I was surprise at how much I came to enjoy this book. It opens with an interesting scene that intros us to our protagonist, this world and the order in which our "Old Man" Protagonist exists.We do then launch into a rather slow progression of viewpoints and stories that set up the story and then the book launches us out on it. We get a thumbnail sketch of the political, religious and geopolitical state of the world. We see rot here, hope there and hopelessness elsewhere. We also see the complete dedication to duty that has been the Old Man's life.Also I was surprised by the ending. Something that doesn't happen all that often anymore. The "storyteller's" voice is excellent and readable.I already have the sequel to this book....and of course it's the last at least for now.I hope it doesn't end in a cliffhanger.I hate cliffhangers.With little in the way of wit but still some dark humor you'll follow the story here through a few viewpoints and you'll see various takes on "justice". From the Empire of Mann, who see themselves as the consummate Darwinists (though they wouldn't use that term as they wouldn't know who Darwin was) until of course they don't find themselves on top of the food-chain to the Mercians and their free trade islands and then of course Rōshun that word means something different to each group. So I can recommend this one. It may not rate at the top of my 5 star list but it definitely gets that rating.Enjoy. To be honest, I don't have any idea why I have noticed this book on the shelf. Actually, I wasn't even looking for a new one. But this one made me to stop, take it and read the first page.And than I understod that my eye had caught something interesting and what is worth to read.I can't say that the plot of the book is incredibly original. Properly speaking, it is quite a hard work to make something really unusual. This is on the one hand. But on the other, author made his best to devise the dynamic story with an unpredictable ending and quite interesting characters. Maybe they were no unusual and, moreover, I couldn't make myself to share in their misadventures. But their stories are really specific that's why I want to read the continuation in the nearest future!Also I liked the autor's pencraft. It is a little bit raw, but to my mind Col Buchanan has a chance to reveal his talent.At last, I can mark the book as good and in the same time it is for an amateur. 3.5/5. I do not have enough arguments to comment why I gave such a mark in spite of the fact I liked it. Perhaps point is that I waited more from the story. Finally, I can wish Buchanan luck in his creative work!
What do You think about Farlander (2010)?
this book was just really cool, i liked everything about it.
—toya
