The Savior
Tony Daniel and David Drake
Baen, Sep 2 2014, $25.00
ISBN 9781476736709
Zentrum the all mighty God of the Duisberg was a supercomputer
before civilization imploded. Interpreting
his programming to keep people safe in spite of themselves, over the centuries
Zentrum using its devout supporters controlled change to insure the planet
remained in Stasis; ergo avoid repeating the great collapse. However, the intellectual and brave
periodically push the envelope so far before Zentrum reacts by releasing the
terrorist Blood Winds barbarian horde to cleanse and purify society.
Encouraged by those two entities (the ancient legend of planet
Bellevue General Raj Whitehall and Bellevue’s supercomputer Center) who made
him their Chosen by sharing his brain; Major Abel Dashian understands that
Zentrum must die as the first step to free his people. However, even with a military legend and a
supercomputer advising him from within his mind, Dashian has doubts about
killing a super god seems impossible and if by a miracle successful, he still
must lead his docile people against the gory warriors of the Blood Winds.
The well written 10th David Drake General (and 2nd
collaborated with Tony Daniel) military science fiction is a gripping action-packed
sequel in which the audience should read The Heretic first to learn how a small
boy became the rebel leader. The “triad”
is well conceived, but the improbable fighting skills and non-blinking acceptance
of advance technology by Dashien’s supporters seem over the top of Olympus Mons (think of the boomer horde original
misadjusting to the initial spread of 1980s desktops) though very entertaining.
Harriet Klausner
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