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Tour of the Merrimack #3
The Sagittarius Command
In the third novel of this acclaimed military science fiction series, all of humanity and its alien allies have joined together to battle the Hive-a force of pure destruction sweeping through the galaxy. But when the leader of the Roman world is assassinated, tensions escalate-and Captain John Farragut is forced to lead a mission into the heart of Hive territory in search of a man who's been "dead" for decades...
384 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 20, 2023
Hm. So this wasn't too shabby (it's a good series to be fair), but The Sagittarius Command didn't blow my hair back in the same its predecessor (Wolf Star) did.
Possibly, part of the problem is the fact that, by this point, all the shipboard action against the Gorgons are starting to feel a bit same-y. Also, given the specific way that the previous novel ended, it didn't feel like The Sagittarius Command did a hell of a lot to move the story forward. By the last page, the status quo feels a lot the same as it did in the previous novel.
The positive aspects that I should point out is the way that the author continues to mess with the reader's head (given the way the chronology of the story was rebooted at the end of The Myriad) and the backstory revelations that flesh out some of the main characters and adds context to their actions and interactions.
I'm giving it 3 although 3.5 is probably closer to being an accurate rating. It is just that Wolf Star was really, really good, and I expected more of the same.
Possibly, part of the problem is the fact that, by this point, all the shipboard action against the Gorgons are starting to feel a bit same-y. Also, given the specific way that the previous novel ended, it didn't feel like The Sagittarius Command did a hell of a lot to move the story forward. By the last page, the status quo feels a lot the same as it did in the previous novel.
The positive aspects that I should point out is the way that the author continues to mess with the reader's head (given the way the chronology of the story was rebooted at the end of The Myriad) and the backstory revelations that flesh out some of the main characters and adds context to their actions and interactions.
I'm giving it 3 although 3.5 is probably closer to being an accurate rating. It is just that Wolf Star was really, really good, and I expected more of the same.
March 7, 2022
The saga of the Merrimack continues with this third installment. The USA and the Roman Empire are fighting together against the 'Hive', pseudo-biological 'beings' that live to eat all organic life. This starts with a bang as the Roman Caesar is assassinated during a ceremony to honor Captain John Farragut, the hero of the hour so to speak. Immediately, the forced alliance between the two powers is placed under strain as the Caesar's son picks up the mantle of Caesar and the son is pretty much an asshole. Nonetheless, the two powers send out a joint task force once again to root out the Hive after they 'teleported' into a major Roman world and caused havoc.
Meluch may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy her pithy, snarky dialogue/prose and the cast of characters she developed here. The only series I can think of that has a similar snark/tongue in cheek sass/humor is Simon Green's Deathstalker series. Both series are adventure pulp--with action giving way to wry humor and interpersonal dynamics. I love the world building on display here and Meluch portrays the Romans very well. The Hive as an alien force? Well, very enigmatic is perhaps the best way to say it. What does it want? Where does it come from? We get a little closer in this volume to finding out, but it still exists primarily as a mystery. Good stuff! 4 stars.
Meluch may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy her pithy, snarky dialogue/prose and the cast of characters she developed here. The only series I can think of that has a similar snark/tongue in cheek sass/humor is Simon Green's Deathstalker series. Both series are adventure pulp--with action giving way to wry humor and interpersonal dynamics. I love the world building on display here and Meluch portrays the Romans very well. The Hive as an alien force? Well, very enigmatic is perhaps the best way to say it. What does it want? Where does it come from? We get a little closer in this volume to finding out, but it still exists primarily as a mystery. Good stuff! 4 stars.
June 8, 2017
A swarming alien threat to all human life has forced a galactic war to be put on hold making uneasy allies of would-be enemies. The attack on a near space planet near Earth and Pallatine has both races determined to take the war to the Hive's home space. And, a raving genius once thought dead might have the answers to victory or destruction.
The Sagittarius is the third installment of the fantastic military space adventure series, The Tour of the Merrimack. It definitely needs to be read in order for the reader to have a strong inkling of what is going on in this ongoing story that carries over from book to book.
I continue to be riveted to the story of this battleship crew who represent the US Navy and Marines in space. It's sci-fi future, but also has a bit of historical Age of Sail style ship, ship's operations, and fighting. Fighting off space monsters with a sword or scythe? Yeah, its been a blast.
And added to that old-style fun, let's not forget the two warring human groups are the USA versus the Roman Empire. Yep, you read that right. The Roman Empire never fell, but went into hiding until it could set up on another planet and begin to conquer and add to their Empire in space. including the desire to re-take Earth. Naturally, the US among others has something to say about that and send their best into space in the form of Captain John Farragut and his savvy, gritty crew who repel Romans and alien Hive monsters equally well.
This latest adventure has the Romans under the US military authority and it is volatile peace that Farragut has to be at his wily best to keep them all working together against a deadly, common enemy. Someone is naturally attempting to sabotage this from within while others are taking advantage of the military focus on the alien monster hive to further their own agendas. So much going on, always. Just when I think the Merrimack is backed into a corner and pulls off a miracle survival, there's a nasty twist and its more intense than ever.
The characters are colorful and exciting though not very deep matching the overall tone of the writing and the plots. My favorite intriguing friendship- well, antagonistic and wary allies- of Farragut and the Roman patterner, Augustus as well as the very acrimonious relations of Captain Callista Carmel and Roman Numa Pompeii. The last book really dug into Farragut and Callie Carmel's background and this one explores Augustus' which I have been waiting for since book one. This is space opera so there are some interesting situations brewing aboard ship and from ship to ship between the danger scenes which there are a plethora.
I enjoyed The Sagittarius Command in audio format narrated by the excellent John Glouchevitch. I am convinced I wouldn't enjoy these half so much if I was reading this one in print version. Glouchevitch brings the crew, the Romans, and the other characters to life and I can't praise his work enough for catching the rhythm of the author's writing which can be choppy (though personally I think it suits the stories), the tone and emotion of the story. I see it all so clearly in my mind.
In summary, I am addicted to this space opera- military adventure series and can't wait to get the next installment after all that went down there toward the end of this one. These are for those who want fast moving, gritty space adventure and war action, some twisting intrigues and a large cast of colorful quirky characters.
My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Sagittarius is the third installment of the fantastic military space adventure series, The Tour of the Merrimack. It definitely needs to be read in order for the reader to have a strong inkling of what is going on in this ongoing story that carries over from book to book.
I continue to be riveted to the story of this battleship crew who represent the US Navy and Marines in space. It's sci-fi future, but also has a bit of historical Age of Sail style ship, ship's operations, and fighting. Fighting off space monsters with a sword or scythe? Yeah, its been a blast.
And added to that old-style fun, let's not forget the two warring human groups are the USA versus the Roman Empire. Yep, you read that right. The Roman Empire never fell, but went into hiding until it could set up on another planet and begin to conquer and add to their Empire in space. including the desire to re-take Earth. Naturally, the US among others has something to say about that and send their best into space in the form of Captain John Farragut and his savvy, gritty crew who repel Romans and alien Hive monsters equally well.
This latest adventure has the Romans under the US military authority and it is volatile peace that Farragut has to be at his wily best to keep them all working together against a deadly, common enemy. Someone is naturally attempting to sabotage this from within while others are taking advantage of the military focus on the alien monster hive to further their own agendas. So much going on, always. Just when I think the Merrimack is backed into a corner and pulls off a miracle survival, there's a nasty twist and its more intense than ever.
The characters are colorful and exciting though not very deep matching the overall tone of the writing and the plots. My favorite intriguing friendship- well, antagonistic and wary allies- of Farragut and the Roman patterner, Augustus as well as the very acrimonious relations of Captain Callista Carmel and Roman Numa Pompeii. The last book really dug into Farragut and Callie Carmel's background and this one explores Augustus' which I have been waiting for since book one. This is space opera so there are some interesting situations brewing aboard ship and from ship to ship between the danger scenes which there are a plethora.
I enjoyed The Sagittarius Command in audio format narrated by the excellent John Glouchevitch. I am convinced I wouldn't enjoy these half so much if I was reading this one in print version. Glouchevitch brings the crew, the Romans, and the other characters to life and I can't praise his work enough for catching the rhythm of the author's writing which can be choppy (though personally I think it suits the stories), the tone and emotion of the story. I see it all so clearly in my mind.
In summary, I am addicted to this space opera- military adventure series and can't wait to get the next installment after all that went down there toward the end of this one. These are for those who want fast moving, gritty space adventure and war action, some twisting intrigues and a large cast of colorful quirky characters.
My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2009
Third in the USS Merrimack series. The year is 2445 CE, and Earth and the Palatine Empire (a neo-Roman group that broke away from Earth control a few generations ago) have declared a temporary truce in order to combat the Hive. The Hive cannot be reasoned with, cannot be stopped for long, and they will never, ever stop coming. Because they are hungry. And all life is food.
I read these as really excellent Star Trek:TOS fanfic, with Captain Farragut as a smarter, kinder version of James T Kirk and Augustus as a creepier version of Spock. I have an unfortunately huge crush on Augustus, who is filled to the brim with rage and controlled by an intellect the size of a planet and a loyalty stronger than death. He gets his kicks psychologically torturing his cohorts--Farragut is the only person he has ever met who can deal with his mind games. In fact, Farragut misses Augustus's attempts to rip apart his psyche once he's gone. OTP! I have less interest in the other relationship in the books: between Steele and one of his marines, the sexually free, physically aggressive Kerry Blue. They are both complete numbskulls, and I wish they'd just get together and stop bothering me with Steele's constant "oh how I love her soft femininity" rumblings.
It took me a few chapters to get into this book--Meluch's style sounds like a particularly terse cowboy--but once I got past the sentence fragments and back into the adventure, I was hooked. I read it in a single sitting, unable to put it down to eat.
I read these as really excellent Star Trek:TOS fanfic, with Captain Farragut as a smarter, kinder version of James T Kirk and Augustus as a creepier version of Spock. I have an unfortunately huge crush on Augustus, who is filled to the brim with rage and controlled by an intellect the size of a planet and a loyalty stronger than death. He gets his kicks psychologically torturing his cohorts--Farragut is the only person he has ever met who can deal with his mind games. In fact, Farragut misses Augustus's attempts to rip apart his psyche once he's gone. OTP! I have less interest in the other relationship in the books: between Steele and one of his marines, the sexually free, physically aggressive Kerry Blue. They are both complete numbskulls, and I wish they'd just get together and stop bothering me with Steele's constant "oh how I love her soft femininity" rumblings.
It took me a few chapters to get into this book--Meluch's style sounds like a particularly terse cowboy--but once I got past the sentence fragments and back into the adventure, I was hooked. I read it in a single sitting, unable to put it down to eat.
August 14, 2019
Two Stars This one did not work for me. The mindless gorgon threat is boring and stupid. The Roman-US antagonism/alliance is mildly entertaining but doesn't carry the book.
February 5, 2009
I feel that giving a review consisting of twelve \o/ in a row might be considered a cop-out.
But it's tempting. This book is a sequel to Wolf Star and The Myriad, which I have already reviewed, and both of which I've given four stars. This book skips ahead a year from Wolf Star, and picks up at the point where events veer from the obvious path for them to take after the close of the last book.
The book's main dramatic arc is about the war against the alien threat known as the Gorgons, a terrifying life-form which overturns their scientific understanding of the universe. So terrifying, that the Romans have unilaterally surrendered to the Americans, specifically to John Farragut, the only man to successfully take back a ship once the Gorgons boarded. The Roman Emperor surrendered command of his legions, and gave his patterner, Augustus, to Farragut. Augustus is a creation of advanced Roman medical science, capable of synthesizing unfathomable amounts of information, pushing the human body past sane limits, and programmed to be blindly loyal to the Caesar.
The war is desperate, and gets more desperate all the time, Farragut and the Romans are still at each others throats, allies only by bitterest necessity, and forced to rely on the non-military League of Earth Nations for military support. But the main tension for me in this book was between Farragut and Augustus. Farragut is a man born of privileged, his father is a judge, and his mother is a US senator, inheritor of wealth that puts him in the top 1% of the Earth's population. He's risen in the Navy by hard work, tactical genius, and a gift for people. He's an idealist who knows how often reality falls short of his ideals, and doesn't let that stand in his way.
Augustus was created by Roman science to be a weapon, a synthesis of man and machine with memories that go back only eight years. He's the sort of man who likes to pull the wings off flies to watch what happens, and he sees most humans as insects. Except the wings he's interested in are the wings of the human brain. (Metaphor failure, eject, eject!) He's a sadist, is what I'm getting at, who gets his jollies putting pins in the tender places of the minds of people around him.
Augustus despises Farragut, not only as an American, but as an idealist, but Farragut is the one man given authority over him by Caesar. Farragut is so relentlessly fair that he cannot help but respect Augustus' dedication and abilities. Basically, they are so incredibly slashable that I cannot stand it.
But it's tempting. This book is a sequel to Wolf Star and The Myriad, which I have already reviewed, and both of which I've given four stars. This book skips ahead a year from Wolf Star, and picks up at the point where events veer from the obvious path for them to take after the close of the last book.
The book's main dramatic arc is about the war against the alien threat known as the Gorgons, a terrifying life-form which overturns their scientific understanding of the universe. So terrifying, that the Romans have unilaterally surrendered to the Americans, specifically to John Farragut, the only man to successfully take back a ship once the Gorgons boarded. The Roman Emperor surrendered command of his legions, and gave his patterner, Augustus, to Farragut. Augustus is a creation of advanced Roman medical science, capable of synthesizing unfathomable amounts of information, pushing the human body past sane limits, and programmed to be blindly loyal to the Caesar.
The war is desperate, and gets more desperate all the time, Farragut and the Romans are still at each others throats, allies only by bitterest necessity, and forced to rely on the non-military League of Earth Nations for military support. But the main tension for me in this book was between Farragut and Augustus. Farragut is a man born of privileged, his father is a judge, and his mother is a US senator, inheritor of wealth that puts him in the top 1% of the Earth's population. He's risen in the Navy by hard work, tactical genius, and a gift for people. He's an idealist who knows how often reality falls short of his ideals, and doesn't let that stand in his way.
Augustus was created by Roman science to be a weapon, a synthesis of man and machine with memories that go back only eight years. He's the sort of man who likes to pull the wings off flies to watch what happens, and he sees most humans as insects. Except the wings he's interested in are the wings of the human brain. (Metaphor failure, eject, eject!) He's a sadist, is what I'm getting at, who gets his jollies putting pins in the tender places of the minds of people around him.
Augustus despises Farragut, not only as an American, but as an idealist, but Farragut is the one man given authority over him by Caesar. Farragut is so relentlessly fair that he cannot help but respect Augustus' dedication and abilities. Basically, they are so incredibly slashable that I cannot stand it.
December 21, 2012
Farragut commands a task force that tracks down a major Hive vulnerability. Along with some marvelous characters, the author shows a gift for crafting desperate, seemingly hopeless battle scenes, ingenious strategems, and truly hilarious salacious banter. I have read some justified criticism about the way she handles female characters, but think she did better here.
Thinking about it, I'm sorry I read the first volume of this series because of the crappy twist she threw in part way through---would have been far better just to start with v.2.
Anyway, wonderful military SF.
Thinking about it, I'm sorry I read the first volume of this series because of the crappy twist she threw in part way through---would have been far better just to start with v.2.
Anyway, wonderful military SF.
October 1, 2014
This was nearly as good as the first book - it kept me up late reading. Sure, some parts are ridiculous, but like watching a good B-movie, you can overlook that because it’s all so much fun.
The United States and the Roman Empire (in space!) are uneasy allies, teamed up to defend humankind from an alien force which threatens to literally consume all life in its path. A combined task force, full of internal strife, sets out on a quest to discover the secret to defeating the Hive aliens.
We have battles on the ground, battles in space, plus the fact that the Hive can interfere with human technology means that we also get lots of sword fighting. Meanwhile the Americans and the Romans are unconvinced that they really shouldn’t be fighting each other.
It still feels like old-school space opera, where the Americans are just so much better than everybody else, and generous in their superiority. The sexism is not bad at all this time, but the scenes with Colonel Steele and Kerry Blue continue to be dreadful.
I liked the inclusion of the Roman characters, especially having Augustus around again. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the ending, but I’ll see where the author takes this in the next book.
The United States and the Roman Empire (in space!) are uneasy allies, teamed up to defend humankind from an alien force which threatens to literally consume all life in its path. A combined task force, full of internal strife, sets out on a quest to discover the secret to defeating the Hive aliens.
We have battles on the ground, battles in space, plus the fact that the Hive can interfere with human technology means that we also get lots of sword fighting. Meanwhile the Americans and the Romans are unconvinced that they really shouldn’t be fighting each other.
It still feels like old-school space opera, where the Americans are just so much better than everybody else, and generous in their superiority. The sexism is not bad at all this time, but the scenes with Colonel Steele and Kerry Blue continue to be dreadful.
I liked the inclusion of the Roman characters, especially having Augustus around again. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the ending, but I’ll see where the author takes this in the next book.
January 17, 2016
Realized, 2/3 of the way in, that I had already read this book, but finished it anyway. It's great fun, as are the 2 previous books of "The Tour of the Merrimack" series. Lots of great military sci-fi action, decent plot, great characters, a real page-turner.
October 6, 2015
A pompous, sloppy, straining waste of my time. Couldn't carry Honor Harrington's luggage with a forklift.
February 12, 2024
The Sagittarius Command did its job! The Gorgon Battle Scenes are getting tired and the dialogue wasn’t **QUITE** as entertaining as books #1 and #2. That said, I liked seeing the Romans in action and having Augustus back. Still sexist, the Steele x Blue pairing is still barf, but the Merrimack series is my personal candy! FUN.
September 14, 2018
Did not finish.
I enjoyed the previous two books. They weren't great, but I still enjoyed them. This, well the damn broke and it just was too much. All the problems that the previous books had with no sign of changing.
I enjoyed the previous two books. They weren't great, but I still enjoyed them. This, well the damn broke and it just was too much. All the problems that the previous books had with no sign of changing.
April 7, 2019
Another good read in this series. A few spots where I thought maybe the author had messed up but overall it was fun to read and I have gotten attached to the main characters.
July 15, 2021
Very chopped writing style, but that doesn't make it bad. There are also ALOT of characters.
March 11, 2012
One of the things I enjoy about some women SciFi authors is the interesting blend of science, SciFi, Space Opera/Odyssey, tough fighting marines, opposing factions, spies, enemies and the interpersonal relationships between all characters that all tend to evolve when people work and live together for long periods of time. Not to be sexist, but sometimes you don't get quite the blend I'm looking for with a male writer. I know some men write the type of stories I love to read - and then again there are some times when I enjoy a more "male" perspective. I certainly do not look for or enjoy when a SciFi or horror novel goes all gooey and lovestruck - overwhelming the story. I'm referring to the novels that tend to end up being a strong romance novel with some fantasy, SciFi, horror or U.F. just lightly blended into the book. To me, they tend to read as if the genre came second to the love story. Which is fine, if that's what you're looking for. It's just not what I'm looking for.
With the U.S.S. Merrimack series, the blending of SciFi, humor, horror and personal relationships have just the right touch. An overall theme in this series is the war between the Romans (who have left Earth to claim as much space and as many worlds as they can, while re-building the Roman Empire) and the United States government along with the horror aspects of the hive like behaviour of the Gorgons. The gorgons travel through space, seemingly impervious to any repeated attacks as they literally eat their way through space ships, planets and galaxies - eating anything organic. And they are attracted by same resonance that the space-going ships and planets use to send messages to each other. Not a good thing.
At the end of book two, Rome had surrendered to the United States - or rather, to John Farragut, the captain of the U.S.S. Merrimack. He took their surrender and now both sides are supposed to be cooperating or at least working together to find the home planet of the gorgons and destroy them. Farragut, a very interesting, almost absurdedly charismatic man is made Commodore of a five ship fleet. He's in charge of the whole operation. The Romans don't particularly want to work with him. His own crew seems to be intensely loyal to him because of his way with people and soldiers. He not only remembers small details of his crews, but when he talks to a crew member, they feel like they are the only person he's paying attention to at the moment. Even some of the men who hate him, his enemies can't help begrudginly respecting and liking him. He almost seems to good to be true - and could be considered the male version of a Mary Sue, except that the story is so fun to read, the dialog so engaging, and Farragut is not completely perfect. But he's a fun character to read with his almost superhero ways.
The fleet comes into quite a few scrapes, where it seems like all is lost, but they manage to pull through - and this would be kind of unbelievable, except that this is SciFi and the narration and dialogue is so fun, that I just enjoyed the scenes and the impossible saves.
In fact, I enjoyed this novel just as much - possibly a bit more than the first two novels. The only thing that kept this from being a Six on my scale was that there were a few instances where the characters began to speak philosophy a bit more than I enjoy reading. I'm not really into too much of that "thinking man's" dialogue. However, I am impressed that Meluch stayed away from massive infodumps - SciFi reading can sometimes be a little overwhelming to the unscientifically geared mind when introducing a scientific theory. There was a bit of information being passed along in the guise of dialogue - but thankfully this wasn't an overwhelming experience.
On the whole, loved reading The Sagittarius Command, enjoyed the fighting, the action, dialogue and characters. I'm blissfully going to grab that fourth novel in the series that's waiting over there on the shelf....
With the U.S.S. Merrimack series, the blending of SciFi, humor, horror and personal relationships have just the right touch. An overall theme in this series is the war between the Romans (who have left Earth to claim as much space and as many worlds as they can, while re-building the Roman Empire) and the United States government along with the horror aspects of the hive like behaviour of the Gorgons. The gorgons travel through space, seemingly impervious to any repeated attacks as they literally eat their way through space ships, planets and galaxies - eating anything organic. And they are attracted by same resonance that the space-going ships and planets use to send messages to each other. Not a good thing.
At the end of book two, Rome had surrendered to the United States - or rather, to John Farragut, the captain of the U.S.S. Merrimack. He took their surrender and now both sides are supposed to be cooperating or at least working together to find the home planet of the gorgons and destroy them. Farragut, a very interesting, almost absurdedly charismatic man is made Commodore of a five ship fleet. He's in charge of the whole operation. The Romans don't particularly want to work with him. His own crew seems to be intensely loyal to him because of his way with people and soldiers. He not only remembers small details of his crews, but when he talks to a crew member, they feel like they are the only person he's paying attention to at the moment. Even some of the men who hate him, his enemies can't help begrudginly respecting and liking him. He almost seems to good to be true - and could be considered the male version of a Mary Sue, except that the story is so fun to read, the dialog so engaging, and Farragut is not completely perfect. But he's a fun character to read with his almost superhero ways.
The fleet comes into quite a few scrapes, where it seems like all is lost, but they manage to pull through - and this would be kind of unbelievable, except that this is SciFi and the narration and dialogue is so fun, that I just enjoyed the scenes and the impossible saves.
In fact, I enjoyed this novel just as much - possibly a bit more than the first two novels. The only thing that kept this from being a Six on my scale was that there were a few instances where the characters began to speak philosophy a bit more than I enjoy reading. I'm not really into too much of that "thinking man's" dialogue. However, I am impressed that Meluch stayed away from massive infodumps - SciFi reading can sometimes be a little overwhelming to the unscientifically geared mind when introducing a scientific theory. There was a bit of information being passed along in the guise of dialogue - but thankfully this wasn't an overwhelming experience.
On the whole, loved reading The Sagittarius Command, enjoyed the fighting, the action, dialogue and characters. I'm blissfully going to grab that fourth novel in the series that's waiting over there on the shelf....
March 6, 2013
Having previously read both The Myriad and The Wolf Star I jumped at reading R. M. Meluch’s The Sagittarius Command, the third book in The Tour of Merrimack, only to be stymied by its odd ebook formatting. I eventually came back to the title and powered through the short sentences and short paragraphs and as I suspected found the book as enjoyable as its predecessors. The Sagittarius Command picks up not too long after The Wolf Star with Captain Farragut having accepted the surrender of Roman Emperor and the threat of the Hive swarms bearing down on humanity. Earth and Palatine now find themselves uneasy, to put it quite mildly, allies against this new greater threat.
Many of my complaints from both The Myriad and The Wolf Star stand for The Sagittarius Command. However, as I mentioned, the biggest difficulty I had in reading the novel was the stylistic choice Meluch went for in her prose with short, fragmentary sentences and paragraphs. Take the following paragraph from the beginning of the book for example:
It is a stylistic approach that Meluch seems to reach for throughout the novel. Some paragraphs can be as little as one sentence long like this one later in the novel “Rob Roy Buchanan stared into his drink at a solitary table in Mad Bear O’s space bar in the main station of Fort Eisenhower.” While other can be longer, typically when exposition is involved (the single sentence I just mentioned is followed by a more typical paragraph about Mad Bear O’s). The jarring nature of the sparse prose is actually made worse since the ebook version adds line breaks between every paragraph (the hardcover print version doesn’t). Those line breaks are likely why I notice it more in The Sagittarius Command than in the first two novels. It’s strange how such a simple formatting decision can effect how one approaches a novel.
The Myriad and The Wolf Star weren’t books for deep characterization or lengthy musings and The Sagittarius Command does nothing to change that. The attempts at forming relationships between characters with perhaps one notable exception feel sort of tacked on and half-formed. I am less than fond of the romantic forbidden love relationship between Blue and Steele. The most interesting dynamic by far is that between Captain Farragut and the Patterner Augustus and The Sagittarius Command does a pretty good job at uncovering some of the deeper complexities of Augustus.
The Sagittarius Command (and the previous two novels) is a big blockbuster action movie of a novel. It is less about characterization and philosophical musings than it is about the thrill of the ride. The writing is sparse and takes a little getting used to but Meluch’s penchant for relying on dialogue and action over lengthy exposition makes for a constantly thrilling ride that passes by in the blink of an eye. This is a constantly entertaining series that fans of action sci-fi looking for a quick read should definitely jump on.
Many of my complaints from both The Myriad and The Wolf Star stand for The Sagittarius Command. However, as I mentioned, the biggest difficulty I had in reading the novel was the stylistic choice Meluch went for in her prose with short, fragmentary sentences and paragraphs. Take the following paragraph from the beginning of the book for example:
It was hot. There were no climate controls. Alien smells carried on a thin breeze through the open window. He heard the quiet whir of the transports. Voices. Footsteps. Loading and unloading. Strange spiraling song of green birds.
It is a stylistic approach that Meluch seems to reach for throughout the novel. Some paragraphs can be as little as one sentence long like this one later in the novel “Rob Roy Buchanan stared into his drink at a solitary table in Mad Bear O’s space bar in the main station of Fort Eisenhower.” While other can be longer, typically when exposition is involved (the single sentence I just mentioned is followed by a more typical paragraph about Mad Bear O’s). The jarring nature of the sparse prose is actually made worse since the ebook version adds line breaks between every paragraph (the hardcover print version doesn’t). Those line breaks are likely why I notice it more in The Sagittarius Command than in the first two novels. It’s strange how such a simple formatting decision can effect how one approaches a novel.
The Myriad and The Wolf Star weren’t books for deep characterization or lengthy musings and The Sagittarius Command does nothing to change that. The attempts at forming relationships between characters with perhaps one notable exception feel sort of tacked on and half-formed. I am less than fond of the romantic forbidden love relationship between Blue and Steele. The most interesting dynamic by far is that between Captain Farragut and the Patterner Augustus and The Sagittarius Command does a pretty good job at uncovering some of the deeper complexities of Augustus.
The Sagittarius Command (and the previous two novels) is a big blockbuster action movie of a novel. It is less about characterization and philosophical musings than it is about the thrill of the ride. The writing is sparse and takes a little getting used to but Meluch’s penchant for relying on dialogue and action over lengthy exposition makes for a constantly thrilling ride that passes by in the blink of an eye. This is a constantly entertaining series that fans of action sci-fi looking for a quick read should definitely jump on.
April 30, 2016
The Sagittarius Command is the third book in the Tour of the Merrimack sci-fi series from R.M. Meluch. This series is much more Star Trek-ish than hardcover sci-fi, but I've enjoyed the books in the series so far.
Premise: In this book, the Roman leader Caesar Magnus is assassinated during an ceremony in honor of the Merrimack's captain Farragut. In order to keep the tenuous peace between the Roman Empire, Farragut must travel deep into Hive territory to not only find out who ordered and orchestrated Magnus' death, but also to find out how the Hive has managed to locate and attack numerous Roman worlds, even though there are ships on watch, waiting for the Hive to approach. And throughout it all, the tensions between Farragut's crew and the Roman allies-once-enemies they are forced to work with continue to rise.
Again, this series is very Star Trek in nature, which is fine by me, since I love Star Trek. It's the reason I keep reading. And this book is much more focused in terms of plot than the last one, with the usual mystery inherent in most Star Trek plots. How is the Hive getting past the ships posted as guards and attacking the Roman planets, leaving some of them destroyed? And then there's the question of who assassinated the Roman Caesar, of course. The characters are their usual colorful selves in this one, with some advancement of some of the interpersonal plots set up in previous books, which is always nice.
Overall, this is a great addition to the series, with a much clearer, sharper plot than the past two books, although that could just be that I've settled into the characters now. (Much like a Star Trek series doesn't get good until the characters settle into their roles.) Definitely a series I'd suggest everyone check out.
Premise: In this book, the Roman leader Caesar Magnus is assassinated during an ceremony in honor of the Merrimack's captain Farragut. In order to keep the tenuous peace between the Roman Empire, Farragut must travel deep into Hive territory to not only find out who ordered and orchestrated Magnus' death, but also to find out how the Hive has managed to locate and attack numerous Roman worlds, even though there are ships on watch, waiting for the Hive to approach. And throughout it all, the tensions between Farragut's crew and the Roman allies-once-enemies they are forced to work with continue to rise.
Again, this series is very Star Trek in nature, which is fine by me, since I love Star Trek. It's the reason I keep reading. And this book is much more focused in terms of plot than the last one, with the usual mystery inherent in most Star Trek plots. How is the Hive getting past the ships posted as guards and attacking the Roman planets, leaving some of them destroyed? And then there's the question of who assassinated the Roman Caesar, of course. The characters are their usual colorful selves in this one, with some advancement of some of the interpersonal plots set up in previous books, which is always nice.
Overall, this is a great addition to the series, with a much clearer, sharper plot than the past two books, although that could just be that I've settled into the characters now. (Much like a Star Trek series doesn't get good until the characters settle into their roles.) Definitely a series I'd suggest everyone check out.
November 22, 2008
Captain John Farragut is back! And we finally get Augustus (from The Myriad) back with him. The Merrimack is back and fighting for the very existence of mankind, seeking the complete destruction of the Hive. Let the space-age swashbuckling adventuring begin!
Meluch has done another excellent job of crafting an engaging escapade ('story' is so mild a term), with page-turning action and adventure. This really is a superb example of how exciting and fun science fiction can be. Meluch also continues to develop and explore her very intriguing and beguiling characters. By the end of the book you're only upset that you can't spend more time with them to see what they will come up with or overcome next.
It definitely will help to have read Myriad and Wolf Star before this. If you're considering reading this, you definitely should get your hands on those first, if you haven't already. This novel could possibly stand on its own, but having read both Myriad and Wolf star I highly recommend reading them first, as they definitely expose you to more of the characters, the driving forces behind them, as well as giving you a glimpse into the adventures which have set the Merrimack on the path it is now on.
And I do recommend this, definitely to all Science fiction fans. Especially if you enjoyed David Webber's Honor Harrington character. Meluch focuses more on the action and characters while Webber revels in the military strategy and political maneuverings. But the characters of John Farragut and Honor Harrington are very similar in their integrity, military finesse, and the fierce loyalty they engender in their men. If you've never read a science fiction novel, this series would be a great place to start.
Meluch has done another excellent job of crafting an engaging escapade ('story' is so mild a term), with page-turning action and adventure. This really is a superb example of how exciting and fun science fiction can be. Meluch also continues to develop and explore her very intriguing and beguiling characters. By the end of the book you're only upset that you can't spend more time with them to see what they will come up with or overcome next.
It definitely will help to have read Myriad and Wolf Star before this. If you're considering reading this, you definitely should get your hands on those first, if you haven't already. This novel could possibly stand on its own, but having read both Myriad and Wolf star I highly recommend reading them first, as they definitely expose you to more of the characters, the driving forces behind them, as well as giving you a glimpse into the adventures which have set the Merrimack on the path it is now on.
And I do recommend this, definitely to all Science fiction fans. Especially if you enjoyed David Webber's Honor Harrington character. Meluch focuses more on the action and characters while Webber revels in the military strategy and political maneuverings. But the characters of John Farragut and Honor Harrington are very similar in their integrity, military finesse, and the fierce loyalty they engender in their men. If you've never read a science fiction novel, this series would be a great place to start.
September 1, 2009
Hmm...this book, didn't like so much in the beginning. Big chunks I sort of glazed over, probably because the author chooses to do a helluva lot of recap of what happened before, as well as...uhm...I think a lot of uninteresting people talked as well. Hard to say, since I glazed over!! But once the fighting started by the middle, it got good again, and I dearly love me some Roman, and well as hearty sides of American! However, by the final climatic quarter of the book, the plotting and science start going a bit wonky...how they figure out the bad guy, how they figure out what the bad guy's doing....it sort of felt forced. So out there, with so little clues given to build up to that point, that it was hard to accept.
*spoooiler below*
And the harmonics! I'm no expert, but if Harmonic A belongs to Hive A, and Harmonic B belongs to Hive B, and playing Harmonic A causes Hive B to get angry and vice versa...then how does playing both of them at the same time cause them to spontaneously combust????? What am I missing?
So....while it was satisfying in many ways, there were a lot of spots that made me sad in a disappointed way. Still worthwhile to get throug, if only to find out what happens next to our poor bitter Roman and the ever hopeful Farragut.
*spoooiler below*
And the harmonics! I'm no expert, but if Harmonic A belongs to Hive A, and Harmonic B belongs to Hive B, and playing Harmonic A causes Hive B to get angry and vice versa...then how does playing both of them at the same time cause them to spontaneously combust????? What am I missing?
So....while it was satisfying in many ways, there were a lot of spots that made me sad in a disappointed way. Still worthwhile to get throug, if only to find out what happens next to our poor bitter Roman and the ever hopeful Farragut.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2023
The Tour of the Merrimack series has been the most entertaining SF series I've read in some time. This is great space opera.
Meluch continues to expand on the characters from the previous books, writing some of the more memorable and enjoyable cast of characters I've seen in SF (IMO characters in SF are typically awfully or blandly written and/or unlikeable in an unintentional way). The series so far feels like each book could be read on its own, but the books are all certainly connected, with just enough elements called back from those stories to make things cohesive but without feeling so serialized you can't understand what's going on if you didn't finish the last book yesterday.
I enjoyed the tension between reluctant allies, the expansion of the mythology surrounding The Hive and the world of the Merrimack, and the human villains and heroes who come across, more than ever with this book, as being real people and not just vehicles for the plot.
This is a book to just sit back and enjoy. If you want a run of the mill political allegory or social commentary about climate change or racism, I'm sure you can turn on NPR right now and get what you're looking for.
Meluch continues to expand on the characters from the previous books, writing some of the more memorable and enjoyable cast of characters I've seen in SF (IMO characters in SF are typically awfully or blandly written and/or unlikeable in an unintentional way). The series so far feels like each book could be read on its own, but the books are all certainly connected, with just enough elements called back from those stories to make things cohesive but without feeling so serialized you can't understand what's going on if you didn't finish the last book yesterday.
I enjoyed the tension between reluctant allies, the expansion of the mythology surrounding The Hive and the world of the Merrimack, and the human villains and heroes who come across, more than ever with this book, as being real people and not just vehicles for the plot.
This is a book to just sit back and enjoy. If you want a run of the mill political allegory or social commentary about climate change or racism, I'm sure you can turn on NPR right now and get what you're looking for.
December 3, 2008
I really love this series, despite the dirty trick at the end of book one, which I'm starting to see the point of. This is not great literature, but it is good space opera, which is worth a lot. And knowing that your favorite characters are going to (for the most part) survive, and good will triumph over evil, is more than half the fun.
In this book, the relationship between Farragut and the Romans gets even more complicated, and he is sent with a mixed group of Romans and US ships to investigate a planet which might contain the person who sent (yes, *sent*) the Hive to near space. Much high drama ensues. And best of all, yes, we get Augustus back! It occurred to me midway through the book that I know someone just like him. Somewhat unsettling, but I think I understand his weird relationship to Farragut a little better.
Lots of fun! :D
In this book, the relationship between Farragut and the Romans gets even more complicated, and he is sent with a mixed group of Romans and US ships to investigate a planet which might contain the person who sent (yes, *sent*) the Hive to near space. Much high drama ensues. And best of all, yes, we get Augustus back! It occurred to me midway through the book that I know someone just like him. Somewhat unsettling, but I think I understand his weird relationship to Farragut a little better.
Lots of fun! :D
December 15, 2013
I don't think I've ever read a series with such fluctuating quality and style between books. If someone told me that a different person wrote "The Myriad" and this third installment, I'd believe it in a heartbeat. Whereas "The Myriad" was well-crafted and as internally consistent as Sci-Fi can be, "The Sagittarius Command" is totally uneven. For example, in "The Myriad," Captain Farragut talks like most Southern senators: using mostly proper grammar with a few folksy sayings. In "Sagittarius Command," the man seems to have lost his grip on the English language, speaking much more like the Marines do in "The Myriad." I plan to read the fourth book next, but more to fulfill my curiosity about whether the series continues to disintegrate than because I enjoyed reading this third installment (I didn't).
October 2, 2014
It's like with some B-movies: you can see all the flaws of this book (some really cringeworthy: sexism!) but you just can't stop reading! There are much more Romans in this volume which is one of its redeeming qualities (I love those tough bastards) and Augustus is back for good. Augustus, the most interesting character, the same as in the first book and yet strangely different. It's impossible to sing his praises without spoiling the plot of the whole Tour of the Merrimack series, but yeah. Augustus. The stereotypical characterization of most of the cast does not bother me at all: they are written like that on purpose and most of them are very likeable which not all popular writers, more skillfull, more ambitious than Meluch, are able to achieve.
July 20, 2010
I read all of Meluch's work years ago, and then couldn't find any more of her books for a long while. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this one in a store in the Denver airport, at a time when I was out of novels to read on my trip.
Disappointingly, this book was a good romp, but not up to the quality of Meluch's earlier work such as Wind Child or Chicago Red. Still, I'm delighted to know she's writing again, and will hunt up the rest of the series.
Note: This book is 3rd in a 4-book series, so if you're not trapped in an airport with nothing to read, you may wish to start at the beginning!
Disappointingly, this book was a good romp, but not up to the quality of Meluch's earlier work such as Wind Child or Chicago Red. Still, I'm delighted to know she's writing again, and will hunt up the rest of the series.
Note: This book is 3rd in a 4-book series, so if you're not trapped in an airport with nothing to read, you may wish to start at the beginning!
May 15, 2012
I was rather disappointed in this entry in the Merrimack series. I don't like the Gorgons as a menace. The book degenerated into a "gee-another-impossible-challenge-how-are-we-going-to-get-out-of-it-this-time?" Granted, making it TOO easy for the protagonists would make for rather dull reading as well, but still. I also did not like the ending--it was rather boring.
There are SO many Honor Harrington-like protagonists in military sci-fi (i.e., the "maverick space captain"), that there really needs to be something special about the character(s) to make them stand out. And I don't think that Meluch really pulled it off here.
There are SO many Honor Harrington-like protagonists in military sci-fi (i.e., the "maverick space captain"), that there really needs to be something special about the character(s) to make them stand out. And I don't think that Meluch really pulled it off here.
January 2, 2014
Another popcorn Science fiction book in the bag and I am happy for it. In a sense, I wanted some comfort, not too deep, scifi and found it in the series of the Merrimack by Meluch. Though the plot is not entirely unique, some of the plot twists and turns surprised me. I went into the book looking for some high flying adventure with characters that are familiar even as they are placed in new situations and with new names and found exactly what I was looking for. I felt the dynamic between two of the main characters very similar to the Kirk-Spock dynamic of Star Trek. Probably won't reread this book, but enjoyed the ride.
did-not-like
May 8, 2023I enjoyed the first two books in this series. Now things are dipping into the ridiculous and characters are acting out of sorts. In fact they are acting like so many have complained about. The over promiscuity is rampant and is a major distractor from the story. I was a bit forgiving on the disrespect issues within the military that are everywhere in these books. ( At least in the ones I have read) Sorry, this author has just lost a reader. I can't take the stupidity of these characters anymore.
April 8, 2016
Not a fan of the all consuming bug enemy at all, but this pulls it off so well I could not get enough. Very well written characters and a fast keep you on your toes moving plot combined to make this a very enjoyable read. The original take on the insects is really interesting and almost really believable in the context they are used. My only nitpick is the characters are a little to perfect, almost always making gambles that pay off and are near infallible.
April 9, 2008
I had high hopes for this book & R.M.Meluch didn't disapoint. The 3rd book in the Merrimack series is just as good if not better than the first two. Having the larger-than-life John Farragut & oh-so-cruel Augustus back together produces great character interaction. I'd HIGHLY recomend this series to anyone that would listen.
June 13, 2015
This is probably my favorite of the Merrimack books so far. It's just great space opera. I particularly appreciated the opening scenes, as it features a group of Roman soldiers holed up in a replica stone fort using replica catapults to defend their planet against the alien threat. Essentially, this series is about spaceships and swords against aliens, and it's wonderful.
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