What do you think?
Rate this book
Doomsday Recon #1
Doomsday Recon
U.S. Cav Trooper Nephi Bennett’s Humvee went from Panama to hell in the blink of an eye. Now he needs to find his way back home. If he can live that long.
The year is 1989. America has just invaded Noriega’s Panama. And Specialist Bennett’s platoon of Cav Scouts are in country… with, frankly, not a whole lot to do.
Until the freak rainstorm that somehow transports the entire platoon—Humvees, weapons, and all—to another world. A world controlled by a wicked Aztec god.
The Land of the Black Sun.
In a heartbeat, the Scouts find themselves fighting for their lives against savage beasts, witches, zombies, subhuman tribes seeking sacrifices… and even themselves. Fuel runs low, ammo grows scarce, and their only allies are a tribe of all-female warriors and a single fledgling sorceress with a decidedly mean streak.
But the fun has only just begun. Things in the Land of the Black Sun are about to become far more dangerous than Specialist Bennett could have ever imagined. For an ancient evil awaits…
… and Bennett and his fellow Cav troopers will meet it with BLOOD and STEEL.
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Associated Press Bestselling Author Jason Anspach and Ryan Williamson in this brand-new military fantasy series. If you're a fan of modern warriors and weapons laying the hate on the armies of ancient evil, this is just the story you've been waiting for.
The year is 1989. America has just invaded Noriega’s Panama. And Specialist Bennett’s platoon of Cav Scouts are in country… with, frankly, not a whole lot to do.
Until the freak rainstorm that somehow transports the entire platoon—Humvees, weapons, and all—to another world. A world controlled by a wicked Aztec god.
The Land of the Black Sun.
In a heartbeat, the Scouts find themselves fighting for their lives against savage beasts, witches, zombies, subhuman tribes seeking sacrifices… and even themselves. Fuel runs low, ammo grows scarce, and their only allies are a tribe of all-female warriors and a single fledgling sorceress with a decidedly mean streak.
But the fun has only just begun. Things in the Land of the Black Sun are about to become far more dangerous than Specialist Bennett could have ever imagined. For an ancient evil awaits…
… and Bennett and his fellow Cav troopers will meet it with BLOOD and STEEL.
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Associated Press Bestselling Author Jason Anspach and Ryan Williamson in this brand-new military fantasy series. If you're a fan of modern warriors and weapons laying the hate on the armies of ancient evil, this is just the story you've been waiting for.
565 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2024
346 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Jason Anspach
150 books863 followersJASON ANSPACH is the author of Galaxy's Edge, Wayward Galaxy, Forgotten Ruin. and more.
He lives in Puyallup, WA with his wife and their seven (not a typo) children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 14, 2024
Readers hungry for something different on the bookshelf are often left wanting. Between the deluge of bloated, lackluster romance masquerading as YA fantasy, mass re-printings of Brandon Sanderson and George RR Martin, and boring cozy reads from Tumblr rejects, it is no secret that Tradpub is wasteland that has lost the zest for innovation.
Enter the indies. From the outside looking in, indie published novels can seem like a wild west market with anyone and everyone crying out for you to give their work a try. It can be difficult to find the true gems amidst the cacophony of voices, but as the Macho Man Randy Savage once said: “The cream rises to the top.”
From the indies comes Ryan Williamson, a weird western author I’ve read and followed for years now. He brings his unique author voice to bear in the first book of a new trilogy to be published by Wargate, the publisher of Blaine Lee Pardoe’s Land & Sea series (link). Everything that made Ryan’s Weird Western The Widow’s Son (link) a unique supernatural adventure is brought to bear in Doomsday Recon. I was provided an ARC copy of the book for review purposes.
Doomsday Recon is a military sci-fi portal fantasy about a group of Army Cavalry Scouts from 1989 being brought to a fantasy world by a dark god. The book is first person from the perspective of Specialist Nephi Bennet, a young man of strong morals and faith. The opening chapters toss him and 31 of his fellow Scouts into a Mesopotamian world of Aztec mythology and monsters where they have only their dwindling supplies and fellow brothers-in-arms to survive.
From here, Ryan’s strengths as an author comes into play. Being a veteran himself and working with Jason Anspatch, this book is drenched in military tech, jargon, and know-how. It would be easy for the book to become a parody of the idea, but it resists turning them into caricatures of the military in the vein of a low budget sci-fi movie. They are competent, calculating, and all together very human. They operate exactly how I would imagine a military unit trapped in a monster infested jungle world would act. Most importantly, they stick together and stay true to their rank and order.
Another of the author’s strengths is the bestiary. At almost every turn is a new monstrosity. Beasts, dark gods, ravenous undead, giants, warrior women, other humans trapped from the past or future. The Land of the Black Sun is rife with so many dangers, it can feel like a place of overwhelming, endless war. Allies are few and far between, but the story never feels hopeless or bleak. This would make a fantastic tabletop roleplay setting.
I mentioned faith earlier because I was surprised to find this book is unapologetic in its representation of faith as a force of good in a dark world. As the plot unfolds, dark gods and their minions are revealed and faith in the Christian God is presented with genuine respect and reverence. At times, it is even critical for the character's success. It's a refreshing change from the deconstruction and subversion we usually see faith play. There is very little vulgarity, as the story is told as a recounting by Bennett, who states he leaves out the vast majority of the vulgar language common amongst military men. (There is only one F-bomb that I found).
The pacing of the novel is brisk and never sits still for too long. This prose is concise, polished, and there's a vein of dry sarcastic military humor that pervades throughout the text. Which is not to say characters make light of every situation like a cringe MCU movie–especially ones where they lose their own. There are aspects of internal strife from dealing with the constant death-dealing and not losing your humanity in the process. Another area in the narrative where faith becomes a positive attribute.
The overall plot of the book unveils through the travels of the unit from one danger to the next, making allies and enemies in unexpected places. Plot turns always offer up a new objective and the characters march forward an undeterred drive to survive against all odds while staying true to each other.
Discerning readers should be aware that the book has a lot of instances of violence. While violence is not shied away from, neither is it gratuitous or glamorized. A few scenes involving potion making might not be palatable if one has an aversion to gross out imagery. (These are few and over quickly).
This book is a solid Five Star recommendation from me. Ryan Williamson is a highly underappreciated author with a unique voice and a talent for writing exciting adventures, heroic and masculine characters that don’t feel like parodies, and writing believable tales of strong faith in the face of overwhelming evil. This book is unlike anything you’ve read in the past and is a strong start to a trilogy while feeling like a complete story in and of itself.
Enter the indies. From the outside looking in, indie published novels can seem like a wild west market with anyone and everyone crying out for you to give their work a try. It can be difficult to find the true gems amidst the cacophony of voices, but as the Macho Man Randy Savage once said: “The cream rises to the top.”
From the indies comes Ryan Williamson, a weird western author I’ve read and followed for years now. He brings his unique author voice to bear in the first book of a new trilogy to be published by Wargate, the publisher of Blaine Lee Pardoe’s Land & Sea series (link). Everything that made Ryan’s Weird Western The Widow’s Son (link) a unique supernatural adventure is brought to bear in Doomsday Recon. I was provided an ARC copy of the book for review purposes.
Doomsday Recon is a military sci-fi portal fantasy about a group of Army Cavalry Scouts from 1989 being brought to a fantasy world by a dark god. The book is first person from the perspective of Specialist Nephi Bennet, a young man of strong morals and faith. The opening chapters toss him and 31 of his fellow Scouts into a Mesopotamian world of Aztec mythology and monsters where they have only their dwindling supplies and fellow brothers-in-arms to survive.
From here, Ryan’s strengths as an author comes into play. Being a veteran himself and working with Jason Anspatch, this book is drenched in military tech, jargon, and know-how. It would be easy for the book to become a parody of the idea, but it resists turning them into caricatures of the military in the vein of a low budget sci-fi movie. They are competent, calculating, and all together very human. They operate exactly how I would imagine a military unit trapped in a monster infested jungle world would act. Most importantly, they stick together and stay true to their rank and order.
Another of the author’s strengths is the bestiary. At almost every turn is a new monstrosity. Beasts, dark gods, ravenous undead, giants, warrior women, other humans trapped from the past or future. The Land of the Black Sun is rife with so many dangers, it can feel like a place of overwhelming, endless war. Allies are few and far between, but the story never feels hopeless or bleak. This would make a fantastic tabletop roleplay setting.
I mentioned faith earlier because I was surprised to find this book is unapologetic in its representation of faith as a force of good in a dark world. As the plot unfolds, dark gods and their minions are revealed and faith in the Christian God is presented with genuine respect and reverence. At times, it is even critical for the character's success. It's a refreshing change from the deconstruction and subversion we usually see faith play. There is very little vulgarity, as the story is told as a recounting by Bennett, who states he leaves out the vast majority of the vulgar language common amongst military men. (There is only one F-bomb that I found).
The pacing of the novel is brisk and never sits still for too long. This prose is concise, polished, and there's a vein of dry sarcastic military humor that pervades throughout the text. Which is not to say characters make light of every situation like a cringe MCU movie–especially ones where they lose their own. There are aspects of internal strife from dealing with the constant death-dealing and not losing your humanity in the process. Another area in the narrative where faith becomes a positive attribute.
The overall plot of the book unveils through the travels of the unit from one danger to the next, making allies and enemies in unexpected places. Plot turns always offer up a new objective and the characters march forward an undeterred drive to survive against all odds while staying true to each other.
Discerning readers should be aware that the book has a lot of instances of violence. While violence is not shied away from, neither is it gratuitous or glamorized. A few scenes involving potion making might not be palatable if one has an aversion to gross out imagery. (These are few and over quickly).
This book is a solid Five Star recommendation from me. Ryan Williamson is a highly underappreciated author with a unique voice and a talent for writing exciting adventures, heroic and masculine characters that don’t feel like parodies, and writing believable tales of strong faith in the face of overwhelming evil. This book is unlike anything you’ve read in the past and is a strong start to a trilogy while feeling like a complete story in and of itself.
March 7, 2024
Dark and gritty.
Wow! It’s 1989 and a US cavalry unit drives their Humvees into the steaming Panamanian jungle in a chaotic storm. They stop for the night and the morning finds them under attack. The problem lies in the fact that their attackers aren’t human. In fact they are totally unlike anything to be found on earth.
From this point on the soldiers find themselves living in a nightmare. I felt their fear, disbelief and horror as they realise the seriousness of their situation. All the food and equipment that they have with them is all that they will ever have until they can find their way home. But that’s a far from sure thing because they’re certainly not on earth any more.
This is a dark and gritty book where a unit comprising 32 men find themselves fighting for their lives, and not coming away unscathed. Their modern weapons help but not to the degree that they expected. Imagine a world ruled by an Aztec god who thrives on human sacrifice. A god who has priests with magic who have pulled men from different countries and different times who are only there to fight for his pleasure against other humans, zombies, bat winged men, hybrid spider women, snake men and more and more unbelievable creatures.
This story is not for the faint hearted.
Wow! It’s 1989 and a US cavalry unit drives their Humvees into the steaming Panamanian jungle in a chaotic storm. They stop for the night and the morning finds them under attack. The problem lies in the fact that their attackers aren’t human. In fact they are totally unlike anything to be found on earth.
From this point on the soldiers find themselves living in a nightmare. I felt their fear, disbelief and horror as they realise the seriousness of their situation. All the food and equipment that they have with them is all that they will ever have until they can find their way home. But that’s a far from sure thing because they’re certainly not on earth any more.
This is a dark and gritty book where a unit comprising 32 men find themselves fighting for their lives, and not coming away unscathed. Their modern weapons help but not to the degree that they expected. Imagine a world ruled by an Aztec god who thrives on human sacrifice. A god who has priests with magic who have pulled men from different countries and different times who are only there to fight for his pleasure against other humans, zombies, bat winged men, hybrid spider women, snake men and more and more unbelievable creatures.
This story is not for the faint hearted.
February 26, 2024
Guns, Guys, Gals and Guts
A deeply researched novel that flows from the first page to the last like a classic Conan or Tarzan tale, except with a much more nuanced between good and evil. If you served in the Marines or Army Combat Arms you’ll appreciate the inside jokes, can almost finish the conversations and remember the details of your own similar experiences. Ryan and Jason haven’t shied away from the horrors of combat or the decisions that our fellow citizens have made, for good and evil. This novel is complex but easily read. A brilliant work. Can’t wait for the sequel (congrats on joining the Mark Sibley and Joel Gaines club!).
A deeply researched novel that flows from the first page to the last like a classic Conan or Tarzan tale, except with a much more nuanced between good and evil. If you served in the Marines or Army Combat Arms you’ll appreciate the inside jokes, can almost finish the conversations and remember the details of your own similar experiences. Ryan and Jason haven’t shied away from the horrors of combat or the decisions that our fellow citizens have made, for good and evil. This novel is complex but easily read. A brilliant work. Can’t wait for the sequel (congrats on joining the Mark Sibley and Joel Gaines club!).
December 28, 2025
Bottom line upfront
This is an excellent military fiction book in an alternate reality setting. It’s one of the top 5 non-classic books I’ve read this year. I strongly recommend if you like the military book genre and are looking for a great action story that has sassy suicidal cat-gremlins (don’t call them kitties), interdimensional demons (they can’t be gods because there is only one god), and good people who just want to go home (although probably not buying a farm first because we all know how that turns out). About halfway through this book, the second and third books in the series were ordered so I can read them next weekend.
Perspective on why 4 stars
Doomsday Recon arrived on Friday and I was finished by Saturday evening. I changed some of my Saturday plans so I could spend the afternoon reading this book. However, the first time I read Shogun, I missed sleep and had to set timers to remember to eat and take bathroom breaks. Doomsday Recon is a page turner, but not a put-your-life-on-hold, total immersion experience.
Of the 108 books I’ve finished this year, Doomsday Recon is the only one that made me create a GoodReads account to tell folks to read this book. I didn’t do that for There is No Antimemetics Division or Theft of Fire. However, Doomsday Recon is not War and Peace, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Gone with the Wind, or any of the other classics I’ve read this year. Doomsday Recon is a good summer read if you want action that includes soldiers doing their best in weird circumstances that include god-like interdimensional beings, sassy suicidal cat-gremlins (who are sure they are not kitties), and Sugar Skull Gals.
Doomsday Recon is a military fiction book and follows the norms of that genre
Doomsday Recon is not fantasy, despite WarGate Books billing it as military fantasy. The setting does have magic and entities from Central American mythology. However, this is Brad-Thor-like military action dealing with different rules of engagement in a hostile country, not LOTR/WoT/McCaffrey in any of her worlds.
The story is told in the first person by U.S. Cav Trooper Nephi Bennett. Bennett’s unexamined assumptions about how the world works are a combination of US military and Latter-day Saints (Mormon) views. Following the norms of military fiction, neither the military nor LDS views are explained in detail because the audience is expected to know that basic background. We start the book as a military group solving a problem using military techniques. As the supernatural comes up, the religious techniques that are brought to bear are the LDS mindset augmented by other allies acquired along the way.
Bennett believes in The Mission and knows to his bones that you protect your people no matter the cost while doing what you can for the innocents who shouldn’t be in the war zone, but sometimes the battle doesn’t remain restricted to clear combatants who signed up for that engagement. Home is the ultimate goal, but sometimes today’s mission is survival.
Doomsday Recon is pro-military without being jingoistic. Bennett and his team are doing the necessary things in tough situations. One could write a college essay on the themes of belonging, home, and the nature of reality in Doomsday Recon, but this is not a book that started with the authors saying, let’s write a book using the academic framework of XYZ to explore theme A. Instead, we get to follow along as a captive becomes one of Bennett’s us, despite being a female mythical creature who keeps insisting that the next action ought to be letting her die with honor by being tortured to death by Bennett’s squad. In the book, it works because it’s no different from any of the other teasing of the surfer guy or the X-men comic book lover.
Bennett is a man in the style that would be recognizable from World War II literature: a true man has responsibilities to protect and serve, even when that’s unpleasant or downright horrible. When the squad picks up two female characters (one human and one not), those new additions are peer allies. We’re getting Vasquez and Ripley from Aliens as solid contributors to the team, not Katniss or Violet Sorengail who are somehow super-duper-uper better than everyone else.
Following the norms of military fiction, the squad is going task to task. This isn’t a grand quest in which they will single handedly change the world, although the whole effort together might result in that change if Bennett’s team does their part well enough. We follow along skirmish by skirmish, sometimes with betrayal or espionage, sometimes with poor/no communication from leadership, and sometimes with “crap, who is in charge because the regs do not cover this situation!”.
Observations for Potential Readers
Doomsday Recon does not have a D&D-like group of about 5 folks who are journeying together and becoming friends along the way. This is a military fiction book in which Bennett is the main character and all bets are off on secondary characters. Recurring characters exist and it’s clear who is one of Bennett’s us and who is grudgingly accepted as part of relevant community. Death is frequent and, most of the time, Bennett and the crew suck it up and move on because The Mission waits for no man.
Bennett does acquire an in-country love interest and the romance proceeds as it realistically would with a good Mormon boy who is courting for a wife while cognizant of military implications. Folks who are looking for a romantasy-style subplot will not find it here.
Religion is increasingly important as the plot progresses. At all times, the presentation is respectful, although some dialogue involves the natural interactions of “sure, infidel who is an ally, but cannot be a true friend because of being so wrong about this basic fact of reality”. Science works as we expect, but who is guiding strategy behind the scenes of the world including how the portals work to move folks out of our world into this alternate world that does have working magic and spirits relies on religion, not just military might and rank.
Occasionally, the book takes a slight detour into philosophy that doesn’t seem to fit because it’s not as pervasive as Heinlein, Pasternak, or Rand. The idea of a box in which to temporarily store one’s humanity to be able carry on with current task scould work. However, as done here, it’s not fleshed out enough to be satisfying philosophy. I would have preferred more or eliminating it completely. The small tastes are distracting and interrupt the flow for no discernible benefit.
This is an excellent military fiction book in an alternate universe that includes magic and god-like beings. This is likely not the book for you if you want more typical fantasy of a gutsy group of misfits against the world, romance with will they/won’t they leading to explicit details, or a literary experience that takes an academic or timeless exploration of the themes of war, home, and the place of religion in navigating reality.
This is an excellent military fiction book in an alternate reality setting. It’s one of the top 5 non-classic books I’ve read this year. I strongly recommend if you like the military book genre and are looking for a great action story that has sassy suicidal cat-gremlins (don’t call them kitties), interdimensional demons (they can’t be gods because there is only one god), and good people who just want to go home (although probably not buying a farm first because we all know how that turns out). About halfway through this book, the second and third books in the series were ordered so I can read them next weekend.
Perspective on why 4 stars
Doomsday Recon arrived on Friday and I was finished by Saturday evening. I changed some of my Saturday plans so I could spend the afternoon reading this book. However, the first time I read Shogun, I missed sleep and had to set timers to remember to eat and take bathroom breaks. Doomsday Recon is a page turner, but not a put-your-life-on-hold, total immersion experience.
Of the 108 books I’ve finished this year, Doomsday Recon is the only one that made me create a GoodReads account to tell folks to read this book. I didn’t do that for There is No Antimemetics Division or Theft of Fire. However, Doomsday Recon is not War and Peace, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Gone with the Wind, or any of the other classics I’ve read this year. Doomsday Recon is a good summer read if you want action that includes soldiers doing their best in weird circumstances that include god-like interdimensional beings, sassy suicidal cat-gremlins (who are sure they are not kitties), and Sugar Skull Gals.
Doomsday Recon is a military fiction book and follows the norms of that genre
Doomsday Recon is not fantasy, despite WarGate Books billing it as military fantasy. The setting does have magic and entities from Central American mythology. However, this is Brad-Thor-like military action dealing with different rules of engagement in a hostile country, not LOTR/WoT/McCaffrey in any of her worlds.
The story is told in the first person by U.S. Cav Trooper Nephi Bennett. Bennett’s unexamined assumptions about how the world works are a combination of US military and Latter-day Saints (Mormon) views. Following the norms of military fiction, neither the military nor LDS views are explained in detail because the audience is expected to know that basic background. We start the book as a military group solving a problem using military techniques. As the supernatural comes up, the religious techniques that are brought to bear are the LDS mindset augmented by other allies acquired along the way.
Bennett believes in The Mission and knows to his bones that you protect your people no matter the cost while doing what you can for the innocents who shouldn’t be in the war zone, but sometimes the battle doesn’t remain restricted to clear combatants who signed up for that engagement. Home is the ultimate goal, but sometimes today’s mission is survival.
Doomsday Recon is pro-military without being jingoistic. Bennett and his team are doing the necessary things in tough situations. One could write a college essay on the themes of belonging, home, and the nature of reality in Doomsday Recon, but this is not a book that started with the authors saying, let’s write a book using the academic framework of XYZ to explore theme A. Instead, we get to follow along as a captive becomes one of Bennett’s us, despite being a female mythical creature who keeps insisting that the next action ought to be letting her die with honor by being tortured to death by Bennett’s squad. In the book, it works because it’s no different from any of the other teasing of the surfer guy or the X-men comic book lover.
Bennett is a man in the style that would be recognizable from World War II literature: a true man has responsibilities to protect and serve, even when that’s unpleasant or downright horrible. When the squad picks up two female characters (one human and one not), those new additions are peer allies. We’re getting Vasquez and Ripley from Aliens as solid contributors to the team, not Katniss or Violet Sorengail who are somehow super-duper-uper better than everyone else.
Following the norms of military fiction, the squad is going task to task. This isn’t a grand quest in which they will single handedly change the world, although the whole effort together might result in that change if Bennett’s team does their part well enough. We follow along skirmish by skirmish, sometimes with betrayal or espionage, sometimes with poor/no communication from leadership, and sometimes with “crap, who is in charge because the regs do not cover this situation!”.
Observations for Potential Readers
Doomsday Recon does not have a D&D-like group of about 5 folks who are journeying together and becoming friends along the way. This is a military fiction book in which Bennett is the main character and all bets are off on secondary characters. Recurring characters exist and it’s clear who is one of Bennett’s us and who is grudgingly accepted as part of relevant community. Death is frequent and, most of the time, Bennett and the crew suck it up and move on because The Mission waits for no man.
Bennett does acquire an in-country love interest and the romance proceeds as it realistically would with a good Mormon boy who is courting for a wife while cognizant of military implications. Folks who are looking for a romantasy-style subplot will not find it here.
Religion is increasingly important as the plot progresses. At all times, the presentation is respectful, although some dialogue involves the natural interactions of “sure, infidel who is an ally, but cannot be a true friend because of being so wrong about this basic fact of reality”. Science works as we expect, but who is guiding strategy behind the scenes of the world including how the portals work to move folks out of our world into this alternate world that does have working magic and spirits relies on religion, not just military might and rank.
Occasionally, the book takes a slight detour into philosophy that doesn’t seem to fit because it’s not as pervasive as Heinlein, Pasternak, or Rand. The idea of a box in which to temporarily store one’s humanity to be able carry on with current task scould work. However, as done here, it’s not fleshed out enough to be satisfying philosophy. I would have preferred more or eliminating it completely. The small tastes are distracting and interrupt the flow for no discernible benefit.
This is an excellent military fiction book in an alternate universe that includes magic and god-like beings. This is likely not the book for you if you want more typical fantasy of a gutsy group of misfits against the world, romance with will they/won’t they leading to explicit details, or a literary experience that takes an academic or timeless exploration of the themes of war, home, and the place of religion in navigating reality.
May 11, 2025
Read this if you like: Other books about army guys doing army guy things in a fantastical setting
There's not a lot to say about this one, it's genre fiction. Good genre fiction. Really good genre fiction. It's still genre fiction and it's missing the last star because, in the pursuit of the genre fiction label, the author left behind the most interesting aspect of the story.
See, unlike most fantasy stories, this one has worldbuilding that is creative, good, and best of all, presents a unique challenge that a more generic or realistic world couldn't. Our army guys are in Aztec land, they fight Aztec monsters and curses and the ravenous undead and skirt around the edges of the malicious gods who run this corner of the universe. This means that not only is magic real, but you can petition the gods for help directly, and pay them in exchange. For obvious reasons the story puts a special focus on human sacrifice as a way to get power. It's dramatic AND thematic. Our heroes have a firm no-offering-people-to-the-dark-ones policy, which seems reasonable, but it also removes them from the story's world.
It's like if there was a story about a bunch of army guys being sent to Europe in the year 0 and deciding to not deal with anyone who is pro-slavery. That sounds morally normal but in practice everyone outside a few very small groups gets reduced to "bad guy do-not-interact" status because it's 0 AD and the political technologies of the era don't even have bandwidth for emancipation. What even is the point of having the story be set then and there if you're just going to say 99.9% of the world isn't worth talking about, right? The author does something similar here, creating a device that tests both the morality and creativity of the characters and showing then what it can do (for example, speedrun the entire industrial revolution) and then having them decide to blow it up as soon as they understand how it works. It's not an unrealistic response but it's the most boring one possible. In general the book's biggest flaw is that the characters don't adapt to the world, they remain 100% American no matter how at odds that worldview is with reality. There are an embarrassing number of twists that would have been obvious to the main cast if they'd ever bothered to try and understand the rules of their new environment rather than pretending they were still in Kansas.
All that work spent building an original and fleshed-out setting only to have it be an aesthetic.
And the thing is, the characterwork and writing is genuinely really good and keeps the book moving even when the plot is being retarded, but this could have been one of the most clever books of all time if the smaller individuals and the larger setting fed into each other rather than being siloed into "the story" and "a list of excuses for fight scenes".
There's not a lot to say about this one, it's genre fiction. Good genre fiction. Really good genre fiction. It's still genre fiction and it's missing the last star because, in the pursuit of the genre fiction label, the author left behind the most interesting aspect of the story.
See, unlike most fantasy stories, this one has worldbuilding that is creative, good, and best of all, presents a unique challenge that a more generic or realistic world couldn't. Our army guys are in Aztec land, they fight Aztec monsters and curses and the ravenous undead and skirt around the edges of the malicious gods who run this corner of the universe. This means that not only is magic real, but you can petition the gods for help directly, and pay them in exchange. For obvious reasons the story puts a special focus on human sacrifice as a way to get power. It's dramatic AND thematic. Our heroes have a firm no-offering-people-to-the-dark-ones policy, which seems reasonable, but it also removes them from the story's world.
It's like if there was a story about a bunch of army guys being sent to Europe in the year 0 and deciding to not deal with anyone who is pro-slavery. That sounds morally normal but in practice everyone outside a few very small groups gets reduced to "bad guy do-not-interact" status because it's 0 AD and the political technologies of the era don't even have bandwidth for emancipation. What even is the point of having the story be set then and there if you're just going to say 99.9% of the world isn't worth talking about, right? The author does something similar here, creating a device that tests both the morality and creativity of the characters and showing then what it can do (for example, speedrun the entire industrial revolution) and then having them decide to blow it up as soon as they understand how it works. It's not an unrealistic response but it's the most boring one possible. In general the book's biggest flaw is that the characters don't adapt to the world, they remain 100% American no matter how at odds that worldview is with reality. There are an embarrassing number of twists that would have been obvious to the main cast if they'd ever bothered to try and understand the rules of their new environment rather than pretending they were still in Kansas.
All that work spent building an original and fleshed-out setting only to have it be an aesthetic.
And the thing is, the characterwork and writing is genuinely really good and keeps the book moving even when the plot is being retarded, but this could have been one of the most clever books of all time if the smaller individuals and the larger setting fed into each other rather than being siloed into "the story" and "a list of excuses for fight scenes".
January 6, 2026
I have had my eye on this book for awhile. I came across it on an amazon book hunting delve, clicking on odd looking covers to see what books and genres are out there.
The cover of Doomsday Recon drew me in. After making the transition from physical books to digital (we move to much for me to keep buying series), I gave this book a shot and read it.
What a fantastic story! The story takes place in 1989 in Panama with a Cav unit tracking down Noriega's insurgents. We are thrust into the story through Nephi's eyes, a scout for the Cav unit. As they are carrying out their mission, a storm takes them, and suddenly they find themselves in a world that is not their own.
I appreciated the characters in this story. They all feel authentic, from surfer dudes to a comic book nerd. This Cav unit is a tight nit group, and over the course of the book we get to see them laugh together, mourn together, and fight for dear life together. I am also thankful for break down of military jargon, it helps make the world and characters that much richer.
The Cav unit meets locals throughout the book and befriends some well written allies. You can see the clashing of worldviews not only from the Earth based soldiers but also of the indigs between themselves. It creates a feeling of a lively world, where myths can in fact be truth!
Spirits, monsters, zombies, this book has it all, even some nice romance (closed doors thank goodness, we ain't got time for more than that). Give this book a shot. You will find plenty of well written recon, stealth ops, skirmishes, characters and quality interactions, world-building, and twists!
The cover of Doomsday Recon drew me in. After making the transition from physical books to digital (we move to much for me to keep buying series), I gave this book a shot and read it.
What a fantastic story! The story takes place in 1989 in Panama with a Cav unit tracking down Noriega's insurgents. We are thrust into the story through Nephi's eyes, a scout for the Cav unit. As they are carrying out their mission, a storm takes them, and suddenly they find themselves in a world that is not their own.
I appreciated the characters in this story. They all feel authentic, from surfer dudes to a comic book nerd. This Cav unit is a tight nit group, and over the course of the book we get to see them laugh together, mourn together, and fight for dear life together. I am also thankful for break down of military jargon, it helps make the world and characters that much richer.
The Cav unit meets locals throughout the book and befriends some well written allies. You can see the clashing of worldviews not only from the Earth based soldiers but also of the indigs between themselves. It creates a feeling of a lively world, where myths can in fact be truth!
Spirits, monsters, zombies, this book has it all, even some nice romance (closed doors thank goodness, we ain't got time for more than that). Give this book a shot. You will find plenty of well written recon, stealth ops, skirmishes, characters and quality interactions, world-building, and twists!
March 14, 2026
This was a great book. 4 stars. It has the three G's a book written for red-blooded Americans should have: God, guns, and girls.
Ryan is a master of the conversational voice. While reading this story you feel like an old friend is telling it to you.
I was most impressed with his use of South American mythology. Its one of the hardest mythologies to use because it is so convoluted and complicated. Ryan made it work and work well. All the while seamlessly incorporating Christianity into a world that knows only angry gods.
Deeper themes emerge throughout. I am a symbols guy. I see all my stories through a moral symbolic lense. And the recurring themes of humility leads to strength and pain makes us strong rested on my mind quite pleasently.
The authors other place of excellence is his mastery of dialogue. Some very natural conversations.
Now for the bad. Wargates copy editor missed more than I am used to in a book. There is one page with what seems like a paragraph missing between pages. I was so into the story at that point though that I picked up easily on the missing lines and was up till past midnight to finish the story.
I am not a military novel guy but I would definitely recommend this book and will be buying the rest of the series.
Ryan is a master of the conversational voice. While reading this story you feel like an old friend is telling it to you.
I was most impressed with his use of South American mythology. Its one of the hardest mythologies to use because it is so convoluted and complicated. Ryan made it work and work well. All the while seamlessly incorporating Christianity into a world that knows only angry gods.
Deeper themes emerge throughout. I am a symbols guy. I see all my stories through a moral symbolic lense. And the recurring themes of humility leads to strength and pain makes us strong rested on my mind quite pleasently.
The authors other place of excellence is his mastery of dialogue. Some very natural conversations.
Now for the bad. Wargates copy editor missed more than I am used to in a book. There is one page with what seems like a paragraph missing between pages. I was so into the story at that point though that I picked up easily on the missing lines and was up till past midnight to finish the story.
I am not a military novel guy but I would definitely recommend this book and will be buying the rest of the series.
January 30, 2026
A military fantasy with zombies, vengeful spirits, witches, and all kinds of strange beasts. What initially sounded like a meme quickly hit me hard, shattering my skepticism and proving to be, for the most part, an immersive adventure.
The density of action and dialogue in some sections is noticeable, but it still works. Despite clear influences from films, cartoons, and pop culture, the characters feel realistic. Yeah, you can sense the narrative threads pulling you toward hating certain ones. And the fact that their stupid and unethical decisions genuinely get on your nerves is, in itself, a success of the story.
Much of the story is conveyed directly through the first-person narrative, and it does not feel awkward. One could argue it was the right choice. The authors and editor made strong, varied use of the English vocabulary. Aside from a few misplaced quotation marks, commas, and minor anachronisms that are invisible to the average reader, there are no notable errors.
That said, it’s not my type of book, but that doesn’t detract from its literary merit.
The density of action and dialogue in some sections is noticeable, but it still works. Despite clear influences from films, cartoons, and pop culture, the characters feel realistic. Yeah, you can sense the narrative threads pulling you toward hating certain ones. And the fact that their stupid and unethical decisions genuinely get on your nerves is, in itself, a success of the story.
Much of the story is conveyed directly through the first-person narrative, and it does not feel awkward. One could argue it was the right choice. The authors and editor made strong, varied use of the English vocabulary. Aside from a few misplaced quotation marks, commas, and minor anachronisms that are invisible to the average reader, there are no notable errors.
That said, it’s not my type of book, but that doesn’t detract from its literary merit.
September 20, 2025
This is a high-caliber fantasy adventure written by dudes for dudes that want awesome fantasy - but something different, something that doesn't draw from the same well as all the other fantasy stories out there. The premise of the book is "what if a 1989 miliatary company somehow slipped into another dimension dominated by Aztec mythology?" And this setting is used to its maximum potential: visits to haunted Aztec temples, fights with giants, Amazon warrior women, quirky little cat people with disgusting potion magic, and of course, dark gods requiring human sacrifice! A darker fantasy story that doesn't slip all the way into grimdark. I cared about the characters and loved how the main character is put to the test and has to face some moral dilemmas along the way. I'm so ready to read on in this series.
June 25, 2024
This was an unexpected find from two authors that were new to me. It was a solid read from the first pages all the way through to its satisfying conclusion, by the end I can say that it is the best book I've read this year. I've read some commentary that criticises the author for his main characters clearly stated Christian beliefs. I find it refreshing to see various characters with different beliefs including Christian ones, it added to the story for me and was done in a way that was never cheesy or preachy. The bestiary the authors create is immersive and the societies that go with them likewise had depth.
If you are looking for a fast moving action packed adventure with a good story you can't go past this one. Looking forward to reading the next one.
If you are looking for a fast moving action packed adventure with a good story you can't go past this one. Looking forward to reading the next one.
August 5, 2024
The premise of an elite group of soldiers from the 80's transported into an Aztec fantasy full of violence and survival strategy made this a quick buy for me. I enjoyed the characters and how the authors kept them relevant beyond name and rank. The magic elements are fantastic and surprising beyond the ceiling I expected. Humor in one-liners and the likable personalities kept the book from being too action-oriented, though the military combat is the meat and potatoes. Our Preacher character is my favorite, though many aliens were endearing and fascinating.
Doomsday Recon is an outstanding read, with a narration by Mark Boyett among his best. If you're curious at all, pick it up and delight in the many outstanding surprises to come.
Doomsday Recon is an outstanding read, with a narration by Mark Boyett among his best. If you're curious at all, pick it up and delight in the many outstanding surprises to come.
May 21, 2024
Military sci-fi isn't my thing, but I got sucked into this fast-paced adventure and happily went along for the entire ride! The military jargon and descriptions of equipment adds realism without bogging down the action. The fish-out-of-water theme of American servicemen transported to a Mesoamerican themed planet was really fun. The religious aspects of the story made perfect sense in the plot and brought unexpected but not unwelcome depth to the characters. The writing is solid. While the main plot is wrapped up by the end of this volume, it's clear the action is going to continue and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series.
July 10, 2024
This was a fun military fantasy adventure. A company of Cav Scouts get pulled into an Aztec other world during the US invasion of Panama (1989).
The main character is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). It seems that at least one of the authors knows more about that religion's beliefs and cultural stories than the character who grew up in the church (in Southern Utah), has been ordained to their priesthood (several ranks of it), been through the Temple ceremonies, served a full-time mission in Southern Mexico teaching others about his beliefs on a daily basis. How that is? Don't know.
But the story was entertaining besides that gapping "Huh??".
The main character is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). It seems that at least one of the authors knows more about that religion's beliefs and cultural stories than the character who grew up in the church (in Southern Utah), has been ordained to their priesthood (several ranks of it), been through the Temple ceremonies, served a full-time mission in Southern Mexico teaching others about his beliefs on a daily basis. How that is? Don't know.
But the story was entertaining besides that gapping "Huh??".
August 18, 2025
'Doomsday Recon' is a portal fantasy about a Recon unit who gets sucked into an alternate dimension and finds themselves stranded in an Aztec style world filled with goblins, giant monsters, other military units from both past, present, and future, and hot amazon chicks dubbed 'sugar skull gals'. It's got a video game vibe to it and the action comes fast and thick. My only problem is that it feels a bit too long, clocking in at 560 some pages. The middle section really starts to sag and I felt the authors could probably have cut 150 pages or so and really tightened it up. Still, it's a fun read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next in the series.
March 6, 2024
A truly outstanding book! The author did a marvelous job of plot development, leading the readers to see who the good guys & bad guys are, and slowly building on the depth of the characters. Anspach did some SERIOUS research into early Meso-American culture!
This is one of the best books I've read in years! I suspect the next one will be even more intense, because it's gonna be more personal for the characters.
This is one of the best books I've read in years! I suspect the next one will be even more intense, because it's gonna be more personal for the characters.
March 10, 2024
Recon in a Strange Land.
This Anspach novel started strong, as expected. I was excited to see how Mezo American religion, history faces off against US Marine Recon. I have admitted it took a bit for me to dig the main character, Bennett. The supporting characters are way more interesting. But by the end of the book, I was routing for Bennett. Can't wait for the next book in the series. The whole idea of Mezo America history is rich and open. I'm glad to see it being used.
This Anspach novel started strong, as expected. I was excited to see how Mezo American religion, history faces off against US Marine Recon. I have admitted it took a bit for me to dig the main character, Bennett. The supporting characters are way more interesting. But by the end of the book, I was routing for Bennett. Can't wait for the next book in the series. The whole idea of Mezo America history is rich and open. I'm glad to see it being used.
February 14, 2024
a good start
As the title says, a good start. A little formulaic for WarGate books. Dweebish Character (Talker, Bennett) gets the girl, gets cool things based on being in this world. Faith plays a big part, much like in the Forgotten series. But all in all, very fantastic. Five stars.
As the title says, a good start. A little formulaic for WarGate books. Dweebish Character (Talker, Bennett) gets the girl, gets cool things based on being in this world. Faith plays a big part, much like in the Forgotten series. But all in all, very fantastic. Five stars.
March 4, 2024
Most excellent read
This is a great read, I couldn't put it down. The storyline is well written and keeps you hooked. Also appreciated the length of this book, I have read others that were rushed and over too quickly. I look forward to next book.
Would recommend this book to anyone.
This is a great read, I couldn't put it down. The storyline is well written and keeps you hooked. Also appreciated the length of this book, I have read others that were rushed and over too quickly. I look forward to next book.
Would recommend this book to anyone.
April 13, 2024
1980s Cav troopers meet Mesoamericans!
I really enjoyed the Forgotten Ruins series from WarGate, so I tried this. WOW! It did not disappoint! Ryan does a great job with characters. His combat writing is fantastic! This book makes me want to learn more about Mesoamerican mythology!
Also, Eps will steal your heart. I'm not kidding! Keep an eye on her!!!
I really enjoyed the Forgotten Ruins series from WarGate, so I tried this. WOW! It did not disappoint! Ryan does a great job with characters. His combat writing is fantastic! This book makes me want to learn more about Mesoamerican mythology!
Also, Eps will steal your heart. I'm not kidding! Keep an eye on her!!!
May 11, 2024
I was feeling legion of Videssos vibes. Modern day military squad lands in the distant land. A book and series I loved. I don’t know if it’s because I am all growed up or this was just so different, but there were moments where I thought “I hate this”. Overall this was a disappointing read, that my very young self may have enjoyed, but 2024 me will not be continuing in this series.
June 3, 2024
Book one
This pretty much ties into another series.
It's a bit of sci-fi and portal story.
This one starts out in 1989.
It's a good story but now I feel like I need to juggle multiple series just to follow what is going on in this universe.
Mistakes I found will be listed on Goodreads.
7/10
This pretty much ties into another series.
It's a bit of sci-fi and portal story.
This one starts out in 1989.
It's a good story but now I feel like I need to juggle multiple series just to follow what is going on in this universe.
Mistakes I found will be listed on Goodreads.
7/10
July 9, 2024
a mixture of fantasy and science fiction
This book is a mixture of fantasy and science fiction. A unit of American soldiers are taken from their place and time (reminiscent of darwins soldiers) and deposited in an unknown time and location. Follow the adventures as they fight against unbelievable foes as they try to return home.
This book is a mixture of fantasy and science fiction. A unit of American soldiers are taken from their place and time (reminiscent of darwins soldiers) and deposited in an unknown time and location. Follow the adventures as they fight against unbelievable foes as they try to return home.
May 1, 2024
Spreading the American vigor
Finally a Wargate book that doesn’t treat the infinite taco-truck has a holy device but instead we see its evil twin and the heroes going full native with the little they got left made this story a Hugh change from previous Wargate books.
Finally a Wargate book that doesn’t treat the infinite taco-truck has a holy device but instead we see its evil twin and the heroes going full native with the little they got left made this story a Hugh change from previous Wargate books.
May 15, 2024
Really impressive
A great fantasy story with a background of Central American mythology. I spent a good portion of my time with Wikipedia just looking up the various deities. Well told and will paced story with detailed characters.
A great fantasy story with a background of Central American mythology. I spent a good portion of my time with Wikipedia just looking up the various deities. Well told and will paced story with detailed characters.
February 27, 2024
Worth reading
Well written, good story line, very interesting scenario for fighting science fiction, kept me entertained five more words required five
Well written, good story line, very interesting scenario for fighting science fiction, kept me entertained five more words required five
February 29, 2024
Very good book
This is a fine fantasy adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the four eared cat woman. I anxiously await the sequel.
This is a fine fantasy adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the four eared cat woman. I anxiously await the sequel.
March 20, 2024
Top notch
Solid from start to finish. Thumbs up and I look forward to more books by Ryan in the near future
Solid from start to finish. Thumbs up and I look forward to more books by Ryan in the near future
April 3, 2024
Very enjoyable read, but feels a little aimless near the middle and the last 1/4 has several deus ex machina moments that felt unnecessary. Looking forward to the sequel.
April 13, 2024
Great read with lots of twists and turns
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews