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.

Not as good as some are saying in my opinion.

Remember the movie: "Starship Troopers"? My experience for of this book, was a lot like that movie. Was this movie based on this book? Not a lot of thinking necessary. Just kinda grade "B" entertainment in my opinion.

I have read lots of SciFi before that really made me think about things. This didn't really do that for me. KInda' "fluff" storytelling. Not a lot of character development. Not a lot of fulfilling tech development. Not a lot of cultural/moral/ethical tension that for me makes a story interesting - even if I don't agree with the points the writer is trying to express or explore, I want a bit of a mental challenge in that way. For me, the SciFi genre needs to be used as a vehicle for something more. The book seemed to get started on some tact, and I was getting excited, thinking, "Ok, now it's going to take off!" and then, "Hmm, missed opportunity here."

I think Mr. Boyett did a decent job of narrating what he had to work with. It felt like he was having to work harder than usual, to make this story work. It was much of the time like experiencing someone overacting, but out of necessity.

Is this one of Mr. Larson's first works? A lack of experience maybe? I didn't think what had the potential of a very fresh and interesting premise, got the outcome it deserved. Lots of "gaps" and incomplete takes on things, in some the descriptions.

I'm sorry if my review sounds overly negative, because I realize I am in disagreement with many other reviewers. I actually feel kinda' bad, not to be able to give a glowing review. So much potential here. I know writing a book is not easy to do really well. I mean no disrespect to the author, the narrator or other reviewers.

Would I listen to another one from this author or this series? MAYBE, but I would need to be in the mood for something pretty light weight.

Here is hopes the next books are better.

great mil sci-fi

really like this one...got to get number 2...awesome detail and great characters...this i can see would be just how earth would act under an invasion

Absolutly Floored by this saga!

Where does Swarm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Out of the 16 series and 54 books I have through audible, this saga has to be in the top three. Maybe two. The majority of my collection involve space opera and futuristic sci fi. I believe Hyperion book series still remains my number one but for different reasons. This is the best military/combat focused style futuristic sci fi.

What other book might you compare Swarm to and why?

I'd say Dan Simmons Hyperion, Undying Mercenaries, Peter Hamilton's Void series/Pandora's Star, D.J. Molles The Remaining series (zombie) and Alastair Reynolds Pushing Ice. It's a first person view of humanities experience sprinkled in with future tech, military combat and dominant leadership flaws/strengths.

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

Storytelling and narration is exceptional. Nothing annoying like a strong Scottish accent.

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

Without any spoilers, the main character overcomes many flaws in government and humanities culture when applied to space and interplanetary travel. The extreme loss and pain the main character experiences was not fluffed over as he works through his mistakes. A real good vs evil battle goes on throughout the series.

Any additional comments?

This review is for all books in this series. I only wish the books were longer than 11-13 hours.

Space marines COOL. excellent narrator too.

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

Tough. Detailed. Incapsulating.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I actually loved the narrator's voice for this audio book. Very captivating to listen to.

Which scene was your favorite?

I teared up when his kids died.

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

They came in the night but not to probe us .... They came to find the elite of us to fight for the Universe.

Any additional comments?

Good GUY book, even though I'm a girl.

Top-notch writing and beginning of a great series

I've already read the entire series and I can say without a doubt, besides BVs 'Undying Mercenaries' series that's still going strong, this is the best sci-fi I've read to date. Recommended for anyone who loves sci-fi books!

good book. unique

unique concept, good book I liked it, great to listen to while I'm working on the farm.

Ok book

the author very obviously doesn't have children and does an incredibly and quite unbelievably bad job writing for a father. just no clue of a parent's perspective. very hard to get beyond this.

Best Sci-Fi I've read in a long time.

Best Sci-Fi I've read in a long time. War of the Worlds meets Terminator. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

The great and powerful Kyle Riggs

I’m sure I’ll take an unhelpful reviewer hit for this, but Kyle Riggs is a hypocritical moron. Within the first few chapters I found myself hoping for the death of this “great” man. I continued to pray for his untimely demise in books, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. I’m assuming he never actually bites it in 10 or 11 but really don’t care at this point. I know this is an unpopular perspective and being buried in the 4000 other reviews this will probably never even be seen, but I hope this will bring me some closure regarding this tool.

Why do I dislike this galactic hero so? Where do I begin? It could be because after a very devastating event happens to his family, he is preoccupied with banging some stranger. Perhaps it could be how he has declared himself smarter than every other being on the planet. It could possibly be irritation derived his many non logical “great ideas”. How about a combo. He continually made stupid unilateral decisions effecting the human race followed by a complete about face on the “final” decision to do the exact opposite thing (but still stupid). His decisions were based on whatever fancy he had at that moment damned be consequences.

It didn’t take long to realize how big of a tool this guy was so I don’t know why I basically listened to the whole series. I really liked the concept of the technology and if the main character was really a “hero” the series would have been great.

good listen

I am enjoying this series. i have finished the second book and will be buying the 3rd book to listen to. its a light read, easy to follow.