To challenge heaven

Weber and Kennedy's exciting third "Out of the Dark" book begins on the bridge of the Earth dreadnought Târgoviște, sent to take revenge on the Shongairi for their attempted destruction of the human home world. At the helm, Vlad Drakulya, a man whom history knows as Vlad the Impaler, was sent to destroy the Shongairi once and for all. Vlad discovers that humanity's skill at reworking the left-behind alien tech has proven even more successful than anticipated, with a massive human force set to arrive that can easily swat away any Shongairi resistance. This military sci-fi story describes massive galaxy-spanning battles with ease, but it also raises intriguing moral and ethical questions as humanity's rising military might lead it to consider where it fits in the universe and how to find justice. The story charts the rise of a human-centric federation, which pushes for justice and mercy in a grim and dangerous universe. VERDICT This is thrilling and philosophical military science fiction, in which vampires become saviors and aliens become allies. It will appeal to fans looking for a more fantastic take on what Star Trek could have become.--Jeremiah Rood