Rogue World

Undying Mercenaries #7

by B.V. Larson

The Galactics arrived with their Battle Fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined a vast Empire that spanned the Milky Way.

Today, Battle Fleet 921 is returning to Earth. It hasn’t been seen by human eyes since our blissful day of Annexation. But what should be a joyful occasion, a chance to grovel at the feet of superior lifeforms, is rapidly becoming a nightmare.

Over the last century, Humanity has engaged in many activities that our Overlords find… questionable. A panic ensues, and Legion Varus is deployed to erase certain “mistakes” our government has made. Projects must be purged to stop Imperial military action.

Among the thousands marching to war is one man no politician has ever enjoyed dealing with. One man who’s destined to follow his own unique path through Galactic Law, Morality and the Stars themselves.

James McGill is about to make history.

ROGUE WORLD is the seventh book of Undying Mercenaries Series, a novel of military science fiction by bestselling author B. V. Larson.

The series starts with book #1, STEEL WORLD.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Space Opera, Military Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

413 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2017

About the author

Brian Larson is an American science fiction and fantasy author

Reviews

[Caleb M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, here's the deal. You gotta read this series. It's easy to read, and highly entertaining. I cannot believe at one point in time I scoffed at reading this series. I'm so glad that my friend talked me into it because I am all in now baby! It nice easy reading with action and political intrigue to boot. Some books are better in the series than others, but all of them are fun in their own right.

James McGill continues to be one of my all time favorite characters in and story ever. He is amazing. While I have found not many things I dislike about him, I did find one thing in this book... I don't like how he treats Natasha. I don't even like Natasha all that much but she deserves better at this point than getting humped and dumped. And McGill should know that better than anyone. But even with that being said I just can't help but love the guy. He is so much fun and I can't wait to jump into his story once again.

Take the time to read this series. I know the covers are not great. I know there isn't 239472934872398 people that have read them (though there should be). Just go read this series and formulate your own opinion. Unless you are allergic to fun. Then you should stay far far away from this book. You would need a lot of Benedryl.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series...but to be honest it is in many ways a bit silly.

Really, I take a break between books because of the head shake and idiot laughter factor.

Still, it's a good idea, it's an interesting set of stories, I like it.

Anyway, their good military science fiction with lots of action and battles...and of course James McGill, the idiot who always comes out of the manure smelling like the proverbial rose.

Go figure.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of James McGill and his fellow undying cohort. Can't wait for the audio book so I can listen to it a couple dozen times and lmao and enjoy the antics.

Go to the earlier books to see full reviews. Reads like classic pulp sci to with a new edge. Always funny and full of action and lots of favorite characters to love.

[Pip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably more of a 4.5 since well you know it's a bit silly and all. But this one had me laughing like a fool a lot. If you like the series you should love it.

[Evan Scangas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm burned out on this series, very little difference from one to the next. MC is a skirt chaser, lier and manages to bs his way through the troubles he gets himself into.
It's been the same every book and I'm done for now. Maybe if I run out of things to listen to I'll pick it up again but there are many other books waiting in my library already.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had thought this series was over. Then I found two more books available via Amazon; this one and “Blood World (Book #8)”. I bought both books and have been enjoying them tremendously. These are quirky books. They have a concept that I haven’t actually read anywhere else. You see, the military soldiers and sailors all die sometime during their battles if they are not lucky. And that includes the main character of these stories and several minor characters that comprise Legion Varus. But, never fear, for they are easily and immediately resurrected and thrown right back into the same battle over and over until they win! Just imagine how much you’d get paid if you died in battle and got to come back and collect the insurance! It doesn’t work that way with Legion Varus or any other Legion. Death is something that just happens during a battle and they still expect you to perform, dead or not!

Earth has formed a number of Legions who act as mercenaries for the Galactic overlords. Yes, Earth has been conquered a while back by the Galactics who are so far ahead of us in technology that they almost consider us as cattle; little more than semi-intelligent slaves. We’re not exactly mistreated, but we can’t do anything that would be against Galactic law. Most of that law states we’re to stay at our current technology level and we can’t leave our planet unless given permission. Of course, the Galactic fleet that controls our region of space can’t be everywhere at once and the Galactics have their own civil war going on in the Galactic center. So, we’ve pretty much been on our own and it almost costs the human race it’s existence.

There’s one particular Legionnaire who you’ll meet and his name is Jame McGill! Now he’s something of an oddity in that he can get into the worst possible conditions at the worst possible time, but some how, some way, he finds a solution or a way out and saves everybody! James started at the bottom and was killed many, many times during those years. He managed to get himself resurrected every time, but it seems to be harder and harder to guarantee that he won’t be permed at some point in one of these future battles. Being “permed” means the Legion, your superiors, decided that you weren’t worth the revival or you committed some terrible crime that you had to be permed. James McGill has committed numerous serious crimes, mostly blatant disregard for Galactic laws, and he was supposedly permed many times. But, this is James McGill, Legion Varus Centurion that we’re talking about. He lives on!

This time he’s sent on a mission to destroy the inhabitants of a rocky world that have done nothing but invent things. The blue dome on this rocky planet is the only place inhabitable and that’s where a bunch of scientist live and work. Earth is about to be visited by the Galactic Overloads once again and they know that if this planet is found to have humans doing what they are doing, then Earth will be guilty of breaking all sorts of Galactic Laws and our entire planet will be wiped clean!

So, Legion Varus (including Centurion McGill) is sent to Rogue World to clean it out. Should be a simple in and out operation. I mean how hard can it be to take care of some egghead scientist? And it probably would have been easy if James McGill hadn’t gotten involved.

This is a very humorous series. It’s tongue in cheek humor at it’s finest. I can barely grasp the concept of dying in a battle and then being processed through a revival machine coming out with all my memories intact and a brand new body, clear of any defects, and still at the age of twenty-something! Oh, I won’t remember the gristly details of my recent death; those are edited out, but I will know I died and someone or something had just killed me. Kind of gets you motivated to go do the same thing to them. And that’s what you get to do, go kills the enemy or get killed again, over and over. What a concept. Science fiction is great!

I’m on to reading “Blood World”. I don’t know if this is the end of the series or not. James McGill is a Centurian, but he has a number of higher ranks he could attain so maybe it’s not over yet. I just can’t imagine what he’s capable of doing if given the authority. The Galaxy might never be the same. Have fun reading these books and do go back to the beginning if you haven’t read them before.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesssss! That's what I always say, sometimes out loud or sometimes in my head, it doesn't really matter. It's a tradition I do practically every time I see that Larson has done another book. However, this time, even though I said it with great gusto, I believe a part of me was a bit worried, after reading the last two Larson books, one was with another author so fair enough, but the other one was Orion fleet which I struggled with.

Nevertheless, if you felt the same as me, do not fear, Larson is back to doing his wonders and this book hits the spot. Great action, good story, and ending that is good, but leaving you with a desire for more.

However, if you have never read a Larson book and you don't know his goodness in writing. I think a way to explain the book would be to say, there is a lot of action, there is a lot of the protagonist flying by the seat of his pants, and maybe a lot of ass? In jokes and in reality?

I think that pretty sums up his book from this genre. Nevertheless, I really did enjoy this book and can't wait for another book, and only as an off comment, the only thing that I didn't like was the legion getting their ass kicked by the rogues. However, it wasn't too bad.

Great book, read it, and enjoy it, and tell others how much you like this book.

P.S I read this book so fast like most Larson books, that I couldn't review the book because he hadn't put it up on goodreads.

[Eric Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a long break from this series, because I was really annoyed at it. Figured I'd pick it back up again now that it's been long enough for me to forget what annoyed me about it.

This book was okay. Not great. Not terrible. Not much to say about it other than that, really.

[Jesse Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plotholes continue to gape. The characters continue to be moronic if they aren't McGill and just gross if they are. Three more books and I can stop. After spending 7 books with this jerk, I was really hoping to see some growth.

[Leather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mc Guill is back. He got some issues at home and overseas.
The Galactics are coming. Guess what ? They want to eradicate our species. Again.

A good seventh book in this great series. As fun as usual.

[papasteve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not quite as fun as the others, but still an entertaining read. It’s amazing how many different kinds of aliens the author creates. And each of their distinctive voices. On to the final book.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

On to Blood World

[Don Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this crazy series!

B.V. has a wonderful way of detailing the wiles and ways of a master warrior stud, James McGill. The stories are fun and funny, with regular infusions of hilarious dialog among the convoluted situations Legionnaire McGill is involved with. Our capable male protagonist isn't lost to political correctness, but can be a man exhibiting protectiveness, strength, intelligence, and honor.

Thanks, B.V., for writing what has become my favorite series in military sci-fi!

[Andrew Scherpbier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series

The premise of this series is awesome. The first six books were great, but this one knocks them all out of the park!
Looking forward to what BVL comes up with next.

[John Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

More James McGill, which is good or bad depending on how you feel about this series. As with the last book McGill keeps getting promoted when he shouldn't and has a supernatural ability to get women into bed. It's a silly series that continues to be somewhat chauvinistic and sexist, but only in as much as every female in the series other than his mother and daughter is a potential partner for McGill.

[David O. Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Plenty of opportunities for the next world. The tank of technology should develop into a valuable tool. I really like all of McGill s euphemism s. Thx

[Anthony Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry, having read 6 of these novels and enjoyed them, though lesser so as the series has progressed. I now feel this, the 7th book, will be the last of this series I will ever read, should there be an 8th or more novels.

Although the books are different than any other Sci-Fi novel I have read to date, I now find them too predictable. There is absolutely nothing new in this novel and most of the sub-plots can be found in previous novels. All the characters in the main reappear performing in their well established characters and traits. Very formulaic.

We have another beautiful alien leader bedded once again by the hero James McGill. The usual miltary leaders are all in conflict with James and each other -nothing new there. Even the 'baddy' Claver makes a camero appearance on the restricted planet to steal their technology yet again. McGill performs all his usual stunts, even down to killing a few Galactics and saving earth from extinction. Sorry enough is enough. I reluctantly close my time in '******** World'.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like Dust World, with new sprites and textures. I'm sure he will have bred this tech smith by next year's time, and his Mother will have another Grandchild.

Well my prediction was off with the "new bun in the oven".

This novel seems more wacky than usual. What McGill did to squirm his way out of this mess was not as believable as before. I don't think high imperial Masters would stop to let a "slave animal" interrupt them while they are speaking.

I enjoyed the series, but Earth was supposed to be nuked multiple times over by now. Many things don't add up. When the Green seals were in possession of their ship again, many new questions were to be raised after some investigation was done. Many, many questions were raised instead of being answered.

2.5/5 Stars

[Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two things are happening in this series, different from the first four books.

First, the main character seems to be using more Georgia country-boy aphorisms than usual. "I'll swear on a stack of bibles," is an example.

Second, the fundamental threat of extinction by the Galactics is being turned into farce by playing "lawyer baseball" - encouraging bureaucratic differences among their races to forestall a reckoning for humans.

I'm fine with both of them. It would be okay with me if the humans won every issue easily, whether the opponent is the cephalopods, the galactics, or something else.

One thing that hasn't changed is the main character's dalliances with the ladies. The one at the end of this book doesn't make any sense to me.

I can't wait to read the next one!

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are this far into the series you know what to expect. Not the best written and a lot of plot holes/questionable decisions but still a fun and easy to read story.

[Yoshiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wydarzenia zaprezentowane w szóstej części serii, mocno wpłynęły na równowagę sił w kosmosie. Ziemia nagle zyskała sporą władzę, która momentalnie zwróciła uwagę potężnych władców centrum Galaktyki. Jakby tego było mało, odkryli oni fakt istnienia odległej planety, na której nad technologiami dla Ziemi pracują humanoidalni obcy. W takiej sytuacji nie pozostaje nic innego jak tylko „pozbyć” się problemu. Na wspomnianą planetę wysłany zostaje właśnie James MacGill i wszystkim dobrze znany Legion Varus. Oficjalna część zadania to ewakuacja lokalnego personelu. Nieliczni wiedzą jednak, że powstały problem zostanie rozwiązany w zupełnie inny sposób. Nikt nie spodziewał się jednak, że naukowcy stawią zacięty opór, który będzie jedynie początkiem szeregu innych wielkich kłopotów.

Patrząc na zarys fabuły Legion Nieśmiertelnych #7, wręcz prosi się o zacytowanie klasyka: „Ahh shit, here we go again”. Kolejne misja, kolejne kłopoty zagrażające naszej planecie, kolejny raz w centrum wydarzeń znajduje się James MacGill i kolejny raz jego sposób bycia pociągnie za sobą szereg nowych problemów. Z podobnym schematem mieliśmy już do czynienia w prawie wszystkich poprzednich częściach. Czy sprawia więc to, że pozycja ta jest nudna i niewarta uwagi? Zdecydowanie Nie! Jeśli ktokolwiek z czytelników dotarł do tego etapu historii, to doskonale zdaje sobie sprawę z tego, czego można oczekiwać od treści książki.

B.V. Larson jest mistrzem w kreśleniu przyjemnego w odbiorze mocno rozrywkowego kosmicznego scenariusza. Fabuły, w której miesza on akcję, humor i większą kosmiczną intrygę. Miłośnicy takich „klimatów” i twórczości autora powinni więc być więcej niż zadowoleni z lektury recenzowanej książki. Na ponad 500-stronach znaleźć można bowiem szereg wydarzeń, które potrafią trzymać w napięciu i kiedy sytuacja tego wymaga odpowiednio zaskoczyć. Jednocześnie całość jest napisana bardzo prostym i przyjemnym w odbiorze językiem, dzięki któremu treść pochłania się błyskawicznie.

Obok wielu zalet, znaleźć tutaj można pewne wady. Największą z nich jest odrobinę zbytnie „przekombinowanie” historii w niektórych zaprezentowanych scenach. MacGill momentami urasta tutaj do miana superbohatera, który z każdej opresji wychodzi zwycięsko i macza swoje palce w każdej dosłownie sprawie. Przydałoby się również mocniejsze skupienie na innych postaciach (niż do tej pory), co mogłoby być pewnym powiewem świeżości dla serii.

https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/recen...

[Amir Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Rogue World by B.V.Larson is the 7th book of a series that is different than any I have ever read. It is about a young adult named James McGill who starts out as a huge gamer. To help his family money, he joins legion Varus, where he fights his way through 7 completely different planets. I loved this series because it had the right amount of action, personal problems and romance.
In the beginning of this book however, James’s legion is assigned to search and destroy a world with illegal technology that is in Earth’s possession thanks to what happened in the previous book, Home World. If they don’t destroy this world before the galactics arrive, then Earth, and all of the worlds it possesses, would end up extinct. The galactics are like overlords to everyone in the galaxy. A few years back, Earth was assigned to be the police for region 921. But then Earth had some problems of its own. When James and his legion land on this world, they are immediately attacked and struggle against the enemy defenses. They are faced up against Invisible gas, robotic crab thingies, very high AI turrets that learn your strategies and then figure out how to counter them, and portals that troops can walk through. Though they could just bomb the world, Hegemony (Earth’s government) want them to find and take anything useful for Earth.
I think a theme a reader can learn from this book is never give up. Even though James and his Legion manage to destroy this world in time (barley) the galactics still have a few problems with humanity. They believed that the creatures that lived on Rogue World were humans as well. This would mean that it was humans who had created the illegal tech. James tried to convince them that they weren’t, they only had some of the same DNA structures as humans, that they were different because it was the truth. But the galactics weren't having any of it. They were about to exterminate Earth and every world it owned. They were about to do it when James suggested a DNA test. I won’t give away how, but with a little trickery, he managed to give Earth two more years before the galactics returned again.
I loved this book because it has so much to offer. When Larson wrote this book, he really went for it. EVERYTHING fits together, and you can see this character changing from a mischievous little kid who can’t follow orders very well to a man who knows when to pull a stunt, from book 1 to book 7. I would recommend this book to any sci-fi lovers.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rogue World” is the seventh book in the Undying Mercenaries series, a military science fiction saga that follows the adventures of James McGill, a soldier of Legion Varus, an elite unit of Earth's army that serves the Galactic Empire. In this book, McGill and his comrades face a new challenge: a rogue world, a planet that has escaped the control of the Empire and poses a threat to its stability. McGill must infiltrate the world, find out its secrets, and stop its plans before it's too late.

The book is a fast-paced and action-packed thriller that keeps the reader hooked from the first page to the last. The author, B V Larson, has a knack for creating vivid and imaginative scenarios, such as a world where dinosaurs have been resurrected, a world where humans are hunted by giant spiders, and a world where a cult worships a mysterious entity. The book is full of twists and turns, surprises and betrayals, humor and horror. The author also explores the themes of loyalty, morality, and identity, as McGill struggles to balance his duty to the Empire, his loyalty to his friends, and his own sense of right and wrong.

The narrator, Mark Boyett, does a superb job of bringing the characters and the story to life. He has a clear and expressive voice, and he uses different accents and tones to distinguish the various characters. He also conveys the emotions and the personalities of the characters, such as McGill's sarcasm, Galina's fierceness, Graves's cunning, and Turov's ruthlessness. He makes the listener feel like they are part of the action and the adventure.

“Rogue World” is a book that will appeal to fans of science fiction, military fiction, and adventure fiction. It is a book that will keep you entertained, engaged, and enthralled. It is a book that will make you laugh, gasp, and cheer.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really surprised that I like this series, but I do.

Earth forces have been sent on an easy mission, to subdue some rogue scientists on a planet once dominated by the "squids". The "squids" tend to modify the DNA of the species they enslave in order to fit their purposes. In this case, this species has been modified to enhance their intelligence. They have been dedicated to building various interesting devices well beyond the abilities of humans.

There are a number of twists and turns to this story and I am determined not to reveal them, Thus, my description of the story is vague. Galactic Battle Fleet 921 is returning to Earth to look in on their partners/slaves otherwise known as Earthlings. As with teenagers who haven't cleaned their rooms since Mom and Dad left on their trip to Europe, Earth forces must remove rogue scientists from their planet for breaking galactic law. Otherwise Earth will be exterminated by association. Of course, Earth will receive a positive footnote in galactic history books if any are written. It is most unfortunate that everyone on Earth will have to die, but rules are rules after all.

As with all of the books in the series, there is sex (not described in detail) alien sex (also not described in detail) vulgar language and lots of violence.

I'd read this book again.

[Stephan van Velzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving the heck out of this series, but I'm really getting annoyed with the lack of proper editing.

The most glaring problem this time was that the last book ends with James bringing Natasha home from Dust World, but then that's just completely forgotten and Varus Natasha is back?

That's a big one, though, but there are so many small continuity problems in these books. A smaller example from Rogue World: when they do a training exercise with the recruits, Graves starts by saying the air will be poisonous, but they can only warn the recruits once to keep their helmets on and if they forget, that's their problem. Then during the entire exercise, that plot point is just completely ignored. Zero mention of the toxic air or helmets.

An editor would catch this stuff. I know and even appreciate that these books are self-published, but c'mon, all these covers say these are bestsellers... It shouldn't be impossible to hire an editor!

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larson is telling a complete story and opening a structure in this universe that is reasonable to the reader. But as the main character is reprinted over and over again, some of the story's themes are getting that tiresome rebirth.
The books are really centered around the current romantic interest of James and the complications of their place in the galaxy is for an earth legionnaire.
Overall it is a good read for some entertainment. I checked it out on my Kindle account and appreciated the discounted Audible recording available with it. The battle sequences seemed well thought out and were presented in a satisfying way. If you like the action, galactic intrigue, and comedy of romancing alien born women, then you will enjoy this book and the series. I have not read beyond book 8 yet.

[Kenneth D. Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

James McGill is one of my favorite characters

This series follows the adventures of James McGill , a good old boy from Georgia who happens to say the earth and all of humanity several times while consorting with fairly good number of other beautiful women . He does this while fighting in as a soldier and a lesion across many different star systems fighting for saving many different types of aliens. I read lots of different science fiction series, and this is my favorite . I always am happy when the next book in this series comes out, and hope that Larson keeps it up for a very long time

[Manuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

One more book in the series.
I could talk about the story, how the main character again gets into trouble and again saves the world, but what's the point? It's book 7 in the series, if you don't know the drill by now then you haven't been reading these books.
Simple almost to a fault, without major surprises, and still.. Quite enjoyable.
It is like watching a blockbuster film, it might not make us think but it surely entertain us while we gulp down some popcorns.

Yes, this series will not make me think or dream of a distant future, but it surely entertains me and leaves me wanting for more.

[Jeff Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great James McGill adventure. I am partial to him since we are both from Georgia and we are both similar in many ways. BV Larson is the first author I ever wrote to and the only author to ever respond back (several times). This alone should make me a loyal fan but I love his writing and that is what really keeps me a loyal fan. I love all his series and characters; however, The Undying Mercenaries series is what got me interested in his books. If you have not read the series, you really should give it a try.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another grand adventure following the exploits of James McGill. With a unexpected rise in rank, this time he must lead troops and risk more then just his own skin. The Galactics are coming and he's on a vital mission to find out why and save Earth..Again! To do this off he goes to a new world and fights a enemy who are mear scientists. But there are things "The McGill" is not told and this proves to test his skills as a fighter, and a leader. Keep following the series it's still good in every way