Path of the Fury/In Fury Born by David Weber Book Review

This story is a mix of greek mythology, and military science fiction.  It takes place in a future star empire of mankind.  Humans now possess faster than light starships, weapons that can destroy worlds, and bioenhancement technology that would make greek gods take notice.  Well it would if anyone could find them.

This story starts out with Tisiphone, the fury, being breifly awoken several times by a bright spark in her mind until finally she is awoken fully from her slumber to find herself horribly alone.  She can find no trace of the gods or closer to home her sister selves.  What she does see is the bright spark that awoke her flaring and dying.  Its need for vengance has woken her from her slumber, and when she examines it she sees that the mortal it belongs is worthy of her help.

Alicia DeVries was once an elite member of the Imperial Cadre, A group of technologically enhanced special forces soldiers, and one of the best they ever trained.  Due to political reasons she finds herself retired long before she planned, and moves to a new colony world with her extended family.  The pirates came when she was out hunting one of the large predators on her world, and she came home to find her outpost being raided and her family dead.  With just a hunting rifle she manages to take out the entire raiding party, but is badly injured in the process.

This is when Tisiphone finds her and offers her vengance, at the possible cost of herself.  When Alicia accepts the pirates will wish they had never set foot on her world, and the galaxy may never be the same. 

Though the topic is grim, the book does have its light moments.  Tisiphone really doesn't get the implications of modern technology, and this leads to some funny situations.  The Empire is also not prepared for things like Tisiphone, and the author plays this up to lighten the mood at several points.

This is a great adventure story that really explores the difference between vengeance and justice, and the lengths that grief will drive people to.  I recommend this novel to anyone who likes space battles and paranormal entities.  It can be found at www.amazon.com in print, or in the collection In Fury Born as an Ebook or in print.  In Fury Born is this book together with more stories about Alicia to give you better background.