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A Dry, Quiet War
Audio CD
First published June 1, 1996
About the author
Tony Daniel
87 books68 followersTony Daniel is an author of science fiction novels, short stories, and radio dramas.
For the comic book author, see Tony S. Daniel.
For the comic book author, see Tony S. Daniel.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 30, 2024
Review and rating solely for A Dry, Quiet War (novelette, 1996)
Tony Daniel's masterwork. It's something like a small Lonesome Dove in Space, and really, really good. There's a copy online here: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories...
If you've missed it, you have quite a ride ahead.
“He tried to fight, but there was never any question of him beating me. That would be absurd. I’m Colonel Bone of the Skyfalling 8th. I kill so that there might be life. Nobody beats me. It is my fate, and yours, too.”
Times read: many. One of my 100 Best SF stories, and well towards the top of that list.
Tony Daniel's masterwork. It's something like a small Lonesome Dove in Space, and really, really good. There's a copy online here: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories...
If you've missed it, you have quite a ride ahead.
“He tried to fight, but there was never any question of him beating me. That would be absurd. I’m Colonel Bone of the Skyfalling 8th. I kill so that there might be life. Nobody beats me. It is my fate, and yours, too.”
Times read: many. One of my 100 Best SF stories, and well towards the top of that list.
September 13, 2010
5.0 stars. WOW, this is a terrific science fiction short story that I had never heard of until I stumbled across the audiobook on audible.com. It concerns a soldier returning to his home planet after fighting in a mysterious galaxy spanning war during which he was given significant genetic modifications in order to become a superior fighter. The story explores themes reminiscent of Fritz Leiber's The Big Time and Joe Haldeman's The Forever War with a little Cordwainer Smith and Clifford Simak thrown in for good measure. A terrific piece of science fiction that will leave you thinking at the end.
January 2, 2022
A well written story of far future galaxy/time wars and the effects on the soldiers in the aftermath.
October 23, 2013
The story itself is nothing extraordinary, but it's the way it's been written that makes it shine, not like a sun but a quiet candle that lights the night for a long, long time.
It's a minimalist charcoal painting, using very basic, broad strokes to create depth, color, and character far better than a 16-million-color, 440-dpi image. It's a story that gives your imagination enough to run with - extraordinary concepts, people, histories... and then lets it run.
Good little break.
It's a minimalist charcoal painting, using very basic, broad strokes to create depth, color, and character far better than a 16-million-color, 440-dpi image. It's a story that gives your imagination enough to run with - extraordinary concepts, people, histories... and then lets it run.
Good little break.
February 17, 2012
One of my favourite stories ever, if not my absolute favourite. I read this one every year. Daniel is the most literary SF author around. It's a shame there aren't more writers like him working in the genre.
January 23, 2013
Stunning. Visionary. First short story in Gardner Dozois' Best of the Best Sci Fi collection I really wanted to call out and find more by this author.
December 26, 2023
Well that's a crazy good story
May 11, 2017
Yikes! I did expect the story to end the way it did, but that didn't make it any less disturbing or gut wrenching a read. Tony Daniel writes beautifully, and this is as much a literary work as much as it is sci fi. The narrative flows smoothly, and the world-building complements the narative one hundred percent. I only wish there was more said about the war, about Henry's changes, and a whole lot more about the various people that fought. This story, beautiful in its shortness, could very well have the potential to become the base for a very exciting full fledged sci fi novel.
July 21, 2014
First time I even felt a need to leave a comment..No matter what I can't forget this short story I wish it was, would be a full novel, loved it a personal favorite. so much possibilities.
May 1, 2016
A strong touch of Heinlein. Watch for this one.
July 29, 2019
Wonderful short story ... a little dark and very tasty!
Would give it a 6 if I could.
Would give it a 6 if I could.
February 12, 2021
Quite a good short work by Tony Daniel.
Beautifully written.
Beautifully written.
Read
February 11, 2024I can give y love and care
the night and dream
the lovely wind kiss the flower
the jasmeen wish to us
gd promiss
over the stars was stars
cant thee diled yr tatoo name in ma heart
cant thee take our lovely night memory
thee hold my brain
my cold hands
cant take passion lips memory
cant take our hush ahh in that red merror
every moment remmber that door
passion one at candle light
my heart sqez
i write to y litter bild home of love
i write tired to y from wait like whit moon
my litters was holding tears from far war
i give the night book
i give the star yr photo
i give my tired heart echo of yr lovely eyes
the night and dream
the lovely wind kiss the flower
the jasmeen wish to us
gd promiss
over the stars was stars
cant thee diled yr tatoo name in ma heart
cant thee take our lovely night memory
thee hold my brain
my cold hands
cant take passion lips memory
cant take our hush ahh in that red merror
every moment remmber that door
passion one at candle light
my heart sqez
i write to y litter bild home of love
i write tired to y from wait like whit moon
my litters was holding tears from far war
i give the night book
i give the star yr photo
i give my tired heart echo of yr lovely eyes
January 28, 2019
The internet is an amazing thing. For some reason, I was thinking of the SyFy dramatization of this story this morning, and was able to find the original text, free to read, on a publisher’s website.
It turns out there’s a reason it made an impression on me when I heard the radio play almost 20 years ago. This is a very well-drawn piece of mil sf, although the woman-in-danger bit was probably showing its age even when this was published.
It turns out there’s a reason it made an impression on me when I heard the radio play almost 20 years ago. This is a very well-drawn piece of mil sf, although the woman-in-danger bit was probably showing its age even when this was published.
June 19, 2021
Brilliant!
Who would have thought that in an incredibly strong sci-fi story my favourite line would have nothing to do with sci-fi.
"Her eyes were green. Now I had seen an ocean, and I could understand the kind of green they were."
Either Tony Daniel has been to war or he's got some seriously deep empathy. Not to mention some awesome vision.
Who would have thought that in an incredibly strong sci-fi story my favourite line would have nothing to do with sci-fi.
"Her eyes were green. Now I had seen an ocean, and I could understand the kind of green they were."
Either Tony Daniel has been to war or he's got some seriously deep empathy. Not to mention some awesome vision.
April 5, 2018
Technology, ambiguity, romance set in an old west town. Multiple timelines converge
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
such a well written, sad, story.
August 15, 2021
This was an excellent short story and can be read here: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories...
January 11, 2022
Short, sci-fi story, about a soldier who goes back home... but there's some scavengers around.
June 5, 2022
This is well-written, and with an interesting premise, but I will never enjoy that horrid, godawful trope of raping women as motivation for men. Never.
September 7, 2023
داستان زیبایی است از سفر در زمان، عشق و نبردی به خاطر عشق.
ترجمه این کار زیبا را میتونید رو "فضای استعاره" بخونید.
کار رو "مهدی بنواری" ترجمه کرده و نتیجه بسیار تمیز و شیواست.
لینک به داستان در فضای استعاره
ترجمه این کار زیبا را میتونید رو "فضای استعاره" بخونید.
کار رو "مهدی بنواری" ترجمه کرده و نتیجه بسیار تمیز و شیواست.
لینک به داستان در فضای استعاره
July 10, 2014
If I were given just a little more background about the war, I think I'd be better able to feel an emotional punch in the end. As-is, it has great potential and isn't a bad read. Maybe I've just been watching too much Dr. Who lately...
July 2, 2014
Short story with a great premise and extremely well written. My only small complaints are: I wanted a little more exposition at times; some themes are cliched; and I didn't want to stop reading! But a very strong narrative that I'm happy to have read.
January 8, 2024
really interesting concept, really enjoyed!
April 7, 2017
Man oh man! What a fantastic read! This was recommended to me by a buddy of mine, who gave this to me as an entry point into the science fiction genre. I've mostly stuck to Southern Gothic and Russian Literature when it came to my reading and I was pleasantly surprised with how great this novelette was. It sucks you in right at the very beginning. A man returns home after fighting in a time war and adjusts back into civilian life when, outside forces draw him back into the life he was program to live.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews