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Starfist #9
Lazarus Rising
The hugely popular Starfist saga featuring Marines at war in outer space is the "only" military science fiction series written by real combat vets: David Sherman and Dan Cragg. Now comes the explosive hardcover debut of this series-packed with hell-torn action and blazing adventure.
In their fiercest combat yet, the hard-charging Marines of 34th Fleet Initial Strike Team (FIST) have finally won their battle against a full-scale alien invasion of planet Kingdom. But victory over these savage enemies comes at a terrible price, especially for the Marines of Company L's decimated third platoon. The leader these men would follow into hell itself-Gunnery Sergeant Charlie Bass-was consumed in a fiery ambush that obliterated everything but his dog tags and a few scraps of DNA.
On planet Kingdom, citizens try to return to some semblance of normalcy as the military conducts patrols to search out and destroy any remaining alien Skinks. The old government of squabbling religious leaders has been replaced by a ruthless new regime. All power rests with Dominic de Tomas, a depraved despot who will stoop to any means to achieve his vile ends. His reign of terror bodes ill for the fragile planet still reeling from the chaos of war.
In a cave in some forgotten Kingdom backwater, several humans slowly regain consciousness. Their minds have been probed repeatedly . . . by whom and for what reason they cannot say, for they've been stripped of all memories of themselves and their past lives. In time wounds will heal, but who knows if they will ever fully recover.
For now, finding food and water takes precedence. And so these half-dead outcasts begin a journey into the unknown-in search of civilization, in search of themselves. And one survivor's journey will take him to places of overwhelming danger, where his identity will be revealed to the shock of all.
In their fiercest combat yet, the hard-charging Marines of 34th Fleet Initial Strike Team (FIST) have finally won their battle against a full-scale alien invasion of planet Kingdom. But victory over these savage enemies comes at a terrible price, especially for the Marines of Company L's decimated third platoon. The leader these men would follow into hell itself-Gunnery Sergeant Charlie Bass-was consumed in a fiery ambush that obliterated everything but his dog tags and a few scraps of DNA.
On planet Kingdom, citizens try to return to some semblance of normalcy as the military conducts patrols to search out and destroy any remaining alien Skinks. The old government of squabbling religious leaders has been replaced by a ruthless new regime. All power rests with Dominic de Tomas, a depraved despot who will stoop to any means to achieve his vile ends. His reign of terror bodes ill for the fragile planet still reeling from the chaos of war.
In a cave in some forgotten Kingdom backwater, several humans slowly regain consciousness. Their minds have been probed repeatedly . . . by whom and for what reason they cannot say, for they've been stripped of all memories of themselves and their past lives. In time wounds will heal, but who knows if they will ever fully recover.
For now, finding food and water takes precedence. And so these half-dead outcasts begin a journey into the unknown-in search of civilization, in search of themselves. And one survivor's journey will take him to places of overwhelming danger, where his identity will be revealed to the shock of all.
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First published January 1, 2003
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201 people want to read
About the author
David Sherman
67 books99 followersDavid Sherman was the author or co-author of some three dozen books, most of which are about Marines in combat.
He wrote about US Marines in Vietnam (the Night Fighters series and three other novels), and the DemonTech series about Marines in a fantasy world. The 18th Race trilogy is military science fiction.
Other than military, he wrote a non-conventional vampire novel, The Hunt, and a mystery, Dead Man's Chest. He also released a collection of short fiction and non-fiction from early in his writing career, Sherman's Shorts; the Beginnings.
With Dan Cragg he wrote the popular Starfist series and its spin off series, Starfist: Force Recon—all about Marines in the Twenty-fifth Century.; and a Star Wars novel, Jedi Trial.
His books have been translated into Czech, Polish, German, and Japanese.
David passed away in November 2022.
He wrote about US Marines in Vietnam (the Night Fighters series and three other novels), and the DemonTech series about Marines in a fantasy world. The 18th Race trilogy is military science fiction.
Other than military, he wrote a non-conventional vampire novel, The Hunt, and a mystery, Dead Man's Chest. He also released a collection of short fiction and non-fiction from early in his writing career, Sherman's Shorts; the Beginnings.
With Dan Cragg he wrote the popular Starfist series and its spin off series, Starfist: Force Recon—all about Marines in the Twenty-fifth Century.; and a Star Wars novel, Jedi Trial.
His books have been translated into Czech, Polish, German, and Japanese.
David passed away in November 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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July 19, 2020elibrary
March 1, 2021
This is a well-paced novel with plenty of action. There are battles, intrigue, romance, and even a coup. You won't be bored.
I knew some nasty Skinks couldn't keep Gunny Bass down!
I knew some nasty Skinks couldn't keep Gunny Bass down!
April 3, 2013
This book in the Starfist series is a bit different from the rest that I have read so far in that it does not really involve an official deployment of the 34th FIST. Not even a small detachment of marines. Instead it tells a story that plays out on the Kingdom planet after the aliens have been forced to retreat from the planet and the 34th FIST have left to deal with their losses. Okay, slight spoiler, at least one of the marine manages to get himself involved in the story but not really in any official capacity.
I have to say that I was a bit suspicious of this book since I am generally not too keen about these “aftermath” stories but again, David Sherman & Dan Cragg managed to produce a well written book that was fun enough to read that I enjoyed it all the way. Okay, it is not one of my favorite one in the series but given the subject for the story it did surprisingly well for me.
For obvious reasons this book do not contain any of the major fighting and military campaigns, with the exception of a little bit at the end, that the other books have contained. It is more focused on character interaction and basic survival on one hand and Dominic de Tomas deprived regime on the other. No sooner than de Tomas have overturned the fanatic religious regime of Kingdom he installs his Socialist Party of Kingdom. Great, treading one evil for another one. Actually, there are not that much actual socialism in the way this guy “manages” his planet. It is more like the authors needed an evil tag to put on this nutjob and picked socialism. In any case, everything goes to hell of course and the good guys have to sort it out.
One part of the book which plays itself out in a prison is damned hard to read. Not because it is badly written but because all the prisoners are referred to by number only. Heck, I have enough difficulties remembering names! No way I can remember who was prisoner 9368 and how was 9004 and so on. I had to do quite a bit of flipping back and forth in those chapters.
In the last few pages of the book we actually get back to the 34th FIST which was quite fun. A few people pull some, not so few, strings to get their combat losses replaced. There are also a bit of a reunion happening and if you cannot figure out what that is about after having read the previous book and the fairly obvious book blurb, well, I am not going to tell you. Buy and read the book!
I have to say that I was a bit suspicious of this book since I am generally not too keen about these “aftermath” stories but again, David Sherman & Dan Cragg managed to produce a well written book that was fun enough to read that I enjoyed it all the way. Okay, it is not one of my favorite one in the series but given the subject for the story it did surprisingly well for me.
For obvious reasons this book do not contain any of the major fighting and military campaigns, with the exception of a little bit at the end, that the other books have contained. It is more focused on character interaction and basic survival on one hand and Dominic de Tomas deprived regime on the other. No sooner than de Tomas have overturned the fanatic religious regime of Kingdom he installs his Socialist Party of Kingdom. Great, treading one evil for another one. Actually, there are not that much actual socialism in the way this guy “manages” his planet. It is more like the authors needed an evil tag to put on this nutjob and picked socialism. In any case, everything goes to hell of course and the good guys have to sort it out.
One part of the book which plays itself out in a prison is damned hard to read. Not because it is badly written but because all the prisoners are referred to by number only. Heck, I have enough difficulties remembering names! No way I can remember who was prisoner 9368 and how was 9004 and so on. I had to do quite a bit of flipping back and forth in those chapters.
In the last few pages of the book we actually get back to the 34th FIST which was quite fun. A few people pull some, not so few, strings to get their combat losses replaced. There are also a bit of a reunion happening and if you cannot figure out what that is about after having read the previous book and the fairly obvious book blurb, well, I am not going to tell you. Buy and read the book!
October 29, 2012
In my review for book 7 of this series, I mentioned that I'd had just about enough of the formula, and was ready for something different. Book 9 does not offer that, but it does break from the formula for a while and revisit some characters not seen for a while.
Mind you, the villains are dumber than ever, and so over-the-top I'm wondering if the original authors are still on the series, rather than just their names.
There are four more books in this series that I'm aware of, and I've more or less come too far to give up on it now. But readers made of less stern stuff than I would do well to consider their other reading options before continuing on. I'm definitely taking a break for a while.
Mind you, the villains are dumber than ever, and so over-the-top I'm wondering if the original authors are still on the series, rather than just their names.
There are four more books in this series that I'm aware of, and I've more or less come too far to give up on it now. But readers made of less stern stuff than I would do well to consider their other reading options before continuing on. I'm definitely taking a break for a while.
January 17, 2016
About half-way through the book and I can say this is the worst book of the 9 I've read so far. Spoiler Alert!
If you haven't figured that Charlie Bass is still alive then you probably should stop reading the books. Yes, he's alive but the writing about what he's doing is just stupid! I really hope it gets much better.
Didn't get any better. What a stupid story. So this Marine Gunnery Sgt gets his memory back and goes to help the only 4-Star General on this entire planet to overthrow the evil despot! Sounds like some 10 year wrote the whole book!
I hope the next few books are much, much better or I'll find something to read!
If you haven't figured that Charlie Bass is still alive then you probably should stop reading the books. Yes, he's alive but the writing about what he's doing is just stupid! I really hope it gets much better.
Didn't get any better. What a stupid story. So this Marine Gunnery Sgt gets his memory back and goes to help the only 4-Star General on this entire planet to overthrow the evil despot! Sounds like some 10 year wrote the whole book!
I hope the next few books are much, much better or I'll find something to read!
July 29, 2012
Worthy Part of the series!
March 25, 2016
Meh. Nascent Space Nazi meets space marine. Hijinks ensue. Entertaining if forgettable.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews