The Dead Sun

Star Force, Book 9

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Kyle Riggs sits uneasily upon Earth’s throne. He’s liberated his homeworld from a tyrant, only to replace him. In The Dead Sun, the ninth book of the Star Force Series, the Great War between life and the machines reaches its final chapter. Both sides have new technology and expanded industrial bases. Star Force and the machines attempt to exterminate one another in a final, glorious conflict. Along the way, Riggs finally learns who his real friends and enemies are.

The Dead Sun concludes The Star Force series but don’t worry – we’ve got plenty more military sci-fi action from best-selling author B.V. Larson. Check out Steel World, book 1 in B.V. Larson’s new Undying Mercenaries series.

©2013 B. V. Larson (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Sad to see the series end, but enjoyed the ride.

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

Absolutely. It is a unique series, great plot, great protagonist, Excellent writing style.

What did you like best about this story?

Col. Kyle Riggs. One of my favorite heroes of all time. Considered an outlaw, looked at indifferently by most of senior officers, chased by the bad guys, good guys, friends, several world governments, multiple alien species that consider him to be Earths leader and greatest warrior. I love deeply flawed, but brilliant protagonist in a novel, and Riggs fits this profile better than nearly any character I've ever seen.

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

Yes, I stayed up late to buy it as soon as it went on sale.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book, and series. Col. Kyle Riggs is a true hero similar to John McClain in the Die Hard Movies. He gets thrown into extraordinary circumstances against his will, and ends up being the deeply flawed, but super effective savior of Earth. Riggs is the type of man that will ignore his government, and entire senior staff when directing an order. This order may result in millions of deaths on earth, but to Riggs millions of deaths is necessary sacrifice in order to save billions. He is a true Cowboy. The books are all well written with a perfect mix of action and dialog. I'm sad to see the series end, but I have high hopes for B.V. Larson as a sci-fi novelist going forward.

SHORT ENDING

This was a good series, but the ending was too abrupt and seemed forced as if the author just grew tired of writing the series and wanted to move on.

More discrepancies

He leaves the missiles at earth, yet has them to fire at the Macro drones. Does this author ever review his work?

great series finale but with a few disappointments

Any additional comments?

loved the series as a whole. great blend of fantasy sci-fi with more literal, military sci-fi. I highly recommend the series for top notch light reading.

My only criticism of this book in particular is the ending. MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW



I felt like the ending wrapped up a little too quickly. One minute the word is about to be destroyed and the next, everything is fine. Also, while it wraps up Jasmine and Rigg's story lines very well there were several characters where you don't find out what happens to them. What happens to Kwan (forgive the spelling...I'm strictly an audio listener!) or Marvin? I almost felt like he either wanted another book but decided against it or shortened this book for publishing or editing purposes. Nevertheless, I was overall very happy with this final installment.

Sad that the series is over

This has been such a great series. I am sad it is over. Really enjoyed the ride!! Thanks B.V. For hours of fun!

Awesome

This series was another great one. Hats off to the narrator in this series and all of the other ones as well.

Great Finish to Last Battles Lame End to the Hero

Concludes Star Force series. Think hero would have kept a ship and had nano children.

What I wanted to happen...

Fitting end to a really good story. Enjoyed the characters, the technology and the plot.

Thank god it's over

What would have made The Dead Sun better?

What would make the Star Force series better? Realism. Yeah, science fiction is fiction. But the best fiction has basis in the real world. This story was full of plot holes and flat out fabrications. No one with a shred of military training would maintain loyalty to Riggs (the protagonist). No one with a modicum of common sense would do the things Riggs does. To imagine that such a bumbling idiot as Riggs not only rises to leadership, but maintains it, stresses suspension of disbelief to the breaking point.

You like plot holes? Just create a god-like robot who pulls Star Force's nuts out of the fire like Wesley Crusher saves the Enterprise every 3rd episode. Then, because it bends the arbitrary 'rules' that Riggs imposes to keep it from being all-powerful, Riggs then punishes it or removes privileges after the latest ass saving.

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

No. I am so glad this series has come to a conclusion. I waited almost 6 months from finishing book 7 before I got 8 and 9 just to finish the series. It took that long to forget how stilted, discordant and irritating the characters are (mostly Riggs, but also others). Based on this series, I will knowingly include B.V. Larson as a hack writer worse than the pulp writers of the 50s, some of whom were very good but constrained by publishing demands.

Oh yeah, and don't get me started on the 'romance' line. Because women TOTALLY think and act like that...

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

Mark Boyett is the redeeming feature of this series. His performances are universally excellent.

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

Irritation. I could not immerse myself in the story because the STORY IS SO BAD. Just write a book called Deus ex machina and be done with it.

Any additional comments?

Don't bother, don't bother, don't bother.

Leader of the world fights on the front line

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

Mark Boyett does an excellent job at narrating, great choice for this series.

Any additional comments?

Larson is pretty one dimensional. Advanced civilisations that have a uniform behaviour. Nearly nothing happens that Riggs doesn't personally do or think of, other characters are grudgingly given ideas, but they will always complain and moralise, while Riggs stands alone with nearly no support. If something has to be invented to save the day then there is Marvin, the regularly verbally and occasionally physically abused genius AI. Riggs goes about thinking up good lines to partially speak only to get cut off mid sentence, and then everything changes. Well you'd hope so, but it doesn't. 9 books of pretty much the same stuff. The guy in charge of everything deciding he better go be on the front line, micromanage everything.