Space Dreadnoughts

by David Drake, Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh

Book Overview

Massive and arrogant, they patrol the final war zone - deep space. All great battleships before them - the celebrated fleet of the Spanish Armada, the mighty gunboats of the British Navy - are mere... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044177735X
• ISBN13: 9780441777358
• Release Date: July 1990
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

False advertising

I claim fowl. The description of the book talks about space battleships and mighty war ships. None of the stories really deal with that. The stories are good and I enjoyed them but they are not about Space Dreadnoughts.!! Shame on David Drake and Chrles Waugh for describing the book "A stunning collection of the ultimate war machines" I call BS on this description.

Space Dreadnoughts

Space Dreadnoughts is a Military Science Fiction anthology by David Drake, Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh. The contents in order of appearance are: "The Only Thing We Learn" by Cyril M. Kornbluth "C-Chute" by Isaac Asimov "Allamagoosa" by Eric Frank Russell "A Question of Courage" by J. F. Bone "Superiority" by Arthur C. Clarke "Hindsight" by Jack Williamson "The Last Battalion" by David Drake "Shadow on the Stars" by Algis Budrys "Time Lag" by Poul Anderson The stories aren't really about Dreadnoughts. Some aren't even set on warships. Like all good Science Fiction, the stories are really about people. These people are in warlike settings that tell the reader about them, their character, their environments or even the real world. All of these stories are well worth reading. "The Only Thing We Learn" The Hegel quote for a title tells it all. The story is amusingly told, though the consequences of the truth of the matter are dire for those about to be conquered. "C-Chute" A bit over written for my tastes, but that is how it was done back in 1951. This is a psychodrama set on a captured war prize with an Asimovian twist. Anyone unfamiliar with Dr. Asimov's work might's well start with this one. "Allamagoosa" Hah! You can't have space dreadnoughts without space navy bureaucracy. A farcical, Hugo Award winning look thereat. "A Question of Courage" A generally well-written and enjoyable story about real courage. The fleet action at the end provides the setting for the author to make his point. "Superiority" Sir Arthur teaches us that technological advancement cannot substitute for common sense. The Wikipedia article says this story was required reading at West Point. The wonder weapons presented only seem wonderful. "Hindsight" Nebula and the Hugo Award winning Jack Williamson spins a tale of love lost but dignity found amidst meeting engagements and temporal mechanics. "The Last Battalion" An interesting tale about Waffen SS, a flying saucer, a US senator, and aliens. Surprised this was not developed into something longer. It has the makings for a novel or three. "Shadow on the Stars" A fine story about strategy and tactics in the political as well as naval arenas. The motif by which Budrys frames the story is a tad lame, but I tend to be overly picky about such the things. The skill of the machinations in this tight little story make up for any defects in framing. "Time Lag" A story of contrasts involving the time dilation effect. Anderson's heroine is believable and sympathetic. His villain a lovestruck boor. His imagery, as always, paints a picture of two very different worlds and cultures.