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Old Guns: A Military Sci-Fi Adventure
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Expected 10 Mar 26350 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 8, 2025
Old Guns
by J.N. Chaney and Nicholas Sansbury Smith
I love both of these authors so this was a win-win to start with. This story revolves around two retired military heroes who had fought and survived the Hollows. They are called back to serve to train others. More Hollows have been found.
I love the old Gunnie's interactions, dialogue, and relationship. The whole book is sharp, action-packed, witty, and it has both of their dogs in the story! I really loved that.
Great fight scenes! Unique because the enemy is unique! Exciting and excellent plot.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing book! Can't wait for book #2!
by J.N. Chaney and Nicholas Sansbury Smith
I love both of these authors so this was a win-win to start with. This story revolves around two retired military heroes who had fought and survived the Hollows. They are called back to serve to train others. More Hollows have been found.
I love the old Gunnie's interactions, dialogue, and relationship. The whole book is sharp, action-packed, witty, and it has both of their dogs in the story! I really loved that.
Great fight scenes! Unique because the enemy is unique! Exciting and excellent plot.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing book! Can't wait for book #2!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Solid military sci-fi, where two retired space Marines, Frank and Martin, are recalled to train and support a group of soldier-scientists when the alien threat they faced down a decade earlier returns.
Unusually, I'll start with a spoiler, since both our main characters have assistance / service dogs.
I enjoyed this a lot! It felt well-grounded in its genre conventions; not that I have any service background to judge with, but I have read a fair bit, and nothing here felt out of place or offkey. The aliens are genuinely disturbing, difficult to deal with, and a challenge worthy of a series. Frank and Martin were both messed up by previous experiences, and that was neither glossed over nor wallowed in. Their flaws and ultimately unbreakable friendship gave the book heart -- yes, a solid battle is fun to read, but is ultimately low stakes if you don't care about anyone fighting it. We have a good blend of action to move everything along, but also enough world- and character-building to hold everything together.
I wouldn't say this is doing anything wildly original (yet) but is a strong setup for the series, and an entertaining read in its own right. I'll be looking out for the next book.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Unusually, I'll start with a spoiler, since both our main characters have assistance / service dogs.
I enjoyed this a lot! It felt well-grounded in its genre conventions; not that I have any service background to judge with, but I have read a fair bit, and nothing here felt out of place or offkey. The aliens are genuinely disturbing, difficult to deal with, and a challenge worthy of a series. Frank and Martin were both messed up by previous experiences, and that was neither glossed over nor wallowed in. Their flaws and ultimately unbreakable friendship gave the book heart -- yes, a solid battle is fun to read, but is ultimately low stakes if you don't care about anyone fighting it. We have a good blend of action to move everything along, but also enough world- and character-building to hold everything together.
I wouldn't say this is doing anything wildly original (yet) but is a strong setup for the series, and an entertaining read in its own right. I'll be looking out for the next book.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
November 5, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Old Guns follows Frank Cage and Martin Kelvin as they are called in for one more mission despite being retired. Both have been struggling in retirement due to events that happened a decade before.
Frank and Martin are my favourite type of Military Hero. Deeply flawed, but they are aware of those flaws and know they are a problem but they try their best.
Both Marines are called back due to surviving two contacts with an alien species called the Hollow. They are sent to a planet showing signs of Hollow contact to find something completely unexpected. What follows is a desperate fight for survival and to bring back the intelligence they discovered.
It was a wild ride from beginning to end. The fight scenes were great, seeing Frank and Martin grudgingly work together, and the drip feed of info about the Hollow was all all super engrossing.
I will say that sometimes Frank and Martin felt a little samey, and there were a few incidents that happened and then immediately cut to after they dealt with it. At one point I thought I had somehow skipped a page.
Old Guns follows Frank Cage and Martin Kelvin as they are called in for one more mission despite being retired. Both have been struggling in retirement due to events that happened a decade before.
Frank and Martin are my favourite type of Military Hero. Deeply flawed, but they are aware of those flaws and know they are a problem but they try their best.
Both Marines are called back due to surviving two contacts with an alien species called the Hollow. They are sent to a planet showing signs of Hollow contact to find something completely unexpected. What follows is a desperate fight for survival and to bring back the intelligence they discovered.
It was a wild ride from beginning to end. The fight scenes were great, seeing Frank and Martin grudgingly work together, and the drip feed of info about the Hollow was all all super engrossing.
I will say that sometimes Frank and Martin felt a little samey, and there were a few incidents that happened and then immediately cut to after they dealt with it. At one point I thought I had somehow skipped a page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was so close to a five star read for me …the plot is twisty and fun, the pacing is tight and focused, the aliens come across as actually aliens, and the weapons and science — in this science fiction book — feel thoughtful enough that they support the weight of the story they’re telling. The writing is very action-oriented and reads like the author had a movie or TV show in mind with how things are described and set up.
Really, this is just a solid adventure.
Then there are the characters. And I’m sorry but … they all sound like the same character. I couldn’t tell anyone apart, not the main two, Martin and Frank, or the various marines, or the brass, or the men form the women. They’re all just flat sources of story exposition. If the characters had had more personality and any arcs at all, I would have enjoyed this so much more. As it is … it’s a solid 3.5 to 4, depending on if I’m feeling generous.
If you’re looking for a solid first contact book, this is well worth the read. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really, this is just a solid adventure.
Then there are the characters. And I’m sorry but … they all sound like the same character. I couldn’t tell anyone apart, not the main two, Martin and Frank, or the various marines, or the brass, or the men form the women. They’re all just flat sources of story exposition. If the characters had had more personality and any arcs at all, I would have enjoyed this so much more. As it is … it’s a solid 3.5 to 4, depending on if I’m feeling generous.
If you’re looking for a solid first contact book, this is well worth the read. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 21, 2025
Thanks to netgallery for allowing me to have the chance to read this amazing scifi book which definately knew how to draw in the right audience to read it.
The books plot was outstanding loved every part of the book, along with the characters you got to meet throughout as well.
A do mean what a say about it being hard to put down.
The books plot was outstanding loved every part of the book, along with the characters you got to meet throughout as well.
A do mean what a say about it being hard to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Really fun military sci-fi book. The two lead characters are a crackup. Their banter with each other is excellent, and their relationship is complicated. Excellent action, interesting enemies, and some really good twists! Can't wait to continue this series!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews