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The Borsen Incursion
For five centuries, a unified Earth has been the centre, and ruler, of all it surveys: an empire that spans two thousand worlds. It has been unchallenged for three hundred years.
The Borsen use strange technology to strike down fleets and planets with terrifying ease. Their inexplicable reserve leads some to suspect that they have a purpose beyond conquest. But all are certain that for the first time in half a millennium, mankind is facing a dire threat.
Centuries of bureaucracy and an entrenched arrogance lead to grievous losses. Even when a miraculous new technology offers an upper hand, factionalism and jealousy arise to threaten those who use it.
Can a visionary commander unravel the mystery that drives the Borsen?
Can he prevail against the fear that spreads as losses mount?
Can he realise the potentials of those who serve under him in time?
A centuries-spanning tale of space warfare told from major and minor viewpoints: the victories and the tragedies, the decisions that make or break civilisations, the resilience of ordinary people striving to cope. Be there when heroes are made and villains fall. Understand the motives of an enemy that seeks to drive humanity to the brink.
Using over fifty pieces of carefully-crafted short fiction, this book will take you from the start of the incursion to its end, letting you witness the war while revealing its impacts and revelations from every angle.
The Borsen use strange technology to strike down fleets and planets with terrifying ease. Their inexplicable reserve leads some to suspect that they have a purpose beyond conquest. But all are certain that for the first time in half a millennium, mankind is facing a dire threat.
Centuries of bureaucracy and an entrenched arrogance lead to grievous losses. Even when a miraculous new technology offers an upper hand, factionalism and jealousy arise to threaten those who use it.
Can a visionary commander unravel the mystery that drives the Borsen?
Can he prevail against the fear that spreads as losses mount?
Can he realise the potentials of those who serve under him in time?
A centuries-spanning tale of space warfare told from major and minor viewpoints: the victories and the tragedies, the decisions that make or break civilisations, the resilience of ordinary people striving to cope. Be there when heroes are made and villains fall. Understand the motives of an enemy that seeks to drive humanity to the brink.
Using over fifty pieces of carefully-crafted short fiction, this book will take you from the start of the incursion to its end, letting you witness the war while revealing its impacts and revelations from every angle.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2014
About the author
Julian M. Miles
52 books4 followers Julian grew up in Sussex, UK. A broken home in his early teens took him off the ‘straight and narrow’, and he’s never gone back. In the subsequent five decades he’s worked at levels from loading bay to boardroom, and picked up a few stories along the way.
His first loves were fantasy and magic; the blending of ancient and futuristic. He started writing at school, extended into writing role-playing game scenarios, and thence into bardic storytelling.
In 2011 he published his first books, in 2012 he released more (along with probably the smallest role-playing system in the world). Since then, he's published over 50 titles and has more than 30 books in progress.
He'd be delighted if you'd care to join him for a tale or two.
Keep an eye on what he’s up to at lothp.org/
To find his currently available range, go to lothp.org/published-work/
His first loves were fantasy and magic; the blending of ancient and futuristic. He started writing at school, extended into writing role-playing game scenarios, and thence into bardic storytelling.
In 2011 he published his first books, in 2012 he released more (along with probably the smallest role-playing system in the world). Since then, he's published over 50 titles and has more than 30 books in progress.
He'd be delighted if you'd care to join him for a tale or two.
Keep an eye on what he’s up to at lothp.org/
To find his currently available range, go to lothp.org/published-work/
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 12, 2026
The Borsen Incursion delivers a sweeping, intelligent take on large-scale space warfare that feels both epic in scope and deeply personal in execution. Julian M. Miles builds a universe where humanity, confident after centuries of dominance, is suddenly forced to confront an enemy it neither understands nor can easily defeat.
What stands out most is the structure. Told through over fifty interconnected short pieces, the narrative unfolds like a mosaic each fragment adding emotional weight and strategic depth to the larger conflict. Instead of following a single hero’s journey, we experience the war from multiple perspectives: commanders burdened by impossible choices, ordinary individuals struggling to survive, and political factions more concerned with power than unity. This layered approach makes the galaxy feel lived-in and real.
The Borsen themselves are fascinating. They are not portrayed as mindless conquerors but as a mysterious force with motives that remain just out of reach for much of the story. That uncertainty creates a constant tension beneath the military engagements. The question isn’t only whether humanity can win but whether it truly understands what it’s fighting against.
Miles also explores themes that resonate beyond science fiction: complacency bred by long-term power, the danger of bureaucracy in times of crisis, and the internal fractures that weaken civilizations from within. The introduction of breakthrough technology should be humanity’s turning point, yet pride and rivalry threaten to squander that advantage. It’s a sharp commentary wrapped in engaging space combat.
While the fragmented storytelling may require some attention from the reader, it ultimately pays off by giving the war a broad, almost documentary-like feel. The victories are hard-earned, the losses are meaningful, and the emotional stakes remain grounded even amid planetary scale destruction.
Overall, The Borsen Incursion is a thoughtful and ambitious military sci-fi saga. It combines strategy, mystery, and human drama into a compelling portrait of a civilization pushed to its limits. For readers who enjoy expansive world-building and multifaceted war narratives, this is a rewarding and memorable read.
What stands out most is the structure. Told through over fifty interconnected short pieces, the narrative unfolds like a mosaic each fragment adding emotional weight and strategic depth to the larger conflict. Instead of following a single hero’s journey, we experience the war from multiple perspectives: commanders burdened by impossible choices, ordinary individuals struggling to survive, and political factions more concerned with power than unity. This layered approach makes the galaxy feel lived-in and real.
The Borsen themselves are fascinating. They are not portrayed as mindless conquerors but as a mysterious force with motives that remain just out of reach for much of the story. That uncertainty creates a constant tension beneath the military engagements. The question isn’t only whether humanity can win but whether it truly understands what it’s fighting against.
Miles also explores themes that resonate beyond science fiction: complacency bred by long-term power, the danger of bureaucracy in times of crisis, and the internal fractures that weaken civilizations from within. The introduction of breakthrough technology should be humanity’s turning point, yet pride and rivalry threaten to squander that advantage. It’s a sharp commentary wrapped in engaging space combat.
While the fragmented storytelling may require some attention from the reader, it ultimately pays off by giving the war a broad, almost documentary-like feel. The victories are hard-earned, the losses are meaningful, and the emotional stakes remain grounded even amid planetary scale destruction.
Overall, The Borsen Incursion is a thoughtful and ambitious military sci-fi saga. It combines strategy, mystery, and human drama into a compelling portrait of a civilization pushed to its limits. For readers who enjoy expansive world-building and multifaceted war narratives, this is a rewarding and memorable read.
November 17, 2024
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, which was to tell the story of conquest, resistance, and defection from myriad points of view that occasionally stand alone but frequently intersect and together form the overarching narrative of how, and why, the Borsen waged war on humanity and how, and why, humanity responded as it did.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews