Lost Tribes of the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins

Lost Tribes of the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the final novel of the Dire Planet series the story picks up from the end of Strange Gods with Mellifis having to deal with the events in Orastus and bring the trade caravan back to Ledgrim. As the city continues to recover from the last battle with the exiles the powers within and without continue to attempt to usurp the Dire clan who through Garvey have huge amounts of influence on the council. At this point we learn much more about the very secretive Technopriests and the lost tribes who have been rallied by forces unknown for the objective of destroying Ledgrim. Lost Tribes was an easier read than the previous book even though there is a lot of information being put into the narrative at such a late stage but it works very well. The threat to Ledgrim and of course Garvey the "hero" of the tale escalates yet is kept in check by some well written set pieces and characters and at the end you will come away very satisfied.

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Strange Gods of the Dire Planet

Strange Gods of the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the aftermath of the assault against Ledgrim and the tragic losses incurred Lana Dire is accused of murdering Selah Shaw who refused to accept the warning Lana brought to the outer guard posts. Garvey now the chief of the council of elders offers restitution in line with the traditions of the tribe but this accusation is not about justice, there are elements at work who want to bring down the Dire clan and the trial and execution of Lana would be a good start.
This sets the tone of this fourth novel in the series, politics, greed and ambition are all in play amongst the various tribes of Mars and Garvey is finally getting a full taste of his adopted world. The narrative itself splits into a number of plot lines featuring the various characters both in present day and events in the past. It did get a little confusing if I am honest but all the events covered merge into the whole quite well yet leave a number of avenues open for the next book in the series. If nothing else Strange Gods really opens up the Mars that Garvey is living in both the world itself and the tribes and individuals. Traditions and religions all clash and well the blood certainly flows freely, life can be cheap on this world.
A good addition to the Dire Planet series but a tad confusing on first and second read and definitely not a good place to start if you're new to Garvey's adventures on the red planet.

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Into The Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins

Into the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The ancient technologies of civilisations past hold the key to the rescue of the Muvari people subjugated by the Exile forces and Garvey Dire with a few companions makes his way to the recently discovered city of Caladrex but with one or two distractions. His much extended family have fled from the massacre of Ledgrim and are wandering the wastelands pursued by an Exile tracking party and to make matters worse a traitor is at work and is willing to do anything to protect herself even at the cost of the fall of the Muvari.
Into The Dire Planet continues the events as told in "Exiles" with multiple storylines at play within the overall events in the piece of Mars. The Exiles led by Stechter the only other human on Mars are making a huge power play with no mercy shown, the city of Caladrex is looking to be reborn in fire and the survivors of Ledgrim look for allies even when faced with scepticism from those who can not believe the city could fall, treachery is everywhere.
The Dire Planet series is great fun to read, the world it creates is full of wonders but life is very cheap and always precariously balanced yet full of unexpected surprises.

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Exiles of the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins

Exiles of the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stuck on Mars and 47,000 years in the past is not that big a deal for former US astronaut Garvey Dire who has carved out a niche for himself within the native Muvari tribe both as a warrior (rare for a male) and a husband. Mars however is a still a wild place with competing tribes some of which are viable and well maintained societies and others feral and predatory including the cannibalistic Galbran race and mercenary Exiles. A hard fight with a band of Galbran once again racks up an impressive body count and leads to Garvey encountering his old "friend" Arnold Stechter who was also pulled back in time after the Mars missions Chinese mishaps. Unfortunately Stechter is the leader of assorted "exiles" groups of warrior mercenaries and his next goal is to take everything Garvey which leads to Garvey and Ntashia venturing into the wilds in search of Caladrex to claim it's advanced weaponry.
Exiles of the Dire Planet is simply bigger in every way than the first novel of the series (Dire Planet) and although we leave the present day action behind we do bring Arnold into the current time frame which adds a whole bunch of quite significant distractions. We learn a lot more about the Martian races and civilisations most of which are pretty blood thirsty although some by necessity and without the need for an origin element there is much more room for epic and quite bloody thirsty battles.
If you liked Dire Planet you'll love Exiles and if pulp scifi or simply a good action scifi adventure is your thing then you won't go wrong with this book or series.

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Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins

Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Garvey Dire was a US astronaut on a covert mission to Mars during a troubled time on Earth, he crashes into the surface of the red planet thanks to a malfunction and no other soul is due to arrive for a year. No one outside of a small circle of NASA and US military/state personnel know he was onboard the mission so his discovery of ruins and technology will go to waste but in twist of fate he is thrown back in time to around 47,000 BC when Mars was populated and is discovered by Lana Shar a native Martian from the local Muvari tribe.
Thus Garvey's adventures on Mars begin, he gains the favour of Lana who healed his wounds and with his superior strength thanks to the weaker gravity he is able to prove his worth to the local tribe but if he is to make a life on Mars and with the Muvari he will have to marry (maybe more than once) and father children while accepting the limitations on the males of the tribe but when the tribe are attacked he throws himself into combat and well then the fun really starts as he learns of the threats on Mars first hand.
Dire Planet is a rip-roaringly good story, there are no apologies for it's pulp nature and if you are not familiar with the genre that isn't a negative as all you need is a willingness to go along for the ride and be entertained. As the first book in the series it sets the tone very well both in terms of creating the origin story and providing the reader with the tools to visualise Mars nearly 50,000 years ago as well as events as the play out in the year after Garvey vanishes from Mars of today.
Dire Planet is highly recommended as are the other novels in the series.

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