Audible Review: Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos

This is a solid military sci fi title.
Terms of Enlistment
Frontlines, Book 1
By: Marko Kloos
Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Series: Frontlines, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 01-28-14
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Military Space Opera, Sci Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The year is 2108, and the North American Commonwealth is bursting at the seams. For welfare rats like Andrew Grayson, there are only two ways out of the crime-ridden and filthy welfare tenements, where you’re restricted to 2,000 calories of badly flavored soy every day. You can hope to win the lottery and draw a ticket on a colony ship settling off-world, or you can join the service. With the colony lottery a pipe dream, Andrew chooses to enlist in the armed forces for a shot at real food, a retirement bonus, and maybe a ticket off Earth. But as he starts a career of supposed privilege, he soon learns that the good food and decent health care come at a steep price…and that the settled galaxy holds far greater dangers than military bureaucrats or the gangs that rule the slums.
The debut novel from Marko Kloos, Terms of Enlistment is a new addition to the great military sci-fi tradition of Robert Heinlein, Joe Haldeman, and John Scalzi.
©2014 Mark Kloos (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:

Andrew Grayson is a 17-year-old welfare rat in a dysotpian world where there is a far divide between the few rich, the few upper class and the multitude of depressed, going nowhere welfare class. Andrew decides the only way out is to enlist in the service and hope he can make his way to a future rather than death because even in the service the lower class are considered expendable.

Boot camp is the expected torture but Andrew is lucky to team up with a wealthy and intelligent girl, Halley. At the end of the training she gets a coveted Navy assignment while Andrew is sent to serve in the Terrain Army (TA) which gets earth-side duty so he won't even get to go to space.

Andrew actually does well as a military grunt and for the most part likes his platoon team. They are sent on mission to help quell a welfare uprising but get trapped. There is a major firefight and Andrew helps pull off a rescue, but the PR guy isn't happy with his efforts which caused civilian casualties. He is facing discharge or imprisonment until his sarge leans on the desk jockey PR officer and gets Andrew a shot at his dream.

Andrew and Halley are reunited on a Naval ship and things are looking up until the ship is attacked and a handful of crew manage to survive on a hostile world. Halley helps come keep them alive initially and in a last-ditch rescue after Andrew and the marines face a devastating battle with Gargantuan aliens.

The author handles boot camp and unexpected combat action well. I really did like the action sequences but didn't get strong feelings for the characters. The plot wasn't bad, but the characters didn't seem fully fleshed out. Perhaps because they were teens they just didn't create a connection for me. The ending left me sort of "meh". It is an engaging first story for sci fi buffs to check out to see if it might click for them.

Audio Notes: Luke Daniels is a good choice for this story. He does a good job with the feel of the settings and the nature of the characters such as they are. I enjoyed the listen.

This is another TBR sci fi title from my Audible Library. It qualifies for Mount TBR and Audiobook Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Into the Black: Odyssey One by Evan Currie

This is an engaging first contact, space military adventure.
Into the Black: Odyssey One
Written by: Evan Currie
Narrated by: Benjamin L. Darcie

Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
Series: Odyssey One, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-27-12
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Space Opera, Military Action
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Beyond the confines of our small world, far from the glow of our star, lie a galaxy and universe much larger and more varied than anyone on Earth can possibly imagine. For the new NAC spacecraft Odyssey and her crew, the unimaginable facets of this untouched world are about to become reality. The Odyssey's maiden voyage is an epic adventure destined to make history.
Captain Eric Weston and his crew encounter horrors, wonders, monsters, and people; all of which will test their resolve, challenge their abilities, and put in sharp relief what is necessary to be a hero.
A first-rate military-science-fiction epic that combines old-school space opera and modern storytelling, Into the Black: Odyssey One is a riveting, exhilarating adventure with vivid details, rich mythology, and relentless pacing.
©2012 Evan Currie (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
The Odyssey is the first spacecraft sent out from earth with a crew culled from the best of the best. They were really on a test mission, intended to see what the Odyssey can manage and do a little exploring beyond the Solar System. They didn’t plan upon warping into the debris of a devastating battle…and rescuing a survivor. Now they know there are other human races in the universe… and other unknown, and apparently brutal, alien beings.

Captain Weston is new to the position of North American Confederation (NAC) spaceship captain but he is a battle experienced pilot having led the legendary Archangel Flight Group, the specialized fighter units. Weston tries to return their rescued passenger to her nearest planet world only to find an unimaginable situation. Now he must decide if he jumps out of this galaxy to return home or flies into a battle that isn’t their business… or is it?

The characters are likeable and I wasn’t bothered by some familiarity among the ranks that wouldn’t be expected in a real military protocols. The other galaxy human characters have different backgrounds, views and technology that make the interaction interesting. The space travel tachyon (dissolving and restoring particles) is creepy and pretty disturbing, even to the characters. It wasn’t quite clear to me if the alien species is tech or ‘insect’ but their behaviors were engaging, if devastating.

The story moves at a good pace with action and mystery pulling my interest. I admit I spent a couple of nights listening later than I should. I recommend this as a fun, action packed ride to readers who like space opera and first contact genre.

Audio Notes: Benjamin L. Darcie does a nice job with the narration. He presents varied voices and captures the feel of the different characters. The narration moves at a good pace and enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I picked this from my Audible TBR shelf for Mount TBR, Audiobook Challenge, and "I" in my Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Confluence by S. K. Dunstall

This kept me up late for two nights wanting to finish – but knowing I would be sorry when it ended!

Confluence

Written by: S. K. Dunstall

Narrated by: Brian Hutchison

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:12-28-16

Publisher: Recorded Books

Genre: Sci Fi, Space Military

My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

From the national best-selling author of Alliance, linesman Ean Lambert finds himself caught in a dangerous fight for political power.

The lines. Mysterious yet familiar: the key to controlling every ship in the galaxy. Once they were thought of as tools, but since linesman Ean Lambert discovered strange new lines in an alien vessel, they have become so much more - symbols of a power too great to ignore.

©2016 S.K. Dunstall (P)2016 Recorded Books

Review:
The Emperor of Lancia, Michelle’s father, is putting pressure on her to strengthen the position of Lancia over the New Alliance. Trying to force compliance, Emperor Yu has announced the betrothal of Michelle to further his own goals. His manipulations are cause for consternation to Michelle and Abram who are trying to maintain the fragile balance in the New Alliance. Yu has also told Ean’s usual bodyguard, (and the Emperor’s niece), Radko, that she must marry a high-ranking official chosen by Yu. The goal there is to allow the official to meet and have access to Ean.

Michelle’s new security officer determines it will be best to get Radko away from the fleet for a time. She assigns Radko a team and sends them on an undercover assignment to a hostile planet. Radko comes face to face with a previous attacker and the tensions ratchet up as she uncovers secrets. But will she get the chance to get the news back to her commander?

Meanwhile Ean is continuing to train new linesmen, even single linesmen who have previously been rejected by the line cartels. Ean is juggling the Confluence and other ships who are seeking to select their own crew if they aren’t assigned crew soon. The fleet has unwelcome Lancastrian visitors who are being a bit too pushy. Ean manages to block the theft of one of the ships but steps up the possibility of war by the ship movements. Then he has to protect his linesmen and protection team from another unexpected attack.

I thoroughly enjoyed the action, political intrigue and humor. I like the relationship between Ean and the lines although Ean sometimes loses focus on the human side of his world. There are a couple of slow building romances which add a nice touch. It is fine with me that there is no foul language and no sexual content. Although there is violence and death, it is not gory and graphic.

This is the third in the series – I strongly hope it won’t be the last. This series has wonderful world building, good plots with action and likeable primary characters – even some of the testier ones. There were new characters introduced in this book and I hope they will appear in future installments. I was a little sorry that the two linesmen characters who played a part in book 2 were barely mentioned in this book. I highly recommend the series and suggest you read them in order for best enjoyment.

Audio Notes: Brian Hutchison does a great job with the character voices and the intensities and nuances. I turned this on every chance I could, eager to hear more. This was great listening enjoyment for me.

I picked this up with my Audible Selections because I liked the series so much. It qualifies for 2017 Audio Challenge.

My Reviews of the Books in the Series:
Linesman My rating 5.0.
Alliance My rating 4.5

Audible Book Review: For Honor We Stand: Man of War, Book 2 by H. Paul Honsinger

I enjoy the action and smart characters in this space military series.
For Honor We Stand: Man of War, Book 2
Written by: H. Paul Honsinger
Narrated by: Ray Chase

Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
Series: Man of War, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-11-14
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Sci Fi, Military Space Opera
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In 2315, the Earth Union is losing a 30-year-long war with the Krag Hegemony.
Having encountered the Krag before, Space Commander Max Robicheaux now faces daunting challenges aboard the USS Cumberland: The dangers from the enemy without…and clashes with crew and superiors within.
Meanwhile, Doctor Sahin receives a coded message summoning him to a secret meeting which aims to forge an alliance that could change the balance of power in Known Space. But first, he must circumvent the fighter ships and heavily armed troops of the traitorous emir bent on killing him before he reaches the negotiating table.
Both men must call upon their developing skills and growing friendship to bear the burden of carrying between the Krag Hegemony and the Earth Union a fateful ultimatum and the shocking answer: An answer that could spell eternal slavery, or even extinction, for all humankind.
The second novel in the Man of War series, For Honor We Stand continues the galactic naval adventures of Robicheaux and Sahin.
©2013 H. Paul Honsinger (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Space Commander Max is continuing to face danger in this action packed series. Max has to think - on his feet in tight circumstances and with his sly cunning - in order to prevail in the face of being outnumbered and outgunned by the Krag, a vicious reptilian enemy. The Krag, with their superior technology and weapons, continue to seek annihilation of inferior species.

The ship doctor, Doctor Sabin, receives a cryptic message calling him to a clandestine meeting. Max and Sabin are then ordered to proceed as an ambassador to negotiate a new alliance. Although the kingdom has long said they would remain neutral they are beginning to recognize that the Krag are a threat to all human species, including their own. The new leader seeks an alliance but there is a traitorous rival power who has set out to block any alliance. This is just one more obstacle for Max to overcome…or maybe ram his way through to pursue mission goals.

Max’s ship, the Cumberland, fresh from repairs, receives orders for a new mission. Not into battle this time but as an escort. And more problematic, Max isn’t the commander of the mission. Instead he and another battle escort ship have to take orders from a pompous leader who has never served in battle. Max is sure that the plans of this unskilled leader spell disaster for the mission and he and his new friend, the other escort captain, may have to risk their careers if they want to safely complete the mission.

Max’s antics gain respect even from the fearsome Krag. There are fascinating interactions with the Krag which give depths to their motivations and lead to an intense ending moment for this book.

While all of the battle action continues, the author shares crew dynamics as they continue to improve in their training. The author does a wonderful job showing the importance of respect and caring that make the crew successful under Max. I love the dialogue between Max and Sabin (see screen shot below) and I love how Max cares for and interacts with the young members of the crew. The author does a great job sharing insight to Max's past through some of this interaction.

This series offers a full range of elements: wonderful action, engaging war and battle tactics, creative nations and heartwarming crew relationships. In addition to all of that I like the prose and phrasing that you might not expect in a military space story. I will definitely be getting book three for more wonderful entertainment.

Audio Notes: Ray Chase does a great job of narrating the touch of snark as well as the ingenious smarts of Max and the rest of his crew. He also successfully portrays the other species and makes the listening flow with excitement.

This is from my Audible TBR Library (credit pick in 2015). It qualifies for my Audio Challenge and “F” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

A sample of dialogue between Max and Doctor Sabin: