Review: Mecha: A Cannon Anthology edited by J.F. Holmes
Big machines, big battles - what more could you ask for?
Mecha – humanoid tanks that respond to a pilot’s movements as though they were an extension of their commanders’ bodies. These often-titanic metal monstrosities are the next stage in infantry evolution, whether they have one pilot or several to command them. Walk through heavy fire and be ready to fight when these titans enter the fray!
The story
There are ten stories contained in this anthology, and while they were all enjoyable, the ones this reviewer liked most were “Stack Knight,” “The Guardian,” “Graduation Day,” “Maelstrom Rising,” and “Maintenance Mode.”
Thomas Mays’ “Stack Knight” is a Medieval tale with a mech built from armor, sorcery, and pulleys. Not what one would expect in a story about mecha, which are typically hi-tech creations meant to fight on science fiction battlefields. But Mays’ makes it work by explaining that mecha in this wargame style story need to be controlled by a team. The combination of sorcery and science as well as the true merits of honor is fascinating and makes for an entertaining story.
Rick Partlow’s “The Guardian” is set in a far-flung future world much like Ancient Sparta. When hearth and home are threatened men must step up and fight for all they hold dear. But does this mean they are not “afraid and vulnerable”? The hero’s family is in hiding, as they are the only hope Sparta has. If they are killed, then their government and way of life will cease to exist. More than that, what else can a husband and father feel when he must go to war while his family trembles in a bunker, ostensibly safe, while traitors batter down the gates? “The Guardian” alone makes this anthology worth the purchase price, as it is one of the best stories in the entire collection.
Yakov Merkin’s “Graduation Day” is the only tale in the volume to deal with mechs that are not bipedal. The heroes command wolf-like zadir, which require a pilot, a gunner, and an engineer to control. On the day the latest group of Zadir Corps’ pilots are to graduate, an attack forces them to abandon the parade ground for the battlefield. Given the fact that they weren’t supposed to fight, they have no live ammunition at their disposal. As the conflict intensifies the Zadir Corps graduates must prove their worth on the field.
It’s worth mentioning that Merkin is continuing the saga of the Zadir Corps through stories available in his Patreon and Subscribstar accounts. If you like animal-based mecha, then you may want to click this link, which includes art for the wolf-like Zadir. When you read “Graduation Day” you will want to read more tales set in this world, so keep Mr. Merkin’s ongoing work in mind.
Jason Cordova’s “Maelstrom Rising” is a good story about tyranny told from the “Stormtrooper” POV. The hero leads his unit against the rebels, but all his subordinates are killed. He himself is captured and faced with the fact that he is serving an evil government. Presented with an opportunity to redeem himself and save another life at the same time, he has to decide which he will be: a man, or a cog in a machine bent on subjugating humanity.
Finally, John M. Olsen’s “Maintenance Mode” is a fun look at what happens when the bad guys tick off an engineer. Typically, making an engineer angry is a bad idea anyway. But when said engineer in question is in a repair bay for humanoid mecha on a space station, and his only way to get back alive to see his wife is to fight, you have a recipe for putting the hurt on the enemy. The moral of the story is difficult to miss.
The characters
The characters are varied and well-drawn. “The Guardian,” “Graduation Day,” and “Maintenance Mode” have some of the best characterization in the collection. So does “Stack Knight” – a reader wants to spend more time with the heroes of that story, and it is a pity it is so short. “Maelstrom Rising” suffers from “zooming in” and “out” of a third person omniscient and a third person private point of view, but the story and the finale compensate for this.
The other five tales in this volume had similar success, and it bears mentioning that I have only touched on the pieces I enjoyed most. With ten adventures in this collection, every reader is likely to find one set of characters they resonate with more than others.
The world
The worlds are as disparate and different as the characters within them. Of those reviewed here, I think “Stack Knight,” “The Guardian,” and “Graduation Day” have some of the most complete worlds in the story. While we are not given a great deal of time with any of them, they are all vivid and were selected for maximum advantages and disadvantages for the battles that take place within.
The politics
At most, the only politics that have nothing to do with the events in the stories boil down to: “Tyranny is bad, mecha help you smash it.” Beyond this message the politics are all related to events in the tales and have no bearing on real world policies.
Content warning
Most of the stories in this volume are bursting with foul language. There is also some discussion of sex in some of the tales, and some gore that would not faze mature readers. But this collection is not for children and may not be appropriate for younger YA readers.
Who is it for?
People who enjoy mecha, war stories, and military sci-fi as well as fantasy and near-future fiction. “Graduation Day” in particular will appeal to consumers of Japanese manga and anime while “The Guardian” will entertain history buffs as well as space opera fans. For those who cannot get enough of humanoid, manmade tanks causing chaos and spreading destruction, this anthology will be a solid favorite.
Why read it?
Read it for “The Guardian.” Then check out the other stories and pick your favorites from among those. You are bound to find at least two to three others you will love, but that one is the pinnacle of the entire collection.