Dust World

Undying Mercenaries, Book 2

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The Galactics arrived with their Battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined a vast Empire that spans the Milky Way. Our only worthwhile trade goods are our infamous mercenary legions, elite troops we sell to the highest alien bidder.

In 2122 a lost colony expedition contacts Earth, surprising our government. Colonization is against Galactic Law, and Legion Varus is dispatched to the system to handle the situation. Earth gave them sealed orders, but Earth is 35 lightyears away. The Legion commanders have a secret plan of their own. And then there's James McGill, who was never too good at listening to authority in the first place....

In Dust World, book two of the Undying Mercenaries Series, McGill is promoted to Specialist and sent to a frontier planet outside the Empire. Earth's status within the Empire will never be the same.

©2014 B. V. Larson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

The option for different worlds is unlimited

Well written with fun complications. The team must pull together, but can they? Tempers and opinions are running high. Can the rule breaker barter for safe ally in the system.

loved it Larson has done it again

Larson made me more interested in reading more & more of his books. Dust World isn't as gruesome but it's written & narrated just as well! it definitely kept me guessing about what McGill is gonna do next, he's definitely one hard ass & gets the Intel right & before anyone else at that! That protagonist is one of the best I've found in my whole tenure of reading!

cliche in parts but exciting and action packed

What did you love best about Dust World?

Like the first book in the Undying Mercenaries series, Dust World is exciting and action packed. A rich an imaginative scifi setting is well established early on and the story plays out like an enjoyable action movie. The sort of book that you'll enjoy if you like films such as Starship Troopers and other scifi action.

What did you like best about this story?

The exciting pace and the scifi setting

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

As a 12 or so hour book, it is not something that I would listen to in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

The book plays like a B-grade scifi film.Fun, enjoyable and exciting, but at times difficult to take seriously.James McGill is largely an enjoyable protagonist but the series treats women as props and employs many other scifi cliches which become grating after a while.While Larson does not reinvent the scifi genre, but the worlds which he establishes and the stories he tells are enjoyable and exciting.Treat this like a Friday night action film, try not to think too hard about some of the more nuanced aspects of the story and go along for the ride and you'll enjoy it.

CANT STOP

Would you listen to Dust World again? Why?

I have a feeling I will listen to this whole series a number of times. I ask myself why? The only reason I can come up with is this book is a no BS straight forward action book with just the right mix of action, story, intrigue, and tech.

Who was your favorite character and why?

James Magill. Hard headed opinionated, impulsive, kick ass corn fed earth man. He has a clear sense of morality and does not hesitate to do what he believes is correct even when it appears to obviously be a bad idea.

What about Mark Boyett’s performance did you like?

I am a fan of a few performers who read some of my favorite books. I now have added Mark Boyette to the top of the list. What a voice. Men, women, young, old, alien or everyday, he brings the characters to life in a believable and entertaining way.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Man has always colonized, we tamed our planet Earth and reached for the stars. Who knew we succeeded. Earth is a class 2 civilization.

Any additional comments?

A cool follow up to the series starter. The books are a easy, enjoyable listen. I know I am going to go through this whole series having a great time.

A good sequel

Read steel world first.
Once again, a real guy who thinks and resists inappropriate authority, makes mistakes resulting in unforeseen benefits instead of catastrophe. And there is tech, fighting, and pretty girls. What's not to like?

enjoyable

I am enjoying the series quite a bit. It's great for housework and the gym.

Another Adventure

I enjoy Undying Mercenaries. You get exactly what you pay for: James McGill - can you imagine him being anything else? I just love the swag of these books. They are enjoyable and entertaining - the ensemble of characters is fun and only add depth. As always, I enjoy BV Larson's universe of various species. The phrases the characters use over and over are right on the money and well thought out. I recommend.

I certainly understand what the praise was about

A good story with plenty of action in all facets of our hero's existance. I approached this story with some hesitance. I approached this story with some reluctance being concerned that the story line would vere off in a direction I would prefer it not go. This did not occur but it came close. On to the next story in this series with again some amount of hesitation.

James McGill saves the world(s)

In this 2nd book of the series, James is still doing things his way. With some of the big brass out to put away permanently, he ducks and dodges and gets promoted! When the Legion's job is to wipe out a "human" occupied planet, while fighting off another alien species, things get complicated. James is no diplomate but finds himself negotiating a ceasefire with the other humans, allying against the aliens. Nothing goes as planned and not to be a spoiler, but James gets killed twice by one of his girlfriends. Has he doomed all humanity? Read/Listen on...

Fun but nothing new

It is a good second part but nothing really exciting. I think the story will be better on the next one. You just learn a handful of new things and you stay imagining where the story will lead the next books. Is one of those books that you can listen ask the time and not be afraid of missing something essential, just fun.