Captive races

[Madarin Dude]

Well I am reading fleet of worlds and find the curious interaction between the Puppeteers and the colonists. Basically the colonists were taken as embryos off a colony ship and brought to the puppeteer homeworld. Now they are part of the puppeteer realm and are given tasks that often the puppeteers can not do. (due to their cowardice).

So what kind of implications can that have say the K'Kree take humans as Embryos and bring them up vegan and use them as go betweens etc. What re the possibilities for things like that possible small groups that can be used for good or evil. Since they are brought up from birth or near birth in the one environment they should be loyal to that but there are lots of possibilities.

 

[Dragoner]

The Ottoman Jannissaries are what first comes to mind, but I think if one race was actually enslaving humans that would cause bad feelings or friction between that race and the Imperium/Solomani for example.

How is Fleet of Worlds? I read the last of the Ringworld Trilogy recently, it was ok, had some cool parts. Right now I'm reading Asimov's collection of The Golden Years of Science Fiction with stories from 1945-46, all very angsty.

 

[Madarin Dude]

Good analogy i learned something today after looking up the Jannissaries. The example in fleet was a bit different the citizens were under the impression that they were saved by the puppeteers. Fleet of Worlds so far is a good read not fast paced but some cool insight on the puppeteers.

 

[Dragoner]

Nice pic of the Puppeteers in the gallery. Maybe I'll go look for Fleet of Worlds.

 

[Ran Targas]

IMTU, the Hivers have basically done this to the subject races in their hegemony. The Hivers have been breeding Humans, Ithklur, Gurvin, and others to improve their overall contribution to Hiver-dom. Seems only natural they would continue to manipulate these races despite already governing them.

 

[sabredog]

Jerry Pournelle wrote a series of books called "Janissaries" in which US soldiers taking part in the Angolan war are snatched off by aliens to use to subdue other humans living on worlds in more primitive conditions.

I liked the concept (kinda reminded me of The Last Crusade (much better), and The Doomfarers of Coramonde (dragons vs. M113's-tasty)...but they are not his best work. But the idea of aliens using other races who might be better adapted to a world's environment or better at fighting and whatnot is something fun to play with.

Here's the Wikipedia bit on the novel I mentioned: normally I abhor the site, but this entry is pretty accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janissaries_(novel)

 

[Major B]

Here's the Wikipedia bit on the novel I mentioned: normally I abhor the site, but this entry is pretty accurate.

I've read the first two books - didn't know there was a third (but now I'm going to find a copy) and I don't remember this being part of the CoDo universe. I think that may be an error right at the top of the page.

The page also calls Galloway's unit "US" - its been some time but I thought the unit was composed of mercenaries drawn from a number of countries. IIRC, the 2nd in command was French.

 

[rancke]

...I don't remember this being part of the CoDo universe. I think that may be an error right at the top of the page.

The page also calls Galloway's unit "US" - its been some time but I thought the unit was composed of mercenaries drawn from a number of countries. IIRC, the 2nd in command was French.

Dig out your own book, check if you're right, and if you are, correct the errors yourself. That's the beauty of wikipedia.


Hans

 

[Starviking]

Dig out your own book, check if you're right, and if you are, correct the errors yourself. That's the beauty of wikipedia.


Hans

And then someone changes them right back - that the problem with wikipedia.

 

[rancke]

And then someone changes them right back - that the problem with wikipedia.

And when that has happened a couple of times, the admins examine the question in depth and determines which version is correct.


Hans

 

[Whipsnade]

I've read the first two books - didn't know there was a third (but now I'm going to find a copy) and I don't remember this being part of the CoDo universe.

Major B,

Don't worry, you're not losing your mind. Janissaries is not part of the CoDo universe no matter what the knucklehead who edited the Wiki entry might think on the matter.

Among many other things, the CoDo universe only has two sentient species, Mankind and Moties, and not the several allied extraterrestrials that employ human janissaries in the books of the same name.


Regards,
Bill


P.S. After further review, it seems that the Wiki entry does not place the story in the CoDo universe at all. Rather, the entry mentions the CoDo novel King David's Spaceship as a way of explaining the plot of the Janissaries series. Examine this quote:

Like King David's Spaceship, a novel in Pournelle's CoDominium Series, it is the story of a capable military leader undertaking campaigns on a backward planet.

(bold is mine)

"Like" is the operative word. The page is comparing KDS to Janissaries and the entry maker is correct in that regard. Pournelle recycles more than most authors; I mean how many times is someone going to be named Glenda Ruth?

 

[Major B]

"Like" is the operative word. The page is comparing KDS to Janissaries and the entry maker is correct in that regard.

Thanks for the correction Bill.

Pournelle recycles more than most authors; I mean how many times is someone going to be named Glenda Ruth?

True. When I was looking for the third book over the weekend I noticed a title called "Tran" - turns out it is just a compilation of the first two books under a different title.

But on the good side, Pournelle's website indicates that he is working on Mamelukes, the fourth volume of the Janissaries story line.

 

[Easterner9504]

Janissaries

There are 3 novels.

1st covers the kidnapping and early campaigns.

2nd covers the war against Rome & the Huns. Rick's wife assassinates Caradoc.

3rd covers a rift between Rick and his wife while a holy war is fought against the Starmen and all who support them.

Rick was Army ROTC and his best friend got him to join secret op after commissioning, the unit was Reg US (detached) and merc mix. I think Rick & Sgt Maj were last 2 survivors of Reg. US personnel though plenty were ex-US Viet vets.

Similar theme is LOST REGIMENT by Willian Forstchen in which a Union regt and naval transport are inter-dimensionally transported to the Tugar dominated world where humans of every ancient culture are food and slaves of Tugar nomads till Springfields and Sharps set things aright. A Tugar squad of modern infantry soon arrives and topples the humans new dominance.