This is the first in a long series of military sci-fi adventures told by David Sherman in a far future universe. This one started out really slowly as the author spends more than half the book on back story and preparation of the action scenes to come. It did have a rousing finish and I am glad I stuck it out. I will also probably read on in this series as well.

3.5 Stars for a good action finish. This one could have been better if the action stretched over the whole book. ( )

Excellent military science fiction following Marines dealing with deadly, well-defined warriors on a desert planet. Entertaining story with twists, heavy combat, and some good writing and plotting. First of a promising series. ( )

Excellent military science fiction, where we start where a series like this should, with some of the young characters electing to enlist. They pick the Confederate Marines, which is the main expeditionary ground force of the Confederation of Worlds. You see them go through Basic Training and then get assigned to their first duty assignment as part of the 34th FIST, a spacegoing version of the modern Marine Expeditionary Unit, a self contained ground unit containing all it needs for a small, complete combined arms operation (infantry, armor, artillery, anti-aircraft artiller, air support, Naval support). You meet the NCO and officer leadership of the company the new Marines are assigned to and follow them in on their first mission, an operation that has them up against a poor world with some modern weapons, in a way that reminds me of Somalia, with just the risks and ambiguity that mission offered for US and UN forces. Yes, there is some shorthand, and it true that authors Sherman and Cragg were learning their craft still. But it is a darn good series and you see these characters grow and change through their personal experiences. Over time, you also get a feel for policy and politics in this setting, as well as the question...what about spacefaring ETs? But those are for another book. ( )

Although Joe Dean arrived at the Federal Building intending to enlist in the Army, he follows an impulse and joins the Confederation Marine Corps. Dean absorbs the esprit de corps while developing with other recruits and being educated by their drill instructors. His first assignment is to the 34th FIST, when he is shanghaied by the legendary Staff Sergeant Charlie Bass. Although he epitomizes a combat Marine, Bass was busted and assigned to the 34th FIST, a hardship posting, for “conduct unbecoming” after he physically expressed his displeasure in Terminal Dynamics’ faulty equipment. Company L, including Dean and Bass, are soon shipped out to clean up the mess created by inhumane tribal warlords on the barbaric planet of Elneal. When Terminal Dynamics equipment fails again, Bass must lead the survivors though a hostile, desert environment while being pursued by forces on horseback. Sherman and Cragg maintain a realistic tone to any military interactions which will be comfortingly familiar to ex-military readers.