The Sharp End (BAEN) - Softcover

Drake, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671876325 ISBN 13: 9780671876326

Publisher: Baen Books, 1994

Synopsis

Gangs ruled Cantilucca. Guns were the only law, and there was no lack of guns. It was hard to imagine matters getting worse. Until the survey team arrived . . . Major Matthew Coke was not a squeamish man, but the state of affairs on Cantilucca turned his stomach. He was only human after all. Where some of the rest of his team were concerned, it was difficult to be sure. Five professional mercenaries who'd learned the hard way that in the end they could defeat anything - except their own consciences.

About this title

About the Author

David Drake is widely regarded as America's foremost exponent of military and historical science fiction. His bestselling books include the HAMMER'S SLAMMERS series and the Belisarius novels co-authored with S.M. Stirling and with Eric Flint.

From the Back Cover

The gangs ruled Cantilucca. Guns were the only law, and there was no lack of guns. It was hard to imagine matters getting worse.

THEN THE SURVEY TEAM ARRIVED

Major Matthew Coke knew his job was to sell the services of Frisian Defense Force mercenaries to the highest bidder. He wasn't a squeamish man, but he was human -- and the state of affairs on Cantilucca turned his stomach.

Captain Sten Moden had made a mistake on his previous posting. His huge body was scarred, but that wasn't the worst damage he'd received.

Lieutenant Robert Barbour gathered information. He'd been proud of his skill, until the morning he watched while howitzers and a line troop converted his data into action.

Lieutenant Mary Margulies had survived because a friend saved her life at the risk of his own. If she'd been lucky, she never would have met him again.

Specialist Niko Daun was young, cheerful, and as skilled a technician as anybody in the Frisian Defense Forces. He'd sooner have died than serve again with native troops on a backwater planet.

Sergeant Johann Vierziger said he had a purpose in life. To those around him, that purpose seemed to be to kill as often and efficiently as humanly possible...assuming that Vierziger was human.

They were professionals of violence, and with an instinct for good craftsmanship. In the end, they'd learned that they could defeat anything but their own consciences....

Edition details

• Publisher: Baen Books
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0671876325
• ISBN 13: 9780671876326
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 384