29 June, 2004
The Sundering, Walter Jon Williams (436 pp, TPB, 2004)
I finally got around to reading the sequel to The Praxis. It picks up right where the previous book left off, with Gareth Martinez (now captain of the Corona) en route to the Hone-bar system, and Caroline Sula returning from the disastrous Battle of Magaria. The war drags on, with an impending rebel invasion of the seat of government, and a daring plan to save the loyalist faction in spite of the impending fall of the capitol. The tumultuous relationship between the two principals also continues--tumultuously.
A lot more happens in this book than in the previous one. There are several space battles, a ground battle, and political maneuvering galore. This volume sheds the tongue-in-cheek tone that permeated The Praxis, and treats the events of the books in a more straightforward manner. Nevertheless, the series continues to be great fun, and I look forward to the next book.