This is long but full of action, likeable characters and interesting tech details.
Shattered Worlds
Koban, Volume 4
By: Stephen W Bennett
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
Length: 31 hrs and 26 mins
Release date: 04-16-15
Publisher: Stephen W Bennett
Genre: Aliens, Colonization, Military Space Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5
Publisher's Summary
The Kobani continue their offensives against the Krall, attacking production worlds and destroying or stealing ships from the Krall fleet, which the enemy needs to resupply their invasions. The Kobani create a multispecies settlement on Haven, a gentler habitable world near deadly Koban. They gain the trust and technological assistance of freed former Krall slave species, the Torki, Prada, and resurrected Raspani. Their ranks and Mind Tap learned skills are increased by spec ops recruits from Human Space.
Mirikami engineers an assault on the Krall base world, K1, in cooperation with a skeptical human navy by sharing new technology, revealing Kobani physical capabilities, and providing intelligence on new Krall invasion plans. Despite knowing the Kobani use illegal gene mods, the navy high command decides to hit the Krall first, with the help of their secretive, tough Kobani ally. After the attack a mauled Krall fleet still heavily outnumbers the navy, and the damaged human fleet withdraws.
A vengeful Krall warlord, the Kobani old nemesis Telour, summons an ancient Olt'kitapi ship that can shatter an entire planet. He has a devious plan for remote strikes that will initiate delayed deaths on multiple human worlds, all before a ship imbued with morality can learn it has been been duped. Telour wants the home world of humanity to see death approaching one world at a time.
Mirikami expected a strong Krall reaction but not this extreme. He scrambles to head off the inexorable destruction of multiple planets. Failing to save some worlds, he is the final hope for billions of people on others. The Kobani will need the strength and speed their genes provide plus luck to save humanity.
Book one: Koban; book two: Koban: The Mark of Koban; book three: Koban: Rise of the Kobani.
©2014 Stephen W Bennett (P)2015 Stephen W Bennett
Review:
This continues the story of the genetically enhanced humans who call themselves Kobani. The Kobani have made friends and allies with other species who have previously been terrorized or enslaved by the brutal alien race known as Kralls. The Torki, Prada, and Raspani are willing to share their superior technology and skills to help the Kobani fight the Krall.
Rather than wait for the Kralls to slowly annihilate the human race, the Kobani have taken the offensive trying to destroy Krall ships, weapons and supplies in an effort to slow them down. They have already teamed up with some Special Ops troops of the human race, but now the Kobani find that they must convince the human authorities and PU (Planetary Union) military to fight with them. That means revealing their new mind tap skills and other genetic enhancements to the humans, who had previously banned genetic modifications.
After attacking several of the Krall production planets, Mirakami, the leader of the Kobani, plans a raid on the Krall base world, K-1. He knows that a new Krall leader is being installed but Mirakami doesn’t realize it is his old nemesis, Telour. In response to the attack on K-1, Telour convinces the counsel to allow him to use one of the few remaining ancient Olt'kitapi ships to destroy several human planets, including Earth. The plan is tricky because the Olt'kitapi ships were designed to build new worlds, not destroy them.
Mirakami and his fleet must race to try to stop the ancient ship from shattering four human worlds. When he is unable to save the first world will the human president be prepared to focus blame on the genetically ‘criminal’ Kobanis?
I was concerned about the length of this book but it turned out it kept me engaged. There is plenty of action and strategic war maneuvering that made it interesting. There is also some snarky humor thrown in to break up the tense trauma and losses. There are some sections of physic discussions and weapon or ship discussions which could have moved faster but overall, I feel invested in the fate of the Kobani and want to continue the series. I recommend this to fans of alien encounter, space military but do suggest starting with book one in the series.
Audio Notes: Eric Michael Summerer does a great job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the males, females and a variety of alien species. He also provides good energy and even makes the scientifically technical sections move along well. I enjoy listening to this series.
Source: October 2020 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.
Koban, Volume 1 - My Rating 4.5
Koban: The Mark of Koban, Koban Volume 2 - My Rating 5.0
Koban: Rise of the Kobani, Koban Volume 3 - My Rating 4.5
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