I could conclude by suggesting that those of a progressive persuasion who don't like the military and just want to hug the terrorists until they come ot their senses should probably not read this book. But maybe they should give it a try. It will probably offend them in more ways than I can count, but it might also get through to them on some level. Kratman has humanized a lot of his message and made it approachable for a wider audience. Different readers may come away with different messages from it. One reviewer has already claimed the book is a condemnation of the Iraq War, largely missing the point that it's more of an argument for having fought that war and done it more competently. Other readers may find the characters and the problems which they face to be compelling. The subject matter is difficult but it's not treated in a cheap or opportunistic way.
In A Desert Called Peace Tom Kratman has crafted a complex novel with more than one message and whether you're predisposed to agree with him or have an open mind or just like a good story, it's worth a look. And keep an eye out for Carnifex, which is scheduled for a quick followup release in early November.
Article comments
1 - Paul Howard
Minor nit on your review, Caliphate is not a sequel to A Desert Called Peace. However, I have read Desert and its segual Carnifex (in an ARC) and agree with your review.
2 - Dave Nalle
Where did you get hold of a copy of Carnifex?
Quite right about Caliphate. I'm correcting the review. I'm used to books coming in trilogies so I mistakenly assumed that was the case here.
Dave
3 - Paul Howard
Baen Books sells Electronic Advanced Reader Copies on www.webscription.net. I got it there and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, Caliphate isn't available as an EARC yet but Tom Kratman has posted snippets in his conference on Baen's Bar.
4 - Dave Nalle
In some discussion over at The Republic of Dave Tom Kratman informs me that there are indeed more planned sequels remaining unwritten, so perhaps my mistake was a psychic flash.
I do think it's a good setting, and as it gets farther removed from being so directly linked to current events I suspect that the series will evolve into something even more interesting.
Dave