ISBN: 0-765-30008-7 Order from: Amazon.com
Reviewed by David on July 12, 2003
Genre: Science Fiction (War, Post-apocalypse)
Synopsis: This is a distant sequel to Snowfall.
Centuries after a sudden ice age crushed our civilization, North America is divided into several kingdoms. New England, with strange mental powers and genetic engineering keeping alive amidst the great glacier; the Southern empire in Mexico; the Khanate in the Southwest; and a powerful but stagnant Middle Kingdom surrounding the enormous River that was once Mississippi.
The small, fractious country in the North Mexico has little chance between the warring giants, except for their tradition of independence, and their leader, the reluctant general Sam Monroe.
Full Review: Sam Monroe is a good general, and makes an appealing character. Intelligent but short of genius, mildly ambitious but consciencious, his greatest strength is his ability to lead. He inspires his friends and colleagues, who are well described as well, and conducts a shrewed albeit risky campaign to gain allies in the treacherous politics of post-apocalyptic America.
The battles and the politics are mildly exciting, but bring little new to the field. The author seems uneasy with the language, with frequent references to Warm-times burdening rather than enriching the narrative.
Despite view-hopping, most of the action is centered around Sam and his relatively small country of Map-New Mexico. It's a fast, pleasant adventure, with a satisfying conclusion that allows but does not require further exploration of this world.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 2003, Tor, May 2003, Cloth, 400 pages
ISBN: 0-765-30008-7 Order from: Amazon.com