But, like most Cherryh novels, very little happens in a simple, straightforward way. Instead of proper, objective testing, with each test run's results carefully and scientifically analyzed and appropriate changes made, we find ourselves in the middle of a horrendously complicated multi-corner battle between the designing corporations, Senatorial committees, two competing military factions, and near social war between Earth-born test pilots and those raised in the asteroid belt, each of whom is driving their own point of view of how the equipment should be configured and the pilots trained. And just to throw in a further complication, we start the book with Dekker back in the hospital after a disastrous simulator accident which may be no accident at all, but rather attempted murder. But Dekker can't remember how or who put him in the simulator. The problems of the 'Hellburner' itself, of how you handle an attack ship moving at significant fractions of the speed of light, where your targets must be described in terms of probability arcs, of vector changes and millisecond decisions even with major computer help, are fascinating in their own right, an excellent setting around which to weave her plot.

How Cherry resolves all the plot complications is exemplary, and along the way she makes some striking points about bureaucracies, military organizations, graft, political 'influence', leadership qualities and styles, and the beginnings of the ethical morass of the 'azi' clones that she covered so well in Cyteen. Her ending is not telegraphed, and ties up all the loose ends while setting up the situation and people of her later books of this universe. About the only real disappointment was her solution to Dekker's 'accident', as it did not tie directly to any of the major players or points of the novel.

Characterization is very strong. Pollard, only partially developed in Heavy Time, here becomes a real, believable person that is easy to identify with. Lt. Graff (an important player in later stories) is easily recognizable to anyone who has ever served in the military, and even Dekker emerges from amnesiac cipher-hood to become the embodiment of the pilot with the 'right stuff'.

Once again, though, readers unfamiliar with Cherryh's style may have a very rough time getting into this book, with her clipped, abbreviated, and incomplete sentences riddled with abbreviations and alphabet-soup acronyms. For this reason I'd highly recommend reading Heavy Time directly prior to this novel, though it is not absolutely required, as then the reader will start this book with both the background to this story and familiarity with this style.

One of her better books, on par with Downbelow Station, though not quite up to the brilliance of Cyteen, and an excellent introduction to her entire Alliance/Union universe.


She's written so much better...   August 9, 2000
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

"Hellburner" is a direct sequel to "Heavy Time," and I strongly recommend you read "Heavy Time" before starting on "Hellburner"-- the book probably won't make much sense if you don't.

As in "Heavy Time," there are two major questions: Who killed Paul Dekker's friend(s) in an "accident"? Is Dekker himself sane? The accident itself, as in "Heavy Time," occurred off-stage, before the book begins. I have to admit, when I opened the book and found Dekker once again nutty, I thought, "Oh, oh, here we go again..." Luckily, Cherryh dispenses with this faster than she did in the first book, although not perhaps fast enough.

Ben Pollard, whom I found to be remarkably unsympathetic in the first book, is rounded-out in this one, and a lot easier to tolerate. Dekker remains-- annoyingly-- a cipher. The way in which some of the major characters from "Hard Time" were later introduced into the book seemed contrived. Plot-wise, "Hellburner" ends up being pretty unsatisfying. Everything seems to happen in the last few pages, and the final resolution is more of a tease than a resolution. Still, I have read worse.


One of the best SF books I've ever read.   August 6, 1998
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

The magic of this book--as with just about all of Cherryh's novels is the development of the characters.

It isn't a book about good vs evil--but rather about what happens when everyday people are caught up in hopeless, dangerous and ludicrous situations.

The reader will almost be able to see the characters in the flesh because they are so believable.

For sf hardware fanatics--they will not be disappointed. Cherry does an excellent job in portrayting believable and realistic weapons and spacecraft.

This is a must read for fans of the Alliance-Union universe. It gives the reader a look at the beginning of the Mazianni. Cherry takes the 'pirates' of "Rimmrunners", "Tripoint", and "Merchanter's Luck"...and puts a human face on them.

Cherryh is unique amongst SF authors.


One of Cherryh's Best   June 15, 1998
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Hellburner is one of my favorite Cherryh books, and a rare example of a sequel which is better than the original. If you like subtle humor, great characterization, and a complex plot, you'll enjoy this book If you enjoy anything to do with flying, test pilots, fighter aircraft, and the 'right stuff' you'll love it. But if you're looking for a book with good guys, bad guys and lots of shooting, try something else.

The humor is the best in any of Cherryh's books. I don't often find myself laughing out loud while reading, but I found myself doing so again and again with Hellburner, even on a rereading. Particularly the first few chapters are very, very funny indeed. It's delicate, out-of-your-face humor, though, and I imagine that there are a substantial number of readers who wouldn't find it funny at all.

The plot concerns the development of the rider ships which operate from larger warships in Cherryh's Alliance-Union universe. It's set in the early years of the war, and younger versions of several characters from Downbelow Station appear. Four of the five main characters from Heavy Time are back, and end up as test pilots. Most of the book takes place at a military research establishment on a space station in Earth's solar system. There are vast, complex intrigues and sinister plots, as different factions of the military, the politicians, and the large corporations working on the project try to influence the design of the powerful new ships. There is also a dire mystery to be solved, but as is often the case with Cherryh, the solution is not satisfying. However, the development of the characters, especially that of Ben Pollard, the humor, the powerful verbal clashes, and the satisfyingly consistent complexity make it well worth reading. If you enjoyed Downbelow Station, Tripoint, and Finity's End, try Hellburner.