Passage at Arms

Glen Cook's "Passage at Arms" is a hardcore science fiction military book written at a tactical level. As others have noted, it's basically a science fiction future equivalent of the chronicling of a WW2 U-boat mission. The characterizations of the main figures are very well done (the secondary characters are pretty sketchy, but they're good enough for their roles in the book), the theme is interesting, the plot is captivating, and the writing is excellent. The one technical aspect of the book that I didn't care for was present only during the first chapter or so: the prose was overly flowery and adjective-laden. I really don't know why Cook did that, but, thankfully, it died away very quickly and left a very good text that didn't get in the way of the story. With only that in mind, I'd have given the book 4 stars. But, Cook's choice to write this at the tactical level forces me to drop my rating by a star. I'm pretty sure he did this to get the "feeling" of the book the way he wanted it (i.e., the feelings of the men doing important things without any control over them or any real idea what's happening). But, essentially, the book just describes what happens inside a tin-can during a couple of missions. There's almost nothing at the strategic level that would move the story out of the personal and into the grander realm of things. I recognize that that's a personal preference on my part. So, if that doesn't bother you, I'd highly recommend the book as being Very Good (again, it's well done and captivating). But, from my point of view, I feel I have to reduce it by one star and rate it at merely an OK to Pretty Good level of 3 stars out of 5.

Glen Cook writes good military SF, although he pushes purple metaphors a bit much. Passage At Arms vividly portrays the isolation and paranoia of small long-range units. This is not "space opera," but well worth reading for fans of military SF.

I am a huge fan of Glen Cook's Garrett PI stories. I really disliked Passage of Arms because it tried to tell about the adventure from several protagonist viewpoints. It's almost like he's trying to write an episode of the world he portrays as opposed to one person's adventure. It does add a lot of pages to the book if he is being paid by page.

Note: The rating is based on the Amazon scale - 5 stars - I thought this was a great book, one that I have reread dozens of times since I got it in college (1988).

And the high concept here (as my review is title) is basically Das Boot in space - the psychological tension and interpersonal dynamic of dozens of people being locked in a tin can with a 3 mm skin out in the depths of space where they are attacking massive ships alone.

Cook probably could have hieghtened the dynamic tension of the crew always a razor's edge from being vaporized, but I don't think he really needs to. There's a danger in pushing these things too far and winding up with melodrama. Cook walks short of maximum tension but he uses setting and the observer's laconic self-derision to good effect. The book, for all that is is about a "u-boat" in space has some very memorable visual passages and could be a great movie if who ever owns the option would get off their keister and make it.

This book has replaced 'Ender's Shadow' as my all time second favorite book (I'm not sure if anything will ever knock 'Lion of Macedon' out of the #1 spot). This was the first book i read by G. Cook. What a way to start. I immediately got a copy for my fater-in-law and he loved it also.

It has been said before, but is so spot on, that if you liked 'Das Boot' you will like this book. The desciptions of the life aboard 'ship' are amazing and the battle sequences are awesome. If you are any kind of fan of miltary or space sci-fi you will love this book. and if you do, will also like 'The Dragon Never Sleeps'. It is kind of a sci-fi version of the dread empire, kind of.

I've bought several copies of this book as gifts. Will buy more.

Superior read, like all of Glen Cook's other books.

This was very neat! Text was medium and well presented. Linked well with previous novel. 4.2

Passage at Arms is a submarine warfare story thinly disguised as sci-fi, and tying in with Cook's Starfisher's trilogy. Rather than submarines, we have climber ships, humanity's edge in a war with strange aliens.

The principles - such as they are - are different, but the result the same: ships that can hide out of space (under the sea) and strike with surprise, but always fragile and liable to be lost without trace.

Its a cross between Run Silent Run Deep, The Hunt for Red October, and space opera. Its a minor classic in the sci-fi field, or should be. Its military sci-fi before that was popular, and like so much of Glen Cook's stuff, he quietly broke ground in which new genres could flourish.