The dozens of key characters, multiple theaters of operations, and various alien cultures all receive the appropriate amount of attention. The charm of Caines harrowing adventure lies in Gannons attention to detail, which keeps the layers of political intrigue and military action from getting too dense. 'Gannon's whiz-bang second Tales of the Terran Republic interstellar adventure delivers on the promise of the first (Fire with Fire). Which raises a terrifying possibility: what if the aliens' invasion of Earth is not one of conquest, but preemption? And what if their harrowing memories of a long-past cataclysmic war makes them willing to do anything to keep it from reigniting?Įven if that means exterminating the human race. Clues point to a much earlier inter-species apocalypse, buried in humanity’s own prehistory. And when the technologically-superior attackers sweep aside the solar system’s last defenses, and traitorous corporations invite the invaders to land 'security forces,' humanity fights back with its best weapons: cunning, inventiveness, and guts.īut as Earth hurtles towards a final trial by fire that is certain to scar its collective memory, Caine discovers that there may also be large and disturbing gaps in that memory. With Earth’s fleet shattered by a sneak attack and its survivors fighting for their lives, Caine must rely upon both his first contact and weaponry skills to contend with the non-humanoid enemy. When reluctant interstellar diplomat and intelligence operative Caine Riordan returns from humanity’s first encounter with alien races, sudden war clouds burst. Science fiction adventure on a grand scale. Lastly, I have to prove I’m who I say I am, so here’s a link to not only my FB page, but one of my posts announcing this AMA session:Īnd now.Sequel to national bestseller, Nebula Award finalist, and Compton Crook Award winner Fire with Fire. I also designed and wrote for various RPGs and worked in film and video in the 80’s and early 90’s, and currently serve as a subject matter expert for both government organizations and national media venues. I received the American Library Association’s 2006 Choice Award for Best Book, Rumors of War and Infernal Machines. I’m also a (non-teaching) Distinguished Professor of English and a five-time Fulbright recipient. Or you may have seen my science fiction in Analog, and various anthologies. I also write with Eric Flint in the NYT best-selling Ring of Fire/1632 series, and with Steve White in the NYT best-selling Starfire series.

I suspect a lot of today’s questions will be about the Caine Riordan/Terran Republic series, the third of which, Raising Caine, is up for the Nebula right now.

Firstly, a special thanks to any night-owls dropping in from earlier time zones, as well as to early-birds from later ones.

Fire with Fire by Charles E. Gannon