The Clone Rebellion - The Clone Alliance

Rogue Clone #3

by Steven L. Kent

Earth, 2512 a.d. Humans populate the six arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. The oppressive Unified Authority controls EarthOCOs colonies with a powerful military made up almost entirely of clonesu until civil war leaves the U.A. struggling to survivea Stranded on a frontier planet, rogue clone Wayson Harris is desperate to get back into battle. When a group that wants to return to the Unified AuthorityOCOs command and protection asks him to deliver their offer of allegiance, Harris finds himself in the uniform of a U.A. Marine once more. But as he leads a strike against the enemy, Harris discovers that the rebels have a powerful ally no one could have imagineda"

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Space Opera, Military Science Fiction, Fiction, Space, Science Fiction Fantasy

675 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2007

About the author

Steven L. Kent is the author of the Rogue Clone series of Military Science Fiction novels as well as The Ultimate History of Video Games.

Born in California and raised in Hawaii, Kent served as a missionary for the LDS Church between the years of 1979 and 1981. During that time, he worked as a Spanish-speaking missionary serving migrant farm workers in southern Idaho.

While Kent has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Master’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University, he claims that his most important education came from life.

He learned important lessons from working with farm laborers in Idaho. Later, from 1986 through 1988, Kent worked as a telemarketer selling TV Guide and Inc. Magazine. His years on the phone helped him develop an ear for dialog.

In 1987, Kent reviewed the Stephen King novels Misery and The Eyes of the Dragon for the Seattle Times. A diehard Stephen King fan, Kent later admitted that he pitched the reviews to the Times so that he could afford to buy the books.

In 1993, upon returning to Seattle after a five-year absence, Kent pitched a review of “virtual haunted houses” for the Halloween issue of the Seattle Times. He reviewed the games The Seventh Guest, Alone in the Dark, and Legacy. Not only did this review land Kent three free PC games, it started him on a new career path.

By the middle of 1994, when Kent found himself laid off from his job at a PR agency, he became a full-time freelance journalist. He wrote monthly pieces for the Seattle Times along with regular features and reviews for Electronic Games, CDRom Today, ComputerLife, and NautilusCD. In later years, he would write for American Heritage, Parade, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and many other publications. He wrote regular columns for MSNBC, Next Generation, the Japan Times, and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate.

In 2000, Kent self-published The First Quarter: A 25-year History of Video Games. That book was later purchased and re-published as The Ultimate History of Video Games by the Prima, Three River Press, and Crown divisions of Random House.

During his career as a games journalist, Kent wrote the entries on video games for Encarta and the Encyclopedia Americana. At the invitation of Senator Joseph Lieberman, Kent has spoken at the annual Report Card on Video Game Violence in Washington D.C.

Reviews

[Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't help enjoying these books. They aren't even remotely close to high-quality literature, they are just the sort of light, fun, action-oriented space novels you need to get your mind off more serious stuff.

The protagonist remains a shallow, one-dimensional grunt, it's still blatantly Amerocentric and arguably even misogynist, the battles and the fighting are rather dull and my three favourite characters are supposedly dead. However, it manages to stay interesting despite all those things, and retains an aura of mystery around some of the most intriguing plot points.

The epilogue in particular actually made me wonder more about the setting of the series, it built on previously introduced characters and events and added some new details, giving the whole story a new dimension. All in all, interesting enough to make me pick up #4 as well.

[Stifynsemons · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.3 stars, I liked it, probably will read again some day]

Slow start, fast finish. To a clone Marine, enemies are straightforward and violence is the answer. But a Liberator, a clone with strategic insight, inventiveness circumvents tough spots. As in the previous episodes, clone grunts are trustworthy and officers are snakes, at least mostly. And the mercenary Freeman is in a league all his own.

Yet, there is time for clones to have a religious argument:
"I did not like the New Testament; it confused me. My theory that God was a metaphor for government worked well with the Old Testament. When God directed the Israelites to massacre enemies, pay taxes, and build temples, their civilization worked. No matter how hard I tried to wrestle with the God of the New Testament, I could never understand him. In my experience, no self-respecting government would forgive those who trespassed against it." ... "'If God is the government, would that make clones his chosen people?' 'That's the way I see it'"

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the next installment of this series! I'm enjoying the growth of the character along with his very few associates. The guy just loves disobeying his programming DNA and getting himself into some serious situations. But those are full of action, his inner thoughts, the ongoing narrative and everything else. I just love the series. Had to take a brief break but can't wait to return to this world!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clone Alliance carries on from the previous book with our character of Harris and Freeman having to confront the Mogats as well as having to deal with those in charge of the UA who are clearly on the the sly! :D At the same time characters like Yamashiro seem an ally to them but there is clearly more going on than at first seems! :D The characters POV really helps to emphasis who may be on the up and up and who is not! :D This really helps to build the the atmosphere of the book as you are really not sure who they can trust as the knives are really out Caesar style! :D

The world building is immense in The Clone Alliance as well as the expanding on the character list! :D This is all handled adroitly with the pace and frenetic atmosphere of the whole book making this come in rolling waves that will have you guessing as to what is going to happen next! :D The characterisation is spot on with all the 'Honourable' characters coming across as three-dimensional as well as the 'bad' ones who virtually twirl their moustaches! :D The introduction of bona-fide really aliens gives the characters and audiences and shock and put the book on its head to boot! :D The story ramps itself on all the time leaving you on a whirlwind tour and epic through the book! :D

The Clone Alliance is clever, epic, fast-paced and action packed! :D Brilliant and highly recommended! :D

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initial thoughts: The Baptist stuff isn’t doctrinally sound, and the idea that a true Christian would not witness to someone (even a clone) about Jesus and his teachings based on a human assumption of whether or not someone has a soul is not what a Baptist would actually do. All are welcome, it’s not our place to say Jesus wouldn’t save any one person. I find this depiction of Baptists deeply annoying.

Bonus, the Mogats dressing someone up and having him claim to be Jesus is the height of blasphemy and is also deeply offensive. I very much want the bad guys to die.

End of book thoughts: I got my wish, they literally all died. Wow. <\spoiler> So this is the third book in the series, and it’s getting kind of depressing, since it seems that there aren’t really any good guys except for the clones, who are just doing their jobs, and everyone in the govt sucks, which is a little too realistic for my taste. Aside from the open blasphemy against actual God, I enjoyed the space battles and Wayson’s sass, usually. So, 3/5.

[Tim Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid military science fiction - which I like as a rule - but almost no women in the whole book, for which I have deducted a star.

[Robert Furlong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely cheesy military scifi, which is exactly why I picked it up so no complaints here.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Series takes a steep nosedive in this 3rd installment. Heavy on boring introspection, repetition and detailed explanations. Able to skip dozens of pages at a time without losing the thread. Sloppy research into weaponry and all things military. The clone emerges as more humanistic then most humans which tends to blunt the original premise.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book purchased and read via my IPad.

Harris gets rescueded from Ray Freeman's family planet so he can be us envoy for the Nippon self-broadcasting fleet who want to make piece with the UA. If this doesn't make much sense, read the books!

Harris is off and running again thru space this time trying to find out where the Mogats home world is located. Of course he does this and gets back to earth in time to help lead an invasion of the Mogat home world. Harris is about to find out that his UA friends are not fond of clones and have sent them on a suicide mission.

Great military science fiction. Very interesting.

[Steven Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent entry in this long-running Clone series. Only minor complains about the book. Having a protagonist named Grayson when your hero is named Wayson might be a little confusing. It did confuse me for a minute, even considered it might be a typo or a miss from a previous draft. Wiping out the Mogats in one shot was too easy. I am hoping that there are more Mogats out there in other colonies. The alien presence has been mentioned a few times, so I suppose that an alien that wants to ensure wiping out humanity, would sucker some into using an item that when the power gets turned off turns into shit gas and dissolves everything.

[Nathan Balyeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the "Clone" series by Kent. It's at the low end of the 4 rating... I enjoyed it, but it's at the cusp of what I'd recommend to others.

Like other books in the series it's reasonably well written but suffers from problems with pacing. The military action is adequate, but certainly not spectacular and doesn't really take into account all of the universe's possibilities.

Good fun, but only for those who really like Milfic.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the third book in the Clone series, I really enjoyed this book. For me it was great to see Wayson Harris start to understand his nature and genetic programming, even though he cannot do much about it. It was also very interesting to see him reflected against the other outcasts, such as Ray Freeman for one, in his world and how they are attracted to each other, each with their own goals, but managing to work together and help each other survive.

[Robertw7373 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and series which has been action packed and well written. Would give five stars but for the fact that three books later the author assumes the readers are idiots and need information from two previous books spoon fed to us In his latest book. Sometimes twice in different area. While a quick here's what happened is fine. The fact that he repeated info more then once seemed to only slow the book down in places.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said it was amazing. And so it was. I have not read the books previous to it in the series. That is because they are out of print, but I'm sure I'll get around to reading them soon enough.
This is a hard to the core, action packed sci-fi novel. Wonderful. The style of writing is also great. It fits. He makes you feel along with the character. It is invigorating.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mindlessly entertaining military scifi, not boundary breaking or questioning. Naming a battleship "Obama" and a tank "Rumsfeld" seemed a little excessive, as several hundred years in the future are people going to care? Also, the Seattle Mariners as one of the best sports teams ever? For sure, not this season.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Military Sci-Fi, Some interesting Ideas regarding the nature of discrimination, clones are often considered less than human by their natural born commanders, as well as excellent combat scenes.

[Saphirablue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hm, it's an okay book. The story was okay but Harris gets more and more Marty Stu'ish and the constant repeating of things and explanations really get on my nerves. If I haven't already bought the sequels I would not buy them anymore....

[Marita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve brought over a signed copy of a bublished book for me to read this time! :)I feel pretty special!

[Tobias Wolter · Rating 1 out of 5]

A really, really, really awful book. Takes itself seriously while showing all the diverse and complex mental facuities of ten pounds of lard.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on the The Clone Identity page.

[Sarah Alawami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A godo story with a slow plot. I did not expect the army to do what they did to the marriens though.

[Alec Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked him playing make up with the SEALs