Issue in Doubt

The 18th Race #1

by David Sherman

“David Sherman writes about Marines with the razor-sharp realism of one of their own.”
Jack Campbell, Best-Selling Author, Lost Fleet Series
We are not alone!

In exploring and colonizing the galaxy, humanity discovers evidence of eighteen sentient species. Seventeen of them had not developed interstellar travel. Those were destroyed by the species that did reach the stars. That space-faring eighteenth decimated the human colony on the Semi-Autonomous World Troy.

A Marine Force Recon platoon sent to investigate is wiped out almost to the last man. In reaction, the North American Union assembles the largest army seen since the major wars of the 20th Century.


A Marine Corps Combat Force is sent to "Kick in the door," backed up by a four-divison Army corps to take the planet back. The initial landing is unopposed. It isn't until the fleet carrying the Army corps is approaching Troy that the enemy strikes, with devastating effect.

Genres: Science Fiction

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2013

About the author

David Sherman was the author or co-author of some three dozen books, most of which are about Marines in combat.
He wrote about US Marines in Vietnam (the Night Fighters series and three other novels), and the DemonTech series about Marines in a fantasy world. The 18th Race trilogy is military science fiction.
Other than military, he wrote a non-conventional vampire novel, The Hunt, and a mystery, Dead Man's Chest. He also released a collection of short fiction and non-fiction from early in his writing career, Sherman's Shorts; the Beginnings.
With Dan Cragg he wrote the popular Starfist series and its spin off series, Starfist: Force Recon—all about Marines in the Twenty-fifth Century.; and a Star Wars novel, Jedi Trial.
His books have been translated into Czech, Polish, German, and Japanese.
David passed away in November 2022.

Reviews

[M Hamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

capable Storyteller,strong military background
no bullshit or sex magnets.you know ,things that give military space opera bad name
made some strong choices with the story ,respect but fucking depressing
his weak point is fleet action ,which is why i read the genre but somehow i wasn't bored

overall,what military space opera should be like

[Erin Penn]

Received as part of the Man and Machine anthology Kickstarter from eSpec Books.

[Mirko Unipan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable marines rah-rah sci-fi popcorn

[Procrastinador Diletante · Rating 1 out of 5]

Posso dizer que foi a saga "Starfist" (escrita pelo David Sherman e pelo Dan Cragg) que me fez começar a gostar realmente de sci-fi militar. Infelizmente essa saga acabou (por decisão da editora) mas fiquei todo entusiasmado quando vi que um dos autores estava a escrever um livro que seria uma espécie de "sucessor espiritual" ao Starfist.

Contrariando as minhas expectactivas, tenho que dizer que o livro é mau. Não sei se será por faltar o Dan Cragg ou pelo facto de ter sido editado por uma editora independente, mas a verdade é que parece algo escrito por uma amador e não por um autor com anos de experiência. Passo a explicar algumas das minhas críticas:

Há partes que são curtas demais (a invasão inicial por parte dos alienígenas), outras que são demasiado descritivas - o treino dos Marines; o facto do autor nos dar o nome completo de todos eles! -mesmo que sejam personagens que nunca mais vemos; a localização espacial da acção na introdução dos capítulos é péssima (a letra usada é a mesma que o texto normal, apenas a negrito e em alguns casos nem está a negrito nem com espaçamento para o texto); há frases que são repetidas várias vezes, em claro copy/paste e o livro termina de forma abrupta, com uma simples frase.

E o que mais me chateia nisto, é que o livro só tem 158 páginas (mais ou menos). Não percebo como é que sendo o primeiro de uma saga, é tão pequeno e tão pouco desenvolvido. Fiquei com a impressão que o que estava a ler era apenas um primeiro esboço da obra e não a obra completa...

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. For those familiar with the Starfist series this will be as though an old friend. the difference I have noted so far is that "Issue in Doubt" is far more business like in delivery. at times it read like an after action report. I don't yet feel any particular attachment to the characters as I did in the Starfist Series but it's only the first book which seems more intent on setting the stage rather than developing characters. I am eagerly awaiting the next book to learn more about the Marines and the alien enemy, and what their motivations are.

[Dale (Aus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a business like book from Sherman which was very dry and technical. The book finished almost at the beginning of the build for the story so there is a lot more needed to start getting a feel for this and any others in the series.

Very much what he has written before but with a new direction for the characters here.

[Ed Bonthron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction

Great introduction

Issue in doubt is a great introduction to a potential new set of books. It is military science fiction at its finest. My only regret was that we need more. Mr Sherman has a talent for making you feel like you are taking part in the action.

[Bill Brinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book. I read it in about three days. the action was great the characters were very involving. I wish it had been a longer read.

[Ed Dasso · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a major disappointment. I'm a big fan of the Starfist series and this wasn't even close to those in quality. Diffuse story line. Writing too technical and doesn't add to story. Lousy ending.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any kind of Marine, strong hero, tickles my fancy. Especially thrown into space.