Here’s the last of the 4 Military Science Fiction titles I chose – the first entry in the “Warp Marine Corps” series – the third title in my reading order. Let me start with a disclaimer: My Dad is a Marine (there are no former / ex-marines). I respect him and honor him for his service and I love him for the man he is and the Marine that will always be a part of him (Mom – I feel the same way about you but this is – after all – a book about Marines). When we’re out socially meeting new people and my wife gets the chance – she like to jokingly say that I served under my father for the first 25 years of my life – not exactly how I feel but I never take issue with her. I had the chance to work with more than one Marine when I was with the State Department and they are – by and large – the epitome of what you would want to find in anyone who has served our Country. So….am I going to buy and read a series titled “Warp Marine Corps”? You can bet your everloving *** I am.
This one was a pleasant surprise as well – putting me at 3 for 4. It assumes a very hostile universe – populated with aggressive, unfriendly races locked in a perpetual battle for supremacy – with the price of defeat being all too high. In this respect, itincorporates some aspects of David Brin’s “Uplift Series. Terra is – of course – a relative newcomer to the party – having been uplifted by one of the less ravenously aggressive races due to a debt of honor incurred after leading a far less friendly race to the Solar System – resulting in a near genocidal attack. After rebounding and rebuilding, Earth has projected itself into the universe and begun to carve out it’s own Empire – capitalizing on it’s unique ability to better tolerate the effects of warp travel than any of the other advanced races – earning us the nickname of “Warp Demons”.
This is a modest beginning to a more expansive series that currently contains the following additional titles:
- No Price Too High
- Advance To Contact
- In Dread Silence
- Havoc Of War
The 1st book was enjoyable enough so that I purchased these 4 additional installments as well. I’ve assumed – eternal optimist that I am – that they’ll continue to be fun reads.
The story is based on a classic Rorke’s Drift scenario:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rorke%27s_Drift
Small force of Marines and auxiliaries surprised and isolated on a backwater world – facing a local uprising fomented by one of those very unfriendly starfaring competitors. Facing enormous odds, the objective is to hold until relieved and the Warp Marines – of course – do just that.
This isn’t “Empire Of Bones” with it’s more antiseptic fleet combat:
It’s up close and personal static defense of a small perimeter – small group of defenders with superior technology facing an overwhelming force of local irregulars and regular military – punctuated by occasional sorties to either rescue isolated personnel or address localized threats. It’s muddier and bloodier and the Marines are as gritty and real as you’d expect – fewer Officers and Gentlemen here – and definitely no Princesses. It’s never pretty, mistakes are made, plenty of people die, not in a Medal Of Honor type of way but in the unpredictable, all too random way that I have to assume characterizes real combat.
Overall, it works well and it’s pretty enjoyable. I do plan to read through the 2nd title in this series as soon as I’ve finished the final 3 and a half books in the “Empire Of Bones” series. These don’t read as quickly as the books in the “Empire Of Bones” series – they’re longer and a bit more complex but – if you enjoy this genre – they’re worth the time.
I’ll let you know if the 2nd book holds up. Semper Fi!