Audible Book Review: Machine World, Undying Mercenaries, Book 4, by B. V. Larson

This is another good installment of this military sci-fi series.
Machine World
Undying Mercenaries, Book 4
By: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Series: Undying Mercenaries, Book 4
Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-12-15
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Hard Science Fiction, Military Space Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell burners, Earth joined a vast empire that spanned the Milky Way. Our only worthwhile trade goods are our infamous mercenary legions, elite troops we sell to the highest alien bidder.
In the fourth book of the series, James McGill is up for promotion. Not everyone is happy about that, and McGill must prove he's worth his stripes. Deployed to a strange, alien planet outside the boundaries of the Galactic Empire, he's caught up in warfare and political intrigue. Earth expands, the Cephalopod Kingdom launches ships to stop us, and a grand conspiracy emerges among the upper ranks of the Hegemony military.
In Machine World McGill faces an entirely new kind of alien life, Galactic prosecution, and thousands of relentless squid troopers. He lives and dies in the falling ashes of the empire, a man of unique honor at the dawn of humanity's resurgence.
Machine World is a military science fiction novel by best-selling author B. V. Larson. (To find the first book in the series, search for Steel World by B. V. Larson.)
©2015 B. V. Larson (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Review:
James McGill is one of the ‘undying mercenaries’ in the least respected Earth troop, Legion Varus. Earth is a lowly planet on the fringe of the galaxy that is controlled by the Empire. Legion Varus is the lowly of the mercenary troops that are sent out as expendable soldiers. They are known as the ‘undying mercenaries’ because they can be regenerated as they die in the field.

McGill gained rank moving from recruit to regular to specialist all while being known for stumbling into, and remarkably out of, trouble. He has a strange relationship with highly ranked Imperator Turov. She has pulled him into more than one bad situation where they then have to keep each other’s secrets. This leaves James in an awkward situation as she could order his permanent death at any time.

As Legion Varus prepares to go to another world confrontation, McGill faces hazing and testing but gains the rank of Veteran, the highest rank for enlisted soldiers. Now McGill is in charge of troops supporting the officers in battle. Fortunately, even though McGill seems to get into bad situations, he thinks fast under stress and tends to move his troops in the right format and direction.

Once again McGill and his friends and band of superiors face a new alien force of a distant planet. In addition to the indigenous Machine creatures, the Earth mercenaries find an old enemy, the Squids (see book 2). The Earth leaders think that they can win during the initial engagement but then some other alien ships show up and things go from bad to worse.

I enjoyed the creative plotting of these stories. I might have liked a little more development of the Machine aliens but still, they were interesting and the encounter with McGill is engaging. There is power corruption, some little bad language, and female entanglements that tend to follow McGill. All of this makes for an entertaining listen. I recommend the series for fans of military sci-fi.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett is a consistently effective narrator for this series. He helps draw the listener into another realm and provides distinct voices and emotions. I totally enjoy this listening experience.

Source: 5/12/19 Audible April Credits. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goal.

Dust World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 2 by B. V. Larson 4.5
Tech World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 3 by B.V. Laron 4.5

Audible Book Review: Tech World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 3 by B.V. Laron

I picked this fun series from my Audible TBR. I may have stayed up too late listening. :-)
Tech World
Undying Mercenaries, Book 3
By: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Series: Undying Mercenaries, Book 3
Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 10-21-14
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Military Space Sci Fi, Sci Fi
My Rating 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The Galactics arrived with their Battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined a vast Empire that spanned the Milky Way. Our only worthwhile trade goods are our infamous mercenary legions, elite troops we sell to the highest alien bidder. In the third book in the series, James McGill is deployed on another alien world. His third interstellar tour is different in every way. Rather than meeting up with a primitive society, this time he’s headed to an advanced world. Tau Ceti, better known as Tech World, is the central trading capital of Frontier 921. McGill figures he’s lucked out. The assignment looks dull but luxurious. Tau Ceti boasts a planet-wide city with a trillion inhabitants, all of whom are only interested in making a few credits. But all is not well on Tech World. The Empire is crumbling, an invasion is coming, and McGill’s easy ride through life and death has come to an end.
©2014 B. V. Larson (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Review:
James McGill is not a handsome, kind, charming hero. He is more a Georgia, ‘good ol’ boy’, skirt chasing, in your face, military character. He is a Tech Specialist with big guns and although he’s known to cause trouble, he usually saves the day. Even if he has to die a time or two to do so.

These military troops are termed ‘undying’ because they can be replicated if they die in battle. This is somewhat painful and particularly alarming the first time around. But some, like McGill, have gotten used to it. The problem is that McGill’s brash, cavalier attitude may get him ‘permed’ (permanently dead) one of these days if he keeps annoying the wrong superiors.

There are those in control on earth who want to unify the independent legion forces under one government control as it looks like events may make the forces more military and less mercenary. McGill and his friends are part of Legion Varus, the toughest group who get the roughest mercenary jobs and who have scored some nice bonuses due to their success at the ‘dirty’ work. McGill creates (or renews) a few enemies when he sends out a mass email telling the legionnaires to vote against the unity push.

The Varus troops are sent on assignment to Tech World which is considered a quiet, easy post. This is not their usual style and they recognize they are been ostracized. Things are supposed to be quiet until they uncover a smuggling ring and set off a rebellion. McGill continues to flaunt authority and pushes a bit more than might be right.

I enjoy the irreverent humor in this book that pokes fun at ineptitude and corrupt leadership and recognizes the ability of seemingly mediocre ‘grunts’ to step up and outsmart the opposition. I also like the interesting world building, the strong danger and action-packed scenes. This is a fun series to pick up for sheer entertainment.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett does his usual spot on narration in this series. He pulls in the voices and the nuances of character. I definitely enjoy listening to this series on audio.

I wanted a fun read and picked this from my Audible TBR (2015). This qualifies for Audiobook Challenge and Mount TBR.

Audible Book Review: Dust World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 2 by B. V. Larson

This series offers engaging action in a fun listen.

Dust World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 2

Written by: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Series: Undying Mercenaries, Book 2

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:05-27-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Sci Fi

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The Galactics arrived with their Battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined a vast Empire that spans the Milky Way. Our only worthwhile trade goods are our infamous mercenary legions, elite troops we sell to the highest alien bidder.
In 2122 a lost colony expedition contacts Earth, surprising our government. Colonization is against Galactic Law, and Legion Varus is dispatched to the system to handle the situation. Earth gave them sealed orders, but Earth is 35 lightyears away. The Legion commanders have a secret plan of their own. And then there's James McGill, who was never too good at listening to authority in the first place....
In Dust World, book two of the Undying Mercenaries Series, McGill is promoted to Specialist and sent to a frontier planet outside the Empire. Earth's status within the Empire will never be the same.
©2014 B. V. Larson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Review:
James McGill and the Legion Varus troops are back in action again. Their mission is to seek out a lost earth colony. Many are concerned that they will find primitives but McGill is concerned with what will be done with the colonists. After all, the Galactic law doesn’t permit colonization and his superiors may think they can just hide the whole event.

Before they locate the colony their ship is attacked by a new alien species, dubbed the “squids”. The troops have to make an emergency evacuation to a dust world or a water world. Since the hostile aliens may be on the water world, they head for the other planet. The troops end up separating into groups on the surface of Dust World. While McGill’s superiors debated their landing location all the best spots were taken and they got a valley crevice by default.

They find strange plants and critters on the planet as they do reconnaissance for food and supplies. Then McGill makes human contact! Although the colonists dress as primitives they have weapons that are advanced nano technology. McGill's first attempt at diplomacy ends in his death but he swears he will return. They are shocked when McGill makes good on his threat after being ‘regrown’ by the replication machine.

It looks like Varus troops are going to have to battle the local colonists until another huge ship lands and giant hunters start seeking ‘prey’. Apparently the Squids capture humans for breeding or mutation into slaves. A temporary truce is reached so the troops and the colonists can fight the common foe. But what will happen once the Squids are defeated and the alien ship is captured? And what will happen when the Galactic enforcers arrive and find an Earth colony?

McGill continues, with his brash arrogance, to woe his favorite ladies, even adding a colonist to his conquests. He also continues to anger many of his team and superiors with his refusal to abide by the rules. McGill's tendency to go outside the box and follow his own, sometimes unorthodox, methods gets him into trouble but also provides solutions to problems.

Several of the characters, including McGill at times, are annoying and most of his superiors tend to be callous. McGill really has a caring heart for others even though some don’t recognize it. The story and action are very entertaining and I liked how the political issues were worked out with the Galactic enforcers. I recommend this to action fans and I am definitely looking forward to listening to the next book, Tech World.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett does a great job narrating this series. He manages to give distinct accents to the characters. He also conveys the action with good pacing and energy. I have enjoyed both book 1 and 2 on audio and will listen to the next on audio too.

I selected this from my Audible library.