Annihilation

Star Force, Book 7

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Kyle Riggs is in for a rough ride.

In Annihilation, the seventh book of the Star Force Series, nothing goes as planned. The three fledgling human colonies in the Eden System are beginning to take hold, but the forces threatening to root them out are many. The Crustaceans are calling for help, despite the fact they are the sworn enemies of Star Force. Are they potential allies, or vicious tricksters? And why are the oceans of their world heating up?

Even as Riggs flies out to investigate the situation, more mysteries arise. The Blues are making vague threats, and Earth is suing for peace. Who is to be trusted, and who holds a dagger behind their backs?

Annihilation is a military science fiction novel by best-selling author B. V. Larson. To find the first book in the series, search for Swarm. Annihilation is the longest book in the series so far....

©2013 B. V. Larson (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

I'm done with this series

Would you try another book from B. V. Larson and/or Mark Boyett?

No. Lead character has become a wacko. Contemplates sex with every female he comes across.and every female tries to sleep with him..which really is just distracting. Punishes others for his mistakes. I feel like I made a serious mistake following this series.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Love space battles

What three words best describe Mark Boyett’s performance?

Great character voices

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Some space warfare

The series should have ended much sooner.

Would you try another book from B. V. Larson and/or Mark Boyett?

Yes, and I have.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Another book from this genre.

Did Mark Boyett do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

As always, yes.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Annihilation?

The whole book

Any additional comments?

This series is a little long in the tooth. I was left with the feeling that Kyle Riggs is an idiot.

From Decent Series, to Monumental Ego Stroking

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A different book?

What was most disappointing about B. V. Larson’s story?

This series started out so well, and had the opportunity to grow beyond it's main character. Unfortunately, Larson decided to remain so tightly focused Riggs that I grew to despise the character.

Would you be willing to try another one of Mark Boyett’s performances?

Mark Boyett does an excellent job.

Just OK

Any additional comments?

I have read all of the Starforce novels and unfortunately the last two have seemed to go downhill a bit. I will still read the next ones but unfortunately Riggs didn't seem like himself in this one and it seemed rushed overall.

Can't take anymore Kyle....

Riggs' intelligence has been on a downward spiral (nosedive in this volume) for the last few book. For me, it hit the unbearable point during book 7. No reason for his decline has been given so perhaps it's unintentional. Regardless, the story has been ruined for me.

Mark Boyett's narration was excellent as I've come to expect. His character inflections provide a great color to the narrative.


Sad really, the story itself is very interesting to me.

Different

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The story didnt seem to follow the last book. At the end of the last book kyle and sandra talked about taking back earth, but in this book it went in a completely different direction and just seemed muddled

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

nothing was really interesting, usually kyle is programing different designs but doesn't happen in this book at all

Which character – as performed by Mark Boyett – was your favorite?

obviously Sandra cause she was awesome....but yea ......

Did Annihilation inspire you to do anything?

nope

Any additional comments?

some of the things in the book dont really mesh with the other books, like the macros using projectile weapons :S that would seem to be a down grade and a complete waste of metals.... I think the writer is writing to many different books that he has confused the direction of the star force series...this is my opinion of things anyway

The low point in this series

BV Larson has a good story idea but he desperately needs an editor and help from someone who can write female characters. The women are all either bipolar Tweens or whores. He repeats explanations of things like the ring communication devices over and over again. Explain your scifi tech once per book. Phrases Mr. Larson can no longer use:

- crossed her arms under her breasts (just say she crossed her arms)

- too bad (used too often)

- lady love (nobody says that)

He also has turned the main character into a cartoon of itself. He's kind of a pompous buffoon at this point. Maybe this series should have been told from the point of view of multiple characters. The main character's musing on military leadership are the product of someone whose watched too many John Wayne movies. Not realistic at all.

The reader was good but mispronounced some words here and there.

That's it - no more - I can't take it...

What would have made Annihilation better?

I hoped - god I hoped for a change in this series. Something that wasn't about one man. Something where everyone along with the main character could contribute. Instead it's another novel where Riggs makes all the decisions, has all the ideas, and acts in the same way he has since book one. I know he is the senior commander in the series but come on...and enough with Sandra - for the love of god why is she there other than to add drama! I originally enjoyed this series, and I know a lot of people still enjoy it...but for me that's it. I'm jumping off the band wagon. I want a novel with interesting people not one person.

Would you ever listen to anything by B. V. Larson again?

Possibly...just possibly, but for now I'm done. I've listened to the same stuff for 7 books now and I can't take it anymore for the foreseeable future.

What does Mark Boyett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mark is a great narrator, giving a distinctive voice to every character in the book and the series as a whole.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger and disappointment..anger that nothing seems to change, disappointment that I had hoped it would have.

Any additional comments?

B.V. obviously know how to develop his characters, you can hear it in how he structures Riggs, he just needs to give his other characters the same time and thought. Give them a voice, give them a chance to make themselves known.

Worst book of the star force series

What did you like best about Annihilation? What did you like least?

I didn't really like book 7 at all. Too much filler material, so much of this book is kyle riggs thinking about stupid things in his mind in the midst of one of the few action scenes in this book. His desperate actions to save the lobsters for no real reason other than to save thier worlds. They wont even ally with star force and they bring virtually nothing to help. Riggs is willing to sacrifice star force personel for nothing in return. The ground fight in the first half of the book was extremely disappointing and the little bit of space action at the end was all for nothing, pretty much like everything else he did in this book. All 6 of the prior books were better. More action less BS is needed. I'd say 1/3 of this book was utter crap meant to take up time. Step it up bv larson.

What does Mark Boyett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voices are great as with all star force books but the story was lacking.

Was Annihilation worth the listening time?

Not really, I found myself constantly screaming out comeon, So little happens and when it does start happening riggs manages to think about things that have nothing to do with the current situation. Example He gets an urget message from one of his officers and instead of just hearing what the message is we have to hear riggs in his mind wasting a min or two talking to himself about what he thinks might be said before we get to hear what actually happened then its completely wrong or talking about shrugging his shoulders or crossing his arms or many other equally mindless things. Needs more action and much less BS

Any additional comments?

These books have less and less story and more and more filler material.

Riggs last draft of nanos befudle im some, what?

It is my opinion that Larson's character progression be taking a hard turn for the worse in this installment.

I could have added more to this review, thats if i hadnt spent my time since listening to this insallment on subconciously repressing any and all meandering thaughts on said book. =(

Fly ball for Mr. B. V. Larson. I found myself rather surprised but I hypothesize that Mr Larson be only human. Thus consequently 6 out of 7 homeruns be nay shabby at all at all.

Seeing as the procentages are in favour I feel disposed to wager my happiness on book number 8 in this great series. =D