Steel World cover art

Steel World

Undying Mercenaries, Book 1

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Steel World

By: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
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About this listen

In the twentieth century Earth sent probes, transmissions and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers…someone had to do their dirty work for them, their fighting and dying.

I, James McGill, was born in 2099 on the fringe of the galaxy. When Hegemony Financial denied my loan applications, I was kicked out of the university and I turned to the stars. My first campaign involved the invasion of a mineral-rich planet called Cancri-9, better known as Steel World. The attack didn't go well, and now Earth has entered a grim struggle for survival. Humanity's mercenary legions go to war in Steel World, best-selling author B. V. Larson's latest science fiction novel.

©2013 B. V. Larson (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
Fantasy Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Military Survival Solar System Interstellar

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All stars
Most relevant
It's an odd one. The story is basic and has a few possible plot holes, but it works. The tale is just from one man from a personal perspective, which could make it one directional, but again it works.

A certain amount of my liking of this book is the reading of it. Mark Boyett reds it like it's a series of war diaries, making it feel partly like it's a documentary on past events rather than a story in the future. I think with out this I may well have been disappointed.

I'm looking forwards to the second book, just hoping the story does not lose it's way as I can see limitations in where this tale can go.

Read like the diaries of a soldier, but works well

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Excellent story like Platoon but in space with more depth into unit politics. The idea of combining Mercenary soldiers with the make up of the Roman Legion all for the purpose of keeping Earth in the Galactic Council is fantastic using human aggression as a commodity
I thoroughly enjoyed the reading I hope there's a new one in the works

Platoon in Space

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just downloaded books 2 and 3 can't wait
sure these will be great too 😠

great story characters well rounded

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These books are great.
Interesting, inventive and well written.
The main characters are well formed and believable.

I listened, on Audible, to this first book almost continuously ( yes all 12 hours ).
I also liked the southern USA accent of the narrator which fitted the characters and story well.

I think that if you like this type of book that you will love this one.

Very enjoyable

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Looking to be another epic saga of daring do and die. Especially the die part.....
You'll see. Actually it's a very clever plot device. But SPOILERS SWEETIE.

Brilliant

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