Hour of the Horde

ISBN: 0-87997-689-6 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com

A poor, barely articulate novel of space battles and the importance of emotion, this slim book is full of flat characters and superficial reasoning.

Reviewed by David on May 08, 2000

Genre: Science Fiction (War, Military)

Synopsis: Representatives from a highly advanced space federation come to Earth seeking a volunteer to contribute to the war effort against the onslaught of the all-consuming Horde. Borrowing a brooding misfit, the aliens proceed with preparation for an immense space battle, where the Terran plays a seemingly unimportant role among the marshalled forces. But in the teetering balance of forces, primitive determination may count for more than advanced development.

Full Review: It's somewhat ironic to review a novel superficially similar to another recent DAW offering: Huff's Valor's Choice. Both novels feature a relatively primitive group of species, Man among them, fighting within a more civilized confederation of highly advanced but less fierce allies. In both cases, the monumental, never-ending war against the inimical and faceless Others is the background of exploration the politics of the allies. In both cases, a small but courageous group of multi-species misfits come together in a small unit to play a minor yet crucial part in the massive war effort.

Here, however, the parallels end. Unlike Valor's Choice, this novel concentrates not on individual characters but ideas. While succeeding in the former (the characters are all barely 2-dimensional, from the supercilious and rediculously pompous advanced aliens, to the predictably dense but courageous misfits), Hour fails in the latter. The idea conveyed is supported by such flimsy hand-waving, that the suspension of dibelief is not possible.

In general, the primitive style, lack of interesting characters, barely sketched universe and clearly specious ideas, make this novel superfluous for all but the most determined Dickson fans.

Overall: 3; Plot: 3.5; Characters: 3.5; Style: 3; World-building: 3.5; Originality: 4.5;

ISBN: 0-87997-689-6 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com