Stark's War

By: Jack Campbell

Narrated by: Eric Summerer

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The United States of America reigns over Earth as the last surviving superpower. To build a society free of American influence, foreign countries have inhabited the moon, taking advantage of the natural resources to earn their own riches. Now, the U.S. military has been ordered to wrest control of Earth's satellite from their rivals. Sergeant Ethan Stark must train his squadron to fight in an airless atmosphere at one-sixth normal gravity against a desperate enemy. Ensuring his team's survival means choosing between which orders to obey - and which to ignore.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction written and read by author Jack Campbell.

Stark's War was originally published as "by John G. Hemry".

Battle stations! Listen to more in the Stark's War series.

©2000 John G. Hemry (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

The author really knew what he was writing about!

This is a great book. I spent 22 years in the military as an enlisted (E8) and retired in 1977. It really outlines the incompetence of some of the Officer Corps. I was amazed that the author was actually a retired officer himself. I remember the times after I taught some junior officers how to accomplish a task only to be told that I didn't know what I was talking about. Unlike Starks' situation other lives weren't involved. In my opinion the author should still be in the Navy teaching other junior officers what side their bread is buttered on. This book can be satisfying to previous enlisted by seeing that they are not alone in their beliefs. I recommend this story highly.

Good, but preachy

Kudos to Campbell for admitting in his prologue that this a "if this goes on" story. That takes some of the sting of the preachy nature of some of the monologue and dialogue, but not entirely.

A story that clearly has its roots in several of my favorite Heinlein books: If This Goes On, Starship Troopers, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, at least that's how I see it. It also has the ring of Tim O'Brien's books based on his Vietnam experiences.

Admittedly this was his first book, and he states he would change things if he was writing it now.

An easy listen though, on to the next one!

Editing Error!!

I love the trilogy. only problem I have with this book is you can hear the narrator swallowing all throughout the book. It is very annoying to me and makes me want to throw my phone up against a wall. Could have edited out all the swallowing and it would have been perfect.

Officers bad, Enlisted good-Pretty much sums it up

Okay to be fair, the author of this book is one of my favorites military Sci-fi writers, and with the slew of bad military hero worship books out there (Honor Harrington series for example), anyone who is able to put together a decent series like the "Black Jack" series of books deserves to have their other works considered. So with some trepidation and thought hesitation, I cautiously gave this book a try as it is the first in a series of earlier books by the Author.

And ..it shows. The author though does warn the reader that this is an earlier work, done under a pseudonym while he was still in the military. But, despite the warning, I was quite unprepared by the treatment given to the officer ranks in this book. Clearly John G H had an axe to grind with the officers he encountered in the navy during his time in the military, as it comes across clearly in this story.

But...it comes across a bit too vindictively, intentionally or not, I am not entirely sure, but its there. The officers are all one dimensional, self absorbed butt kissing incompetent malcontents whose only purpose is to manipulate a makeshift political process of promotions at the expense of the lives of the enlisted who are all more competent than their superiors.

The book made me quite uncomfortable with its treatment of the officers, being a USMC Veteran with experience on both sides of the command structure. I started as enlisted and ended my career as an Officer. And while I identified with some of the authors bluntly written in concerns about the officer corps, the depiction of the officer in the story was just too unrealistic to allow me to enjoy this story. The depiction of the enlisted in contrast was also even more unrealistic.

As an allegory it just doesn't work. As a cautionary tale, it also doesn't work. Either way I listened through the entire story as I believe there was some valid (if not so salient) points being made about the unchecked allowance of political gamesmanship in the selection of promotions within the ranks. But uncaring, unfeeling selfish egomaniacs that the book literates officers as was too far from reality for me to absorb, which made the book very difficult o take seriously.

I will try the next book, simple because I know this wasn't JGH best and was one of his first works, I predict I will see an evolution in the writing as these books progress. I am not sure if this would be helpful to anyone. Its just my opinion after all.

A lightweight novel

Audible productions are judged (by me at least) for the quality and consistency of the story line through multiple volumes (when appropriate) and then by the quality of the narrator. The input of the production unit, which is in the background and not seen or heard by we readers is of course relevant.

Stark's War is the first novel by this author and the first in a three volume series.

Elements of the story are quite gripping. The "US" and the "Corporations" have occupied the Moon and the military is often used as cannon fodder.

Characters are not typically well developed which is a pity as there a number of characters in each novel which seem to lend themselves to further treatment.

My remarks are made as I conclude the first volume in the series. Maybe later volumes will improve on this first book.

I am glad that I read the author's seven volume Lost Fleet series first. These are highly readable with many interwoven story lines.

Glad this was not my first

This is very good book but not my favorite by Jack Campbell.
The overall story is great but it is not the best fro mlm the author in my opinion. I'm glad it was not the first book of his that I encountered as it would have swayed me away from others.
All in all Stark's War is a very good yarn.

Great story

The story is great but the acting was a little buggy.... Can't wait to listen to the next installment.

Good story, good reader.

This was a fun and exciting book. good amount of action and adventure, enough about tech to peak our interest, but not cheesy.

I like that though a military book, it was not full of bad language. of course there was some, but not too much and nothing so harsh. what I really didn't like however was how many time Jesus' name was made to be a curse. that was not in his other books, so I wasn't expecting it. it wasn't so much, I think 5 or 6 times in the whole book, but still wasn't a fan of that.

Jack Campbell delivers again

I love this author, and have read all but 3 of his books and he had yet to disappoint.
The story is a forewarning of what our society can become if certain trends continue. Having served myself I don't believe that it could ever get this bad, but the author does an amazing job of painting the picture.
The narrator helps bring this story to life. I enjoyed the voice acting and really appreciated the clear speech.

Timely

Wow! This story is even more timely today than when it was 1st written.