Command Decision

Vatta's War, Book 4

By: Elizabeth Moon

Narrated by: Cynthia Holloway

Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

After orchestrating a galaxy-wide failure of the communications network owned and maintained by the powerful ISC corporation, Gammis Turek and his marauders strike swiftly and without mercy. First they shatter Vatta Transport. Then they overrun entire star systems, growing stronger and bolder. No one is safe from the pirate fleet.

But while they continue to move forward with their diabolical plan, they have made two critical mistakes.Their first mistake was killing Kylara Vatta's family.Their second mistake was leaving her alive.

Now Kylara is going to make them pay. But with a "fleet" consisting of only three ships - including her flagship, the Vanguard, a souped-up merchant cruiser - Kylara needs allies, and fast. Because even though she possesses the same coveted communication technology as the enemy, she has nowhere near their numbers or firepower.

Meanwhile, as Kylara's cousin Stella tries to bring together the shattered pieces of the family trading empire, new treachery is unfolding at ISC headquarters, where undercover agent Rafael Dunbarger, estranged son of the corporation's CEO, is trying to learn why the damaged network is not being repaired. What he discovers will send shock waves across the galaxy and crashing into Kylara's newly christened Space Defense Force at the worst possible moment.

©2008 Elizabeth Moon (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Strong female leads, terrific action and complications aplenty: should grab existing fans and win new converts." ( Kirkus)

Good Series, Narrator needs better direction.

I have been enjoying Vatta's War. The characters are compelling and interesting with black, white and shades of gray. The story moves along well with also enough detail to give an idea of what life on a space freighter might well be. Just as with Moon's other books I've listened to, The Paks series, there is wonderful detail of day to day life that takes into account the little things in life. Some might find this tedious but I find it intriguing, giving fullness not only to the characters but the setting.

I have read reviews that mention the narrator and how grating her voice is. I personally don't find her voice that bad. Some of the voices she uses are more irritating than others but in general her voice is pleasant enough. The thing that is really getting to me is not entirely her fault. The editor or director (or what ever staff is responsible for that on a production like this) should be catching all of her mispronounced words. Query she pronounces to rhyme with worry as opposed to queer - ry. That word is used over and over again and it became quite annoying. Then there was "rev - a - lent." I wish I could have kept a log of all the mispronounced words but I'm driving when I listen and I just can't keep track. It starts to become comical and mars the overall experience of the book. Would I suggest one not to listen to these recordings? No. But I would suggest better direction for this actor in the future to correct this problem.

Excellent Military Space Opera

Ky's force grows in experience and size, while...oops! No spoilers...you will have to listen for yourself!

More Of The Same!

When They attacked the Vatta Family the Pirates made a mistake. They left the 3 most Dangerous members Alive. As the Ladies of Vatta and their allies rally. The Plot grows Bigger. The Story still Moves at a rapid pace and The Narrator still uses the Inflection change for the characters. If you followed the story from the beginning it still what you've come to expect. and it's worth waiting for the Final volumes(?)

Great story; poor reader

As with the rest of this series, the story flows well, the characterization is interesting and involving, and the world is well realized. Unfortunately, Cynthia Holloway seems incapable of reading and repeating words. At this point, it's not really worth the trouble of going back for examples, but it's clear throughout that she is just reading out loud, not actually understanding what the words mean.

Good Story

This book had good surprises and a strong charter development with action, Sabatage and back stabing

Vatta /Harrington effective opposites

I live these capable and very different female characters. they are inspiring. I can almost see myself as Ky. she's the less rigid of the two.

great series

I've listened to this series 3 times and it' doesn't get old. it's a great adventure..

Good series

I must say I have become hooked on this series. Moon has this book broke up into section on Ky Vatta, Rafe and Aunt Grace and only a small amount about Stella. This one has more to do with Rafe than any other books in the series so far. Rafe went off to find out about his family and found they had been kidnapped. He rescues them and takes over as CEO of the communications company. Ky is still trying to get her fleet together. She did have some battle action. Book has suspense, action and humor as well as strong female characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

It's Time to Hit Back

Okay, the plot elements I hated have become more numerous and prominent. The need to follow Stella’s former love to the world that serves as the heart of Interstellar Communications Corporation in order to discover the truth behind the conspiracy and the fate of his family is drawn out in an attempt to make him more respectable. The plotting of Aunt Grace Vatta on Slotter Key makes for an odd detour at times. But ultimately, the book delivers on its promise of a destiny realized as the Space Defense Force gets a name, a mission and ultimately a mandate.
Somewhat tempering this success however is the ultimate realization that combat in this universe and at this author’s hands will not be the intricate ballet of hard military scifi goodness that might have been possible given the restrictions that prevailed at the beginning. Like Honor Harrington, Ky Vatta soon gets her hands on FTL communications and with short range FTL jumping gets to real-time information gathering without the ponderous, and more steadily paced, technological development of David Weber’s heroine.
So there will be no dazzling tactical sweeps such as those that occupied the adventures of The Lost Fleet. Instead we get snapshots of destruction and drama that satisfy but do not engage.

Fast Paced action from a master wordsmith

If you could sum up Command Decision in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, Interesting, keeper

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love the character of Rafe. I enjoy the development of his backstory in this installment of the series. But all of the characters are well rounded and believable.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Cynthia Holloway?

Almost anyone except that dreadfull person who reads the JD Robb novels and sounds as if she is a klingon. Cynthia just is not a natural reader and somehow makes everyone sound sulky and annoying. If I had not previously read these books in physical book format I would probably not have continued listening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This series has kept me going at the gym during workouts which is a minor miracle as I usually hate going to gyms and find them about as interesting as watching and empty escalator. However, having a good book to listen to makes it go so much faster.

Any additional comments?

Love the books......love the series.....cant wait till Audible brings out the Serrano series (hint hint)