Review of "Cry Havoc" by Jack Hanson - Reviewed by TTG

My original intention was to read “Cry Havoc” over the course of a week as a relaxing bit of evening reading before drifting off to the land of
Nod. Instead, I finished it in two sittings. I found it that exciting
and engaging… and definitely not conducive to sleep. As you read this novel, you will find elements of such science fiction classics as “Dune”
and “Starship Troopers.” But make no mistake, this is an original and
uniquely imaginative world set largely at the Ganymede Military Academy
in the year 2410.

A universe slowly unfolds inhabited by an intriguing array of beings, a
bioengineered galactic bestiary including intelligent and heavily armed
dinosaurs. And just like in our world, all these beings display a wide
array of motivations, allegiances and dark secrets. As expected in a
piece of military science fiction, we see futuristic military
technology, but we also see edged weapons and grappling hand to hand
combat. We also see chemically induced manifestations involving seeing
and feeling colors, mind blowing psychic abilities and frightening
fighting skills.

We follow the transformation of four teenagers, Jane, Sand, Salem, and
Paris, as they embark on the journey from youthful innocence through
their last year of academy training to become battle tested competent
warriors. The key to their transformation is Master Assault Sergeant
Alexander Black, a veteran mentor with many secrets of his own.

Many books about soldiers and soldiering are riddled with incongruities
that are painfully obvious to us veterans. This is not so with “Cry
Havoc.” The subtleties of martial life and soldiery interactions ring
true. The author lets us see the formation of bonds between young
soldiers and that special relationship between those young soldiers and
the seasoned mentors that mold youth into soldiers. Even the mundanities
and eccentricities of military life are handled well. The veterans among
us will recognize this with a soft “ah,yes” and a smile. Most of us have
known an Alexander Black. A few have been such a man. Those who have
never experienced military life will gain a valuable insight into that
world.

This is the first of what I hope will be a long series of novels about
these characters and their universe. There is a lot more to learn about
these soldiers, both the newbies and old veterans, and the worlds they
live in.  The Twisted Genius