Steel World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

B. V. Larson (Author), Mark Boyett (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)

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In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers…someone had to do their dirty work for them, their fighting and dying.

I, James McGill, was born in 2099 on the fringe of the galaxy. When Hegemony Financial denied my loan applications, I was kicked out of the university and I turned to the stars. My first campaign involved the invasion of a mineral-rich planet called Cancri-9, better known as Steel World. The attack didn't go well, and now Earth has entered a grim struggle for survival. Humanity's mercenary legions go to war in Steel World, best-selling author B. V. Larson's latest science fiction novel.

Listening Length

12 hours and 7 minutes
Author

B. V. Larson
Narrator

Mark Boyett
Audible release date

December 3, 2013
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios
ASIN

B00GBAE1NU
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	12 hours and 7 minutes
Author	B. V. Larson
Narrator	Mark Boyett
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	December 03, 2013
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00GBAE1NU
Best Sellers Rank	#14,926 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #111 in Hard Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #390 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #393 in Hard Science Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

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3 star		9%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Amazon Customer

Extremely disappointed

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2018

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A lot of people seem to really like this series. Then again, a lot of people seem to like McDonalds food. This is some of the worst science fiction I've read in years. First--the idea that Earth's mercenary forces would, for no good reason at all, adopt the command structure (roughly) of Rome is ludicrous and the author doesn't even attempt to justify it. Second--the protagonist is fairly young, living with his parents, and in the first few pages of the book ends up signing up for a 6-year stint and shipping off a few hours later. He doesn't contact his parents at all? He doesn't miss them? This alone makes the protagonist a 2D cardboard character (as are all the other characters I've encountered).

Then there is the technology, and it is universally "deus ex machina"--technology that performs miracles, with no attempt at explaining anything about it. The revival stuff is complete BS. Many other science fiction books, some excellent ones, include revivification as a possibility. But you are ALWAYS revived to the point of the last full backup. There is no way these soldiers are backed up so completely that, after waking up in a new body, they remember their LAST FEW SECONDS OF DYING. I guess the author wanted to include this so he could have the characters get all emotional--well, as emotional as 2D cardboard characters can get--about the experience they went through. But it is impossible to suspend disbelief, and if disbelief cannot be suspended, then the book is worthless. I got about halfway through and then couldn't go any further. I know it is going to be more "go into battle, get shot at a lot, kill some aliens, die, get revived, pretend to have meaningful interactions with the other cardboard characters". No thank you.

87 people found this helpful

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Don Viecelli

So Original and Absolutely Entertaining Story!

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2016

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From My Goodreads Review Number 54:

This review is on Steel World by B.V. Larson. This is the first book I have read by this writer. It won’t be the last.

To say the least, I was not expecting this type of Military Science Fiction. For starters, who would think that human mercenary soldiers fighting saurian reptiles, which included raptor-looking dinosaurs called “Dinos” for short and huge T-Rex looking theropods called “Juggers” on a hot, dry planet called Cancri-9, would be so entertaining and memorable. Cancri-9 is called a “steel world” because it is a mineral rich carbide planet made of iron and carbon and other rare metals in high demand by the alien rulers.

In the story, James McGill is an underachieving, online video gaming, third year college student who is forced to drop out of college when his family runs out of money. He decides it is time to leave home and get a job. In his case, James thought it would be a snap to join one of the space-going legions and become a mercenary that fights wars on contract for the Hegemony and Galactic Governments. You see, humans are only allowed to exist if Earth sends human legions to fight other aliens on contract as needed. The Galactics run the show and humans provide the muscle under strict conditions. The good news is most soldiers survive to fight another day, even if killed in battle, unless you get “permed” by accident or some other unfortunate circumstance. You will understand the situation a lot better when you read the book.

Unfortunately, it is a lot tougher than James thought to join one of the most popular legions. It seems they only want people to do what they are told, follow the rules and not be independent thinkers who can cause trouble. James ends up signing with Legion Varus, a bottom of the barrel, loser outfit many people think. It seems the legion gets “wiped” a lot. So begins James six-year military experience.

This book reminds me of several other great stories I read with similar themes such as The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, Old Man’s War by John Scalzi and Armor by John Steakley. All these books are original stories with good plots, entertaining action scenes and memorable characters.

What makes this story so entertaining is the style of writing. B.V. Larson writes the story in the first person, which makes James seem so realistic, unpredictable and human. The dialog is humorous, blunt, irreverent, witty, descriptive and fast paced. I laughed out loud several times as James examined his dire situation and cursed the outcome.

I give this book five stars because it is original and imaginative, with memorable characters, extremely well written dialog and numerous battle scenes full of surprises. This book will end up as a classic military science fiction story. I hope B.V Larson writes a sequel. Enjoy.

22 people found this helpful

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AUSTIN

The whole series is a decent read, but....

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2016

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The whole series is a decent read, but the first three books are the best ones. It is obvious that the author is a former marine, as it colors his perspective of a grunt quite well and even how a grunt views the sailors. The main character begins out life in the Legions as an idealistic recruit who finds himself acting out and changing key events due to his moral character and disagreeing with the strategy of his superiors. He's a character any veteran can relate to. By about book four the entire color of the story and the main character starts to change in ways that really detract from the success of the series. I would believe that's where the author finds himself out of his depth as he tries to show what happens when an enlisted man climbs up the ranks, which does happen in war quite a bit. While the upper echelons of rank do indeed swirl with politics in real life, his rendition just isn't believeable. Also the character turns from someone you can relate to to someone you almost despise; someone honest who will take initiative for the higher good, to someone dishonest and more untrustworthy than he should be. I didn't like how the people he should have showed the most loyalty to were the ones he lied to the most in books five and six. Overall it's a decent read that shows what life could be like for a future Earth that is faced with superior alien races; however, the mistakes made with the main character totally detract from the story.

17 people found this helpful

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Trixxie

Takes you away to the stars!

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2022

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This author and narrator are a perfect match. I’ve read and or listened to the whole series and am on the 3rd time. My audible library consists of 808 books plus at least 100 in my kindle. I read a wide variety, often, if that helps. This is the best -space opera?- that I’ve ever read. I highly recommend them. So many worlds!!! And of course if you have an imagination it helps too….😉

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Kindle Customer

A laugh every page

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

If you like black humour this the one for you
James McGill star of this epic,is one of most enjoyable and interesting characters i have read in a long time .When Amazon sent me there recommend list I clicked on book 12 i bought and started to read it and realised I read the previous books,but I read them years ago so back to book one because I enjoyed them so much.Another good thing about Amazon they tell you that you have bought them before with a date

One person found this helpful

heironymous oink

Fun space opera

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

These are not the greatest SF storied ever told, but they are very entertaining. I got these on Kindle library, because the paperback price is quite steep.

A little like Starship Troopers the movie, packed full of action and over the top aliens. Just don't take them seriously and you will probably enjoy them. Sometimes it's fun to read something that isn't trying to baffle you with science and techobabble.

One person found this helpful

JPS

Entertaining and easy to read even if predictable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book is the first in trilogy or rather, to be accurate, three volumes have been published so far about the adventures of James McGill, the narrator of the story enlisted in one of Humanity’s mercenary legions. Depending on what you are looking for and on your personal tastes, you will either very much like this book or find it “content-light” and not exactly original.

There are similarities with more than a few military novels, whether of the science variety or not. One well-trodden path is that of the new recruit who discovers what a military life means in one of toughest human military outfits. Of course, our blue-eyed boy will become an outstanding hero: again, no surprise here. Another typical ingredient of this kind of book is that it is “fast-paced” and “action-packed” (it really is, by the way). It is a page turner, to use yet another conventional expression. You also need to note that this book, unlike quite a few others of its kind, is largely free of typos, which is also something that makes it more readable.

The context of the story is interesting. By the middle of the 21st century, Humans have been contacted by “the Galactics” and integrated into their Empire as a fringe and vassal race. They have also been largely confined to their planet by this lose federation of alien races from the core of the galaxy, all of which are vastly more advanced than Humans and all of which (or at least the two species we come across in this volume) consider the Humans are barely sentient and half savages whose main talent is to wage war.

In an interesting twist which does not exactly present Humans in a flattering light, each species is required to specialise in one area. It uses this one expertise for which it has some kind of monopoly to obtain the “galactic credits” that will allow it to acquire technologies and use the services of other races. The Human speciality is that they make good mercenary soldiers, and our hero becomes one of them. Unfortunately for the Humans, one of the alien races decides it wants to add an extra competence to its portfolio of skills, up to now specialised in mining. This of course leads to a some very brutal contests that take place under the eyes of the Galactics who act as referees to ensure that the pre-determined rules of engagement are respected by both sides.

An additional twist is that these alien technologies are integrated in human military outfits. Space ships are built and run by one species, including all Legion troop transports. Rifles and made by another for all other alien species. A third race builds machines that replicate sentient beings and can replace them as soon as they die. The point here is that whole Legions can be “wiped” (meaning be wiped out) and yet survive to fight another day, sometimes the very next day.

There are perhaps a few weaknesses. I found that the book lacked a bit of context and depth. I wanted, for instance, to learn quite a bit more about the structure of government of Earth and the contact with the Galactics that lead to it. Another point is that the “resurrection machines” that can replicate both bodies and minds like some kind of tri-dimensional super-photocopier seemed a bit too good to be true. In particular, the side-effects of these “re-growths” – feeling wobbly and a bit of dis-orientation but no other side-effect or major psychological trauma than some nightmares - did not entirely convince and sounded a bit “too easy”. Moreover, the long-term effects of getting oneself killed time and time again must be rather damaging, although this theme might be covered in further episodes since this is our hero’s very first campaign.

This is a good title and a good read, despite a few weak points. If you like military science fiction, you will probably enjoy this one (and the following two episodes), even if it is not entirely original. Four stars, after some hesitations and because I liked it, despite everything else.

One person found this helpful

William J. Fox

The Strength of Flesh

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2014

Verified Purchase

First things first, this is NOT a "new" Starship Troopers". That insults both the original and Larson's novel. It is a rite of passage of a spoiled brat growing up under fire to become on of Humanity's greatest warriors for the Terran Legions.

There are similarities to "Starship Troopers", Full Metal Jacket" and any other story which follows the life of a new recruit from training, through baptism of fire to becoming an experienced soldier. Larson has added something special to the mix. Although the legionnaires can die, due to alien technology they can be reborn minutes later ready to go back into the breach. It is the alien races that make this book a cut above many others.

The Galactics, races from the core systems, control the newer race. They consider Humans to be barely sentient and ripe for genocide except for the one thing they have which few other races can offer. At their best Humans are fighters, the most vicious and most tenacious soldiers available.

Written in the first person "Steel World" is the planet where James McGill finds his role in life as one of the Human Legions under contract to fight the lizard rebels of Cancri-9, also known as the Steel World because of the super abundance of heavy metals and rare earths which make up the crust of this very hot planet. The fighting is brutal, the pace is sometimes breath taking and the characters interesting and varied. Larson is destined to become a "great" in my opinion and I will soon be reading more of his books. I just hope Steel World is not a one-off as I would like to read more about McGill and the mercenary legions. Very highly recommended if you like action novels.

6 people found this helpful

Traffic

Great Book and Easy to Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2015

Verified Purchase

I really did enjoy this book (Kindle version) after reading it following a recommendation to do so by my friend's 13-year-old son who absolutely loved it. So I gave it a try and was very glad I did. It follows the story of a young man (aged about 22, I believe) who had grown up playing a computer game called "Steel World" which was like a Virtual Reality multi-player shooter, a game based on the real life (in the book anyway) wars being fought by earth mercenaries in another galaxy. Our protagonist decides to join one of the famously glorious legions but fails to get into his first, second or third choice legions. Instead he ends up joining one that takes anybody. The novel is action-packed, graphic but yet easy to read with no complicated plots. The enemy are dinosaur like creatures with almost human characteristics who live on a binary sun planet and the humans are mercenaries hired to defeat them. Some interesting ideas in it like the machine that is able to bring people back from the dead by creating a clone of the certified dead person who comes back with his full memory and self-awareness.

A very good book which has made me want to read the sequel Dust World (Undying Mercenaries Series Book 2) Kia (my friend's son) is already on this sequel and he says it's very good, so I am looking forward to getting and reading this one too.

A note on the Kindle version of Steel World: Perfect. No problems at all.

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