Old Soldiers (Bolos)

Book Description

Captain Maneka Trevor was the sole human survivor of the Dinochrome Brigade's 39th Battalion . . . but she hadn't wanted to be one. The Bolo known as "Lazarus" -- Unit 28/G-179-LAZ -- was the 39th's sole surviving Bolo . . . but he hadn't been hers. The doctors and the Bolo techs have put them both back together again, yet there are wounds no doctor or technician can heal. And now Maneka and Lazarus must serve together once again, in a war whose stakes are

literally the survival or extermination of the human race. They are all that stand between a desperate, secret colony of humanity and destruction: a Bolo commander torn by survivor's guilt and a Bolo whose very existence reminds her of all she has lost. The odds against them are heavy, the stakes are huge, and surrender is not an option. The Dinochrome Brigade is used to that, but can Maneka and Lazarus survive their own shared past to defend the present?

Customer Reviews:

Fast-paced military fantasy........2007-08-04

David Weber's OLD SOLDIERS tells of one Captain Trevor, the sole survivors of a battle - and a Bolo companion who also has survived the destruction of his own unit. The doctors have put them both back together - yet healing remains, and the two must serve again, together, against impossible odds in this fast-paced military fantasy.

A Bolo doesn't just fade away.......2007-02-24

The best part about "Old Soldiers" (the second Bolo-novel written by Weber, in the universe created by Keith Laumer) is that in this 372-page paperback novel, Weber doesn't have the space to "bloat" his story like he has done in other recent works. Instead, it forces him to focus on all-out action - something he excels at writing! The story clips along at a furious pace, dragging the reader with it like he/she's being hooked behind a Bolo travelling with the pedal-to-the-metal.
Complex tactical strategies, as viewed in detail from both sides, will have you scratching your head as you try to figure out how our heroes will be able to beat the vastly superior 'Dog Boys' when the remnants of the Concordat and the Melchonian empire finally start butting heads with all guns blazing.
Minor drawback is, that for the better part of this novel most of the characters are no more than standard cardboard-cut out people that don't really come alive, except for headliners Maneka Trevor and Unit 28/G-179-LAZ, a.k.a. "Lazarus". It's only when battle is fully joined that characters (especially the bad guys!) really start to "breathe".
I am not going to spoil it by telling what happens, but the ending is somewhat surprising (not standard "Hollywood"-fare so to speak), although it is surprisingly suitable to the overall theme of this novel. So, for everyone who enjoys an action-filled, roalercoaster-ride of a read, buy this novel!

Frank C. Dayton.......2007-01-03

I have a standing order for anything David Weber writes. I am amazed at the number of books he has put out. Not a klinker in the lot. The only problem I have found: I have to plan when I start reading one of his. I will probably not get any sleep until I am done. They will never be long enough.

One of the Best Bolo Novels.......2006-11-02

I have read all of the available Bolo Novels and this is by far one of the best. Weber really caught the tone and atmosphere of the last days of the great war between Humanity and Melconians. He brings out the desperation and fatalism of both sides in the last stages of Operation Ragnarok.

I hope that Weber does more novels in the Universe. The only other author that really bring the Bolos to life is William H. Keith, who has written the most full length novels in this series.

If you are a fan of the Bolo Novels and Short stories or if you are a new reader to the series, you will not be disappointed.

Old Soldiers - New Entertainment.......2006-07-27

Novel is based on the Bolo SuperTank theme with some new twists and is very much worth the read. Readers of David Weber's "Path of the Fury" will recognize some things which were relatively new to his stories in that book.
The hero of this novel is the supertank and the heroine is the tank commander.
By the time the fighting (which is very well done) is over the two have "A LOT in common" to say the least. To tell much more would give away too much of the story, but I highly recommend it to Weber SF readers and to anyone who likes Military SciFi.

Average customer rating:

ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!
Get ready to Rumble!
mother, friend, brother, and a hell 'ov alot of firepower
Bolos: lancelots of the future III
Two for the Ladies.

The Triumphant (Bolos, Book 3)
Keith Laumer , David Weber , and Linda Evans
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 067187683X

Customer Reviews:

ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!.......2007-07-07

Bolo is, by far, the best science fiction series I've read, and book 3 is by far the best Bolo book. When you have a book that can shake all forms of emotions out of you, you know its good, and Bolos: The Triumphant does just that! There is an element for everyone in this book. There is plenty of action (heck, what do you expect from great military SF?), but there is also a boat load of wonderful emotion that gets the tears flowing. There are even some comical moments that can get a chuckle out of you. I find it to be very hard to find a story that has the ability to weave all types of emotion and action into one without sounding farfetched or stupid, but this one combines everything into one awesome package without ever dragging. You'll cry, you'll laugh, and you'll be up all night on the edge of your seat waiting for what happens next. David Weber and Linda Evans have really hit the bull's-eye with this one; The Triumphant is worth all your time and money. It is a true masterpiece, and that is really saying something.

Get ready to Rumble!.......2002-07-29

This one contains the classic Bolo against Bolo; Wriiten by no other than David Weber. Simply captivating, obsorbing and exciting! Imagine a Bolo Novel by Weber? Buy it, read it, write a review. Enjoy!

mother, friend, brother, and a hell 'ov alot of firepower.......1997-12-09

This is probably the best bolo book, why? Supose you had a friend or mother who could recite poetry, play wargames, explore the meanings of the univers and kick out megatons of damage!! that is a bolo and in this book you will see that even a "dead" bolo can figure out a way to get the job done. An interesting point in this book is that in all but one of the stories the bolo is either massively damaged or modified to the point of being considered combat ineffective and not all stories are happy. the technical readout in the back is a great bonus. A must for any bolo fan, and anyone who believes in the power of the heart be it a Bolo, a human, or a dog gone pup.

Bolos: lancelots of the future III.......1997-07-01

This is undoubtedly the best collection of Bolo storied collected to date. Only four stories, half of themm are stories you'd find in the other anthologies. The other two shine like the sun. Little Red Hen is the story of the pioneering attempts of humanity to create a complete AI that feels emotions, and they have succeeded. I will not tell you what the main happenings in the story are because you have to read it to comprehend how masterfully it is constructed. Towards the end I actually found myself CRYING. Impossible, i tried to think to myself. It's got to be onions or mabye i stepped an a tack, but inside i knew exactly what i was crying for: LRH unit 1313 , bolo mk. 21,I(special). Miles to go is another example of the line of distinction blurring. Thee main Bolo in this story is an experimental mk 23, eighty years old. However, she packs a huge suurprise: he former Commander was a psychotronics tech and , for lack of better words, souped up the crud out of her. She is the first Bolo to mount a brain box, an integral part of more modern bolos. Her new Commander, however han one major failing: he is in love with her. Nice problem. Read tese two if you like just about any sci-fi- you wont be dissapointed

Two for the Ladies........1997-06-10

This collection offers two extremely potent and touching explorations of the "female" psyche and combat(Little Red Hen and Miles to Go). That these psyches are housed in duralloy and packing infinite repeaters makes it all the better. These two stories in particular represent some of the finest SF I've encountered, ever

Douglas B-18 Bolo: The Ultimate Look: from Drawing Board to U-boat Hunter

Average customer rating:

B-18 "Bolo" book
By Far the Best Reference on this Forgotten Bomber

Douglas B-18 Bolo: The Ultimate Look: from Drawing Board to U-boat Hunter
William Wolf
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0764325817

Customer Reviews:

B-18 "Bolo" book.......2007-08-23

An excellent book, on a rather obscure aircraft, and is done within the context of showing how unprepared the U.S. was for World War Two, from fighting submarines in the Western Hemisphere, to nearly being dependent on this 1930's "budget bomber" as our only medium/heavy bomber.

By Far the Best Reference on this Forgotten Bomber.......2007-08-09

Since WW2 the little-known B-18 has been in much-deserved obscurity. Developed from an airliner, it was reliable but did not have the performance or development potential to play a significant role in the fighting. This book details every aspect of the airplane, its development, and operational history, including its most important wartime use as anti-submarine plane. If you are interested in this obscure aircraft, this is the book to get. Good quality, lots of photos, would have been improved by a section of color profiles and a table of contents with more page numbers to help the reader navigate the book.

Average customer rating:

Terrible just terrible.
A Bolo Book by the letter of the law, not the spirit
What to do, what to do?
cute cover, serious book
Back to the Laumer style

The Road to Damascus (The Bolo Series)
John Ringo , and Linda Evans
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

High Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743499166

Book Description

When a ruthless political regime seizes power on a world struggling to recover from alien invasion, a former war hero finds herself leading a desperate band of freedom fighters. Kafari Khrustinova, who fought Deng infantry from farmhouses and barns, finds herself struggling to free her homeworld from an unholy political alliance, headed by the charismatic and ambitious Vittori Santorini, which has seduced her young daughter with its propaganda and subverted the planet's Bolo, using the war machine to crush all political opposition. To free her homeworld, Kafari must somehow cripple or kill the Bolo she once called friend. Unit SOL-0045, "Sonny," is a Mark XX Bolo, self-aware and intelligent. When Sonny's human commander is forced off-world, Sonny tries to navigate his way through ambiguous moral and legal issues, sinking into deep confusion and electronic misery. He eventually faces a dark night of the soul, with no guarantee that he will understand-let alone make-the right decision. And caught in the middle of this volatile battlefield is Yalena Khrustinova, Kafari's young daughter. Will she open her eyes in time to save herself-and millions of innocents-or will Santorini's relentless brainwashing campaign continue to blind her while the tyrant engineers the ultimate destruction of a helpless and enslaved population?

Customer Reviews:

Terrible just terrible........2006-09-29

I kept hoping for the Deng or Malconinas or Klingons or someone to blast this loser planet out of existence. The `good guy' oppressed minority is a group called Grangers. With the smoke still billowing after an attack - after paying lip service to how terrible war is they quickly gets down to serious matters - insuring their profit margins are kept healthy. Inspiring selfless patriots all.

The evil aliens races are more clever than the human's. Rather than waste bombs bombing the humans back into the Stone Age, all they have to do is keep clear. See the government than comes to power is determined to drive themselves back into the Stone Age. They don't need any outside help, thank you very much.

The Bolo holds out the longest, but even it turns hopelessly silly. When under attack it observes that the explosion ripped "my port-side threads to confetti." A precision killing machine thinks that to itself? Sadly I'm not kidding. However I'm happy to report that my copy of this stink-bomb shared the same fate as SOL-0045 port-side threads.

A Bolo Book by the letter of the law, not the spirit.......2006-09-20

The worst -Bolo- book ever, that being said, I will say it was a well written book. Mr. Ringo and Ms. Evans (not surprising for the latter) had all of the facts, the specifications, the tech and even political situation composed well. Their Mark of Bolo was well chosen, for a higher Mark would definitely not had done what 'Sonny' did. Why then do I say the worse Bolo book written ever? Because beyond all of what a Bolo can and cannot do technically speaking, one thing author after author has maintained is how heroic, honorable, and noble the Bolos are. A sane Bolo does not commit atrocities. Yes, during Operation Ragnarok they shot at civilians, mothers, children, etc., but even in that story, the Bolo admitted they were insane. Here the authors had the Bolo run over unarmed civilians in a non-combat situation. Bolos have crashed their own systems before doing something they knew was wrong. I admit, I approach the Bolo series because they are heroic AIs, not for the military scifi so much, so that colors my view. If this had just been about an intelligent tank in a changing political situation, I would have given this book four or five stars. It really was an engaging book. It had to be to keep me reading once I felt betrayed by the authors. A wonderful work of revolutionary war, and detailed the fall of a benigh government to a totalitarian one. The political messages were loud and clear. Though I wonder what other messages the authors were sending when they killed off two characters -just- when they realized they realized the truth. The running over of the two teenage girls by the Bolo I think sends the wrong message for a book that was stuffed full of hit-over-the-head political messages. It added to one character's resolve certainly, and the horror of the situation, but unnecessary and counter to even the cover art (and later on in the story), with the Bolo stopping when a child stood in its way. Ringo fans should enjoy this book if this is how he writes normally. I was surprised to find Linda Evans part of this, as I love her earlier works with Bolos (her Bolos didn't commit atrocities). While I might pick up another Ringo book, I will not if he's writing another Bolo book. For Bolo fans, you may just wish to avoid this book, its a shame its part of the Bolo canon, a travesty to Bolo books that came before it, but thankfully not the last Bolo book.

What to do, what to do?.......2006-04-23

SOL-0045, a Bolo Mark XX, was loaned out by the Concordiat to the planet of Jefferson to help defend against any attacks by the Deng as a three sided war rages across millions of light years of space between the Dinochrome Brigade and the advancing Melkonians and the losing Deng. After helping defeat a Deng invasion SOL finds himself under the control of a brutal, power hungry, government that plans to use him to crush all who get in their way. And as the legal government he HAS to obey.
Or does he? As the civil war grows, the Bolo has to find a way to escape the trap, the trap of duty and ethics. After all, Bolos were programmed to obey humans but they were also built to protect humans.
At 757 pages, this book is a tad longer than it needed to be and has just a tad too much in the way of politics. Also the Bolo felt a tad too human.

cute cover, serious book.......2006-01-01

This was a good collaboration for John Ringo and Linda Evans. It flowed smoothly and successfully. I felt really stupid when I finally "got" the title of the book - at the 4/5ths point of the book. The Bolo is totally cool and the people were interesting.

Back to the Laumer style.......2005-09-14

This edition of the Bolo series really took me back to the original Laumer Bolo books in that a new type of threat is addressed by a humble Bolo with (of course) the best of intentions yet self-acknowledged outdated ability. This book is written to generate some of the *feelings* of the original books that have sadly been sacrificed for intriguing strategies, tactics, and plot development in recent releases.
While not the greatest book in the series, it certainly has its share of new concepts and addresses human socio-political issues parallel to Heinlein's Starship Troopers (the book, not the movie). It's my favorite Bolo book in recent years, partly because we are again exposed to the Bolo's thought processes and personal struggles, which often make for half the importance of a Bolo story.

Average customer rating:

Bolo, the Ultimate Fighting Machine.
BOLO power!
Keeping the faith with unit honor and history.
One of the best Sci-Fi reads ever.
for the honor of the regiment

Honor of the Regiment: Bolos 1 (Bolos)
Keith Laumer
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0671721844

Customer Reviews:

Bolo, the Ultimate Fighting Machine........2002-01-27

Bolos: Book 1, is the first in a series of books based on the fighting machine created by Keith Laumer. The idea was that tanks would develop not only better weapons and stronger hulls, but would also have computers build into them which would allow it to perform certain duties without a crew. By the time Bolo Mark XXX was developed, human strategic thinking was no longer required. Book 1 and the rest of the series are short stories done by some of the best, including David Drake, S.M. Stirling, Mercedes Lackey and more. Bolos may be machines, but the ones in the stories show heart.

BOLO power!.......2001-04-18

I had never read a book that is a collection of works by different authors on the same topic. I was not sure I would like it. As it turned out I liked it very much. I am an avid sci-fi reader and this book really satisfied me and I found myself ordering book 2 before I even finished book one.

If you absolutely insist on full character development this book is not for you. Each of the stories are fairly short and really only tell a comprehensive tale when taken together. I was also longing for much more of the story from the POV of the BOLO than was given.

Keeping the faith with unit honor and history........1999-01-23

"Bolos Book 1: Honor of the Regiment" (ISBN 0-671-72184-4) is a collection of stories written by several of today's best science fiction-fantasy authors and edited by Bill Fawcett, continues the history of the Bolo, huge, self-directing and self-aware combat vehicles, first penned by Keith Laumer. Honor of the Regiment is a title, I feel, was developed from Keith Laumer's story "Field Test," which tells the story of the first Bolo, named Denny, to use the full capabilities of self-directing and self-aware computer circuitry. Denny's unknown capabilities and the fear by his creators of not being able to control this powerful war machine also prevent him from being deployed to fight off an invasion of his creators country. When Denny was deployed there appeared to be no chance of stopping the enemy advance, even with his added firepower and other capabilities. Denny does the unexpected, instead of doing a fighting retreat against a superior force he charges towards the enemy's lines. This charge eventually breaks the enemy's invasion and forces them to retreat, but the victory came with a price. Denny, in human terms, was going to die from the many wounds he had taken in his charge, and there was no way to save him. Just before Denny dies, his Commander asks "Why he had continued his charge, when he knew he would be destroyed?" Denny's last words were "For the HONOR OF THE REGIMENT." Each of the stories in "Bolos Book 1: Honor of the Regiment" continues the story line penned by Keith Laumer. Further, after serving my country during a twenty-year naval career I can relate to the ideal of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds and to maintain the history and traditions of my unit and branch of service. I highly recommend the book to all science fiction readers.

One of the best Sci-Fi reads ever........1998-01-14

One of the few books that I have read were I found myself cheering out loud for victories, and tearing up over the loss of friends. Truly a well written work. Causes empathy for our mechanized warriors. All of this series are must reads.

for the honor of the regiment.......1997-12-09

now that I have finished the book and have to catch up on all the things I put of for fear of tearing my eyes away from the paper (things like food, sleep, s-x) I feel that I should tell you one simple thing. READ BOLO BOOKS they are plain awsome they are stand alone but each builds on the whole univese so you do not have to read them in any order. And when you are driving to work imagining that you are a hellbore blasting, infinite repeating, morter spewing incarnat of destruction, just remember that you are supposed to protect all those buggers who cut you off. (the life of a bolo aint easy)

Average customer rating:

A long struggle
This was a Bolo Book?
Another Bolo story... read it twice!
Pure Excitement

Cold Steel: Bolos Book 6

Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

High Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743435494

Customer Reviews:

A long struggle.......2003-01-10

I've read all of the Bolo books since day one and have fond memories of the stories - some being better than others. However this book was a real, real struggle to finish. Not enough about the Bolos, too much on the humans and creatures they were fighting. Could easily have been condensed to 20 - 30 pages. Get it to complete the set but don't expect too much from it.

This was a Bolo Book?.......2002-12-31

They weren't needed in this story - the Concordiate could have sent a few dozen grav tanks to fight the Tersae.

The novel starts out smooth, a once peaceful world, is smashed by war, and Bolos and their commanders risk their existence to fight the attackers. But the novel's most touching plot line of a Bolo modified for a mining colony ends in the middle of the book. The novel then concentrates on the warfare that erupts around the humans, that evolves into almost trench warefare, or Korean war style conflict.

Bolos do arrive in the nick of time and save the day, but a couple dozen grav tanks could have done the same thing it seems. And - the humans did as much as the Bolos to save themselves. More hellbore shots were made to get a bolo unstuck from the mud - than there were in anger. If this novel was to demonstrate that a Bolo can do more than fight in thermonuclear environments, and fight jungle warfare - it was done in a poor manor. Having read many of the Bolo books, it was downright dissapointing to see the hellbores fired only four or so times against enemy targets.

The plot line went into a major 40-60 page deviation about a scientist making first contact with the Tersae. But this was drawn out far too long. And if you are a Bolo book fan, you always know how many pages there are until you get to the italics.... 20 pages into this muck of first contact, I finally skipped the other 40, and it had no impact on the rest of the story.

As a novel, it is _good_. But as a Bolo novel, it was dissapointing. I had to decide hard between a one star and a two star. The touching story line of the mining bolo earned it a 2nd star.

Another Bolo story... read it twice!.......2002-12-20

This is Book 6 in the Bolo series, originally created by Keith Laumer. The action takes place on a remote mining colony world that has an... indigenous population of a sort... that no one knew existed previously.

When things go sour, the colonists enlist the aid of the bolos... one of whom, Dirk, is an obsolete hulk that has been converted to a strip mining machine, and another, Senator, who is an upgraded antique who does not have proper control over his weapons systems.

For those not familiar, a bolo is a self-guided tank of sorts, though they are much more massive and powerful than any tank currently in use by anyone... it would be more accurate to say that they are land-going battleships on treads... though even that analogy is flawed. Bolos... at least the later marks are self-aware and there are not many forces that can stand against their might.

As badly prepared as these particular bolos are, the massive metal soldiers do their best and inspire the efforts of the Human colonists as well. The Humans are down to using WWI marble throwers, longbows, and a Sharps breech-loader... but they hold their own against an enemy that is not the real enemy.

With Humanity embroiled in a dispute with the Deng, not much effort can be spared to defend the colony. This book also introduces the Melconians to the time-line, with whom Humanity is destined to have another Galaxy-wide conflict that will leave both races barely enough genetic material to survive.

Like all the bolo books, this one is worth reading twice. The self-sacrifice and dedication that these living machines display will inspire the heart of any desk-bound warrior. Go ahead and buy it, if you like action-adventure, and/or hard science fiction, you won't be disappointed.

Dale A. Raby
Editor/Publisher
The Green Bay Web

Pure Excitement.......2002-08-05

There are two types of AI(Artificial Intelligence)that stand out very favorably in my extensive reading and viewing of sci-fi books and TV. One is Star Trek's Data, who, other than his presumably deceased evil twin, Lor, is literally in a class by himself. The other is a gigantic, self aware battle tank called a Bolo. Bolos are numerous, evolving over the course of decades, even centuries into different classes and types. Of the two, I have found the Bolo to be the most compelling. Why? Picture a war machine endowed with enough firepower to glaze a planet,yet embued with the soul of a poet. This incongruity is all the more remarkable in that there is nothing remotely anthropomorphic about these machines in the physical sense. Unlike Data, whose resemblance to humans makes it easier for audiences to identify and sympathize with his desire to be human. The Bolos featured in the four books I've read so far, have no wish to be any more or less than what they are. However, they have all demonstrated the best qualities of human nature: honor, loyalty, integrity, duty,even humor. Their abilities to speculate and philosophize on matters unrelated to their programming makes them more than self aware, that designation, in my view, being a diminishing one, but sentient in very humanlike sense. The stories in Bolos: Cold Steel, continues in that fine vein of portraying not only the destructive capabilities of these facinating machines, but providing us with their thoughts in delightfully rendered first person sequences. The setting is a volatile planet called Thule, which is being exploited by the Confederation, a human dominated entity. The planet is rich in the type of deposits important to the Confederation's war against a hostile species. Suddenly, Thule's colonists find themselves under attack by natives whose existence escaped the notice of Confederation surveyers. The indigenous population is Stone Age primitive, but armed with hi-tech weapons and using them to devastating effect. Confederation reinforcements, including Bolos are sent to the rescue. There's a lot of great action in this book, not all restricted to Bolo combat. The non-Bolo characters, I'll call them organics, are interesting and suitably complex. But it's the Bolos who are the stars of the show. There was one minor, but persistent problem that the writers of each story shared: their referal to Thule's natives as aliens. If a population is indigenous to an area, it cannot be alien. Other than this redundant mistake, Bolos: Cold Steel, is a worthy contribution to the Bolos' ongoing saga.

Average customer rating:

Bolo Brigade
William H. Keith , and Keith Laumer
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

High Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 067187781X

Average customer rating:

Bolo!
Mechanized Morality
Mixed feelings
Bolo!
Powerful anti-war statement. Nice add-on to Laumer BOLO creation

Bolo!
David Weber
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416520627

Book Description

Controlled by their tireless electronic brains which were programmed to admit no possibility of defeat, the gigantic robot tanks known as Bolos were almost indestructible, and nearly unstoppable. Their artificial intelligences were designed to make them selflessly serve and protect humans throughout the galaxy and made each Bolo the epitome of the knight sans peur et sans reproche, and often far more noble than the humans who gave them their orders. Now, David Weber, New York Times best-selling author of the Honor Harrington series, continues the history of the Bolo, in four short novels, one of them published here for the first time. One Bolo is driven over the edge by the very humans it is pledged to protect. Another Bolo must decide whether or not to disobey when it is given an order that constitutes genocide. A third must hunt one of its own kind whose robot brain is damaged and rescue two children which the deranged Bolo thinks it is protecting from a nonexistent enemy. And more, including as a bonus, David Weber's own authoritative technical history of the Bolo, all in a volume that will be irresistible both for David Weber's huge readership and Bolo fans everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Bolo!.......2007-05-13

The only reason this got a 4 from me is because it was a repackaged collection of previous stories. They were all great 'nuts&bolts' science fiction - but with a heart.

Mechanized Morality.......2006-06-29

Bolo! (2005) is the second work in the Fourth Bolo Series, following The Road to Damascus. It is a collection of four stories about unusual Bolos. Of course, *all* the Bolo stories are about unusual actions by these machines; a sufficiently advanced artificial intelligence will necessarily have its own quirks and interpretations.

"Miles to Go" was initially published within Triumphant, Book 3 of the Second Bolo Series. This story relates the tale of XXIII/B-0075-NKE. Nike is a Bolo prototype stranded on Santa Cruz during the Quern Hegemony Wars. Major Marina Stravrakas, Nike's commander, was also Project Chief of the experimental psychotronics upgrade for Nike and spent the remainder of her life tweaking the Bolo's brainbox.

After Sector Command on Ursula rediscovers the deployment of Nike to Santa Cruz, Captain Paul Merrit is sent there as the Bolo's commander. He is amazed at the degree to which Major Stravrakas has enhanced the Bolo's capabilities. Then GalCorp sends a mercenary brigade to savage the residents of Santa Cruz so that they will sell their property to the company.

"The Traitor" was initially published within Last Stand, Book 4 of the Second Bolo Series. This story relates the tale of XXV/D-0098-ART in his pursuit of his crazed creche mate XXV/D-0103-LNC, who fled the Enemy in Morville and even fired on another Bolo. Lance was terribly wounded by the Enemy and is now fleeing toward the mountains, with Arthur in close pursuit. Of course, Lance has a reason for his flight.

"With Your Shield" is an original story, published for the first time in this volume. This story relates the tale of Lieutenant Maneka Trevor, freshly graduated from the Academy, on her first field assignment to the Thirty-Ninth Battalion on Santa Cruz. To her amazement, she is immediately assigned as the commander of the Bolo XXVIII/G-862-BNJ. Of course, Benjy is obsolescent and used only to train new commanders, but Maneka is awed by his combat record. Then the battalion is shipped to Chartres to oppose an Enemy invasion.

"A Time to Kill" was initially published within Last Stand. This story relates the tale of XXXIII/D-1097-SHV on Ishark. Shiva had been part of the XLIII Corps in the last battle of the Final War. He and his mates had killed every Melconian on the planet, every male, female or child, whether service or civilian. With the last shot, Shiva had died.

Now humans have settled on Ishark, calling it Ararat. They settle near the last battle site where the human transports landed, hoping that any active war machine will be human. Jackson Deveraux is out exploring the site when Shiva reactivates after almost seventy years of extensive repairs by its maintenance nanites. Shiva has reverted back to the creche state and is imprinted by Jackson as his commander upon first hearing his voice.

Shiva has been reactivated prematurely because Melconian battle comms have been detected in the system. A Melconian fleet has arrived in sorry condition; they cannot leave the planet. When humans are detected on the planet, the surface is scanned for power sources. Only a single fusion power plant is discovered; the Bolo operating on reserve power is overlooked. The Melconian commander sends his assault pods to destroy the human settlements.

The Epilog "A Brief Technical History of the Bolo" was initially published within The Triumphant. It contains "Bolo Marks and Year of Introduction", "A Brief Design History of the Bolo", and "Bolo Armament". This epilog is an excellent resource for future authors of Bolo stories.

This volume brings together prior Bolo stories by Weber in a hardback format. Moreover, the original story is a precursor for Old Soldiers, the third novel in the Fourth Series. Who could resist reading this book and maybe even buying a personal copy?

Highly recommended for Laumer, Weber and Bolo fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure and machines with moral character.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Mixed feelings.......2006-05-20

I rated this book a four because while I loved the stories, 3/4 of them are reprints from earlier Bolo novels. This would be fine, if perhaps that had been stated on the back cover. (I bought the paperback. The hardcover may very well have stated it. I don't know.) It is shown in the copyright section inside the book. If you have Bolos Books 3 and 4, don't bother getting this, as the one new story is probably the weakest of the three. If you don't have those books, then by all means this is a great book.

Bolo!.......2006-02-21

Outstanding! David Weber again proves his abilities as a Bolo story teller. The four stories in this book entertain and honor the Dinachrome tradition, although I thought I had read one of them before. In addition, one of them sets the stage for his next novel, "Old Soldiers". The Bolo technical chronology at the end is a must for anyone wanting a comprehensive collection of Brigade History. For any of you that can't seem to satiate your need for Bolo lore, this is definately one to add to your collection.

Powerful anti-war statement. Nice add-on to Laumer BOLO creation.......2006-01-25

Man's need for more power, more military might has resulted in the ultimate killing machine--the BOLO. Starting with the Abrams battle tanks of the 20th/21st centuries, BOLOs became increasingly armored, capable, and finally intelligent until they became self-aware entities--people who formed a partnership with the humans who created and ultimately controlled them. In BOLO!, author David Weber takes the BOLO idea originated by SF classic writer Keith Laumer and builds on it.

Weber provides BOLO-based novellas, along with a detailed history of the BOLO from its 21st century origin to the ultimate BOLO XXXIII of the end-days of human civilization. Each of these pits a BOLO against powerful enemies--sometimes human, as in 'Miles to Go,' sometimes alien, as in 'With this Shield,' sometimes with themselves ('The Traitor'), and sometimes with human nature itself ('A Time to Kill').

Weber is at his best in those stories that deal with emotion and growth. The more militaristic stories--especially 'A Time to Kill' slip into Weber's weakness--detailed statistics on how many missiles carry payloads vs. electronic warfare warheads, how many are stopped by counter-missiles, how many confused by electromagnetic pulses or target already destroyed BOLOs, etc. Where he lets himself go, concentrating on the man/machine relationship and the increasing humanization of the BOLO (even in an era where mankind itself is losing its humanity), Weber is strong indeed.

Although BOLO! is about war, it doesn't glorify war the way so many recent Baen books do. Instead, both the BOLOs and Weber see war as a tragic failure. If you're looking for a thoughtful approach to war, a stealthy look at what it means to be human, BOLO! is a great place to start.

Average customer rating:

A great disapointment
Bolo versus Bolo!
Caern was once a human planet,
They just keep getting better.
Take out the human element.

Bolo Strike (Laumer, Keith, Bolos.)
William H., Jr. Keith
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0671318357

Book Description

TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS....

And this Victor is fully capable of raking them in, a Bolo Mark XXXIII of the 4th Regiment, Second Brigade, First Confederation Mobile Army Corps, in the vanguard of an all-out Bolo strike against the planet Caern. The enemy is the Aetryx, shadowy, unknown beings who enslave other species with nothing less than the promise of immortality. As a savage, interstellar war begins, Colonel Jon Streicher prepares to lead Victor and the rest of his regiment in that most difficult of tactical evolutions -- a planetary invasion.

But D-Day turns into a disaster, and Caern is a deadly trap. Colonel Streicher and his command team find themselves stranded on the target planet, desperately attempting to survive the hellfire chaos of modern warfare, as Bolo faces Bolo-human hybrid in a cataclysmic showdown that will uncover unexpected truths, reveal hidden secrets, and even call into question the loyalty of the Dinochrome Brigade itself.

For just what will happen if the Aetryx aren't slavers after all, but literal gods who can make good on their promise of eternal life?

The Dinochromes are about to find out.

Customer Reviews:

A great disapointment.......2003-01-02

Being as longtime fan of the Bolo books, I was disapointed. The central third of this book needed severe editing. While it could have stood as a novel on its own- the endless feminist angle did not fit, nor did the extensive sociology (and again overly pressing a feminist viewpoint) just does not belong in this book. Nor does some of the somewhat obscure human relations (like the whole brother in law thing was a waste of my time).

The Bolo books are getting slightly stuck in a rut, but good lord, can we be spared this please and at least have someone write that has some military sense? Or an editor that understands the series and has the guts to chop out the amazing-astoundo-female-hunters-that-are-the-savior-of-their-race-but only when allied with human females who are of course much smarter then men due to their sensitive nature? My, how original. I sense a Star Trek script here.

There were some interesting concepts here, that could have made a great addition to concordiat history, but it was blown in this context. And yes, I do feel gyped for my $... Did anyone actually read the final text before agreeing to run it as a Bolo book? or did an editor OK it on an outline?

I give it two stars only for the first story which is the typical stuff we can expect, and the one or two interesting ideas in the second. Sadly, they were not well explored in a military SF way.

Maybe nmext time I will wait til the books hit the used stores.

Keith, oh why have you forsaken us?

Bolo versus Bolo!.......2002-12-31

The novel serves up great futuristic battle action with the immense, self aware, and incfedibly powerful Bolos. With Space engagements, ground engagements, and Bolos slugging it out against other run amok Bolo's - its a thrill. We even see a Bolo of the Line committ a mercy killing of another Human. It is a very engaged reading with constant action.

The ending? It fell apart at the very end. Otherwise it would have earned a 5 star.

Caern was once a human planet,.......2002-12-16

colonized during the Concordiat age. Cut off during the Melcon Armageddon the planet was absorbed by the Aetryx, an alien race who believed they were a race of Gods. The humans of the Cofederation Mobile Army Corps decide to launch an invasion to free the enslaved populace. But there seems to be a few problems. One, many of the people of Caern seem to be loyal towards the Aetryx. Two, the Aetryx seem to have Bolos within their ranks who are just as loyal. Three, the Aetryx may really be GODS!

The book is packed solid with good battle action, with savage space combat and lots of Bolos fighting on their own. Yes, sometimes the humans get in the way, but without humans the Bolos have no reason to fight, to reach for victory and to overcome their own limitations. Anyway the Bolos spend a good first-third of the novel on their own, fighting for their lives, before the humans even make land-fall. THEN things really get rough!

They just keep getting better........2002-03-03

How can you argue with a 32,000 ton Mk XXXIII Bolo Planetary Siege Unit? Veeeerrrry Carefully. Action, adventure, drug abuse and recovery, are there any bases Keith hasn't covered here? Well worth the read.

Take out the human element........2001-09-23

If there was no human element in this book, it might be 4 stars. It has a slow start. The star of the book,is Victor a Bolo Mark XXXIII of the 4th Regiment, Second Brigade, First Confederation Mobile Army Corps, in the vanguard of an all-out Bolo strike against the planet Caern. The enemy is the Aetryx, shadowy, unknown beings who enslave other species with nothing less than the promise of immortality. As a savage interstellar war begins, Colonel Jon Streicher prepares to lead Victor and the rest of his reigment in a planetary invasion. But the landing falls into a trap. They find themselves stranded and desperately attempting to survive the hellfire chaos of modern warfare as Bolo faces Bolo-human hybrid in a cataclysmic showdown that will uncover unexpected truths, reveal hidden secrets, and even call into question the loyalty of the Dinochrome Brigade itself. Should have only had the Bolo elements in this book.

Bolos II: The Unconquerable (Bolos, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

More BattleTech than Bolo. Shame!
a bolo a day keeps the deng away.
Bolos: lancelots of the future IIII
A must read- this book will be glued to your hands til read!

Bolos II: The Unconquerable (Bolos, Book 2)
Keith Laumer
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

High Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0671876295

Customer Reviews:

More BattleTech than Bolo. Shame!.......1998-04-20

A friend of mine who was "into sci-fi" convinced me to read a "BattleTech" book. Cheap fireworks for understimulated teenagers; a complete waste of time. But long before this pulp a master of the Golden Age wrote the best-ever stories of this genre', the Bolo stories. Keith Laumer's Bolo wasn't just big guns incidentally slaved to a good computer. It felt pain; passion; dismay; hope; joy; and above all else desire. It spoke with cold logic, never wasted a word. But its nanosecond thoughts were lavish with emotion. As with tales of soft-spoken heroes of the martial arts or the Old West, they think much and speak little -- and only then carry a big stick. Honor and desire, not mere power, are the Bolo's allegories. The authors of "Unconquerable" have insipidly shifted the focus from guts to guns. Laumer's passion and vision extinguished in these stories, they might as well carry the "Power Rangers" brand name -- it would be just as relevant, and more apropos.

a bolo a day keeps the deng away........1997-12-09

Bolos are awsome. There are very few things even in fiction that I can think about and say that is just the ultimate. A previouse reveiw leads you to beleive this book is not good. that is not the case it was rated a 7. what it is is that the bolo series is so good that this one had trouble reaching that peak. its like saying the superbowl is not that big, well thats true when you compare it to the Olympics but that dosn't make the super bowl any less enjoyable. If you like bolos read this, if you dont know about bolos read this and you will love them.

Bolos: lancelots of the future IIII.......1997-07-01

Tis book was a little dissapointing: it tried to concentrate on the technological aspects of the bolos, but got many , many things wrong. Dates, times and other small details are not correct, and two of the stories have said the the Bolo's main weapon, a hellbore energy cannon, uses shells. This is not a bad book, but none of the stories are especially outstanding

A must read- this book will be glued to your hands til read!.......1997-04-13

Anything with the word Bolo and Laumer is going to be very good, the type of book you save for reading that is special. This book reaches deep and connects .... you will really enjoy it!!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books