Steel World

Undying Mercenaries, Book 1

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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

A great read!!!

It's a good simple story and Mark Boyett does a great job with the characters. Can't help but love McGill. Can't wait for #5 Death World.

This review for all it's worth covers the series. No sense doing it individually.
I recommend the series to all who like Sci-Fi and future military books. Only wish they came out quicker.

Great military sci fi!

Great story, characters and narrator. I've read many books in this genre and this series is one of the best.

Fun book

The story does feel a bit like a video game at first. The respawning after death and the soldiers with different weight classes will seem familiar to anyone who has played any popular game. The story eventually manages to make getting killed feel significant, but it takes a chunk of the book before that happens.
As the story progresses it also manages to explain why foot soldiers are still relevant in a high tech future.

It started a bit rough but by the time I got to the end I was really enjoying the universe BV Larson created.

And my obsession begins

Great story, great narrator, playful characters and interesting twists. The pressure of the battles and the sheer strength of will McGill has to has to have to win small but repetitive battles is rad, loved the book. Onto book 2.

Future battles? Whoa!!

get past first scene setting and it keeps you listening thru out the entire story

I want more!

I am off to get the next one in the series. This one was a good start,

perfect for listening while zoning out.

Easy, engaging story. well written and presented. Definitely a "dude" story in a guy genre....guns, aliens, death, etc. Just what I was looking for while refinishing a large deck!

Solid Military Sci-Fi

Once again B.V. Larson proves that he is a master of the military sci-fi genre. And once again, Mark Boyett is a perfect narrator for the series.

Great Performance

Mark Boyett's naritive style combined with the fantastic story of steel world, rivited my earbuds to my head for hours on end. This work is now in my top 10 reads.

Satisfying military scifi.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, so long as they wanted an easy to digest action story.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have given the lead character a few more flaws.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the cadets first launch into space and the challenge they endure.

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

Eh, a few listens. But that's not a negative.

Any additional comments?

Overall a very well done aND entertaining book.