Rally Point

by David Sherman

Book Overview

Ruthless and seemingly indestructible, the dark army didn't count on the few, the proud, the Marines. The Dark Prince's vast armies have destroyed nation after nation with the aid of powerful demon magic. Their total victory would be swift and certain except for two things- Haft and Spinner, a pair of soldiers trained in the art of warfare through the teachings of a magically transported Marine Gunnery Sergeant. The Dark Prince's orders are swift...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345443756
• ISBN13: 9780345443755
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Lord Gunny Says " Buy this book two!!!

Haft and spinner have picked up a small band and are being pushed across the land by the armies of the Dark Prince, entering the lands of Zobra as they trek looking for a sea port to take them back to their home port of Frangeria to get help. Silent, a giant from the Northern steppes, out on an adventure to see the known world. Wolf, a beast that moves in stealth watching and warding from afar and eventually befreinds and joins the group. The Golden Girl, spiteful and course, having Spinner beguiled, and hating him and haft for taking away her musician. Doli, love struck tavern girl, who was freed from slavery by Our Marine Duo. Flecher and Zweepee, a married couple also freed from slavery and joined the escape from the dark minions. The small group grows into hundreds as they move thru the lands, they encounter a town beset by bandit gangs, as they run from the Jokapcul armies ravaging the lands behind them. Demontech weapons are discovered and employed by their new magician, Xundoe. He teachs the company how to use Demon spitters and other weapons. He sets off Phoinex eggs and fire salamanders as they battle and struggle against their old and new foe's. The reader is introduced to the concept of the Rally point, a place where people go when the fog of war gets out of hand. Great Battles, great charcters, running adventure, page turning fun, like Lord Gunny says, "Buy this book too, you cant go wrong!"

Great Book!!!

I read this book awhile ago and just recently reread the series. I am not a big fantasy fan, but this is a great read. If you are looking for something that is exciting, fun and a page turner, read this series, you will not be disappointed.

A Few Good Men - Part 2

The second book in an excellent Science Fiction/Fantasy series, it continues building on the concept of what the impact of USMC training and tradition would be on the inhabitants of a low tech society. I found it to be a well written book with entertaining characters and a good story line. I highly recommend this book along with the others in series.

A Rabble in Arms

Rally Point (2003) is the second novel of the Demontech series, following Onslaught. In the previous volume, Spinner and Haft have escaped from the Jokapcul invasion of New Bally and start their trek northeastward through Bostia, intending to cross Skragland and then turn south to the port of Zorba City, where they can get passage to Frangeria. After a bit of excitement over a hungry gray tabur, a large feline, they meet Silent, a Tangonine giant, who joins them in combat against a Jokapcul unit at the Skragland border. Unfortunately, one of the Jokapcul gets away, so Haft and Spinner take three of the Jokapcul horses and ride east. After a spot of trouble at the Burnt Man Inn, Spinner and Haft depart in the company of the Golden Girl, Doli, Zweepee, and Fletcher. A few days later, Wolf starts following them and, occasionally, leading them to battle sites. They follow the path of a Zorban unit and arrive just as a Jokapcul company attacks them. Although they drive off the enemy for a short while, the Jokapcul soon return and are wearing down their small group when Silent roars into the Jokapcul rear and sends them tumbling like bowling pins. After finishing off the enemy, they add the horses to their own and continue on their way, gathering fighting men and some refugees as they travel. In this novel, the Dark Prince demands that the Jokapcul magicians find out more about the bandits attacking their men in the north. One of the mages sends out a hive of bees to hunt for the group led by Haft and Spinner. Meanwhile, the group has been fleeing east from the Jokapcul advance, but soon discover that they have insufficient food and water for travel across the Eastern Waste. They follow the borders of the waste south toward the Princedons. They now have enough fighting men to make up a reinforced platoon: Zorbans, Skraglanders, and a few sea soldiers who have escaped from Zorba City. They are beginning to pick off small units of Jokapcul and any bandits foolish enough to attack them. They even rescue a Skragland unit from a bandit ambush. Then they come to the town of Eikby. While Spinner and Haft are negotiating with the town mayor, the group camps nearby and prepares a meal. Shortly thereafter, numerous bandits attack the camp, deliberately inflicting injuries to several women and children, but are driven off by the returning fighting men. The bandit gang is well known to the townsfolk and the group are warned that they will gather as many other bandit gangs as possible and return to attack them once again as retaliation for previous losses. The town mayor wants to send the newcomers away, but is overruled by the Commander of the Eikby Guard. The townsfolk start preparing for an attack by the bandits. Then refugees from Penston brings word that the Jokapcul have taken that city and are coming up the peninsula toward Eikby. This novel shows the development of Haft and Spinner into leaders as they accept responsibility for mor

A slam bang action adventure

Ok! If you read my comments on Onslaught you would know that while I enjoyed it I was unhappy with its lack of a conclusion. Well, here it is with all the page turning action and derring do you could hope for. While it (of course) sets the stage for further books in the series, Rally Point completes the story arc begun in Onslaught with a satisfying, bang up ending. Sherman's use of demons as analogs for modern weapons adds an interesting dimension to the story telling while adding an element of humor as well. It lends new meaning to the term 'smart weapon'. No spoilers here, just buy it, but make sure you have both Demontech I and II. If you are into action and military oriented fantasy these books are guaranted to satisfy. I now look forward (without the frustration) for the next book in the series.