Check out this very thoughtful review by superlative filmmaker and writer H. Wolfgang Porter!"Warriors of the Four Worlds" by Ronald T. Jones is the Sci-fi Adventure/Drama about the interaction between three interstellar species and how their relationship collapsed with tragic consequences. Humans, Vingins and Zirans are three species which could not be more different in their cultural let alone physical make-ups. Throw in disparate philosophies for living and you have a potentially volatile mixture. However, the relationship lasts for hundreds of years as the pacifistic Vingin are a technologically advanced species whose symbiotic relationship with their predatory Human and Ziran allies are the glue holding things together.The story opens during the final phase of a genocidal war in which the Human Race is engaged in what they do best, killing. The enemy, a murderous interstellar species called the Tacherins are on the verge of being anihillated after attacking Vingin space. Having found Humanity to be an implacable and merciless foe, the Tacherins make ready to fight to the last of their species. More than willing to give the enemy what they want is Commander Lev Gorin. Gorin is the standard 'hard as nails with a conscious' commander readers have come to know and love. However, unlike prominent members of this archetype Lev Gorin has no problem with genocide if it will protect his species and allies.Under the Commander's leadership, the war reaches its inevitable conclusion. but before Humanity can claim final victory, their allies the Zirans suddenly take the field crushing the last of Tacherin resistance. With the war ended, Humanity's great war machine is ordered dismantled and their millions of warriors are sent back to the four Human Worlds to begin the peace.Yet, the Ziran's military force not only stands to despite the lack of an enemy they have been secretly building their forces. This information comes to the now retired Lev Gorin who is the CEO of a successful security business. However, civilian life has taken the edge off the former Commander and he ignores it. Yet when a human hit team shows up on his manicured lawn, Lev Gorin is drawn into a dark world of intrigue where human fanatics pave the way for the end of humanity at Ziran hands! With just a rag-tag group of former military men and women, Gorin must convince the Human Race to rise in their own defense before it's too late.Initially, Wo4W seemed to be yet another pat 'Humans run roughshod over an inept enemy' type of story. The initial battle sequences though detailed and exciting, seemed all was too easy. Humans had the superior tech and cunning which equaled to a bloodbath on the enemy side. Yet, that wasn't the case.As the story unfolded, an immediate sense of menace undercut the victory parties and orgies engaged in by the victorious Humans. It became clear all was not well after a meeting with the Ziran General, the Vingin Representative and the then Commander Gorin. Distain and jealousy reeked from the General and as a reader, I could tell right off no good would come from it. When it came down to the Zirans attacking the now disarmed humanity, there was no surprise.That Humanity was able to mount an immediate though much reduced offense, lacked surprise either. Though this lent to the pat feeling, it didn't detract from the story because there were plenty of clues presented to let the reader know Humanity wasn't rolling over completely just because they were told to! When the conflict begins in earnest, initially the Humans again have the advantage despite being significantly outnumbered. However, that doesn't last long after humans themselves begin to derail the resistance!From there, Commander Gorin's 'easy days' come to an end. Gone is the pat feeling and in enters the 'are we going to survive this at all?' stage. Grim realities of war, losses of family and comrades begin to take their toll on all the characters as humanity's chances of surviving genocide dwindle.Ronald T. Jones has created a gritty, 'boots-on-the-ground' war epic with intrigue and a thoughtful approach to a warrior's journey towards his own sense of humanity. Warriors of the Four Worlds is without doubt a page-turner and more than worthy of a trip to the small or large screen.H. Wolfgang Porter
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