Military Sci-fi

[Decado]

Joe Haldeman
John Scalzi
Dan Worth

All excellent and worth a read

[xg4bx]

some may be pleased/dismayed to know that they're rebooting the starship troopers films-

"In a chat with Empire, producer Toby Jaffe (who is also producing the upcoming redo of Total Recall) said, "The more expensive a film is, the harder it is now to make it that violent. ... Verhoeven took [Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel] from one extreme and made it almost comical, whereas our job is to be a little more faithful to the book, and ground it a little more."

Jaffe added, "Verhoeven made his movie a critique of fascism, whereas Heinlein was writing from the perspective of someone who had served in World War II. Y'know, one man's fascism is another man's patriotism..." The producer added that, thanks to today's visual effects, they can also do the Jump Suits as depicted in the book."

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/...roopers-reboot



longer article-

http://www.craveonline.com/film/arti...wn-on-violence

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by sabredog

Hmmm, where to start....

David Weber
Jack Campbell (John Hemry)
Ian Douglas
David Drake
John Ringo

Indie Alternatives

Thomas dePrima
Dan Worth
Evan Currie
Ryk Brown


Baen is indeed a good start for Mil SF. Recommended.

On the indie side, I'd add The Nameless War by Edmond Barrett. I liked it as much as Currie's Odyssey One.

[pshrynk]

Harry Turtledove does the best alt history stories, IMO.

Joel Rosenberg's Tetsuo books are the best I've read. I always regretted that he never wrote any more than he did.

Niven and Pornelle's Mote in God's Eye was the classic space opera/military SF. Gripping Hand not so much.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

On the indie side, I'd add The Nameless War by Edmond Barrett. I liked it as much as Currie's Odyssey One.

Speaking of indies, I really enjoyed "Turing Evolved" by MR denizen David Kitson.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

some may be pleased/dismayed to know that they're rebooting the starship troopers films-

"In a chat with Empire, producer Toby Jaffe (who is also producing the upcoming redo of Total Recall) said, "The more expensive a film is, the harder it is now to make it that violent. ... Verhoeven took [Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel] from one extreme and made it almost comical, whereas our job is to be a little more faithful to the book, and ground it a little more."

Jaffe added, "Verhoeven made his movie a critique of fascism, whereas Heinlein was writing from the perspective of someone who had served in World War II. Y'know, one man's fascism is another man's patriotism..." The producer added that, thanks to today's visual effects, they can also do the Jump Suits as depicted in the book."

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/...roopers-reboot



longer article-

http://www.craveonline.com/film/arti...wn-on-violence

I'm looking forward to this! And the new Total Recall can only be an improvement, though i doubt it will have the same ending as the original story....

[caleb72]

Hmm - I really liked the Starship Troopers movie. Admittedly I never read the book so I have no basis for comparison. But I loved the in your face violence and the overplayed patriotism of the movie.

One day I'll actually read the book so I can see what Heinlein was really intending with the story.

[Kevin8or]

I thought Starship Troopers (movie) was a satire from the get-go. "Would you like to learn more about glorious military service? Click here now!" LOL. I started to read the book earlier this year but it didn't hook me. Maybe I'll try again later.

Joe Haldeman's Forever War, though, I recommend. Thanks all for the great suggestions.

[DrNefario]

Originally Posted by ApK

Speaking of indies, I really enjoyed "Turing Evolved" by MR denizen David Kitson.

As military SF? I haven't read it yet, but that's not what I thought it was.

For the indies, try a sample first. That's been enough for me in more than one case, with fairly popular authors. (Obviously if it's free, like the Kitson, there's no need to do that.)

[DrNefario]

Originally Posted by caleb72

Hmm - I really liked the Starship Troopers movie. Admittedly I never read the book so I have no basis for comparison. But I loved the in your face violence and the overplayed patriotism of the movie.

One day I'll actually read the book so I can see what Heinlein was really intending with the story.

I read the book in three days last year. I found it very easy to read, like most Heinlein, and I also disagreed with almost all of it, like most Heinlein.

I don't honestly know if I'd rate the book or the movie higher. They're both quite different, and flawed in different ways, but I guess the book is important in a way that the movie isn't. A lot of other books are reacting to it.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

As military SF? I haven't read it yet, but that's not what I thought it was.

It can fit in several sf subgenres (it's a pretty original story, which is part of what I like about it) but, without giving too much away, the book opens with the protagonist being drummed out of the service, and military tech, tactics and ethics play key roles, at least for part of the book.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Harry Turtledove does the best alt history stories, IMO.

Joel Rosenberg's Tetsuo books are the best I've read. I always regretted that he never wrote any more than he did.

Niven and Pornelle's Mote in God's Eye was the classic space opera/military SF. Gripping Hand not so much.

Actually, I would recommend Pournelle's Falkenberg series (The Mercenary, Falkenberg's Legion is the first of the series). It's kind of the bridge between the current world and The universe of Mote in God's Eye.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Actually, I would recommend Pournelle's Falkenberg series (The Mercenary, Falkenberg's Legion is the first of the series). It's kind of the bridge between the current world and The universe of Mote in God's Eye.

I forgot about those! Yes, very good series of books.

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

As military SF? I haven't read it yet, but that's not what I thought it was.

For the indies, try a sample first. That's been enough for me in more than one case, with fairly popular authors. (Obviously if it's free, like the Kitson, there's no need to do that.)

It doesn't sound like it but there's definitely a military sci-fi element. Its not non-stop combat but there's some good mech battles and a lot about using the A.I.s as military weapons.

[ghostyjack]

I'd also tack on to this David Sherman's Starfist series. I've read the first couple and find them pretty good.

Haven't read any of his Starfist: Force Recon series, but I hope they are as good as the main series.