Formed from cold steel and superpowered computing brains, these gigantic tanks with the firepower of an entire army have been the decisive factors in interplanetary battle. But are humans worthy of the extraordinary instruments of war that they have created? Are the Worldbreakers the greatest protector of human liberty, or its worst threat? For, while these Worldbreakers very definitely have minds of their own, the question within their iron and superluminal quantum breasts, does there lie a faithful heart? Stories of world breakers and world makers in the great tradition of Keith Laumer’s Bolos from David Weber, Larry Correia, Wen Spencer, and more!At the publisher's request, this title is sold without Digital Rights Management (DRM).
World Breakers is an anthology of stories mostly about AI Tanks. Not all of the stories are about tanks despite what the blurbs would have you believe. One story, in particular, is about a sentient 4x4 pickup truck. Despite this, all of the stories are very enjoyable with my favorite being "Dyma Fi'n Sefyll" by David Weber.
This anthology contains stories by,
David Weber Larry Correia Wen Spencer Kevin Ikenberry Patrick Chiles Tony Daniel Hank Davis Kacey Ezell Christopher Ruocchio Monalisa Foster Robert E. Hampson Lou J Berger
Military science fiction lightened with some humorous stories
Majority of the stories dealt with the theme head on, so the book is heavy on classic military science fiction. Fans of David Weber will probably like this book. In fact he has a story in the book! My favorite stories were the ones that took a lighter approach with a lot of humor. Anvil by Wen Spencer has an AI controlled tank rebuilding civilization, starting with training the chickens to stay off the gun turret. Amarillo by Fire Fight by Keith Hedger has an AI tank desperate to win the battle quickly to get to her date. Tanknological Superiority by Hank Davis has an AI tank who has to deal with a bickering mom and dad (the scientists who created her) onboard while going into battle.
I've been in a reading doldrums for a bit. Maybe with better weather I'll be motivated to escape yard work via reading.
This is a collection of short stories mostly by people I've never heard of, one by someone who has offended me so badly I just don't read any more, and a few others I know of.
That means the stories are very uneven, and some of the stories I read the first two pages and just flipped past them to the next story they were so awful. Overall the book provided entertainment for a while so three stars it is.
David Webers story is the anchor for the volume and also the best of the bunch so that at least leaves a pleasant aftertaste when you finish.
Like many a themed anthology, not every writer listens to what the editor wanted.
The first two, and last stories are military scifi but some of the others are romance and love stories. I really don't want to read about tanks falling in love or soldiers falling in love with their tanks.
I think that the author could have done a better job at revising or weeding out the weak stories. This could have been a much better book.
The book purports to be about sentient tanks. Well, some of the stories are but others are more like AIs with weapons. As in any short story collection it is hard to review without going over every story. There wasn’t a story in this I didn’t like. Weber’s might have been my favorite but not by any more than a nose. If you like sentient tanks, really who doesn’t, I highly recommend the book. Honor is not reserved for mere organic beings.
If you're like me and you missed the bolo books that I read as a young man this book is for you! I'd forgotten how much I missed this type of book And I'm so glad that I found it and read it.
all the stories are truly excellent!
If I had one complaint, that the book wasn't long enough !
Inspired by Keith Laumer's Bolo series, all of these stories are pretty good, but I wonder what some are doing here. Nevertheless, a pretty good addition to the robotank mythos.
Many have tried but very few authors bring the mix of realistic detail with a dash of humor to stand in the picture with Keith laumer and his bolo stories. This work is among the few.
Just finished the first story, World Enough by Robert E Hampton. 5 stars for me. Just finished the last story by David Weber he did not disappoint. 5* for me. Overall the anthology worked, I would give it 4*. There should be something for everyone there.