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Blood Red Steel
Blood alone decides the fate of Mars
For two years, the Mars Expeditionary Force has held the line against the last remnants of the Third Reich. McCabe, Jenkins, and the Second Battalion long for home. Reinforcements have arrived, but the veterans of the MEF have one final mission. Defend Forward Base Zulu at all costs.
While Generalfeldmarschall Brandt plans a decisive showdown at Forward Base Zulu, Reichsführer Wagner celebrates the activation of the first generation of the Hollow Programme. Surrounded and cut off, McCabe and Jenkins once again find themselves in league with the MAJESTIC-12 operatives known as the Black Visors. Now the future hinges on the sacrifices of a few determined soldiers.
For two years, the Mars Expeditionary Force has held the line against the last remnants of the Third Reich. McCabe, Jenkins, and the Second Battalion long for home. Reinforcements have arrived, but the veterans of the MEF have one final mission. Defend Forward Base Zulu at all costs.
While Generalfeldmarschall Brandt plans a decisive showdown at Forward Base Zulu, Reichsführer Wagner celebrates the activation of the first generation of the Hollow Programme. Surrounded and cut off, McCabe and Jenkins once again find themselves in league with the MAJESTIC-12 operatives known as the Black Visors. Now the future hinges on the sacrifices of a few determined soldiers.
270 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 2, 2023
Brutal. Twisting. Relentlessly paced, riveting military sci-fi.
Damien Larkin takes the best parts of Big Red and Blood Red Sand and mashes them together in a pulse-pounding new thrill ride. He weaves together the whirling threads of the mind-bending first book with the gory, bloody battle scenes of the second. With added conflicts, mixed allegiances and new characters with unknown motivations, the world and plots grow successively deeper with each outing. I loved the first book and thought it absolutely stood on its own, yet I am also amazed how Larkin continues to expand the setting. There is WAY more to the world of Big Red than I imagined, and I feel that Larkin is still just beginning to scratch the surface.
Damien Larkin takes the best parts of Big Red and Blood Red Sand and mashes them together in a pulse-pounding new thrill ride. He weaves together the whirling threads of the mind-bending first book with the gory, bloody battle scenes of the second. With added conflicts, mixed allegiances and new characters with unknown motivations, the world and plots grow successively deeper with each outing. I loved the first book and thought it absolutely stood on its own, yet I am also amazed how Larkin continues to expand the setting. There is WAY more to the world of Big Red than I imagined, and I feel that Larkin is still just beginning to scratch the surface.
October 3, 2023
Another slab of brutal sci fi from Damien Larkin that kept me company on a recent plane to Hungary. A nazi-head busting, non-stop action, violent rip ride across ole Big Red. That should have sold you alone, but if not, keep reading, it's a hell of a book.
An awesome writer all round, where Larkin's writing truly shines is during the battle scenes in this book, advancing it at a breakneck pace, yet leaving you with vivid scenes of detonations, shootouts, and orbital barrages tearing the Martian landscape apart. Damien has continued to advance time and again as a writer since Big Red, and there was more than one scene where I was torn between thinking 'that's fucking well good', and being insanely jealous of Damien's ability.
A welcome break from my usual realms of swords, shields and various flavours of wizardry, just like its predecessors, Blood Red Steel did not disappoint. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci fi, and also anyone who's a fan of general WW2 themed-fiction, as there's a hell of a lot of content here for fans of both genres.
Another home run Damien, your craft is a testament to itself mate, highly, highly enjoyed this book and hope there's much more to come!
An awesome writer all round, where Larkin's writing truly shines is during the battle scenes in this book, advancing it at a breakneck pace, yet leaving you with vivid scenes of detonations, shootouts, and orbital barrages tearing the Martian landscape apart. Damien has continued to advance time and again as a writer since Big Red, and there was more than one scene where I was torn between thinking 'that's fucking well good', and being insanely jealous of Damien's ability.
A welcome break from my usual realms of swords, shields and various flavours of wizardry, just like its predecessors, Blood Red Steel did not disappoint. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci fi, and also anyone who's a fan of general WW2 themed-fiction, as there's a hell of a lot of content here for fans of both genres.
Another home run Damien, your craft is a testament to itself mate, highly, highly enjoyed this book and hope there's much more to come!
April 10, 2023
Just as the previous books by Larkin, Blood Red Steel continues in the sci-fi, military realm on Mars. Immediately after set-up, the author creatively builds the war time action scenes with non-stop action and detail until the culmination that will leave a lump in your throat and a pain in your chest. The story telling is multi-layered with different characters and timelines that are interwoven to perfection. Part sequel, part stand alone, you’ll want to read all his other books as he deftly creates another world that you are invested in from the beginning and don’t want to let go. Eagerly awaiting the next installment of this incredible series.
April 10, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Exciting, fast paced and as good as, if not better than the previous two books in the series. The battle scenes are well written and thrilling and the characters are fully formed and engaging. I fully recommend this series.
December 31, 2023
With Blood Red Steel, Larkin delivers another exciting and action-packed book that scratches that military sci-fi itch.
Blood Red Steel picks up two years after the events of Blood Red Sand, when the Mars Expeditionary Force drove the Nazis out of New Berlin. Mentally exhausted and badly depleted, they are eager to finally go home. However, to do so they must complete one final mission: defend Forward Base Zulu against the full might of the Third Reich and the endless hordes of the Red Blades.
As was the case with the two previous books, Big Red and Blood Red Sand, I really enjoyed my third trip Mars. Larkin is an extremely talented writer, especially when it comes to action scenes, and this is on full display here. Brimming with Brens and bayonet charges, tunnel traps and hand-to-hand combat hell, the fighting is vivid, intense, and brutal. There is always a chance that a heavy focus on action can become tedious and get in the way of the plot, but Larkin is a veteran and knows how to keep things interesting.
I was delighted to discover the return of my two favourite characters from the previous book, with both given equal page time. McCabe, now a Lieutenant, has more responsibilities than ever before while at the same time suffering from PTSD and becoming increasingly embittered by the MOF’s questioning decisions. Corporal Jenkins finds himself in the thick of things once again, this time aiding the mythical Black Visors in another mysterious mission led by the one and only Dub, the protagonist from the first book. Larkin also introduces a couple of new POV characters, including a great character from the first book, whose flying skills make for some great scenes. The other new character is Combat Medic, Private Shirley Watford, a new arrival on Mars who is eager to see action on the frontlines and proves her mettle time and time again. I really enjoyed her storyline and hope to see her in future books in the series.
The only issue that I had with the previous book was that there were so many questions left unanswered regarding the overarching plot. Larkin answers many of them here and it is safe to say that this series is really starting to shape up nicely with an increasingly deep and exciting storyline. I am really looking forward to see what Larkin does next. Bigger and bolder no doubt.
Overall, Blood Red Steel is a terrific book that is perfect for readers looking to scratch that military sci-fi itch. Larkin is a top class writer and I would love to see this series get the love and recognition that it deserves.
Blood Red Steel picks up two years after the events of Blood Red Sand, when the Mars Expeditionary Force drove the Nazis out of New Berlin. Mentally exhausted and badly depleted, they are eager to finally go home. However, to do so they must complete one final mission: defend Forward Base Zulu against the full might of the Third Reich and the endless hordes of the Red Blades.
As was the case with the two previous books, Big Red and Blood Red Sand, I really enjoyed my third trip Mars. Larkin is an extremely talented writer, especially when it comes to action scenes, and this is on full display here. Brimming with Brens and bayonet charges, tunnel traps and hand-to-hand combat hell, the fighting is vivid, intense, and brutal. There is always a chance that a heavy focus on action can become tedious and get in the way of the plot, but Larkin is a veteran and knows how to keep things interesting.
I was delighted to discover the return of my two favourite characters from the previous book, with both given equal page time. McCabe, now a Lieutenant, has more responsibilities than ever before while at the same time suffering from PTSD and becoming increasingly embittered by the MOF’s questioning decisions. Corporal Jenkins finds himself in the thick of things once again, this time aiding the mythical Black Visors in another mysterious mission led by the one and only Dub, the protagonist from the first book. Larkin also introduces a couple of new POV characters, including a great character from the first book, whose flying skills make for some great scenes. The other new character is Combat Medic, Private Shirley Watford, a new arrival on Mars who is eager to see action on the frontlines and proves her mettle time and time again. I really enjoyed her storyline and hope to see her in future books in the series.
The only issue that I had with the previous book was that there were so many questions left unanswered regarding the overarching plot. Larkin answers many of them here and it is safe to say that this series is really starting to shape up nicely with an increasingly deep and exciting storyline. I am really looking forward to see what Larkin does next. Bigger and bolder no doubt.
Overall, Blood Red Steel is a terrific book that is perfect for readers looking to scratch that military sci-fi itch. Larkin is a top class writer and I would love to see this series get the love and recognition that it deserves.
November 9, 2025
I feel like a jerk for reading this when it came out and never leaving a review... but I think I left one on Amazon, so that counts, right?
October 6, 2023
I really found the cover photo of this book very interesting and that's the reason I wanted to read it more and I am glad I did. The storyline is very unique and filled with action and adventure.
I really loved the writing skills of the author. It is absolutely fantastic and took me on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns. In this thrilling bооk Dаmien Lаrkin tаkes us bаck to thе wаr-torn Mаrs, where Sergeаnt McCаbe аnd his comrаdеs аre fighting аgаinst thе Nаzi menаce. Тhis is militаry sсienсe fiсtion аt its finest, with intense аction, vivid chаrаcters, аnd а griррing рlot.
Whеthеr you аre new to thе series or а fаn of thе previоus bооks, you will not wаnt to miss this exрlosive аdventure on Big Red. This is a must read for Sci-fi fans.
I really loved the writing skills of the author. It is absolutely fantastic and took me on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns. In this thrilling bооk Dаmien Lаrkin tаkes us bаck to thе wаr-torn Mаrs, where Sergeаnt McCаbe аnd his comrаdеs аre fighting аgаinst thе Nаzi menаce. Тhis is militаry sсienсe fiсtion аt its finest, with intense аction, vivid chаrаcters, аnd а griррing рlot.
Whеthеr you аre new to thе series or а fаn of thе previоus bооks, you will not wаnt to miss this exрlosive аdventure on Big Red. This is a must read for Sci-fi fans.
June 3, 2023
The only thing that can make Mars redder is Nazi blood, which is convenient as the Mars Expeditionary Force intend to adhere firmly to their motto "Kill 'em all."
Damien Larkin is absolutely at his blistering gory best in this next installment of the adventures of the Sergeant McCabe and his comrades as they face down the continued Nazi threat on Mars, or Big Red as its known. This is military science fiction which drives home its point at the end of bayonet. The entire series, which contains the two previous books ‘Big Red’ and ‘Blood Red Sand’, is well worth diving into for any science fiction fan, however I think you'd be OK even if you started here and went back for more.
The following blurb is nicked directly from his website, as I don't want to give away to much about the books, so I'll leave it to the author himself, to share this:
~~~~~~~
Blood alone decides the fate of Mars
For two years, the Mars Expeditionary Force has held the line against the last remnants of the Third Reich. McCabe, Jenkins, and the Second Battalion long for home. Reinforcements have arrived, but the veterans of the MEF have one final mission. Defend Forward Base Zulu at all costs.
While Generalfeldmarschall Brandt plans a decisive showdown at Forward Base Zulu, Reichsführer Wagner celebrates the activation of the first generation of the Hollow Programme. Surrounded and cut off, McCabe and Jenkins once again find themselves in league with the MAJESTIC-12 operatives known as the Black Visors. Now the future hinges on the sacrifices of a few determined soldiers.
~~~~~~~~~
Blood Red Steel doesn't have the same level of mind bending science as the previous novel, so you'll ease gently into a blood bath instead. I really like that while keeping to overarching story line, Larkin managed to produce three books each of which could stand on their own. Thats not easy to do. He has also not gone for the old hat of repetitive info dumps to get you, the lucky reader, up to speed with the story. Its sprinkled throughout nicely, like defilade fire from an automatic grenade launcher.
Which brings me to the next element, the fella Larkin obviously loves weapons and tactics. Maybe that his background as veteran of Irelands Army Reserve shining through. This book delivers war. Lives can often been nasty, brutish, and short. There are acts of extreme heroism, and extreme fanaticism. Little quarter is given, and less is expected. Graphic and gory, with a relentless pace of operations, you're in there with them. You can smell the cordite, taste the sweat, and wince as your battle buddy is reduced to red mist beside you.
In a review of his previous book, "Blood Red Sand", I made reference to the strong themes running the book. Blood Red Steel is no different. Fascism in all its awfulness is laid. This hateful ideology with its bedfellows, Violence, persecution, xenophobia, and antisemitism, even in this futuristic setting is front and centre....and it take a beating. Which is something we can all get behind. However, the good guys don't get the A-Team treatment here. There are no knights in shining armour with spotless surcoats. These are humans at war on a planet along way from home.
If you are a #MilSciFi or #SciFi fan, you gotta do yourself a favour and grab this book. You'll quickly discover you've been missing out and you'll be shocked to find out...
We have always been here.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Another nice touch from Damine Larking is that he dedicates Blood Red Steel to the men and women of the 20th Infantry Battalion (Fórsa Cosanta Áitúíl) and the 62nd Infantry Battalion (Reserve Defence Forces). He says, "It was an honour and a privilege to serve alongside you."
Damien Larkin is absolutely at his blistering gory best in this next installment of the adventures of the Sergeant McCabe and his comrades as they face down the continued Nazi threat on Mars, or Big Red as its known. This is military science fiction which drives home its point at the end of bayonet. The entire series, which contains the two previous books ‘Big Red’ and ‘Blood Red Sand’, is well worth diving into for any science fiction fan, however I think you'd be OK even if you started here and went back for more.
The following blurb is nicked directly from his website, as I don't want to give away to much about the books, so I'll leave it to the author himself, to share this:
~~~~~~~
Blood alone decides the fate of Mars
For two years, the Mars Expeditionary Force has held the line against the last remnants of the Third Reich. McCabe, Jenkins, and the Second Battalion long for home. Reinforcements have arrived, but the veterans of the MEF have one final mission. Defend Forward Base Zulu at all costs.
While Generalfeldmarschall Brandt plans a decisive showdown at Forward Base Zulu, Reichsführer Wagner celebrates the activation of the first generation of the Hollow Programme. Surrounded and cut off, McCabe and Jenkins once again find themselves in league with the MAJESTIC-12 operatives known as the Black Visors. Now the future hinges on the sacrifices of a few determined soldiers.
~~~~~~~~~
Blood Red Steel doesn't have the same level of mind bending science as the previous novel, so you'll ease gently into a blood bath instead. I really like that while keeping to overarching story line, Larkin managed to produce three books each of which could stand on their own. Thats not easy to do. He has also not gone for the old hat of repetitive info dumps to get you, the lucky reader, up to speed with the story. Its sprinkled throughout nicely, like defilade fire from an automatic grenade launcher.
Which brings me to the next element, the fella Larkin obviously loves weapons and tactics. Maybe that his background as veteran of Irelands Army Reserve shining through. This book delivers war. Lives can often been nasty, brutish, and short. There are acts of extreme heroism, and extreme fanaticism. Little quarter is given, and less is expected. Graphic and gory, with a relentless pace of operations, you're in there with them. You can smell the cordite, taste the sweat, and wince as your battle buddy is reduced to red mist beside you.
In a review of his previous book, "Blood Red Sand", I made reference to the strong themes running the book. Blood Red Steel is no different. Fascism in all its awfulness is laid. This hateful ideology with its bedfellows, Violence, persecution, xenophobia, and antisemitism, even in this futuristic setting is front and centre....and it take a beating. Which is something we can all get behind. However, the good guys don't get the A-Team treatment here. There are no knights in shining armour with spotless surcoats. These are humans at war on a planet along way from home.
If you are a #MilSciFi or #SciFi fan, you gotta do yourself a favour and grab this book. You'll quickly discover you've been missing out and you'll be shocked to find out...
We have always been here.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Another nice touch from Damine Larking is that he dedicates Blood Red Steel to the men and women of the 20th Infantry Battalion (Fórsa Cosanta Áitúíl) and the 62nd Infantry Battalion (Reserve Defence Forces). He says, "It was an honour and a privilege to serve alongside you."
April 2, 2023
The best stories are like tapestries. Their narratives are skilfully woven together to form a design which is easy to understand, complex to make.
Damien Larkin has shown, in his third novel, Blood Red Steel, that he is an expert weaver.
He takes numerous storylines and threads them together to create a story which never lets up. There is not just action a-plenty. There is non-stop, relentless action. It is breath-taking in its remorselessness. That fact is easy to comment on. It is next-to-impossible to achieve. The imagination needed to sustain a battle throughout the whole story must be so vivid, so creative, I envy such a thing. Surprises, new threats, plot twists, they are all there.
But. At no point are any of those things contrived. That is why I say the best stories are woven together. All the twists, threats and surprises need to be set up in advance. They are insignificant stitches established early. They are even foreshadowed. (Such as takes place with the death of one major character. You know it’s coming. You dread the moment. But it is set up much earlier and you know it will happen at some point.)
What amazes me, is the economy of the storytelling. Every word counts. It is lean. For this reason, the impact is as sharp as any bayonet.
The other ingredient which makes Damien Larkin’s stories so amazing, the characters. We’ve all watched those awful action films where the car chases, the explosions and such overwhelm the characters. They become two dimensional. Just names. That doesn’t happen here. The key protagonists are real. For that reason, you care for them. You will them to survive when danger threatens. There are wonderful villains too. People you truly loathe and detest. (I’m looking at you, Myers!)
Damien Larkin’s use of the omniscient point of view means the story has a cinematic quality. Like a camera, the reader’s perspective shifts across the Martian bases to watch the events unfold. This is how he sustains the threat level from start to finish. With an unskilled writer, this approach is doomed to fail, liable to become confusing, chaotic. But not here. It captures the one thing that defines so many battles. Chaos for those fighting in them.
In previous reviews of Damien Larkin’s stories, I’ve compared him to the American science fiction author, Robert Heinlein. He also served in the armed forces and it shows in his writing. In this third novel, that comparison has only deepened. Earlier, I mentioned action films. This trilogy would make for a wonderful series for all these reasons.
It looks like the story will continue. The set-up is intriguing. And I cannot wait!
Damien Larkin has shown, in his third novel, Blood Red Steel, that he is an expert weaver.
He takes numerous storylines and threads them together to create a story which never lets up. There is not just action a-plenty. There is non-stop, relentless action. It is breath-taking in its remorselessness. That fact is easy to comment on. It is next-to-impossible to achieve. The imagination needed to sustain a battle throughout the whole story must be so vivid, so creative, I envy such a thing. Surprises, new threats, plot twists, they are all there.
But. At no point are any of those things contrived. That is why I say the best stories are woven together. All the twists, threats and surprises need to be set up in advance. They are insignificant stitches established early. They are even foreshadowed. (Such as takes place with the death of one major character. You know it’s coming. You dread the moment. But it is set up much earlier and you know it will happen at some point.)
What amazes me, is the economy of the storytelling. Every word counts. It is lean. For this reason, the impact is as sharp as any bayonet.
The other ingredient which makes Damien Larkin’s stories so amazing, the characters. We’ve all watched those awful action films where the car chases, the explosions and such overwhelm the characters. They become two dimensional. Just names. That doesn’t happen here. The key protagonists are real. For that reason, you care for them. You will them to survive when danger threatens. There are wonderful villains too. People you truly loathe and detest. (I’m looking at you, Myers!)
Damien Larkin’s use of the omniscient point of view means the story has a cinematic quality. Like a camera, the reader’s perspective shifts across the Martian bases to watch the events unfold. This is how he sustains the threat level from start to finish. With an unskilled writer, this approach is doomed to fail, liable to become confusing, chaotic. But not here. It captures the one thing that defines so many battles. Chaos for those fighting in them.
In previous reviews of Damien Larkin’s stories, I’ve compared him to the American science fiction author, Robert Heinlein. He also served in the armed forces and it shows in his writing. In this third novel, that comparison has only deepened. Earlier, I mentioned action films. This trilogy would make for a wonderful series for all these reasons.
It looks like the story will continue. The set-up is intriguing. And I cannot wait!
August 5, 2023
The third book in Larkin's Big Red series is a triumphant return to form that delivers on everything you've come to expect from the first two books. The many complex threads of this extravagantly layered war are brought together through a colourful cast of characters, jumping between POVs in a way that not only neatly connects all the action but also keeps you on edge wondering where their allegiances will ultimately fall and who will make it through.
But above all, this is an action story and the battles flow with a vicious, claustrophobic fury. With the fighting mostly contained to one large compound, it's tight, in-your-face and nasty – and skillfully woven to include more than a few moments of sober reflection and Larkin's usual punctuations of humour.
The stakes keep stacking up as the many paths of this wildly original tale come together, and the quality has only improved as the series has marched on.
But above all, this is an action story and the battles flow with a vicious, claustrophobic fury. With the fighting mostly contained to one large compound, it's tight, in-your-face and nasty – and skillfully woven to include more than a few moments of sober reflection and Larkin's usual punctuations of humour.
The stakes keep stacking up as the many paths of this wildly original tale come together, and the quality has only improved as the series has marched on.
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