A Hymn Before Battle

A Hymn Before Battle - John Ringo I have generally liked the works of John Ringo so far. This one I didn’t really like. The story seemed quite interesting. First contact, Earth is enlisted to help defend the peaceful races of the galaxy, lots to learn, design new weapons etc. Sounded good to me.

Well it all slowly turns into a bloody mess. [Minimal spoiler ahead] It turns out that one of the alien races holds all the decision making power over the other ones. These are political vendetta makers which would make the political bullshitters in EC and UN put together green of envy. Despite their part of the galaxy being threatened the literally sabotage the entire war effort to prevent the humans from being “too powerful”.

The entire book as just one incompetent officer appointed by equally incompetent politicians, sabotage, fuck-ups, and anything else infuriating and annoying that you can think of after another. And of course a few good men suffering and trying to pick up the shit spreading from more places than the fan.

I was arguing with myself whether or not I should give it a single star rating and move it to my rubbish shelf but there were a few chapters in there that made the book worth reading. I am still arguing with myself if I should have a go at the next one in the series. On one hand I didn’t like this one very much but on the other hand I want to see if this obnoxious alien race gets the spanking it deserves and of course if the alien invaders get their butts kicked.