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Warzone: Nemesis
The space race was a lie, and the cold war wasn’t as cold as you thought. While we were playing spy versus spy, conducting an arms race and a space race on Earth, things were heating up in the solar system.
In 1959, an alien vessel crashed on the Navajo reservation, ushering forth a colonial space race in the solar system between the two superpowers. The prize is the mysterious metal known only as alloy-x and the alien technology that promises to make one nation or the other the dominant superpower in the arms race. The American commander finds himself fighting with the toughest antagonist of his career. He had finally met his nemesis. The stakes are high. Losing the struggle could tip the balance of power on the Earth, giving the Soviets the advantage in Earth’s cold war.
In 1959, an alien vessel crashed on the Navajo reservation, ushering forth a colonial space race in the solar system between the two superpowers. The prize is the mysterious metal known only as alloy-x and the alien technology that promises to make one nation or the other the dominant superpower in the arms race. The American commander finds himself fighting with the toughest antagonist of his career. He had finally met his nemesis. The stakes are high. Losing the struggle could tip the balance of power on the Earth, giving the Soviets the advantage in Earth’s cold war.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
282 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2013
2 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
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August 11, 2015
So this is an updated review of Warzone: Nemesis! The author sent me the updated edition of the book and I've decided to change some things in my review. I've decided to splice the two together so the parts in italics is my old review while everything in regular font is the new stuff. Enjoy!
Thank you to the author, Morris E. Graham, for gifting me with a copy of Warzone: Nemesis in exchange for an honest review!
This is one of those times that I hate having to give a star rating to a book. I've been mulling this over for the past few days and I'm still not totally satisfied with my choice.
Now after I finished the book, I had a review drafted up (this was a couple weeks ago) but I just couldn't get this feeling out of my head that I was misreading things. So I sent an email to Mr. Graham and we had a chat about the premise of his book and the reality of many of the things he incorporated. I researched some things (such as the gravity on different planets) and he explained why he did certain things. All in all, it was very beneficial for the both of us: a lot of my confusion was cleared up and I suggested places he could add a sentence or two to clarify things. After that, he sent me a revised version which I read and then reworked my review. I won't tell you what my original star rating was because that will just set a certain image in your mind. So without further ado, here's the new and improved review!
The main idea presented in this book was very interesting indeed. Especially with secret government activity and such because honestly, who think that the government tells the people absolutely everything? It'd be a threat to security and all that. So that made it very intriguing.
I do think that the middle of the book was lacking a bit of direction. Because at that point, the first conflict was mostly resolved and the second one (and the one that carries into possible future books) hadn't arrived yet. So I think something could have been added there or it could have been shortened up a bit or something.
I also do wish that going into space was made a bigger deal than it was. It seemed like it was just this nonchalant thing when really, going into space is a huge ordeal.
I really liked seeing how Kahless was dealing with... well everything. His life was really full of loss which is never a good thing. He's definitely a complex character to get to know. In the newest edition, I was really able to look more deeply into all of the characters and they became a bit more 4D if you know what I'm saying! They really start to develop into 'real' people and hopefully we'll get to see even more of that in the next book.
The whole space thing intrigued me from the start. I did wonder why, when they found the UFO, they didn't try to find where the aliens came from or anything about them. They were just interested in the technology.
I loved the ending! I don't want to say too much and give away anything but it's unlike any ending I've read before which is truly a feat. If you read this book and you find you don't particularly like it, give the ending a shot! The main thing about this book is that it is rather long but it is worth getting to the end.
The Final Verdict:
As I said at the beginning, I'm not that satisfied with my star rating choice but I didn't know what else to rate it. I mean, it did have a wonderful idea with a complex MC but I... waded through it. I don't know how else to describe it. It was almost tedious to read. However, there are plenty of good things as well: the main idea, the MC, the ending, the space setting, etc etc. So a mostly even split I think but erring on the good side. The transition from the first problem to the second was pretty well done in the most recent edition and was much smoother.
4 stars
Also something to note, the author, Morris E. Graham, has informed me that he is going to be devoting more time to beta reading and editing for other authors. A giveaway just closed for his services but it will be open again in September. See the giveaway here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Thank you to the author, Morris E. Graham, for gifting me with a copy of Warzone: Nemesis in exchange for an honest review!
This is one of those times that I hate having to give a star rating to a book. I've been mulling this over for the past few days and I'm still not totally satisfied with my choice.
Now after I finished the book, I had a review drafted up (this was a couple weeks ago) but I just couldn't get this feeling out of my head that I was misreading things. So I sent an email to Mr. Graham and we had a chat about the premise of his book and the reality of many of the things he incorporated. I researched some things (such as the gravity on different planets) and he explained why he did certain things. All in all, it was very beneficial for the both of us: a lot of my confusion was cleared up and I suggested places he could add a sentence or two to clarify things. After that, he sent me a revised version which I read and then reworked my review. I won't tell you what my original star rating was because that will just set a certain image in your mind. So without further ado, here's the new and improved review!
The main idea presented in this book was very interesting indeed. Especially with secret government activity and such because honestly, who think that the government tells the people absolutely everything? It'd be a threat to security and all that. So that made it very intriguing.
I do think that the middle of the book was lacking a bit of direction. Because at that point, the first conflict was mostly resolved and the second one (and the one that carries into possible future books) hadn't arrived yet. So I think something could have been added there or it could have been shortened up a bit or something.
I also do wish that going into space was made a bigger deal than it was. It seemed like it was just this nonchalant thing when really, going into space is a huge ordeal.
I really liked seeing how Kahless was dealing with... well everything. His life was really full of loss which is never a good thing. He's definitely a complex character to get to know. In the newest edition, I was really able to look more deeply into all of the characters and they became a bit more 4D if you know what I'm saying! They really start to develop into 'real' people and hopefully we'll get to see even more of that in the next book.
The whole space thing intrigued me from the start. I did wonder why, when they found the UFO, they didn't try to find where the aliens came from or anything about them. They were just interested in the technology.
I loved the ending! I don't want to say too much and give away anything but it's unlike any ending I've read before which is truly a feat. If you read this book and you find you don't particularly like it, give the ending a shot! The main thing about this book is that it is rather long but it is worth getting to the end.
The Final Verdict:
As I said at the beginning, I'm not that satisfied with my star rating choice but I didn't know what else to rate it. I mean, it did have a wonderful idea with a complex MC but I... waded through it. I don't know how else to describe it. It was almost tedious to read. However, there are plenty of good things as well: the main idea, the MC, the ending, the space setting, etc etc. So a mostly even split I think but erring on the good side. The transition from the first problem to the second was pretty well done in the most recent edition and was much smoother.
4 stars
Also something to note, the author, Morris E. Graham, has informed me that he is going to be devoting more time to beta reading and editing for other authors. A giveaway just closed for his services but it will be open again in September. See the giveaway here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
August 24, 2014
Warzone Nemesis
Starts off with a great premise: A flying 'disc' UFO crash lands on a Navajo Indian Reservation in 1959.
Despite the numerous typos (3 on the first page alone) I was drawn in by the story of the Indian boy encountering the craft and its dying occupants. And it kept me going through more of the tribe getting involved in investigating the craft. Although it seemed rather strange that the Indians said it was nothing that they ever saw before, yet instantly somehow knew it was a vessel.
Then it all turned a sharp corner when it went off the reservation and horribly wrong with even more typos. Actual sample: [The two men chatted about the implications of the files&rsquos photographs and the possible trouble if the information reached the wrong hands.]
Add made up government bureaucracies mixed with real presidents, pretty naive information about the craft (a hard drive and computer- I guess the aliens had them in 1959), continuity errors (element x somehow became alloy x - which serves as a crucial plot point throughout) and by the way an alloy is defined as a mixture of metals and doesn't exist in nature making finding an alloy x impossible, so element x would have been more appropriate in the first place.
Then the story skips two full years without explanation, but unfortunately doesn't skip painfully repetitious section after section where the author basically just copies what one person said to another person and another person ad infinitum under the guise of a 'report'. Note to author: you don't have to repeat the facts every time, just say the President learned the secret was out. And unless the food is somehow important to the story, we don't need to know what each character had for breakfast and how many cups of coffee he consumed during any particular day. Especially when those characters quickly disappear and we never hear from them again! I could have done without the quaint little icons like crossed pistols and hammer & sickle scattered uselessly throughout.
One reviewer mentioned it got better when the epic space battles begin so I stuck it out until the story got to the moon. But I guess Col Red Fangs and Lt Col Judgment Day (I kid you not) didn't have a chance to research how conventional weapons would function on the moon. Well the tanks must have been electric powered because all the tanks I know of have internal combustion engines that need OXYGEN to run, so it's pretty amazing they worked. And does anyone know what happens if one fires a good old revolver on the moon? Well if you're not tied down the recoil is going to knock the shooter right off the moon. At this point I had enough, 27% was all I could take.
Further I must take note of all the glowing 5 stars reviews here on Goodreads. Somehow the author managed to gather the most lenient reviewers in the history of writing all to review his novel. Lucky him. To give this book 5 stars is an injustice to all the authors who edit and proof and research and try to turn out an engaging and thrilling to read novel, not to mention readers who may actually pay for this (thank God mine was free on Amazon). I'm afraid in the long run it may come back to bite the author, because he will have no incentive to improve his craft.
I strongly urge the author to withdraw this edition from the market, fix all the errors, do a creative rewrite and then publish it. You have a great premise for a plot but the execution is just terrible.
2 stars for a creative plot idea.
Starts off with a great premise: A flying 'disc' UFO crash lands on a Navajo Indian Reservation in 1959.
Despite the numerous typos (3 on the first page alone) I was drawn in by the story of the Indian boy encountering the craft and its dying occupants. And it kept me going through more of the tribe getting involved in investigating the craft. Although it seemed rather strange that the Indians said it was nothing that they ever saw before, yet instantly somehow knew it was a vessel.
Then it all turned a sharp corner when it went off the reservation and horribly wrong with even more typos. Actual sample: [The two men chatted about the implications of the files&rsquos photographs and the possible trouble if the information reached the wrong hands.]
Add made up government bureaucracies mixed with real presidents, pretty naive information about the craft (a hard drive and computer- I guess the aliens had them in 1959), continuity errors (element x somehow became alloy x - which serves as a crucial plot point throughout) and by the way an alloy is defined as a mixture of metals and doesn't exist in nature making finding an alloy x impossible, so element x would have been more appropriate in the first place.
Then the story skips two full years without explanation, but unfortunately doesn't skip painfully repetitious section after section where the author basically just copies what one person said to another person and another person ad infinitum under the guise of a 'report'. Note to author: you don't have to repeat the facts every time, just say the President learned the secret was out. And unless the food is somehow important to the story, we don't need to know what each character had for breakfast and how many cups of coffee he consumed during any particular day. Especially when those characters quickly disappear and we never hear from them again! I could have done without the quaint little icons like crossed pistols and hammer & sickle scattered uselessly throughout.
One reviewer mentioned it got better when the epic space battles begin so I stuck it out until the story got to the moon. But I guess Col Red Fangs and Lt Col Judgment Day (I kid you not) didn't have a chance to research how conventional weapons would function on the moon. Well the tanks must have been electric powered because all the tanks I know of have internal combustion engines that need OXYGEN to run, so it's pretty amazing they worked. And does anyone know what happens if one fires a good old revolver on the moon? Well if you're not tied down the recoil is going to knock the shooter right off the moon. At this point I had enough, 27% was all I could take.
Further I must take note of all the glowing 5 stars reviews here on Goodreads. Somehow the author managed to gather the most lenient reviewers in the history of writing all to review his novel. Lucky him. To give this book 5 stars is an injustice to all the authors who edit and proof and research and try to turn out an engaging and thrilling to read novel, not to mention readers who may actually pay for this (thank God mine was free on Amazon). I'm afraid in the long run it may come back to bite the author, because he will have no incentive to improve his craft.
I strongly urge the author to withdraw this edition from the market, fix all the errors, do a creative rewrite and then publish it. You have a great premise for a plot but the execution is just terrible.
2 stars for a creative plot idea.
June 12, 2016
Graham E. Morris’s Warzone: Nemesis opens the files of the top-secret war for space, hidden behind the facade of a decades-long cold war between super-powers. The wrecks of two alien spaceships, and the larger disaster behind the wrecks, gives both the USSR and the USA the rudiments of space travel, and access to the element known only as alloy-x, the key to the interplanetary engines. Elite fighters recruited anonymously from Special Forces units join the battle between the two countries for supremacy in space, waged on the Moon, on Mars, and on the moons of the outer planets. To their planet, these men are dead, their histories erased from the record. Identified only by call signs, they engage in a life-and-death struggle far beyond the view of the public.
Warzone: Nemesis is an action-packed opening novel to the Warzone series, a richly-detailed read for lovers of science-fiction and military fiction alike. Contrasting ideologies bring the underlying similarities between the commanders on both sides into sharp focus, adding depth to the story, and the levels of research that have gone into the book are clearly visible in the meticulous description of locales and technologies. Morris E. Graham creates comprehensive battle strategies and interesting psychological twists to keep the battles, and the story, moving along, while touching on some of the many ethical dilemmas that any war brings into the open. Definitely a recommended read!
Warzone: Nemesis is an action-packed opening novel to the Warzone series, a richly-detailed read for lovers of science-fiction and military fiction alike. Contrasting ideologies bring the underlying similarities between the commanders on both sides into sharp focus, adding depth to the story, and the levels of research that have gone into the book are clearly visible in the meticulous description of locales and technologies. Morris E. Graham creates comprehensive battle strategies and interesting psychological twists to keep the battles, and the story, moving along, while touching on some of the many ethical dilemmas that any war brings into the open. Definitely a recommended read!
August 21, 2013
Mr. Graham first novel is four star!!!!
....want to read more!
Laszlo
....want to read more!
Laszlo
August 30, 2013
This book convincingly demonstrates that Morris Graham is a very imaginative and gifted storyteller - a soldier's storyteller. To say that he is in his element vividly describing Cold War combat operations on the Moon and Mars is a gross understatement. He is equally in his element when he moves story and readers to a Navajo reservation, the jungles of Vietnam, a secret training center for American military personnel, space travel, and a blistering boxing match on Mars between this novel's American hero and his Soviet nemesis. His characters (American and Soviet) are consistently multidimensional and repeatedly surprise us with their development.
The author's vivid and detailed descriptions of scenes on Earth, the Moon and Mars make clear this is a thoroughly researched work full of action, high drama and many surprising twists and turns. No, the Cold War is not over! It's being fought secretly on the Moon and Mars and the stakes are incredibly high.
The author's vivid and detailed descriptions of scenes on Earth, the Moon and Mars make clear this is a thoroughly researched work full of action, high drama and many surprising twists and turns. No, the Cold War is not over! It's being fought secretly on the Moon and Mars and the stakes are incredibly high.
August 23, 2014
Wow amazing book woderful roller coaster of a ride so thank you for the privilege of going on this imaginatioal adventure this book was fabulous in so many ways well thought out story lines and very strong characters for the story to be a work of art in my eyes loved every minate of it this book I will be happy to recommend to all my friends and then some and will be looking out for book two and more as wonderful adventures do not happen in my head alot well my thanks go to the author Morris E.Graham for the privilege of reading his wonderful book and can't wait for book two when I can get it well with that all said keep smiling and happy reading to you with love from wee me. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
September 8, 2016
Despite not being a natural leaner toward science fiction, I must admit this was a creatively written, action-packed, roller-coasteresque story, which held my attention throughout. The scenes were descriptive and the characters finely detailed, painting a clear picture in my mind as I navigated the plot and connected with its main players. I don’t like to give too much away in reviews at the risk of dropping spoilers, but I will say that I loved the ending. Overall, this was an imaginative piece of storytelling that left me wanting more. I'm really looking forward to the next installment.
November 23, 2015
Sometimes I like Sci-Fi and sometimes I don't. I can take it or leave it. It is this way for me in movies and TV shows too. I go back and forth. I think this book was good but sometime it seemed to be a bit boring at times for me. I think the plot in the book was good but I am on the fence with this book. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
January 5, 2018
Fans of military science fiction, such as the Stargate series, might well enjoy this novel. In a dedicated effort, Graham melds the realms of politics, international relations, personal honor, and cross-cultural understanding. The nods to Star Trek, my first love, were a treat. Many sci-fi fans have long imagined stories set on the moon or Mars. Those growing up during the Cold War will appreciate Graham's creative approach.
My dispassionate editor's eye appreciated the nuances of the en dash and the helpful glossaries, notably for terms dealing with the Navajo. I recommend, however, using a more standard style for indicating military ranks; the all-caps abbreviations distracted a bit from the flow of the text. The book would also benefit from developmental editing to adjust the pacing of the plot, as well as a set of fresh eyes to proof the copy. Even so, potential exists within.
Graham has undoubtedly spent a great deal of time nurturing this story. If you appreciate fleshed-out descriptions and are patient in terms of plot pacing, give the book a read. Many will await the next installment. This review is based on a complimentary copy I received from the author.
My dispassionate editor's eye appreciated the nuances of the en dash and the helpful glossaries, notably for terms dealing with the Navajo. I recommend, however, using a more standard style for indicating military ranks; the all-caps abbreviations distracted a bit from the flow of the text. The book would also benefit from developmental editing to adjust the pacing of the plot, as well as a set of fresh eyes to proof the copy. Even so, potential exists within.
Graham has undoubtedly spent a great deal of time nurturing this story. If you appreciate fleshed-out descriptions and are patient in terms of plot pacing, give the book a read. Many will await the next installment. This review is based on a complimentary copy I received from the author.
March 21, 2017
If, like me, you find the beginning of this book a little confusing, keep reading. All becomes clear.
Graham takes us through clearly marked decades involving ‘the truth’ about the space race with the two real-life superpowers, fascinating insight of Navajo culture, an arms race for an alien alloy (of which more is found on the moon and other planets) and the American hero arising from the Vietnam war.
The story is presented in an interesting style including dispatches, news headlines and memorandums, from both the American and the Soviet points of view. The narrative becomes first person at times with the main character’s name and rank changing as it progresses.
The hero’s first Soviet enemy is shown to be merely loyal to his country but following dark drama I won’t spoil for future readers, is replaced by our hero’s nemesis, culminating in the best fight I’ve ever read.
There are hour by hour battle tactics, ferocious conflict with good descriptions for conditions on the moon and Mars, and snipers. There are: loyalty and loss, revenge, in-depth relationships, clever parallels brought back in, secrets, suffering, astrophysics, science and engineering. That’s a lot of stuff to enjoy.
See all my book reviews on www.vinctalin.org
Graham takes us through clearly marked decades involving ‘the truth’ about the space race with the two real-life superpowers, fascinating insight of Navajo culture, an arms race for an alien alloy (of which more is found on the moon and other planets) and the American hero arising from the Vietnam war.
The story is presented in an interesting style including dispatches, news headlines and memorandums, from both the American and the Soviet points of view. The narrative becomes first person at times with the main character’s name and rank changing as it progresses.
The hero’s first Soviet enemy is shown to be merely loyal to his country but following dark drama I won’t spoil for future readers, is replaced by our hero’s nemesis, culminating in the best fight I’ve ever read.
There are hour by hour battle tactics, ferocious conflict with good descriptions for conditions on the moon and Mars, and snipers. There are: loyalty and loss, revenge, in-depth relationships, clever parallels brought back in, secrets, suffering, astrophysics, science and engineering. That’s a lot of stuff to enjoy.
See all my book reviews on www.vinctalin.org
September 23, 2015
I was nervous about reading this book when I first got a copy. I’m really not into sci-fi or space travel or aliens very much but I thought, what the heck, I’ll give it a try. While I wasn’t completely head over heels in love with this story, there were many good points that I found to be very interesting—more interesting than concepts found in some “best-sellers” today.
The first point I want to highlight in this book is that it heavily involves minority characters. Anyone who’s had me review their work knows that I’m a sucker for minority characters, so I was drawn to the book at the first mention of Navajo. I myself am half Native American so I was taken in by the wonderful details of the tribe. There was fry-bread, there was sheep’s milk, and there were herds to flock. I loved every second of it.
Including such great descriptions with the Navajo was something that really stood out to me. I could tell Graham did a great deal of research on this as he used much of the language and incorporated a lot of their culture in accurate ways.
Now, the actual plot of the story was interesting too. Warzone Nemesis is about a vessel that crashes onto a Navajo reservation which brings about a roller coaster of events that leads to space travel and even war.
Graham has quite an imagination and I could tell from the description of the characters and the actual plot itself. He engages readers with a very gradual progression of anticipation, leading us into each portion of the story with more than enough to fill our mind’s eye. There is clean cut dialogue and description throughout the story which is a plus for me because I can’t stand unnecessary cursing or overly aggressive dialogue.
One of the best things about this book is its creativity. You have to have an open mind to really get into space wars but Graham’s writing is crafty enough to take you there whether you’re a fan of aliens or not. I enjoyed being guided through the book, I felt as though I was taken step by step and I was given more than enough detail. Some may find that irritating, rereading facts and going back over dialogue, but I thought it was a plus as I sometimes felt a little confused—I’m not a sci-fi person so I wasn’t used to the concept at first. BUT I was able to digest much of the story because the author incorporated everything I needed. I knew what was going on and why, I knew where the characters were and what their goal was.
There was plenty of action in this book, enough to keep me entertained for days. But the non-action portions were easy to get through as well. Graham connected everything so that readers had a smooth transition between fighting in death-match battles and discussing their nest strategy or just plain old eating breakfast. Its not always easy to find a book that makes those difficult transitions so well but I appreciated it here.
This book is definitely a great read for all those sci-fi fans out there but anyone who enjoys action packed thrillers or wants to pick up something to challenge their imagination will love this too. I found it very enjoyable and because of its originality I was able to overlook the few typos I found. I think Graham is a wonderful writer equipped with an exotic imagination and creative flare. I expect his next book will be just as thrilling as this one.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The first point I want to highlight in this book is that it heavily involves minority characters. Anyone who’s had me review their work knows that I’m a sucker for minority characters, so I was drawn to the book at the first mention of Navajo. I myself am half Native American so I was taken in by the wonderful details of the tribe. There was fry-bread, there was sheep’s milk, and there were herds to flock. I loved every second of it.
Including such great descriptions with the Navajo was something that really stood out to me. I could tell Graham did a great deal of research on this as he used much of the language and incorporated a lot of their culture in accurate ways.
Now, the actual plot of the story was interesting too. Warzone Nemesis is about a vessel that crashes onto a Navajo reservation which brings about a roller coaster of events that leads to space travel and even war.
Graham has quite an imagination and I could tell from the description of the characters and the actual plot itself. He engages readers with a very gradual progression of anticipation, leading us into each portion of the story with more than enough to fill our mind’s eye. There is clean cut dialogue and description throughout the story which is a plus for me because I can’t stand unnecessary cursing or overly aggressive dialogue.
One of the best things about this book is its creativity. You have to have an open mind to really get into space wars but Graham’s writing is crafty enough to take you there whether you’re a fan of aliens or not. I enjoyed being guided through the book, I felt as though I was taken step by step and I was given more than enough detail. Some may find that irritating, rereading facts and going back over dialogue, but I thought it was a plus as I sometimes felt a little confused—I’m not a sci-fi person so I wasn’t used to the concept at first. BUT I was able to digest much of the story because the author incorporated everything I needed. I knew what was going on and why, I knew where the characters were and what their goal was.
There was plenty of action in this book, enough to keep me entertained for days. But the non-action portions were easy to get through as well. Graham connected everything so that readers had a smooth transition between fighting in death-match battles and discussing their nest strategy or just plain old eating breakfast. Its not always easy to find a book that makes those difficult transitions so well but I appreciated it here.
This book is definitely a great read for all those sci-fi fans out there but anyone who enjoys action packed thrillers or wants to pick up something to challenge their imagination will love this too. I found it very enjoyable and because of its originality I was able to overlook the few typos I found. I think Graham is a wonderful writer equipped with an exotic imagination and creative flare. I expect his next book will be just as thrilling as this one.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
October 20, 2013
"Warzone: Nemesis" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a blend of science fiction and military action set on the Moon and Mars and begins in 1959 with the crash of an alien vessel on a Navajo reservation.
As the story opens there is a strained relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. Spies who've infiltrated both countries are hungry to gain information that will advance research and technology so their homeland will dominate the arms and space race. In the space vessel that's discovered is alien technology and a unique substance called alloy-x that could give America a superior advantage. But when the secret's stolen and it's discovered that the material is in plentiful supply on planets beyond earth's atmosphere the race begins. Although mankind still appears to be taking baby steps in space travel and exploration, a private U.S. organization is formed to take the search for alloy-x to the moon and then to Mars.
This is the story of men of courage and honour, patriots who are chosen to establish a military post on the moon and Mars so they can take possession of the valuable resource. What they find is a struggle for dominance between two formidable enemies who both want alloy-x at the cost of many lives. The novel draws the reader first into the battle for a base on the Moon, and then to Mars where an American commander, code name Kahless, faces a dangerous nemesis whose actions , if not stopped could change the tide of the cold war on earth.
The plot of this novel is imaginative and unique. Morris E. Graham seems to have a comprehensive understanding of warfare and the military. Duty, honour, discipline and courage are the guiding force of all the characters in this story, and faith the foundation that sustains them. Col. Wycoff, code name Red Fangs is a determined, a brilliant strategist who detests the human cost of establishing a second base on the moon, but who puts duty before his own sentiment. Commander Benjamin Begay code name Kahless, is a courageous and compassionate leader, admired by all the military men on the Mars base. At one point revenge clouds his judgement but his faith delivers him from guilt and depression. Within the pages of this story are many more proud, courageous, honourable characters who selflessly and dutifully put their lives in harm's way as they battle for what they believe is right, far from their home planet. Even the antagonists are notable like Col. Yuri Tkachenko, a ruthless but brilliant leader.
I liked the writer's original use of Russian speech and Navajo idioms as well as his creative use of memos between Presidents and the military to further the storyline at the beginning. I was disappointed that the cover didn't do justice to such a good story. But "Warzone: Nemesis" remains an exciting and captivating science fiction novel that gives a clear view of the destructiveness and futility of war. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it.
As the story opens there is a strained relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. Spies who've infiltrated both countries are hungry to gain information that will advance research and technology so their homeland will dominate the arms and space race. In the space vessel that's discovered is alien technology and a unique substance called alloy-x that could give America a superior advantage. But when the secret's stolen and it's discovered that the material is in plentiful supply on planets beyond earth's atmosphere the race begins. Although mankind still appears to be taking baby steps in space travel and exploration, a private U.S. organization is formed to take the search for alloy-x to the moon and then to Mars.
This is the story of men of courage and honour, patriots who are chosen to establish a military post on the moon and Mars so they can take possession of the valuable resource. What they find is a struggle for dominance between two formidable enemies who both want alloy-x at the cost of many lives. The novel draws the reader first into the battle for a base on the Moon, and then to Mars where an American commander, code name Kahless, faces a dangerous nemesis whose actions , if not stopped could change the tide of the cold war on earth.
The plot of this novel is imaginative and unique. Morris E. Graham seems to have a comprehensive understanding of warfare and the military. Duty, honour, discipline and courage are the guiding force of all the characters in this story, and faith the foundation that sustains them. Col. Wycoff, code name Red Fangs is a determined, a brilliant strategist who detests the human cost of establishing a second base on the moon, but who puts duty before his own sentiment. Commander Benjamin Begay code name Kahless, is a courageous and compassionate leader, admired by all the military men on the Mars base. At one point revenge clouds his judgement but his faith delivers him from guilt and depression. Within the pages of this story are many more proud, courageous, honourable characters who selflessly and dutifully put their lives in harm's way as they battle for what they believe is right, far from their home planet. Even the antagonists are notable like Col. Yuri Tkachenko, a ruthless but brilliant leader.
I liked the writer's original use of Russian speech and Navajo idioms as well as his creative use of memos between Presidents and the military to further the storyline at the beginning. I was disappointed that the cover didn't do justice to such a good story. But "Warzone: Nemesis" remains an exciting and captivating science fiction novel that gives a clear view of the destructiveness and futility of war. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it.
December 22, 2016
I was really excited to read this book when I first got it! And when I dove in, it did not disappoint! Aliens crash landing on a Navajo reservation, the government sweeping in and spiriting it away, a super-secret program... so exciting!
And then it kind of.. faltered. It switched gears and went from an awesome sci-fi to a more military-focused story. I like those kinds of books, too, so after a bit of adjustment, I was beginning to enjoy it again. And just as I was getting settled into the military third person, it went to military first person. Another huge shift and we don't meet the main character until we are 1/3 of the way through the book!
And then there were more shifts after that. Every single one took me out of the story and threw me off kilter. Which is a shame because once I was able to get back into it, I really liked each section. It was just difficult to see it as a cohesive story.
I loved so much about this book. The incorporation of the Navajo culture, not only at the beginning but also later in the story. The very real portrayal of Vietnam which led into the seemingly realistic method of recruitment. I loved how the conflict of the Cold War on Earth fed into the Space Age expansion and conflicts in space, which beautifully mirrored the real-world events of the time period.
I loved Cowboy and Maj Seal. In some ways, their story went too fast! I loved the personal conflict between Kahless and Tkachenko. I absolutely loved the connection between Kahless and Blaze. I loved the amount of research that the author did into chess, boxing, karate, and the science behind terraforming.
I didn't like how character's names kept changing, the fast pace of characters coming and going, the inconsistent flow. I felt like there were some characters who I could really have gotten attached to, but wasn't really given the opportunity. I didn't care for the contrived relationship between Kahless and Pastukhova. I hated how the story ended. If it had ended after the boxing match, it would have left enough curiosity to want to pick up the next book, without losing too much.
Last note: This book had a lot of errors in it, and that was incredibly distracting. I was really surprised as this was the 8th edition of the book. Wow. This is one of those books that I think would have seriously benefited from a publisher. There is a great concept here, but it lacks focus. The editing was slipshod.
I hate having to rate books, because there are parts of this book that are definitely a five star rating... I would say about 2/3 of the story were worthy of 5 stars, but then there were parts that were only worthy of two stars. And having to consider editing... UGH! It was SO hard to decide what to rate this book. In the end I took the middle road and went with a middle rating.
I doubt that I will be reading the sequel.
And then it kind of.. faltered. It switched gears and went from an awesome sci-fi to a more military-focused story. I like those kinds of books, too, so after a bit of adjustment, I was beginning to enjoy it again. And just as I was getting settled into the military third person, it went to military first person. Another huge shift and we don't meet the main character until we are 1/3 of the way through the book!
And then there were more shifts after that. Every single one took me out of the story and threw me off kilter. Which is a shame because once I was able to get back into it, I really liked each section. It was just difficult to see it as a cohesive story.
I loved so much about this book. The incorporation of the Navajo culture, not only at the beginning but also later in the story. The very real portrayal of Vietnam which led into the seemingly realistic method of recruitment. I loved how the conflict of the Cold War on Earth fed into the Space Age expansion and conflicts in space, which beautifully mirrored the real-world events of the time period.
I loved Cowboy and Maj Seal. In some ways, their story went too fast! I loved the personal conflict between Kahless and Tkachenko. I absolutely loved the connection between Kahless and Blaze. I loved the amount of research that the author did into chess, boxing, karate, and the science behind terraforming.
I didn't like how character's names kept changing, the fast pace of characters coming and going, the inconsistent flow. I felt like there were some characters who I could really have gotten attached to, but wasn't really given the opportunity. I didn't care for the contrived relationship between Kahless and Pastukhova. I hated how the story ended. If it had ended after the boxing match, it would have left enough curiosity to want to pick up the next book, without losing too much.
Last note: This book had a lot of errors in it, and that was incredibly distracting. I was really surprised as this was the 8th edition of the book. Wow. This is one of those books that I think would have seriously benefited from a publisher. There is a great concept here, but it lacks focus. The editing was slipshod.
I hate having to rate books, because there are parts of this book that are definitely a five star rating... I would say about 2/3 of the story were worthy of 5 stars, but then there were parts that were only worthy of two stars. And having to consider editing... UGH! It was SO hard to decide what to rate this book. In the end I took the middle road and went with a middle rating.
I doubt that I will be reading the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2013
Chosen as a First Read winner to digest and review upon completion, I would like to thank the Author, Mr. Graham, the book's publisher, and of course, Goodreads for the opportunity to have read this novel.
Always being a sucker for military Science-Fiction, I found WARZONE: NEMESIS a very compelling and enjoyable book. From start to finish, the story didn't tend to let me down.
It was entertaining and quite satisfactory; even though there were a few typos and some discrepancies, I tried not letting them spoil the story as it was written. One major concern was the introduction of technology (or terminology) placed within a time frame that should not had been and hence, made me question at times it's inclusion within the story, where I then tried to read this as a 1950's Pulp Sci-Fi where anything was possible.
Another area that I found a bit too much was the Cyrillic text and then the English translation (I would suggest next time don't dwell on it too much in trying to write this into the story simply by the reader taking for granted that they are speaking Russian but the translation has already occurred for the reader).
I have to admit it was refreshing to had read this not having any cuss or swear words in the prose or dialogue between the characters (which isn't the norm nowadays it seems). The more swear words the more harshness in the emotion being projected? No, not really if the text is written right and all crassness is eliminated. Because of this the novel read more, as previously mentioned, like a 1950's Sci-Fi Pulp Novel.
Decent story and I do truly look forward to reading the next installment.
Always being a sucker for military Science-Fiction, I found WARZONE: NEMESIS a very compelling and enjoyable book. From start to finish, the story didn't tend to let me down.
It was entertaining and quite satisfactory; even though there were a few typos and some discrepancies, I tried not letting them spoil the story as it was written. One major concern was the introduction of technology (or terminology) placed within a time frame that should not had been and hence, made me question at times it's inclusion within the story, where I then tried to read this as a 1950's Pulp Sci-Fi where anything was possible.
Another area that I found a bit too much was the Cyrillic text and then the English translation (I would suggest next time don't dwell on it too much in trying to write this into the story simply by the reader taking for granted that they are speaking Russian but the translation has already occurred for the reader).
I have to admit it was refreshing to had read this not having any cuss or swear words in the prose or dialogue between the characters (which isn't the norm nowadays it seems). The more swear words the more harshness in the emotion being projected? No, not really if the text is written right and all crassness is eliminated. Because of this the novel read more, as previously mentioned, like a 1950's Sci-Fi Pulp Novel.
Decent story and I do truly look forward to reading the next installment.
September 2, 2013
An engrossing first novel that had me addicted after just the first few chapters, and thankful that this is just the first of a trilogy.
Morris Graham's novel deftly blends many themes, paints many pictures, and will, no doubt, appeal to a very wide audience: honor, loyalty, romance, religion, extreme physical and mental training of soldiers, combat operations, American immigrants (Russian-American, Chinese-American), Soviet culture and, of course, unconventional science-fiction.
Graham's great descriptive powers and meticulous research are evident in his very impressive discussion of Mars' surface and environment, and his combat descriptions are gripping reading, indeed. But I was pleasantly surprised and equally impressed by his non-military writing: his exploration of the inner conflicts of his complex characters and their efforts to cope with existential challenges on earth and beyond - engaging psychological drama.
Morris Graham clearly has a great imagination, a rare gift, and the writing ability to engage a wide audience of readers with a novel that addresses many important themes. It's much more than just a good read, it's an important novel.
Morris Graham's novel deftly blends many themes, paints many pictures, and will, no doubt, appeal to a very wide audience: honor, loyalty, romance, religion, extreme physical and mental training of soldiers, combat operations, American immigrants (Russian-American, Chinese-American), Soviet culture and, of course, unconventional science-fiction.
Graham's great descriptive powers and meticulous research are evident in his very impressive discussion of Mars' surface and environment, and his combat descriptions are gripping reading, indeed. But I was pleasantly surprised and equally impressed by his non-military writing: his exploration of the inner conflicts of his complex characters and their efforts to cope with existential challenges on earth and beyond - engaging psychological drama.
Morris Graham clearly has a great imagination, a rare gift, and the writing ability to engage a wide audience of readers with a novel that addresses many important themes. It's much more than just a good read, it's an important novel.
February 20, 2016
Highlights
The book kicks off with a promising plot. An alien aircraft crashes near the Navajo Reservation. The US and Soviet conspiracy to get hold of the technology and alloy-x. The story has a potential to grab the attention of the readers. Further the war and life in moon and mars. A perfect plot and an interesting read for the core sci- fi lovers. A thorough effort is being invested in build up of the circumstances and the aura of the war atmosphere. The intricate account of strategies and conspiracies, keeps up the pace of reading.
Drawbacks
After the first half, the focus shifts to a different realm. The core sci fi lovers would be disappointed with the change in direction. Later a shift to the boxing competition would make the readers befuddled about the genre of the book. The first half of the book targetted a niche audience and the second half is for the contemporary fiction lovers. This might be solely my own opinion.
The book kicks off with a promising plot. An alien aircraft crashes near the Navajo Reservation. The US and Soviet conspiracy to get hold of the technology and alloy-x. The story has a potential to grab the attention of the readers. Further the war and life in moon and mars. A perfect plot and an interesting read for the core sci- fi lovers. A thorough effort is being invested in build up of the circumstances and the aura of the war atmosphere. The intricate account of strategies and conspiracies, keeps up the pace of reading.
Drawbacks
After the first half, the focus shifts to a different realm. The core sci fi lovers would be disappointed with the change in direction. Later a shift to the boxing competition would make the readers befuddled about the genre of the book. The first half of the book targetted a niche audience and the second half is for the contemporary fiction lovers. This might be solely my own opinion.
April 7, 2014
I would say to skip most of the first 1/4 part, at least until we're introduced to Sealord pilot that's where the real meat of the story started.
From there and after the story really earns itself. Would be willing to give next story a shot, and I would expect to like it better seeing how it would be about the commander for most part.
I believe the issue with the early part was lack of either character development and/or connection between the characters and the readers. I understand it is there as a part of example how things works around the Alloy X and the race for it.
I would think it might work better by taking those out and put it in between the main arc of the stories as flash back or secondary storyline. ie. having the Sealord pilot learn about the background of the program by reading some report/dairy of the early part of the story.
From there and after the story really earns itself. Would be willing to give next story a shot, and I would expect to like it better seeing how it would be about the commander for most part.
I believe the issue with the early part was lack of either character development and/or connection between the characters and the readers. I understand it is there as a part of example how things works around the Alloy X and the race for it.
I would think it might work better by taking those out and put it in between the main arc of the stories as flash back or secondary storyline. ie. having the Sealord pilot learn about the background of the program by reading some report/dairy of the early part of the story.
September 23, 2013
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. (i.e. DESTINY wants me to read this book.)
I'm going to update my review as I read the book!! Why? Because it's fun~
9/22/2013 2:14 PM
The cover of this classified report is not, itself, classified. XD LOL
Just stylistic quibbles so far - wish there was more show and less tell. Also, for example: "Start the vessel's self-destruct sequence to engage..." Start and engage are synonyms - "Set" instead of "Start"? Things like that are the quibbles.
Really interesting information about the Navajo Nation!!! Now, I'm really into it... gots to do house chores!! I shall return~
DISCLAIMER: I FREELY USE AND ABUSE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR MY OWN AMUSEMENT
I'm going to update my review as I read the book!! Why? Because it's fun~
9/22/2013 2:14 PM
The cover of this classified report is not, itself, classified. XD LOL
Just stylistic quibbles so far - wish there was more show and less tell. Also, for example: "Start the vessel's self-destruct sequence to engage..." Start and engage are synonyms - "Set" instead of "Start"? Things like that are the quibbles.
Really interesting information about the Navajo Nation!!! Now, I'm really into it... gots to do house chores!! I shall return~
DISCLAIMER: I FREELY USE AND ABUSE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR MY OWN AMUSEMENT
September 25, 2014
Morris E. Graham took inspiration from a video game, of all things, and turned it into one of the most interesting science fiction/war novels out there today.
Video games have some of the best stories around. If you don't play, you might think I've lost my mind, but it's true. The creators create a grand story to support the carnage and wartime violence the player experiences.
In this book, it does read very visually, switching off between prose and letters to tell what is probably the most realistic war novel. You feel like you're in the middle of it all as war wages in outer space, before even the first moon landing.
Readers who like war stories will like this, readers who like sci-fi will like this and video game fans will eat this up with a spoon!
4/5--great work!
Video games have some of the best stories around. If you don't play, you might think I've lost my mind, but it's true. The creators create a grand story to support the carnage and wartime violence the player experiences.
In this book, it does read very visually, switching off between prose and letters to tell what is probably the most realistic war novel. You feel like you're in the middle of it all as war wages in outer space, before even the first moon landing.
Readers who like war stories will like this, readers who like sci-fi will like this and video game fans will eat this up with a spoon!
4/5--great work!
September 7, 2014
Disclaimer: I won this book.
I loved this book's plot. For someone who missed the Space Race and grew up during the Cold War, this book was great. There was plenty of action, along with some drama, tragedy, and comedy. I wished it would have ended slightly differently, but I guess that would have affected the sequel. The only problem was the time discrepancy between the first and second sections. Also, I want to know about the original settlers of Eagle 1 (and the other bases) and the archaeological digs. Are there any spin-offs planned?
I loved this book's plot. For someone who missed the Space Race and grew up during the Cold War, this book was great. There was plenty of action, along with some drama, tragedy, and comedy. I wished it would have ended slightly differently, but I guess that would have affected the sequel. The only problem was the time discrepancy between the first and second sections. Also, I want to know about the original settlers of Eagle 1 (and the other bases) and the archaeological digs. Are there any spin-offs planned?
September 24, 2013
A very inventive novel about colonizations of the some of the planets and the battle between Americans and Soviets for a rare but extremely strong element. I really enjoyed this book which I read on breaks at work which made getting back to work difficult at times as the story moved along very nicely. The action segments were well described as were the nonaction segments. I am so glad I won this novel through Goodreads First Reads contest.
September 1, 2014
Very long and tedious read with entirely too much detail. The plot has potential but crawls along at a snails pace. I didn't like the way the technology was used or the constant dry dialogue and repetitiveness of information. I didn't like the editing job or the silly symbols, or the use of the foreign letters. This takes away from immersion and enjoyment. The characters feel flat. I received a finished copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 7, 2015
I love a good sci fi and this one was a fun time. It was imaginative and unique. I enjoyed how the story began on a Navajo reservation as I love it when books take us to less commonly used locations. At times the story could drag but I persisted and was glad I did. I wasn't a big fan of the symbols within the novel but I got past them and enjoyed the story. It was a easy read and a fun premise. If you enjoy sci fi/alien invasion, then you will enjoy this novel.
September 25, 2016
A skillfully written, action-packed science fiction novel about the undisclosed truth of the space race, Warzone: Nemesis documents the fight between Russia and the U.S. for alloy-x, an element that could revolutionize space engine technology. The battle scenes are descriptive and expertly crafted, the characters intriguing and vividly authentic, and overall the story is highly imaginative. Graham’s writing is at once unique and easily readable, and the novel an extraordinary accomplishment.
September 2, 2013
I am so happy to have won this book on Goodreads!
What an awesome imagination! I have seen a lot of conspiracy theories about the moon and more that really fit well into the great story line of this book.
I am totally recommending this book!
Really really good book, I can't wait to read more by Morris Graham.
What an awesome imagination! I have seen a lot of conspiracy theories about the moon and more that really fit well into the great story line of this book.
I am totally recommending this book!
Really really good book, I can't wait to read more by Morris Graham.
October 21, 2013
To me this book started off as what seemed like one of the old SciFy books with alien ships crashing to earth, alien tech being recovered and trying to beat the Russians to the moon and beyond. It takes a small break with a section on the Vietnam war however this leads into the next section of the book.
February 28, 2016
What a great story! At first I had a time getting into the story, but then I started connecting to the characters. It's a fascinating sci-fi tale. There were grammatical errors, but the story was engaging enough to continue. Lots of action, war and fighting-living on Mars. I recommend Warzone: Nemesis to anyone who loves sci-fi. Author Morris E. Graham has a gift for story telling.
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