Grond III: All the King’s Men by Yuri Hamaganov

Olga has had a good run. Sher is being awarded with a promotion and best of all on her birthday. As she makes the fervent vow to protect motherland with all she has got, she does not have the slightest idea of just how intense things are about to become. Earth and the millions of people on it are at risk. There is a storm coming and it will leave no man behind. There will be destruction and death. Olga Voronov has the fortunate opportunity to decide the next course of action. How will those people be saved? Can she save the earth?

Yuri Hamaganov builds the story up right from the epilogue to the very last period. The action sequences are positively intense and almost breathtaking. Events unfold dramatically with an artistic skill. The rare capabilities of the author to weave a tale in a make believe world set many years from now are impeccable. Despite all the assumptions of what the future will be like, the science fiction in this book does not discombobulate. It does not try too hard. The story flows smoothly and one is not distracted by the technological possibilities. Story stands on its own two feet without requiring props. 

We have watched Olga grow from that overeager teenager into a confident young woman. She is brave and boasts a profound pride in her commitment to serve. It has been exciting to notice the changes in Olga. Over the years, people are expected to change especially if one surpasses a milestone like the teenage years. This much is apparent even in her interactions with people. He whole demeanor is mature and grown up. She speaks and interacts with people lie she has been out there and seen things. This is as opposed as before when her demeanor was playful and childish. The author should be commended for portraying Olga so vividly that she is figuratively growing up right before our eyes. 

That said, there is a certain snarkiness in Olga’s attitude that is very unlike her. Her head is expected to swell a little bit but the attitude is so different from when she was a little girl learning the ropes. On the other hand, this may be intentional to further reiterate her advancement in age and cognition. 

Usually with book series, they tend to get a little boring by the third installment. The complete opposite is true for the Grond series. This book seems a little more easygoing. There is an air of lightheartedness. This could be attributed to fact that these characters have been together for all or most of the series. Familiarity is bound to develop making for some very cute and delightfully sarcastic dialogue. 

This book is not meant to science fiction geeks only. Any one who likes a bit of adventure. Anyone who likes to leave their comfort zone and enjoy an out of the ordinary. This is the book for them. It is not unusual. It is just set in an unusual backdrop. Five stars for the third instalment of the Grond series.