Świat Pyłu: Legion nieśmiertelnych 2

Undying Mercenaries #2

by B.V. Larson

Flota Bojowa Galaktycznych przybyła w 2052 roku. Aby uniknąć całkowitej zagłady z rąk przybyszów, Ziemia dołącza do rozległego Imperium obejmującego znaczną część Mlecznej Drogi. Naszym jedynym wartościowym towarem są owiane złą sławą legiony najemników – elitarnych żołnierzy, którzy za odpowiednią cenę mają służyć co bardziej majętnym obcym.

W roku 2122 Ziemia nieoczekiwanie nawiązuje kontakt z zaginioną ekspedycją międzygwiezdnych osadników. Kolonizacja stanowi naruszenie Prawa Galaktycznego, więc Legion Varus zostaje wysłany na miejsce w celu rozwiązania sprawy. Rząd Ziemi wręczył legionistom zapieczętowane rozkazy… Lecz dzieli ich od niej trzydzieści pięć lat świetlnych kosmicznej próżni. Dowódcy Legionu mają swoje własne, sekretne plany. Do tego wszystkiego jest z nimi James McGill, który nigdy nie był za dobry w słuchaniu przełożonych.

W drugim tomie cyklu „Legion Nieśmiertelnych” McGill zostaje awansowany na specjalistę i wysłany w nieznane, poza strefę wpływów Galaktycznych. Pozycja Ziemi wśród członków Imperium już nigdy nie będzie taka sama.

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

Audible Audio

First published March 23, 2014

About the author

Brian Larson is an American science fiction and fantasy author

Reviews

[Eric Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to write out a full review for this one. Why? Because it's pretty much copy and paste from any other book B.V. Larson has ever written. It was enjoyable and entertaining, but if you've reviewed one B.V. Larson book, you've reviewed them all. I had a lot of fun with this one, and do enjoy this new series of his. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys military sci-fi. The only real drawback to this series is the "undying" part. Nothing murders dramatic tension faster than immortality. Usually the deaths are played for comedy, but it's hard to see anything as really threatening when you know that if the characters die, they'll just be revived an hour later to no ill effects. This book did add in a pretty big moral dilemma, and huge consequences for failure, but still, just not feeling the tension and drama, due to the fact that the main character died something like 3 or 4 times in this book, and is still alive and kicking at the end. I ask this question a lot in reviews, if there's nothing that can harm your main character, if they are impervious to permanent injury or death then what's the point?

Anyway, the good outweighs the bad in this series, in my opinion. If you're a fan of B.V. Larson, or really enjoy military sci-fi, this series is a definite must.

[Tendency · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Second verse same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse.

Basically the same as the first book, but on a different world and with more of the main character being magically unable to do wrong and somehow possessing of a magic dick that gets him laid in all circumstances despite being a tool.

Eh.

At least throw in a plot twist like the main character thinking his way out of something instead of just blundering magically into a solution.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, here we go again. This is the second volume in this series (The Undying Mercenaries). Possibly surprisingly...

I still like it, 5 stars worth.

What have we here? Why we have first class, grade A brain candy. Our Hero is advancing in the Legion and things that by all rights and according to all logic should get him killed permanently (that's called being "permed" by the way, not to be confused with coiffure care.) James McGill is apparently one lucky guy.

Anyway spared "perming" he and his Legion are now on the way to Dust World...

See one of the worst crimes possible under the Galactic Empire is to place a colony without permission. Nobody gets to populate new planets without Galactic permission! The penalty is DEATH... that's right DEATH. But it's not just the death of the people involved with the colony...it's DEATH to the ENTIRE HUMAN SPECIES.

But see...Earth had already placed a colony...errr, that is Earth had sent out a colony ship, before we (humans) even knew there WAS a Galactic Empire. They'd never been heard from (of course since they were using communications that would travel at light speed and they were 30 or 40 light years away...)well you get the picture.

But it's imperative that the Galactics DON'T SEE how it is.

So Legion Varus is dispatched to "take care of the problem", you know however they need to, like well, maybe wiping out the colony???

Anyway it's still a good book that's part of a good story. Enjoyable, at times even fun and always fast moving and interesting.

Recommended (but you know, start with vol.1).

[Caleb M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thoroughly impressed with this book. I enjoyed it leagues above the first book, which was really good in itself; if a little uneven.

If "All You Need is Kill" and "Starship Troopers" had a baby, this is the book child that would be conceived. One part military sci fi one part space opera with a whole lot of fun added in. I highly recommend.

James McGill is a fantastic character. I adore how he is respectful and rebellious all in the same breath and I think I would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't like him.

If you like sci fi this is a must read and this book has put B. V. Larson on my list of authors that I will follow and attempt to read all of their works. Well Done.

[Don Viecelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

From My Newsletter Number 80:

This review is on Dust World by B.V. Larson. This is the second book in The Undying Mercenaries Series I have read by this writer. I am currently reading Book 3, Tech World, which will be reviewed next. I did not know until recently that the author had a series going. The first story, Steel World, was one of the best science fiction stories I have read recently (see My Newsletter #54 for my Five Star review).

This book includes a Timeline of Events for the reader to catch up on when the Imperial Galactic aliens first became aware of Earthlings in 1943 until the time in 2122 when they learned of the illegal Earth colony called Hydra. The main character, James McGill is born in 2099.

This story starts out with James McGill back home on Earth on shore leave. He is having some trouble fitting in after all the violence he has experienced from his tour of duty on Steel World. He really cannot talk about it with his parents. It could be because he is on his fourth body after dying on Steel World and was reborn with a fresh body each time. His dad says he understands he may feel different, but he thinks James has finally grown up.

James’ Legion Varus was the last to serve on Steel World and they lost a big client contract that is costing the loss of jobs for the people on Earth. Many people are blaming the loss on Legion Varus. Of course, the whole story of what happened on Steel World cannot be told because it is a classified secret. What Earth needs now is a new client.

Finally, James learns that Legion Varus has been chosen for a new contract, but it is not with the Galactic Empire. Instead the contract is with the Hegemony Government. It involves the lost colony of Hydra. No one really knows at this point what the legion must do other than to travel to the new planet and aid the colonists. Something does not make sense about this contract, but James will figure it out once they reach the planet. The whole situation is complicated.

The events that follow quickly escalate to fighting a new alien species that does not want any more humans settling on their hot, dry, dusty planet. Of course, James McGill is caught in the middle of everything and causes numerous issues with his superiors and the Galactic Empire. He is also killed several more times.

I give this book four stars because the story is very entertaining, well written and the characters are well developed and memorable. I find this series to be well worth reading.

[Christopher Downing · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just really simplistic scifi writing. Pulp scifi... or popcorn scifi. Shallow but fun for a while... but perhaps the shallowness began to bore me.

UPDATE: I came back to this one and finished it, enjoying it more this time. It is simple military fun, but I was much more in the mood for it this go-round. I am actually starting the next book in the series immediately following this one. So there.

[Vaelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all, however I didn't enjoy it as much as Steel World.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tak samo dobra jak poprzednia pierwsza część. Szybko się słucha i jest ciekawie.

[Russell Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story isn't much different from the 1st as far as quality, so you will likely feel similarly about it compared to the first. If that's the case, why am I going from 5 stars on the 1st book to 3 on the 2nd you ask?

Well the first book was like a 4.5 and I rounded up and this one is a 3.5 but I rounded down. The things that were good were still good, but unfortunately the issue that I had in the first book but was able to wave away remained and arguably was even stronger in this book. That issue was the shortage of characters that I liked and I felt were believable.

Most of the characters are pretty shallow and there to interact with the MC in a particular way rather than present themselves as well-rounded human beings. By itself, that's more of a disappointment than a huge issue since it's something that can change as the series goes on. The bigger problem is how much of an idiot the MC is.

In the first book, I was able to overlook it to a degree. It's fully expected that a 22 year old gamer type would be out of his element after enlisting in the galactic legion. As much as he was an idiot and making poor decisions, he was also constantly being called out for being an idiot and making poor decisions. It's something I'm fine with in a first book and I actually look forward to the character growth that comes from additional experience/deployments and seeing him grow into his legionnaire armor.

He didn't seem to grow much for this second book, which I can somewhat be ok with since he's only been on a single deployment. But just because a guy isn't the most competent soldier, it doesn't mean he would be constantly making decisions that put the whole human race at risk and actually get his squadmates killed regularly. He has legitimately caused the death of dozens of his fellow soldiers at various times in this story. The fact they can be revived isn't enough of a mitigating factor. If I was in MC's unit, I would have undoubtedly killed him myself at some point.

I plan to read at least one more book in this series in the hopes that the MC starts reflecting a little on his actions. It would also be nice if some of the veterans were actually competent and smart as opposed to narrow-minded, cowardly, glory-seeking, or just bullies. Starship Troopers is already a known influence here, so why not give me a Jean Rasczak character? This story sorely needs one.

I really enjoy the world building in this series, but it can only make up for a shortage of character for so long.

[Zachery · Rating 1 out of 5]

While James McGill may have matched the "dumb jock" stereotype in the last book, he appears to have undergone a partial lobotomy sometime before "Dust World."

His company gets sent to deal with a lost, illegal, human colony. Their ship is attacked by Squid aliens, along with obviously mutated/augmented humans, who kill the alien pilots of their ship--instantly showing that these aliens aren't a member of the Galactic Empire, who reply to even smaller threats/offenses with genocide (so attacking members is a bad idea.)

They have to pick between two worlds to land on. One is an aquatic world, which likely harbors the squid aliens. The other world is mostly dusty, with some small habitable craters.

They pick the latter, and they encounter (and skirmish with) the lost colonists.
He has numerous talks with the colonists, all of which go basically like this:

James: We just want to help you!

Hot Colonist: You are very good at faking being human. Like all those other fake humans that attack us regularly. From the other world. That the squid aliens are from. They abduct us, and create twisted versions that they send after us. Here, I'll give you a star map, and a book with all the details. Seriously though, we think you're them. That's why we don't trust you.

James: If only we could communicate!


This scene repeats itself a half dozen times, throughout half the book. It's been established that their suits record everything they do.

Despite this, neither he nor his officers have the vaguest idea of why the colonists might not trust them. It took about 15 minutes (audiobook version) after the aliens inevitably arrive for anyone to realize that "hey, maybe this is what they were talking about!"

Other Issues:

The protagonist (a lowly grunt) makes an un-authorized truce with the colonists, then gets yelled at by the supreme commander of his mercenary outfit, and told to **never** do something like that again...only to start a war immediately after he stopped talking to his commander. A war with someone that is not attacking them, and could crush them like a bug.

Don't read it.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same violence, death and rebirth, but a different world. This one is populated by humans.

After the fight on Steel World, the undying mercenaries are contracted to find a lost human space colony and protect them, or wipe them out... whichever seems best for humanity. The book description is somewhat misleading. Earth "joined" the Galactic Empire the same way that a guy named Vito would promise to protect you from mob violence for a small fee. The problem is that colonies are not allowed. If the Galatics find out that Earth has a colony, it could mean annihilation for the colony, and perhaps Earth too.

Any problems with the novel? The main character, McGill, gets into a little too much trouble to be believable. However, when one believes that he will be revived if he dies, perhaps one's attitude toward taking foolish chances changes from the norm. Also the obvious love interest that was generated seemed flat out crazy after a while. I believed it at first, but then it got too crazy to be believable. It was funny though. Maybe that was the point.

Keep in mind that this book is extremely violent. They don't describe anything in detail, but a lot of people die in a lot of weird ways.

Any modesty issues? The same as the previous novel. There is vulgar language, but a lot less than I would expect from this type of book. Casual sex occurs, but is not described in detail.

I enjoyed this book so much I immediately bought the sequel, "Tech World". I am about 25% through it and it is not as violent as the previous two books so far.

[CraftyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner in the Undying Mercenaries series, of course. There are no dinosaurs this time around, but there are cephalopods bent on enslaving humanity (and I was convinced they had higher goals that may or may not have been brought up in this book. I’ve been surprised to find myself interested in the politics going on in the background of this one). Also lots of action and dying. A lot of dying. James McGill has been promoted to a weaponeer specialist this time around, and with his heavy armor and magnificent plasma gun, he and his unit are rounded up and sent to investigate a lost human colony that set sail before the Galactic Empire ever arrived and demanded that Earth join or be destroyed. This presents a serious danger to Humanity in general, because by law no civilizations are allowed to colonize other planets without express permission (which you can be sure is never given). Thus, the colonists, if still alive, will most likely have to be destroyed, by Legion Varus. The mission is sidelined, however, when a race of cephalopods attacks the arriving ship in orbit, and the entire Legion is forced to land on the nearest habitable planet--an arid, rocky place in space called Dust World. While waiting for their SOS to make it back home, they set out to explore the planet, discover that it is inhabited by colonists who are far, far different from the colonists who set out so long ago, and find themselves fighting a two-front battle between hostile humans and an octopod race bent on enslaving them both. Great read, and a ton of fun.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is just as much fun as the Star Force series I read by this author. But it's more than fun. Sure, they go from one crisis to the next all the time. That keeps the tension up. And the story in each book moves along. And the arc of the world they're in moves along with each book. I can't wait to get to the end of book 5 - I think I'll understand that basic conflict then.

If you're new to the Undying Mercenaries, there is a huge Galactic Empire. One of the technologies Earth got from them is a "revival machine" that 3-d prints a clone of you with all of your memories. That's the "Undying" part. On a particularly bad day, a person might die more than two times.

We export mercenaries, and they protect the biggest protectionist economy you ever heard of. Nobody can innovate anything without violating some other planet's copyrights and getting "permed" - killed permanently.

James McGill is a sergeant who tries to always do the right thing, although he finds that the bureaucrats and rank-seekers of the galaxy think he's breaking a lot of rules in the process. Fine bit of irony / oxymoron, right? Larson takes it to an art form.

Cool spaceships, cool weapons, tough men and women, interesting worlds and technologies. What else do you want?

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book of undying mercenaries is not your typical military science-fiction. There are still solid military elements, however, overall is a story more focused on the first-contact type of scenario. To keep things simple it is the first contact between legionaries and lost human colony.
I think that I enjoyed the first book more. It was pure military scifi with just a hint of a bigger, space-opera like, problems behind the scene. The second book focuses much more on character interactions, and it moves into the field of more serious literature. The problem in this sequel is that the motivation of the main character is very questionable. His reasoning for disobeying orders is sometimes almost comically illogical. Also, the overall behaviour of all characters is questionable in more than a few scenes. It is still okay book, but I almost drop the series at this point.
Narration by Mark Boyett in Audible audiobook version is still close to perfection, and it is worth one additional star on its own.

[Thomas James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Writer

Writing sci/fi or sci/opera, in this case , is a difficult thing to do well. The basic problem is that there is so little virgin territory that to REACH the bar is hard but to RAISE it is nearly impossible. Larson has a unique way of telling a story that is riveting. It is not so much in the science fiction such as space ships and ray guns that he is successful, but in the weaving together of now familiar sci/fi into a compelling story that somehow meets life as we actually FEEL it. There is obedience to authority, fear of it, submission to it, loyalty, honor, bravery, lust, and love. It takes a very talented writer to weave all of these together and to raise the bar of sci/fi/drama another notch. I hope that you agree with me that Larson is one of these very talented and excellent writers.

[Amir Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the second book in the B.V Larson Undying Mercenaries series. In this book, James has to travel with his legion to an abandoned Earth colony. They were abandoned because Earth had sent them before the galactics showed up, and told them they were not allowed anymore worlds than Earth. Earths government feared that if they found out, they would be destroyed. The colony was ordered to go radio silent. But now, the galactics know, and they are coming. This book had just the right amount of action, things would be really serious for a little and then they would calm down, and they were back in action.

[Charles Haworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still superb pulp nonsense

Imagine Starship Troopers without the political satire. Add in the idea you can die and come back as a clone as a soldier. Go into space and shoot things whilst having lots of sex. Add a hero that is a natural soldier and a bit of a rebel that does not over intellectualize anything ever.

Add beer and space guns

This one is him going out into deeper space, being more involved with the "Galactics" and sleeping with a space colonist whilst fighting squid beast slavers. I know - how good is that?

[papasteve · Rating 5 out of 5]

People like to talk about “world building” in books/storytelling. I would say the world building is great in this series of books. But I prefer to think of it in these terms: did I find myself immersed in the book as if I were there in the story, a “character unawares,” so to speak. That’s the way I felt reading the first two book in this series. I was there, watching it all happening, involved, but on the sidelines. I think that’s the mark of a good read—how well does it pull you in? This one did, and it was fun.

[Edward Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the first!

Like the title says, this book was better than the first! I really enjoyed the first book but this one really started bringing it home.

As far as Scifi stories go; this one really does a great job of fleshing out the cosmos and making you really believe in a wider universe than we generally think about. The story build was great and the pacing was fun while not being overly fast. The characters are believable and enjoyable.

Even I want to punch Carlos half the time.

[Mathew · Rating 1 out of 5]

And... I'm done with B.V. Larson. His main character can never do wrong, he has every woman falling over him. The women in the stories are simpering objects - crazy, simple, and only good for sex and the simple tasks the main character needs them to do.

I LOVE the fights and concepts. If he knew a little reality about how humans interact and wrote that, these would all be five star books.

[Adam Sagehorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adequate military sci fi for dummies

Its rushed, shallow, and the main character is insufferable but its also fun and entertaining. Like the fast and furious movies but in military sci fi form. The world gets more expansive than the last novel but the characters keep it simple and slim. Our author has seemed to wed himself to our five main characters and they are all well... shallow but maybe he and they can grow in the next one.

[Ernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series to read between my other larger series. The character development and world-building are great. It's usually a quick easy read, or if you have audible a nice listen. Doesn't involve any thinking. I was drawn in since book 1 and binged the series.

Definitely recommend it if you are looking for some space combat, mixed with good character development and a decent storyline.

[A.R · Rating 3 out of 5]

On re-read, not as good as I remembered. McGill is really a horndog in this one. Well, he always is but it's particularly bad in this one. The plot kind of meanders for a while. The action is good, overall the story is fun, but McGill gets in his own way this time around. I enjoy his bullshitting attitude, his ability to talk his way out of anything, but it works against him in this book.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

McGill vs Squids

Earth receives a message from a colony ship sent out before the empire arrived to introduce themselves.
Varus is hired to figure out what happened to the long lost colony ship and deal with them accordingly.
Varus is intercepted before arriving to the planet that was colonized.
Many deaths follow.
McGill adds a new girl to his gaggle.

[Trey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 2nd book n series

Follow the legionnaires of the future as the move from one world to the next, winning battles, losing battles, and trying to win a war of existence they're only beginning to fathom.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright. I fell like since I've read more than 5 books of larsons the plot is the same. First three times were exciting but it's the same character written in different stories. No outside character development apart from main. Same old 'surprises'. Still entertaining. Damn you Larson.

[Bill Scheidegger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping the second installment would continue the high action content, and I wasn't disappointed. This one was every bit as riveting as the first. Again I can't wait to see if this level of intensity can be continued.

[Brian Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dust world

Great sci-fi. The character development is really outstanding. I like the use of hard science within the adventure. And the cultural distinctions/depictions are believable and suspiciously relevant to current times and events.

[Saugat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing saga of Legion Varis

Usually I expect to see some slow down in book two of a series. But this was as gripping as the first one and just as enjoyable. McGill and his legion continue their journey and I believe I am asking for the ride.

[Yoshiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legion nieśmiertelnych: Świat Pyłu ponownie skupia się na postaci legionisty Jamesa McGilla. Jeszcze nie tak dawno „świeżak”, który nie do końca był świadomy co oznaczać dla niego będzie zapisanie się do Legionu Varus. Teraz prawdziwy weteran, który niestety nie może cieszyć się zasłużonym wypoczynkiem na Ziemi. Wszystko to za sprawą tego, czego jego jednostka dokonała podczas ostatniej misji, co niestety nie odbiło się korzystnie na naszej planecie. Przy braku nowych zleceń i perspektywie niezbyt ciekawej przyszłości, nikt nie może narzekać na nowe zajęcie. Ich kolejna misja polega na odnalezieniu zaginionej ludzkiej kolonii, o której nikt od dawna nie pamiętał. Sprawa jest dość poważna, szczególnie biorąc pod uwagę galaktyczny zakaz osiedlania się na innych planetach. Zadanie musi więc zostać szybko wykonane, aby przypadkiem Ziemia nie znalazła się w jeszcze gorszym położeniu. Na przeszkodzie staje jednak nowy gatunek obcych, który nie jest świadomy tego, że lepiej z członkami Varusa nie zadzierać.

Wspomniany już James McGill wraz z członkami swojego oddziału ląduje na nieznanej sobie planecie. Tytułowy Świat Pyłu to nie tylko niezbyt sprzyjające warunki atmosferyczne utrudniające przetrwanie, ale również cała masa innych zagrożeń. Są nimi między innymi „obcy”, którzy chcą pozbyć się nieproszonych gości, oraz bardzo nieufni koloniści, którzy również nie są skorzy do nowych sąsiedzkich kontaktów.

Pod względem ogólnej konstrukcji, książka Legion nieśmiertelnych: Świat Pyłu stawia na te same rozwiązania co początek serii. Jeśli więc komuś spodobał się pierwszy tom, to treścią tej książki również będzie zachwycony. B.V Larson od prawie samego początku zapewnia czytelnikowi fabułę, która szybko prze do przodu, aby jak najwcześniej zaoferować odbiorcy mocną dawkę akcji i wszechobecnej śmierci. Historia nie zalicza się do grona tych nadmiernie „rozbudowanych” i stawiających na „realność”. Całość w swoim założeniu ma być prosta i mocno widowiskowa i dokładnie taka jest. Kolejne strony wypełnia masa akcji (momentami dość brutalnej), pomieszana z nutką dobrego humoru. Twórca znajduje tutaj jednak trochę miejsca, aby lepiej opisać stworzony przez siebie świat, skupiając się na pewnych szczegółach przyszłości, które wpłynęły na Ziemię i jej mieszkańców.

W samym środku tego kosmicznego szaleństwa tkwi arogancki McGill, który dosyć często ma odmienne zdanie niż jego dowódcy. Na dodatek uwielbia się pchać on we wszelkiej maści problemy, które często kończą się jego niezbyt przyjemnym zgonem. Jest to jeden z tych bohaterów książek, który momentami może trochę irytować, ale jest na tyle wyrazisty i ciekawy, że z naprawdę wielką ciekawością śledzi się jego losy. Na dodatek bardzo mocno wyróżnia się on na tle innych dość płytkich postaci, stając się gwiazdą, dla której czyta się kolejne rozdziały.

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