Earlier this week, Kirsten found
Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber on the discount books rack at our local Safeway. Six bucks for a hardback by an author we both like? Score!
Except that there's a reason it was discounted. Weber isn't even trying to be original any more.
- The main character possesses abilities and technology far beyond the locals. This appears in almost every novel he's ever written.
- The world is dominated by a church established to prevent technological innovation and development. This is a direct steal from Heirs of Empire, the third Dahak novel.
- The reason for this world being settled is a genocidal alien race that was overwhelming humanity. Same as in The Armageddon Inheritance, second in the Dahak series
- The world spanning church is based out of a Temple, which contains still-functioning technological devices. (Heirs of Empire)
- The lead character is an expert in an obscure martial art. Again, this is pretty standard for his leads.
- The lead character has an AI assistant. This is the core of the Dahak series.
What really drives me nuts is the baseball reference. I just reached this. At an earlier point the characters had played rugby, which in this time resembles water polo more than anything else. But then we have a scene set at a baseball game where the rules seem to be essentially identical to the modern game. Remember, this is an artificial society laboring under an imposed religion and having had eight centuries to develop socially. I mean, I love baseball, but I don't think that anyone will be playing it in the 30th Century! But wait, there's more! During the scene, we follow the plate appearance of "Zahn Smolth," a weak-hitting pitcher who manages a bases clearing triple followed by lead-off man "Rafayl Furkal" coming to the plate.
Zahn Smolth?
Rafayl Furkal?
The entire thing just destroys the mood of the book, and ruins the feeling Weber has created of a medieval kingdom on the edge of a renaissance. The entire thing is a patchwork of old ideas, plots, and characters. I'm just reading to see how badly he's going to fall into bad habits. Prediction: The book is going to end in a naval battle that results in a "death ride" of some sort.
Sad thing is, this is supposed to be the start of yet another series. Make it stop!
Edit: I just realized what this book really reminds me of: the
Conrad Stargard series.
Two penguins (out of five.)
