The Damocles Sanction (Review)

 

The Damocles Sanction

The Damocles Sanction is a very different book than I was expecting (honestly, I thought I was reading the story of Redemption Rites, but that was my fault for grabbing the wrong book). Instead, I got a very tense political drama set against the backdrop of the Federated Suns military campaign to retake the worlds occupied by House Kurita. The tension starts during the liberation of New Avalon and ratchets towards an uncertain future. This was written by Michael J. Ciaravella and clocks in at 319 pages.  

Synopsis:

After years of struggle and sacrifice, the Federated Suns has gambled everything on retaking their capital from the occupying forces of the Draconis Combine. The best and brightest minds in the high command know that if this strike fails or worse, the first prince falls, then it could be the end of the Great House.  

Julian Davion, the First Prince, and Erik Sandoval-Groell, the Prince's Champion find themselves at odds over the prosecution of the campaign.  

This disagreement is the latest in a string of arguments between the two most powerful men in the Federated Suns. These cracks in their relationship will widen in unpredictable ways as both men doubt each other. 

While this political drama unfolds, there are three other key dramas that are threaded through this central critical mass. 

First, Yori Kurita of the Draconis Combine takes the ultimate steps to guarantee the loyalty of her military and rid herself of a dangerous rival.

Second, Alexander Hassek goes on an unsanctioned and very personal mission that could drag his Capellan March into war with neighbors. The Federated Suns can not afford the crisis and heartache that follows.  

Finally, the younger cousin of Erik, Colleen has taken control of Robinson and is making moves to secure it for herself. 

However, nothing is ever quite what it seems. There are schemers whispering in the ears of everyone. Plots take shape and everyone is up to something. The junction where everything comes to a head is going to have ramifications for the Federated Suns, but could spill out to their neighbors as well.

The Good:

It’s a lot of political thriller. If you like a political drama with your characters having realistic motivations and moral grey areas, the politics should work for you.

That's very much a mileage may vary by user situation. 

The 'mech battles are intense, but often far too short.  

The Bad:

There are a lot of characters who are integral to the plot that sort of blend. It can be very hard, especially in the early chapters to distinguish one person from the next. I would recommend a little notepad. 

The other minor gripe I have is that at least one person in every major entourage (except Yori) is actively feeding the feelings of distrust and unease that drives the central conflict of the story. 

Overall 

Longtime battletech fans knew the broad strokes of how this story had to play out. The Suns had to retake their homeworld or die trying. Recovering the homeworld revitalized the Suns, but it also revealed how tenuous the Suns actually is.  

4.5 stars and I would absolutely follow it up by reading the relevant sections of Dominions Divided.