What do you think?
Rate this book
Hardpoints: Ordinary Man's War Book 2
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2026
About the author
John Walker
1,086 books187 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 20, 2026
IT TAKES MORE THEN MUNITIONS, GUNS, AND SOLDIERS TO FIGHT A WAR OR PROTECT INNOCENT CIVILIANS
4/19/26 Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 at best
Hardpoints: Ordinary Man's War Book 2 by John Walker much as the soldiers in combat defending and fighting the enemy. The support personnel behind the scenes are not very often in the stories we see on the TV, in the news, documentaries, or movies. They're not in the books we read often enough considering that without their contributions the war would be lost and more would die. It's not that they don't put their lives on the line. It's not that they don't pick up a weapon to defend others or themselves. It's just not as sexy or interesting to some most of the time. This book is the exception to that line of thinking.
The logistics of war; supply lines, maintenance, warehousing, food distribution and prep, doctors and nurses just to name a few. It's more than grunts with firearms and bullets that win or lose wars or protect innocent civilians. Take out the infrastructure and the people who support the war and the soldiers everything comes to a halt in the clogs in the system start turning and all is lost. This is a different look into the military fighting a war with the service personnel behind the scenes making or breaking the war effort. The people who make the logistics of war moving.
That being said, this book even as a science fiction story about those that are behind the scenes, this book has its action, it has a group of military personnel that are not only the backbone of the war effort but place themselves in the line of fire to support, provide medical attention, and evacuate the injured and the innocent before the enemy can take them out.
Normally, everything that I have had the chance to read that has been written by John Walker has justifiably received a five star rating from me. This book, I couldn't justify a five star rating due to the fact that at times I was lost with the terminology used. I know this is science fiction and you can pretty much put something pen to paper and if you explain or define your meaning and usage of the word or terminology, it works because it's fiction and with science fiction the doors are all the way open allowing new and unprovable words and statements to be introduced into the storyline. In this book to make my case, that did not happen. Words, terminology, and even characters were not explained. They were brought into the story with no explanation.
Now, the first book was not the case and was more enjoyable for me to say the least. This second book was good, don't get me wrong and if and when the third book is released in this series, I fully plan to read it. The main characters, Owen, Sato, Calder, Kline, Quinn, and even some of the new cast introduced in this series make this book well worth reading. The interaction between them is insightful, touching at times, heroic, and even humorous and I would highly recommend this book and series based on the story of those behind the scenes in the war between the Terran Defense Force and the Varkai.
Quotes:
"That's because paperwork is how institutions spread pain."
"And here I thought bureaucracy was just bad manners."
"I'm going to develop a new emotional vocabulary just to complain probably.”
4/19/26 Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 at best
Hardpoints: Ordinary Man's War Book 2 by John Walker much as the soldiers in combat defending and fighting the enemy. The support personnel behind the scenes are not very often in the stories we see on the TV, in the news, documentaries, or movies. They're not in the books we read often enough considering that without their contributions the war would be lost and more would die. It's not that they don't put their lives on the line. It's not that they don't pick up a weapon to defend others or themselves. It's just not as sexy or interesting to some most of the time. This book is the exception to that line of thinking.
The logistics of war; supply lines, maintenance, warehousing, food distribution and prep, doctors and nurses just to name a few. It's more than grunts with firearms and bullets that win or lose wars or protect innocent civilians. Take out the infrastructure and the people who support the war and the soldiers everything comes to a halt in the clogs in the system start turning and all is lost. This is a different look into the military fighting a war with the service personnel behind the scenes making or breaking the war effort. The people who make the logistics of war moving.
That being said, this book even as a science fiction story about those that are behind the scenes, this book has its action, it has a group of military personnel that are not only the backbone of the war effort but place themselves in the line of fire to support, provide medical attention, and evacuate the injured and the innocent before the enemy can take them out.
Normally, everything that I have had the chance to read that has been written by John Walker has justifiably received a five star rating from me. This book, I couldn't justify a five star rating due to the fact that at times I was lost with the terminology used. I know this is science fiction and you can pretty much put something pen to paper and if you explain or define your meaning and usage of the word or terminology, it works because it's fiction and with science fiction the doors are all the way open allowing new and unprovable words and statements to be introduced into the storyline. In this book to make my case, that did not happen. Words, terminology, and even characters were not explained. They were brought into the story with no explanation.
Now, the first book was not the case and was more enjoyable for me to say the least. This second book was good, don't get me wrong and if and when the third book is released in this series, I fully plan to read it. The main characters, Owen, Sato, Calder, Kline, Quinn, and even some of the new cast introduced in this series make this book well worth reading. The interaction between them is insightful, touching at times, heroic, and even humorous and I would highly recommend this book and series based on the story of those behind the scenes in the war between the Terran Defense Force and the Varkai.
Quotes:
"That's because paperwork is how institutions spread pain."
"And here I thought bureaucracy was just bad manners."
"I'm going to develop a new emotional vocabulary just to complain probably.”
April 28, 2026
Too heavy going - gave up at 85%
I usually love reading a Joh Walker book - I read Graduation Day book 3 in a day. I have been soldiering on with this, but the relentless military jargon, the inevitable escapes from impossible situations whilst in great distress from a body too old to be at war, none of which really advance the story, cannot be said to be entertaining with its endless repetition of its self developed clichés. It would be wonderful if the story would actually get to its point, rather than all the hints. It would be nice to see some character development too. By the 85% point I thought that Calder’s leg must be gangrenous, but he still has the silly quipping going on. Anyway, looking forward to another John Walker solo book, just going back to the Unwanted Starship book 2, which is also a bit of a struggle.
I usually love reading a Joh Walker book - I read Graduation Day book 3 in a day. I have been soldiering on with this, but the relentless military jargon, the inevitable escapes from impossible situations whilst in great distress from a body too old to be at war, none of which really advance the story, cannot be said to be entertaining with its endless repetition of its self developed clichés. It would be wonderful if the story would actually get to its point, rather than all the hints. It would be nice to see some character development too. By the 85% point I thought that Calder’s leg must be gangrenous, but he still has the silly quipping going on. Anyway, looking forward to another John Walker solo book, just going back to the Unwanted Starship book 2, which is also a bit of a struggle.
May 31, 2026
A filler book if I’ve ever read one
I dislike authors who use excessive words to pad a boring story. I liked the first book. But this was a truly a pain to read. By chapter 8 I was slipping into a mumbo jumbo coma. By chapter10 I was done. It was a shame as I’ll never find out what happened but I can happily forget all the injuries these guys and gals fight through for no apparent reason and where this story to no where goes.
I dislike authors who use excessive words to pad a boring story. I liked the first book. But this was a truly a pain to read. By chapter 8 I was slipping into a mumbo jumbo coma. By chapter10 I was done. It was a shame as I’ll never find out what happened but I can happily forget all the injuries these guys and gals fight through for no apparent reason and where this story to no where goes.
May 7, 2026
Breakneck speed
Excellent, witty writing with a dark underlay. This progresses the mystery a step further. Can’t put down reading. I hope that the authors are writing quickly because I’m ready for the next chapter in the story.
Excellent, witty writing with a dark underlay. This progresses the mystery a step further. Can’t put down reading. I hope that the authors are writing quickly because I’m ready for the next chapter in the story.
June 19, 2026
babble
But sometimes appears as babble is thoroughly enjoyable rhetoric. I thoroughly enjoyed the crews interactions. The tit for tat,back-and-forth reminds me of earlier times in my life.
But sometimes appears as babble is thoroughly enjoyable rhetoric. I thoroughly enjoyed the crews interactions. The tit for tat,back-and-forth reminds me of earlier times in my life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews