The Warship is the second book in Asher’s Rise of the Jain trilogy that is possibly shaping up to be my favourite series yet of Asher’s Polity books. The Warship is packed with action from start to finish; my edition has a brief quote from Locus magazine – ‘Titanic battle sequences’ – that pretty much sums it up. As ever Asher’s imagination is startling in its mind-expanding detail. This book has everything that has made his Polity books such a success - Dragon, drones, AIs, Hoopers, Prador, vast space battles, etc. – all wrapped up in a plot that keeps the pages turning and the late night candle burning.
As always Asher manages to juggle all the elements of the story so deftly that the reader is seamlessly led from wondering how all this can possibly come together to a dramatic and yet natural conclusion that manages to be both satisfying and a cliff hanger at the same time. I strongly recommend anyone starting this book to be ready to quickly purchase the sequel or have it to hand already. I have it and it surely will not be long before I make a start on it.
As always Asher manages to juggle all the elements of the story so deftly that the reader is seamlessly led from wondering how all this can possibly come together to a dramatic and yet natural conclusion that manages to be both satisfying and a cliff hanger at the same time. I strongly recommend anyone starting this book to be ready to quickly purchase the sequel or have it to hand already. I have it and it surely will not be long before I make a start on it.