Review: I Just Dont Know
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 20, 2013
I dont know if i will buy the next book in the series. I also dont know how people can enjoy reading a book that has so much in common with the previous books.First the story, as people said it is a bit darker than previous installments but while important to Riggs it wasnt that important to the readers. Big? Yes. Sad? Yes? Something we have come to care about? No, at least not me. Many things happen in the story and yet it does not really advance. What i mean by that is the main storylines involve destroying the Macros and reclaiming Earth in some way right? Well there is not much happening in either direction. The other reviewers are correct in saying that this book shifts the direction in the series to deal with those problems. Except while it points it in that direction it wont be until the next book that we actually get to go forward.Then we have the tech combnat. As other reviewers have said and i can agree with there really is not much in this book. The tech is mostly little additions and such and combat is fairly vague.The characters are basically all the same. There are no new intriguing people though something big does happen involving some that might change things. Or you would think so but by the end of the book there really is not much different than at the beginning except that the event happens. Its something that you would think to have long lasting effects but i just didnt see it.Finally my biggest problems is Riggs himself. Once again he has nnot changed, again. For example just like previous books when something happens there is a response in only a few ways. Riggs gets his command personnel and starts planning. They will say we should do this or that because this is why. Then Riggs will overrule them. The others will gripe and moan about what could go wrong but Riggs wont have it and say they are going with his plan. He will explain why and it may very well make sense but so do many of the others many times without some of the potential bigger problems. Part of the problem is Larson makes the supporting cast of characters too weak.Of course there are a few times that the other characters come up with a good plan or react before informing Riggs. Well Riggs cant have that now can he. If that happens he HAS to change something, everything seems to have to have his fingerprints on it in some way. If there is a battle he has to be in command. Whether it is a space or ground battle he takes command of the leading officer and issues orders. Whats the point in having all the upper ranks if all they are is a bunch of errand boys and girls? There are other things as well such as his non improving diplomacy.As you can see i have a good number of things that bugged me. Heres the thing people, this is book EIGHT. Eight books in the series. I want you to think from book one to this point how much has changed? How many IMPORTANT or interesting new characters have been introduced especially in the last few books? How much has really changed for Star Force in the last two or so books? How much has Riggs changed in his actions and thoughts? The answer is simply not alot at best and after eight books im growing tired.