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Sam McCade #1
War World
A traitor is on the loose. A treacherous navy captain plans to sell military secrets to the alien Il Ronn. The only man who can stop him is Sam McCade. Betrayed by his friends, stalked by his enemies, McCade is the only one standing between a terrifying alien threat--and the unimaginable devastation of the Terran Empire?
247 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
54 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
William C. Dietz
124 books452 followersNew York Times bestselling author William C. Dietz has published more than fifty novels, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and Japanese. He grew up in the Seattle area, served as a medic with the Navy and Marine Corps, graduated from the University of Washington, and has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, and television news writer, director and producer. Before becoming a full-time writer Dietz was director of public relations and marketing for an international telephone company. He and his wife live near Gig Harbor, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 17, 2020
""I'm aware, of course," Keaton continued smoothly, "that your separation from the navy wasn't entirely voluntary." "A court martial rarely is…. Voluntary, I mean," McCade replied"
Sam McCade’s career as a bounty hunter wasn’t his first choice. As noted above, he was an officer in the Empire’s navy until the court martial. But the Empire still has a use for him.
""Cut the crap, Walt," McCade replied. "The Imperial was a stinking old tub that could barely lift off-planet, and you know it. And we weren't bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. More like hungry, tired, and scared shitless. Let's get on with it…. What're you doing here? Or, more to the point, what am I doing here?""
Offering both carrot and stick, the Empire sends McCade on a mission.
There is a lot of action with interesting plot features, technology and characters. Here is an example:
"Both destroyers were suddenly bathed in fire. Neither was in any danger. Their defensive screens were much more powerful than anything Pegasus could hope to equal. So when they fired in reply, they did so with the care and precision of someone who is invulnerable. And stupid. For as they opened fire, McCade punched full emergency power again, bringing the already hot tubes to the very edge of burnout, and setting off a host of alarm buzzers and flashing lights. But McCade was deaf to the ship's protests as he watched the rear screens with the fascination born of extreme fear. Without Pegasus between them to shoot at, the destroyers were suddenly shooting at each other."
If you like space operas about the iconoclast going up against the “state,” you will enjoy this romp. Sam McCade checks most of the boxes (as long as you are willing to put up with his cigar smoking.)
"In spite of all that, McCade felt better. He had slept for twelve hours, eaten an enormous breakfast, and then donned a one-piece black coverall which Rico assured him also functioned as light body armor. Welcome too was the new slug gun resting low on his right thigh, and the plentiful supply of cigars which filled the breast pockets of his jump suit. Rico had thought of everything."
I don’t believe this is a spoiler; By the end of this book, Sam saves humanity. But, of course, Dietz isn’t going to let this guy enjoy that for very long. I liked this yarn, for all the above, but I am in no rush to add to my collection. 3.5*
Sam McCade’s career as a bounty hunter wasn’t his first choice. As noted above, he was an officer in the Empire’s navy until the court martial. But the Empire still has a use for him.
""Cut the crap, Walt," McCade replied. "The Imperial was a stinking old tub that could barely lift off-planet, and you know it. And we weren't bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. More like hungry, tired, and scared shitless. Let's get on with it…. What're you doing here? Or, more to the point, what am I doing here?""
Offering both carrot and stick, the Empire sends McCade on a mission.
There is a lot of action with interesting plot features, technology and characters. Here is an example:
"Both destroyers were suddenly bathed in fire. Neither was in any danger. Their defensive screens were much more powerful than anything Pegasus could hope to equal. So when they fired in reply, they did so with the care and precision of someone who is invulnerable. And stupid. For as they opened fire, McCade punched full emergency power again, bringing the already hot tubes to the very edge of burnout, and setting off a host of alarm buzzers and flashing lights. But McCade was deaf to the ship's protests as he watched the rear screens with the fascination born of extreme fear. Without Pegasus between them to shoot at, the destroyers were suddenly shooting at each other."
If you like space operas about the iconoclast going up against the “state,” you will enjoy this romp. Sam McCade checks most of the boxes (as long as you are willing to put up with his cigar smoking.)
"In spite of all that, McCade felt better. He had slept for twelve hours, eaten an enormous breakfast, and then donned a one-piece black coverall which Rico assured him also functioned as light body armor. Welcome too was the new slug gun resting low on his right thigh, and the plentiful supply of cigars which filled the breast pockets of his jump suit. Rico had thought of everything."
I don’t believe this is a spoiler; By the end of this book, Sam saves humanity. But, of course, Dietz isn’t going to let this guy enjoy that for very long. I liked this yarn, for all the above, but I am in no rush to add to my collection. 3.5*
June 13, 2017
“Now the stars no longer seemed mysterious. Just beautiful points of light, none of which were home.”
A product of its times (first published in 1986) can be seen in both the portrayal of women, though Dietz did better than many contemporaries, and the cigars. Today such a work would be boycotted, if not banned.
“Somehow it seemed important to finish what he’d started.”
It’s space opera. Not much socially redeeming quality; more popcorn for the brain. Better than average.
“The wise man trades words before blows.”
A product of its times (first published in 1986) can be seen in both the portrayal of women, though Dietz did better than many contemporaries, and the cigars. Today such a work would be boycotted, if not banned.
“Somehow it seemed important to finish what he’d started.”
It’s space opera. Not much socially redeeming quality; more popcorn for the brain. Better than average.
“The wise man trades words before blows.”
August 29, 2018
One of the more dependably entertaining sci-fi authors writing today
By Charles van Buren on May 26, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
As War World in 1984, this was William Dietz' first published novel. It stands the test of time. No laughable, badly dated science to get in the way of enjoying a novel that is a combination of adventure, military sci-fi, mystery and espionage. If you like Sam McCade and the universe which he inhabits, Dietz wrote several more novels featuring McCade. All well worth your time.
By Charles van Buren on May 26, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
As War World in 1984, this was William Dietz' first published novel. It stands the test of time. No laughable, badly dated science to get in the way of enjoying a novel that is a combination of adventure, military sci-fi, mystery and espionage. If you like Sam McCade and the universe which he inhabits, Dietz wrote several more novels featuring McCade. All well worth your time.
May 10, 2018
Typical Dietz space opera/light military SF, enjoyable, with some interesting aliens and likeable characters.
November 14, 2014
Dietz is a great story teller, this particular yarn is a fast paced action tale, a Space Opera of the old school....written in the 80's it has not become at all dated...as good a read in 2014 as it was when written...
I wasn't at all sure I'd read this book before, but when I got to the end, it all came back to me...Pleasantly so it seems....this is first rate space opera, what I grew up on...Way back in the day....yeah I'm getting there....passed 71 last May, but anyway. I've always had a warm, fuzzy place in my heart for good Space Opera and Mr Dietz does it very well....I got a good deal of pleasure from re-reading this book after nearly 30 years...it's as good today as it was the first time back in the 80's....not re-reading the second volume in this series....
I wasn't at all sure I'd read this book before, but when I got to the end, it all came back to me...Pleasantly so it seems....this is first rate space opera, what I grew up on...Way back in the day....yeah I'm getting there....passed 71 last May, but anyway. I've always had a warm, fuzzy place in my heart for good Space Opera and Mr Dietz does it very well....I got a good deal of pleasure from re-reading this book after nearly 30 years...it's as good today as it was the first time back in the 80's....not re-reading the second volume in this series....
March 17, 2020
Great storyline. Easy reading and the start of a great series. I originally read it as Warworld not as Galactic Bounty.
August 21, 2017
I have always enjoyed this author' works. Don't know why I waited so long to read this series. Nice escapist literature with no need to think too hard. Nice cast of characters, even if the story is a little predictable.
June 23, 2018
Hard boiled bounty hunter Sam McCade 'hired' by the government to track down an AWOL general. Fun read, but nothing really serious. 3.5 stars for entertainment value.
October 30, 2021
How does a galactic empire handle an interstellar police force? It doesn't it because it would be expensive, instead it provides guidelines for bounty hunters. Unfortunately while a necessary need to find criminals, bounty hunters don't warrant much respect.
Sam McCade, an ex navy officer, is coerced into taking a bounty for the imperial navy. Captain Bridger appears to have deciphered some script from an ancient alien species and may be defecting to the alien Il Ronn species. It seems Bridger has a grudge against the numerous pirates that occupy the area between the Il Ronn and the human empire. It's icing on the cake that Captain Bridger is the same officer that had McCade court martialed.
I liked it. It read like an adventure from the Traveller role playing game. The characters were a tad stereo-typed. McCade's missteps in the investigation keep leading to more action.
Sam McCade, an ex navy officer, is coerced into taking a bounty for the imperial navy. Captain Bridger appears to have deciphered some script from an ancient alien species and may be defecting to the alien Il Ronn species. It seems Bridger has a grudge against the numerous pirates that occupy the area between the Il Ronn and the human empire. It's icing on the cake that Captain Bridger is the same officer that had McCade court martialed.
I liked it. It read like an adventure from the Traveller role playing game. The characters were a tad stereo-typed. McCade's missteps in the investigation keep leading to more action.
July 24, 2024
👍👍 1986 copy
November 7, 2009
A decent space-yarn. Well-crafted and plotted, it's a good book to sit down with and go-with-the-flow. No weighty moral issues, no higher mathematics or troubling ethics, just a solid tale with adventure, excitement and alien threat.
If space opera or just SF isn't your preference, then you probably won't want to read this. But, if you like a tale of intrigue and trouble set in a future that is an escape from today, then I recommend it.
If space opera or just SF isn't your preference, then you probably won't want to read this. But, if you like a tale of intrigue and trouble set in a future that is an escape from today, then I recommend it.
August 27, 2011
Really enjoyed it. Dietz's skill as an author is evident; his style is easy to follow and visualize and doesn't get in the way. The plot was involved, fast paced and really fun. It centered around a rough, sarcastic, down to earth bounty hunter in a futuristic SciFi world on a quest to save humanity.
December 30, 2014
This book was so fast paced, it gave you no time for character development. I couldn't care less what happened to any of the characters. I actually couldn't even finish the book, which is very rare for me.
July 31, 2013
Fun light read. Lots of action, sarcastic humor, and alien filled adventure. The protagonist remids me of Mal Reynolds crossed with Han Solo. I will definitely be reading the others in the series.
July 23, 2014
fast paced with lots of action ! a quick read ! nothing to complicated ! a good, easy, entertaining, summertime read !
August 24, 2014
Lots of fun and an easy read. Mindless scifi for the win. Thanks for being wonderfully consistent, Dietzy
November 10, 2015
just had too many 'dated' stuff in it...I'm sure it was great twenty years ago...but now...is very dated.
July 8, 2016
Generic Sci-Fi. Nothing really special. The characters are all stereotypes and the action predictable. Not bad as a means of killing time, but nothing special.
October 8, 2014
A good fast moving "Space Opera".
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September 30, 2018Damn good space opera!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews