I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Shorter Parts of Valor
by
Tanya Huff
military science fiction in a Kindle edition that was published by JABberwocky Literary Agency Inc. on September 27, 2022 and has 141 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Truth of Valor, The Wild Side: Urban Fantasy with an Erotic Edge, The Wild Ways, An Ancient Peace, Shadowed Souls, A Peace Divided, The Privilege of Peace, Valor’s Choice, The Enchantment Emporium, The Better Part of Valor
An omnibus of five stories in the Confederation of Valor military science fiction series and revolving around RECON Marines (or Wardens) who go in to rescue beings.
The Series
”Not That Kind of War” (Torin has 12 years in the Marines)
”Long Time Passing” (Confederation of Valor, 8.5)
The Stories
The stories are fascinating but too many of them end in a vague way — we never learn what happens at the end!
Basics
The Confederation is split into three levels: the Elder Races are too socially evolved to fight and include the H’san, Ciptrans, Mictoks, and Dornagains; the Mid Races which include the avian Rakva, the reptilian Niln, and the Katrien; and, the Younger Races which include Humans, Di’Taykan, Krai, and the dinosaur-like Silsviss.
It really cracks me up at the acceptance and adjustments the military makes so they can use di’Taykans, a species, who in their di phase, make them the most sexually undiscriminating species in the universe — and whose pheromones make most other species enthusiastic participants, lol. That explanation Huff includes about the Taykan not understanding why anyone would want to say no, and yet they are horrified at the thought of compelling an unwanted sexual interaction.
The Others are the enemy, incorporating at least seven species and maybe two more, and the Confederation has no idea why. Diplomatic envoys sent to talk to them are sent back in pieces.
”Not That Kind of War”
It’s an heroic last stand with the Marines tasked with evacuating the civilians of Beniger, using a variety of weapons and blast devices with a preference for a chemically operated projectile weapon. Be aware it’s bloody.
It was the attack on Minas Tirith and Theoden’s comment to Aragorn before charging out of Helm’s Deep that inspired this. Simunthitir even sounds like it’s from the Lord of the Rings. I did love the captain saying that if they wanted a diplomatic evacuation they shouldn’t have called in the Corps.
The Characters
Sh’quo Company of Marines has a few surviving second lieutenants and senior NCOs, including Second Lieutenants di’Pin Arver, who is artillery, Franks, who is a rookie and in Torin’s charge, and Garly and Staff Sergeants Torin Kerr (has been in the corps for 12 years), Amanda Aman, and Doctorow. Others on the team will include Lance Corporal Sluun, Corporal Dave Hayman, Private Haysole di’Stenjic is a di’Taykan, Corporal Hollice, and Juan Checya, a heavy gunner.
At home base are Captain Rose, First Sergeant Chigma, Captain Allon, Sergeant Ann Chou, and Sergeant Trey, who is di’Taykan. The Rakva are the Port Authorities on Beniger, a mining colony, and they’ve taken bureaucracy to a fine art.
”You Do What You Do”
The teams are trapped and dying. Their only hope is to find some kind of vehicle to escape. Only, that EMP pulse took out their only find’s brain.
Huff uses a third person protagonist point-of-view from Deena’s perspective of a description of the exoskeleton that makes a person a heavy gunner, and how Deena “evolved” the concept. The story is heroic and yet I do wish Huff had been more clear in her switches from the actual battle to Deena’s memories of her heavy gunner training sessions.
I also wish Huff had given us a more complete ending. I want to KNOW what happened to Deena once they reached safety! I’m hoping that the ending Huff provides of Deena’s childhood memory is a positive note.
The Characters
The teams include Deena Harmin, Roupen Ghailian, and Ben Eckland, who are heavy gunners. Jurrin is di’Taykan. Sergeant Yarynin, another di’Taykan, has a broken leg and worse. Chris Beaton. Kaeden is a medic. Karen Huang. Kirrt. Hania Wojtowicz, Serri, Norris, and Anne McDonald.
Staff Sergeant Chad Morris is a heavy gunner trainer. Sam Drake appears to be another trainer.
”First In”
These Marines are RECON who will be dropped in to assess the situation on the planet, and it’s not good. Both sides need the panite for the war, and if the Others space out the entire planet, well, it’s not good.
There’s a bit of back history on Lembede and di’Naital that will chill your blood. I can sure see why the government (and the military) are hamstrung by the law that says the media has to be informed. It’s another case of third person protagonist point-of-view from Kerr’s perspective.
The Characters
Captain Ala di’Hirose, a di’Taykan, is making Torin Kerr a sergeant, calling it a field promotion so he has someone he can send to MC471. Members of Kerr’s team include Lieutenant Turrik, Corporal Morrae di’Kyshto, Private Servik is new, Corporal Bannon Lembede and Lance Corporal Domini di’Naital, who have been cleared by Psych, and Pfc Mari Opizzi, who has a wicked expression.
Sergeant Narr, a Krai, is still tanked after that hideous battle on Cavener Station. Corisho di’Varal had bled out there. VTAs are Vacuum-to-Air shuttles.
The Brains are aliens with overly large heads. Stick-figures are tall, thin, and probably not mammals. The Bugs look like giant cockroaches.
Susumi space is a wormhole that shortens up the time required to travel.
”To Dust We Shall Return”
Oops, someone didn’t know about the massive storms on this planet. That, or it’s a weapon being utilized by the Others. “They needed a test site with people . . .”
Oy, this is a horribly sad tale of vicious storms and the privations these storms impose. I gotta say I hadn’t thought of the Dornagains as so heroic. Huff uses third person protagonist point-of-view from Kerr’s perspective, and I’m ticked off at the vague ending. It’s a good story, but geez.
The Characters
Sergeant Torin Kerr is leading this team of RECON Marines that includes Private First Class (Pfc) Mari Opizzi, Lieutenant Turrik, Lance Corporal Domini di’Naital, Corporal Bannon Lembede, Pfc Phoela di’Kano, and Wirekik. Servik had been in “First In”. I think Lieutenant Yerr is the pilot of the VTA.
Captain di’Hirose. The SSG consortium has backed the three-anchor mining colony. The Department of Colonial Affairs (DCA). The CFS Palmatier is the Marines’ base ship captained by di’Merish.
Hurasu is the planet with the valuable mineral. The colonists/miners include Dirnir, who is the colony admin; Bogdan Gozluv, who is a staff sergeant with the seven/three engineers; and, the Dornagains who include Voice of the Company; Live by Lists, who died when a digger rolled over on her; and another six. Germer is the Krai in charge of the vehicles. Beener is the vehicle Germer sends Kerr and team out on. Dr Felicia Alison made a deal with the Minister for Military Affairs to set up a research station.
”Long Time Passing”
A long-lost, VERY long lost, ship has re-emerged from Susumi space. The team sent to investigate were massacred. Now the Justice Department is sending in a team of Wardens.
I do like that Huff has the military trying alternative philosophies to account for the different species in the military. On the other hand, the government and military are easy with sending in Kerr’s team to investigate, and if they’re taken out, it’s okay. It’ll probably be enough to send in the military. Oy. Hmmm, I’m wondering if Huff likes reading Sagara-West’s books . . .
Arghh, Huff leaves us in the lurch again, ending the story before we learn the end.
The Characters
Commander Ng. Lieutenant Commander di’Rearl Stedrin works in the Justice Department as second-in-command of the Strike Teams, formed to deal with the violence that happens after wars end.
Torin Kerr, Craig Ryder is the pilot of the Promise, Werst, Ressk is Werst’s bonded, and Binti Mashona are all Wardens. Silsviss Wardens Lantriz and Brayit are young.
Dr di’Haro Daylis is a biologist and di’Crkeys Alamber, who is an ex-accidental criminal (tested out of the institute early; he and Werst are brilliant at tech), will make up the rest of the team . . . on the science end.
The Sagara-West is a huge ship that got lost in Susumi space: 40-some years in real time, over 351 million years in Susumi time. Her passengers had included 5,071 crew and 16,911 Marines.
Big Yellow had been a hive-mind ship running an intergalactic war as a social experiment (The Better Part of Valor, 2). Musselman’s is a popular bar. Dr Vreek at the Institute was not happy with Alamber’s less traditional approach. Big Bill had been the mastermind of a criminal organization on Vrijheid Station and had taught Alamber how to be a crook (Truth of Valor, 5).
The Cover and Title
The top half of the cover is a brilliant sky of deep reds, black, pink, purple, red, and yellow. At the top right is a V graphic with short stories written beneath it and all in white. Projecting up into the sky is the white pointed tip of an arrow with Torin Kerr as a black-and-white graphic turning back on herself to look at us while she holds her rifle. Behind her head is what appears to be a Silsviss head in a deep coral. The bottom short half has a white background speckled in black with the title in black. There’s a deep coral bottom border (with a ragged top edge) that provides a background for the author’s name in white.
The title is a cheeky reference to this being an omnibus of short stories in The Shorter Parts of Valor .
