Kildar [Anglais] [Poche]

The sequel to Ghost is (unlike that first book) a single novel with a coherent storyline. In tone it is most like the first section of Ghost (though with more set-up and less "servicing of targets"). Our hero of dubious morality accidentally ends up becoming a feudal lord in the mountains of Georgia (the country, not the state).

He decides to train his retainers (members of The Six Families) as a special forces team for the defense of their valley. Almost all of the book is taken up by this training process. Along the way, Mike also discovers the secrets to their heritage (and ends up, somewhat accidentally, with a hareem of about a dozen young women and a source of very good beer).

This is the sort of fantasy where one American soldier comes into town, is treated as a hero and lord, raises a military force, wins the hearts (and other body parts) of the women, defeats the men in single combat trials, and then (finally) slaughters the nasty enemy terrorists in a one-sided contest of brains and skill. He's also the best lover any of the women have ever had. In other words, something that Heinlein might have written. Or possibly Leo Frankowski.

There is a lot more (quite explicit) sex than there is (not so explicit) violence -- which, for some reason, seems to bother people -- but neither is quite as unfocused and extreme as some parts of Ghost. And there are no nukes and no meetings with the President of the US or Russia (though there is a meeting with the President of Georgia).

The political slant of the book is much less obvious. There are even at least one or two instances of minor Muslim characters who are not evil. Perhaps the first stories represented Ringo working out his anger over 9/11, and this book is more because he had an idea of what to do with the character. Nevertheless, it does seem telling that the bad guys in the book are still Muslim fighters from Chechnia, and the good guys are nominally Christian (and/or members of a much older European religion).

As with Ghost, a large suspension of disbelief is required. But in this case the story is a little more internally consistant, as are the characters. And there are more characters, treated with more depth (as befits a novel compared to a series of novellas).

The book is a complete novel. It has a beginning and an end. It is not only half of a story. But it also clearly leaves an opening for the already-written followup. In almost every way, this is a better-written book than its predecessor.

Mr. Ringo has produced a much better sequel than the original book in this series. The sex has been downplayed in this novel, although some still exists, and an intriguing mystery has been added. Just who are the Keldara?

For those who expect a large amount of military action, there will be some disappointments. The only major military action takes place in the last few chapters.

This book seems to be setting the stage for further books in the series. I look forward to the next book. As another reviewer has mentioned you can read a few chapters on-line for free at the Baen website.

Highly recommended.

He goes under the fictional name of Mike Jenkins (a.k.a. Ghost). He is a retired SEAL, traveling, a multimillionaire due to a few jobs he did for the government. While traveling through Georgia, the country not the state, he is snowed in while driving through the Valley of the Keldara. The Keldara people are very poor and an extremely private type of people. Six "families" govern the area. The Chechens use eastern Georgia as a type of safe base. They often raid the area, murdering entire families, abducting young girls for the slave market, and stealing anything worthwhile. Jenkins only meant to stay until the snow thawed. Instead he ended up buying the farm.

The Keldara have not had a Kildar (leader) in a very long time. The "Kildar" is the one who owns the fort and rules the valley, as well as, the Keldara people. Jenkins buys the caravanserai (fort) and all the land and possessions entailed with it. Slowly, the people come to trust him. Unlike the government and prior managers, Jenkins immediately begins making changes for the better. Jenkins brings in some farm machinery to help the Keldara with their farming. Since Jenkins also has some enemies (specifically among Islamic terrorists) he hires some seriously high military personnel and brings them in to reside within the caravanserai with him. These trainers begin to mold the Keldara into a well-armed militia.

Jenkins takes his responsibilities seriously! So when the Chechens first try to kidnap some girls, Jenkins makes an example of them. By doing so, he rescues the girls, but the girls are already considered ruined. Therefore, Jenkins now has a harem. Good thing the caravanserai has a harem wing already. Convenient!

Turns out the Keldara are not pacifists in any way, shape, or form. Each one has the potential to become a SEAL, thus some real training begins. Things are about to become very interesting.

**** Author John Ringo shows that he has a seriously warped sense of humor. For those who doubt me, check out the little section in the front of the book that NORMALLY tells you "This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental." Etc, etc, etc. Let's just say that I have NEVER seen one written quite this way. I knew immediately that Ringo is my type of author! Not only is this story clever and very entertaining, but it sets the foundation for future Keldara novels. Yeah, this mainly targets the male audience and that shows; however, any female who does not find herself threatened by an alpha-male will totally enjoy reading this one as well. Highly recommended reading! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.