[Spotlight Post] Tanya Huff and the Confederation Novels

This week’s spotlight post is on Tanya Huff in general and the Confederation Book series in general. Tanya Huff was recently the Guest of Honor at ApolloCon. Now, as a “networking tool” I try to read something by the GOHs of the conventions I attend, so that if we’re trapped in an elevator (or some other unlikely scenario) I have a topic of conversation ready.

My choice for Tanya Huff was the two book omnibus of the first Confederation novels which are military SF. An omnibus is pretty much by definition a “brick” book because it combines two or three novels. So I started earlier than I might’ve reading it before ApolloCon–thinking it would take me a while. And…no. I actually had an epiphany whilst (yeah, check it, whilst) reading it.
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You see, I’m hit/miss on military SF. I like some better than others, and in this ONE INSTANCE it seems to be on gender lines. I usually don’t care one way or another who wrote what. A good book is a good book, but in this case (TO ME…this is ME not a general statement) yeah, gender matters (TO ME…not a general statement). I find I prefer military SF written by women more than I like military SF written by men, and Tanya Huff’s Confederation books proved that point to me.

I like Jack McDevitt. I liked the second Star Carrier book from Ian Douglas better than the first. BUT… I found with Tanya Huff and Elizabeth Moon and even Lois McMaster Bujold…and here’s where I have to apologize to the male authors because this is going to sound harsh…characterization in the female-written military SF, more…heart or emotion or something else “girly”.
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BUT… Tanya Huff doesn’t lose the military “flavor” of the books (none of them do). The main character, Staff Sergeant (then Gunnery Sergeant) Torin Kerr is a tough, competent Marine. And in all the situations she has assigned to her (and go horribly wrong, or there wouldn’t be a plot) not only ring true in the military sense (I have NO PROBLEM suggesting these books to my friends with military family backgrounds/tastes), but there’s also a view of the INTERNAL battles. WHY is she such a good Sergeant? WHY does this battle mean so much? Yes, it hurts to lose people. In some other military SF books, the authors do so much to get the MILITARY right–the battles, the tech, the war, that some of the “People” parts of it get lost. And both make good fiction–because it’s life. But I like to see BOTH the internal and external. Tanya Huff’s books give me that.

And…Huff was sneaky. She created a story arc that was very, very subtle until the third and fourth books. The first two SEEM to be stand-alone (which they are) military Point A/Point B books based on historical battles) but until book three and four you see there’s more going on hidden deftly in the background until suddenly…it’s not any more. Hidden Strings are being pulled to maneuver people and Marines hither and yon…which doesn’t go over well with Gunnery Sergeants.
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I haven’t read the fifth book in the series yet, so I’m not sure if the arc is completely wrapped up or not in it (or if he haven’t seen the last of Torin Kerr), but I have a Barnes and Noble coupon . I’m not afraid to use it. So, if you like kick butt female characters and military SF and Big Freakin’ Guns…check out the series. I’m still working on some of her other books but can’t speak on them yet.
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And for the record? Tanya Huff? AWESOME person. Lots of fun. Easy to talk to…if you can keep up. If you have the opportunity to get to know her, do it. She’s a hoot and a half.

Tags: Confederation, Marines, Military SF, Spotlight, Tanya Huff, Torin Kerr