28 replies to this topic

[Ebenstone]

I was lucky enough to win an ARC for Control Point by Myke Cole about six weeks ago and let me just say I'm going to join in the buzz over this book. I'm about half done and let me say it's one of the best books I've read in the last six months. I get completely lost in the book for long stretches of time and have to put it aside because I have stuff to do.

I don't like writing reviews for books, but this ones a good one. Real good.

It helps that Myke is a great dude and he's written a great book. I'm already highly recommending this book at half way done...it's that good.

Anyone else, get a peek at this? If you like military/war books, you're going to love this one.

[kcf]

I liked this one very much. It's getting a huge amount of buzz, and I think it's deserved. An excerpt from my review is below:

Quote

Control Point is many things at once – a thoughtful exploration of the conscious of a military officer, the military bureaucracy it depends on, while being a wildly fun, exciting and creative military fantasy. It’s a reflection of the times we live in and the ever-present threat of terrorism and the military’s response to it. Control Point is a reaction from a veteran of the US’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan just like Joe Haldeman's The Forever War is a reaction from a Vietnam veteran. It’s a nearly perfect book for a generation of gamers, yet it’s just as accessible to the non-gamers among us (like me). And it manages to do all of these things in thoughtful, balanced way that is an extreme adrenaline ride and one hell of a good read.

Control Point strikes an impressive balance between the tortured introspection of a very conflicted individual versus magical military fantasy in a wild setting with non-stop action. The reader is taken through a myriad of scenes from military raids, to fugitives on the run, hard-ass boot camp Sergeants beating the crap out of new recruits, thoughtful sacrifice and all-out battle chaos. It’s precisely this balance that allows for Control Point to have a little something for everyone – it’s both deep and action-packed, it’s both a conflicted military drama and a journey full of magical adventure, it’s a commentary on our own current government and an unhappy future, and it’s all about one soldier’s conflict with doing what he thinks is right.

The balance act continues as Cole shows a government that is both good and evil. He shows soldiers that do good and bad. There are no easy answers and Cole doesn’t try and provide any. Does Oscar ultimately make the right decision? I don’t know, but I am very much looking forward to reading more in the forethcoming sequel, Fortress Frontier, scheduled for early 2013.
Full Review

Edited by kcf, 15 February 2012 - 11:17 AM.

[aidan]

Hmm. I need to read this.

[Rob B]

aidan, on 14 February 2012 - 05:39 PM, said:

Hmm. I need to read this.

Yes.  Yes you do.  I know it is VERY early in the year, but I think debut of the year is going to between Myke Cole's novel and Saladin Ahmed's novel.

[aidan]

Rob B, on 14 February 2012 - 09:29 PM, said:

Yes.  Yes you do.  I know it is VERY early in the year, but I think debut of the year is going to between Myke Cole's novel and Saladin Ahmed's novel.

To be honest, looking at the cover and reading the synopsis, I don't really have any interest in the novel, but too many people I trust are raving about it. I'll have to dig out my copy.

[kcf]

aidan, on 14 February 2012 - 11:36 PM, said:

To be honest, looking at the cover and reading the synopsis, I don't really have any interest in the novel, but too many people I trust are raving about it. I'll have to dig out my copy.

There's way more to it than meets the cover and synopsis. It's really very good.

[jdiddyesquire]

kcf, on 15 February 2012 - 11:17 AM, said:

There's way more to it than meets the cover and synopsis. It's really very good.

Ya, this.  I was surprised at the depth.

[Ebenstone]

I'm attempting the always difficult Summon Author spell to get Myke involved in our discussion.

Here's hoping.

[kcf]

Ebenstone, on 15 February 2012 - 05:12 PM, said:

I'm attempting the always difficult Summon Author spell to get Myke involved in our discussion.

Here's hoping.

I've seen him actively posting over on SFFWorld, so it's certainlly possible. Maybe you edit the title of the post so that it has his name and the series name in it - that way it'll be more likely to show up in his searching.

[MykeCole]

Hey all. Glad to see you enjoyed the book. Happy to chat and answer questions, but it's really hard for me to keep track of forums. Please feel free to email me at myke (at) mykecole (dot) com. Also, if you want me to sign your books, I have adhesive backed bookplates I can sign and send you. You can stick them in your paperbacks or to an eReader. Just give me your email address and I'll send it to you.

I'll be at Boskone this weekend, and at Lunacon (on Saturday) in March if folks want to come out and meet up.

If you guys could do me a favor, please put pressure on jdiddy to record his Dr. Claw impression, covert it to .mp3 and post it online. Thanks.

[Ebenstone]

BA-ZINGA....I am a 12th level wizzzzzzard!!!!!

Someday, I will summon myself to your little webposting board thingy!!!!

Anyway, love this book and the writer's a good dude!

[pat5150]

I should give this book a shot pretty soon. . .

Patrick

[Mark Lawrence]

Ebenstone, on 15 February 2012 - 09:50 PM, said:

and the writer's a good dude!

True dat. The book is a lot of fun.

Try it!

[kcf]

Hi Myke, I know you said you're not sure you can check in around here often, but I do have a question.

How is your reaction to this review: http://www.fantasyli.../control-point/ . The reviewer is in the National Guard and has served in Iraq. While liking much of the book, he had an intense dilike for Oscar as soldier and he didn't find it a very realistic portrayal. How have the reactions been from other vets and military people?

[Emo Jon Snow]

Just finished the book over the weekend.  I will admit the only reason I read it was because Peter Brett suggested it on his blog.  I am glad i did though, the series as a whole has a ton of potential.  The writing was good, and the action and pacing were great.  On the whole I really enjoyed the book, if I had one gripe its character development, but that is something I am hoping will be expanded upon in the 2nd book.

[Ser Plissken]

It's a shame that the only place I can get a kindle version of this book is Pirate Bay.

[Emo Jon Snow]

Ser Plissken, on 06 March 2012 - 10:03 AM, said:

It's a shame that the only place I can get a kindle version of this book is Pirate Bay.

Nook's got it.

[kcf]

I'm in a bragging sort of mood - I have an early copy of the sequel, Fortress Frontier. A few others out there do too and I know of at least one blogger/reviewer who has finished the book. I'm really looking forward to reading it soon, but I feel I have a bit of time with the official release date not coming until January.

The synopsis I have is below - it sounds like there may be a shift in the primary point of view.

Quote

The Great Reawakening did not come quietly. Across the country and in every nation, people began to develop terrifying powers—summoning storms, raising the dead, and setting everything they touch ablaze. Overnight the rules changed…but not for everyone.

Colonel Alan Bookbinder is an army bureaucrat whose worst war wound is a paper-cut. But after he develops magical powers, he is torn from everything he knows and thrown onto the front-lines.

Drafted into the Supernatural Operations Corps in a new and dangerous world, Bookbinder finds himself in command of Forward Operating Base Frontier—cut off, surrounded by monsters, and on the brink of being overrun.

Now, he must find the will to lead the people of FOB Frontier out of hell, even if the one hope of salvation lies in teaming up with the man whose own magical powers put the base in such grave danger in the first place—Oscar Britton, public enemy number one…

[frodostark]

kcf, on 23 October 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

I'm in a bragging sort of mood - I have an early copy of the sequel, Fortress Frontier. A few others out there do too and I know of at least one blogger/reviewer who has finished the book. I'm really looking forward to reading it soon, but I feel I have a bit of time with the official release date not coming until January.

The synopsis I have is below - it sounds like there may be a shift in the primary point of view.

Curse you!!!  This is one I'm buying as soon as available.  I really enjoyed Control Point and am anxious to see what Myke does next.  It's a really great concept, with a TON of potential for almost anything to happen...my jaw hit the floor numerous times during Control Point.

Myke's been pretty open that each book has a different main POV, IIRC.

[kcf]

sequel is out. It's great. Everyone's reviewed it, so I went in a different direction.