Pre-numbered label used for registration.

Book 2 in a series. The continuing story of Rick Galloway and his band of merceneries. Transported to an alien world, and surrounded by warriors from various periods of human history, they struggle to survive and make a life for themselves in their new home.

I may have to re-read this, as its been a long time since I last read the book.

This book is a sequel to Janissaries, and continues the story begun there. I thought I had read this previously, but very little of this story was familiar, so I'm not so sure I ever read this one.

Rick Galloway and his band of mercenaries have been stranded on a secret planet by space aliens who want them to produce a crop of intoxicating drugs. In order to achieve this goal, however, Galloway and his men must bring order to the chaotic mix of human cultures they find surrounding them. By carefully building alliances, Galloway begins to transform the planet's social, political and military landscape. However, his efforts are hampered by the changing climate and the resulting mass migrations. Galloway struggles to improve the lives of the people he rules, always mindful that any progress he promotes increases the chances that the aliens will bomb the planet back to the stone age.

While not as well written as the first book, this follow up does flesh out the varied cultures on the planet Tran, and shows the continuing impact of the introduction of advanced technical knowledge in a low technology culture. The military and political implications prove to be challenging, but perhaps not as bad as the social impact. While the first book could have stood on its own, this one ends abruptly, without any resolution, and is clearly intended to be read as part of a series.

The story concludes in Storms of Victory: Janissaries III.

To be released at the 2007 BookCrossing Convention in Charleston, SC, 20-22 April 2007.