Gladiator

Women of the United Federation Marines #1

by Jonathan P. Brazee

United Federation Marine Lance Corporal Tamara Veal catches the attention of recruiters who nominate her to serve as a Single Combat Specialist. Gladiators, as they are better known, are genetically modified human champions who meet Klethos d’relle in the combat ring when the Klethos issue a challenge for a human world. Win, and the planet stays in human possession; lose, and not only do they lose their lives, but the world as well. With the Klethos much more advanced and militarily powerful, able to defeat humanity in an all-out war, the challenge ring is the only way to retain at least some of the worlds of man. While life as a gladiator is full of celebrity status and the gratitude of humanity, it comes with a heavy price. Not only is there the real risk of death in the ring, if a gladiator survives that, the “Brick,” or Boosted Regeneration Cancer, will claim her life within a few years. Lance Corporal Veal, who has found a home in the Marines, has to decide whether to accept the nomination. She would have to leave her brothers and sisters in the Corps, be assigned to the combined human gladiator course, and undergo extreme genetic modification that will leave her almost unrecognizable from the woman she was before. Becoming a gladiator will enable her to serve humanity to a far greater extent than anything else she could do as a Marine grunt, but at a tremendous personal cost. Author’s For those readers familiar with my other Marine-related books, this one is a little different in that there is far less combat action, particularly from a Marine unit standpoint. This novel, which is the first of three planned books that follow three different women serving as United Federation Marines or as a Navy corpsman, is more about duty, sacrifice, and what it means to serve in defense of others.

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Military Science Fiction

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2016

About the author

I am a retired Marine colonel and now a full-time writer living in Colorado Springs with my wife, Kiwi, and infant twin daughters, Danika Dawn and Darika Marie.

I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 85 titles published, 52 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, and my novella, "Fire Ant," was a 2018 Nebula finalist. My novel "Integration" was a 2018 Dragon Award finalist, and my novel "Sentenced to War" was a 2021 finalist. I am a USA Today Bestelling writer.

My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, wrting, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books.

I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts.

As an author, I don't think it is fair for me to rate any other author's books here on Goodreads if that rating is less than five stars. I have certainly read many books that do not deserve five (or four, three, or even two). However, I will not rate any of those here while I am a Goodreads author. Consequently, I will only be listing books that I really like and feel deserve five stars.

If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of this book was interesting but depressing as well. It's hard to imagine evacuating entire worlds in a matter of hours and going back and forth with world possession based on a quick gladiatorial match. The story wasn't bad but there was a lot of filler type material in between matches and not much else going on in the larger picture. I didn't mind the story but I wasn't fully captivated either.

[Will Wittmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just eh

It feels like this author was either a marine who just fell fell back on the corps history to shape this or some wannabe who didn't know what being a marine is really like so they just over did everything.

[Walter Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased Gladiator as part of a three book bundle: Women of the United Federation Marines. So Amazon might not credit me with "Verified Purchase". And I just had a chance to read the actual blurb for this novel, and concede that it works better than my own effort. Nevertheless I hope your will stick with this to the end.

A war where only female combatants can protect humanity from total destruction.

Engaging concept: Humanity has staved off the total destruction of all of its settled planets and populations at the hands of the Klethos race by accepting one-on-one trial-by-combat fights to the death against their d’relle queens to determine whether or not the Klethos will allow humanity to retain, or be forced to abandon, a specific planet –
The Klethos select a planet with human inhabitants, and issue a challenge. A single d’relle queen will fight a single member (who must be a female) of the United Federation Marines. Weapons are allowed, but they are limited to basic hand weapons such as knives, swords, or clubs (i.e. a medieval mace…) The fight is to the death of one combatant. If the Klethos warrior wins, humanity get a day or so to remove every inhabitant of that planet. Failure results in the death of any who remain on the planet after the deadline. If the human warrior wins, the Klethos will spare that planet.
Brazee has created an original, complex, and logically consistent universe, and step-by-step reveals what is involved for every young woman who volunteers to serve as a “gladiator”. These women are the best of the best. Soldiers of integrity and courage undergo genetic modification and training, with the clear understanding that even if they are victorious once, or maybe twice in actual combat, the process will kill them within five years even if they are never chosen to participate in battle with a d’relle queen.
Be advised that as a reader, you will care deeply about every aspect of every character you are introduced to during the course of Gladiator.
Several years ago, I came across the author Michael R. Hicks, and his “In Her Name” set of three trilogies. A common thread throughout the nine novels was the idea of single combat between male or female human warriors and a race of aliens with technology that humans can barely comprehend, and certainly cannot defeat. All members of this race who are in contact with humans are female. And Hicks, though he doesn’t work within a military structure as does Brazee, has built a massive fully-realized universe, populated with characters you will also care deeply about, that will resonate with what Brazee has done with his Women of the United Federation Marines Trilogy. Start with Hicks’ First Contact, and then kick yourself for not having purchased the first trilogy as a bundle, and saved yourself some money you now have to use to get the next two books in the trilogy.

[Joseph K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and great characters

This was a good story and a great set of characters. This is a definitely interesting universe that is detailed and sucks you in. A good amount of technology along with detailed dialogue with the action happening on multiple planets. The most interesting bits were at the end between the combatants and that I am sure will tie into other stories in this universe. I definitely enjoyed this book and recommend it.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I wasn't sure at first, but it turned out to be a very good tale, and one I suspect most scifi fans will enjoy. Of course, if you're the military scifi type of fan, you'll love this one, if you're just a scifi fan on general principals, it may or may not appeal to you, but it should. The ending was amazing, I suspect that one will stay with me for years.

[Charl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand the reasons, but I was really uncomfortable with the scale of the modifications to produce the gladiators, and the prices they had to pay.

Not enough that I didn't finish it, but it greatly reduced my enjoyment of it.

[Jim Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling ending

Another good story, Well told, friends and enemies that should be friends. A deep seated racial memory that colors all they do. What racial memories do we have that are so deep we don't see them?

[Skybird564 · Rating 3 out of 5]

No

After I enjoyed the Lysander books so much I was sure I would like this one. The whole gladiator thing is an idea that is appalling to me. But no. I wish just skip this series.

[I Vertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damon good story

I was quickly engaged in the story from the begining and liked all the main characters. I did not realize how engaged I was until at the end of the story I started to tear up; that's Damn good story telling to me.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride

This story will tweak your emotions in every direction Tamara the heroine and even the d tells make you feel things that normally you only feel in real life this is my new favorite author

[James F. Bowerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

a superior novel

This book was not only well written, but the story also elicited strong and unexpected emotions for me, which was a rather novel experience. I will read many more of Mr. Brazee’s books. It reminded me of the best of the WWII books I have read over the years.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semper Fi!

This book balances well with the fierce devotion to being a Marine yet acknowledges human frailties. We also see women warriors who are more badass than the guys. A good read!

[James Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't really seem to go with the series.

[Dale (Aus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read, entertaining.

[Brad Theado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I expected to. It was a fun read told from the perspective of a badass female lead.

[Erik Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot of this book is simplistic, but I did enjoy it. A few plot events were telegraphed in advance, but that did not ruin the book.

[Medusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Space marine sci fi junk food that at times punches above its weight (no doubt due to the author’s actual Marine service) , despite some missed opportunities and confusing world building choices. 2.75 stars, but I’m going to read the next two books in this series (Women of the United Federation Marines) to see if the author finds his stride.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has some problems, but really touches the heart

Brazee stumbles a bit in the mechanics of writing--there are more than a few typos and misused words--but he gets the heart of his story absolutely right. This is a warrior tale, one that the Romans, the Samurai, the Celts, the Magyars, and every other culture built on honor and bloodshed, would deeply appreciate. It's also a story in which the lead character's humanity is even more clear and important than the fact that she's female, and I think this is the first time I've ever felt that way. It's not that authors writing female leads particularly emphasize their sex, but rather that their being female makes more of a difference to their actions and conversations than it does here, where Tamara Veal represents every warrior who takes pride in fighting beside her sisters and brothers to protect humankind. Brazee also avoids the temptation to make Tamara superhuman in some way, whether in assigning her unrealistic gifts or granting her outrageous fortune. Making her a real human being is a real accomplishment, and it makes her choices mean more, because the cost of them is so dear. This was a deeply moving book, and I look forward to reading Brazee's other work.

[Cpl. Stephen W Carter US Army Retired · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story from an amazing story teller

This book is a little bit different from the other UFMC stories not in a better or worse sense. This book is a stand alone story that looks deeply into the personal motivations of the main character and could be applied to service members of the past, present and future because they all share the same sense of Duty, Honor, and Sacrifice. I would recommend this book to anyone who's into science fiction or military fiction I think there's something for everyone to enjoy

[Howard Brazee]

This book is a sequel to the author's Future Marines series. I had some questions on how the gladiator substitute for wars with the alien species would work, mainly political questions. But reading the book has changed which questions I'm eager to explore.

It's interesting that in a universe where the main human culture is very misogynic, this is the second book with a female protagonist - and it's a book that certainly passes the Bechdel test.

[Anon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dropped this book.

The protagonist just seemed to be a vessel that moved from world building paragraph to world building paragraph. The actual character didn't seem to really exist almost for the majority of the start of this book. It was just as if they appeared at a location specifically to discuss some aspect of world building. Other than the scene with the refugees on that single mission it was all just discussions about world building with no real character development.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good military scifi

I liked the story, read it to the very end. My only complaints: was not edited, littered with words out of place, unneeded.... Editing would have been nice. Also, the story line...could have used some direction. Much of what was written did not contribute to the story, but seemed more like someone reminiscing about their military days.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should say that this low rating is my own fault for not reading the ‘blurb’ better before starting the book. Had I done so, I would never have started reading a book that I was never going to like.
The first few chapters were fine but then it became clear what the implications of the Gladiator title meant and it all went downhill.

[Douglas Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't do anything but love the hereon

This story brings out the Essene of what happens when chose to serve. The dedication and spirit needed to accomplish this goal. Also the fear one faces when your time is done. A very enjoyable story that is heartbreaking and informative.

[Lars Klander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid writing and great premise

Well done. Interesting to not only focus on the external issues but also the underlying politics and more. It would be interesting to see the writer expand the universe to the politics.

[Ray Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

We who at about to die

Brazen has given us another view into the psyche of a special warrior. Much like the sniper, the gladiator is a lone soldier. Relying on himself, or in this case, herself alone to get the job done. Well crafted, good story, enjoyable read.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting concept and well thought out. A good paced book with fair characters and good editing. The characters were a little flat.

[Jed Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very worth your time. Give it a chance and you will like the story