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The Return of the Marines #1-3
The Return of the Marines Trilogy
This is all three books of The Return of the Marines Trilogy. Each book is also offered as a separate book on Amazon.
The Few: Book 1
Gunnery Sergeant Jacob McCardle is the commander of the Marine Detachment at the US Embassy, New Delhi, when the president of the United States arrives on an official visit, the same man who, as a Congressman, sponsored the bill that had decimated the Corps in a cost-cutting effort. As the president arrives, the embassy is attacked and isolated by a mob of nationalists. With the Indian government seemingly unwilling to take action to restore order and with an ambitious vice-president seizing this as an opportunity to move up to the White House, it is up to Gunny McCardle and his small band of Marines to keep the president alive. Faced with tremendous odds, Gunny has to lead his Marines in an almost impossible task. That is nothing new to the US Marines. Impossible tasks are the Corps' forte. But can his small detachment keep up the tradition of the Corps and succeed despite tremendous odds?
The Proud: Book 2
After the events at the US Embassy in New Delhi, the Marines are being brought back as a combat unit. Newly commissioned 2dLt Anthony Niimoto, a hero of the embassy takeover, is with the first Marine battalion to get back into the deployment cycle. Assigned to anti-piracy, this is supposed to be a dull deployment. But when a US ship is seized by Somali pirates, it's First Platoon, K 3/6 at the tip of the spear. With SSgt Davidson, an ex-Ranger who returns to his Marines roots, the two of them must lead their platoon into harms way, ever conscious of Black Hawk Down, the Battle of Mogadishu.
Was Tony Niimoto a one-shot wonder in New Delhi, or does he really have what it takes to be a leader of Marines?
The Marines: Book 3
China is growing in power and in need of raw materials. When an aggressive general, with encouragement from an unnamed puppet master in the Politburo, moves to seize the Spratly Islands from The Philippines and Taiwan, the Marines of the 15th MEU are the only unit in position to do anything about it. What makes things more difficult is that the Chinese have made great strides in cyber-warfare that have negated America's technological superiority. What will be the result of years of letting China manufacture electronic components and even parts for the US aircraft, satellites, and communications systems?
"Every Marine is a rifleman" has never been more true when the ultimate weapon in the nation's arsenal is the basic infantryman. But can Captain Tony Niimoto, a hero of both the embassy takeover in New Delhi and the hostage rescue in Somalia, lead his company against an overwhelming force of the finest of the People's Liberation Army? Can Sergeant Harrington Steptoe, Sergeant "Jay" McNamara, and First Lieutenant Peter Van Slyke step up into the mantle of leadership when all the odds are against them?
The Few: Book 1
Gunnery Sergeant Jacob McCardle is the commander of the Marine Detachment at the US Embassy, New Delhi, when the president of the United States arrives on an official visit, the same man who, as a Congressman, sponsored the bill that had decimated the Corps in a cost-cutting effort. As the president arrives, the embassy is attacked and isolated by a mob of nationalists. With the Indian government seemingly unwilling to take action to restore order and with an ambitious vice-president seizing this as an opportunity to move up to the White House, it is up to Gunny McCardle and his small band of Marines to keep the president alive. Faced with tremendous odds, Gunny has to lead his Marines in an almost impossible task. That is nothing new to the US Marines. Impossible tasks are the Corps' forte. But can his small detachment keep up the tradition of the Corps and succeed despite tremendous odds?
The Proud: Book 2
After the events at the US Embassy in New Delhi, the Marines are being brought back as a combat unit. Newly commissioned 2dLt Anthony Niimoto, a hero of the embassy takeover, is with the first Marine battalion to get back into the deployment cycle. Assigned to anti-piracy, this is supposed to be a dull deployment. But when a US ship is seized by Somali pirates, it's First Platoon, K 3/6 at the tip of the spear. With SSgt Davidson, an ex-Ranger who returns to his Marines roots, the two of them must lead their platoon into harms way, ever conscious of Black Hawk Down, the Battle of Mogadishu.
Was Tony Niimoto a one-shot wonder in New Delhi, or does he really have what it takes to be a leader of Marines?
The Marines: Book 3
China is growing in power and in need of raw materials. When an aggressive general, with encouragement from an unnamed puppet master in the Politburo, moves to seize the Spratly Islands from The Philippines and Taiwan, the Marines of the 15th MEU are the only unit in position to do anything about it. What makes things more difficult is that the Chinese have made great strides in cyber-warfare that have negated America's technological superiority. What will be the result of years of letting China manufacture electronic components and even parts for the US aircraft, satellites, and communications systems?
"Every Marine is a rifleman" has never been more true when the ultimate weapon in the nation's arsenal is the basic infantryman. But can Captain Tony Niimoto, a hero of both the embassy takeover in New Delhi and the hostage rescue in Somalia, lead his company against an overwhelming force of the finest of the People's Liberation Army? Can Sergeant Harrington Steptoe, Sergeant "Jay" McNamara, and First Lieutenant Peter Van Slyke step up into the mantle of leadership when all the odds are against them?
- GenresMilitary Fiction
733 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
366 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan P. Brazee
149 books190 followersI am a retired Marine colonel and now a full-time writer living in Colorado Springs with my wife, Kiwi, and infant twin daughters, Danika Dawn and Darika Marie.
I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 85 titles published, 52 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, and my novella, "Fire Ant," was a 2018 Nebula finalist. My novel "Integration" was a 2018 Dragon Award finalist, and my novel "Sentenced to War" was a 2021 finalist. I am a USA Today Bestelling writer.
My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, wrting, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books.
I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts.
As an author, I don't think it is fair for me to rate any other author's books here on Goodreads if that rating is less than five stars. I have certainly read many books that do not deserve five (or four, three, or even two). However, I will not rate any of those here while I am a Goodreads author. Consequently, I will only be listing books that I really like and feel deserve five stars.
If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com.
I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 85 titles published, 52 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, and my novella, "Fire Ant," was a 2018 Nebula finalist. My novel "Integration" was a 2018 Dragon Award finalist, and my novel "Sentenced to War" was a 2021 finalist. I am a USA Today Bestelling writer.
My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, wrting, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books.
I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts.
As an author, I don't think it is fair for me to rate any other author's books here on Goodreads if that rating is less than five stars. I have certainly read many books that do not deserve five (or four, three, or even two). However, I will not rate any of those here while I am a Goodreads author. Consequently, I will only be listing books that I really like and feel deserve five stars.
If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 7, 2015
I am really enjoying Brazee's work and am in the process of trying to read all that he has written. This trilogy is set just a few years in the future. The marines have been all but disbanded, only a few are left, running guard detail on the president and the embassies. This changes when, outgunned and unsupported, a small group of marines save the president...
Military fiction isn't necessarily what I would like to read, but in some ways Brazee's writing is like crack--addictive and leaves you wanting more. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys military fiction and if you haven't enjoyed it in the past, give it a try.
Military fiction isn't necessarily what I would like to read, but in some ways Brazee's writing is like crack--addictive and leaves you wanting more. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys military fiction and if you haven't enjoyed it in the past, give it a try.
August 29, 2018
A trilogy about the Marines, set in the future.
The Few: Very good story about the attempt to take over the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The only defense the embassy has is the Marine detachment assigned.
The Proud: Story about a platoon of Marines on assignment to retake ships that have been pirated. For the most part, it's a Marine rah rah with some action thrown in. Okay, but nothing special
The Marine: By the time I got to the third book I had pretty much burned out on the author's tales of daring do.
The Few: Very good story about the attempt to take over the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The only defense the embassy has is the Marine detachment assigned.
The Proud: Story about a platoon of Marines on assignment to retake ships that have been pirated. For the most part, it's a Marine rah rah with some action thrown in. Okay, but nothing special
The Marine: By the time I got to the third book I had pretty much burned out on the author's tales of daring do.
September 30, 2014
This is a three part book or three books now rolled into one, however you want to look at it. The three parts are: “The Few”; “The Proud”; and “The Marines”. Each part of volume is rather short but together they all three make one fine and outstanding book.
I normally don’t read books just about the military. This book is classified as science fiction but there’s really not that much science fiction to it other than the time has been moved forwarded by a few years. At the outset of this book, an idiotic Senator has done the unthinkable and arranged for the “dismemberment” of the Marine Corps by getting a budgetary act made into law. Now that Senator has been elected President of the United States with a definite bad attitude and lack of respect for the military and specifically the Marines. Nobody said Senators or Presidents had to be smart.
Ok, so what happens next? Well, the President just happens to be on a foreign nation tour, As usual the President and his entourage will make an appearance at the US Embassy in the current foreign country on their itinerary. Now you probably know that US Embassies are and always have been secured by the US Marine Corps. That hasn’t changed even with this new President and his bad attitude towards the Marines. They have barely enough Marines left to cover most all the Embassies and a few other places. Even those on duty at the Embassies are not necessarily fully staffed nor are they getting their full allotment of equipment, some of which had to be turned in to the Army during the “dismemberment”.
But when the President visits, the Marines prepare. Of course you wouldn’t think anything would happen in a country like India, but think again. The action starts quickly and is fast and furious. The attackers quickly wipeout the Secret Service agents protecting the President while the Marines manage to drag him into the Embassy. Needless to say, the Marines are not about to let the President of the United States be taken prisoner. They will fight to the death doing their duty. In the meantime, a very normal but straight speaking Marine Gunnery Sergeant gives the President a good lesson in what it means to be a Marine. He finally gets it through the guys thick skull that the Marines are different and very definitely worth keeping around no matter the costs!
Well you need to read the book to find out if the President gets rescued. I think you’ll be surprised to find out who is trying their hardest to secure the President of the United States while others are sitting around twiddling their thumbs. A very, very good story.
The other two volumes are just like the first. Full of action and with some of the same characters. Most of these Marines are wondering, “Why me?” when they find themselves in these different situations. One Sgt, who was part of the Indian Embassy action, now finds himself as a new Lieutenant in of all places, Somalia. He and his Marines are out to rescue a capture American from Somali pirates. Sounds kind of familiar! Needless to say things don’t go too well and the Marines have to prove once again, that they aren’t there for a vacation!
And finally in the last volume, we get a little glimpse of a possible future. Will China someday decide that they want more than they have? If so, you need to read how the Marines get to be the first to fight! Although there aren’t a lot of Marines available on this one tiny Pacific island, they still have to hold out against the Chinese's People’s Liberation Army which could put as many as 1,000 Chinese Marines on the same island. Why are the Marines always out numbered?
As I said before, there isn’t a great deal of science fiction in these stories. These settings could easily come to pass. Most of the weapons in use are or could be easily developed. The fighting is exciting and there is definitely a lot of action. I still found this book a great read and very hard to put down.
I normally don’t read books just about the military. This book is classified as science fiction but there’s really not that much science fiction to it other than the time has been moved forwarded by a few years. At the outset of this book, an idiotic Senator has done the unthinkable and arranged for the “dismemberment” of the Marine Corps by getting a budgetary act made into law. Now that Senator has been elected President of the United States with a definite bad attitude and lack of respect for the military and specifically the Marines. Nobody said Senators or Presidents had to be smart.
Ok, so what happens next? Well, the President just happens to be on a foreign nation tour, As usual the President and his entourage will make an appearance at the US Embassy in the current foreign country on their itinerary. Now you probably know that US Embassies are and always have been secured by the US Marine Corps. That hasn’t changed even with this new President and his bad attitude towards the Marines. They have barely enough Marines left to cover most all the Embassies and a few other places. Even those on duty at the Embassies are not necessarily fully staffed nor are they getting their full allotment of equipment, some of which had to be turned in to the Army during the “dismemberment”.
But when the President visits, the Marines prepare. Of course you wouldn’t think anything would happen in a country like India, but think again. The action starts quickly and is fast and furious. The attackers quickly wipeout the Secret Service agents protecting the President while the Marines manage to drag him into the Embassy. Needless to say, the Marines are not about to let the President of the United States be taken prisoner. They will fight to the death doing their duty. In the meantime, a very normal but straight speaking Marine Gunnery Sergeant gives the President a good lesson in what it means to be a Marine. He finally gets it through the guys thick skull that the Marines are different and very definitely worth keeping around no matter the costs!
Well you need to read the book to find out if the President gets rescued. I think you’ll be surprised to find out who is trying their hardest to secure the President of the United States while others are sitting around twiddling their thumbs. A very, very good story.
The other two volumes are just like the first. Full of action and with some of the same characters. Most of these Marines are wondering, “Why me?” when they find themselves in these different situations. One Sgt, who was part of the Indian Embassy action, now finds himself as a new Lieutenant in of all places, Somalia. He and his Marines are out to rescue a capture American from Somali pirates. Sounds kind of familiar! Needless to say things don’t go too well and the Marines have to prove once again, that they aren’t there for a vacation!
And finally in the last volume, we get a little glimpse of a possible future. Will China someday decide that they want more than they have? If so, you need to read how the Marines get to be the first to fight! Although there aren’t a lot of Marines available on this one tiny Pacific island, they still have to hold out against the Chinese's People’s Liberation Army which could put as many as 1,000 Chinese Marines on the same island. Why are the Marines always out numbered?
As I said before, there isn’t a great deal of science fiction in these stories. These settings could easily come to pass. Most of the weapons in use are or could be easily developed. The fighting is exciting and there is definitely a lot of action. I still found this book a great read and very hard to put down.
November 5, 2017
Really bad
This thing was written by an illiterate idiot. Spelling, use of punctuation, grammar, language, terminology are all misused. Either the author is mighty stupid or the editor is or both.
As I was reading a Griffin book when this one came up I stupidly assumed this was a follow-up to his Corp's books and ordered it without paying much attention - bad mistake.
Do not buy this book. It is not even worth one star.
This thing was written by an illiterate idiot. Spelling, use of punctuation, grammar, language, terminology are all misused. Either the author is mighty stupid or the editor is or both.
As I was reading a Griffin book when this one came up I stupidly assumed this was a follow-up to his Corp's books and ordered it without paying much attention - bad mistake.
Do not buy this book. It is not even worth one star.
January 4, 2015
Worth the read
As a retired Marine I look for books about Marines similar to the Corps Series by WEB Griffin. This was a good choice.
As a retired Marine I look for books about Marines similar to the Corps Series by WEB Griffin. This was a good choice.
November 20, 2018
The action in this book never stopped. It went from Brooke want to be true to book 3 without any problems. I will have to get more by this author once you start you don’t want to stop. This was one of them threw a scape is him books
Great book or rather great three books. The only disadvantage was that I liked it so much I didn’t wanna put it down. It’s one great disadvantage. I will definitely be reading more by this author with the rest of my life. If I was going to compare him to other Authors it would be Hineline and turtle dove ones that I just really like.
Great book or rather great three books. The only disadvantage was that I liked it so much I didn’t wanna put it down. It’s one great disadvantage. I will definitely be reading more by this author with the rest of my life. If I was going to compare him to other Authors it would be Hineline and turtle dove ones that I just really like.
December 27, 2018
What caught my eye was part one, "The Few" since it was about Embassy Duty. I was an Embassy Marine in Cairo & Geneva '79-'81. A bit predictable for the ending of "The Few".
On the whole, the book, a Trilogy, was excellent, however whoever is responsible for editing should be terminated. I came across not only misspelled words, but several times the editor must have mixed up characters and changed the names because they did not fully "read" and follow the story. Very annoying!
Will have to try another by this author.
On the whole, the book, a Trilogy, was excellent, however whoever is responsible for editing should be terminated. I came across not only misspelled words, but several times the editor must have mixed up characters and changed the names because they did not fully "read" and follow the story. Very annoying!
Will have to try another by this author.
June 1, 2018
Two Novels About the USMC After Politics Has Disbanded the Marines
JPB has penned two novels about the future of the IUSMC after a new President elect decided he does not like the Marine concept of service. He cuts the Marines back to the fee leaving one Marine Regiment still active. He spreads the USMC to the different branches of the entire service sectors. These are two excellent reads for the genre.....DEHS
JPB has penned two novels about the future of the IUSMC after a new President elect decided he does not like the Marine concept of service. He cuts the Marines back to the fee leaving one Marine Regiment still active. He spreads the USMC to the different branches of the entire service sectors. These are two excellent reads for the genre.....DEHS
October 30, 2017
VERY GOOD 👍
The first of the three books 📚 was somewhat difficult to finish. I am a Viet Nam Vet, and while I have never been a marine I did see combat and I lost friends. Book 1 brought that fact back to mind feeling as if someone had kicked me in my chest. The trilogy was well written.
The first of the three books 📚 was somewhat difficult to finish. I am a Viet Nam Vet, and while I have never been a marine I did see combat and I lost friends. Book 1 brought that fact back to mind feeling as if someone had kicked me in my chest. The trilogy was well written.
January 15, 2021
Corny and full of ritualistic jargon.
Apparently an early effort by the author who has written some decent sci-fi.My guess is that this set was re-released in an attempt to cash in on his recent (and deserved) success. That’s how I ended up attempting to read it. Read the first and started the second before deciding I had better things to do on a cold and rainy January day.
Apparently an early effort by the author who has written some decent sci-fi.My guess is that this set was re-released in an attempt to cash in on his recent (and deserved) success. That’s how I ended up attempting to read it. Read the first and started the second before deciding I had better things to do on a cold and rainy January day.
September 22, 2019
Good story!
Actually, I wanted four stars, good action and political scenes. It's a shame that the future of all of our armed forces are in the hands of congress critters. They have little idea of honor and duty.
Actually, I wanted four stars, good action and political scenes. It's a shame that the future of all of our armed forces are in the hands of congress critters. They have little idea of honor and duty.
August 19, 2020
Could This Happen?
All too easily. There are always unintended consequences that bite you in the butt. A future president downsizes the Corps and pays the price. Good job on getting it right!
All too easily. There are always unintended consequences that bite you in the butt. A future president downsizes the Corps and pays the price. Good job on getting it right!
August 4, 2019
Great story
A very interesting story.
Enjoyed my hours captivated with this book.
Fascinating story from this excellent author.
I will be reading more of his books.
A very interesting story.
Enjoyed my hours captivated with this book.
Fascinating story from this excellent author.
I will be reading more of his books.
November 17, 2019
Yes, I liked it.
When I read a book in which USMC is a major role I have a tendency to follow the characters and their actions closely
When I read a book in which USMC is a major role I have a tendency to follow the characters and their actions closely
February 12, 2015
Float Read
The look would have been rated higher if it weren't for the poor grammar and editing. There were sentences with obviously missing words and some that just plan did not make sense. The author work do better to military writing style with his use of abbreviations and acronyms spell it out followed by the acronym on first use. The appendix just interferes with the readability. If it were more professionally written I would recommend to a greater audience, but now I would say it is written for a military audience, probably one trapped o. A ship for a deployment.
The look would have been rated higher if it weren't for the poor grammar and editing. There were sentences with obviously missing words and some that just plan did not make sense. The author work do better to military writing style with his use of abbreviations and acronyms spell it out followed by the acronym on first use. The appendix just interferes with the readability. If it were more professionally written I would recommend to a greater audience, but now I would say it is written for a military audience, probably one trapped o. A ship for a deployment.
April 29, 2016
Outstanding novel set in the future about the United States Marine Corps. I reviewed this already on Amazon.
Brazee's work is loaded with jargon and abbreviations that sometimes detract from the action but otherwise is an enjoyable read. There is a glossary at the end.
Brazee's work is loaded with jargon and abbreviations that sometimes detract from the action but otherwise is an enjoyable read. There is a glossary at the end.
January 20, 2016
The Marines survive and thrive in a world that thinks they are unnecessary.
The book does a great job of showing how the different backgrounds of individual Marines actually enhances the esprit De corps.
The book does a great job of showing how the different backgrounds of individual Marines actually enhances the esprit De corps.
January 26, 2015
Action packed
A good read. I like it when the underdogs win.
Could not put these books down. I highly recommend reading.
A good read. I like it when the underdogs win.
Could not put these books down. I highly recommend reading.
July 25, 2015
Good read
Enjoyed this book. Look forward to reading others by the same author. If you enjoy military novels, you will enjoy this one. Semper Fi
Enjoyed this book. Look forward to reading others by the same author. If you enjoy military novels, you will enjoy this one. Semper Fi
December 14, 2016
Very enjoyable, fast action.
Hard to put down, read all three in just two days. Detailed in the interfacing of all the different entities involved in the battles.
Hard to put down, read all three in just two days. Detailed in the interfacing of all the different entities involved in the battles.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews