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Falkenberg's Legion #2
Prince of Mercenaries
For a century, the Americans and Soviets had maintained an uneasy alliance based on the CoDominium, a world order in which no other power or combination of powers could threaten their mutual hegemony. Thus did the Americans and Russians learn to live at peace with each other.
But nothing lasts forever, the CoDominium's energies are nearly spent, and internal conflicts are ripping it apart. The future belongs to colony worlds like Sparta—if they can survive the death-throes of Earth's civilization.
To do that they will need men who understand the art of war, men like mercenary commander John Christian Falkenberg, and Lysander, Prince of Sparta, the first Prince of Mercenaries. This is their story, as told by Jerry Pournelle, best-selling author of military science fiction.
But nothing lasts forever, the CoDominium's energies are nearly spent, and internal conflicts are ripping it apart. The future belongs to colony worlds like Sparta—if they can survive the death-throes of Earth's civilization.
To do that they will need men who understand the art of war, men like mercenary commander John Christian Falkenberg, and Lysander, Prince of Sparta, the first Prince of Mercenaries. This is their story, as told by Jerry Pournelle, best-selling author of military science fiction.
338 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1989
60 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pournelle
238books531followersDr Jerry Eugene Pournelle was an American science fiction writer, engineer, essayist, and journalist, who contributed for many years to the computer magazine Byte, and from 1998 until his death maintained his own website and blog.
From the beginning, Pournelle's work centered around strong military themes. Several books describe the fictional mercenary infantry force known as Falkenberg's Legion. There are strong parallels between these stories and the Childe Cycle mercenary stories by Gordon R. Dickson, as well as Heinlein's Starship Troopers, although Pournelle's work takes far fewer technological leaps than either of these.
Pournelle spent years working in the aerospace industry, including at Boeing, on projects including studying heat tolerance for astronauts and their spacesuits. This side of his career also found him working on projections related to military tactics and probabilities. One report in which he had a hand became a basis for the Strategic Defense Initiative, the missile defense system proposed by President Ronald Reagan. A study he edited in 1964 involved projecting Air Force missile technology needs for 1975.
Dr. Pournelle would always tell would-be writers seeking advice that the key to becoming an author was to write — a lot.
“And finish what you write,” he added in a 2003 interview. “Don’t join a writers’ club and sit around having coffee reading pieces of your manuscript to people. Write it. Finish it.”
Pournelle served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1973.
From the beginning, Pournelle's work centered around strong military themes. Several books describe the fictional mercenary infantry force known as Falkenberg's Legion. There are strong parallels between these stories and the Childe Cycle mercenary stories by Gordon R. Dickson, as well as Heinlein's Starship Troopers, although Pournelle's work takes far fewer technological leaps than either of these.
Pournelle spent years working in the aerospace industry, including at Boeing, on projects including studying heat tolerance for astronauts and their spacesuits. This side of his career also found him working on projections related to military tactics and probabilities. One report in which he had a hand became a basis for the Strategic Defense Initiative, the missile defense system proposed by President Ronald Reagan. A study he edited in 1964 involved projecting Air Force missile technology needs for 1975.
Dr. Pournelle would always tell would-be writers seeking advice that the key to becoming an author was to write — a lot.
“And finish what you write,” he added in a 2003 interview. “Don’t join a writers’ club and sit around having coffee reading pieces of your manuscript to people. Write it. Finish it.”
Pournelle served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1973.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 20, 2014
Meh. While I would never call Pournell a bad writer, as a solo author his weaknesses in character development are striking. The story in "Prince of Mercenaries" is nevertheless fairly well told and his characters are not So wooden as to prevent you from caring.
Also, 'though we do spend a little time on Earth in one of the sub-stories, unlike the volumes both before and after this one, there is little of the background on the political system of the CoDominion or anything else. In some ways it makes it a much easier read as you're only minimally burdened with the bigger picture of the "future history" he's trying to paint. It does make the book a rotten starting place for the series, though. Seriously, read "" first!
As far as themes, one that he constantly comes back to is that there is very little that is black and white. Several of his characters start out as idealists of some stripe - one a socialist / communist, the other a young officer in an army bent on bringing "freedom" to the cruelly oppressed peoples of yada yada yada... Each receives a very hard lesson as they are repeatedly betrayed by their comrades or leaders, or learn things about the "just war" they are fighting that they would far rather not have known. Both also wash up into Falkenberg's (mercenary) legion. Furthermore, such organizations are ironically painted as perhaps the only place that you can practice the profession of arms with honor - the the Colonel himself promising one recruit that at least he'll never have to break his promises. In fact, the mercenary outfits could be described as sports teams playing a game with very specific rules (i.e. "no atrocities!") for whichever faction can pay them, and swapping players after the games as readily as the NFL or NBA. Of course, people tend to Die in this game, but hey, the universes needs Someone to do the needful fighting and this solution is far from the worst on the table...
An interesting though, honestly!
Also, 'though we do spend a little time on Earth in one of the sub-stories, unlike the volumes both before and after this one, there is little of the background on the political system of the CoDominion or anything else. In some ways it makes it a much easier read as you're only minimally burdened with the bigger picture of the "future history" he's trying to paint. It does make the book a rotten starting place for the series, though. Seriously, read "" first!
As far as themes, one that he constantly comes back to is that there is very little that is black and white. Several of his characters start out as idealists of some stripe - one a socialist / communist, the other a young officer in an army bent on bringing "freedom" to the cruelly oppressed peoples of yada yada yada... Each receives a very hard lesson as they are repeatedly betrayed by their comrades or leaders, or learn things about the "just war" they are fighting that they would far rather not have known. Both also wash up into Falkenberg's (mercenary) legion. Furthermore, such organizations are ironically painted as perhaps the only place that you can practice the profession of arms with honor - the the Colonel himself promising one recruit that at least he'll never have to break his promises. In fact, the mercenary outfits could be described as sports teams playing a game with very specific rules (i.e. "no atrocities!") for whichever faction can pay them, and swapping players after the games as readily as the NFL or NBA. Of course, people tend to Die in this game, but hey, the universes needs Someone to do the needful fighting and this solution is far from the worst on the table...
An interesting though, honestly!
February 19, 2016
Not that I'm any military expert. This book, however, sent me to Wikipedia to look Pournelle up and figure out just what he's made of. It was too good to be amateur, and my intuition was right: Jerry Pournelle is the real deal, with deep understandings of history, tactics, strategy, and psychology.
At least he is from my layman's perspective.
This is what happens when a PhD gets some imagination, applies it, and runs with it. It just works.
At least he is from my layman's perspective.
This is what happens when a PhD gets some imagination, applies it, and runs with it. It just works.
April 17, 2020
While this was not one of Dr. Pournelle's best books, it was an interesting story, and it felt like an homage to one of Gordon Dickson's Dorsai stories. I mean, the full name of Col. Falkenberg is "John Christian Falkenberg," and the Dickson story, as I recall, referred to a "Colonel Jacques Chretien" fighting at Rochmont [in this story, the spelling is Rochemont] and being betrayed there, as Falkenberg was here. The outcome for both the colonel and for the place is better in this story, though.
I had read some of the other stories from this series before reading this one, and I think that is necessary. The characters are established in other stories, as are some of the relationships, so there is little character building in this story. Still, this one felt too...I guess pre-determined is how it felt, as if the reader knew most of what would happen, and the only suspense was in the details.
So, not bad, and if you're a fan of his other military SF stuff, worth reading, but not his best, and not a must-read except as part of this series.
I had read some of the other stories from this series before reading this one, and I think that is necessary. The characters are established in other stories, as are some of the relationships, so there is little character building in this story. Still, this one felt too...I guess pre-determined is how it felt, as if the reader knew most of what would happen, and the only suspense was in the details.
So, not bad, and if you're a fan of his other military SF stuff, worth reading, but not his best, and not a must-read except as part of this series.
February 18, 2022
A classic of military sci fi.
Part of the co dominion series written by jerry pournelle , an incredibly well educated man. Tells the story of a civil war on a planet of drug dealers and slave owners. The world is ugly and realistic without being dystopian. There will be war was a long running series as well. Since our educational system is at a fifty year low you just don't see a writer like pournelle with multiple degrees writing classics
Part of the co dominion series written by jerry pournelle , an incredibly well educated man. Tells the story of a civil war on a planet of drug dealers and slave owners. The world is ugly and realistic without being dystopian. There will be war was a long running series as well. Since our educational system is at a fifty year low you just don't see a writer like pournelle with multiple degrees writing classics
April 18, 2019
Classic mercenary story. A good read.
Pournelle is a master of the science fiction mercenary story. He includes reasonable character development, believable dialog, and a solid plot. This may be the first of the Faulkenberg series. It promises me many more hours of enjoyable reading.
Pournelle is a master of the science fiction mercenary story. He includes reasonable character development, believable dialog, and a solid plot. This may be the first of the Faulkenberg series. It promises me many more hours of enjoyable reading.
November 10, 2021
Absolutely magnificent
The blending of futuristic settings with the rock solid character of the military figures is gripping. Inserting Prince Lysander, who proves to be much more than a mere royal observer, cemented my initial interest and kept me reading well past midnight. A superb story.
The blending of futuristic settings with the rock solid character of the military figures is gripping. Inserting Prince Lysander, who proves to be much more than a mere royal observer, cemented my initial interest and kept me reading well past midnight. A superb story.
February 10, 2018
I read this, and _The Mercenary_ because they are set in the same universe as War World, but no great shakes here. Fairly plodding plot, some he-man rah rah, just enough to keep you reading until the end.
January 25, 2021
Falkenberg, as ever, walks out of the hole he has fallen into.
September 16, 2021
Typical Jerry Pournelle
That is excellent military science fiction. It's not exactly a great book, but it is exactly what I want sometimes, an exciting, fun read.
That is excellent military science fiction. It's not exactly a great book, but it is exactly what I want sometimes, an exciting, fun read.
December 16, 2023
Great followup to Falkenberg's Legion.
March 17, 2014
This book falls in to the sub genre of military science fiction - along with Dorsai and Hammers Slammers - you have writers who have experienced actual military service and in some cases even military actions and have used their experiences to write science fiction. In the case of Falkenberg Legions you are looking at a military solution to another genre main stay - the fall of civilisation or in this case the fall of Earth (seen as the heart of the empire).
What I enjoyed about this book is the balance of character and charisma as well as tactician and leader - the characters were likeable and realistic and yet were dedicated to their cause. I have always enjoyed Jerry Pournelle and his style of writing - I have read equal amounts of praise and criticism and yet for me he was one of the newer science fiction authors who drew me away from the classics of the 50s and 60s and encouraged me in to the new age of science fiction.
This is the first in a series of books which I suspect I will now be diving in to.
What I enjoyed about this book is the balance of character and charisma as well as tactician and leader - the characters were likeable and realistic and yet were dedicated to their cause. I have always enjoyed Jerry Pournelle and his style of writing - I have read equal amounts of praise and criticism and yet for me he was one of the newer science fiction authors who drew me away from the classics of the 50s and 60s and encouraged me in to the new age of science fiction.
This is the first in a series of books which I suspect I will now be diving in to.
August 28, 2011
A solid and entertaining novel, this science fiction tale is both plausible and clever. Perhaps most surprisingly to me, this book made the characters feel more real and interesting than the epic military history that the book chronicles. It is not a five star book because nothing in it ever becomes truly great. Like the mercenaries of Falkenberg's Legion though, the writing in this book is so consistently good that it achieves its end without waste.
February 25, 2013
Older science fiction that revolves around a mercenary company in the future. Pournelle is excellent as he lays out a setting that features hard science fiction and a future of colonization on planets. Like many in this genre, he focuses on the troubles inherent in a colony system based on penal relocation, indentured servitude and maintaining control over distant systems. The Co-Dominium is an excellent concept.
March 2, 2014
For a century the Americans and Soviets had maintained an uneasy alliance based on a new world order. But the CoDominium is decaying, and the future belongs to colony worlds like Sparta--if they can survive Earth's death-throes. To do that they will need men who understand war, men like mercenary commander John Christian Falkenberg, and Lysander, Prince of Sparta--the first Prince of Mercenaries.
May 21, 2016
This is a good installment in the series. As a stand-alone book, it's just good. But it moves the grand story along while hinting at the big picture, adds new good characters, and fleshes out existing strong characters. I'm ready to move on to book 3. Good writing and story telling. (I recommend people read this series in the form of the compilation called The Prince, for completeness. Some material seems to have been added.)
June 10, 2011
Not my kind of book. Life on other planets is much too earthlike (animals that seem to be a cross between a moose and a mule, sea creatures similar to loch ness monster, flowers, green jungles...) and thus unbelievable. Am I too strict?
May 1, 2008
I don't know why I liked this book so much...it is quick, easy, short, and simple but for some reason the story always sticks in my head.
November 19, 2010
If I read this again I may be unimpressed by the prose and the setup, but it is one of my favorite military science fiction novels
April 23, 2011
A little slow to develop but good story - very detailed - good character development - -will read the other books in the series.
May 5, 2012
Excellent Military SF - the Co-Dominion books are still some of the best in their sub-genre - the series is best read in order
May 9, 2012
well written and entertaining
January 23, 2015
Oh boy, I love this world. The novel itself is mediocre at best, the writing is as clumsy as I expected from Pournelle, but boy, I love the world of the Co-Dominium so very much.
November 7, 2014
Great book.
The book order on goodreads is not correct from what I can tell.
The book order on goodreads is not correct from what I can tell.
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January 9, 2010baen ebook
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