Gray Panthers: Battle for Earth

Gray Panthers #1

by David Guenther

The year is 2126 it has been 30 years since Iran nuked Washington DC. America has traded security for liberty following the attack with the suspension of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution is not even taught in school any more. In this environment, Dan “D2” Daniels, a retired Army NCO of the old breed sworn to protect the constitution finds a crashed space ship and learns at the same time Earth will soon be invaded. Using the technology from the space ship, Dan forms an army of fellow senior veterans with two missions. First, to revive the Republic they had sworn their allegiance to and their second mission to save that Republic, and the world with it. Their first foray includes converting the CVN 80, USS Enterprise, a rusting air craft carrier, from a rusted heap waiting to be scrapped, into the first ship of the new space fleet of the Gray Panthers.

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2014

About the author

After growing up in the small town of Onalaska in Wisconsin I contracted a serious case of gypsy disease. For the next 21 years I traveled all over the world with the USAF. The experiences I garnered are the seeds for many of my stories. The experiences from the numerous deployments I had in the Air Force has given me enough fodder for stories for the rest of my life. Although I started writing military science fiction trying to emulate my favorite author John Ringo. I recently started writing horror and was a 2019 Dragon Awards finalist. In 2020 I'll be trying a new genre.

Reviews

[Per Gunnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The core story of this book is a nice idea. Unfortunately it is somewhat lacking in terms of implementation. The book is rather short, only a bit more than 160 pages, so it should perhaps not come as a surprise that the book is somewhat simple in terms of writing. However the writer tries to cram in a story that deserves at least a full length novel into those 160 and some pages which do not work very well.

The entire book feels rushed and many story elements are way too simplistic. The book is also somewhat uneven and sometimes I quite liked it but sometimes it really felt like Young Adult material despite the fact that the actual story is more of an old mans (wet) dream.

I quite liked the concept that this was not about a bunch of youngsters going on a adventure but rather the inverse. A bunch of old-timers not only gets a second chance to live but are indeed going on the mother of all adventures. Again the core story idea is a sound one for a science fiction book. I liked the characters as well as the alien AI even though they are rather simple with a unfortunate lack of character detail.

The story moves quite rapidly. Too rapidly for my taste. There are a lot of good wow-moments that could have been used much better if the author would have taken the time to work them out in some (quite a bit actually) more detail. Some things are also a bit too unrealistic, partly because of the lack of detail but also because they simply are rather unrealistic from the start.

It is obvious that the author is no fan of socialism and has created a rather disconcerting future with a socialist state in what used to be the USA. Well, it still is the USA but not the one we know. In 160 and some pages he manages to change that future, drastically while also building the means to defend Earth (for now at least) from the alien invaders. I quite liked how the bad guys (that being both the aliens and the socialist government of USA) got the short end of the stick. Both Dan and his best friend are guys not taking any shit from anyone. Yes it has macho-crap written all over it but what the heck, I liked it. It is just fiction after all.

Okay, okay, I have been harping the entire review about how this story was too short and too rushed but I really liked the actual story idea so I must confess that I was a bit disappointed at how it was implemented. I would say that the author tried to take too big a bite in one go. I would guess that this is a debutant work. His next book in the series is twice the size of this one and, although I have quite a few reservations about this one, I am going to read the next one. I have to see where the story goes and I hope that the author have picked up some experience with his first book. Also, I would like to encourage the author in the hope that he has more nice story ideas like this one.

[M Hamed · Rating 1 out of 5]

trash of the trashiest trash

i liked it

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are a 70 something vet, with conservative political views, then you will feel right at home with this book. Most of that I am okay with and wouldn't mind. The writing was simplistic with lots of short sentences. The Christian bias without apparent following of the tenants of the religion. Main character's Arabic friend is repeatedly referred to as a Christian, so he was okay. The enemy promotes complete "submission" which is islam in arabic. The casual myaoginy and the lesbian character that falls in love once she has had the right man, got a little much.
I love Science Fiction, I can suspend disbelief quite well but when in the middle of battle the AI says, "the enemy ship is using a faster than light drive, I can make one for this ship as well it would take an hour to build and an hour to install." Wait, WHAT? You left earth to go through space and didn't think to install an FTL drive? And installing it would only take 2 hours! Seriously! Everything is just too convenient and quick. There is an asteroid coming towards Earth! It took longer to describe the orders given by the captain to lift off than it did to describe the entire incident with the Asteroid. The description of the fight with the local gang took longer.
Cool idea, but the execution was so flawed. I will read the second book only because I already bought it. I really really hope that he gets MUCH better.

[gary l spellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heinlein remix!

I'm close to that certain age so I enjoyed that aspect. picked up Heinlein themes, military, oppressive governments, advanced alien tech, predatory species, longevity, a hero with classic American values and Heinleins gratuitous sex scenes. You know what I mean, as he aged his stories got dirtier! Where were the women veterans? Statistically they would have outlived male vets! A Rather misogynist bias to the otherwise entertaining premise. I picture his wrinkled liver spotted balding hairy eared head on his young body and it's not a panty dropper like he thinks. Haha!

[Kerry Reis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little over a century into the future, international conflicts had resulted in a nuclear attack on Washington, DC, destroying most of the government. Using security as justification, a cabinet secretary takes over the presidency and suspends most of the constitution, using over-regulation to have the government take over many private corporations and muzzle the media to form a socialist regime. Many older military members began to reject the orders from this unconstitutional non-republic government and left their positions to go into a ramshackle style of retirement, which is why veteran Dan Daniels found himself in an Arizona cave hiding his poached bighorn sheep meal from a Homeland Security drone, only to uncover an ancient hibernating alien spaceship shuttle, lost during a battle between two major alien forces within a galaxy wormhole eons ago. Inside the shuttle is an artificial intelligence with a knowledge of amazing technology, as well as information that an alien race will shortly appearing to conquer the earth and enslave humanity. Dan realizes that the alien technology will be valuable to create a militia of fellow vets to defend the earth, but his first order of business for the Gray Panthers is to restore the constitution and republic of the United States. This first book of a science fiction military utopian trilogy focuses mainly on the formation and rise of the Gray Panthers with the near superhuman technology of virtual eternal life, omniscient monitoring and oversight, and super space vehicle construction. There is very little conflict, which is quickly handled by the super technology, a plot characteristic that may be a drag for some readers, but for those readers that are strongly empathetic with military duty and honor, the process of accomplishment by the characters will be respected. There is a bit of a political imbalance in the main theme that will put some readers off.

[Joey Calvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mil Sci fi

A great read by David Guenther, this book in some ways makes me think of h. Beam piper and some of his great novels.this was a really fun story and I am definitely interested in the rest of the series. You can get this on Kindle unlimited

[Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

its ok quick read, as other reviewers said, trashy but in a good way.

[Scott Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than expected :)

[Bookwyrm Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

30 years after Iran nuked Washington DC and we basically wasted themin response, the surviving government suspended half the bill of rights, confiscated guns, had half the military desert or resign rather than attack US citizens, and seen huge growth in Homeland Security contractors take their place, enforcing the draconian "security". This is the country Dan "D2" Daniels, a retired Army Sgt. Major finds himself. When Dan goes down into an abandoned mine he hopes to find some gold in, he comes across a cavern with a spaceship that has been there for a hundred years. The ship is from a more advanced race that is peaceful, and it tells him that earth will be invaded in twenty years by a viloent alien race. The Ship, called Grub, agrees to help Dan to prepare the Earth, and starts by making him young and healthy again, although his face is still that of a 70 year old man. And so begins the adventure of a lifetime, as Dan starts recruiting old vets into his group to prepare to take the country back from the disease of corruption that has shredded the Constitution, and prepare to defend the Earth from invasion. With a large diverse group of interesting characters, an all too believable setting in a totalitarian Socialist America, and interesting technology, along with pulse pounding battle scenes and close quarters fights, this will appeal to any fan of military science fiction. I can't wait to get into book 2!

Liam Owens narration really brings the story to life, bringing some snark and intensity to the narration.

[John Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books were inspired by the books of John Ringo, and it shows. While I'm no prude, I did feel that some of the sex was kind of over-emphasized where it didn't need to be. As for the plot, it's fairly simple. 200 or so years ago, a sentient AI spaceship gets buried by accident on Earth in the US. 400 years later (200 years into our future), the US is a complete totalitarian Govt, banning most things including owning gold and silver and having weapons.
Dan, a 70ish year old is illegally hunting and mining when he stumbles on the AI and awakens it. This triggers a heart attack, and so to save him, the AI gives him lifesaving nannites. Discovering his body is now that of a 20 year old, Dan sets about using the AI to get rich, save fellow veterans from dying and create an army/navy/airforce/space force so that when invading aliens arrive, Earth can defeat them.
I liked this book, and I'll read the others in the series, but you really have to remove your brain before you start to read. The AI is so overpowered it's not funny. Nothing is impossible for it to either create, monitor, or control. Add to that it can create other AIs as well, and it's pretty much THE Deus Ex Machina to end them all. As someone else pointed out, why can the nannites rebuild their bodies, but not their faces to a younger form of themselves. (There's something about it not being ethical because disguise...)

[richard a rishell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wellwritten

Enjoyed this book very much. Also read the second book. Can't wait for the third one. Hope I remember to Finn it when published.

[Andrew Niemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good concept and a pretty quick read. Enjoyed the story.

[John Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

Overall based on the story I'd like to rate this book with 4 stars however editing issues, pacing, and politics lower the quality of what otherwise remains a good book

[Larry Murray · Rating 1 out of 5]

The gratuitous sex and unnecessary vulgarity of the language totally ruined this book for me. Because of these two issues I can't recommend the book and I've removed it from my e-reader.

[Ove · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and sketchy space opera I really wanted to like.