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Drop Trooper #13
Weapons Free
New systems…new allies…new enemies.
Cam Alvarez and the crew of the Orion spent five years in hibernation, putting old enemies behind them, searching for the pathway home.
When they find another network of wormhole jumpgates created by the Predecessors, Cam is sure they’re on the right track. But there are other civilizations in this new part of the galaxy, and they already have their own plans for the network. Plans they’re willing to go to war to protect. War with each other…and war with the human newcomers.
Surrounded by enemies, and by friends who may be just as treacherous, Cam and his Marines find themselves in a familiar situation.
The faces are different but war is always the same...kill or be killed.
Cam Alvarez and the crew of the Orion spent five years in hibernation, putting old enemies behind them, searching for the pathway home.
When they find another network of wormhole jumpgates created by the Predecessors, Cam is sure they’re on the right track. But there are other civilizations in this new part of the galaxy, and they already have their own plans for the network. Plans they’re willing to go to war to protect. War with each other…and war with the human newcomers.
Surrounded by enemies, and by friends who may be just as treacherous, Cam and his Marines find themselves in a familiar situation.
The faces are different but war is always the same...kill or be killed.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2023
271 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Rick Partlow
213 books374 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 30, 2024
I’m sadly loosing grip on this series. I’m like a roller coaster with my ratings for Rick Partlow’s Drop Trooper books. One minute they are straight fire with great plot progression and dramatic twists and then there are some where I am literally fighting to finish them due to the book being all over the place losing their focus. Let me be clear, THEY NEED TO GET THE HELL HOME. My patience has gone down and sadly so has my ratings for this unnecessary installment of Weapons Free (Book 13). Here are some goods and the bad’s.
Pros:
Social Media Democracy
I loved the social media inspired democracy described for the new planet of the Home worlds. I feel that was a very creative atripute of the book and really made me think on how that form of government would really work. It was plainly intriguing and I can’t recall and any sci-fi product that gave me that futuristic form of governance. When Rick Partlow sprinkled in how the system can be corrupted by empowered influencers that also threw me through a loop. That happens today with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Anybody can twist narratives and pull millions of views and twist a whole nation to believe any form of lie. Meanwhile the one who originated that trend of false information or “conspiracy” thereby claims all the “followers” glory and translates to power. Like I said, it really moved my brain juices and it was good work.
As always, fantastic sci-fi lore…
I think in every book in the Drop Trooper series I found something new in ether tech, biogenetic, or futuristic space travel theories. In Weapons Free you will get RNA influenced evolution history version of the human race, evolved squid people that somehow have a vertebrae, and dark matter infused laser canyons. All great stuff I might add. Rick Partlow is an incredible writer in terms of making far fetched ideas into simple English. In my opinion this can be very hard in story writing, while one part of the reader is learning somthing new the same reader in retrospect has to be engaged to see it in practice and to see its purpose in the story progression. As always, Rick Partlow never fails in that department.
Cons:
Unrealistic….fairytale sci-fi…?
Look there were many parts that just didt feel like it would actually happen in the real world. While some can argue “it’s a sci-fi man, it’s not supposed to be real..”, I get that , but I need some relativity in the pages. The prime example of this is when Cam goes to the alien federation city and all their culture and the way Frost, Bob, and Jay interact just seem too similar humans. They are supposed to be completely separate cultures with unidentifiable ways of bushiness and language. I should have gotten wierd translations and unquie dialogue. Instead we get from Jay (the unwanted or needed alien) “Hey man, what’s wrong,” or “Hey boss”. I might be digging here for a negative comment but I don’t know, there were far too many elements of context like that in the book and it honestly killed it for me.
Unsteady/Unwanted Characters:
I hated Bob and Jay. Putting it out there, they were both not needed nor necessary for the plot progression. Additional characters such as the federation captain who was the aid to the politician team that sent a missile to the squid people. Plus all the long named generals from the Grey and the Federation and the squid people and countless other spin offs in unwelcome character development. All of it was unnecessary and just dragged the plot and focus from the storyline. Particularly Jay, his character progression was stupid and honestly just pissed me off.
It needs to end….
As much as I love the unguided and vibrant directions the series has gotten itself into, I’m ready for it to be over. The story line has just gone all over the place and I’m ready for the team to just get the hell home. This whole book in my honest opinion was just a waste of time. I think it was gallant effort to get the storyline alive or a hopeful money grab. Rick Partlow knows the story is ending and I honestly think he just made this just for filler book. I found this book very boring which is shocking because the last couple of books I was really into.
All and all, it was an ok read. Just hope the little momentum and build up the series has left plays well in the final few books in the series.
Thanks for reading,
-Alex
Pros:
Social Media Democracy
I loved the social media inspired democracy described for the new planet of the Home worlds. I feel that was a very creative atripute of the book and really made me think on how that form of government would really work. It was plainly intriguing and I can’t recall and any sci-fi product that gave me that futuristic form of governance. When Rick Partlow sprinkled in how the system can be corrupted by empowered influencers that also threw me through a loop. That happens today with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Anybody can twist narratives and pull millions of views and twist a whole nation to believe any form of lie. Meanwhile the one who originated that trend of false information or “conspiracy” thereby claims all the “followers” glory and translates to power. Like I said, it really moved my brain juices and it was good work.
As always, fantastic sci-fi lore…
I think in every book in the Drop Trooper series I found something new in ether tech, biogenetic, or futuristic space travel theories. In Weapons Free you will get RNA influenced evolution history version of the human race, evolved squid people that somehow have a vertebrae, and dark matter infused laser canyons. All great stuff I might add. Rick Partlow is an incredible writer in terms of making far fetched ideas into simple English. In my opinion this can be very hard in story writing, while one part of the reader is learning somthing new the same reader in retrospect has to be engaged to see it in practice and to see its purpose in the story progression. As always, Rick Partlow never fails in that department.
Cons:
Unrealistic….fairytale sci-fi…?
Look there were many parts that just didt feel like it would actually happen in the real world. While some can argue “it’s a sci-fi man, it’s not supposed to be real..”, I get that , but I need some relativity in the pages. The prime example of this is when Cam goes to the alien federation city and all their culture and the way Frost, Bob, and Jay interact just seem too similar humans. They are supposed to be completely separate cultures with unidentifiable ways of bushiness and language. I should have gotten wierd translations and unquie dialogue. Instead we get from Jay (the unwanted or needed alien) “Hey man, what’s wrong,” or “Hey boss”. I might be digging here for a negative comment but I don’t know, there were far too many elements of context like that in the book and it honestly killed it for me.
Unsteady/Unwanted Characters:
I hated Bob and Jay. Putting it out there, they were both not needed nor necessary for the plot progression. Additional characters such as the federation captain who was the aid to the politician team that sent a missile to the squid people. Plus all the long named generals from the Grey and the Federation and the squid people and countless other spin offs in unwelcome character development. All of it was unnecessary and just dragged the plot and focus from the storyline. Particularly Jay, his character progression was stupid and honestly just pissed me off.
It needs to end….
As much as I love the unguided and vibrant directions the series has gotten itself into, I’m ready for it to be over. The story line has just gone all over the place and I’m ready for the team to just get the hell home. This whole book in my honest opinion was just a waste of time. I think it was gallant effort to get the storyline alive or a hopeful money grab. Rick Partlow knows the story is ending and I honestly think he just made this just for filler book. I found this book very boring which is shocking because the last couple of books I was really into.
All and all, it was an ok read. Just hope the little momentum and build up the series has left plays well in the final few books in the series.
Thanks for reading,
-Alex
December 25, 2024
I have one more book to go into the series. If you made it to book 13 then I am not spoiling anything. If you have not read books 1-12 then you will not care of my review. The series started out good but as most series of this nature it got quite tired around book 5 but I was committed to finishing the series.
February 23, 2024
solid space yarn. keeps your attention. and Jay and Silent Bob make an appearance!
Well written and detailed military space marines combat more alien forces. Solid character building. Good dialogue, both internal and between characters. And speaking of characters, Jay and Silent Bob show up early, and the seemingly doofus characters end up having a big part to play in the story!
Well written and detailed military space marines combat more alien forces. Solid character building. Good dialogue, both internal and between characters. And speaking of characters, Jay and Silent Bob show up early, and the seemingly doofus characters end up having a big part to play in the story!
July 23, 2023
New twist?
New twist I didn't see coming but maybe should have. The action and story telling kept my interest piqued from start to finish. I'm sad it's over and have to wait 6 months for the next one. Well done, Rick!
New twist I didn't see coming but maybe should have. The action and story telling kept my interest piqued from start to finish. I'm sad it's over and have to wait 6 months for the next one. Well done, Rick!
September 30, 2023
Ok, so Cameron Alvarez and his command, which he doesn’t want, have made it through the wormhole jumpgate and have traveled unimaginable distances towards, they hope, the Confederation. Only now they have to stop. Cam is awaken from his stasis pod after five years asleep! He wasn’t sure why he was awaken, only that he was hopeful that their long journey would be over. Unfortunately, that’s not why he was awaken. The Orion had found a system with a civilization. Not one comparable to the Confederation, but they were in space and had colonies on other planetary bodies. The also had a wormhole jumpgate!
They now needed to stop and find out if this jumpgate would lead them closer to the Confederation. They didn’t want to blindly fly through it without knowing where it might lead. So, Cam initiated “First Contact” protocols which in this case involved finding some of the inhabitants that could introduce them to their planet without going into a crazy panic.
They found two unlikely candidates on an isolated mining rig quite aways from their home planet. Of course the humans nor the Resscharr with them could speak this new alien language. But, with some interaction with the two young miners, Dwight managed to construct a translation algorithm that allowed them to speak and hear each other although slightly delayed each way. They found out these two guys were miners and they represented one faction on their planet called Homeworld. They were from the “Fed” faction while the opposing faction on the other side of their planet was the “Grey”. The Fed wasn’t ran anything like the government of the Commonwealth. It was run by influencers who managed the peoples media via which they then voted on important issues. The Grey on the other hand were a dictatorship and everyone was strictly controlled. As far who controlled the jumpgate, both shared responsibility for its use.
So, Cameron used his two humanoid very friendly guys to find out how best to contact someone of importance on the Homeworld planet. These two males, named Joe and Bob, since their aliens names were unpronounceable, said that a Ms. Frost would be the one they needed to talk to. So, that’s what the humans of the Orion set about to do. They find that these people are not that much different than people of the Commonwealth. They aren’t advanced and their military isn’t anywhere capable of defeating the Orion by itself. But Cam certainly didn’t want to fight anyone. He was willing to share some of his technology if they could provide information about the jumpgate and any references in their history about the Predecessors. What he found out was not all that great.
There was another alien race on the other side of the jumpgate and they were hostile to the Homeworlders. They had been allowed to colonize two systems just beyond the jumpgate, but told by the Nova, not to go any further. These Nova could also enforce that edict with almost impunity since they were more advanced than the Homeworlders. So, Cam knew that he needed to talk to these Nova since he knew the trip through these jumpgates had to go way beyond just the next two. So, arranged to go meet them although he had to take a contingent of Feds with him which proved almost fatal.
There’s a lot of interesting things going on in this book and some of it is a little humorous. This story is far from finished and their journey is going to continue, but no one is sure where it will lead. The crew is definitely getting tired of traveling. Hopefully, the next book(14), “Collateral Effects”, will continue as well as this book.
They now needed to stop and find out if this jumpgate would lead them closer to the Confederation. They didn’t want to blindly fly through it without knowing where it might lead. So, Cam initiated “First Contact” protocols which in this case involved finding some of the inhabitants that could introduce them to their planet without going into a crazy panic.
They found two unlikely candidates on an isolated mining rig quite aways from their home planet. Of course the humans nor the Resscharr with them could speak this new alien language. But, with some interaction with the two young miners, Dwight managed to construct a translation algorithm that allowed them to speak and hear each other although slightly delayed each way. They found out these two guys were miners and they represented one faction on their planet called Homeworld. They were from the “Fed” faction while the opposing faction on the other side of their planet was the “Grey”. The Fed wasn’t ran anything like the government of the Commonwealth. It was run by influencers who managed the peoples media via which they then voted on important issues. The Grey on the other hand were a dictatorship and everyone was strictly controlled. As far who controlled the jumpgate, both shared responsibility for its use.
So, Cameron used his two humanoid very friendly guys to find out how best to contact someone of importance on the Homeworld planet. These two males, named Joe and Bob, since their aliens names were unpronounceable, said that a Ms. Frost would be the one they needed to talk to. So, that’s what the humans of the Orion set about to do. They find that these people are not that much different than people of the Commonwealth. They aren’t advanced and their military isn’t anywhere capable of defeating the Orion by itself. But Cam certainly didn’t want to fight anyone. He was willing to share some of his technology if they could provide information about the jumpgate and any references in their history about the Predecessors. What he found out was not all that great.
There was another alien race on the other side of the jumpgate and they were hostile to the Homeworlders. They had been allowed to colonize two systems just beyond the jumpgate, but told by the Nova, not to go any further. These Nova could also enforce that edict with almost impunity since they were more advanced than the Homeworlders. So, Cam knew that he needed to talk to these Nova since he knew the trip through these jumpgates had to go way beyond just the next two. So, arranged to go meet them although he had to take a contingent of Feds with him which proved almost fatal.
There’s a lot of interesting things going on in this book and some of it is a little humorous. This story is far from finished and their journey is going to continue, but no one is sure where it will lead. The crew is definitely getting tired of traveling. Hopefully, the next book(14), “Collateral Effects”, will continue as well as this book.
September 13, 2024
Nearly nonstop action!
Cameron Alvarez is becoming heartily sick of command, but he’s also self-aware enough to realize that his psyche won’t allow him to be in the position to have anyone else make decisions that affect his life. He and Vicky Sandoval are still tightly connected, so he makes the best decisions he can.
The Orion has been traveling with the majority of the crew in suspended animation, both for reducing their consumables requirements and also to avoid the months of tedium that flying through empty space entails. Needless to say that the journey is abruptly interrupted by the discovery of an alien civilization that has confusing and duplicitous individuals who plunge the tired crew into full scale warfare that has a serious chance of the survival of Orion and the crew in doubt.
Thankfully Cam & Vicky have been able to gain some experience in tactics, and Cam is still their best Vigilante operator…
Cameron Alvarez is becoming heartily sick of command, but he’s also self-aware enough to realize that his psyche won’t allow him to be in the position to have anyone else make decisions that affect his life. He and Vicky Sandoval are still tightly connected, so he makes the best decisions he can.
The Orion has been traveling with the majority of the crew in suspended animation, both for reducing their consumables requirements and also to avoid the months of tedium that flying through empty space entails. Needless to say that the journey is abruptly interrupted by the discovery of an alien civilization that has confusing and duplicitous individuals who plunge the tired crew into full scale warfare that has a serious chance of the survival of Orion and the crew in doubt.
Thankfully Cam & Vicky have been able to gain some experience in tactics, and Cam is still their best Vigilante operator…
July 31, 2023
Good Read
Cam Alvarez and company are far from home trying to find a way back to the Sol c.utter. Their only hop is an offshoot of the Predecessors they have with them to hopefully return her to her kind and be granted information/ instructions to get back to their world. Along the way the have to find food and fuel which may require interaction with other races including aliens. How far can you trust others you don’t know? Do they have an agenda not inline with your. Trust but verify.
Cam Alvarez and company are far from home trying to find a way back to the Sol c.utter. Their only hop is an offshoot of the Predecessors they have with them to hopefully return her to her kind and be granted information/ instructions to get back to their world. Along the way the have to find food and fuel which may require interaction with other races including aliens. How far can you trust others you don’t know? Do they have an agenda not inline with your. Trust but verify.
August 21, 2023
Another great installment from Partlow. Seriously bummed I have to wait until December to find out what happens to Alvarez and Sandoval.
I gushed in my last review about Partlow had narrowed the scope. He broadened it this time, wonderfully. He's a master of keep you interested even though the characters have been through so much.
I gushed in my last review about Partlow had narrowed the scope. He broadened it this time, wonderfully. He's a master of keep you interested even though the characters have been through so much.
August 1, 2023
Excellent Story
Weapons Free is another of Rick Partlow'sbooks that has surprises from the first page to the last. I feel that he has out did himself with all the sides and twists and turns of the book.
Weapons Free is another of Rick Partlow'sbooks that has surprises from the first page to the last. I feel that he has out did himself with all the sides and twists and turns of the book.
January 13, 2024
A very good series!
Been reading this for a while and enjoying the series immensely. The story is solid and I feel connected to these characters. The struggles and difficulties they face. Keep it up.
Been reading this for a while and enjoying the series immensely. The story is solid and I feel connected to these characters. The struggles and difficulties they face. Keep it up.
October 24, 2024
The ending is near, I can feel it in my bones ;-)
A very enjoyable entry in this longstanding series. Some exciting battles between the stars en on the ground. I can’t wait for the next installment.
A very enjoyable entry in this longstanding series. Some exciting battles between the stars en on the ground. I can’t wait for the next installment.
December 23, 2024
Uplifting with consequences
Absolutely brilliant military sci-fi action.
There are no prime directives in this universe.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
Absolutely brilliant military sci-fi action.
There are no prime directives in this universe.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
December 24, 2025
love this series
Love the human characters, especially the main characters but the supporting ones’s have grown more depth, but could always use more details. But I really like the alien species they’re coming into contact with, along with, of course, the battle actions.
Love the human characters, especially the main characters but the supporting ones’s have grown more depth, but could always use more details. But I really like the alien species they’re coming into contact with, along with, of course, the battle actions.
November 15, 2023
These books were never smart, but they're getting stupider.
October 3, 2025
October 2025
Quick skim so I can refresh my memory on how this ended.
July 2025
I'm really sad to see that this is the last book on audio so far. I love these characters. The action is great and Cam is a real guy with really PTSD and imposter syndrome. It's so nice to see how he's grown from this basic infantry grunt to an officer with leadership skills.
The secondary characters - Nance, Dwight the AI, and the dinosaur lady (can't spell her name right) are well developed and interesting. The plot advances with each book and there's no lag or middle book syndrome. None of them up to this point have been phoned in. And Rick Partlow has become a favorite indie sci-fi author.
James Patrick Cronin is someone I'd heard before under a pseudonym in romance books. There, he was ok. But here - he's fantastic. I love the way he so effortlessly puts emotion and personality into the characters.
I'm looking forward to Cronin getting the time to record the next few books in the series. I can't wait to hear how it ends.
Quick skim so I can refresh my memory on how this ended.
July 2025
I'm really sad to see that this is the last book on audio so far. I love these characters. The action is great and Cam is a real guy with really PTSD and imposter syndrome. It's so nice to see how he's grown from this basic infantry grunt to an officer with leadership skills.
The secondary characters - Nance, Dwight the AI, and the dinosaur lady (can't spell her name right) are well developed and interesting. The plot advances with each book and there's no lag or middle book syndrome. None of them up to this point have been phoned in. And Rick Partlow has become a favorite indie sci-fi author.
James Patrick Cronin is someone I'd heard before under a pseudonym in romance books. There, he was ok. But here - he's fantastic. I love the way he so effortlessly puts emotion and personality into the characters.
I'm looking forward to Cronin getting the time to record the next few books in the series. I can't wait to hear how it ends.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews