find out more information. She even goes to the scenes to look for clues missed by the police.

One night, she catches up with the killer just as he is disappearing. She also finds a vampire on the scene, but he punches her out and takes her to his apartment. Henry Fitzroy, the vampire, has a choice: kill her or trust her with his story. He takes the second course, although he can always remedy any mistake by killing her later.

Henry is the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII of England. He is now four hundred and fifty years old and has been a vampire for most of that time. He was made a vampire by Christina, who also rescued him from his deep grave after his apparent death at the age of seventeen.

Henry explains to Vicki that the killer is a lesser demon, who is working on a scheme to open this world to Hellish havoc. Since they can't trust the police with this information, Henry and Vicki need to nullify the scheme. Vicki is charged with finding the master and Henry will try to take out the lesser demon.

Then Coreen, girlfriend of the first victim, hires Vicki to find the alleged vampire. Even if the police don't believe in vampires (or demons), Vicki has an acceptable reason to search for clues. Besides, the client will pay for her time and expenses.

In Blood Trail (1992), Vicki is tired and sweaty from working a case on industrial sabotage and is just starting to shower when the phone rings. Being a compulsive phone answerer, she quickly dries off and races for the receiver. It is her mother calling about spending time together. Mothers!

Vicki finishes the shower and is preparing supper when the phone rings again. This time it is Celluci. He wants to know some information about a previous case and is using Vicki's memories instead of the files. Former partners!

She is eating cold eggs and watching the Jays play in Milwaukee. It is the bottom of the seventh, the Jays behind by two runs, two out and one man on second. Just as a Jays power hitter steps up to the plate, the phone rings. This time it is Henry. He has some friends who need the help of a private investigator. Phones!

In this story, Vicki goes over to Henry's apartment to meet his friends. The security guard recognizes her and buzzes her through, but also gives her a suspicious look. When she reaches the condo, the door swings open to reveal a huge russet colored dog.

A young woman is waiting with Henry in the living room. Henry introduces her as Rose Heerkens and then Rose introduces the dog as Storm. Sitting on the couch, Vicki puts on her professional face and asks why she is needed.

Rose tells her that two members of her family have been shot in the past month. When Vicki asks about the police findings, Rose tells her that they don't know about the shootings. Vicki is puzzled about this remark, so Henry tells Rose to show her.

Rose takes off her sandals, then stands up and removes her sundress. Standing there naked, she suddenly transforms into a white dog and the russet dog turns into a young man, who now introduces himself as Peter. The pair are werewolves.

Highly recommended for Huff fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of supernatural ploys, preternatural concerns and a touch of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

Vicki Nelson is an ex-homicide cop turned private detective. Mike Celluci, Vicki's former parter, is still on the force. Henry Fitzroy is an author of bodice rippers-and a vampire. Together, the trio find themselves caught up in mysteries with a supernatural slant-from demons to werewolves and every otherworldly creature in between.

A Confederation of Valor (omnibus)

Tanya Huff

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $8.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DAW Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $1.27

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> Short Stories
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> World Literature -> Canadian -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Marines in Action 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Confederation of Valor (2006) is an SF omnibus edition of the Valor series, containing Valor's Choice and The Better Part of Valor. The pacifistic Confederation was unable to defend itself when attacked by the Others. All the member species had evolved socially to the point of being unable to take another sentient being's life. So the Confederation invited the Humans to become their defenders; later the Taykan and the Krai were also invited to join the defense.

In Valor's Choice (2000), one and a half centuries later, Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr is acting first sergeant of Sh'quo Company. She is ordered to gather a platoon for ceremonial duty guarding a delegation to the lizard-like Silsviss, a newly discovered aggressive species.

This presents some problems since all the platoons are short of troops due to casualties on the last mission. So she is tasked with choosing nine intact fireteams and three squad sergeants from the survivors. The composite platoon joins the diplomats on the Confederation Ship Berganitan. The diplomatic party consists of four spider-like Mictoc, four massive humanoid Dornagian, and four bird-like Rakva.

When the Confederation mission reaches Silsvah, the marines demonstrate their proficiency at close-order drill, firearms, and standing guard. The hot climate and boring duties soon send a party of six marines sneaking off to town to meet their counterparts. The ensuing bar fight seems to speed up the negotiations, for the Silsviss terminate the visit in Hahraas early and send the Confederates to their final destination.

While enroute, the Confederate transport is shot down over a swamp within a Silsviss Wilderness Preserve. After escaping the ship, the party slogs out of the swamp toward two nearby buildings. There is some need for haste, since the Preserve is used to keep the Silsviss adolescent males occupied while their hormones levels gradually drop to civilized levels. The process also gets rid of some of the surplus male population as they fight each other and anything else that challenges them, including Confederation diplomats and marines.

Most of the Silsviss adolescent males in the vicinity are headed toward the crash site, but several are near the buildings. These attack the slow moving Dornagian and their escorts, who promptly take cover in some rocks. Torin leads a sortie out to recover the Dornagian party and finds that the Silsviss adolescents don't run from, but rather toward, overwhelming fire.

During the night, the marines pick off the remainder of the first group. But the next day thousands of adolescent Silsviss appear on the surrounding hills, some armed with Confederation weapons from the wreckage. The attacks continue for days.

In The Better Part of Valor (2002), Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr brings home the surviving marines from Silsvah and is soon detached to a recon unit investigating "an unidentified alien vessel drifting dead in space". General Morris has formed the temporary group with individual marines from different units to avoid media notice. So the first event of note when they reach the big yellow derelict is the arrival of a Sector Central News ship.

General Morris has overall command of the mission, with Captain Carveg in charge of naval matters. Captain Travik is nominally in operational command of the marines, with Torin as his lead NCO. General Morris, however, makes it clear that he is depending upon Torin to make the mission succeed. All the marines, including the other Krai, despise the Marine Captain for his grandstanding attitude and high losses.

However, Travik is a media darling and a hero to the public. Since the Krai Parliamentary delegation is demanding more of their species in high military positions, Travik is being groomed for fast promotion upon the success of this mission. Assuming, of course, the serley food waster doesn't get them all killed.

Craig Ryder, the civilian salvage operator who discovered the derelict ship, insists on boarding with the marines to protect his investment. The Katrien news team insists on boarding also, but are forced to wait with the scientists for the marines to give the all clear. Nothing harmful is discovered by the marines, so Travik overrides Torin to allow the press and scientists onboard. Shortly thereafter, one scientist triggers an explosion that disables the airlock, destroys the shuttle, and kills several civilians.

Torin and Craig are sucked down by the floor into a small cubbyhole, but are able to walk through a wall to another clear area with a hatch. They find Travik and the reporter beyond the hatch in an area that resembles a warehouse identical with one well known to Craig. The captain is severely injured and the reporter is unconscious.

Since the Katrien scientist is also unconscious, Torin has them laid near each other and, when one accidentally touches the other, both go into grooming behavior. Torin gathers the survivors, including the newly conscious Katrien, and starts them toward the closest intact airlock. On the way, they discover that the ship is rearranging corridors and rooms as they go.

A group of Others -- bug soldiers -- is also on the ship and going toward the same airlock. Fighting ensues and casualties occur. The Katrien freak out, the CSO is somewhat quieter, and the Niln scientist comments on her old age, but otherwise takes everything calmly.

Meanwhile, an Others ship emerges from Susumi space diametrically opposite the Big Yellow ship from the Berganitan. The Confederation Ship finds itself unable to maneuver and all missiles launched at the Others ship are apparently deprogrammed in mid-flight by the Big Yellow ship; the Others ship seems to have similar problems.

The fighters work, however, and a real furball is taking place around and near Big Yellow. The first shuttle launched to rescue the trapped civilians and marines is destroyed by the Others and the second is unable to launch. Then Big Yellow starts warming up its engines.

Although some might think that these novels are too stereotypical, one finds that the characters are very true to real life. Soldiers usually are fairly superficial in their discussions. Too much intimacy is frowned on for several reasons, not the least that it hurts more when the other guy is KIA.

It also doesn't match the macho image that most soldiers try to project. After all, who would want a wimp guarding their back. Depression, on the other hand, is usually close at hand even in the barracks, for a soldier's life is often lonely and boring.

Unlike other reviewers, I would not classify these novels as "space opera". One reserves that term for works like the Lensman or Legion of Space series. These stories are much more like the StarFIST and DMC novels, small-unit combat SF.

Highly recommended for all Huff fans and anyone who enjoys tense military interaction dramas, with a touch of jarhead humor.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Editorial Review:

Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr's goal is to keep both her superior officers and her troops alive as they face deadly missions throughout the galaxy. She more than proves her mettle when a diplomatic assignment and a scientific expedition both turn dangerous.