When Ia was 15 her psi talent showed a devastating future.
There was only one tiny precarious path, one slender chain
of thousands of small events that would avert catastrophe.
Only by giving up her plans for her own life and dedicating
herself to manipulating the stream of events can she save
the lives of billions.
The first steps on the journey mean leaving her heavy
gravity planet on the fringes of known space and placing
herself in the Space Corp, Marine Division. With the help of
the mysterious Asafa religious order and by honing her
skills as both a Marine and Psi she can perhaps change the
future. Even with her gifts it is an almost impossible task.
The future is made up of myriad decisions, a quicksilver
network of ever-changing paths and one of the races of
beings are already manipulating the future for their own
purposes.
I am a fan of science fiction, and even more of the sub-
genre of military science fiction. With her brand new series
Jean Johnson has created a meaty, intricate plot with a
truly kick-ass heroine. The battle scenes are written with
pulse-pounding verve, the gory details necessary yet never
over the top. Reading A SOLDIER'S DUTY reminded me strongly
of a series that, although not sci fi also has a strong
military framework; Elizabeth Moon's Deeds of Paksenarrion
cycle. Although the humor is more subdued, Johnson's series
also follows in the footsteps laid down by Lois McMaster
Bujold in her Miles Vorkosigan books. A SOLDIER'S DUTY has a
most satisfying conclusion but is only the first step in the
adventure. I am looking forward to book two, An Officer's
Duty due out in August 2012.
Ia is a precog, tormented by visions of the future where her
home galaxy has been devastated. To prevent this vision from
coming true, Ia enlists in the Terran United Planets
military with a plan to become a soldier who will inspire
generations for the next three hundred years-a soldier
history will call Bloody Mary.
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