I am about 100 pages from finishing the book.  This book was well written and attention keeping.  There are a couple of things that have really grabbed my attention in the book so far:

1) The tribute of sorts to the 2004 Tsunami victims/countries.  I liked that a lot, plus the mention of what went wrong.

2) Bella Dwan, while an interesting character, should never have been a sniper.  All other characters are technically great (as in could be taken out of the book and put in the real world and be believable).  However, Dwan would never have passed sniper school (in any branch) with her attitude.  I know that I wouldn't want her on/attached to my squad (if I were a Marine) with her attitude regardless of skill.  She is too impatient.  Snipers sit still for much longer than most units sit on ambushes, and yet she couldn't sit still for more than 20 minutes (if that)?  (i.e. Carlos Hatchcock sat still for 2 whole days waiting for a good shot, another time moved about a centimeter an hour to get into position, Ed Kugler & Co. often sat still for a whole day waiting for targets.)  Snipers, by nature, are very patient and calm and calculating.  She seems to not carefully decide whom to kill.  For instance, Kare had to explain to her why she needed to shoot the driver of the lead car first before chasing other targets.  From what I've read about snipers, most of them would have instinctively gone for the driver of the lead car in order to create more targets.  Of course, I could be missing a major part of the reason for why she is the way she is.  (Could she be off her rocker?  cuz she seems to be...)

Despite what the second observation makes it seem like, I really do like this book.  Dwan does not really detract from the story for me, but she is distracting because of her attitude.  Great characterizations though, the characters are as real as fictional people can get!  :)  I'm sorry that Manny got killed off, I liked him.  Looking forward to the next book (and to the last 100 pages of this book).

DavidS wrote Dan mentioned we're plotting the last book on our current contract. Rest assured, we've already begun badgering our agent to open negotiations for more Starfist and Starfist: Force Recon books so that we can continue working uninterrupted when we finish writing this one.

Hold the phone...current contract?  Don't make me nervous.  How long does a 'contract' go for?  Agent...you need me to call super agent Scott Boras...worked for A-Rod & Barry Bonds?

And I like Bella, course I have a thing for psycho chicks w/ guns who get arosed killing people and have an athority issue.  Makes for a good story to have a character like that...creates discussion.  She's a keeper David, no matter how times Danners wants to have a house fall on her!