Space Viking
Posted on June 15th, 2007
With a title like that, you know somebody’s going to be a badass and Piper is not an author who disappoints.
Space Viking is also set in the Terro-Human future and takes place well after Four-Day Planet and Junkyard Planet, at a time when the Federation is crumbling. Lord Trask, the main character, is disappointed that the civilized Sword-Worlds are losing their best men to go raiding the less civilized worlds on the ships of the Space Vikings. However, Trask is done dirty and finds his life quickly repurposed to one goal: Payback. He therefore becomes a Space Viking himself to better stalk his quarry.
Superficially, Space Viking is about Trask seeking revenge, the depths he sinks to in that search, and eventually his redemption, release, and rebirth. The plot elements are not exactly surprising, but the tale is well told, popular with readers, and classic space opera that is worth your time. Underlying the basic plot is again Piper’s odd mix of Cold War and WWII commentary, including limited nuclear exchanges, satirical criticism of various regimes and even different forms of government, and a heavy handed take on Hitler. Piper, a fan of history, follows through on the theme of the cyclic nature of societies that he foreshadowed in Junkyard Planet.
Recommended.
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Filed under Free Stuff, Piper, H. Beam |