Dust World

Undying Mercenaries, Book 2

By: B. V. Larson

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The Galactics arrived with their Battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined a vast Empire that spans the Milky Way. Our only worthwhile trade goods are our infamous mercenary legions, elite troops we sell to the highest alien bidder.

In 2122 a lost colony expedition contacts Earth, surprising our government. Colonization is against Galactic Law, and Legion Varus is dispatched to the system to handle the situation. Earth gave them sealed orders, but Earth is 35 lightyears away. The Legion commanders have a secret plan of their own. And then there's James McGill, who was never too good at listening to authority in the first place....

In Dust World, book two of the Undying Mercenaries Series, McGill is promoted to Specialist and sent to a frontier planet outside the Empire. Earth's status within the Empire will never be the same.

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

Lovable and Easy Read

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

Witty, Contemporary, My kind of Military SciFi

Who was your favorite character and why?

McGill is easily my favorite character. He is no Mary Sue. He makes mistakes, is a bone headed, hot blooded 22 year old. What makes him stand out is his sense of justice and morals.

What about Mark Boyett’s performance did you like?

Mark Boyett has become my favorite narrater to date. He showcases a spot on Georgia accent and was able to flesh out my favorite female characters as well.

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

I pretty much listened to this within 48 hours of purchase.

Any additional comments?

I really hope the author continues this series!

Smart Alec soldiers fight aliens!

What did you love best about Dust World?

This is a continuation of "steel world". Check out "steel world "for a more fleshed out beginning to the character and more in-depth explanation of why soldiers are being sent out into the universe to fight aliens.I like the series for its lightness. It scratches the science-fiction itch.

What did you like best about this story?

McGill is a fun character to hang out with.

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

Probably the accent in my head while reading would've been different.

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

No, this is just pure guilty pleasure. American space soldier kills aliens while trying to survive.

Any additional comments?

Science-fiction guilty pleasure.

Why have heavy weapons

Would you consider the audio edition of Dust World to be better than the print version?

yes because the narrator brings it to life.

What other book might you compare Dust World to and why?

steel world although the plots are unique the characters all have great presence and importance

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

top of the line performance

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

Survival is not a given

Any additional comments?

I don't understand the point of a heavy trooper or troopers with weapon that need to recharge after each shot, they only carry one shooting weapon and there is no fire control.
why hell even the colonials with their single shots had fire control

I’ve listened to these books a few times

I don’t yet have books 10, 8, & 7 in this series.
I’m listening to this whole series again, in order. I enjoy it. It’s popcorn, flavored like Starship Troopers.
The reader is good. The stories are fun. It’s my guilty pleasure. It’s not practical, I don’t learn anything. :-)

Good action but far to much sex

I liked the base idea for this story and the plot twist on the technologies involved. The story flowed well from the first one. My main complaint is the continual sex aspect spoiling the story flow. It is unnecessary and really adds nothing to the story.

Engaging Action and Fun Listen!

James McGill and the Legion Varus troops are back in action again. Their mission is to seek out a lost earth colony. Before they locate the colony their ship is attacked by a new alien species, dubbed the “squids”. The troops have to make an emergency evacuation to a dust world or a water world. Since the hostile aliens may be on the water world, they head for the other planet.

They find strange plants and critters on the planet as they do reconnaissance for food and supplies. Then McGill makes human contact! Although the colonists dress as primitives they have weapons that are advanced nano technology. McGill's first attempt at diplomacy ends in his death but he swears he will return. They are shocked when McGill makes good on his threat after being ‘regrown’ by the replication machine.

It looks like Varus troops are going to have to battle the local colonists until another huge ship lands and giant hunters start seeking ‘prey’. Apparently the Squids capture humans for breeding or mutation into slaves. A temporary truce is reached so the troops and the colonists can fight the common foe. But what will happen once the Squids are defeated and the alien ship is captured? And what will happen when the Galactic enforcers arrive and find an Earth colony?

McGill continues, with his brash arrogance, to woe his favorite ladies, even adding a colonist to his conquests. He also continues to anger many of his team and superiors with his refusal to abide by the rules. McGill's tendency to go outside the box and follow his own, sometimes unorthodox, methods gets him into trouble but also provides solutions to problems.

Several of the characters, including McGill at times, are annoying and most of the superiors tend to be callous. McGill really has a caring heart for others even though some don’t recognize it. The story and action are very entertaining and I liked how the political issues were worked out with the Galactic enforcers. I recommend this to action fans and I am definitely looking forward to listening to the next book, Tech World.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett does a great job narrating this series. He manages to give distinct accents to the characters. He also conveys the action with good pacing and energy. I have enjoyed both book 1 and 2 on audio and will listen to the next on audio too.

...and I don't really like military novels.

My first triple 5 *. I think the characters and the voices that Boyett gives them and inseparable. They are like old friends now. I know a guy like Carlos. I just smile when I hear them. These characters are more enjoyable than any of the mainstream novels I've tried. Note the number of stars. The voice and phrasing of the bureaucratic Narbs are like aural candy.

I never think of the female character voices as a guy trying to be a woman, they are just Kivi, Natalie or Della o Turov.

Loved it!

I loved how fast passed it was! I never felt stuck in a scene!! I want this series to be 11 book long at least!!

Git some

Excellent second book. Magill kicks butt again. Amazing how he comes up with so many answers when the supervisors can't. But this is so true in real life also. One man in the right place can make all the difference.

have been enjoying the series. fun book good scifi

enjoyed it very much, only problem is I'm listening to them to quickly. the narrator is great and the story is unpredictable and interesting. good read.