The Science Fiction Canon Needed this
Book!
“Three Against the Stars” is a
rollicking space novel that follows the adventures of three marines
who refer to themselves as “The Three Musketeers.” A plot
against Earth is the main driving narrative force, but the true fun
of this novel comes from the well-conceived alien life and the
overall lighthearted tone of the book. Don’t be confused however,
this is a gritty, military/space novel. But somehow Joe Bonadonna,
much like Alexandre Dumas, manages to place the focus on the joyous
“esprit de corps” rather than on the horrors of war. For a
quick, enjoyable read look no further.
One of the things I really enjoyed
about this book was the development of the alien races. The two main
alien species that are players in this story are generally humanoid,
but are in one case of reptilian and in one case of feline descent.
The feline characters are especially good since they are more or less
human beings with fur and faces like lions, tigers, etc. As I was
reading, it occurred to me that it was strange that I hadn’t seen
more characters like these in other works. The only thing that
really came to mind was “ThunderCats” and perhaps a couple
throwaway James T. Kirk conquests on “Star Trek.” A feline
looking alien race is a great, highly-visual narrative device that
inherently suggests all sorts of plot possibilities. I hope that
Bonadonna continues to explore these ideas and this universe.
The felines are in the midst of waging
interstellar battle, and there is a nice scene early in the book at a
slave colony that shows their evil nature. However, there is also a
feline character who hangs out with the aforementioned “Three
Musketeers.” This character, Makki, is probably the most
sympathetic character in the novel. He aspires to be accepted into
the Marine corps, but his alien status is an obstacle to that goal.
Makki does not harbor any resentment towards his unfair exclusion,
and his actions in the final battle are the most heroic of any in the
novel.
It’s been too long since I’ve read
a good science fiction romp which is gritty but doesn’t take itself
too seriously. You’ll enjoy Bonadonna’s efficient writing style.
Characters can get killed off in a heartbeat, sometimes in
mid-sentence, and Bonadonna is clever enough not to tip his hand that
such actions are imminent. This technique keeps you on guard as a
reader, and increases the overall intensity level of the book. The
action is plentiful and professionally handled. “Three Against the
Stars” is golden age Science-Fiction in every sense of the word!
Skillful view of Bonadonna, a writer who respects the tradition yet has fun with the form. Red Joe Bonadonna, an undiscovered treasure for many, and remember when space adventure took you exactly where you wanted to go... and can, again.
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