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The Ember War Saga #1
The Ember War
Earth is doomed. Humanity has a chance.
In the near future, an alien probe arrives on Earth with a pivotal mission—help humanity survive an impending invasion by an alien armada so massive it can blot out the stars, or leave the human race to certain extinction.
Despite overwhelming odds, the probe recruits a young inventor named Marc Ibarra to plan a daring gambit. To weather the coming storm, Ibarra must build a space fleet strong enough to face an implacable foe in a battle against annihilation.
In the near future, an alien probe arrives on Earth with a pivotal mission—help humanity survive an impending invasion by an alien armada so massive it can blot out the stars, or leave the human race to certain extinction.
Despite overwhelming odds, the probe recruits a young inventor named Marc Ibarra to plan a daring gambit. To weather the coming storm, Ibarra must build a space fleet strong enough to face an implacable foe in a battle against annihilation.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
1204 people are currently reading
1949 people want to read
About the author
Richard Fox
131 books613 followersRichard Fox is a Nebula Award nominated author, and winner of the 2017 Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy novel, author of The Ember War Saga, a military science fiction and space opera series, and other novels in the military history, thriller and space opera genres.
He lives in fabulous Las Vegas with his incredible wife and three boys, amazing children bent on anarchy.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) much to his surprise and spent ten years on active duty in the United States Army. He deployed on two combat tours to Iraq and received the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.
The Ember War Saga:
1. The Ember War
2. The Ruins of Anthalas
3. Blood of Heroes
4. Earth Defiant
5. The Gardens of Nibiru
6. Battle of the Void
7. The Siege of Earth
8. The Crucible
9. The Xaros Reckoning
Terran Armored Corps
1. Iron Dragoons
2. The Ibarra Sanction
3. The True Measure
4. A House Divided
5. The Last Aeon
6. Ferrum Corde
Terran Strike Marines
1. The Dotari Salvation
2. Rage of Winter
3. Valdar's Hammer
4. The Beast of Eridu
5. Gott Mit Uns
The Exiled Fleet:
1. Albion Lost
2. The Long March
3. Finest Hour
4. Point of Honor
The Terra Nova Chronicles
1. Terra Nova
2. Bloodlines
3. Wings of Redemption
4. Hale's War
Subscribe to Richard's spam free email list and get free short stories set during the Ember War Saga (and more as they become available) at: http://eepurl.com/bLj1gf
Like him on Facebook (best place to reach him): https://www.facebook.com/Richard-Fox-...
Website: www.richardfoxauthor.com
He lives in fabulous Las Vegas with his incredible wife and three boys, amazing children bent on anarchy.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) much to his surprise and spent ten years on active duty in the United States Army. He deployed on two combat tours to Iraq and received the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.
The Ember War Saga:
1. The Ember War
2. The Ruins of Anthalas
3. Blood of Heroes
4. Earth Defiant
5. The Gardens of Nibiru
6. Battle of the Void
7. The Siege of Earth
8. The Crucible
9. The Xaros Reckoning
Terran Armored Corps
1. Iron Dragoons
2. The Ibarra Sanction
3. The True Measure
4. A House Divided
5. The Last Aeon
6. Ferrum Corde
Terran Strike Marines
1. The Dotari Salvation
2. Rage of Winter
3. Valdar's Hammer
4. The Beast of Eridu
5. Gott Mit Uns
The Exiled Fleet:
1. Albion Lost
2. The Long March
3. Finest Hour
4. Point of Honor
The Terra Nova Chronicles
1. Terra Nova
2. Bloodlines
3. Wings of Redemption
4. Hale's War
Subscribe to Richard's spam free email list and get free short stories set during the Ember War Saga (and more as they become available) at: http://eepurl.com/bLj1gf
Like him on Facebook (best place to reach him): https://www.facebook.com/Richard-Fox-...
Website: www.richardfoxauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
March 14, 2017
“They saved him, fed him and showed him what strength really is. And they were all volunteers, every last one of them.No one had to order an American to save the oppressed. It’s part of their nature to see others live free, even at the sacrifice of their own lives.''
he wrote that ,the fucker actually wrote that
that is why you shouldn't read random books from your goodreads feed .
he wrote that ,the fucker actually wrote that
that is why you shouldn't read random books from your goodreads feed .
August 9, 2016
Oh boy, This is one of the worst Sci-Fi books I have ever read. This book ticks all the right boxes if it was written solely for the amusement of white supremacist members.
Stinking Indian - Tick
Evil Chinamen - Tick
Zealot Muslims on a christian enslavement bender - Double Tick
This book is not about the survival of humanity facing the imminent threat of extinction, but about advertising American exceptionalism and its desire to rekindle America after the destruction of planet America.
Stinking Indian - Tick
Evil Chinamen - Tick
Zealot Muslims on a christian enslavement bender - Double Tick
This book is not about the survival of humanity facing the imminent threat of extinction, but about advertising American exceptionalism and its desire to rekindle America after the destruction of planet America.
July 12, 2015
Interesting
Story. I am an avid reader of military sci-fi, and we have found a new author to follow. While the end of humanity plotline is common amongst this genre, how Mr Fox goes about setting the story is different from many of the other novels I have read. He has created a new galaxy to play in, and I have a feeling, this book is only the beginning. This book has excellent pace, and a perfect blend of space battles and ground battles throughout the book. The characters aren't deeply developed, but you get a decent background on them. I wouldn't say this book ends on a cliffhanger, but when you finish a book that leaves the plot open, it makes you crave the next book. Editing could be better, but this is typical for new authors. I found only a few mistakes, and I am not the best writer, as this review is evident, so it is possible I missed some too. Overall I'd give the book 4 1/2 stars. Give this book a read, you will enjoy it.
Story. I am an avid reader of military sci-fi, and we have found a new author to follow. While the end of humanity plotline is common amongst this genre, how Mr Fox goes about setting the story is different from many of the other novels I have read. He has created a new galaxy to play in, and I have a feeling, this book is only the beginning. This book has excellent pace, and a perfect blend of space battles and ground battles throughout the book. The characters aren't deeply developed, but you get a decent background on them. I wouldn't say this book ends on a cliffhanger, but when you finish a book that leaves the plot open, it makes you crave the next book. Editing could be better, but this is typical for new authors. I found only a few mistakes, and I am not the best writer, as this review is evident, so it is possible I missed some too. Overall I'd give the book 4 1/2 stars. Give this book a read, you will enjoy it.
May 25, 2017
Started good, but the prologue doesn't jive with the rest of the book, so I felt let down by that. Also, I couldn't understand the pro-America patriotic slant this book took, given that aliens attack and we should be thinking about unity and trust on a global scale.
June 4, 2016
A thoroughly adequate and by the numbers military sci-fi book that doesn't really bring anything new to the table, stretch any bounds, clear any hurdles, or really do anything that I haven't read in a dozen and one military sci-fi books I can name just off the top of my head right now. Not bad, just kind of generic. If you really want me to sing your praises, you've got to do something a bit more original with the genre than this. I felt like I was reading a novelization of the first episode of the Battlestar Galactica remake through most of the book. So, uh, instead of reading this book, go Netflix Battlestar Galactica, because that series was awesome, despite it's non-ending. This one, eh, I'll give it another book to get its act together and pull itself out of Mehsville. Audible is selling both books as a single audiobook atm, so I might as well.
June 7, 2018
A book that really can't get out of it's own way.
The idea behind the story is actually pretty good. The characters and writing, unfortunately, I found to be problematic. The perspectives are Mr. Space Captain, Mr. Space Marine, Mrs. Fighter Pilot, and Mrs. Moronic Chosen One. None of them are bad, except for the incredibly annoying Mrs. Moronic Chosen One, but each perspective has significant weaknesses.
For Mr. Space Captain the character seems fine but the inability to write the space battles with sufficient clarity about what is actually going on in the bigger picture is an issue.
For Mr. Space Marine it's more of a character problem. For a marine he spend a lot of time dwelling introspectively on his emotions. In a role that demands a fearless grizzled badass you get a guy who can come across as a little... sensitive.
Mrs. Fighter pilot is the best of the bunch. An actual badass but fairly underdeveloped as a character and the most limited page time of the all of them.
Then there is Mrs. Moronic Chosen One. What to even say about her. She's a self absorbed idiot whose only real redeeming value is that she's a chosen one. So, not ideal.
Overall, the strength of the idea makes it an ok book if you can overlook it's flaws but it's not something I'd ever recommend to anybody.
The idea behind the story is actually pretty good. The characters and writing, unfortunately, I found to be problematic. The perspectives are Mr. Space Captain, Mr. Space Marine, Mrs. Fighter Pilot, and Mrs. Moronic Chosen One. None of them are bad, except for the incredibly annoying Mrs. Moronic Chosen One, but each perspective has significant weaknesses.
For Mr. Space Captain the character seems fine but the inability to write the space battles with sufficient clarity about what is actually going on in the bigger picture is an issue.
For Mr. Space Marine it's more of a character problem. For a marine he spend a lot of time dwelling introspectively on his emotions. In a role that demands a fearless grizzled badass you get a guy who can come across as a little... sensitive.
Mrs. Fighter pilot is the best of the bunch. An actual badass but fairly underdeveloped as a character and the most limited page time of the all of them.
Then there is Mrs. Moronic Chosen One. What to even say about her. She's a self absorbed idiot whose only real redeeming value is that she's a chosen one. So, not ideal.
Overall, the strength of the idea makes it an ok book if you can overlook it's flaws but it's not something I'd ever recommend to anybody.
July 19, 2015
A great read...
For the most part, a well written, edited story, that kept me engaged the entire time. I wish it had been longer, but I am definitely looking for more. Keep the story rolling!
For the most part, a well written, edited story, that kept me engaged the entire time. I wish it had been longer, but I am definitely looking for more. Keep the story rolling!
May 30, 2017
While this is an extremely cheesy military scifi book with a interesting story. The horrible pro American / pro western civilization nonsense is pretty damn insulting. i cannot give this more than two stars.
March 26, 2016
Droids! Humanity's last stand! Alien friends and foes! All and more are just a page away in The Ember War-first in an exciting series by Richard Fox. Fox's story starts out with Marc Ibarra, a B- student at an Arizona college who's cell phone won't stop ringing. His answer puts him in contact with an alien probe sent to warn mankind about their impending doom.
The book jumps to 60 years out. Marc and the alien intelligence have helped prepare humanity from the deadly Xaros droids who have so far eradicated all life forms they have encountered. We join a squad of space marines as they make initial contact with the Xaros horde.
The Ember War is a wild ride that details how humanity battles a menacing and intelligent foe. I'd call it hard military science fiction, but without some of the usual drawbacks. Sometimes the characters suffer in military science fiction, but not so here. Our protagonist, Ken Hale, is a very real person who leads an ever-shrinking team against almost impossible odds. The technology is awesome and interesting, but not too heavy. I didn't get lost in it-as can be the case in this genre.
I've read some critical reviews of the ending, but it worked for me. You have to close a book somehow, and the introduction of a new species (friend or foe) left me thirsting for more. Well done, Richard Fox!
I received an ARC copy of The Ember War in exchange for my honest review.
The book jumps to 60 years out. Marc and the alien intelligence have helped prepare humanity from the deadly Xaros droids who have so far eradicated all life forms they have encountered. We join a squad of space marines as they make initial contact with the Xaros horde.
The Ember War is a wild ride that details how humanity battles a menacing and intelligent foe. I'd call it hard military science fiction, but without some of the usual drawbacks. Sometimes the characters suffer in military science fiction, but not so here. Our protagonist, Ken Hale, is a very real person who leads an ever-shrinking team against almost impossible odds. The technology is awesome and interesting, but not too heavy. I didn't get lost in it-as can be the case in this genre.
I've read some critical reviews of the ending, but it worked for me. You have to close a book somehow, and the introduction of a new species (friend or foe) left me thirsting for more. Well done, Richard Fox!
I received an ARC copy of The Ember War in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2024
This is an interesting spin on the hostile first contact genre.
The way the book was written makes it hard to distinguish a main character. Multiple groups of people get a decently equal share of page time. I don't think this is a bad thing, it's an interesting way to write a story.
This definitely has a "pro american" vibe, even though the Atlantic Union is an aliance of countries from Europe, North and South America. And it has a few cringy quotes to go along with that "pro american" vibe.
“No one had to order an American to save the oppressed. It’s part of their nature to see others live free, even at the sacrifice of their own lives."
Is a good example of that.
Also purposely modeling the America marines on the Knights Templar and calling their fight against "Muslim Extreamists" a crusade was definitely not a good idea.
“When he was a boy, my grandfather lived in Stockholm. He and his family were there when the Muslims declared the city theirs. They were poor, and didn’t have the money to pay the non-believer tax and wouldn’t convert to Islam, so the Muslims enslaved them all. They murdered my great-grandfather. My great-grandmother didn’t last much longer.
“He was in rags, starving, when the crusade came. He told me stories about the American soldiers, how they looked like knights in their body armor and the red Templar cross on their shoulder. They killed the Islamists, sent the rest of them back to their sand dunes in the Middle East. They saved him, fed him and showed him what strength really is. And they were all volunteers, every last one of of them."
I don't know why this conversation was a part of this book. And I really think it affected it negatively.
I've noticed in other reviews people calling the characters "flat" and I don't think that's fair. The book covers a very small time frame and and very specific set of events. I think it would be unrealistic to see dramatic change in a character so quickly after being introduced to them. This is a 9 or 10 book series after all.
The way the book was written makes it hard to distinguish a main character. Multiple groups of people get a decently equal share of page time. I don't think this is a bad thing, it's an interesting way to write a story.
This definitely has a "pro american" vibe, even though the Atlantic Union is an aliance of countries from Europe, North and South America. And it has a few cringy quotes to go along with that "pro american" vibe.
“No one had to order an American to save the oppressed. It’s part of their nature to see others live free, even at the sacrifice of their own lives."
Is a good example of that.
Also purposely modeling the America marines on the Knights Templar and calling their fight against "Muslim Extreamists" a crusade was definitely not a good idea.
“When he was a boy, my grandfather lived in Stockholm. He and his family were there when the Muslims declared the city theirs. They were poor, and didn’t have the money to pay the non-believer tax and wouldn’t convert to Islam, so the Muslims enslaved them all. They murdered my great-grandfather. My great-grandmother didn’t last much longer.
“He was in rags, starving, when the crusade came. He told me stories about the American soldiers, how they looked like knights in their body armor and the red Templar cross on their shoulder. They killed the Islamists, sent the rest of them back to their sand dunes in the Middle East. They saved him, fed him and showed him what strength really is. And they were all volunteers, every last one of of them."
I don't know why this conversation was a part of this book. And I really think it affected it negatively.
I've noticed in other reviews people calling the characters "flat" and I don't think that's fair. The book covers a very small time frame and and very specific set of events. I think it would be unrealistic to see dramatic change in a character so quickly after being introduced to them. This is a 9 or 10 book series after all.
August 8, 2015
A good opening book into a new sci-fi world. Set in the near future, the plot moves along nicely with enough anticipation and tension to keep the pages turning and wanting to see what would happen. Perhaps just a bit too straight forward of a plot with no real twists or failures by the protagonists. However, with the number of developed characters you could tell this book was setting up the potential to develop a much deeper world and stories as the war with the Xaros continues on. Definitely recommend for a good read!
August 30, 2015
This is quite a good start of a new series in the alien invasion/human survival science fiction genre. It has a certain originality, it is fairly well written and has a decent pace.
I have to say that, based on the book blurb, I did expect a slightly different story. Obviously I cannot reveal anything about the story without spoiling parts of the book but I quite liked how the author has created a somewhat original story on a not so original basic theme.
The book is generally well written as I wrote although the characters are perhaps a bit superficially handled most of the time. It did not disturb me a lot, I rather have somewhat superficial characters than endless monologues, dialogues and introspection, but it also made me feel that there was no character that stood out as the main character, the hero, that you felt like following. Perhaps some of this feeling comes from the fact that although Marc Ibarra should have been the big hero, and technically he is, he is actually not present for most of the book.
The pace of the book is reasonably fast paced and for most of the part it suited me just fine. However I also feel that some parts that I wanted to read about was left out. Specifically, there is a place where the author makes a fast forward over several decennia and that leaves a lot of the story untold. I can understand why the author did it since it made it possible to have more of a surprise effect later in the book but it still feels like a bit of the book was missing.
The authors solution to the “small” problem of a somewhat hostile race with an armada that blots out the sun and the incompatibility of this with the survival of the human race was a bit of a surprise to me. I quite enjoyed his solution. Since this is supposed to be the first book in a series it is hardly a spoiler when I write that the human race, at least some of it, did survive…for now.
The last chapters of the book sets the stage for the books to come and although it would be fair to say that the book does not end in a blatant cliffhanger it does indeed leave quite a few loose ends and questions. It was definitely an enjoyable book for me. Maybe a bit simple and not very deep reading at times but a good adventure with a refreshing originality. I am most certainly going to pick up the next one when it comes out.
I have to say that, based on the book blurb, I did expect a slightly different story. Obviously I cannot reveal anything about the story without spoiling parts of the book but I quite liked how the author has created a somewhat original story on a not so original basic theme.
The book is generally well written as I wrote although the characters are perhaps a bit superficially handled most of the time. It did not disturb me a lot, I rather have somewhat superficial characters than endless monologues, dialogues and introspection, but it also made me feel that there was no character that stood out as the main character, the hero, that you felt like following. Perhaps some of this feeling comes from the fact that although Marc Ibarra should have been the big hero, and technically he is, he is actually not present for most of the book.
The pace of the book is reasonably fast paced and for most of the part it suited me just fine. However I also feel that some parts that I wanted to read about was left out. Specifically, there is a place where the author makes a fast forward over several decennia and that leaves a lot of the story untold. I can understand why the author did it since it made it possible to have more of a surprise effect later in the book but it still feels like a bit of the book was missing.
The authors solution to the “small” problem of a somewhat hostile race with an armada that blots out the sun and the incompatibility of this with the survival of the human race was a bit of a surprise to me. I quite enjoyed his solution. Since this is supposed to be the first book in a series it is hardly a spoiler when I write that the human race, at least some of it, did survive…for now.
The last chapters of the book sets the stage for the books to come and although it would be fair to say that the book does not end in a blatant cliffhanger it does indeed leave quite a few loose ends and questions. It was definitely an enjoyable book for me. Maybe a bit simple and not very deep reading at times but a good adventure with a refreshing originality. I am most certainly going to pick up the next one when it comes out.
August 31, 2021
The Ember War by Richard Fox is the first book in the Ember War Saga. This book is first-rate military science fiction.
In this one most of humankind has been destroyed by a malevolent alien intelligence. Because another alien has previously come to Earth and prepared us, a small portion of the military and a group of colonists are saved and have been brought back to earth to fight the aliens and then to prepare to fight them on a galaxy-wide scale.
This book is action-packed with many space battles as well as Marines in one on one combat with the aliens. It has a few twists and turns that you will not really see coming. It is a great read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Note: I won this book in the "Five Authors - Five Books August give-a-way. It is signed by the author. I really appreciate being chosen as a winner for this month's drawing. :)
In this one most of humankind has been destroyed by a malevolent alien intelligence. Because another alien has previously come to Earth and prepared us, a small portion of the military and a group of colonists are saved and have been brought back to earth to fight the aliens and then to prepare to fight them on a galaxy-wide scale.
This book is action-packed with many space battles as well as Marines in one on one combat with the aliens. It has a few twists and turns that you will not really see coming. It is a great read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Note: I won this book in the "Five Authors - Five Books August give-a-way. It is signed by the author. I really appreciate being chosen as a winner for this month's drawing. :)
January 7, 2019
Quite well written, some good worldbuilding and good ideas, lacking somewhat in character development but all in all a solid 3.
Except that there are some truly appaling views being presented, the whole world is coming to an end and the main character chooses to devise a plan to save a few thousands and chooses only americans based on what most probably is the writers own opinions. Take this quote...
“They saved him, fed him and showed him what strength really is. And they were all volunteers, every last one of them. No one had to order an American to save the oppressed. It’s part of their nature to see others live free, even at the sacrifice of their own lives.''
I mean 'cmon. And I have not even mentioned the muslim takeover in Sweden.
Except that there are some truly appaling views being presented, the whole world is coming to an end and the main character chooses to devise a plan to save a few thousands and chooses only americans based on what most probably is the writers own opinions. Take this quote...
“They saved him, fed him and showed him what strength really is. And they were all volunteers, every last one of them. No one had to order an American to save the oppressed. It’s part of their nature to see others live free, even at the sacrifice of their own lives.''
I mean 'cmon. And I have not even mentioned the muslim takeover in Sweden.
August 12, 2015
In the not too distant future an alien probe lands on Earth with a warning for Humanity. This probe is not just a machine but has a very sophisticated AI, one that allows it to decide what it should do in pursuit of its mission. Earth is in the cross hairs of an alien invasion – one that has decimated civilizations throughout the Galaxy and they only have a limited time before this swarm attacks. The probe chooses a struggling student as its messiah of change ... its a slim hope, but the only one that humanity has!
Read my full review here. Really well written and thought out. Definitely one that I recommend.
Read my full review here. Really well written and thought out. Definitely one that I recommend.
June 7, 2017
Great opening novel.
Marc Ibarra is awakened by a strange call. The result of this call will change his life and quite possibly save humanity. 60 years later mankind will face an enemy like it has never faced before. Ember War is well written with a fast paced story. The characters are enjoyable and the story is intriguing. I really enjoyed this volume and as soon as this review is over I will be downloading the next.
Marc Ibarra is awakened by a strange call. The result of this call will change his life and quite possibly save humanity. 60 years later mankind will face an enemy like it has never faced before. Ember War is well written with a fast paced story. The characters are enjoyable and the story is intriguing. I really enjoyed this volume and as soon as this review is over I will be downloading the next.
November 26, 2015
This is my first time reading Richard Fox.
I enjoyed the book, plenty of action with a strong story line. I bought the next book in the series, The Ruins of Anthalas, so I know what happens next!
I enjoyed the book, plenty of action with a strong story line. I bought the next book in the series, The Ruins of Anthalas, so I know what happens next!
August 1, 2016
Fantastic read!!!
This is one of the best books I have read. It keeps you turning pages, and or emersion reading, even when you know you have other plans.
This is one of the best books I have read. It keeps you turning pages, and or emersion reading, even when you know you have other plans.
March 4, 2018
Awesome book, cant wait to read the next one!
abandoned
July 3, 2020I feel like I should start vetting my authors better....
March 23, 2021
This book was filled with problems that did not make for an enjoyable reading experience. The characters were very thin without any development and completely missing depth. I don’t know what it says that the most compelling characters in the book are the three encased in mech suits that we hardly get any time with.
This story comes from a deeply western centric mentality with the Americans being the perfect heroes saving the day with the Western Europeans riding their coattails against the “Islamic aggressors” who are “driven back to their sand dunes” and the extremely one note and almost rabid seeming portrayal of the Chinese it’s almost a relief when the genocidal aliens show up just to stop that shit. I mean the author briefly talks about a Crusade to free Europe from the enslaving Muslim invasion with damn templar crosses on American Marines. What the literal fuck?
The aliens are fine if rather cookie cutter high tech drone tech. The actually plot seems fine if nothing really exciting or engaging with it being the whole “something about humanity gives hope to the universe that we are the best hope to save everything from the rampaging aliens”. You know despite us being centuries behind the tech curve and over 99% of the world population dead half way through the book.
As you can guess I won’t be finishing the series.
This story comes from a deeply western centric mentality with the Americans being the perfect heroes saving the day with the Western Europeans riding their coattails against the “Islamic aggressors” who are “driven back to their sand dunes” and the extremely one note and almost rabid seeming portrayal of the Chinese it’s almost a relief when the genocidal aliens show up just to stop that shit. I mean the author briefly talks about a Crusade to free Europe from the enslaving Muslim invasion with damn templar crosses on American Marines. What the literal fuck?
The aliens are fine if rather cookie cutter high tech drone tech. The actually plot seems fine if nothing really exciting or engaging with it being the whole “something about humanity gives hope to the universe that we are the best hope to save everything from the rampaging aliens”. You know despite us being centuries behind the tech curve and over 99% of the world population dead half way through the book.
As you can guess I won’t be finishing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2021
It's a great storyline but the xenophobia was not needed
I really liked the premise and the storyline, but Hated the xenophobia. There was also a paragraph on Muslims taking over a city in Canada till they were freed by us forces- was very strange and had nothing to do with the story at all.
I really liked the premise and the storyline, but Hated the xenophobia. There was also a paragraph on Muslims taking over a city in Canada till they were freed by us forces- was very strange and had nothing to do with the story at all.
March 29, 2021
Multiple other reviews have already mentioned the white supremacist overtones, so please see other 1-star reviews, but some highlights include explicitly stating how americans are the ultimate heroes because they are the ones who self sacrificed to save other european nations from the evil evil Muslims who are trying to take it over. The Chinese also being super evil, and the only ones with whose faces are contorted into "rictus" of hate. The harmful stereotypes for every nationality. How women are the only ones physically described in detail.
Plus, the writing is pretty sub-par & confusing, and the plot seems to mostly ape what you'd expect from bad sci-fi movie special effects.
Since I just came from another military sci-fi series with many white supremacist overtones that somewhat redeemed itself later, I'll give book two a try. We'll see.
Plus, the writing is pretty sub-par & confusing, and the plot seems to mostly ape what you'd expect from bad sci-fi movie special effects.
Since I just came from another military sci-fi series with many white supremacist overtones that somewhat redeemed itself later, I'll give book two a try. We'll see.
June 22, 2016
This was an exciting read, with some sparks of brilliance in between. Some of the action sequences are thrilling and edge-of-the-seat stuff. Richard Fox is a self-published author and hence it was difficult to find references in Google. I believe there is no entry in Wikipedia for him. Seems a shame. I guess publicity will come slowly as word of mouth.
An enjoyable read and I have started on the second installment of the series.
An enjoyable read and I have started on the second installment of the series.
September 20, 2017
Great sci-fi story of a different post-apocalyptic earth and the future of humanity. Well written and thought through with good characterization. I did find some of the technical details confusing in some of the dynamic experiences, but they didn't slow down the pacing or drama enough to hinder the reading experience. The futuristic science fiction technology elements were great.
All together a great read for sci-fi fans.
All together a great read for sci-fi fans.
October 19, 2017
I am very sorry that I didn't leave a review, don't know what came over me! To the book! This book was fast paced and held my attention. What a concept? Yeah, it was a "the earth is doomed to complete destruction" type. But, it is very well done. I liked that it kept me guessing and the end wasn't too bad for the 1st of a series. The characters seemed to be people you know, and you cheer or cry for them. I will follow this series.
June 8, 2016
Pretty good and compelling, can't describe why. But it made me want to read the sequal, to find out more about the Xaros
January 2, 2024
I'm glad I stumbled into Iron Dragoons first, this book was pretty good and I'm glad I get to learn the lore of the Ironhearts as fabled in Iron Dragoons, but I'm itching to catch up and read the rest of the Terran Armor Corp series
July 21, 2018
Fairly straightforward mil sf. Yes there are some Battlestar Galactica (2004 version) similarities but certainly not so many as to be a retread, unlike what a few other mil sf series on my to read list, that may be.
May 16, 2019
The Ember War(The Ember War Saga book 1)by Richard Fox
This book was suggested by an acquaintance and the initial sample looked interesting so I downloaded the book and got right to it. As it is it's good, but it goes on my increasing love hate list. The story starts with a familiar beginning: to me. An alien AI probe arrives in the solar system on a fact finding mission, find the right level of intelligence and technology and begin the process of preparation for fending off an invasion or find something below that level and move on to the next target, since the solar system, if ill equipped, will be doomed to fall under the force soon to arrive. The good news is that there are sixty years to prepare, the bad news is we just barely make the grade and Mark Ibarra is our only hope.
Fast forward 60 years and we have some Marines arriving on a mining outpost owned by the Ibarra Corporation. Our main character Ken Hale is there investigating an outpost with which communication has ceased mysteriously. As it turns out something has gone wrong, terribly wrong, and most of the people at the facility are dead. As far as I recall there is no definitive explanation for the malfunction (only suspicion), but this is mostly the introduction of our MC to a mystery involving the Iberra Corporation, the supposed mining outpost and a bit of world building explaining the relationship the military has to Iberra. More importantly it introduces the ship Breitenfeld which is where most of our action takes place.
We switch next to a much older Marc, who is preparing for the worst since this is the projected year that the invasion forces will arrive. It takes a bit of time for the story to wind up but when it does it goes off and hardly lets up. There is a lengthy cast of characters and barely enough time to note them on the score cards before the action ramps up. The Chinese and the Iberra Corporation have a bit of a cold war going with acquisition of technology instead of land as the motivator. This is not a war Marc wants to fight just as he begins to gear up for a far more important engagement. This forces his hands and he makes decisions, that have consequences for people aboard ships he basically hijacks; and one of those people is his granddaughter.
This book has everything that the average lover of Military Science Fiction will soak up like a sponge. And once the action starts there are hardly moments for the characters to take a breath. It's written well and sparse, which accounts for my problems with it. I love character driven stories and this one has some potential but the necessity for putting aside that for the focus on the action, left me a bit in the lurch.Besides not having any real solid point of view character to focus on, there were not enough details for my tastes though again that's because of the point of view. I think it might be fair to call Ken the point of view and we do get a fair idea of what he's about. But another important character is Stacy, Marc's granddaughter, who we barely get to know; yet her role is vital.
There are some reveals about Marc and the plan and some of Stacy's life near the end and I'm assuming there will be a series and plenty of time to get to know Stacy, maybe. And even though the story doesn't really end; it does conclude enough to be satisfying.
This is great SFF Military and Suspense and I think, because there were several threads or plot aspects that mirrored stories I've already read, I expected more emphasis on the characters and their story to keep the story fresh and new and that didn't quite come up to my expectations. For those who haven't read some of the same stories I have, this might well read as a top notch SFF Thriller. I definitely recommend reading it.
J.L. Dobias
This book was suggested by an acquaintance and the initial sample looked interesting so I downloaded the book and got right to it. As it is it's good, but it goes on my increasing love hate list. The story starts with a familiar beginning: to me. An alien AI probe arrives in the solar system on a fact finding mission, find the right level of intelligence and technology and begin the process of preparation for fending off an invasion or find something below that level and move on to the next target, since the solar system, if ill equipped, will be doomed to fall under the force soon to arrive. The good news is that there are sixty years to prepare, the bad news is we just barely make the grade and Mark Ibarra is our only hope.
Fast forward 60 years and we have some Marines arriving on a mining outpost owned by the Ibarra Corporation. Our main character Ken Hale is there investigating an outpost with which communication has ceased mysteriously. As it turns out something has gone wrong, terribly wrong, and most of the people at the facility are dead. As far as I recall there is no definitive explanation for the malfunction (only suspicion), but this is mostly the introduction of our MC to a mystery involving the Iberra Corporation, the supposed mining outpost and a bit of world building explaining the relationship the military has to Iberra. More importantly it introduces the ship Breitenfeld which is where most of our action takes place.
We switch next to a much older Marc, who is preparing for the worst since this is the projected year that the invasion forces will arrive. It takes a bit of time for the story to wind up but when it does it goes off and hardly lets up. There is a lengthy cast of characters and barely enough time to note them on the score cards before the action ramps up. The Chinese and the Iberra Corporation have a bit of a cold war going with acquisition of technology instead of land as the motivator. This is not a war Marc wants to fight just as he begins to gear up for a far more important engagement. This forces his hands and he makes decisions, that have consequences for people aboard ships he basically hijacks; and one of those people is his granddaughter.
This book has everything that the average lover of Military Science Fiction will soak up like a sponge. And once the action starts there are hardly moments for the characters to take a breath. It's written well and sparse, which accounts for my problems with it. I love character driven stories and this one has some potential but the necessity for putting aside that for the focus on the action, left me a bit in the lurch.Besides not having any real solid point of view character to focus on, there were not enough details for my tastes though again that's because of the point of view. I think it might be fair to call Ken the point of view and we do get a fair idea of what he's about. But another important character is Stacy, Marc's granddaughter, who we barely get to know; yet her role is vital.
There are some reveals about Marc and the plan and some of Stacy's life near the end and I'm assuming there will be a series and plenty of time to get to know Stacy, maybe. And even though the story doesn't really end; it does conclude enough to be satisfying.
This is great SFF Military and Suspense and I think, because there were several threads or plot aspects that mirrored stories I've already read, I expected more emphasis on the characters and their story to keep the story fresh and new and that didn't quite come up to my expectations. For those who haven't read some of the same stories I have, this might well read as a top notch SFF Thriller. I definitely recommend reading it.
J.L. Dobias
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