Patriots in Arms

by Ben Weaver

Book Overview

Scott St. Andrew has managed to escaped the hellish mining colony that was his homeworld, joining the Corps and fighting to save the Seventeen Worlds. Aided by an alien technology that makes him the best of the best--and simultaneously destroys him--Scott has dedicated his life to saving the free worlds. Now one of the enigmatic Wardens--a covert group that may hold the key to the saving the government--Major St. Andrew is sent back to the harsh moon...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060006269
• ISBN13: 9780060006266
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Harper Voyager
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Astounding!

Major Scott St. Andrew has now served on both sides of the war. He and Halitov (his number one partner) have been genetically enhanced by a strange alien technology that has given them great abilities, but is slowly killing them. St. Andrew is one of the few to escape an Alliance surprise attack on the colonists' capital world. Fleeing the bloodbath, he returns to the harsh moon of Exeter where the entire mess began. There, he hopes salvation awaits. However, as in every war, there are traitors. The acts of one traitor will leave St. Andrew with no place to run, no one to trust, and with an inevitable choice: to save the woman he loves...or the worlds he is sworn to protect. ***** This is the last book in this spectacular trilogy. All strings are wrapped up, though not always neatly. Throughout the entire trilogy, author Ben Weaver has shown how war can take people on the brink of adulthood and twist them, inside and out, every possible way. As the reader, I could easily sympathize with the main character, Scott, as he made difficult choices and then had to live with the outcome. The main plot was flawless, the sub-plots breathtaking, and the action was non-stop. The author seemed to actually breath life into the two main heros, each with their own distinct personalities. I cannot recommend this trilogy high enough. Astounding! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Traitors past and present

Scott St Andrew has been promoted to Major and with his company has been sent to guard a scientific outpost of Columbia colony. What neither Scott or Halitov expected was to walk into a massacre caused by a traitor in the ranks of the Wardens.This story is told in flashback and is the story of two traitors in Scott's life, one in the past, the other in the present. It proves, if nothing else, that Scott has learnt from the horrors of his past.These books are still entertaining, and it is interesting to see the emotional growth of Scott has he finally makes some permanent connections to other people. We also see some of Scott's future and realise at last why it was so important for him to survive the war. There's also a possible solution to his ageing and faulty conditioning problem.However, having said all that, this does not conclude the colonial war story. We don't see the end of the war or how Scott slipped into politics at its end. This book could be read as the end of the story, but there's still plenty of scope and loose ends for another instalment of the story of Scott St Andrew. I understand the author had plans to write 3 more books in this series to complete it, whether the publishers will ever give us those books is a different story. Let's hope we do see them!

The Awards of Loyalty

Patriot in Arms is the third novel in the In Arms series, following Rebels In Arms. In the previous volume, some elements of the Seventeen System Guard Corps disguised as alliances forces attack Aire-Wu and then the alliances take advantage of the confusion to really invade the planet. After the alliances capture the reconditioning facility, Ms. Brooks blows the demo charges to deny it to the enemy. Again Scott St. Andrew has been frustrated in his attempt to be reconditioned. After escaping to Rexi-Calhoun, he is given command of a battalion in defense of Columbia Colony and he finds that his brother Jarrett has been assigned as one of his company commanders under an assumed name.In this novel, Columbia Colony is attacked by massive alliances forces who have used the proper codes to penetrate the space defense. Ordering an evacuation of the position, Scott tries to hold back the tide of alliances troop, but is overwhelmed by the attack. He barely manages to escape with the assistance of Halitov and Elise Rainey, a reporter who had remained behind to cover the fighting retreat, only to find herself in a rout.Obviously there is a traitor among the Colonial Wardens. Worst yet, the techs discover that some conditioned troops can withhold information from a cerebo scan. The traitor could be any conditioned trooper with the pertinent knowledge.Scott and Halitov are reassigned as "combat consultants" to Colonel Beauregard until such time as they can be reconditioned. However, the war interrupts those plans and they are shipped off to Exeter, where they are captured by the alliances, but their ATC is hijacked by a conditioned former cadet and diverted to Illica. There they are promptly attacked by alliances forces.This volume is the conclusion of the current story arc. It ends a tale of the fast-moving, topsy-turvy life of a professional soldier who puts loyalty above personal desires. After many mistakes, unfortunate events and changes in allegiance, he still remains loyal to the people of the seventeen systems. However, he loses much of his naivety and gains more than a touch of cynicism along the way.This novel is told as flashbacks by the Colonel Alliance Security Chief more than two decades after the recollected events. Once again war looms over the Colonial Alliance and Scott St. Andrew wants to keep such horror from happening again. As he prepares to fight for reconciliation, Scott remembers his past experiences as a warrior.Be aware that this story has a strong explicit component of destiny within the plot. Meetings and happenings occur with seeming randomness, but they move Scott further along toward his destined role. While the frustration of his attempts to be reconditioned become a sort of running joke, such denial is vital to the conclusion of the story. Recommended for Weaver fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of war, warriors, and political intrigue.

A great novel and an amazing ride

Patriots in Arms is the third book in a series by Mr. Weaver. The story follows Scott St. Andrew through his military career. Mr. Weaver tells an interesting story about a colonial rebellion. With a couple of background stories one of the major side stories is about the intergration of a discrimated class through their roles in the military and the effect of an extraordinary event(an alien device)Each of the novels builds on the previous story leading ultimately to an expected but highly satisfying ending. The only disappointment is Mr. Weaver's use of an artifial device to bring about the acceptance of his main charector. Though, this device is lessened because the it appears that it is more the leadership, character and humanity of St. Andrew that helps him bring about the intergration, and less the extraordinary device.But still I found Mr. Weaver's writing to be exciting and attention keeping, and I look forward to his next adventure.

Great book, Great series

What can I say but this is a kicking book. I have read the other two books in teh St. Andrew series, but when I picked up this book I couldn't put it down all day. I read the entire book in one day. The series keeps you on the edge of your seat as you read each action packed page. I only hope that these books will be made into a series of movies someday.