In Her Name: First Contact - Book Club Part 7 and Final

[Michael R. Hicks]

This is the last one!

Epilogue

The vignettes you see here both wrap up some of the loose ends of First Contact and lay the ground work for Legend of the Sword. Which one(s) was your favorite, and why?

- The meeting held by President McKenna with her key advisors and Ambassador Navarre

- The visit paid by Sparks, Steph, and Hadley to the parents of Patty Coyle

- Emmanuelle Sabourin's decision to join the Terran Marine Corps

- The nightmares of Roland Mills

- What Amelia Cartwright found happening on Keran

- The final fate of Keran's population

- Sato's reunion with his mother

[Kristus412]

Sparks, Steph, and Hadley going to see Coyle's parents was my favorite I teared up a little when her dad finally broke down. That was done so well.

[Michael R. Hicks]

Sparks, Steph, and Hadley going to see Coyle's parents was my favorite I teared up a little when her dad finally broke down. That was done so well.

My grandfather served in the Navy in WWII, and when I was young told me the story of the Sullivan brothers: all five boys of the Sullivan family, serving together on the USS Juneau. When the Juneau was sunk in 1942 in the Pacific, all five brothers were killed, and the family wound up having not five blue-star service flags (also known as war mother's flags) in their windows (a blue star meant that a family member was in the service), but five gold ones (gold, of course, meaning a family member had been killed). It's impossible for me to imagine what it must have been like for the boys' parents to receive such horrible news.

The service flag tradition began during WWI and continued through WWII, but apparently faded out during Korea and Vietnam. Many folks use yellow ribbons nowadays, but to me it's not the same. There's some interesting information here about the flags and the history behind them here: http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfb_disp9b.html

Anyway, when I got to the part in the story where Coyle died, I had a flash in my mind of a small flag with a gold star in a window, remembering what my grandfather had told me about the Sullivans. And that's how that particular scene came to be...

[scarlet]

As kreelanwarrior knows, I BAWLED at the scene at the Coyle house.

[Michael R. Hicks]

As kreelanwarrior knows, I BAWLED at the scene at the Coyle house.

Yeah, and it's not even a long scene. It's like when I hear Taps being played - I always wanna cry...

[Kristus412]

My grandfather served in the Navy in WWII, and when I was young told me the story of the Sullivan brothers: all five boys of the Sullivan family, serving together on the USS Juneau. When the Juneau was sunk in 1942 in the Pacific, all five brothers were killed, and the family wound up having not five blue-star service flags (also known as war mother's flags) in their windows (a blue star meant that a family member was in the service), but five gold ones (gold, of course, meaning a family member had been killed). It's impossible for me to imagine what it must have been like for the boys' parents to receive such horrible news.

The service flag tradition began during WWI and continued through WWII, but apparently faded out during Korea and Vietnam. Many folks use yellow ribbons nowadays, but to me it's not the same. There's some interesting information here about the flags and the history behind them here: http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfb_disp9b.html

Anyway, when I got to the part in the story where Coyle died, I had a flash in my mind of a small flag with a gold star in a window, remembering what my grandfather had told me about the Sullivans. And that's how that particular scene came to be...

I was unaware of the history it makes it even better! Looking forward to the next book. No pressure...

[Michael R. Hicks]

I was unaware of the history it makes it even better! Looking forward to the next book. No pressure...

Actually, I'm heading upstairs right now to work on Legend of the Sword...

[Kristus412]

Actually, I'm heading upstairs right now to work on Legend of the Sword...

Are you done yet? 

[Michael R. Hicks]

Are you done yet? 

D'oh! A few months left to go! Hope to have chapter 2 finished up tonight...

[geoffthomas]

The vignettes you see here both wrap up some of the loose ends of First Contact and lay the ground work for Legend of the Sword. Which one(s) was your favorite, and why?
The vignettes were very well done and a nice piece of work (if you don't mind my saying so).

- The visit paid by Sparks, Steph, and Hadley to the parents of Patty Coyle
Yeah I always get teary when I hear taps and/or the bagpipe thing.  As you know if properly done, taps at a military funeral will have a second bugler who echos the ending note, from an unseen distance.  Moving.  This visit is a tradition that should never be discontinued.

- Emmanuelle Sabourin's decision to join the Terran Marine Corps
You just knew she would go back for more.

- The nightmares of Roland Mills
Do you think Tesh-Dar may have planted a thought in his mind?

- Sato's reunion with his mother
I thought this was another nice touch.  See, we told you you could write real good.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

My grandfather served in the Navy in WWII, and when I was young told me the story of the Sullivan brothers: all five boys of the Sullivan family, serving together on the USS Juneau. When the Juneau was sunk in 1942 in the Pacific, all five brothers were killed, and the family wound up having not five blue-star service flags (also known as war mother's flags) in their windows (a blue star meant that a family member was in the service), but five gold ones (gold, of course, meaning a family member had been killed). It's impossible for me to imagine what it must have been like for the boys' parents to receive such horrible news.

That's why siblings are no longer allowed to serve together.  They made a great movie about that terrible tragedy.

- The meeting held by President McKenna with her key advisers and Ambassador Navarre

Interesting.  Sets up for the future, but not my favorite part.  Except for the fact that Tiernan was commended, as he should have been, and not censured. 

- The visit paid by Sparks, Steph, and Hadley to the parents of Patty Coyle

I particularly like that Sparks wrote personal letters to all of the family/friends.  Coyle was the final hero of the ground battle and they honored her accordingly. 

Question:  Which do you think meant more; their visit or Li'ara Zhurah's tribute?

- Emmanuelle Sabourin's decision to join the Terran Marine Corps

Yes ... she should run into Mills.

- The nightmares of Roland Mills

Is there a connection now between him and Tesh-Dar?

- What Amelia Cartwright found happening on Keran

The black matrix at work. 

- The final fate of Keran's population

Horrifying.  At least the last of them went down fighting. 

- Sato's reunion with his mother

I'm not sure if that should have gone on a bit more or if you ended it perfectly.

[Michael R. Hicks]

I particularly like that Sparks wrote personal letters to all of the family/friends.  Coyle was the final hero of the ground battle and they honored her accordingly. 

Question:  Which do you think meant more; their visit or Li'ara Zhurah's tribute?

Hmm, well, I'm not sure what you mean here?

Yes ... she should run into Mills.

Funny you should mention that! And she does more than just run into him...
Is there a connection now between him and Tesh-Dar?

I'm not sure if that should have gone on a bit more or if you ended it perfectly.

I went back and forth quite a bit on the ending, but the only ending that seemed "right" was this way...

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Hmm, well, I'm not sure what you mean here?

Coyle's commander paid a personal visit to her parents to honor her.  You don't expect a personal visit from such a high-ranking officer, so by doing that, he did her great honor.

On the other hand, Li'ara Zhurah was the enemy that tried to kill Coyle.  Is her honoring of Coyle greater because she was a fallen enemy and not a fallen comrade?

Funny you should mention that! And she does more than just run into him...
Is there a connection now between him and Tesh-Dar?

I'm sure your fingers will find a connection between Mills and Tesh-Dar, just as there was between Tesh-Dar and Reza. 

I went back and forth quite a bit on the ending, but the only ending that seemed "right" was this way...

Yes, I agree.  It was the only way to end it.  You said what needed to be said in a few paragraphs, and it worked.  Sometimes, as a reader, I want more.

[Ann in Arlington]

The service flags are still used with the same meaning as described.  A star for each family member serving, a gold star if killed in action.  Many wives and mothers also wear yellow ribbon pins for deployed sons or husbands or wives or daughters for that matter.  You mostly see them on and around bases where there are units deployed.

Also, when a service member is killed, the family receives a visit by at least a chaplain and an officer of the service.  Usually these CACOs (Casualty Assistance Calls Officers -- at least that's what they're called in the Navy) are mid level officers who've been trained and can assist the family with the practical aspects. . . .benefits, etc.  The chaplain is there for counseling.  The support is generally available to the family for several months. In addition, I believe the service member's superior officer does always write a letter of condolence to the family.

[Neekeebee]

Took me awhile to finish the last chapters---I was saving them!  But once I opened up the book again last night, I had to read to the finish.  Good thing I started early, otherwise it would have been another 2 AM reading session.  Hurry up with Legend of the Sword, please! 

I also teared up reading that scene where Sparks visited Coyle's parents.    That, and LZ's tribute, were very well done.

N

[Michael R. Hicks]

Took me awhile to finish the last chapters---I was saving them!  But once I opened up the book again last night, I had to read to the finish.  Good thing I started early, otherwise it would have been another 2 AM reading session.  Hurry up with Legend of the Sword, please! 

I also teared up reading that scene where Sparks visited Coyle's parents.    That, and LZ's tribute, were very well done.

N

Ack! I've been delinquent on these threads! Bad me! 

Glad you enjoyed the story, and thanks for the kind words! Legend of the Sword is maybe 1//4-1/3 done now, I'm up to chapter 9. I have no idea where the story is going, I'm just tagging along for the ride...

[Britt]

I enjoyed this book very much! To be honest, I got a bit bogged down in the middle with all the military jargon and tactical details, but the story was intense and the characters felt like real people — even the alien ones! My favorites were Tesh-Dar, President McKenna, and especially Ichiro. The scene with Coyle's parents was very touching, but I adored the scene with Ichiro and his mother. I loved all the little tidbits about Japanese culture throughout the book as well (Japanese was one of my minors in college and I and just moved to Japan — or should I say planet Nagano? — a few months ago, so I guess I'm a little biased ). Can't wait for Legend of the Sword!

Britt

[Michael R. Hicks]

I enjoyed this book very much! To be honest, I got a bit bogged down in the middle with all the military jargon and tactical details, but the story was intense and the characters felt like real people — even the alien ones! My favorites were Tesh-Dar, President McKenna, and especially Ichiro. The scene with Coyle's parents was very touching, but I adored the scene with Ichiro and his mother. I loved all the little tidbits about Japanese culture throughout the book as well (Japanese was one of my minors in college and I and just moved to Japan — or should I say planet Nagano? — a few months ago, so I guess I'm a little biased ). Can't wait for Legend of the Sword!

Britt

Britt -

Not sure what happened with this: I posted a reply to this a few days ago, but it didn't take!

Anyway, glad you enjoyed it! And I know not everybody gets into the battle sequences in mid-story, but that was the way it came out. But as long as you enjoyed it overall, that's the main thing. That's also totally awesome that you're in Japan! I'm glad I didn't make any major goofs on those details, too.

Okay, back to writing Legend of the Sword!