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Originally Posted by MachinegunDojo
I am into books like Battletech, Warhammer 40K, Star Wars, etc... I'd like to try some free eBooks on my Dash before I start buying. If it matters I am in the US for copyright stuff. I'd figure some of you would know where I can start, I am looking through the Baen Free Library right now but I'm looking blindly and it's getting tiresome reading short descriptions.
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Hmmm. Military SF fan?
On the free library, start with the Honor Harrington series. They follow the career of Honor, who rises from Midshipman in the Royal Manticoran Navy to Fleet Admiral and peer in two nobilities. Honor's career is based on both the fictional Horatio Hornblower
and the real Admiral Lord Nelson.
The Star Kingdom of Manticore has a problem. The Republic of Haven is next door, galactically speaking. The Republic's founders made a deal with the original colonists: "You let us run things, and we'll take care of you!". Centuries later, Haven is a hereditary oligarchy ruling billions of Dolists who live on government subsidies and expect a continually increasing standard of living. The Republic is going bankrupt trying to pay the upkeep, and has taken to conquering and looting smaller neighboring star nations to cover the costs. Manticore is next in line. It will be the biggest opponent Haven has faced. It has a much better navy, but Haven is far larger. Things will be interesting for Manticore.
Next, try John Ringo's "Legacy of the Aldenata" series. The alien Darhel arrive on Earth with an offer we can't refuse. The Darhel rule a galactic federation. The federation is menaced by the Posleen -- hermaphroditic, cannibalistic, centauriods, whose effect on planets they invade is akin to a plague of technological locusts. The Darhel
can't fight, nor can any of the other races in the federation they rule. They need a military to oppose the Posleen. Humanity has the required fighting skills, but lacks the technology. The Darhel will provide tech, and Earth will provide soldiers. But make up our minds fast, because Earth is directly in the Posleen's path...
A lot of Free Library offerings aren't on the web site. Baen offered CDs bound into selected hardcovers including books that haven't been put on the site. Zip archives and ISO images of all the CDs are at
http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com. When you go there, look for the David Weber-Steve White "The Stars at War" collaborations. Humanity meets the Bugs. The Bugs have a single motive: expand. Other species, including humanity, are
food. There can be no negotiation, and no treaties. Just victory or extermination.
That ought to hold you for a bit...
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Dennis