Berserker Prime by Fred Saberhagen
pub: TOR. 396 page hardback. Price: $25.95 (US), $35.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-765-30625-5

check out website: www.tor.com and www.berserker.com

I recently read one of the 'Berserker' series of books and enjoyed it, which is why I have picked this one to read and review. There seem to be about 8 others in the series, but although this book was only published this year it seems to tell the story of the first Berserker attack on humanity.

I enjoyed this book and am quite certain you could read and fully enjoy it without having read any of the other books in the series. This is the story of a system, the Twin Worlds, gearing up for war and preparing for an attack from another human colony, the Hueva. It is generations since there has been a war and everyone's knowledge is theoretical.

The Twin World's system have spread out a screen of scoutships and detection equipment and behind it their stellar battlefleet awaits the imminent arrival of the fleet from Hueva. On the ground, other weapons are being tested. On one of the systems two inhabited planets a group of Hueva hostages await execution if and when their side attacks. Into the system suddenly arrives a vast ship.

It heads towards one of the planets, refuses all communication and when approached destroys anything coming near it. Its vast power only becomes apparent when it attacks one of the twin worlds and sterilises it destroying all semblance of life their apparently immune to everything the Twin World military can throw at it. Is this the expected Hueva assault or something completely alien?

It is as the remnants of Twin World forces are defending their other planet that the expected invasion force from Hueva arrive. Whose side will they take? I will not destroy your pleasure at reading the story by giving away all the plot. Suffice it to say that if you like military SF you will enjoy this book. I did and certainly intend to read the other books in this 'Berserker' series.

There is lots of action and a satisfactory ending leaving scope for future events. Incidentally, Fred Saberhagen is a prolific writer with many other books to his credit. I imagine they are also worth looking at.

Paul Hanley

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