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The Mercenary
Jerry Pournelle Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Mercenary
"The main character is a mercenary, and so he fights. Theres no clear right or wrong side, and nobody is really fighting for anything in particular, so you find yourself not even caring who wins or looses. The female lead is named "Glenda Ruth Horton", so i feel sorry for her. I think the book was written more to make a political statement about internationalism then an interesting story, frankly. "
Will B., Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Mercenary
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 40%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
War or Invasion Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - infantry soldier
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
Terrain - Mountains
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
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