Orphan's Destiny
Robert Buettner
(Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
2005 Warner Aspect
ISBN: 0446614300

Who will we call upon when our first alien contact is vaporizing whole cities? Young foot soldier orphans who no one will miss.

When earth needs heroes, whom will we call to valor? When mankind's enemy is beyond our worst imagination, who will be our champions? Will we pick the brightest & the toughest? Or the ones with nothing left to lose?

Sr. Staff Reviewer D. H. Brown writes:

Up front & first off, let me state clearly & for the record Robert Buettner has started a series of which Heinlein would have been proud. For any hard core sci-fi fan this author's books are a must read!

As readers of my reviews know & I've stated clearly in the past, this reviewer will not review books II or III in a series or trilogy as I feel it's impossible to grasp a series' scope without starting with Book I. Knowing that, & me well, my contact at Warner Aspect Books sent me Orphan's Destiny along with the deal-maker Orphanage in the hopes of enticing me. & of course, being the hard sci-fi addict that I am, the bribe worked.

By the time I'd finished Orphanage I couldn't wait to open Orphan's Destiny, & my only complaint is that I am now on pins & needles waiting for Book III. Though I am mollified by having been promised said book before its expected publication date.

Simply put, I love the premise, scope & down-to-earth style of Buettner's writing. It took me back to those thrilling days of yesteryear as I lay under the covers with a flashlight reading Heinlein's Starship Troopers.

It also reminded me of another new name, Karin Lowachee, & her Warchild series, & gave me GREAT hope for the future of the hard sci-fi genre.

As a personal aside, being a Veteran, former war fighter & current war writer, I was enthralled by Buettner's vivid depictions of the foot soldier. Regardless be he/she fighting with bow & arrow or death ray, it's always the Boot that takes the ground.

So now I wait for Book III to join the first two in a place of honor in my permanent library.

Well done, Mr. Buettner. Keep writing & we'll keep reading!

More from:
Orphanage
(10/23/05)

D. H. BROWN
A RebeccasReads.Com Reviewer -

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries. In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow. During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN). While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com