Swarm

Star Force, Book 1

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Earth arms marines with alien technology and builds its first battle fleet! Kyle Riggs is snatched by an alien spacecraft sometime after midnight. The ship is testing everyone it catches and murdering the weak. The good news is that Kyle keeps passing tests and staying alive. The bad news is the aliens who sent this ship are the nicest ones out there.

A novel of military science fiction by best-selling author B. V. Larson, Swarm is the story of Earth's annexation by an alien empire. Long considered a primitive people on a backwater planet, humanity finds itself in the middle of a war - and faced with extinction.

Battle stations! Listen to another Star Force novel.

©2010 B.V. Larson (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Starts off a little slow, but catches on and holds you!

Love this spin on alien invasion theme. Author does not make it melodramatic, or mushy or overly gross. Just little bit of everything, and a well maintained steady pace at which the story moves. Characters are developed well. Action adventure feel is awesome.

Will definitely read next one in this series. Want to see what are "blues" and where will it take us.

great read

Took me a little bit to get into this book.. but get into it i did! characters are great. story was engaging. cant wait to get more.

Addictive and Compelling - You have been Warned!

If you could sum up Swarm in three words, what would they be?

Scarey - Gripping - Amazing

What other book might you compare Swarm to and why?

Starship Trooper - Heinlein. But the enemy is tougher, unrelenting and more merciless.

What about Mark Boyett’s performance did you like?

Seamless change of character voices and great dramatic reading ... puts you into the scene

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

In this Swarm Space You Can Hear Screams and More Screams!

Any additional comments?

Characters, plot and scenes are very complex, realistic and gripping. Battle scenes ring true and you feel you are in the midst of the storm.

Amazing!!

My hands down favorite series! Amazing action, emotion, and imagination here. Really wish I could give it 10 stars!!!

One of the best SiFi Series of all time

What did you love best about Swarm?

I am writing this review after reading the complete series, loved them all except "An Army of One"

What did you like best about this story?

It gets the whole series going

Have you listened to any of Mark Boyett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Very good narration

The beginning of a rewarding odyssey, A must read

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

I would recommend this to any science, tech or programming guy who wants to be on a fairly well written adventure about an everyman widower computer professor that starts with him fighting for his own survival in a first contact situation with some unusual artificial aliens that think as a nano collective. But what makes this book so rewarding is that it is followed on by more books that genuinely evolve and have many other big new ideas that over time really change the story and the character. I feel this first book is one of the most inventive though and it has a number of fun wish fulfillment scenarios for people who have always lived by their wits but would enjoy more adventure if it were tailored to a hero with brain and a level headed perspective first and foremost.

What other book might you compare Swarm to and why?

I am sure there are likely books to compare the Swarm too, but I really cannot think of any off hand. One key imaginative aspect to this book is combining the speculation of a first contact situation with the notion of very advanced and powerful Alien Nanotechnology. While I do not think it is the intention of this author to engage in super hard science fiction, never the less there is some very intelligent and imaginative work done to play out one way such an artificially intelligent alien first contact scenario might actually take place. In other words this book, while not hard science fiction is most certainly not science fantasy either. It takes more liberties with the complexity of the world socio and political reactions more than the science or the individual dynamics of its main or immediately tertiary characters.

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

I generally really liked the narrator and I thought he did a great job with all the voices and he should be looked at as an up and coming audio reading voice talent. But if I am forced to talk about specifics I would say that he does a nice job with the main character and with the female lead. Later in the book series is does a terrific job with a number of male and female characters with specific ethnic accents and vocal temperaments. Last but not least he adds a real sense of humor when he finally is able to embody the character of an unique alien AI named Marvin. Although I need to clarify that Marvin may not show up till a later book. Which brings me back to my original point about this book as it relates to its mates. This book is merely one great complete story that then opens the door to several other great stories with new big ideas that keep the epic from becoming sterile or predictable. And a nice part about this audio book series is that Mark Boyett is used through out all of the books in the series so far. Once you get used to how a particular character is voiced, you do not have to wonder if that will change in book 3 or 5 or 6. Its also good for me to point out because if you do not like this readers voice, then be warned he is the voice in all the books that are part of the series so far. I genuinely liked him. He acts and gives unique vocalizations to each significant character and at his absolute worst his voice is not offensive or grating. All in all I consider Mark Boyett a selling point of this book and all the books he is a part of in this series.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

its been a while since I have read swarm but less than a moment and more of an overall content theme that moved me was the transition of this middle ages man who was a gentle and smart Programming professor who is still in morning over the loss of his wife and yet over time. You watch as this man who has all the advantage of a middle aged man that is educated and thoughtful and more importantly comfortable with who he is but yet is also still somewhat hung up on the loss of his wife and so therefore is a bit stuck before the novel's fantastical events give him not only challenges but also a new lease on living life in the present and not in the past.

Any additional comments?

If you are a person looking for a fun smart but not overly deep adventure read that will not fail to disappoint and that has a number of alluring points to it style wise. Namely that each book acts as its own discreet story that are in their own right entertaining to read or listen too. Also it is worth while to not that over time the science fiction tone definitely shapes into a much more military aspect to their stories, But the difference is that the story changes tone very organically into a more military science fiction. In fact this first book is probably one of the less military themed ones because there is so much context, character and fantastic imaginative aspects that must be introduced and explained. that said its still full of some great action. I am some times find military science fiction pretty one note and dry, but in my case, even as the later stories involve even more focus on a more military based Sci-Fi story, it does not do so at the expense of the overall motivations of the various characters that the readers meets in the story, but rather it heads toward conflict and military style fiction because of the people you meet and the evolution of those you have known since the beginning. For me that was key as it kept me caring about the action as I felt very invested in the outcomes. Further, the storytelling style never deviates from letting you see how things develop because of outside developments but also because of the ideas, goals and emotional drivers that influence the choices that are made by several of the main characters. I love it when a story teller is able to credibly tell the story of big battles and wars and simultaneously tell you the story of the peoples that have to make choices in that affect those wars. It keeps the action nailed into the personal while maintaining a great deal of insight into the action that will affect everyone. In general, if you like great speculative fiction that has some real terrifically executed story telling that tackles some neat speculative technology, one form of a First contact scenario, and some follow on struggles that address the struggle for survival, the difficulty of relating to alien intelligences, and some exploration into how much can a human being change its body and or mind physically and still be considered both human and still the same basic core person inside. And all done with a good mix of wit, fun, imagination, and a generally nice pace that keeps one from feeling bored if any of the aspects of the story might not be a hook for a particular reader. I have read all six of this series books and I have really enjoyed all of them. some are better than others, but none of them are seriously subpar. In fact as my last comment, I will leave you with a repeat of one of my earlier comments and that is that the series itself does not just stop adding big fun imaginative leaps in book one. This is a series that has a continuing stream of intriguing ideas that are introduced into the story telling so that as some aspects of the story that may have felt fun to ponder in book one but might be getting tired by book 3 or 5, well have no fear, I felt no idea was flogged to the point of being tedious and boring because the author has run out of intriguing ideas to continue a number of themes.

All in all, while I am not going to call this series some Opus of science fiction, I am going to say that is an extremely high quality fun adventure ride that is choc full of a great number of intriguing ideas that imaginatively played with in order to service the On going endeavors of our main character, his lovers and friends, and organizations that he will eventually start. It is perfect escapism that is neither mindless nor soulless. I am reminded of a great Jim Butcher Quote when he speaks of his own sales pitch about his now very famous fantasy series, The Dresden Files. He says, We are not claiming that our stories are life altering literature but rather it is really good popcorn story telling for smart people. And if you know anything about Jim Butcher's Books, you along with me, might be willing to argue that he does not at times get pretty close to life altering literature. I know I certainly care about his characters and therefore his universe and all the fun imaginative speculations in his book. I am giving B V Larson high praise by saying that this book and the series it is a part of nearly as compelling. I know I read the first book in one sitting.

Refreshing!!

If you could sum up Swarm in three words, what would they be?

Wonderful flowing story.....

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alamo, because the ship's personality grew throughout the story; and it seems it will continue to grow in upcoming books.

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

Outstanding narrator. Mr. Boyett brings life to the characters in such a way that I can easily vision the action, tension and celebration of success.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When solutions are develop in the face of hopelessness.

Any additional comments?

I congratulate Mr. Larson not only for his story; but his continued effort in pushing his story- writing into the mainstream. Those who have closed a door to his publication attempts have obviously lost an understanding of what the market wants in a good story! Thank you Amazon for opening up avenues for those like Mr. Larson!

Amazing

The story is fast paced and has cliff hanger after cliff hanger . I can't wait to read the next book.

Good If Not Great Start to a Great Series

What did you love best about Swarm?

Larson always gets the action going quickly. This is an advantage in this type of writing but readers expecting more motivation and backstory to the acton will need to adjust. The first 100 pages are far fetched but it is needed to get Riggs into the action so the series can get going. I appreciate Larson's approach but it can be a little unsettling. But that is his style in other series and he is consistent here.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I am writing this after finishing book 3 and I Rigg's character progresses, so I would have to include him as my favorite.However the supporting characters make these books for me. They add humor and a human element to what could be one dimensional sometimes.

Which scene was your favorite?

Whenever Riggs kicks a little ass. These books are based on action and when it occurs its always fun.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Riggs is a computer programmer and it adds an interesting element to the story. I work in IT and found this to be something not only relate able but an interesting twist on the story line. In some ways We Are Legion - We are Bob has similar elements. This is a future vision of warfare that is fun and entertaining.

Any additional comments?

Readers wanting deep meaning or moment of epiphany should steer clear of this series. However if you want to suspend your disbelief and are entertaining by kick ass, non stop action Larson is your man. This is a slow start to a great series but it is worth the time to get into a really terrific series.

Very Entertaining

I got sucked into this story right away. The main character ( Kyle Riggs ) is inventive and very likable. I could easily empathize with his struggles early on in the story. Then when the war with the AI's gets rolling, I could not tear myself away.

If you enjoy classic Sci-fi you will love this book. Give it a try. ☺