Review: Changes the World - World Changes You
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 14, 2013
Book 6, Commodore, of the David Birkenhead Series continues to display one of the three things I LOVE about this series. The character's attitudes and abilities change as he gets older and gains experience.He has hit his mid-thirties in this book (a guess - actual age isn't mentioned) and has left behind the fire of his youth. Before, as a youth, he just changed the world to win - didn't build it, direct it, channel it - he just changed it. Change could be for better or worse. Now older, wiser, he plans the changes and makes compromises to make the change possible with the least amount of damage TO OTHERS. Compromise always damages one self. He has learned as you change the world, it also changes you.From the first book where he was a kid, to the second book as a teen, to now, the character not only grows based on experience - but also reflects actual changes sentient beings go through in their thinking process. Great worldbuilding/character building many books lack.Of course the action of the youth books has diminished in the older books. But David is back in space, and that is a good thing. Rocking Military Space Opera is the second thing I love about this series.Third is the sociological worldbuilding of a slave culture. Strangely as the series has moved more into the political non-action end of things, the slave culture items have faded. Did love the war bunnies drill of welcome scaring the crap out of the Empire's military staff. Nothing like realizing your opponent is about to tap a potential to double military numbers if you give them time.