Janissaries 4 – Mamelukes.
It's taken me a while to get through this book, partly my fault – other things intruding, etc, but partly because the novel is dense. By which I mean really full of information that bears study and contemplation. (Sounds a bit weird for something most would see as a sci-fi pot boiler, right?)
The set up (and remember this is the fourth book in the series) is straightforward enough, although before the first of the books I hadn't seen it before. Aliens do abduct humans, not for probing but essentially as workers and have been doing so for a long, long time. Long enough that there is a significant human presence that effectively acts as civil servants, police and so on within the Galactic civilisation. The status of these humans is, in simple terms, that of very well treated, respected slaves.
At this point the only reason for abduction of wild type humans is to introduce some variety to the existing gene pool and for special tasks. One such task is the growing of “Madweed” on a planet called Tran. Colonised by a commercial venture to cultivate the drugs which come into their most valuable state around every six hundred years. (Binary star system with a third companion star affects the growth.) The aliens tend to deal with cultivation by importing a new, more advanced culture from Earth when they need to. The fact that anything resembling technological progress that gets noticed causes a mass bombing aids this approach. Such was the fate of Rick Galloway's Unit who were abandoned by the CIA in Vietnam and then the 'flying saucer' came to offer them a choice.
Because of this mosaic of cultures and military approaches, the planet is fascinating from a political perspective. I don't know enough about tactics to know if Anderson's writing is accurate, but 'feels' right throughout the whole series and the 'palace intrigue' is satisfyingly complex and multi-faceted, way better than many others who just think they are doing well in this regard. From the military perspective consider the possibility of battles between Roman legions and medieval knights, with a limited ammunition supply of modern weaponry thrown in.
There has been more added on the status and goals of the 'domesticated' humans in the Galactic Empire as time has gone by, only enhancing the richness of the novels.
This, the final part of the series, was published after the author's death and was finished by David Weber and Pournelle's son Phillip. Whatever the other two did, it was seamless and this reads the original author.
If you have an interest in history, science fiction, politics or military tactics this is a very good read. I would recommend seeking out the whole series and reading in order, but you could just about get away with this as a complete standalone.4 s Marcus JohnstonAuthor 15 books37

As usual, I make the mistake of finding a series four books into it, and have to play catch up. However, once I got past the rehash (which was really convoluted), I really enjoyed the story. It was long, epic, great characters, fun battle sequences, everything you expect from a Baen book. Really could have used a map, and having not one, but two new groups of Earthlings dropped off seemed ridiculous, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment too much. Worth a read!2 s Ryan38 3

This is my first entry into Jerry Pournelle's Janissaries series, but even with missing the three previous books, Mamelukes does a creditable job catching you up on what came before, which was quite a lot. But even more than the plot points summarized at the beginning, you can see their results in Rick Galloway's utter mental and physical exhaustion as you follow him trying to put out just one more fire and keep the peace just a bit longer on the crazy patchwork planet that is Tran.

Pournelle hadn't quite finished Mamelukes before he passed away, but the ending was known and the writing of it was placed into the capable hands of his son Phillip and military SF legend David Weber. All those seemingly tangled plot threads Pournelle wove throughout the beginning and middle of the book came together in the huge set piece at the end of the book. Although the book does not tie up the ultimate conflict, it does complete Rick's character arc in a satisfying way, and of course, leave the door open for more adventures on Tran and beyond. science-fiction-fantasy2 s Pat Patterson341 6

An expanded version with some backstory my be found on Papa Pat Rambles .

The title page states that this is a book by Jerry Pournelle, with contributions by David Weber ( a long-time fan) and Phillip Pournelle (Jerry’s son). The Wikipedia entry on the book provides interesting information about the development of the text. I could only find ONE Weber-ism I could reliably certain of (a reference to BuShips); the story, and the text, are entirely consistent with Jerry’s earlier writing, and we may truly thank those involved in the revival process for that.
The story arc starts as Captain Rick Galloway waits for death, an expendable pawn in a proxy war in Angola. On his side are a platoon-strength body of men, all that survived out from a battalion, recruited and supported by the CIA. His command is scattered in hasty defense positions scraped out on a hill that was supposed to be an extraction point. But Headquarters just told him no evacuation is possible.
Coming up the road is a vastly superior Cuban-lead force, intent on their destruction.

How will they survive THIS? Well, they don’t, actually. Instead, a spaceship lands and rescues them. Sort of. As it turns out, the rescue has only two exits: exile to lifetime incarceration, or exile to supervise production of a particular harvest on a distant planet, containing various primitive cultures. They elect the farming supervision choice.

Over the first three novels, which have since been combined into one volume in “Lord of Janissaries,” we follow the progress of Rick and his men as they emerge into the strange world of Tran. There never seems to be good stopping point to the story, because the life-and-death conflict never ends. First, there is the conflict that quickly forms among Galloway’s troops. Lead by the other surviving officer, some realize that their weapons are so superior to those of the indigenous people, that they can set themselves up and rule as kings.

Second there are the conflicts with the various groups existing on the planet. It appears that the aliens have regularly kidnapped small-ish military units fort the same purpose as Rick’s group, and some of them had enough of a core group that they were able to sustain a solid cultural presence over the centuries. And, with few exceptions, a state of war exists wherever there are people. Even though their weaponry is primitive, compared to what Rick is supplied with, even a rock can kill you.

Finally, there is a conflict with the aliens that brought them there. From oral traditions found on the planet, combined with some clues provided by the abductors and other members of the Galactic society, Rick discovers that the plan is to have his group organize the harvest of the desired crop. As a reward, they will all be killed, probably by kinetic strikes from space. But, if they do NOT cooperate, they most certainly will be killed.

In this last volume, we finally get to the endgame for Rick’s command. The endgame can’t come too soon for Rick, as he has been sick and near death from the strain of command, and the knowledge that there are innocent civilians who die as a result of the constant war. Other than the few troops left out of the group he brought from Earth, he has scarce sure allies; the most powerful nations always have their own best interests at heart, and require constant attention to keep them on the same path as Rick. That grows more difficult with each battle.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the aliens are preparing for another abduction, with a very strange composition: a woman who was formerly a member of the San Francisco Police Department; a disgraced high school science teacher who is methodically drinking himself to death; and, a former heroin addict with a long-ago tour as a community builder in Africa. They collect a vast assortment of educational technology, and a few other things, and anticipate being relocated to a primitive village in a distant part of the world. As with Rick’s troops, they don’t find out the truth until too late.

And another group of aliens is interfering with the process.
And Rick grows more weary…

It’s a great last chapter. While I think that new stories could easily be written in the universe, the cycle of the tale is finished. At the end, we know what will happen next; not the details, but the path. Since it’s been almost forty years since I started my relationship with Galloway and Company, I’d to send a letter to my youthful self, promising that the read will be satisfactory, not only in the short term, but also in the end.
2 s ARIEL DE LA VEGA12

Wonderful

Been waiting so long for some closure. God Bless Dr Pournelle and the legacy he left. I don't know if there should be more written or you leave on this note. Just as well done as Falkenberg's Legion novels -- either way, very well-being and inspirational. With Gratitude.2 s Toby N. Thorp5 1 follower

Worthy follow on

Weber and young Pournelle did a fantastic job of carrying on his father's legacy. The style and voice used in this book are in keeping with how Jerry wrote the originals. Great read, my only hope is that they keep it up! If you this series look at Weber's safehold books, similar concept and great writing.2 s Truls Ljungström1,256 13

Det här är ett exempel på författarsynergier. Pournelle dog tydligen med boken halvfärdig, och sonen skrev den färdigt med hjälp av andra scififörfattare. Resultatet är rafflande. Istället för en visserligen bra, men i alla fall förutsägbar hjältehistoria, har vi en krigstrött huvudperson, intergalaktisk politik som bara syns i konsekvenserna, och en fruktansvärt intressant belägringsskildring. Jag rekommenderar de andra böckerna i serien för dennas skull. 2022-topp fiction-sci-fi1 David Haddon143

Really a fun read. Much more in the style of the original Jaissaries book from 40 years ago. I enjoyed this much more than books two and three of the series. Hope Mr. Weber will come out with a sequel.1 Will Sawtelle15 1 follower

Is it finished?

It has been more than 40 years since I first read Janissaries, a story of U.S. soldiers fighting the Cubans in the Angola war. The soldiers, cut off from escape and about to be massacred, were 'rescued' by a human flying a space ship. From Africa they were carried first to the moon to be interviewed by a human 'Inspector' working, they discovered, as a slave of an intergalactic Confederation.

From the moon, they were transported to the planet Tran, whose population were the descendants of previous groups of humans also kidnapped from earth at roughly 600 year intervals.

The humans had all been taken to Tran to grow 'madweed' which could be turned into a drug values by one group of the non humans who made up the Confederation.

Two more books followed, expanding on the take of the American soldiers struggle to build a place for themselves while growing the aliens crop. Then, for three decades, I waited. Waited for the next chapter in the saga.

There were rumors that the next book was coming, but it was slow. Then came the news of the passing of Jerry Pournelle, the author who started the series and one of the most revered Science Fiction authors. I thought the saga would never be completed.

A few weeks ago I saw an ad for Mamelukes, with Jerry Pournelle as the lead author, along with his son, Phillip, and David Webber, another highly regarded author.

With new twists, and additional characters, Mamelukes expands the saga, and heightens the level of conflict. The story moves to a city founded on midieval Venice, with all the secrets and intrigue of that unsettled time in world history.

It is a truly powerful and fitting installment in the Janissaries Saga, but with a huge cliff hanger ending.

If you have read the previous books, re-read them them get Mamelukes. It is well worth the wait!1 Sherry12

Waited decades for this

I read the first book when I was in high school and often re-read the three previous books. I was sad the series seemly ended without conclusion, especially with the passing of the author. I cannot express how joyeous I was finding the fourth book has been published. It brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, yet leaves an opening for another. I hope some worthy author takes up the challenge.1 Howard Wilson45

Most excellent

I Waited over 20 years for this final book in the Janissaries series and It was beyond my expectations and is a fitting end to the series. I hope the authors will write a new series which continues Jerry Pournelle’s world of Tran... I could not put this book down how to read to the end.1 Rob Kibbe7

Waited a long time for this book. Didn't think it would happen after Pournelle died. I really appreciate his son working to finish it. Enjoyed the overall story. Had a nice finish, but many of the the storyline and characters feel they were set adrift and never found again. I would be interested in a continuation if someone wanted to take a go at it.own rob-has-read1 Brayton ColeAuthor 3 books1 follower

This review heavily tilted by nostalgia. You were warned.

I read the first three books of the Janissaries series when I was a little kid. everybody else who enjoys this particular pulp series, I've been waiting a long time for the conclusion, and assumed when Pournelle senior died that we were just SOL. I stumbled across this at the library the other day and read all 500+ pages by the next afternoon. Verdict: not really disappointing, which is way better than I'd expected after a most-of-my-lifetime wait for a book left unfinished at the tail end of the author's life and finished by his kid and some other dude. It has strong points and weak points, and overall I'd say it's less well-constructed than previous installments.

The Janissaries series is pulp. It's unapologetically pulp. The aliens kidnap people to grow drugs on another planet every six hundred years then betray their growers and no that doesn't make any sense because the point is that Rick gets to test his knowledge of military history against a total mishmash of Earth cultures who got wadded together in a fantasy setting and implausibly survived mostly in their familiar forms up to the present day. What happens when a horde of pseudo-Mongols meets sort-of-European knights and Byzantine cataphracti supported by a machine gun and a hot air balloon?

Plot spoilers follow.

At the end of the last book, things looked they were headed to a wrap. Ganton was heir to Rome by marriage and they just snuffed his strongest rival for the Five Kingdoms, leaving him positioned to basically become king of the world. This, annoyingly, gets walked back in a rather unconvincing fashion at the beginning of Mamelukes.

Next we get two new wrenches in the gears as a pair of new expeditions arrive from Earth, but both potential conflicts get set up and then short-circuited. The elite Gurkha regiment and the educators both join up with Rick after a brief period of uncertainty. This is disappointing, particularly in the case of the former which appeared to finally present Our Hero with a challenge he couldn't lessons-of-history his way out of.

Once those are out of the way, we pivot to the main plot of the book, a major set-piece naval battle for the Republic of Nikeis. Nikeis was previously described as sort of Venice; Pournelle walks that back and makes it exactly Venice. For a carbon copy, Nikeis is pleasant enough to visit, and if I hadn't read detailed Venetian history before it would strike me as novel and interesting, so good on him there. The battle itself is as well-executed as anything Pournelle ever wrote.

There are some issues here, however. First, several questions are raised which don't get answered, not in a in-the-next-volume way but as if he forgot them. The new character Spirit essentially disappears halfway through the book--along with the question of her loyalties--and we never do find out how the Five Kingdoms got ready to attack so quickly. Possibly I'm meant to assume Spirit was helping the Fivers somehow, but that's hardly clear. Ganton, Strymon, Marselius, Yanulf, Apelles, Elliot, and Tylara get hustled off-camera too. Basically JP tried to keep all the old threads while adding new stuff, and a lot fell off the edge of the table because it was too much. Tran isn't as sprawling as Westeros, but it's still huge.

Second, WE NEED A MAP. There's no map of Tran and no battle maps we saw in previous books. I simply couldn't follow large portions of the Nikeis battle because I had only a vague feel for the geography. This could get fixed in a later edition, along with other oddities, because this feels a rush job in some respects. The glossary at the beginning is a clumsy and inexplicably error-filled copy of previous glossaries, including old characters who never appear in the story (and listing Titus Frugi twice, the two entries right next to each other). Tamaerthon is consistently misspelled as the adjective form "Tamaerthan" and Matthias the priest of Vothan survives to scheme despite (I thought, and the beginning of the book implies) getting cut down by Tylara at the end of part III. These are nerd nitpicks, but the overall effect is one of carelessness.

Finally, JP was an old-fashioned guy (to put it mildly) and it shows in squicky ways. The feminist Spirit is a predictable turncoat (until he forgets about her), the Gurkhas are never given much individual personality, and the book ends with the same quasi-fascist acclamation of the war-leader we saw in Pournelle's Prince of Sparta. Then there's Saxon, Clavell, and the young women of Nikeis, which is just a wee bit ugh--look, JP, do you stand behind 20th century age-of-consent norms or what? Cake, having, eating, etc. I could get over all of this, and odds are any regular Janissaries reader can do wise, but it's enough of a thing to be worth taking note of.

All in all, I'm mildly optimistic at the end of this book, because it looks we're set to take the series in a new direction with a new set of authors. I haven't read Weber's other stuff, but he has a good reputation, and Phil Pournelle doesn't seem to be another Brian Herbert. Mamelukes is a rough transition, but still fun, and I have hope. Simon92

I started reading the Janissaries series in the early 80s, picked up the second in the series during my first visit to the US in 1988 and the third back in NZ in the early 90s. many of the series I despaired of the series ever being finished and this is a main reason that I will only now start to read a series if I am confident that the whole series is already available.

It seems that Jerry Pournelle came close to finishing #4 in the series 2 or 3 times before his death in 2017. His son finished the work in 2019, aided (I hope with some sense of irony) by noted author David Weber.

Mamelukes further expands both the physical and political environments of Tran, in much the same style as the previous volumes, with two really good twists about 34% of the way in. I really enjoyed it and completed it in a final marathon read this (wet and windy) morning. It does introduce a lot more information on the broader Confederation and - I guess - it concludes the story arc; at least there are not too many loose ends hanging and no cliff-hangers but I think that there is still scope for the story to continue if young Pournelle is up to the job... Phil YatesAuthor 52 books6

An excellent read. Sad to think that this is the last of Jerry Pournelle's books, but a worthy end.

I haven't read the original Janissaries books, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of a masterful piece of military sci-fi - it simply made me want to read the first three in the series.

Fourteen years after aliens abduct and strand Rick Galloway and his platoon on an alien world populated by fellow abductees, demanding that he grow drugs for them, things have gotten complicated. They just get more complicated when more abductees arrive, all looking for him, while alien machinations stir up trouble in a big way.

How this all comes together and the climactic scenes are all masterfully handled, as you'd expect from a book written by Pournelle and finished by David Weber.military-fiction sci-fi Stifynsemons313 29

[4.0 stars, I really d it, and highly ly will read the series again]

After Jerry's death some years ago, I despaired of having a resolution to the Janissaries series. Mamelukes brings it to a somewhat satisfactory conclusion: there are two levels of plot in the book, the tactical and the strategic. Mamelukes neatly ties together the tactical side of the book, while hinting at strategic developments underway and plausible future outcomes.

In Tran (the first of the series), a mercenary company is abducted by aliens before they can be annihilated and the CIA is content with their plausible deniability strategy. But the mercenaries become tools of illicit activity on behalf of an alien race, and it is increasingly clear that Earth's future in this galactic society is as tenuous as it is destabilizing, and in Mamelukes, Rick must navigate an alliance patched together from an anachronistic mixture of cultures to defeat another alliance while subverting the plans of his alien master's enemies, because only with world unity is satisfying the conflicting demands of their galactic overlords possible.

Mamelukes continues and deepens the exploration of jump-starting a technological society, and Off Armageddon's Reef, has the backdrop that detection of that technology will mean catastrophe. But mostly tales the tell of ordinary soldiers in extraordinary situations.

Steve1,357 35

Waited a looong time for this one. The first book came out in '79 or so, and I read it in the early '80s, the sequels coming at c. 4 year intervals. The author had a lot of projects going, and this one stalled out at the third book for a long time. Jerry was working on Mamelukes up to his passing in 2017, and at that point I figured we'd probably not see this book, but fortunately I was wrong.

If you're a fan you'll want this, if for no other reason than it's his last book, but it's an interesting universe and Rick a sympathetic character. I was disappointed that there wasn't more Tylara in this one, but that's not where this story was going. While the ending was well executed, it's wide open for more.

Will there be any more books? There have been several co-authors over the years, so it's not out of the question but I'm not holding my breath. There is certainly more to be told here, but we don't always get what we want. Henry Lazarus1,195 10

The Janissaries series by the late Jerry Pournelle set the war game action on the Planet of Tran where aliens have dumped earth cultures every six centuries in order to grow an opiate crop that only grows when Tran comes closest to smallest star in the system, causing heavy global warming and disruption. In the fourth book, almost finished before Jerry Pournell’s death and finished by his son Philip and David Weber, it’s been fourteen years since the troupe of mercenaries led by Rick Galloway were taken from Earth. The main battle in Mamelukes (hard from Baen) is an attack on a Venice city by oared galleons and opposed by soldiers, including Gurkas’ with modern Earth weapons The mcguffin is three crates of educational material from Earth sent with a teacher and two assistants. Lots of fun. I suspect that Jerry Pournelle left notes so that others can continue the series.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press Boulder Boulderson986 9

I'm so pleased that this series has finally had its long-awaited conclusion - hence the four stars. It was, as is standard for Pournelle, very written and whatnot. However, it does basically open everything up again at the end. Conclusion is the wrong word as it's a continuation rather than a closing down, and while intriguing (particularly if someone Weber takes up the gauntlet), that isn't really what I was looking for.

I'm also not sure I some of the undertones, including the semi-normalisation of a level of paedophilia, which is a dangerous sub-plot which is, imo, a bit typical of recent Weber and one of the reasons I have taken a bit of a break from his novels.

That said - if you've been re-reading this series looking for a conclusion for decades, as so many have, this isn't a bad stab at it. Clyde847 53

Mamelukes is the fourth novel in Jerry Pournelle's Janissaries series. (Unfortunately, it is also his final novel.) When Jerry passed away, he left behind the nearly completed manuscript, and his son, Phillip Pournelle, took on the task of finishing it based on his father's notes. David Weber, a fan of the series, also came on board to help polish the story.
It is a damn good book, entirely consistent with Pournelle's earlier work in the series.
For more details about the book and how it was completed, I suggest listening to the three podcasts dedicated to it at the publisher Baen's website. (Episodes on May 29th, June 5th, and June 12th of 2020.)military science-fiction Nightwatch Publishing9 1 follower

The fourth book in the Janissaries Series and the first since 1987. The first three books were unique and based on a brilliant premise and worthy of 5 stars. This book is not of the same quality and somewhat of a disappointment. The influence of David Weber can be seen in the long drawn out discussions about strategy and the naval battle. Unfortunately, one of the great characters of the series, Tylara, hardly gets any pages in this book. A new character is introduced who is a sex offender. This is mind-boggling and disturbing. The positive is that it looks the series will continue and hopefully return to the brilliance of the first three books. James Ellis474 9

I really d the Janissaries series as a young man, thirty years ago. Re-reading that series and then reading the final posthumous publication in the series really underscores how my tastes in books have changed over the decades. I could get through these books just fine, but did not enjoy the stories of manly soldiers striving to civilize a backwards world anywhere near as much as I did then and the treatment of the (pretty much marginalized) female characters grated on me nowadays.

This most recent publication was little exception despite the passage of 40 years since the publication of the first story in the set.mil-sf science-fiction zzz-epub Roger T. Pritchett10

During the pandemic isolation I have revisited many books that got me started with science fiction and military science fiction and Jerry Pournelle was where I started. The Janassaries series was always a favorite but seemed unfinished. Mamelukes helps to close that gap. It is set away from the other Tran locations and provides a naval perspective to the story. It does introduce new characters and a parallel story line. I could not put it down. Cliff hanger at the end makes me yearn for more. Please. kevin stone56 2

Sad goodbyes

I read this with high expectations and a longing for a great farewell to the series. I was met with a hard road, New characters and a forced effort to finish. I wanted so much to love this story, but only came to it. I will read the next installment with lowered expectations ...but I WILL keep reading it faithfully. Thank you, Jerry Pournelle and friends for a wild ride of star men, beautiful, strong women, and Galloway. She Imperator! Peter Rijs33

Finally, and worth every second or reading!

There are only a couple of books one keeps reading every couple of years, and one of mine is Janissaries, with it's fading yellowish pages and weird old book smell. Book 4 is a worthy end to the series, extremely captivating from start to end. No cliffhangers, but in today's scifi it opens up a wide range of options for continuation should anyone dare step into Master Writer Jerry Pournelle's footsteps. Frank HoferAuthor 3 books5

Continuation of a Classic Series

It’s been more years than I care to remember since I last visited the world of Janissaries. It took a while to remember who was who and what the various governments and regions were but it was worth the effort. Lots of battles and diplomacy and the book kept to the spirit that Pournelle started all those years ago.

Will there be another book to completely wrap things up? Hope so, because there’s still more story to tell. John Stults159 5

outstanding

A great addition to the Jannisary series. I won’t say conclusion because there are some loose ends which scream for another vol. I hope the two authors who finished this story take on the task at a future date. I found the book fast moving thoughtful and hard to put down I highly recommend the book reading the preceding oops would be help full and they are excellent stories also. david a bell6

Out - Standing ! I had lost all hope of any resolution / path forward for the people of Tran and the human Galactics . David and Phillip have woven the material that Mr Pournelle left behind into a book worthy of the series . It could stand on it's own but I would recommend that you read the other books in order first to feel the full power of this one .
Michael Reese75

Rousing finale to Janissaries

As good as the first three books. Much blood, sweat, and tears (I apologize Sir Winston) face our band of heroes on Tran in this well written conclusion to the tale. Get it. Get the three book Janissaries series too, if you haven't read them and expect to spend a lot of time lost to this world. David Silverman1 review

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