Edge World

Undying Mercenaries, Book 14

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 16 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A lonely planet circles a star on the very border of Province 921. Critical resources produced there are claimed by both the Mogwa and the Skay. War between the Galactic giants becomes more likely every day.

James McGill and Legion Varus are deployed to protect Edge World, a planet that rotates at a walking pace. Each day is as long as a year back on Earth. The sun-side of the world is baked with endless sunshine, the night-side is freezing and full of strange creatures. Living in an inhabitable zone on the edge of their world, a shadow-line between night and day, nomadic peoples roam the planet. It is these inhabitants Earth’s forces must protect.

Three fleets converge: the Mogwa, the Skay, and Earth’s growing armada. Peace talks are held, but then McGill opens his big mouth, and things go badly....

©2020 Iron Tower Press (P)2020 Podium Audio

okay book

Narration is great and always has been. Also, I have enjoyed the story line from the beginning and that is the reason why I have continued listening to each new book. Larson created a world that is fascinating. The problem is that I don't think he develops it well. Another problem is that the characters don't feel realistic and seem to get worse as the story goes on. And why is McGill the only one that can figure things out, is everyone else really that dumb? That aspect makes the story less believable.

The first four books are fairly good and while they have some problems, I felt like things were getting better and better. However, after that, the rest of the books have been just good enough that I haven't felt the need to leave a poor review. Then, books 11-14 have really started to put me off of the series. Larson is riding off the early success that this series had and is pumping out book after book, I would like him instead to work on polishing the story line a bit.

Obviously there are people who seem to like this series no matter what. But, this is just how I feel after sticking with the series all the way through.

Not much to enjoy.

It was generic compared to the previous books. I was essentially bored for the whole thing. McGill was less of a pervert deviant in this one compared to how skin crawling creepy he was in the last one. The book does almost nothing. You could splice any five or ten chapters from any of the previous books at random and get this book. The universe of undying mercenaries expanded in no significant way.

Needs to get back to the roots.

Spoilers ahead.
So in the beginning first few books, you could like James as a good guy, yes he lied, but only when necessary, it wasn't his secondary purpose. And yes we get it, he's a ladies man, but he wasn't a mindless horn ball with no morals. He uses to understand other people's feelings how girls felt when he was a jerk. Now he doesn't care. He prides himself in being a great lier, and looks for chances to prove it. I'd like to see him go back to being a guy who can get any girl but has some loyalty to one. I get the lack of following bad orders that makes the book fun, but why is he suddenly an idiot? He was one year away from graduating college in computer science, he's shown his ability to think, yet everyone says he's a idiot still.. graves went from a office who defended James gave him a loose leash, but now graves goes out of his way to get in the way. Shouldn't he have built some kind of trust by now? Why is Claver still around? What's happening with the civil war? All these world earth has and still barely a fleet to fight for independence. And not that I'm bothered by foul language, but the last 4 books have been dropping the f bomb for just the sake of doing it. But really it's not needed for the story, in the future we're still using the same swear words? I'd like to hear more from natasha's side, kill off the old annoying villains and get some new ones? Get into the war.. let's hear coopers life view? Maybe a charter from Harris once in a while or carlisle, James daughter isn't getting into any tricks and trouble in her life at all? This is a great world, and so many fun characters that could be expanded on.. this series had gone stale, but the story could go on with any other character James daughter could be the best new star of the next series in the same world, maybe she gets drafted into germania or varies?

Worst book in the series

This was the worst book in the series. The stoy was too predictable and seemed rushed. In one scene Winslade dies and saves the day without being revived. In another scene McGill and Armelle were fighting, both wearing impenetrable armor; later in the book McGill confronts Armelle as if Armelle just received the armor. Time to change the POV or end this series.

Awesome series

I DONT GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK, recommending to all my friends

Another great book by B.V. Larson.

This book keeps you entertained from start to finnish. I could never described the book as well as the summary provided on the information page so I won't try. What I can add is the story is good, the characters are what make it great and Mark Boyett brings it to life. I would recommend this book period.

The story is getting really stale

I really enjoyed the 1st few books in this series. I was really hoping that it was building up to something, but it isn't.

Another great book for the series

Good old McGill, up to his usual shenanigans. The only issue I have with this book is the same one I have with every book in the series. That it ended. I look forward to the next book eagerly. It's hard to imagine that 14 books in and I still look forward to the next.

Good old McGill

If you are buying the 14th book in this series you should know by now what to expect.
Larson delivers yet again and Mark Boyett’s narration is perfect as always. Looking forward to the next entry is this series.

Another great addition.

I tried to share the first book in the series and it wasn't there cup of tea. Well this series has been my Jack and Coke and I like it. Nuff said.

More of the Same

Edge World, the fourteenth in the Undying Mercenaries series, was another Larson story i was looking forward to. I like this series, originally stating that I felt it was better than the equally long running Star Force series. However, that opinion has changed. I now feel that the Star Force series was a better one, because the way the characters and situations developed.

There is nothing inherently wrong with Edge World. In fact, its alien world premise, as is so often one of Larson's strengths, is a clever one, a world where there are three distinctly different species in existence due to their natural environments being so different. Larson has come-up with a planetary phenomenon to account for this strange world where its rotation is much slower than Earth's, with consequently very hot and cold opposite sides and a temperate, but small sliver of the planet that this story is largely based in.

However, and this is where I am starting to tire of the series. It's become far too formulaic. It usually goes something like this, McGill enjoying his down time, urgent mission comes up, trip to planet sees brutal exercises requiring revives to occur, get to planet and kick alien butt. No one said that Larson writes complex science fiction and nor would I want him to. His books are so accessible and make for easy, fun reading. However, this series has rather stagnated in my view.

For example, why aren't the Dragons used on a regular basis? This is a piece of infantry mounted battlefield equipment that is a force multiplier for the ground troops. It made its debut way back in Armour World, I think it was and we haven't seen it in action since, despite actually being featured in this story briefly.

Boots on the-ground is always something that will be needed, but why hasn't armoured assistance been a staple of the series? Why, for instance, hasn't the stories developed tactics and tech to include multiple types of ground and air vehicle? Air power is a vital component of ground assault and yet it's never seen in this series. Instead, troops are massacred en masse over and over when something as simple as a tank or armoured transport would be a far more logical option. Larson could have slowly weaved new vehicles into his stories over time, perhaps seeing McGill be a tank commander, a Dragon squad leader, a gunner on a flying transport etc.

I like the happy go lucky ladies man that is McGill, Yes, maybe he's anachronistic, but he's the kind of hero that is in rare supply these days of politically correct characters.

Also, I think Larson is really limiting his scope here as engagements are restricted to single planets. There was hope for a time, when the squid empire was subdued, that presented a foe with a huge collection of subjugated worlds. however, since then, the conflict has been very localised and I'd like to see more scope in this massive universe Larson has depicted.

I will likely continue reading any forthcoming books in the series, but I really want them to be different, more dynamic, rather than following a set structure all the time.

Getting to much the same

As always a safe story to be told. The same old plots, actions, sub plots and characters. It’s now the writers little money earner without any hard work. Fourteen books in has become so predictable which is a shame because BV Larson is a great author. However, Mark Boyett narration is up there with the greats. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The story is getting BORING

This story is getting boring now, BV Larson is just not adding anything new to this... shame as this use to be a good story but this has been extended it far too much.

Classic McGill

McGill at it again! Enjoyable listen Mark Boyett is great. Story is good, some say a bit samey but there is progression overall and I will keep reading

Another epic tale.

What can I say, B. V. Larson does it again with another epic McGill adventure, of course it would be nothing without the performance of the amazing Mark Boyett, his performances of the characters are outstanding as always and such a vital part of the audiobook.

time to end

I still enjoyed this but I feel it's getting so far stretched it's too distracting

Another adventure with good old James Magill.

Another adventure with good old James Magill, involving sex, lying, multiple deaths and scheming on an intergalactic scale. If you enjoyed the previous books, you'll enjoy this one to.

Great Series. Thanks B V

As a keen audiobook fan, this is one of the audiobooks I have to say is one of my favourites. Mark Boyett is James McGill. Great listen, funny and exciting. Recommend ⭐️

Love these series

Great series with good old James saving the world, just!
Keep them coming and can't wait for next token for next listen :)

Running out of ideas

Felt like this one was let out of the recycling machine half baked. The story meanders more than McGill pops between jump gates... and the ending was just too predictable and unrealistic even for this series. I am a huge BV Larson fan, but this one doesn't rate with the rest of the series... I'm hopeful that not too much damage has been done and that things can get back on track with the next book.