A Deeper Blue by John Ringo

Terrorists are intent on bringing VX gas to the United States to kill civilians.   Mike Harmon/Jenkins stands in their way.

The emotional deprivation that Mike feels in this book provides a more complete picture of this larger than life hero.   He demonstrates more depth in his caring for his friends.

That being said, once again we are immersed in non-stop lethal action with solid criticism of our government’s approach on terrorism.   Ringo writes outstanding action books laced with cynical critiques of political correctness. 

Amidst all the action and storyline, Ringo points out that all the terrorist action against the United States has been carried out by young Arab males.  His character regards the lack of profiling of this type of person as sheer insanity, paramount to suicidal.

Ringo’s books are always entertaining and fill a definite niche when I need a kick ass, no prisoners, righteously indignant hero.  Surprisingly the books can be thought provoking as well.   Sadly this seems to be the end of the series featuring The Ghost/Kildar. 

Once again this is not a book for kids, there is not as much rough sex but is is somewhat explicit but it fits with the plot of the book.  

I recommend this book.

Body of work of John Ringo

Web site: http://www.johnringo.org/

Unto The Breach by John Ringo

The Kildar and the Keldara are back. Another WMD needs corralled and Mike Harmon and his Keldara are just the people who can prevent Armageddon. Action and battle scenes galore characterize the book.

Ringo has the ability to create an astoundingly vivid image with his prose. Although some books in this series seemed preoccupied with the darker side of sex, this book was a down and gritty battle book. The action is superb, the descriptive aspects of Ringo’s Warrior Creed are emotionally moving. Books that exalt loyalty, courage, honor and respect seem all too rare in today’s fiction.

I like how each book in this series revels a little more in the background and ethos of the Keldara.

I highly recommend this book.

Body of work of John Ringo

Web site: http://www.johnringo.org/

Choosers of the Slain by John Ringo

Politics and black mail fuel the action in this Ringo follow up to the Kildar. Mike is at it again, facing daunting odds with ambivalence in his heart but courage and fire in his action. Hookers are being snuffed and it is impacting his people and the politics of his world.

Ringo dives in were fools fear to tread. He attacks the structure of Albanian prostitution but in essence he attacks the forcible implementation of the entire industry. According to Wikipedia Albania is known for being a major player in human trafficking. Mike Harmon and his Mountain Tigers expose a sordid business and out guns, out fights and just is more ruthless than the bad guys. He takes them on in a no holds barred manner.

Meantime back in Georgia (not the USA Georgia), Mike is developing brewing to improve the living conditions of his Keldara. In some ways you have to wonder if John Ringo’s tactics in nation building (microcosm) and terrorist eradication aren’t far superior to what is actually occurring.

This is not a book for kids, the sex is rough and often explicit but it fits with the plot of the book.

I recommend this book.

Body of work of John Ringo

Web site:

Kildar by John Ringo

I feel better now, Ringo is back in form. I did not like the first book in this series, Ghost, a great deal. It spent too much time on erotica and not enough on Ringo’s forte which I feel is action adventure. This book takes Mike Harmon/Jenkins/Duncan to Gerogia, the one near Russia not the USA. He buys a farm and discovers he is now the Kildar (baron) complete with warriors and serfs.

Ringo’s books are always interesting. I found his search for historic precedents in his farm tenants very interesting. He spends some time warring with his internal dichotomy which causes him some but not a lot of angst. In this series, Ringo is dealing with reasonably current events. His primary enemies are still the Islamic extremists but he is more focused on Chechens in this book. He provides a realistic look at the difficulties the former Soviet provinces faced after independence. All in all, this book was far superior to Ghost.

I recommend this book.

Body of work of John Ringo

Web site: http://www.johnringo.org/

Ghost by John Ringo

I am a John Ringo fan. With that said, I was still disappointed in this book. It takes place in the near future/now. The scenario is a retired Seal who becomes a pseudo government gun for hire and how that Seal, Ghost, deals with terrorists.

Ringo’s military scifi is always action laden and this book was no different. What I found strange was his preoccupation with rough sex. I haven’t seen that in other Ringo protagonists and was not terribly thrilled with the detailed sex scenes. It felt  like the author was pandering to a different audience. Sex like violence in a book, if used in the appropriate context can add allure and excitement. At times it seemed like Ringo lost track of the story in the indulgence of Ghosts, peculiar affection for rough sex. It is interesting to note that he had Mike Harmon(Ghost) express regret for that part of his personal makeup and to refer to it as a flaw.

I am confused over this book, it claims to be authored by John Ringo and has the action flavor of a Ringo book but the overemphasis on aberrant sex detracted from the story line and could move the story from military scifi/action adventure to erotic fiction.

Body of work of John Ringo

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