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Master Sergeant Gant Maker was a highly-decorated and well-respected Marine - until his last mission left him as the sole survivor of an encounter with a vicious race called the Vacra. Served up as a scapegoat and drummed out of the military, he has since lived a life of seclusion with only an adopted alien as a companion.


Now the Vacra have returned. As the only person to have ever faced them and survived, Maker is reinstated in the Corps and given the onerous task of finding this enemy on a world located at the edge of known space. Assisting him is an unlikely band of military rejects, including a blind sharpshooter, an unstable psychic, and a genetically-engineered killing machine who refuses to fight.


Given that the Vacra have superior weapons and technology, Maker recognizes that his team is at a distinct disadvantage. But Marines are nothing if not resourceful, and Maker has an audacious plan that just may level the playing field – if it doesn’t get them all killed.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2014

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Kevin Hardman

29 books1,416 followers

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5 stars
284 (39%)
4 stars
248 (34%)
3 stars
135 (18%)
2 stars
33 (4%)
1 star
17 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,212 reviews2,341 followers
May 17, 2019
Terminus by Kevin Hardman and narrated by Mikael Naramore is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. This is sci-fi adventure and the action starts right away and doesn't end until the book does! Love the world building, well developed characters, (my favorite is a very unique creature that is in the care of the main character), great action, the science fiction aspects, and plot. The crew is a weird version of Firefly! Lol! Loved it!
The narrator was excellent in performing all the various voices and emotions! Made me feel like I was there!
Profile Image for Emilija.
1,893 reviews31 followers
December 29, 2017
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was really entertaining. I was compelled to read it in one sitting which is unusual for me on an audiobook of this length. I loved the interaction between the main character and his crew.
The narrator was slightly slow and he mispronounced a couple words, but this was easily looked over (and listened to on 2x speed) as he characterised so well.
Profile Image for Paula Dyches.
855 reviews17 followers
May 8, 2019
I really enjoy Kevin Hardman's style of writing, I have read most of his Kid Sensation Series and love them, so I was really excited to find out he had new series. This series is a shift in some ways from the super hero type of story he normally does and is a move into a sci-fi military story. It starts out with a bit of backstory but it grabs you very quickly. It's a fast paced story about a hardcore Marine that is put to a task of tracking down some evil alien bugs with a group of misfits... makes me think of A-Team in a Sci-fi which which I totally loved. The narrator does a fantastic job and I could easily listen to it again. 

Morality rating- There was some minor language and violence so l would place it as a middle school and up level read. 

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. 
Profile Image for Joselyn  Moreno.
865 reviews33 followers
June 7, 2019
I received this one for reviews of my own will and gladly review it.

the first time I read what was this about I knew I had to read/hear it, and it didn't disappointed.

terminus has a lot of good things, like our very unique heroes and the very special situations they end up in.

I was amazed and have a fun time with Arrogant Maker and his team, Arlan was pretty interesting addition.

hope I can go back to this world soon.
Profile Image for Paul LaFontaine.
649 reviews6 followers
November 27, 2021
Space Marine Sgt Maker is disgraced when a mission he is on ends up with most of the crew of his ship dead. The aggressive aliens he encountered have returned, and Maker is tapped to discover where they are on the planet Terminus. He assembles a squad of misfits and enters into a situation that is much more complex than it appeared.

This book is packed with so many cliches it is a chip off a tired old block. The disgraced Marine who is betrayed by bureaucrats. The gathering of the squad of misfits. The alien bugs based on Earth insects. The list goes one. I also found the writing rather juvenile and so packed with tired analogies that reading it was like a fate worse than death.

Recommend with caution
Profile Image for A.D. Green.
Author 3 books29 followers
August 1, 2022
3.5/5 Stars – A Space Marine Adventure
So I was trawling for my next read and fancied a military SciFi and Terminus popped up on my feed. Was it fate, destiny calling? Errr no, it was Amazon analytics. Why not, I thought, it’s got an armoured cyborg man dual wielding assault rifles whilst the world burns on the cover. Yep, as shallow as that I picked it up. I wanted a Diehard esc action set in the future and this would do nicely.

I guess I got some of what I asked for. Arrogant Maker our protagonist is a disgraced former special-ops marine living a peaceful life on an out-of-the-way planet minding his own business with no one but an alien called Erlen for company, which is not his pet, though everyone seems to think it is.

Into his world steps a former commander a doctor and a politician (No this is not the start of a joke). It seems they need him for a mission and he is the only man for the job. This reminded me in a small way of Aliens. You know, that scene where Ripley tells them about the alien and the world they found it on and the powers that be ignored her warnings before dragging her ass in to fix it years later when it all went a bit scooby-do, that one.

I won’t give too much of the story away, suffice to say it gets a bit Dirty Dozen (although it is more half-dozen to be accurate). Maker of course gets tempted back in, he is a soldier at heart and this is his chance to step back into the ring, so to speak. He cobbles together a team of misfits like him who struggle to fit into the military machine and after the shortest of introductions they are off, time is of the essence you see.

There are lots of guns and action. An evil alien race, led by a sinister alien commander with high-tech weaponry. Things are not always what they seem, however, and it is quickly apparent that the only people Maker and his team can trust are themselves.

I thought the story was okay but it never gripped me as I wanted it to. The science was pretty loose (that is being generous) but I wasn’t reading it for that and it wasn’t the type of story to bog itself down in scientific jargon or exposition. The depiction of the military was also simplistic and the act spent at the military base felt a bit more like boarding school than it did an actual military camp. That said the writing itself was fine, the story moved along at a fast pace and the descriptive narrative flowed well and I was able to picture each scene easily. The opening scenes I was not a fan of though where Maker recounted the mission that got him booted out of the military to a couple of people he didn’t know. It was a clever way in some respects of providing perspective and a back story for our hero but it was, for me, a little cumbersome.

Overall, the story was a bit formulaic and predictable. Our marines felt more like a bunch of mercenaries than a military unit. Maker did his own thing and half the time so did the rest of his unit. The bad guy was a bit of a cardboard cut-out. I think a scene from his perspective doing something sinister and evil would have cemented his badassery more in my head and make me care about Maker bringing him down. There is more I could say but it would give spoilers. I think as an opening novel in a series of ‘space marine’ adventures it was okay. It is suitable for YA readers and may indeed be targeted more at that audience but it did not give me enough to want to read the next in the series.
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books31 followers
May 1, 2019
Wow, just wow. This is a brilliant book, I enjoyed it so much. If all books in this genre are like this then I might have to change from mystery to contemporary sci-fi books as it grabs you from the start and doesn't let up.
A soldier discredited from the marines after a mission went horribly wrong is called back into service when a vicious race called the Vacra return to reek havoc on a fringe world. Master Sergeant Gant Maker being the only person to have survived an encounter with them puts together a rag tag team of marines to fight them. Each flawed or damaged in some way and usually pasted over by commanding officers his team must use there own personal skills to band together to survive.
With so much action, adventure, twists, turns, quirky but loveable characters it has something for every one. It is a story I will happily listen to again and I can't wait for book two.
The narrator was exceptional and I love his wide use of voices for the different characters, making it a pleasure to listen too. I hope he sticks with the series and reads the next book.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,598 reviews28 followers
July 31, 2019
Terminus: Fringe Worlds #1, my tenth read/listen from author Kevin Hardman & the first book in a series that looks to be excellent! I don't restrict my reading to any particular genre. Instead, I'm a sucker for anything with memorable characters & a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat until the end. Reminiscent of Michael Anderle & Sarah Noffke’s Ghost Squadron series and Isaac Hooke’s Forever Gate series. Narrator Mikael Naramore’s talented narration added greatly to the book’s enjoyment. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. Since I own both the Kindle & Audible edition I was able to follow along while being read to. I have to admit there were times I sped up the book because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Different than his Kid Sensation series I’ll be reading more from this author & look forward to the rest of the series! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Profile Image for Tony Hinde.
2,140 reviews76 followers
December 15, 2019
3.5 Stars

The military aspects of the story, which were pivotal, seemed to lack authenticity. No command and control were in evidence; subordinates did whatever they wanted, regardless of orders, and critical information was not passed on to superiors. I was particularly bemused by the weapon that disabled ships before blowing them up. I should design a gun that tranquilizes my target before a second, lead-round kills them. At one point, Sgt. Maker donned his Class-A uniform, but not for a parade, for a boarding action.

There was also plenty to like in the story. Interesting characters, (think the dirty-dozen meets the A-team), layers of mystery, immoral politicians and an implacable alien enemy. Mix well, heat for 300 pages then add seasoning to taste.

I'm in no rush to read the next book, but in time...
Profile Image for Youssef.
259 reviews7 followers
March 19, 2021
Gant is this book's problem. The story is alright, the other characters have no depth but that's alright too. What is exasperating is a character who is supposed to have been betrayed, and who was all along preparing for some sort of betrayal, just spilling his guts at the barest nudge from those who had just betrayed him.
The reader needs to be told some of that stuff, but who in his right mind just blurts his secrets to his enemies? Who thinks of bringing along high illegal weapons but never thinks 0f covering his ass? What officer just accehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... his subordinates ignoring his orders or withholding information? And what weapon is designed to immobilize the enemy then just waits around for a while before actually detonating?
I don't recommend.
Profile Image for Scott.
1,484 reviews12 followers
November 20, 2017
A duty hardened Sergeant abandoned by those who he trusted and served ,along with an unusual alien companion are tasked with a mission which may be the redemption he is looking for.
Along with the usual skilled misfits his job is to track down a unusual alien species which may be a grave threat to humanity.
The story is quite slow to start and mainly involves lots of background and scene setting but when it comes in soon makes up for it.
The story its self has some nice twists and is of a good length to get your teeth into, narration itself is as always excellent by Mikael and helps character and story flow nicely.
At the end i did find myself ready to jump into the next story which is always a great sign of a job well done.
582 reviews
November 6, 2019
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, and found it very entertaining. After being kicked out of the Marines, the brass show up on Maker's door to invite him back with a promotion. How do you say no to chance for revenge. Maker gathers his team, all picked for their special talents and heads off in search of the Vacra. Of course, Maker doesn't follow the orders totally and finds out he's been lied to about why he's heading out on this search in the first place. But the result is a fun listen with lots of actions, suspense and humour. If you like adventures in alien worlds you'll enjoy this one. Can't wait to see what type of trouble Maker gets in next.
Profile Image for Mony Daniel.
69 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2025
Fringe Worlds: Terminus is a high-stakes sci-fi adventure that had me hooked from start to finish. Master Sergeant Gant Maker is a compelling protagonist gritty, resourceful, and flawed in all the right ways. I loved the mix of military strategy, alien threats, and a ragtag team of misfits, each with their own unique skills and quirks.

The pacing is relentless, the battles are intense, and the stakes feel impossibly high. The world-building is immersive, and the tension keeps you turning pages, wondering who will survive and how Maker will outsmart the Vacra.

If you love sci-fi filled with daring missions, clever tactics, and an unforgettable team, grab Fringe Worlds: Terminus and jump into an edge-of-your-seat adventure.
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews23 followers
May 18, 2019
Recruited to find an insectiode alien species, that had wiped out his last mission, Sergeant Maker assembled a mottled crew of misfits and went in pursuit of his quarry.
As with a lot of bureaucratic institutions, the original plan told to the officers concerned, were not the end game. To say things went a little askew is an understatement.
However, I loved the characters of this book, especially Maker and his misfits. It was a well thought out plot and storyline.
It has enough twists to make it good drama.
I listened to the audiobook for this episode, and found that the narrator enhancement of the story by voice characteristics added to the overall enjoyment of story.
Profile Image for Mary.
123 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2022
Excellent story

This story is very much character centric and the characters are great. The main character Gant Maker is everything a good marine should be. The crew he gathers around him are all fab characters in their own right. There is plenty of action but we are not awash in details about armour and weapons, or explanations about how the tech works, which can get tedious. It’s just a good shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up yarn. There is plenty of spacefaring aliens and humanities own ‘hub’ of planets. Again not bogged down in detail of how we got there. Just this is where we are not let’s have an adventure. I am looking forward to the next book.
363 reviews2 followers
October 19, 2020
This one really disappointed me. Read like a combination of a mastibatory love letter to the marines and a D&D game where the GM was WAY to forgiving of his friends painfully out of place player characters... And this doesnt even have the excuse of being a live collection of people trying to have fun. The author sat down and painstakingly put together this.... Mess. I might take time to check out more Kid Sensation but its easier to be more forgiving in a super heroes setting... and honestly even it made more sense in its own context than this...
832 reviews4 followers
September 30, 2017
Excellently

I rarely give 5 Stars. In this case it is definitely warranted. First the technical, no editing errors who choose is rare now so many editors rely on spellchecker instead of reading. Ok now the story, well written and thought out. The characters were all oddballs but fit together well. There were enough twists to make it interesting without being confusing. The final ending was not a surprise. Great job and looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Curtis.
774 reviews20 followers
January 1, 2019
Straightforward Nicely Done Military SF Action

If you pick up this book thinking it will be different from the review title, you’ll be disappointed. That would be a shame too, because this is some good stuff. Lots of fast-paced action held together by plot and genre, with a few mystery odds and ends to keep things interesting. It could make a good anime.

If all that sounds good then by all means give it his a go; you’ll like it. Definitely recommended.
150 reviews4 followers
July 22, 2019
I enjoyed this: good military sci-fi

Not earthshaking writing, but great plot, aliens, marines, enemies, and action. A fun afternoon and good enough that I bought the next book and will start reading after I close this off. There is a lot of awesome character development potential here, and I hope this story is just the beginning of an excellent series.
This is the first and only book I've read by Kevin Hardman, so far.
8 reviews
July 30, 2019
Almost a miss....but not quite!

This missive could do easily have fallen at the first hurdle had it been written by a lesser author. However, Mr Hardman, has been able to avoid the trap of over detailing the passages with superlatives and grandiose utterances with great effect. I very much enjoyed the tale, the characters and the 'tech.

Good read, will probably purchase the sequels.
Profile Image for Keith.
2,143 reviews6 followers
October 9, 2019
Classic Scifi at its Best

A great beginning for the series with a well written storyline and an interesting and captivating cast. Good character development for Maker and the primary players. Great use of some theoretical science and I especially appreciated that at no point did the author attempt to create drama by subtracting known technology from a story segment.

Ends on a positive note with a defined promise for the next book.
Profile Image for Laurel Richards.
Author 26 books171 followers
January 13, 2018
Pros: This was a fun read. Gant Maker strikes me as a bit of a sci-fi Jack Reacher. The secondary characters are all distinct and interesting, and Erlen stole the show.

Cons: The overuse of parentheses got a little annoying at times, and there were a couple of other minor editing issues. No big deal, though.
Profile Image for David.
196 reviews
February 8, 2018
Terminus

Loved this book from start to finish, great action, even better characters you can relate too. The storyline was a winner from the start of the book, I loved Gants character and his Alien buddy, who was a mystery to start with,but you soon came to realize they rely on each other. Can't wait to read the next in the series, and a freebie to boot. Fab
Profile Image for Jeff.
754 reviews5 followers
October 22, 2018
Shoot first, then ask permission!

Destined to be a space marine classic, Arrogant Maker & his companion Zerlren are recruited for a mysterious mission somehow involved with the alien race that landed him on the beach years ago. Stubbornly refusing to die, despite the many opportunities provided, Gant Maker & team win & reap the rewards- more work!
Profile Image for Leta Brown.
27 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2018
Truly Amazing!!

This book was so good I had to force myself to put it down! Mr Hardman has the gift of decription which makes it easy to visualize the characters, places, and alien creatures. Loads of action and intrigue to keep a reader's mind engaged trying to anticipate what's next. I recommend this book and give it 5 stars! Well Done.
Profile Image for S Chris .
35 reviews
May 21, 2019
I definitely agree with the Firefly-vibe mentions, with just a dash of the A-Team, maybe? ;) These characters come together & round out into a phenomenal team like magic. You can’t help but root for them! I was right there with them for each & every scrape. I can’t wait to see if there will be a 3rd, 4th or more. There’s so much potential!
Profile Image for Deedra.
3,932 reviews39 followers
October 31, 2019
Awesome! Maker,ex military due to a crime he says he did not commit,is asked to find a team to do a job.He finds his rag tag team and the adventure begins.He also has a 'not pet' pet alien.It was great fun! Mikael Narramore was a terrific narrator. was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
164 reviews
January 16, 2020
Great start to the Fringe World Series. I liked it so much I bought book # 2 (Efferus). The story follows the life of a soldier named Gant. There is an overarching plot that brought the entire story together. Decent fight scenes and some interesting action scenes. Loved it. Definitely worth a credit.


I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Carol Hinton.
16 reviews
September 17, 2020
Great read

A great story in the realm of true space opera. One man, selected for a mission expected to be fairly easy, assembles a team of Marines, breaks most of the intergalactic rules, regulations and customs comes out on top with the unexpected help of a very strange alien life form. Rompin' stompin' action. Exciting easy read.
Profile Image for Amanda  Lee.
1,258 reviews43 followers
August 24, 2022
This was a very entertaining story, it's action packed and exciting. I loved the world building and well developed characters.

Some of it is pretty cliche sci-fi but it was well done and I enjoyed it nontheless.

The narration was good. Mikael Naramore did a great job portraying the characters and emotions.
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