Star Soldiers

De: Andre Norton

Narrado por: Eric Michael Summerer

Only as interstellar mercenaries can humans go to the stars; the aliens who already dominate the galaxy allow no other recourse. But when Swordsman Third Class Kana Karr and his comrades-in-arms are betrayed and abandoned on a hostile world by their alien masters, the warriors from Earth begin a desperate but glorious march across a planet whose every sword is against them. Their actions may doom humanity's future...or lead the way to an empire of their own!

Four thousand years later, galactic civilization is collapsing, and the underfunded crew of an exploration starship is forced to set down on an uncharted planet: a mysterious, abandoned world that is achingly beautiful - and hauntingly familiar. Ranger Sergeant Kartr, telepath and stellar Patrolman, searches with his crewmates for the source of a beacon which may mean escape for them all. What he finds is far stranger: the first clue to what may become the greatest revelation in galactic history!

The defining events of future history as only Andre Norton could tell them!

©2001 Andre Norton; Star Guard copyright 1955 by Harcourt Brace & Co.; Star Rangers copyright 1953 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (P)2021 Tantor

Dated, but fun

These books are dated, yet many a cliched sci-fi premise is based on them. Good fun for a light read.

Star Guard, and Star Rangers/Last Planet

These 2 stories are among my favorite Andre Norton books certainly my favorite of her “CC” stories. This pairing is very good as it represents a beginning, and and ending of this universe. In Star Guard you have a young soldier who lives on an Earth forced by Central Control to be mercenaries. While fighting his way across a hostile planet he learns things are not what they seem. In Star Rangers, (original title Last Planet) we are at the other end of the CC story arc. The Galactic civilization is collapsing and a remnant part of the Galactic Patrol sent out into the galaxies fringe to get rid of it makes a interesting discovery.

A great Norton story

Great characters and interesting, gripping plot. I’ve read and listen to almost all Norton books. This is in the top 10%.

A classic space opera in the old school style.

A classic space opera by Andre Norton from a bygone era. The reader gave an excellent performance.

promising

nice concepts and plot. But the time jump leaves out to much, between the first and second books. and the second one drones on

good listening

I don't like the first book as much as the second but it is worth listening to.

a green soldier becomes a man and a rebel in the first book.

a veteran discovers a strange world and learns new things about his mental abilities.

Book 1 is Great, Book 2 is a Spin Off

Great writing and characters, and an interesting (if outdated) sci-fi setting. The exposition is flawless and the worldbuilding well thought out, even if we don't go into much detail. The overall story is rather compelling, and while the MC is in a suspicious amount of interesting scenes, it's whatever. It IS interesting, after all.

The second book, however, follows what appears to be a completely different cast of characters in a completely different region of the galaxy, and on a completely different side of the conflict. As far as I can tell from the first two chapters, we're not going to be seeing any of our old cast, and I'm unfortunately rather connected to the original MC. Probably just as good, but disappointment makes me unable to find interest in them.

Thought I'd let some other people know ahead of time. Still worth it, for the first book. Highly recommend.

Two Great Andre Norton Stories

As a child Andre Norton caused me to dream about alien worlds with the sense of adventure and discovery. This led me to share stories with my children inspired by this amazing author and one of them is now a writer himself.

I don't think I read these book back then, but they are very reminiscent of the stories I loved. I am glad to see Audible add more Andre Norton books to their collection. This audiobook combines the two Central Control books that she wrote into one edition. There is a large time separation between them, but they work nicely together. It would have been nice if should would have published more books to fill in the gap, but that did not happen.

Now if Audible would just add "Daybreak 2250 AD" to their collection, that would make me very happy.

The rise and fall of humanity amid a galactic empire

Star Soldiers recounts humanity's early years as mercenaries among an galactic mileau of established species, and their possible hopes of transitioning to a broader role. Much of the story is more a "sword and planet" type tale, taking place with infantry and rifleman on a less technologically advanced world.

Star Rangers takes place millennia further in the future, when the galactic empire is waning and chaos is spreading. Events focus on teams from a patrol ship crashed on a world where the situation is more complex, ancient, and unusual than it first appears. Deals heavily with a diverse group coming to grips with a world (their entire civilization) changing and considering their place in the new circumstances.

Certain aspects of both are a bit dated. Certain outlooks and attitudes. But in general it seems well thought out and fairly enlightened for its time. There is a lot of thought put into the tone, feel, and rationale of the situations presented and the outlooks of the characters contending with them.

If you're into military sci-fi or enjoy the Traveller RPG, then this book might interest you.

Great adventure stories

Despite being published in the 1950’s these SF stories still held together well. Andre Alice Norton wrote great adventure stories in the 50’s; 60; and well into the 80’s.