Insurrection
(Starfire #1)

David Weber and Steve White

Riverdale: Baen, 1990. ISBN: 0-671-72024-4. Pp. 408

Review © 2006 Branislav L. Slantchev

Although first in the Starfire series in terms of date of writing, Insurrection occurs after the events in the next four books in this series in terms of the chronology of that universe. Written before Weber's Honor Harrington made her dazzling debut, this novel clearly shows the seeds of just about every major theme that would occupy the other illustrious series. Although a bit uneven, blemished by occasional dry patches, and not terribly original as plot, the novel works quite well if you are into space opera sci-fi (which I am), and reasonably well as military sci-fi if you are fan of grand space battles that somehow hide the gory details of the regular grunts. In other words, think later Weber rather than, say, John Ringo.

Although ostensibly set in the Starfire universe (as in the famous strategy/tactical game), the narrative is focused on the Terran Federation, with Orions making a very brief appearance, the Arachnids none, and the Corsairs of Tangri only in oblique references by terrans. The events take place after the Fourth Interstellar War, amid a truce with the Khanate that the Corporate Worlds are evolving into what they call "amalgamation," but which happens to be a devious plan to dilute the strength of the votes of Fringe Worlds, and thus enable the core to continue its extractive economic imperialism. Actually, the plan is not that devious since the Fringers are already mounting serious legislative resistance, and when it threatens to derail the plan, some of the less scrupulous politicos arrange for an "accident" to happen to the plan's most vociferous opponent, Fionna MacTaggart. When her friend and former chief of security Ladislaus Skjorning avenges her death in the midst of a session of the Assembly, all hell breaks lose: the Fringes secede, unleashing brutal civil war.

The fundamental premise of the book would be instantly recognizable to anyone with a passing familiarity with American history for it mimics the Revolution (as in "no taxation without representation") although the carnage of the actual fighting is more closely reminiscent of the Civil War. Aside from the particularly greedy Corporate Worlders (who are eliminated early on, by the way), neither of the warring sides is the villain or the hero. In fact, while the Republic (the united Fringe Worlds) has a strong moral claim to its cause because they are fighting for political and economic freedom, they also happen to be the first to use massive nuclear strikes, which, although of sound military necessity, cause grievous numbers of civilian deaths. On the other hand, the Federation seems mostly guilty of being oblivious to the suffering of the Fringes, and then manages to bungle just about every war effort despite what should have been serious industrial advantage. In the end, it is hard to blame its people for trying to preserve a Union that has lasted for four centuries and that has seen Humanity through some of its worst interstellar trials.

The Civil War parallels are very close, with the Federation representing the North and the Republic representing the South. (Fundamentally, the issue of the states' rights to secede from the Union was probably more important than slavery.) On one side, there is the industrial might of an established economic base commanding ostensibly superior forces. On the other, there is the economically backward side struggling to gain its freedom with courage and elan that is second to none. Officers who have gone through training together, who have served together for years, find themselves on opposite sides, as do lovers, as well as parents and children. And the so-called rustics from the periphery tend to be the better soldiers. Again, very similar to the Civil War in which the South consistently outfought the North for most of the war.

The authors choose one person to be the face of the warring sides: Admiral Trevayne for the Federation and Captain, later (Vice Admiral) Li Han for the Republic. Both extremely likeable characters: dedicated, driven, natural leaders who can cobble together a successful battle plan from the most unlikely ingredients. Both honorable to a fault, and both with some weaknesses that may contribute to their rare lapses. In Trevayne's case, it is the understandable need to avenge the deaths of his wife and daughter. In Han's case, it is gnawing suspicion that she is not as good as everyone else thinks she is. In fact, Han is a clear prototype for Honor Harrington: she is supremely confident in battle only to second-guess herself in the aftermath, questioning her decisions and the sacrifice of others. She inspires others to follow her, into death if necessary. Weber would even recycle major plot elements: the merciless hunt for pirates is a good example, as well as the surrender when faced with impossible odds and subsequent captivity (although Honor did manage to fubar that for her enemies too!)

In the end, Insurrection is an enjoyable read despite the occasionally dry patches. I actually liked the sudden introduction of new characters who manage to survive just long enough to give a personal account of some event, an account that would easily be lost in the bird's eye view we get from the command deck. Still, despite the occasional gruesome detail, there narrative does not achieve the immediate intimacy it should have if it were to convey the horror of that war well. It all feels a bit surgical, a bit too clean, even the thousands of casualties mentioned here and there do not make them more than a meaningless statistic. I would have preferred a bit less of the (rather straightforward) politics and more of the war itself. The fact that the story skips months, sometimes even years, without any warning does not make it easier to maintain more than an abstract involvement.

Despite these flaws, this is a promising beginning for a series, and I will most certainly read the sequels... well, prequels. I would probably have to read more by Steve White even though a lot of the narrative here bore the unmistakable Weberian touch.

July 20, 2006