Sub-Majer's Challenge by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It continually shocks me just how ... steadying ... these books are for a reader. That's probably the best description I can make about it. There's continuous and steady pressure, calm outlooks, reliance on competence, careful thought, overwhelming force when necessary, and an always delightful magic system that is balanced perfectly with ordered military life.

These books are a repudiation of incompetence and chaos for chaos's sake.

This particular book sucked me right in and no matter what happened (taking over another post, succeeding against all odds, getting married, learning a few big surprises along the way, getting promoted SEVERAL times) it all felt inevitable and inexorable.

Rational Stars, it's good. The style and the (to be frank) perfectly mass-produced plotting is not even a detriment to the story. It's a medium to carry the FEEL we want from these books. Of course, that doesn't mean it can't surprise or take us by storm, but in general, we're meant to feel immense COMFORT.

I cannot stress how good this is. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it. And I generally DON'T love military novels.

But when they serve to bring order and wisdom to the world?
Brilliant.

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