A. Lee Martinez, In the Company of Ogres

In the Company of Ogres

A. Lee Martinez

Tor, August 2006, $13.95

ISBN: 0765315475

Never Dead Ned has spent eternity dying, but he never stays dead as he always returns to life. As a soldier, that is a pretty good trait to have, as your superiors are grateful for saving the cost of mortuary bills; but as a person it is annoying to return. You never know where your next tour of duty will end up, as you are unable to argue the assignment while you are dead.

Ned's latest comeback sends him to the pits at Copper Citadel, Commander of Ogre Company, the unruly out of control monsters whose superior officers don't just mysteriously die, they stay dead. The brass figures if anyone can come back to life after being killed by subordinates, Ned can; he has done so seemingly a zillion times. Of course, someone wants him dead, and this person assumes Regina the Amazon, who believes she should be in charge of the unit of losers, will do the job. If not her, there are orcs, ogres and goblins ready to kill their boss without a second thought, at a time that Ned knows why he returns and must stay alive until he finishes his otherworldly assignment.

IN THE COMPANY OF OGRES is a wild military science fiction tale that grips readers once they learn about Ned's ability to return from the dead, and it never slows down, as he has a cosmic task to accomplish while trying to survive six months with Ogre Company. The tongue in cheek storyline is fast-paced with a strong cast, who argue and bicker over anything and everything. Ned is terrific as the anchor that the rest of the crew gravitates towards. Fans of way out satires in outer space like Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker tales will appreciate this fun thriller and seek out A. Lee Martinez's previous novels (see Gil's All Fright Diner).