The Forlorn Hope

The Forlorn Hope is a science fiction novel by David Drake.

The Forlorn Hope
First edition
AuthorDavid Drake
Cover artistAlan Gutierrez
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction novel
PublisherTor Books
Publication date
1988
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages318
ISBN0-8125-3622-3
OCLC233791348

Background

The Forlorn Hope was originally intended as the first volume of a series for Ace Books, later instalments of which would be written by other authors: the setting of the book was based on the Thirty Years' War while the initial situation was inspired by Xenophon's Anabasis. However, after Ace was acquired by G. P. Putnam's Sons Jim Baen of Tor Books made a successful offer for the book. Drake did not write any sequels to this book as he felt that he had ended it at a satisfactory point.[1]

The technology and setting of The Forlorn Hope are comparable to that of Drake's Hammerverse; however, Drake has confirmed that this book is not set in the same fictional universe as the Hammer's Slammers stories.[2]

Plot introduction

The Forlorn Hope follows the fortunes of a mercenary company named "Fasolini's Company". On the planet Cecach, a civil war has raged between the secular Federals and their religious zealot adversaries, the Republicans. Fasolini's Company is to provide heavy support to a Federal firebase. When the firebase is cut off and surrounded by Republican troops, the Federals surrender, offering Fasolini's Company to the Republicans as part of the bargain. Since the Republicans have vowed to execute any mercenaries who fall into their hands, Fasolini's Company decides that it must flee the firebase before the Republicans arrive to take control. Fighting both the turncoat Federals and the Republicans, Fasolini's Company, with the aid of a loyal Federal logistics officer and the captain of a planet-trapped interstellar freighter, must march across enemy lines to reach the safety of the intact and still loyal Federal lines.

Release details
  • 1988, Tor. 0-81253-6223
  • 1991, Tor. 0-81251-3320
  • 2006, Tor. 0-765356-465

References
  1. David Drake. "The Forlorn Hope". Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  2. Alan Brown. "War Without Glory: The Forlorn Hope by David Drake". Tor.com. Retrieved 2017-01-16.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.