Gods of War (The Last Marines Book 1)

Excellent.We begin in the near future, with marines about to be sent to Europe (the planet) as security... And soon enough we are some centuries in the future, following a special operations group helping a rebellion against a totalitarian state in space... Mankind has colonized the stars, but there is one big dictature crushing all opposition and only a few daring to oppose it.During a mission this opponents, the Asgardians, meet our marines, who were frozen in time after an attack... The Asgardians are badass, the marines only more so...And what they encouter in the station where the marines were imprisoned, will change them forever, as, apparently, an ancient foe is once again on the march!There are also alien races, top characters, lots of excellent action... what are you waiting for?

The ground (and deck, because space) combat is as if Ernst Junger and Bernard Cornwell had a baby that spent 20 years as a US Marine then wrote MilSF.Drawing from his actual military experience, the author has us really inhabit the battlefield, makes us walk an uncomfortable mile in the Marine's power armour. It's all there - genetically tailored viruses, EMP, AI, drones, remote artillery, HUDs, plausible energy weapons - and it's told with a real emotional resonance that doesn't pull punches; soldiering is a tragic vocation verging on an addiction.And he takes all this art and pours it into a gripping SF tale that hurls our US Marine heroes into the future to join a war in which plucky Space Vikings battle Evil Totalitarian Communists, with looming Ancient Evil and Cryptic Alien Races: imagine if Heinlein had worked on Mass Effect...The high concepts are gloriously pulpy, but the author delivers them with realism and conviction. The bad guys could have been parody, but instead they are a grim distillation of all the evils of historical and contemporary totalitarian regimes. The Space Vikings could have Aryan supermen etc etc, but they're not. They're a culture that's created its own spiritual and martial traditions, which include co-ed armed forces. (Also, a Golden Horde is referenced positively, so though the author has focussed on a culture derived from northern Europe, there are other good guys knocking around who aren't white.)The end result is a really immersive story told with economical craft. If it were a movie, it would have a Hans Zimmer soundtrack...All that said, there are a couple of caveats for some readers.First, the story reflects an American conservative viewpoint. This is a universe in which socialism doesn't work, and inevitably slides into totalitarianism. The good guys are egalitarian and interpersonally liberal, but the author isn't interested in diversity as a thing; doesn't rule it out, but just doesn't go there. It offers the comfort zone you'd expect from a Hollywood Blockbuster, which means it may not be *your* comfort zone. If you're OK reading Heinlein or John Ringo, you'll be fine with this. Otherwise it may not be for you. (Personally, I'm happy reading authors with whom I disagree, but not everybody has that luxury.)Second, the Space Vikings have a sprinkling of technical terms and ranks derived from Northern European languages that are not always easy to pronounce and thus remember. They certainly add flavour and verisimilitude, but this brought me to a halt a couple of times. Fortunately, the main characters go under what are basically call signs, so it's not too much of a problem. I think as the series progresses, we'll come to enjoy the embrace of this texture.Overall... well I really enjoyed this and will read the whole series. This is powerful writing powering a gripping SF story with relatable characters. I'm not sure it explores any deep or new themes - though you never know what will develop - but the rich storytelling and characterisation make it more than "mere" escapism, while at the same time it does escapism very well indeed.

This is one of those rare books that you can't put down till you have finished it.Great world building, characters and action scenes. Can't wait for the next one.