Audio Book Review: Excellent Military Space Op with a little too much Data Dump!

Earth Strike:  Star Carrier, Book 1

Written by Ian Douglas

Narrated by Nick Sullivan

‘A Boot’ is what the marines call the star where a colony of non-consenting Islamic believers grabbed a foothold on a planet that is absolutely unfriendly to our concept of life.  The colony is there because all those governed by Earth were pressured to sign an accord of non-proselytizing, absolute tolerance of others beliefs and no prosecuting of religious wars.  Yeah, there is quite a history building up to that in Ian Douglas books.  Anyway, these didn’t want to sign that so they formed their own colony on a shit planet they figured no one else would want.  Apparently, they didn’t take into account what the Sh’daar wanted nor how their minions would deliver on the Sh’daar wishes.

Meanwhile, marines were tasked to protect the colony found themselves besieged by the, spelling by ear, Tur’oosh.  The Navy swoops in to attempt a save leading to the events that eventually form the title of the book.  Enough with the spoilers and move on with the review; should I read or listen to this work?

The work is encumbered somewhat with multiple technological data dumps, some are repetitive.  I’m not sure whose idea that was, author, editor, publisher…but after a bit it detracts from the work.  That is not enough to dissuade me however.  Having read many works by this author I have seen that his universe is skewed to the somewhat dark in that most everything he envisions us encountering will require a jingoistic military response.  He may be right and this is after all military space opera, if something needs repelling or a good fight then let’s get the bastards!

The futuristic societal split on Earth between techies and Prims is kind of eye opening and not far off the mark.  Techies embrace new tech, neural implants, altered features making them resemble forms they empathize with like Selkies or Elves.  Prims refuse tech enhancement and live outside of the net cloud in abandoned structures.  This may not be that far away.

I’m going with yes…you should read or listen to this series.  The audio version kept me enthralled and the battle scenes where well done.  The narrator did an excellent job conveying the gestalt of the Tur’oosh combatants seeking consensus between the mind above and the mind below.  The author did a masterful job of conveying how even in futuristic space combat roles at near relativistic speeds and individual can still make a difference.  Three satisfaction points instead of four because I feel the data dumps were overused.  I would rather see characters in the story unveiling what is needed than the NARRATOR.  That’s a Red Shirts reference.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Earth-Strike-Audiobook/B00657NR2K