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Lost Regiment #1
Rally Cry
A Union regiment marches aboard a transport ship only to be buffeted through space and time and shipwrecked in an alien land, where these Civil War soldiers introduce unheard-of ideas of freedom, equality, and democracy
412 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1990
167 people are currently reading
2350 people want to read
About the author
William R. Forstchen
117 books1,703 followersWilliam R. Forstchen (born 1950) is an American author who began publishing in 1983 with the novel Ice Prophet. He is a Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina. He received his doctorate from Purdue University with specializations in Military History, the American Civil War and the History of Technology.
Forstchen is the author of more than forty books, including the award winning We Look Like Men of War, a young adult novel about an African-American regiment that fought at the Battle of the Crater, which is based upon his doctoral dissertation, The 28th USCTs: Indiana’s African-Americans go to War, 1863-1865 and the "Lost Regiment" series which has been optioned by both Tom Cruise and M. Night Shyamalan.
Forstchen’s writing efforts have, in recent years, shifted towards historical fiction and non fiction. In 2002 he started the “Gettysburg” trilogy with Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; the trilogy consists of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War, Grant Comes East, and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant - The Final Victory. More recently, they have have published two works on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor and immediately after that attack Pearl Harbor, and Days of Infamy.
In March 2009, Forstchen’s latest work, One Second After, (Forge/St. Martin’s books) was released. Based upon several years of intensive research and interviews, it examines what might happen in a “typical” American town in the wake of an attack on the United States with “electro-magnetic pulse” (EMP) weapons. Similar in plotting to books such as On the Beach and Alas Babylon, One Second After, is set in a small college town in western North Carolina and is a cautionary tale of the collapse of social order in the wake of an EMP strike. The book has been optioned by Warner Bros. and currently is in development as a feature film. The book was cited on the floor of Congress and before the House Armed Services Committee by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R.-MD), chair of the House Committee tasked to evaluate EMP weapons, as a realistical portrayal of the potential damage rendered by an EMP attack on the continental United States.
Forstchen resides near Asheville, North Carolina with his daughter Meghan. His other interests include archaeology, and he has participated in several expeditions to Mongolia and Russia. He is a pilot and co owns an original 1943 Aeronca L-3B recon plane used in World War II.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...
Forstchen is the author of more than forty books, including the award winning We Look Like Men of War, a young adult novel about an African-American regiment that fought at the Battle of the Crater, which is based upon his doctoral dissertation, The 28th USCTs: Indiana’s African-Americans go to War, 1863-1865 and the "Lost Regiment" series which has been optioned by both Tom Cruise and M. Night Shyamalan.
Forstchen’s writing efforts have, in recent years, shifted towards historical fiction and non fiction. In 2002 he started the “Gettysburg” trilogy with Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; the trilogy consists of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War, Grant Comes East, and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant - The Final Victory. More recently, they have have published two works on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor and immediately after that attack Pearl Harbor, and Days of Infamy.
In March 2009, Forstchen’s latest work, One Second After, (Forge/St. Martin’s books) was released. Based upon several years of intensive research and interviews, it examines what might happen in a “typical” American town in the wake of an attack on the United States with “electro-magnetic pulse” (EMP) weapons. Similar in plotting to books such as On the Beach and Alas Babylon, One Second After, is set in a small college town in western North Carolina and is a cautionary tale of the collapse of social order in the wake of an EMP strike. The book has been optioned by Warner Bros. and currently is in development as a feature film. The book was cited on the floor of Congress and before the House Armed Services Committee by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R.-MD), chair of the House Committee tasked to evaluate EMP weapons, as a realistical portrayal of the potential damage rendered by an EMP attack on the continental United States.
Forstchen resides near Asheville, North Carolina with his daughter Meghan. His other interests include archaeology, and he has participated in several expeditions to Mongolia and Russia. He is a pilot and co owns an original 1943 Aeronca L-3B recon plane used in World War II.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 17, 2020
I read Rally Cry because my son Owain insisted. He's a history major and sf lover, so you can see his affection for this book.
Forstchen's novel is a kind of alternate history with stronger science fiction elements than normal. A regiment from the American army in the Civil War suddenly finds itself on an alien world and has to fight for its survival. This is actually a fairly popular subgenre within sf these days, with military units hurled into different worlds and our own's past.
The alien world is one largely populated by humans who all seem to have been shipped there over millennia and from different Early nations. Our regiment lands next to a medieval Russian city. We learn about Carthaginians nearby and there are hints of other travelers (I think 17th-century French at one point). But the planet is dominated by fierce, monstrous aliens, nomads who ride around the world, taking turns to feast on the flesh of their subjects. Very bad guys.
The book's plot concerns the US regiment's learning this world, grappling with cultural differences as they connect with the lost Rus, then battling the terrible aliens.
Our characters center on the regiment's leader, Andrew Keane, giving us a strategic perspective as he navigates a bizarre situation. We also see the alien leadership and a host of Rus.
So, on the plus side Rally Cry is an epic adventure. Hard-pressed good guys, colorful medieval folk, and awful baddies struggle through ever-escalating battles, climaxing with a splendid and very destructive final campaign. There's also the time travel/alt.history pleasure of seeing people from the 1860s build a proto-industrial society from a medieval setting. I also appreciated the love of Maine showed by the author. And there is a distinctly military historical/gamer fascination with seeing forces from different time periods collide.
On the down side... if you don't like military fiction, this will appall you. You might find the sheer evilness of the Tugars too cartoonish (although I say the same thing about Sauron in Lord of the Rings). It's also a thoroughly male story. We only see a few women, and they are only in roles that 2020 would find stereotypical, if very plausible for the novel's setting: wife, mother, nurse. I also tend to be skeptical of fictional characters learning foreign languages, which happens very quickly here. Said characters are not too deep, and we are more told about their mental states than shown.
Yet I was also struck - favorably - by the radically democratic message of the book. Yes, it's mostly about organizing steel mills and exquisite detail of battlefield tactics, but at the same time it's also concerned with infecting pre-modern societies with the kind of republicanism Lincoln grew into by his truncated second term. Without getting too much into spoiler territory, the regiment represents a mental virus and political revolution to the alien world. It's not a Marxist revolution, but still a shocking and inspiring intrusion from modernity.
Thanks to Owain for this ride. On to #2!
Forstchen's novel is a kind of alternate history with stronger science fiction elements than normal. A regiment from the American army in the Civil War suddenly finds itself on an alien world and has to fight for its survival. This is actually a fairly popular subgenre within sf these days, with military units hurled into different worlds and our own's past.
The alien world is one largely populated by humans who all seem to have been shipped there over millennia and from different Early nations. Our regiment lands next to a medieval Russian city. We learn about Carthaginians nearby and there are hints of other travelers (I think 17th-century French at one point). But the planet is dominated by fierce, monstrous aliens, nomads who ride around the world, taking turns to feast on the flesh of their subjects. Very bad guys.
The book's plot concerns the US regiment's learning this world, grappling with cultural differences as they connect with the lost Rus, then battling the terrible aliens.
Our characters center on the regiment's leader, Andrew Keane, giving us a strategic perspective as he navigates a bizarre situation. We also see the alien leadership and a host of Rus.
So, on the plus side Rally Cry is an epic adventure. Hard-pressed good guys, colorful medieval folk, and awful baddies struggle through ever-escalating battles, climaxing with a splendid and very destructive final campaign. There's also the time travel/alt.history pleasure of seeing people from the 1860s build a proto-industrial society from a medieval setting. I also appreciated the love of Maine showed by the author. And there is a distinctly military historical/gamer fascination with seeing forces from different time periods collide.
On the down side... if you don't like military fiction, this will appall you. You might find the sheer evilness of the Tugars too cartoonish (although I say the same thing about Sauron in Lord of the Rings). It's also a thoroughly male story. We only see a few women, and they are only in roles that 2020 would find stereotypical, if very plausible for the novel's setting: wife, mother, nurse. I also tend to be skeptical of fictional characters learning foreign languages, which happens very quickly here. Said characters are not too deep, and we are more told about their mental states than shown.
Yet I was also struck - favorably - by the radically democratic message of the book. Yes, it's mostly about organizing steel mills and exquisite detail of battlefield tactics, but at the same time it's also concerned with infecting pre-modern societies with the kind of republicanism Lincoln grew into by his truncated second term. Without getting too much into spoiler territory, the regiment represents a mental virus and political revolution to the alien world. It's not a Marxist revolution, but still a shocking and inspiring intrusion from modernity.
Thanks to Owain for this ride. On to #2!
December 27, 2017
This book "for me" only barely makes the 3 stars for me, but I think that's where it falls.
This is not a new idea (though to be fair this is an older example of the idea). It's one of my favorite "hooks" for a military fantasy or science fiction read. A group of soldiers gets shifted in time and or space. In this case a troop of Union Soldiers (35th Maine Volunteer Infantry and 44th New York Light Artillery) into an different world and/or universe. There they sort of stumble into a long (and somewhat futile) war with people from that place.
We find that there's seems to be people there who "fell through" before. We find a race/species ruling the world that sort of put me in mind of carnivorous Mongolian Horde.
I suppose it depends on what you're looking or hoping for here. There is a fair story with lots of action. We have a love story tied into the plot and we end in a cliffhanger "of sorts" setting up the series.
Don't get me wrong here the story in/of this book ties up and gives a satisfying conclusion. However we are left with the "This isn't over" from the antagonist.
I can't say I ever got involved in the story, I was a bit relieved when I finish the book. That's not good. I'm a fan of military fiction, military science fiction, military fantasy etc. I'd been meaning to get to this one for years...but doubt I'll go on with the series.
Maybe try it yourself, see what you think. Can't really give it a recommendation.
This is not a new idea (though to be fair this is an older example of the idea). It's one of my favorite "hooks" for a military fantasy or science fiction read. A group of soldiers gets shifted in time and or space. In this case a troop of Union Soldiers (35th Maine Volunteer Infantry and 44th New York Light Artillery) into an different world and/or universe. There they sort of stumble into a long (and somewhat futile) war with people from that place.
We find that there's seems to be people there who "fell through" before. We find a race/species ruling the world that sort of put me in mind of carnivorous Mongolian Horde.
I suppose it depends on what you're looking or hoping for here. There is a fair story with lots of action. We have a love story tied into the plot and we end in a cliffhanger "of sorts" setting up the series.
Don't get me wrong here the story in/of this book ties up and gives a satisfying conclusion. However we are left with the "This isn't over" from the antagonist.
I can't say I ever got involved in the story, I was a bit relieved when I finish the book. That's not good. I'm a fan of military fiction, military science fiction, military fantasy etc. I'd been meaning to get to this one for years...but doubt I'll go on with the series.
Maybe try it yourself, see what you think. Can't really give it a recommendation.
September 12, 2025
The Union Army fights the hordes of Genghis Khan -- in space!!!!
What makes this work of alternative history so terrific is that it presents the opposite perspective from Harry Turtledove's GUNS OF THE SOUTH. Instead of using time travel to palliate or gloss over the darker side of the Confederacy, this book uses the same science fiction techniques to radically dramatize the nature of democracy and the truly revolutionary ideals of the Union army.
Forstchen begins the story with a premise based on the Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle. Late in the Civil War, with northern victory almost assured, a steamship full of Union soldiers and supplies is caught in a terrible hurricane off the Carolina coast. Instead of sinking to the bottom, however, the Ogunquit passes through a wall of water and a corridor of light to reappear in a strange new world.
On this far-off planet, the native beings are humanoids that are over eight feet tall. They ride on horseback and keep humans of all nationalities and races as slaves, sucking them in at regular intervals through the inter-dimensional portal. The brutal, barbarous alien hordes not only enslave humans, they eat them as well!
Can Colonel Keene and his Maine regiment liberate the medieval Russian serfs who have grown resigned to their role as human "cattle?" The drama is more than one of military preparation and epic battle scenes. Throughout the book, Keene and his officers have to explain both the theory and the practice of democracy. The full meaning and implication of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence are fully explored.
This is a great novel because it goes beyond science fiction to explore the weapons, tactics, and strategies of Civil War soldiers in meticulous detail. It also describes the nature of the American political process itself, contrasting it with the growth of serfdom in Russia.
I would recommend RALLY CRY to all science fiction fans and all students of American history and military science.
What makes this work of alternative history so terrific is that it presents the opposite perspective from Harry Turtledove's GUNS OF THE SOUTH. Instead of using time travel to palliate or gloss over the darker side of the Confederacy, this book uses the same science fiction techniques to radically dramatize the nature of democracy and the truly revolutionary ideals of the Union army.
Forstchen begins the story with a premise based on the Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle. Late in the Civil War, with northern victory almost assured, a steamship full of Union soldiers and supplies is caught in a terrible hurricane off the Carolina coast. Instead of sinking to the bottom, however, the Ogunquit passes through a wall of water and a corridor of light to reappear in a strange new world.
On this far-off planet, the native beings are humanoids that are over eight feet tall. They ride on horseback and keep humans of all nationalities and races as slaves, sucking them in at regular intervals through the inter-dimensional portal. The brutal, barbarous alien hordes not only enslave humans, they eat them as well!
Can Colonel Keene and his Maine regiment liberate the medieval Russian serfs who have grown resigned to their role as human "cattle?" The drama is more than one of military preparation and epic battle scenes. Throughout the book, Keene and his officers have to explain both the theory and the practice of democracy. The full meaning and implication of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence are fully explored.
This is a great novel because it goes beyond science fiction to explore the weapons, tactics, and strategies of Civil War soldiers in meticulous detail. It also describes the nature of the American political process itself, contrasting it with the growth of serfdom in Russia.
I would recommend RALLY CRY to all science fiction fans and all students of American history and military science.
October 2, 2014
Sheer indulgence for military history and fantasy geeks. Civil War era soldiers find themselves transported to another world where they square off against a Mongol-esque horde of giant man-eating apes. Need I say more?
December 18, 2011
Rally Cry probably falls into the category of guilty pleasure, for me at least. For quite a way into the book, I found Forstchen's writing style quite annoying; if I'd been reading it instead of listening to it I think it would have been even worse!
The most glaring problem with Forstchen's style is an excessive use of dialogue tags. Characters never just "said" anything, and tags are used even in 2 way conversations when it is obvious who is speaking and how they would be saying it. The tag "said evenly" must have been used a 100 times. Other dialogue is "interjected", "exclaimed", "replied", "said triumphantly", "said calmly", et cetera. Forstchen must have had an adverb shaker that he sprinkled over every page.
The second issue that adds extra words is down to personal taste. Forstchen often wanders off into quite lengthy descriptions of how something is constructed or how it works, which might bore some readers. Although I found it a bit over the top sometimes, I must have got used to it as it bothered me less as the book went on.
Why, despite these criticisms have I given the book a 4 star rating? Rally Cry is a perfect choice for an audio book, and I actually enjoyed my drive to work while I listened to the story unfold. The main characters come alive as the excellent narrator gives them different voices and personalities. I was carried along with Keane and his men, the combination of Forstchen's vision and the skilful narration drawing me in and making me anxious for the "Yankees" fate.
In the end, I was able to forgive Forstchen his indulgences because I found his novel so captivating and enjoyable. The excitement built perfectly as the story approached its climax and I waited for news of each character's struggle. I'm pretty sure that Rally Cry works better as an audio book than it would if I had read it, but whether that's the case or not, it earns 4 stars from me.
The most glaring problem with Forstchen's style is an excessive use of dialogue tags. Characters never just "said" anything, and tags are used even in 2 way conversations when it is obvious who is speaking and how they would be saying it. The tag "said evenly" must have been used a 100 times. Other dialogue is "interjected", "exclaimed", "replied", "said triumphantly", "said calmly", et cetera. Forstchen must have had an adverb shaker that he sprinkled over every page.
The second issue that adds extra words is down to personal taste. Forstchen often wanders off into quite lengthy descriptions of how something is constructed or how it works, which might bore some readers. Although I found it a bit over the top sometimes, I must have got used to it as it bothered me less as the book went on.
Why, despite these criticisms have I given the book a 4 star rating? Rally Cry is a perfect choice for an audio book, and I actually enjoyed my drive to work while I listened to the story unfold. The main characters come alive as the excellent narrator gives them different voices and personalities. I was carried along with Keane and his men, the combination of Forstchen's vision and the skilful narration drawing me in and making me anxious for the "Yankees" fate.
In the end, I was able to forgive Forstchen his indulgences because I found his novel so captivating and enjoyable. The excitement built perfectly as the story approached its climax and I waited for news of each character's struggle. I'm pretty sure that Rally Cry works better as an audio book than it would if I had read it, but whether that's the case or not, it earns 4 stars from me.
May 30, 2009
Rally Cry (Lost Regiment # 1) by William R. Forstchen is the first in a series of eight novels, plus a ninth novel, Down to the Sea, which might be the beginning of a new series. The basic premise of the series is that Union Colonel Andrew Keane and the regiment under his command were suddenly transported to another world via an alien technology -- a world where humans were not at the top of the food chain.
On that alien world, their rifles were far advanced over swords, spears, and crossbows, including those of the dominant life-form, 9-foot tall aliens who considered humans so many cattle to feed on and torture to death to thereby acquire omens their shamans could interpret so that they could advise their fellows on future trends. And the people of the human settlements and civilization on that world, begun by people who, like Keane and his men, were swept up by alien technology and whisked away to join others who had likewise been taken from Earth, were almost all cowed by the Hordes who harvested them, unwilling to defend themselves and their children against their alien masters.
Keane and his men changed that forever. Starting with Civil War-era military and other technology and improving it at every chance, one after another they challenged and destroyed the Hordes, aliens organized much like Genghis Khan's Mongols but far more terrifying and deadly than any Earthly army or nation. This fascinating series, written by a well-respected historian, is both credible and intelligent. Based on Earthly history, especially military history, it goes beyond anything Earth has ever known to show us a rich and complex world where good and evil battle it out to the death as no other science-fiction writer has ever managed to do.
There are hints here that that alien world is located somewhere in one of the Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies of the Milky Way only some 160,000 light years from us. And the ecological dynamics of that world and the nature of the various life-forms on it suggest that the Hordes are the descendants of some form of Earthly life that went to space long before we came on the scene, then used their advanced technology to come to this world, where they regressed into a primitive, gorgeous, terrifying way of life.
One of the best series of science-fiction novels I've ever read, The Lost Regiment is well worth tracking down and acquiring for your personal library.
This first book is unquestionably the best of the series. What makes it so rewarding is that the history is real on both sides of the story. Yes, as all the other commentators have noted, Andrew Keane and his Maine men are in every way equal in courage and idealism to Colonel Chamberlain and his team from THE KILLER ANGELS. It really is heart-wrenching and inspiring to see the events in this action-packed story give literal meaning to phrases like "we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more." The book shows that the "battle cry of freedom" was not merely an idealistic wish but a realistic and workable policy.
On that alien world, their rifles were far advanced over swords, spears, and crossbows, including those of the dominant life-form, 9-foot tall aliens who considered humans so many cattle to feed on and torture to death to thereby acquire omens their shamans could interpret so that they could advise their fellows on future trends. And the people of the human settlements and civilization on that world, begun by people who, like Keane and his men, were swept up by alien technology and whisked away to join others who had likewise been taken from Earth, were almost all cowed by the Hordes who harvested them, unwilling to defend themselves and their children against their alien masters.
Keane and his men changed that forever. Starting with Civil War-era military and other technology and improving it at every chance, one after another they challenged and destroyed the Hordes, aliens organized much like Genghis Khan's Mongols but far more terrifying and deadly than any Earthly army or nation. This fascinating series, written by a well-respected historian, is both credible and intelligent. Based on Earthly history, especially military history, it goes beyond anything Earth has ever known to show us a rich and complex world where good and evil battle it out to the death as no other science-fiction writer has ever managed to do.
There are hints here that that alien world is located somewhere in one of the Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies of the Milky Way only some 160,000 light years from us. And the ecological dynamics of that world and the nature of the various life-forms on it suggest that the Hordes are the descendants of some form of Earthly life that went to space long before we came on the scene, then used their advanced technology to come to this world, where they regressed into a primitive, gorgeous, terrifying way of life.
One of the best series of science-fiction novels I've ever read, The Lost Regiment is well worth tracking down and acquiring for your personal library.
This first book is unquestionably the best of the series. What makes it so rewarding is that the history is real on both sides of the story. Yes, as all the other commentators have noted, Andrew Keane and his Maine men are in every way equal in courage and idealism to Colonel Chamberlain and his team from THE KILLER ANGELS. It really is heart-wrenching and inspiring to see the events in this action-packed story give literal meaning to phrases like "we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more." The book shows that the "battle cry of freedom" was not merely an idealistic wish but a realistic and workable policy.
April 30, 2016
What happens when a Union Army brigade gets transported to another world or dimension.
A entire Union Army boards a boat and the next thing they know they end of on the shores of another world filled with barbaric hoards and such. Here they eke out a place for themselves and soon become embroiled in a defending one group against the another stronger tribe.
Some interesting moments and battles.
This is the first in a series.
A entire Union Army boards a boat and the next thing they know they end of on the shores of another world filled with barbaric hoards and such. Here they eke out a place for themselves and soon become embroiled in a defending one group against the another stronger tribe.
Some interesting moments and battles.
This is the first in a series.
January 25, 2019
Union soldiers from the Civil War displaced to a distant world of flesh eating creatures based on Mongolian hordes. Their only allies Russian medival peasants displaced years before them. Can the allies build a new world and beat the huge army coming to eat them ??? Simply marvellous as a brain off, adventure filled, battle fest romp. Loved it.
July 26, 2010
First in what turned out to be one of my favorite SF series. Forstchen knows his Civil War history and transplants it perfectly to an alien planet. Very exciting, with great characters and ideas.
March 8, 2025
Гилти плежър, но е много четивна и развлекателна.
Добра работа мистър Форсчън!
Жалко, че и тази поредица остава недоиздадена на български…
Добра работа мистър Форсчън!
Жалко, че и тази поредица остава недоиздадена на български…
February 3, 2025
A solidly written alternative history/military SF that's not all action but the plot is constantly advancing. I do love a rehash of the Yankee capitalist in King Arthur's court motifs. Well here it's Civil War era Union soldiers vs medieval Russians vs Mongol-like aliens.
If you've read some military SF you know how it's gonna go. There's gonna be factions: traitors in the ranks of heroes and noble warriors within the ranks of the villains. The rigid rules are gonna make life difficult for everyone and there will be clever innovations and breakthroughs and valiant speeches. However, the peasants from a rigidly hierarchical and collectivist culture will have no trouble deciding for American individualist values as soon as they hear of them.
And you know it's gonna end with a big few-against-many battle and the few are gonna prevail.
So it's a comforting fantasy but still reminds the reader of some complexities. Be it just that it was the Republican party that led the abolitionist effort and the Democrats were the slaveholders.
My ratings are a mix of how good I think the book is and how much I personally enjoyed it. My enjoyment is really pushing it towards a four but I've read too much of this formula to be fully absorbed by it.
If you've read some military SF you know how it's gonna go. There's gonna be factions: traitors in the ranks of heroes and noble warriors within the ranks of the villains. The rigid rules are gonna make life difficult for everyone and there will be clever innovations and breakthroughs and valiant speeches. However, the peasants from a rigidly hierarchical and collectivist culture will have no trouble deciding for American individualist values as soon as they hear of them.
And you know it's gonna end with a big few-against-many battle and the few are gonna prevail.
So it's a comforting fantasy but still reminds the reader of some complexities. Be it just that it was the Republican party that led the abolitionist effort and the Democrats were the slaveholders.
My ratings are a mix of how good I think the book is and how much I personally enjoyed it. My enjoyment is really pushing it towards a four but I've read too much of this formula to be fully absorbed by it.
November 9, 2023
Another "Airplane Book", super fun and an easy read. The book follows a group of Union Civil War soldiers, primarily from Maine, as they are unknowingly transported to another world filled with a historical splattering for civilization. The Union men end up in Rus'.
The world is ruled by an 8 foot ape apex predator that eats the flesh of men. The ape men refer to humans referred to as cattle, and the ape men farm civilization.
This sets up a world where pure unadulterated American Exceptionalism shines. It is like main lining American nationalism straight to the veins, without any problematic racism, genocide, or economic division. It even managed to make war crimes freaking RAD! They introduced Democracy and Individual rights, Hells Yeah!
The book lacks the cleverness of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", it lacks the history depth of James Clavell, and the romance is straight from Hallmark. It still manages to be an enjoyable ride. It even has a balloon boy.
The world is ruled by an 8 foot ape apex predator that eats the flesh of men. The ape men refer to humans referred to as cattle, and the ape men farm civilization.
This sets up a world where pure unadulterated American Exceptionalism shines. It is like main lining American nationalism straight to the veins, without any problematic racism, genocide, or economic division. It even managed to make war crimes freaking RAD! They introduced Democracy and Individual rights, Hells Yeah!
The book lacks the cleverness of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", it lacks the history depth of James Clavell, and the romance is straight from Hallmark. It still manages to be an enjoyable ride. It even has a balloon boy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2014
What a swashbuckling fun read! I only did four stars because this was hard to find and the type in the old paperback was so small it made it physically difficult to read. I guess I have been spoiled by my Kindle. This series was recommended to my by Goodreads because of other books that I have enjoyed. It was a challenge to find for a reasonable price, but worth the effort.
There are Union soldiers thrown through a wormhole and they are trying to build a nation while a medieval town is threatened by horrific aliens that keep them enslaved to feed upon. Does this sound familiar??? It reads a lot like 1632 by Eric Flint and even more like an episode of Stargate. Since this came a decade before 1632 and several years before Stargate, I have to wonder just how much influence it had.
The characters are interesting and it helps getting perspectives from different sides to build the story. There is plenty of military action for those (like me) who enjoy that sort of thing. Lastly there is an introspection about just what is worth fighting and dying for. I will now work to collecting the rest of the series.
There are Union soldiers thrown through a wormhole and they are trying to build a nation while a medieval town is threatened by horrific aliens that keep them enslaved to feed upon. Does this sound familiar??? It reads a lot like 1632 by Eric Flint and even more like an episode of Stargate. Since this came a decade before 1632 and several years before Stargate, I have to wonder just how much influence it had.
The characters are interesting and it helps getting perspectives from different sides to build the story. There is plenty of military action for those (like me) who enjoy that sort of thing. Lastly there is an introspection about just what is worth fighting and dying for. I will now work to collecting the rest of the series.
August 29, 2011
"Lost Regiment" seriers is something of a classic in its sub-genre, so I had rather high expectations for it. And if I haven't read Turtledove's "Lost Legion" and Weber's "March Up Country", it would have been a great read. But, since I have read both of those series before "Rally Cry", it did feel a bit like a deja vu. Nevertheless, it was a pretty intense read with potential for interesting development in sequel volumes. I'm not yet blown away, but this first volume of the series definitely did get me hooked.
February 18, 2010
This book has stuck with me for a long time. Great mix of science fiction (other planet, aliens) with alternate-history components (the huge difference technology makes across a situation/culture.)
Well worth finding the series to read if you're a fan of alternate history, '1632'-style, and aliens in science fiction.
Well worth finding the series to read if you're a fan of alternate history, '1632'-style, and aliens in science fiction.
February 5, 2016
If you like the "displaced person in another world" stories then this is the series for you. Now we get an entire regiment of people on another earth. Fantastic story and awesome characters. Highly recommended
August 9, 2009
Union troops on another planet fighting against orcish beings while surrounded by the backdrop of medieval Russia -- such a combination is hard not to like.
August 4, 2025
The following contains some spoilers, but this book is 26 years old (when I wrote this review, in 2016... 9 YEARS AGO!?!), so you had your chance!
In the closing days of the Civil War, the battle-hardened 35th Maine Regiment led by the redoubtable but war weary Colonel Andrew Keane boards a ship bound for North Carolina and vanishes, lost amidst a tempest of Shakespearean proportions. However, the 35th isn't at the bottom of the ocean, they're not on Earth at all, instead they find themselves on another world entirely (it's kind of a dead give away when the 2nd moon rises...), where they encounter a civilization that looks and acts a lot like an offshoot of the medieval Kievan Rus. Suddenly the men of Maine are faced with survival amidst a society of serfs and feudalism, where their Yankee ideals are spurned by a haughty elite and resonate with the oppressed peasants, and if they wish to survive they must find some way of accommodating to their new world before the power-hungry nobles stab them in the back. Worse, this new world holds a dark grim secret, a terror that would see them all dead for it cannot abide threats to its age-old power. For on this world, humanity is but a herd animal maintained for food by the fearsome Tugars, a nomadic species of horse-riding giants who circle their plains-covered world every 20 years and take 1/5th of the human population as their tribute to be devoured in their gruesome feasts. Since humanity first came to this world, eons ago, they have never been a threat to the massive and numerous Tugars, but the Tugars have never tasted regimental firepower. They also have never been so desperate because the 35th Maine isn't the only new arrival on the world, a terrible sickness is spreading before the Tugar Horde and the human population is dying so fast that the Horde faces starvation, and ironically, the American arrivals are the only ones who know the cure.
If you've read the more recent Destroyermen books then a LOT of Rally Cry (and its sequels) will feel familiar. That's because Taylor Anderson borrowed a lot of ideas from Forstchen's series. Ring of light that act as a one-way gateway between worlds: check. Small group of American soldiers dropped on alien world: check. Political clash between modern and pre-modern societies: check. Rapid industrialization of an iron-age society and constant pressure to advance technologically: check. Horrific man-eating race determined to see our heroes exterminated: check. Extrapolated civilizations based on historic Earth societies but all jumbled up time-wise: check. An accompanying nurse to serve as love interest to the main hero: check. The list goes on but you get the point. I'm not saying this to knock Taylor Anderson. I love his books and in many ways they can be seen as a spiritual successor to this series (though the alt-history aspect kind of spoils any direct connection since his gateways seem to link different universes and as far as I remember in the Lost Regiment the gateways just act like stargates, but with time lag) and even an improvement upon Forstchen, and there's one key difference that makes the two series work very well as companion pieces. Whereas Anderson is focused on WW2 era naval warfare and the strange melting pot culture of the pre-war U.S. Asiatic "fleet", Forstchen's book is driven by the culture and concepts of Civil War era regimental warfare and he shows equal comfort with his subject and, apart from some vocabulary slips, his characters feel pretty authentic to the period with a wide variety of personal ideologies and quirks to make them interesting. Forstchen doesn't shy away from the cost of victory as his characters suffer severe PTSD, lose their innocence, lose limbs, and are killed off brutally, but he is just as comfortable highlighting the acts of small heroism and courage that can tip the scales dramatically and turn the world upside down.
Another key difference are the Tugars themselves. While Anderson's Grik are a voracious and terrifying species, culturally, they are about as sophisticated as a wet sock (deliberately so). Such is not the case of the Tugars. Although from a human perspective they are monsters, pure and simple, they are not without personality, culture, and their own sense of honor and morals as they are the descendants of an eons-old civilization and driven by their traditions and beliefs just as strongly as the human characters. All that said, I've got to say I wish Forstchen included less details about their (*ahem*) dietary practices as some of the descriptions are just... too much. It's mostly bearable in this book but in one of the sequels there is a prolonged description of their "moon feast" (in which they take some of the most attractive of their victims' sons and daughters and eat them alive... slowly) that made me physically ill. It is worth noting that the name Tugar is actually one used originally by the Russians for the Mongol hordes (whose behavior the Tugars of this book roughly emulate, though obviously with more of a focus on anthropophagism rather than rape) and the name features prominently in the Soviet heroic fantasy film The Sword and the Dragon (there's a Mystery Science Theater 3000 version which is hilarious), which relates the legend of the Rus folk hero Ilya Moromets, who is also referenced in this book. I am curious if Mr. Forstchen saw the original film and was inspired or if he was just familiar with the original legend, but since I was familiar with it before I read this book (it's one of my favorite MST3K episodes), the parallels amused me (just like the 35th Maine, Moromets is a man of the people, is badly used by the nobles whom he had served well and ultimately saves his nation from the Tugars using his cunning as much as his might (I warned you there were spoilers, so no complaining)).
It may not be as accessible now as it used to be due to being largely out of print (there are still plenty of used copies out there, and the ebook version is readily available), but Rally Cry and its sequels are classics of the "lost in time/space Americans make good and go all A-Team on X" sub-genre alongside books such as Anderson's Destroyermen books, Flint's Ring of Fire series, Burrough's John Carter books, and, of course, Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and if you enjoy that sort of thing (I do... a lot), then it's well worth the read if you can find a copy (and can get past the "dinner" scenes... eugh; honestly, I strongly advise skipping/skimming those scenes, the book does a great job of making it clear just how much the Tugars love to eat humans without the need to be so explicit).
In the closing days of the Civil War, the battle-hardened 35th Maine Regiment led by the redoubtable but war weary Colonel Andrew Keane boards a ship bound for North Carolina and vanishes, lost amidst a tempest of Shakespearean proportions. However, the 35th isn't at the bottom of the ocean, they're not on Earth at all, instead they find themselves on another world entirely (it's kind of a dead give away when the 2nd moon rises...), where they encounter a civilization that looks and acts a lot like an offshoot of the medieval Kievan Rus. Suddenly the men of Maine are faced with survival amidst a society of serfs and feudalism, where their Yankee ideals are spurned by a haughty elite and resonate with the oppressed peasants, and if they wish to survive they must find some way of accommodating to their new world before the power-hungry nobles stab them in the back. Worse, this new world holds a dark grim secret, a terror that would see them all dead for it cannot abide threats to its age-old power. For on this world, humanity is but a herd animal maintained for food by the fearsome Tugars, a nomadic species of horse-riding giants who circle their plains-covered world every 20 years and take 1/5th of the human population as their tribute to be devoured in their gruesome feasts. Since humanity first came to this world, eons ago, they have never been a threat to the massive and numerous Tugars, but the Tugars have never tasted regimental firepower. They also have never been so desperate because the 35th Maine isn't the only new arrival on the world, a terrible sickness is spreading before the Tugar Horde and the human population is dying so fast that the Horde faces starvation, and ironically, the American arrivals are the only ones who know the cure.
If you've read the more recent Destroyermen books then a LOT of Rally Cry (and its sequels) will feel familiar. That's because Taylor Anderson borrowed a lot of ideas from Forstchen's series. Ring of light that act as a one-way gateway between worlds: check. Small group of American soldiers dropped on alien world: check. Political clash between modern and pre-modern societies: check. Rapid industrialization of an iron-age society and constant pressure to advance technologically: check. Horrific man-eating race determined to see our heroes exterminated: check. Extrapolated civilizations based on historic Earth societies but all jumbled up time-wise: check. An accompanying nurse to serve as love interest to the main hero: check. The list goes on but you get the point. I'm not saying this to knock Taylor Anderson. I love his books and in many ways they can be seen as a spiritual successor to this series (though the alt-history aspect kind of spoils any direct connection since his gateways seem to link different universes and as far as I remember in the Lost Regiment the gateways just act like stargates, but with time lag) and even an improvement upon Forstchen, and there's one key difference that makes the two series work very well as companion pieces. Whereas Anderson is focused on WW2 era naval warfare and the strange melting pot culture of the pre-war U.S. Asiatic "fleet", Forstchen's book is driven by the culture and concepts of Civil War era regimental warfare and he shows equal comfort with his subject and, apart from some vocabulary slips, his characters feel pretty authentic to the period with a wide variety of personal ideologies and quirks to make them interesting. Forstchen doesn't shy away from the cost of victory as his characters suffer severe PTSD, lose their innocence, lose limbs, and are killed off brutally, but he is just as comfortable highlighting the acts of small heroism and courage that can tip the scales dramatically and turn the world upside down.
Another key difference are the Tugars themselves. While Anderson's Grik are a voracious and terrifying species, culturally, they are about as sophisticated as a wet sock (deliberately so). Such is not the case of the Tugars. Although from a human perspective they are monsters, pure and simple, they are not without personality, culture, and their own sense of honor and morals as they are the descendants of an eons-old civilization and driven by their traditions and beliefs just as strongly as the human characters. All that said, I've got to say I wish Forstchen included less details about their (*ahem*) dietary practices as some of the descriptions are just... too much. It's mostly bearable in this book but in one of the sequels there is a prolonged description of their "moon feast" (in which they take some of the most attractive of their victims' sons and daughters and eat them alive... slowly) that made me physically ill. It is worth noting that the name Tugar is actually one used originally by the Russians for the Mongol hordes (whose behavior the Tugars of this book roughly emulate, though obviously with more of a focus on anthropophagism rather than rape) and the name features prominently in the Soviet heroic fantasy film The Sword and the Dragon (there's a Mystery Science Theater 3000 version which is hilarious), which relates the legend of the Rus folk hero Ilya Moromets, who is also referenced in this book. I am curious if Mr. Forstchen saw the original film and was inspired or if he was just familiar with the original legend, but since I was familiar with it before I read this book (it's one of my favorite MST3K episodes), the parallels amused me (just like the 35th Maine, Moromets is a man of the people, is badly used by the nobles whom he had served well and ultimately saves his nation from the Tugars using his cunning as much as his might (I warned you there were spoilers, so no complaining)).
It may not be as accessible now as it used to be due to being largely out of print (there are still plenty of used copies out there, and the ebook version is readily available), but Rally Cry and its sequels are classics of the "lost in time/space Americans make good and go all A-Team on X" sub-genre alongside books such as Anderson's Destroyermen books, Flint's Ring of Fire series, Burrough's John Carter books, and, of course, Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and if you enjoy that sort of thing (I do... a lot), then it's well worth the read if you can find a copy (and can get past the "dinner" scenes... eugh; honestly, I strongly advise skipping/skimming those scenes, the book does a great job of making it clear just how much the Tugars love to eat humans without the need to be so explicit).
April 15, 2015
My Rating Scale:
1 Star - Horrible book, It was so bad I stopped reading it. I have not read the whole book and wont
2 Star - Bad book, I forced myself to finish it and do NOT recommend. I can't believe I read it once
3 Star - Average book, Was entertaining but nothing special. No plans to ever re-read
4 Star - Good Book, Was a really good book and I would recommend. I am Likely to re-read this book
5 Star - GREAT book, A great story and well written. I can't wait for the next book. I Will Re-Read this one or more times.
Number of times read: 1
An interesting and fun read.
Characters - The characters are ok, but nothing special. The author could have put more character development into the story.
Story - This is an entertaining story. It is a bit overly unrealistic but still an enjoyable read.
Overall - I recommend this book and series. It keeps you interested and entertained. A good book.
1 Star - Horrible book, It was so bad I stopped reading it. I have not read the whole book and wont
2 Star - Bad book, I forced myself to finish it and do NOT recommend. I can't believe I read it once
3 Star - Average book, Was entertaining but nothing special. No plans to ever re-read
4 Star - Good Book, Was a really good book and I would recommend. I am Likely to re-read this book
5 Star - GREAT book, A great story and well written. I can't wait for the next book. I Will Re-Read this one or more times.
Number of times read: 1
An interesting and fun read.
Characters - The characters are ok, but nothing special. The author could have put more character development into the story.
Story - This is an entertaining story. It is a bit overly unrealistic but still an enjoyable read.
Overall - I recommend this book and series. It keeps you interested and entertained. A good book.
August 19, 2012
Spoiler Alert! The good guys win!
I enjoyed this book even if it had touches of deja vu about it. It reminded me very much of the "Destroyermen" series I've been reading recently but, instead of US sailors read a US Civil War regiment; instead of Furry Meerkats, read Mediaeval Russians; instead of bloodcurdling all-devouring lizzards read man-eating ten-foot aliens armed with bows and arrows and roaming like a Mongol hoard.
The Americans unselfishly fight for freedom and inspire the Russian peasants. They rapidly industrialise the land and fight a battle to end all battles. Stirring derring-do tales of heroism and self-sacrifice... If only real people - especially Americans - were like that... but it's fiction.
I enjoyed this book even if it had touches of deja vu about it. It reminded me very much of the "Destroyermen" series I've been reading recently but, instead of US sailors read a US Civil War regiment; instead of Furry Meerkats, read Mediaeval Russians; instead of bloodcurdling all-devouring lizzards read man-eating ten-foot aliens armed with bows and arrows and roaming like a Mongol hoard.
The Americans unselfishly fight for freedom and inspire the Russian peasants. They rapidly industrialise the land and fight a battle to end all battles. Stirring derring-do tales of heroism and self-sacrifice... If only real people - especially Americans - were like that... but it's fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2014
The first book in a series - Rally Cry introduces us to the 35th Maine and the Horde on the planet Valennia. Transported against their will, the 35th Maine in the midst of the American Civil War is transported to a strange and hostile planet ... a planet where humans are considered food!
Really well written you can easily visualize the problems and issues experienced by the 35th Maine and its command team. Something even more easily visualized is the horror when they discover what humanity has become on this strange world.
A more detailed review is here & I cannot recommend this book enough.
Really well written you can easily visualize the problems and issues experienced by the 35th Maine and its command team. Something even more easily visualized is the horror when they discover what humanity has become on this strange world.
A more detailed review is here & I cannot recommend this book enough.
July 28, 2013
Really enjoyable. Enjoyed learning a bit about how the world of the mid 1800's worked. We think of energy these days in terms of electricity or fuel oil in some form, reading about the development of industry without the benefits of fuel oil or electricity was very interesting and made me want to learn about and build many of the things I read about; specifically I want to build a steam engine, make my own black powder and learn a bit about making steel from ore. Sure the drama and battles in this book were interesting, but I walked away from this one wanting to know more about how to make and do things.
April 7, 2015
It was a bit funny how this book was written, but it wasn't too bad.
I suppose the perks would be that it was interesting watching a whole regiment filled with very talented men build up a modern army out of nothing.
I would just have to warn though, that this book has several povs. So if that doesn't float your vote...
I suppose the perks would be that it was interesting watching a whole regiment filled with very talented men build up a modern army out of nothing.
I would just have to warn though, that this book has several povs. So if that doesn't float your vote...
February 16, 2020
A civil war regiment falls through a portal and ...
This is another novel with Hollywood potential. And a series I have shared numerous times for anyone liking military/alternate fiction.
This is another novel with Hollywood potential. And a series I have shared numerous times for anyone liking military/alternate fiction.
August 10, 2016
Good story! Lots of action!
August 4, 2023
Pour tout vous avouer, j'avais ce roman dans ma bibliothèque et dans ma PAL depuis 2019 tout de même et je ne l'avais pas encore lu, je ne sais pas pourquoi. En tous les cas, il s'agit du premier tome d'une saga de 9 tomes, dont chaque tome tourne autour des 500 pages, voire un peu plus. Il s'agit donc ici du premier tome Ralliement.
On se retrouve en début de tome au siège de Peterburg / Richmond en 1865, les nordistes se battent contre les sudistes esclavagistes et ils vont lever le siège pour revenir en terre nordiste. On retrouve le colonel Keane et ses divers capitaines et amis dont Hans. Ils partent donc du champ de bataille et se rendent sur le navire puis partent en mer. Malheureusement, une tempête arrive et un genre de tunnel les envoie dans un monde étrange. Les soldats de l'Union tentent de savoir dans quelle terre nordiste ou sudiste ils se trouvent. Après quelques instants, ils voient un soldat sur un cheval sur une colline pas loin, le prennent pour un sudiste et en rigolent lorsqu'ils voient son accoutrement : une lance et un arc. Ils se disent que les sudistes doivent être vraiment désespérés.
Après avoir vu cet homme, une petite délégation de ces hommes arrivent et les hommes de l'Union débarquent tout leur équipement qui a survécu (fusils, chevaux, canons) mais ces hommes parlent le cyrillique et ils s'avèrent que ce sont des Rous' et ils fonctionnent comme dans l'Europe de l'Est auparavant : il y a un système féodal où il y a les paysans et les boyards qui règnent sans pitié dans leurs villes. De plus, ils considèrent les soldats de l'Union comme des hérétiques car ils font le signe de la croix de la mauvaise façon alors que les soldats ont des convictions personnelles différentes : catholiques, protestants ... Enfin, s'en suit une bataille et la défaite des Rous'. Au fur et à mesure que l'on avance dans l'histoire, Keane emmène ses soldats vers une grande cité d'un boyard, entame des pourparlers et au final, un accord est conclu et Keane obtient des terres pour ses hommes en échange que Keane aide le boyard contre ses ennemis.
Concernant les ennemis, il y en a plusieurs dont certains, on se doutait un peu que ça allait arriver. Nous avons l'Eglise de cette nouvelle terre, dont les chefs ne sont pas très portés sur le partage, ils veulent tout contrôler et menacent chaque fois de se lever contre ceux qui se dressent contre eux, nous avons une horde de Tugars de cent mille soldats avec leur troupeau d'humains, qu'ils consomment comme du bétail et demandent paiement auprès de peuplade qu'ils conquièrent, le boyard Ivor lui-même (mais c'est un peu difficile de le cerner, surtout vers la fin). Bref, plus on avance dans l'histoire, plus on en apprend sur chaque faction, leurs buts, leurs envies ...
Pour terminer, on apprend que les soldats de l'Union ne sont pas les seuls à être apparu sur cette nouvelle terre à deux lunes : les Tugars, le peuple du boyard, des Mayas et des Carthaginois sont arrivés de la même façon. D'ailleurs, on apprend aussi que les ancêtres ressemblant à des soldats de l'Union étaient aussi arrivés il y a longtemps avant d'être annihilés car ils avaient des fusils plus « vieux » que les fusils utilisés par ceux des soldats de l'Union et cela donne envie d'en savoir plus parce que j'ai vraiment envie de savoir de quelle époque et de quels personnages sont composés les Mayas et les Carthaginois arrivés plus tôt. En tout les cas, l'arrivée des tuniques bleues a eu le même effet que l'arrivée des Européens dans le Nouveau Monde lors de la découverte du Nouveau Monde : cela a accéléré et accru les tensions entre les peuples sauf qu'ici, les soldats de l'Union n'y sont pour rien vu que c'est le tunnel qui les a « amené ».
En conclusion, ce fut vraiment un excellent roman, qui est au début un peu lent mais qui après quelques dizaines de pages, tout se met en place et on ne voit pas du tout le temps passer et j'ai quasi lu tout d'une traite, même si le roman fait tout de même 544 pages et vu qu'il y a 9 tomes, on verra bien ce que la suite nous réserve et j'espère qu'on suivra toujours les aventures de Keane et de sa compagnie. Malheureusement, cette série est un peu tombée dans l'oubli et il n'y a que les 3 premiers tomes qui ont été adaptés en petit format chez Milady, les 6 autres tomes sont toujours chez Bragelonne en grand format.
On se retrouve en début de tome au siège de Peterburg / Richmond en 1865, les nordistes se battent contre les sudistes esclavagistes et ils vont lever le siège pour revenir en terre nordiste. On retrouve le colonel Keane et ses divers capitaines et amis dont Hans. Ils partent donc du champ de bataille et se rendent sur le navire puis partent en mer. Malheureusement, une tempête arrive et un genre de tunnel les envoie dans un monde étrange. Les soldats de l'Union tentent de savoir dans quelle terre nordiste ou sudiste ils se trouvent. Après quelques instants, ils voient un soldat sur un cheval sur une colline pas loin, le prennent pour un sudiste et en rigolent lorsqu'ils voient son accoutrement : une lance et un arc. Ils se disent que les sudistes doivent être vraiment désespérés.
Après avoir vu cet homme, une petite délégation de ces hommes arrivent et les hommes de l'Union débarquent tout leur équipement qui a survécu (fusils, chevaux, canons) mais ces hommes parlent le cyrillique et ils s'avèrent que ce sont des Rous' et ils fonctionnent comme dans l'Europe de l'Est auparavant : il y a un système féodal où il y a les paysans et les boyards qui règnent sans pitié dans leurs villes. De plus, ils considèrent les soldats de l'Union comme des hérétiques car ils font le signe de la croix de la mauvaise façon alors que les soldats ont des convictions personnelles différentes : catholiques, protestants ... Enfin, s'en suit une bataille et la défaite des Rous'. Au fur et à mesure que l'on avance dans l'histoire, Keane emmène ses soldats vers une grande cité d'un boyard, entame des pourparlers et au final, un accord est conclu et Keane obtient des terres pour ses hommes en échange que Keane aide le boyard contre ses ennemis.
Concernant les ennemis, il y en a plusieurs dont certains, on se doutait un peu que ça allait arriver. Nous avons l'Eglise de cette nouvelle terre, dont les chefs ne sont pas très portés sur le partage, ils veulent tout contrôler et menacent chaque fois de se lever contre ceux qui se dressent contre eux, nous avons une horde de Tugars de cent mille soldats avec leur troupeau d'humains, qu'ils consomment comme du bétail et demandent paiement auprès de peuplade qu'ils conquièrent, le boyard Ivor lui-même (mais c'est un peu difficile de le cerner, surtout vers la fin). Bref, plus on avance dans l'histoire, plus on en apprend sur chaque faction, leurs buts, leurs envies ...
Pour terminer, on apprend que les soldats de l'Union ne sont pas les seuls à être apparu sur cette nouvelle terre à deux lunes : les Tugars, le peuple du boyard, des Mayas et des Carthaginois sont arrivés de la même façon. D'ailleurs, on apprend aussi que les ancêtres ressemblant à des soldats de l'Union étaient aussi arrivés il y a longtemps avant d'être annihilés car ils avaient des fusils plus « vieux » que les fusils utilisés par ceux des soldats de l'Union et cela donne envie d'en savoir plus parce que j'ai vraiment envie de savoir de quelle époque et de quels personnages sont composés les Mayas et les Carthaginois arrivés plus tôt. En tout les cas, l'arrivée des tuniques bleues a eu le même effet que l'arrivée des Européens dans le Nouveau Monde lors de la découverte du Nouveau Monde : cela a accéléré et accru les tensions entre les peuples sauf qu'ici, les soldats de l'Union n'y sont pour rien vu que c'est le tunnel qui les a « amené ».
En conclusion, ce fut vraiment un excellent roman, qui est au début un peu lent mais qui après quelques dizaines de pages, tout se met en place et on ne voit pas du tout le temps passer et j'ai quasi lu tout d'une traite, même si le roman fait tout de même 544 pages et vu qu'il y a 9 tomes, on verra bien ce que la suite nous réserve et j'espère qu'on suivra toujours les aventures de Keane et de sa compagnie. Malheureusement, cette série est un peu tombée dans l'oubli et il n'y a que les 3 premiers tomes qui ont été adaptés en petit format chez Milady, les 6 autres tomes sont toujours chez Bragelonne en grand format.
March 31, 2024
SMH I can't believe Fortschen went back in time to infect the 1990's with woke propaganda! The whole book is about a regiment of soldiers who fought a war to free black Americans from slavery, wow virtue signal a little harder! Then they wind up on an alien planet where they free the humans from the tyranny of their nobles and the giant aliens who eat them like cattle!
The book even has women helping men at war! And a white male villain who's racist so we know what message we're supposed to believe! Nothing is sacred anymore!
But the battle scenes were amazing and the overriding theme of freedom and self-determination being worth the high cost of war touched my heart, so I guess I'll give it 4 stars.
The book even has women helping men at war! And a white male villain who's racist so we know what message we're supposed to believe! Nothing is sacred anymore!
But the battle scenes were amazing and the overriding theme of freedom and self-determination being worth the high cost of war touched my heart, so I guess I'll give it 4 stars.
February 28, 2023
4.5/5. I’ve been a fan of Forstchen for a while, but never got around to reading the Lost Regiment until now. I’m glad I finally read this book. This is a great, epic story with some interesting characters, especially Hawthorne. I also enjoyed the characterization of the Tugars, which reminded me a lot of Forstchen’s work with the Kilrathi in his excellent Wing Commander novels. Forstchen is also a military historian, which adds a layer of detail to the technology and tactics of the Union soldiers that elevates the story. Also, while this is the start to a long series, it stands very well on its own. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2023
4.5/5. I’ve been a fan of Forstchen for a while, but never got around to reading the Lost Regiment until now. I’m glad I finally read this book. This is a great, epic story with some interesting characters, especially Hawthorne. I also enjoyed the characterization of the Tugars, which reminded me a lot of Forstchen’s work with the Kilrathi in his excellent Wing Commander novels. Forstchen is also a military historian, which adds a layer of detail to the technology and tactics of the Union soldiers that elevates the story. Also, while this is the start to a long series, it stands very well on its own. Highly recommended.
March 11, 2025
A peculiarly interesting science fiction book involving a Union Army regiment who after a series of major action in the Civil War boards a transport and in a major storm crosses through some sort of portal to an alien land, inhabited by peoples who harken back to the middle ages in Russia. This is very different than his series based on an electo-magnetic pulse caused by an attack on the United States by an unknown enemy with the focus being on a small town in western North Carolina. One can quickly tell that the author is a historian because one consistently has references back to other historical facts and times and there is great detail in the strategy of war and battles.
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