Military Sci-Fi books and authors.

[Sugarmouse]

Hehe

True, although very different in tone from the typical "rah-rah, the military are great heroes!" tone that tends to be associated with the term today. It's more "anti-war SF".

So is Starship Troopers.


Ever get the chance to read Time Wars? Short story collection. Interesting stuff.

For things of high glory, The Faded Sun trilogy gets a vote.

And Ideal War out of the Battletech range was probably the best one of the lot, although I am partial to the Jade Phoenix cycle, as well as assorted others, like the Caballeros story lines, and Assumption of Risk.

 

[James Heard]

I won't retread new ground by repeating the accolades of Haldeman and Drake (though I think Ringo must be trying too hard, I haven't much cared for many of his latest spread of books) - I'm going to mention new ones:

Turtledove: Not a lot of what he writes is exactly military sci-fi, but his World War series (I think that's the name of it, with the obsessive-compulsive lizard spacemen) certainly is, and I think gives him a nod.

SM Sterling: His Draka novels are more alternate history too...but there isn't anything harder or grimmer that I've ever read that didn't actually happen.

Dickson: Soldier Ask Not...

Flint: Various, including the General books.

Pournelle & Niven: I think I'm going to mash them together. Man-Kzin wars, even though they didn't write the entirety they pretty much made it happen.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Flint: Various, including the General books.

Most of The General was Stirling/Drake. Flint only came in for the last couple of followup books, after Stirling and Baen had their falling-out, I think.

Nobody's mentioned Pournelle's Falkenberg books yet... and Janissaries is sort-of Mil SF.

-Hyp.

 

[Karl Green]

My all time favorite is William C. Dietz Legion of the Damned. The rest of the series has been pretty good BUT man that first book was just perfect (for me).

As others have said, I liked the Star FIST and the Hammer Slammer series a lot, and while not 100% sci-fi I to have enjoyed a number of the WH40K novels

Elizabeth Moon's Once a Hero series is pretty good also

I like a lot of the rest mentioned here also

 

[Ibram]

Military SF has always been among my favoret sub sections of Sci Fi. But good Military Sci-Fi can be very hard to come buy.

David Drake is the grand master, his Hammers Slammers series is one of the all time best out there.

S.M. Sterlings alternative history Draka series is exelent as well.

The two of then wrote a series called "The General" some time ago, which is something every true fan needs to get.

Dan Abnett's series "Gaunts Ghosts" is another exelent series (mostly "The Saint" story arch though, some of the earlier novels arent as good).

Jerry Pournelles Falkenburg series and the accompining Sparta series are another rarely heard from master piece.

The Bolo series created by Jenith Laumer is another rare gem, but finding the entire series can be difficult.

Harry Turttledoves "World War" and "Coloization" series are also well worth the time to read, but its a long series. Also worth mentioning is the "Guns of the South" an alternative history/ military SF story that is one of my all time favorets.

Ian Douglas' "The Heritage Trilogy" is one of the best examples of the more recent Military SF series (Star FIST just seemed to fall flat for me, its a little to generic IMO)

The first book anyone interested in military SF should ever own is Starship Troopers!! True classic and the foundation of military SF.

Remember: Service guarantees citizenship

 

[Undead Pete]

I just picked up the Warhammer 40K omnibus EISENHORN TRILOGY by Dan Abnett. It brings together his books XENOS, MALLEUS & HERETICUS.

I have yet to crack it yet, but it looks pretty good. Has anyone read those books? I've always been reluctant to delve into the 40K universe, because a) I don't wargame, and b) there are soooo many books in the line. I didn't know where to start.

If they are good, can anyone recommend more books in the line?

 

[Tonguez]

Can't remember the name but it concerned the training of a misfit troop that included a gigantic boar-like alien schoolteacher and a Anis fighter who entered a Fencing competition.
Read many yearsa ago and enjoyed...

 

[trilobite]

I really liked the Helmsman series by Bill Baldwin. It is pretty much World War 2 in space.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I have seen some pretty good listings already, hard to know what to add to the list.

I just discovered a new one to add to the list. A recent publish, Orphanage, by Robert Buettner.

I may have missed it, but I have been told that if you like Starship Troopers, among the many other books that have been recommeded, Old Man's War by John Scalzi is right along the tradition of Starship Troopers.


Regards,
Eric Anondson

 

[bodhi]

Robert Asprin's Phule's Company books?

Can't remember the name but it concerned the training of a misfit troop that included a gigantic boar-like alien schoolteacher and a Anis fighter who entered a Fencing competition.
Read many yearsa ago and enjoyed...

Tusk-anini has a head like a warthog, and Escrima is a Filipino stick-fighter who fights one of three matches in a fencing competition between Phule's Company and the elite Red Eagles squadron.

Not really gritty. More "Bad News Bears" than "Dirty Dozen". Fun stuff, tho.