Vorpal Blade

Vorpal Blade; John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor (Baen Books, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4165-2129-7, cover by Kurt Miller).

Jabberwocky

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Vorpal Blade is a follow-up to Into the Looking Glass (reviewed here, follow the links for humorous excerpts). Some of the previous characters return, and we're introduced to many new characters, most of which are "Tuckerized" from science fiction fans, especially fans of Baen Books.

Did I enjoy it? Sure! What's not to like? Flying submarines! Flying hamsters (on flying surf boards and space dragons). Giant monsters. Space drives. Quantum physics!

Seriously, this is a good old-fashioned space opera. I happen to like space opera. You may not. I enjoyed this book so much that I read it twice this year, first as the eARC, second in hardcover (and I bought it a third time, as an eBook). Ringo and Taylor interject a lot of good military details, a plot that rocks and rolls, and even make quantum physics...fun.

The third book in the series, Manxome Foe will be out early next year. Then...The Claws That Catch. After that? More, I hope.