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The Last World War #1
The Last World War
It started small, with an unprepared band of Marine reservists encountering deadly extraterrestrial visitors in the backwoods of Missouri. But this fatal First Contact rapidly escalates into a global crisis as mankind discovers that two warring species of aliens have invaded our world through a network of hidden interdimensional portals. The apocalyptic conflict between the hastily labeled "Blues" and "Grays" has already devastated their home planet. Now Earth has become the final battleground in a cataclysmic war whose origins are barely understood.
Forced into a hasty alliance with the alien Blues, humanity has no choice but to brave the awesome Gray onslaught in every corner of the Earth. From the mean streets of Atlanta to the mountains of Afghanistan, from Washington, D.C., to the alien's war-torn homeworld, all of humanity must unite to survive.
482 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
9 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Dayton Ward
112 books318 followersDayton is a software developer, having become a slave to Corporate America after spending eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. When asked, he’ll tell you that he left home and joined the military soon after high school because he’d grown tired of people telling him what to do all the time.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 4, 2023
Overall, this was a pretty standard Alien Invasion story. We have two factions of aliens, battling it out to the death upon their homeworld, who suddenly discover the ability to create portals (originally thought to allow them to cross great distances on their own planet, but discovered to actually link their world to Earth). They bring their fight here, we get stuck in the crossfire, and align ourselves with the plucky underdog side.
The Aliens are called the “Blues” and they “Greys” by Humanity, even though they are all the same species, however, the “Blues” have unique blue facial tattoos denoting rank, status, background, etc. They aliens are also described as maybe kind of looking like the pop-culture Greys; however, they have “mouths full of too many teeth” and are all built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, so I don’t even know at this point. They also are maybe only 50 to 60 years ahead of us, technologically speaking, albeit with energy weapons (which I doubt we’ll have in 50 years), but no method of space travel. Which is confusing, because there is a Government Agency created in the 40’s, ala Majestic 12, Men in Black, etc., due to the same events as that happened here (Roswell, UFO sightings, etc.) but these “Greys” and “Blues” aren’t those Greys, and those Greys are not mentioned by the “Greys” so…I don’t know what’s going on there.
And, of course, the “Blues” and the “Greys” went to war due to ideological differences. The “Blues” were a NATO analogue and the “Greys” were a Soviet analogue…and the “Greys” are winning on their homeworld – in a war that the “Blues” started.
This all culminates in a climactic battle where they “Greys” attempt to end Human resistance by simultaneously invading through portals Washington, D.C., Moscow, and Beijing, thus eliminating the capitals of the three most powerful Human nations, and presumably, leading to our ultimate capitulation. Through a combination of events, the “Greys” are repelled and we are left on somewhat of a cliffhanger, as the war is not over, only entering a new chapter.
The characters are okay…no one’s truly memorable. The actions scenes are probably fun if they were in a movie, but otherwise, find. There’s a whole subplot with a womanizing news reporter and his plucky, young, female cameraperson, that is seemingly forgotten about as soon as they appear.
Should you read it? Meh, if you want to, go for it. I could take it or leave it…although, I will read the sequel at some point.
The Aliens are called the “Blues” and they “Greys” by Humanity, even though they are all the same species, however, the “Blues” have unique blue facial tattoos denoting rank, status, background, etc. They aliens are also described as maybe kind of looking like the pop-culture Greys; however, they have “mouths full of too many teeth” and are all built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, so I don’t even know at this point. They also are maybe only 50 to 60 years ahead of us, technologically speaking, albeit with energy weapons (which I doubt we’ll have in 50 years), but no method of space travel. Which is confusing, because there is a Government Agency created in the 40’s, ala Majestic 12, Men in Black, etc., due to the same events as that happened here (Roswell, UFO sightings, etc.) but these “Greys” and “Blues” aren’t those Greys, and those Greys are not mentioned by the “Greys” so…I don’t know what’s going on there.
And, of course, the “Blues” and the “Greys” went to war due to ideological differences. The “Blues” were a NATO analogue and the “Greys” were a Soviet analogue…and the “Greys” are winning on their homeworld – in a war that the “Blues” started.
This all culminates in a climactic battle where they “Greys” attempt to end Human resistance by simultaneously invading through portals Washington, D.C., Moscow, and Beijing, thus eliminating the capitals of the three most powerful Human nations, and presumably, leading to our ultimate capitulation. Through a combination of events, the “Greys” are repelled and we are left on somewhat of a cliffhanger, as the war is not over, only entering a new chapter.
The characters are okay…no one’s truly memorable. The actions scenes are probably fun if they were in a movie, but otherwise, find. There’s a whole subplot with a womanizing news reporter and his plucky, young, female cameraperson, that is seemingly forgotten about as soon as they appear.
Should you read it? Meh, if you want to, go for it. I could take it or leave it…although, I will read the sequel at some point.
November 4, 2015
A decent alien invasion story.
September 2, 2012
This is an entertaining story of alien invasion of the Earth in the early 21st century (apparently before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). At the time I thought the book was a stand-alone novel (and I do think it can be read as such) but I have since found it a sequel (at least one, I admit to not Google-ing for more) has come out.
The back cover of the book makes it clear (as does just reading a few chapters into the novel) that the Earth becomes an unintended side battleground in an alien civil war, sort of a spillover area. On one side of the alien conflict you have the Plysserians (soon dubbed "Blues" for reasons described in the book), who unfortunately for us open up interdimensional portals from their planet to Earth in a search for a safe haven, a bolt hole if you will. Even more nfortunately for the hapless Earth of this setting they are followed by their adversary, the Chodrecai (or "Grays"). And still more unfortunately, both the Grays and the Blues are estimated to be 50 or 60 years ahead (at least) in technology as compared to what humanity has. Tough break, but then I guess that is how much of the world felt during World War II.
Though portals open throughout the world (largely at first in very remote rugged areas) the book begins with and follows for a while the story of a number of Marine Corps reservists in a training exercise in wooded and remote military base in rural Missouri. The reservists soon come across both Blues, which end up allying with the Marines, and Grays, which they come to blows with almost immediately. The alliance with the Blues may have happened a little too fast for some, but then when the Grays start firing on you....
As the book progresses the scope of the coverage of the conflict widens to include events not only elsewhere on Earth and even events on the alien planet of Jontashreena, home of the alien invaders.
I found the book to be good escapist entertainment. The author I read in the "About the Author" page served eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps and the military aspects of the book felt authentic to me. The book at times felt sort of Tom Clancyish though the central characters remained for the most part the original Marine reservists, describing both their actions in Missouri and then following them later as they got swept along by the events of the novel. I didn't find the aliens especially alien. More advanced and physically superior, yes, but not especially alien in the sense of being otherworldly or incomprehensible (like the alien invaders of Robert Silverberg's excellent _The Alien Years_, which I highly recommend, which featured aliens whose motivations remained inscrutable and abilities remained far beyond that of humanity). I do like how we got to follow along the point of view of several of the alien characters and that there were several vignettes of other people throughout the world who were facing the alien menace.
Not one of those Great Book science fiction books, more of a book to appeal to fans of technothrillers and military fiction. I could see reading more in the series though it is not high on my to-read list (well, off of Goodreads, I have yet to officially add it).
The back cover of the book makes it clear (as does just reading a few chapters into the novel) that the Earth becomes an unintended side battleground in an alien civil war, sort of a spillover area. On one side of the alien conflict you have the Plysserians (soon dubbed "Blues" for reasons described in the book), who unfortunately for us open up interdimensional portals from their planet to Earth in a search for a safe haven, a bolt hole if you will. Even more nfortunately for the hapless Earth of this setting they are followed by their adversary, the Chodrecai (or "Grays"). And still more unfortunately, both the Grays and the Blues are estimated to be 50 or 60 years ahead (at least) in technology as compared to what humanity has. Tough break, but then I guess that is how much of the world felt during World War II.
Though portals open throughout the world (largely at first in very remote rugged areas) the book begins with and follows for a while the story of a number of Marine Corps reservists in a training exercise in wooded and remote military base in rural Missouri. The reservists soon come across both Blues, which end up allying with the Marines, and Grays, which they come to blows with almost immediately. The alliance with the Blues may have happened a little too fast for some, but then when the Grays start firing on you....
As the book progresses the scope of the coverage of the conflict widens to include events not only elsewhere on Earth and even events on the alien planet of Jontashreena, home of the alien invaders.
I found the book to be good escapist entertainment. The author I read in the "About the Author" page served eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps and the military aspects of the book felt authentic to me. The book at times felt sort of Tom Clancyish though the central characters remained for the most part the original Marine reservists, describing both their actions in Missouri and then following them later as they got swept along by the events of the novel. I didn't find the aliens especially alien. More advanced and physically superior, yes, but not especially alien in the sense of being otherworldly or incomprehensible (like the alien invaders of Robert Silverberg's excellent _The Alien Years_, which I highly recommend, which featured aliens whose motivations remained inscrutable and abilities remained far beyond that of humanity). I do like how we got to follow along the point of view of several of the alien characters and that there were several vignettes of other people throughout the world who were facing the alien menace.
Not one of those Great Book science fiction books, more of a book to appeal to fans of technothrillers and military fiction. I could see reading more in the series though it is not high on my to-read list (well, off of Goodreads, I have yet to officially add it).
December 10, 2017
Published 2003. Nothing relatively new here in plotting. Characters about average. Enough action to get the reader through.
December 23, 2023
Aliens attack earth. It's been done before, I hear you say. Not like this it hasn't. Dayton Ward has broken the mold here with The Last World War, and made a stand out unique alien invasion story.
The book starts with a group of US Marine reservists, in Missouri, who are doing their annual two week training. Things quickly move from training to discovering the aliens to an all out battle that comes to have global consequences. The aliens don't arrive on earth via space ships. Their arrival is a mistake. The aliens have been at war with one another for years on their home planet and "teleporters" were developed to help end the war. The hope was that these portals would allow the aliens to travel around their own planet so that troops could regroup and be sent into the enemies most vulnerable areas. They had no idea that their portals would lead them to a new world. As the ‘Grey’ aliens invade and gain a foot hold across the planet. Humanity allies with the alien ‘Blues’ against a common threat to survive.
This is fun military sci-fi story. There is just enough detail on the military aspect to make you feel you are part of a real alien invasion, yet not abusive to the point where it seems like you are reading a tech-spec. Yet, it is the action adventure side of the story which grabs you and does not let go. I went through the whole book pretty quickly. The first 10-20 pages of the book is a little slow but from there is picks up the pace and never slows down. The author gives us insight into not only the "good aliens", the Blues, and humans as the battles rage on but also into the enemies, the Grays, minds. He lets us in on what everyone is thinking and it is sobering. Everyone believes that they are fighting on the side of right and justice. You begin to feel not only for the humans and Blues but also for the Grays.
My favorite genre is Sci-fi and Armageddon stories. But I also love mysteries and thrillers and once in a while indulge in a love story. Ward’s The Last World War is quite the exciting ride. Well written, with government references that seemed too real. His grasp of human nature was also impressive. Mr. Ward writes clearly and his characters were relatable and familiar. This book is not for the faint of heart, however. It is a gruesome invasion of a terrible group of violent, aliens which can be difficult to read. It is quite violent and scary. But the action never stops, the characters are well written.
I found the book to be good escapist entertainment. The author I read in the "About the Author" page served eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps and the military aspects of the book felt authentic to me. The book at times felt sort of Tom Clancyish though the central characters remained for the most part the original Marine reservists, describing both their actions in Missouri and then following them later as they got swept along by the events of the novel. I didn't find the aliens especially alien. More advanced and physically superior, yes, but not especially alien in the sense of being otherworldly or incomprehensible. I do like how we got to follow along the point of view of several of the alien characters and that there were several vignettes of other people throughout the world who were facing the alien menace.
The various Marine characters all come off as very realistic and human. The aliens too are well described. Not evil for the sake of evil, nor unbelievable in the technology or weapons. The first few acts mostly occur in Missouri where US Marine Reservists deal with the initial contact. Later the book then moves to a global stage where Earth is now fighting on multiple fronts. The battle and action sequences are well written and Dayton provides excellent imagery for use visually minded readers.
My one criticism of the book is the lack of steam towards the end. The aliens prepare to attack the major centers of power on Earth, and we get ready for this large climatic battle yet we hear little of it. There is a reason why but that's spoiler grounds and I won't ruin that part of the book. Even though there's a reason we don't see the big three battles, I would have liked to see more of them.
Overall, If you are looking for a fast read, with non-stop action, good writing, and alien invasion stories, you will like this one!
January 17, 2022
Picked this up at a local used book store. Who does not like an alien invasion story?
No great redeeming qualities, but it was a fun, fast read. And that counts for enough to get a solid four stars from me.
Reminded me of Harry Turtledove's alien invasion series from twenty years ago. I will keep my eyes open for the second half of this series.
No great redeeming qualities, but it was a fun, fast read. And that counts for enough to get a solid four stars from me.
Reminded me of Harry Turtledove's alien invasion series from twenty years ago. I will keep my eyes open for the second half of this series.
July 1, 2021
What if Tom Clancy wrote the movie "Independence Day"?
November 10, 2021
Not as good as I wanted it to be.
December 1, 2015
The ultimate battle, man versus alien, this is the conflict that happens in the "The Last World War" by Dayton Ward. Ward did a very good job of telling the story by changing the point of view every chapter wich allows the reader to experience the story from the perspective of soldiers, aliens, and innocent bystanders. Ward also used cliffhangers to keep the readers reading, for example "Alyssa Richards felt an icy hand grip her hart as she considered one final question: Was Humanity capable of coming together to wage a war where the prize was Earth itself?" In conclusion "The Last World War" is a very good book that will keep you reading to the very end. Anyone who likes Fantasy and war books will love this book as much as I did.
Pg: 482, Author: Dayton Ward, BR #3. Review written by Kennan Bell 7 yellow.
Pg: 482, Author: Dayton Ward, BR #3. Review written by Kennan Bell 7 yellow.
November 9, 2010
An alien world's civil war has just spilled into your lap. That is what a group of marine reservists must deal with right in the middle of a training exercise. Forced to take sides just to stay alive, how will your decisions affect the survival of Earth? The Last World War is an intelligent, action-packed story that is unlike any "War of the Worlds" you'll ever encounter. The reader quickly sympathizes with all the characters involved as each deals with their own demons while engaged in combat. Whether alien or human, no creature values peace more highly than the soldier faced with death at every turn of the corner. Dayton Ward has created an exciting, fast-paced story that will appeal to readers young and old of either gender. I look forward to reading its sequel.
December 12, 2016
This is a very uneven book, in several ways. The grammar and punctuation need work, but the real killer was the pacing. After spending more than half the book dealing with one encounter on a backwater military base, the author spends the next several chapters wandering aimlessly between new characters in new locations (most of whom die and are thus entirely irrelevant) in an effort to establish a larger scale. The book eventually rediscovers its footing in the ramp-up to an insanely improbable climactic battle before ending on an abrupt cliffhanger.
If I didn't already own the sequel, I doubt I'd bother looking for it. It was a serious effort to push through the last half of this book, but the author's other work gives me hope that the concluding volume will be better.
If I didn't already own the sequel, I doubt I'd bother looking for it. It was a serious effort to push through the last half of this book, but the author's other work gives me hope that the concluding volume will be better.
February 22, 2010
This was a good read although it didn't really convey the real extent of what was happening.
A group of Kansas Marine Reservist conducting their annual two-week training at a remote training base in Kansas come into contact with real aliens. This book goes on to describe what happens to these young Marines and also some insights from the aliens.
The book didn't really show the real consequences of what our first encounter with an alien race would be like and it cut some huge corners on our ability to communicate with a species from another world.
A group of Kansas Marine Reservist conducting their annual two-week training at a remote training base in Kansas come into contact with real aliens. This book goes on to describe what happens to these young Marines and also some insights from the aliens.
The book didn't really show the real consequences of what our first encounter with an alien race would be like and it cut some huge corners on our ability to communicate with a species from another world.
June 25, 2012
I read this book as quickly as I could, eager for it to be over. It's a typical pulp alien invasion tale with little original to support it. In fact, the first third of the book was far too reminiscent of the author's other title, "The Genesis Protocol". He draws on his Marine experience to craft believable characters and combat maneuvers, but the tale otherwise lacked both creativity and a good copyedit.
April 4, 2012
This was an enjoyable read. One of the better alien invasion stories. Ward knows how to write solid action scenes. I also liked the variety of characters offered, from the grizzled old Marine sergeant to the female lieutenant dreading the Battle of Washington to the young marine who befriends a good alien. Definitely one to add to you military sci-fi book shelf.
February 6, 2015
What if the cold war went hot + portals to another world + aliens. Except our cold war stayed cold and the alien's did not. And they are more powerful than us. It was an interesting thought experiment. I'm curious where the sequel leads.
March 25, 2016
A bridge between our world and another leads to humanity being caught in the cross fire of a long-running war of another species. Not bad. Not great. Some wonky and strangely inaccurate military technical details that I wouldn't otherwise criticize except for the author being ex-military himself.
August 7, 2023
- Suspenseful
- Solid characters & plot
- No cheesy clichés, like "Earth's military powers can easily defeat the more advanced alien race" or "The aliens can automatically communicate in English or some other Earth language".
- Solid characters & plot
- No cheesy clichés, like "Earth's military powers can easily defeat the more advanced alien race" or "The aliens can automatically communicate in English or some other Earth language".
August 9, 2011
Ok when it stuck to some of the military engagements. Felt repetitive and overly expositive at times, especially when the characters were thinking to themselves.
January 30, 2012
Good book, lots of action, too many adjectives. Glad I read it.
April 14, 2012
Very good military SF. Interesting stargate-like premise. A fun read.
May 3, 2012
Best Sci-Fi book ever!! It has a great twist in the military action with aliens and all. Great action "scenes". Everything about this book is amazing!!
December 30, 2012
A realistic look at what happens when an Alien Civil War spills over onto Earth. The first part of a Duology.
August 10, 2013
Interesting retelling of War of the Worlds. Very riviting. The military angle was engaging and realistic. Very enjoyable read.
January 13, 2014
Good alien invasion story. There was a second follow up book. Read both.
August 13, 2015
Fast paced and enjoyable. Bring on the sequel!
January 21, 2016
Alien invasion story with a twist. Earth is inadvertently plunged into a war against an alien foe that uses portals instead space ships to traverse the gulf between stars.
March 29, 2013
alien invasion of present day earth using interdimensional tunnels.
September 24, 2013
The worse book I've read this year. I didn't make it through 100 pages it was so bad.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews