To wrap up 2018 I wanted to share a something I've been working on over the past year, my list of top Sci-Fi novels (slash series where applicable).
SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS: In the year 2045, sustainable warfare has made an even wider gap between the haves and the have-nots in certain areas of the world. Motoko Kusanagi, Batou, and other former Section 9 members are now GHOST, a PMC that cleans up messes in the U.S., but have found themselves entangled in a bigger plot. So-called "post-humans" threaten the world order, and Section 9 is revived in Japan, at the behest of the newest Prime Minister. But is the Prime Minister just a puppet for the American government? And is there more to these post-humans than just superhuman monsters? The gang's all back to brain dive into a brand new series by Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki!
Episode 24, "My Friend"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Peace has returned to the Free Planets Alliance. However, Yang Wen-li has his doubts as to the nation he's saved, and its leader, Job Trunicht. Yang is surprised when he hears Imperial Admiral Merkatz has defected, and plans to take him at his word. Trunicht and his inner circle discuss what to do with a reluctant Yang, but he has no fear and leaves it be for the moment. Reinhard, now recognized as a duke, and de facto in charge of the Empire, visits Siegfried Kircheis' grave on Odin, while Yang visits the graves of Jean-Robert Lapp and Jessica Edwards on Heinessen. But meanwhile, on Earth, the cult of Terra waits to see if their machinations pay off.
Episode 23, "Farewell to the Days of Old"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Reinhard is presented with the war prisoners at Geiersburg. Farenheit is brought into his fold. Ansbach makes an attempt on Reinhard's life, but misses, and fatally injures Kircheis in the struggle, then commits suicide. Reinhard is devestated by the loss of his dear friend, seeing and talking to nobody for several days. Oberstein contacts Annerose in an attempt to stir his superior from his seclusion, which works. Meanwhile, Minister of State, Lichtenlade, is taken into custody to prevent his schemes into stopping Reinhard's rise to power.
Episode 22, "The Fall of Goldenbaum"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kircheis confronts Reinhard over the Westerland Incident and the latter's allowing it to happen. This creates a small rift between the two as Lohengramm's forces close in on the nobles. Said nobles, meanwhile, are dwindling after failures in battle and bad publicity. Flagel is determined to challenge an admiral one-on-one and is rejected by Reinhard's men. He is ultimately killed by his own subordinates after refusing to listen. Admiral Merkatz's own subordinate saves him from a suicide attempt and suggests he defect to the Free Planets Alliance instead. And Prince Braunschweig's assistant, Ansbach, forces him to die by poison to go out with dignity. Geiersburg Fortress is occupied by the new power in the Empire.
Episode 21, "Victory For Who's Sake?"
*****SPOILERS*****
Episode 20, "Tragedy"
*****SPOILERS*****
Episode 19, "The Battle of the Doria Starzone"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: After taking control of the rebel-controlled planet Shamploo, the Yang Fleet engages the 11th Fleet in the Doria Starzone. Yang repeatedly requests their surrender, but Admiral Legrange is stubborn, and their fleet is eventually all but wiped out. Legrange shoots himself instead of surrendering and the battle is over. Yang accepts National Salvation Council spy Bagdash's genuine offer to work for him now that the 11th Fleet is defeated, but Julian doesn't trust him. On Heinessen, Jessica Edwards organizes a massive protest against the coup which is violently put down by the military.