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Frontlines #6
Points of Impact
Humankind may have won the battle, but a new threat looms larger than ever before....
Earth's armed forces have stopped the Lanky advance and chased their ships out of the solar system, but for CDC officer Andrew Grayson, the war feels anything but won. On Mars, the grinding duty of flushing out the twenty-meter-tall alien invaders from their burrows underground is wearing down troops and equipment at an alarming rate. And for the remaining extrasolar colonies, the threat of a Lanky attack is ever present.
Earth's game changer? New advanced ships and weapons, designed to hunt and kill Lankies and place humanity's militaries on equal footing with their formidable foes. Andrew and his wife, Halley, both now burdened with command responsibilities and in charge of more lives than just their own, are once again in humanity's vanguard as they prepare for this new phase in the war. But the Lankies have their own agenda...and in war, the enemy doesn't usually wait until you are prepared. As Andrew is once again plunged into the chaos and violence of war with an unyielding species, he is forced to confront the toll this endless conflict is taking on them all, and the high price of survival...at any cost.
Earth's armed forces have stopped the Lanky advance and chased their ships out of the solar system, but for CDC officer Andrew Grayson, the war feels anything but won. On Mars, the grinding duty of flushing out the twenty-meter-tall alien invaders from their burrows underground is wearing down troops and equipment at an alarming rate. And for the remaining extrasolar colonies, the threat of a Lanky attack is ever present.
Earth's game changer? New advanced ships and weapons, designed to hunt and kill Lankies and place humanity's militaries on equal footing with their formidable foes. Andrew and his wife, Halley, both now burdened with command responsibilities and in charge of more lives than just their own, are once again in humanity's vanguard as they prepare for this new phase in the war. But the Lankies have their own agenda...and in war, the enemy doesn't usually wait until you are prepared. As Andrew is once again plunged into the chaos and violence of war with an unyielding species, he is forced to confront the toll this endless conflict is taking on them all, and the high price of survival...at any cost.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
July 22, 2018
Kloos’ Frontlines has been my favorite MilSF comfort food for the last few years. On the surface, Points of Impact, has all the qualities that endeared the series to me: crisp, tense action scenes, tight and efficient storytelling, sympathetic yet flawed characters. Most impressively, over the course of the first five books, each entry has improved upon the last.
It’s sad to say that streak has come to an end with Points of Impact. It became clear to me about halfway through book six that Kloos was kind of spinning his wheels here. The premise revolves around the development of a new armored battle cruiser designed to take out Lanky seed ships with ease. Most of the first two thirds of the novel has the Earth alliance taking their new toy for a practice spin, with Andrew and Halley both crewing up but, due to some pretty flimsy reasoning, separated because of a confounding regulation that keeps married couples from bunking together (?!?).
Notably, one of Kloos’ flaws as a writer is his unwillingness to step outside of his comfort zone with his characters. It’s particularly frustrating in this entry, as the most intriguing early development in the story finds Andrew diagnosed with PTSD – a thread that Kloos fails to explore adequately. Kudos to him for introducing such an important topic to the series, rather than just pretending it isn’t there (as our present-day military would prefer to do). Hopefully he will offer more on the subject in future books.
I still love the details about military culture that Kloos is so good at depicting, and the climax delivers the usual goods. Kloos hasn’t necessarily lost his touch, but his momentum has definitely stalled.
Thanks to Netgalley and 47North for the opportunity to read this ARC.
It’s sad to say that streak has come to an end with Points of Impact. It became clear to me about halfway through book six that Kloos was kind of spinning his wheels here. The premise revolves around the development of a new armored battle cruiser designed to take out Lanky seed ships with ease. Most of the first two thirds of the novel has the Earth alliance taking their new toy for a practice spin, with Andrew and Halley both crewing up but, due to some pretty flimsy reasoning, separated because of a confounding regulation that keeps married couples from bunking together (?!?).
Notably, one of Kloos’ flaws as a writer is his unwillingness to step outside of his comfort zone with his characters. It’s particularly frustrating in this entry, as the most intriguing early development in the story finds Andrew diagnosed with PTSD – a thread that Kloos fails to explore adequately. Kudos to him for introducing such an important topic to the series, rather than just pretending it isn’t there (as our present-day military would prefer to do). Hopefully he will offer more on the subject in future books.
I still love the details about military culture that Kloos is so good at depicting, and the climax delivers the usual goods. Kloos hasn’t necessarily lost his touch, but his momentum has definitely stalled.
Thanks to Netgalley and 47North for the opportunity to read this ARC.
December 8, 2017
I am authentically impressed by this series. It's easily some of the very best milSF I've ever read. Why? Because the writing is super clear and manages to be both light and dark at the very same time. I love how humanity is portrayed as being people, with both sexes getting over the baggage we never seem to get over in RL, everyone focused on living amidst horror and devastation and death always being on the doorstep.
I appreciate this a lot. It gives us all hope. It gives a very solid reason why we ought to survive. That, and competence reigns even if the baddie aliens are bigger than life and they're completely inscrutable and hulking and have always refused to communicate with us.
Sure, it's a plot device focused on survival and forcing the rest of us to get over our crap, but again, I like that, too.
As for this book, I think it's even better than the battle for Mars. There's something really delicious about the new battlecruiser and rescuing a colony and going all out with the battle sequences is always a winner.
I'm surprised I'm actually saying this... but Go Humanity, Go! :)
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, it's great fun! :)
I appreciate this a lot. It gives us all hope. It gives a very solid reason why we ought to survive. That, and competence reigns even if the baddie aliens are bigger than life and they're completely inscrutable and hulking and have always refused to communicate with us.
Sure, it's a plot device focused on survival and forcing the rest of us to get over our crap, but again, I like that, too.
As for this book, I think it's even better than the battle for Mars. There's something really delicious about the new battlecruiser and rescuing a colony and going all out with the battle sequences is always a winner.
I'm surprised I'm actually saying this... but Go Humanity, Go! :)
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, it's great fun! :)
July 25, 2018
"I’ve been at war for most of my adult life. When I was a kid, there wasn’t much to do in the Public Residence Clusters other than getting into trouble or watching Networks. I wasn’t good at getting out of trouble again, so instead of running the streets, I read books and watched a lot of shows. My favorite stuff to watch was the military shows, the ones that ran year after year. Steady casts of actors who became more familiar to you than your own family, playing hard-bitten sergeants and officers doing battle with The Enemy, whoever that happened to be in that season. Some shows were what I now know to be hyperpatriotic bullshit, and some were a little more gritty and critical of the war machine, but they all had something in common: there was always a victory in the end. It may have been hard-won at terrible cost, but there was never a doubt that victory had been achieved against The Enemy. Turns out all those shows were full of shit. Real war—it’s not like that at all. In real war, you don’t often get a clear-cut victory."
"But if we couldn’t use Mars anymore, neither could the Lankies, and the incursions stopped. If there are seed ships left, they hightailed it out of the solar system, because none of our units have spotted one since the Second Battle of Mars. Three years without a Lanky seed ship sighting and some people think we may have beaten them for good, driven them back to wherever they came from. Most of us know better. So we are preparing for the next round, all of us."
This sound familiar to you? If not, hereby be advised to go back to Frontlines Book 1. The person sharing his thoughts is Captain Andrew Grayson who has been married to another military officer for almost as long as they both have been in the service.
"I turn to face her again. “We’ve been married for ten years. How much time have we had together? Six months?”
“Probably less.”
“Yeah. And I really want to see what it’s like to have a life with you. Not just spending two weeks a year on leave.”
A lot of Kloos imagination goes into the parts of military life where you aren’t in immediate peril. Our hero, and he has been a hero more than once, is finding that his “down-time” is getting more difficult.
“No Fleet shrink has combat experience anyway. You’re all trying to fix conditions you’ve never seen for yourself.” She leans back in her chair and looks at me with a slight smile. “Then what are you doing here, Captain Grayson? Why did you ask for an appointment?” “Because it helps,” I say. “Talking stuff out. Sometimes.” “That’s an unusual attitude,” Dr. Saults says. “From a podhead, I mean.” “How so?” I echo her earlier question. “The more gung-ho and macho the occupational specialty, the less you guys are likely to talk about what bugs you. Like it’s a sign of weakness. Like it’s something you should be able to handle yourselves.” “I used to think that,” I say. “Until a few years ago.” “What made you change your mind?” “I got married,” I say, and she grins. “And I had a few rough patches,” I continue. “Not with the marriage. With the combat drops. Scraped past death a few too many times, in really bad ways. And then a mission went sideways, and I lost a lot of guys under my command. But I had my wife to talk to. And it helped."
PTSD is something we are recognizing affects far more people than most of us imagined. Kloos takes this on.
"“You ever see the shrink about it?” “Hell no. That shit isn’t for me.” Hansen takes a sip from her bottle and puts it down on the table with emphasis. “I know what bugs me. I don’t need assistance from some rear-echelon psych quack. All they do is pump you full of meds.” I don’t want to tell Hansen that I let them put me on meds because I know that she’d see it as a sign of weakness. Too many grunts are caught up in the mind-set that a frontline soldier should be able to manage that sort of thing on their own, that seeking help from a professional is somehow unbecoming. I know that she’s wrong to dismiss it out of hand because the stuff I am taking really helps—"
Some of my GR friends feel that Kloos could have done more with this theme (and he still might). That aside, he still delivers some great imagery for battles in space.
"It’s like a slow and awkward joust with heavily armored knights and lances, but we’re on a rain-slick frozen lake, and the horses are on skates."
And
"This won’t be a sucker punch from a million klicks away, but a knife fight in a toilet stall."
To those of us hooked on the Frontlines saga, #6 may seem as more of a “holding pattern” than an advancement of the story. I was tempted to penalize Kloos for that, but have reconsidered because of his willingness to take on some of the important topics that ring as true for our military stuck in Afghanistan and Iraq today as they do in Kloos’ world centuries in the future.
"But if we couldn’t use Mars anymore, neither could the Lankies, and the incursions stopped. If there are seed ships left, they hightailed it out of the solar system, because none of our units have spotted one since the Second Battle of Mars. Three years without a Lanky seed ship sighting and some people think we may have beaten them for good, driven them back to wherever they came from. Most of us know better. So we are preparing for the next round, all of us."
This sound familiar to you? If not, hereby be advised to go back to Frontlines Book 1. The person sharing his thoughts is Captain Andrew Grayson who has been married to another military officer for almost as long as they both have been in the service.
"I turn to face her again. “We’ve been married for ten years. How much time have we had together? Six months?”
“Probably less.”
“Yeah. And I really want to see what it’s like to have a life with you. Not just spending two weeks a year on leave.”
A lot of Kloos imagination goes into the parts of military life where you aren’t in immediate peril. Our hero, and he has been a hero more than once, is finding that his “down-time” is getting more difficult.
“No Fleet shrink has combat experience anyway. You’re all trying to fix conditions you’ve never seen for yourself.” She leans back in her chair and looks at me with a slight smile. “Then what are you doing here, Captain Grayson? Why did you ask for an appointment?” “Because it helps,” I say. “Talking stuff out. Sometimes.” “That’s an unusual attitude,” Dr. Saults says. “From a podhead, I mean.” “How so?” I echo her earlier question. “The more gung-ho and macho the occupational specialty, the less you guys are likely to talk about what bugs you. Like it’s a sign of weakness. Like it’s something you should be able to handle yourselves.” “I used to think that,” I say. “Until a few years ago.” “What made you change your mind?” “I got married,” I say, and she grins. “And I had a few rough patches,” I continue. “Not with the marriage. With the combat drops. Scraped past death a few too many times, in really bad ways. And then a mission went sideways, and I lost a lot of guys under my command. But I had my wife to talk to. And it helped."
PTSD is something we are recognizing affects far more people than most of us imagined. Kloos takes this on.
"“You ever see the shrink about it?” “Hell no. That shit isn’t for me.” Hansen takes a sip from her bottle and puts it down on the table with emphasis. “I know what bugs me. I don’t need assistance from some rear-echelon psych quack. All they do is pump you full of meds.” I don’t want to tell Hansen that I let them put me on meds because I know that she’d see it as a sign of weakness. Too many grunts are caught up in the mind-set that a frontline soldier should be able to manage that sort of thing on their own, that seeking help from a professional is somehow unbecoming. I know that she’s wrong to dismiss it out of hand because the stuff I am taking really helps—"
Some of my GR friends feel that Kloos could have done more with this theme (and he still might). That aside, he still delivers some great imagery for battles in space.
"It’s like a slow and awkward joust with heavily armored knights and lances, but we’re on a rain-slick frozen lake, and the horses are on skates."
And
"This won’t be a sucker punch from a million klicks away, but a knife fight in a toilet stall."
To those of us hooked on the Frontlines saga, #6 may seem as more of a “holding pattern” than an advancement of the story. I was tempted to penalize Kloos for that, but have reconsidered because of his willingness to take on some of the important topics that ring as true for our military stuck in Afghanistan and Iraq today as they do in Kloos’ world centuries in the future.
January 21, 2018
It's been three years since the assault on Mars where the human forces largely denied the planet to the Lankies, but rendered it unusable in the process. Andrew Grayson is coming off of a tour of Mars duty where the mopping up of Lankies continues, but a series of difficult deployments including the action on Arcadia (Chains of Command), the Mars assault (Fields of Fire and his year-long deployment with the Lazarus Brigades have left him in a precarious mental state. Humanity is finally all pulling in the same direction and the newest incarnation of Earth military is powerful and dedicated, but is it the right solution for the Lankie problem and is Andrew Grayson still a part of that solution?
This series has tackled military life in all its forms throughout, and Andrew and Hallie have had more than their fair share of PTSD-inducing experiences and more action in their military careers than most. By the time of this book, both are feeling old and looking back on the series it's clear why that is so. The questions that arise for long-term soldiers around their careers, the psychological impacts of those careers and the increasing gap between their lives and their civilian counterparts are the fundamentals of this book. The update on the military forces and the battle against the Lankies are clearly secondary to this, which may disappoint long-running fans of the action in this series. Personally, I thought it was solid, but it felt very short.
This series has tackled military life in all its forms throughout, and Andrew and Hallie have had more than their fair share of PTSD-inducing experiences and more action in their military careers than most. By the time of this book, both are feeling old and looking back on the series it's clear why that is so. The questions that arise for long-term soldiers around their careers, the psychological impacts of those careers and the increasing gap between their lives and their civilian counterparts are the fundamentals of this book. The update on the military forces and the battle against the Lankies are clearly secondary to this, which may disappoint long-running fans of the action in this series. Personally, I thought it was solid, but it felt very short.
December 11, 2017
Marko Kloos is yet to write a bad novel. However, Points of Impact, the sixth in his 'Frontlines' series, is not his strongest effort to-date.
The problem is that the book feels like padding, with a thin plot stretched out to fill a full novel. With the exception of a short and inconsequential opening on Mars and an equally rushed return to the Formahault System as a denouement, the book features very little military action. Much of its length is filled with introducing the Ottawa, the newest and most formidable ship in Earth's military fleet, which has been designed specifically to take on and beat the existential threat posed by the Lankies. Add in yet another quick trip to peaceful Vermont for recurring leads Andrew and Halley and some introspection from the former on the personal impact of war & combat, and that's pretty much three quarters of the book's length spoken for.
Whilst these sections are well written as always, they're not exactly jam packed with excitement and whilst the Ottawa's appearance evens up the on-going Human vs Lanky war, that conflict doesn't really progress from where it was left at the end of 'Fields of Fire'. The concluding battle, which feels rushed and rather as if it was included to fulfill some-sort-of action quotient, doesn't greatly alter the respective sides positions, and both Andrew and Halley are pretty much where they were when the book opens.
The overall result is a book that takes quite a long time to not really go anywhere, leaving the series' wheels spinning without much forward momentum. I wasn't bored by Points of Impact; the chance to spend time with familiar characters in a richly conceived future world and Kloos' ever-accessible prose saw to that. Nor however, was a blown away or genuinely enthused by the book. I'll stick with the series, but the next installment needs to offer more than shiny tech and the odd skirmish to keep me gripped.
The problem is that the book feels like padding, with a thin plot stretched out to fill a full novel. With the exception of a short and inconsequential opening on Mars and an equally rushed return to the Formahault System as a denouement, the book features very little military action. Much of its length is filled with introducing the Ottawa, the newest and most formidable ship in Earth's military fleet, which has been designed specifically to take on and beat the existential threat posed by the Lankies. Add in yet another quick trip to peaceful Vermont for recurring leads Andrew and Halley and some introspection from the former on the personal impact of war & combat, and that's pretty much three quarters of the book's length spoken for.
Whilst these sections are well written as always, they're not exactly jam packed with excitement and whilst the Ottawa's appearance evens up the on-going Human vs Lanky war, that conflict doesn't really progress from where it was left at the end of 'Fields of Fire'. The concluding battle, which feels rushed and rather as if it was included to fulfill some-sort-of action quotient, doesn't greatly alter the respective sides positions, and both Andrew and Halley are pretty much where they were when the book opens.
The overall result is a book that takes quite a long time to not really go anywhere, leaving the series' wheels spinning without much forward momentum. I wasn't bored by Points of Impact; the chance to spend time with familiar characters in a richly conceived future world and Kloos' ever-accessible prose saw to that. Nor however, was a blown away or genuinely enthused by the book. I'll stick with the series, but the next installment needs to offer more than shiny tech and the odd skirmish to keep me gripped.
November 24, 2025
As a retired military guy I guess I am really picky about my Military Fiction. The writer has to make the story fell like real military life and the characters have to have the right "Feel". Mr Kloos does all that with his books. Excellent SiFi plot and story. The characters are perfect to me and feel very real. Very recommended
January 13, 2024
Good stuff! This was a reread; my original review's below:
Number 6 in the Frontlines series.
It's been three years since the Battle of Mars in the last book. The Lankies have adapted to the radiation and have burrowed below the surface. They are quite the industrious species. Unfortunately they're smart, too.
Andrew Grayson is now a Captain. He's assigned to a shnazzy brand-spanking new ship that's armed to the teeth. He is deployed to Mars, Titan, and that little ice moon from a few books ago, New Svalbard, to bring the fight to the Lankies.
The fight for the colony on New Svalbard in particular was really something. The inhospitable setting, the sheer numbers of invaders, the storm... These aliens are like a plague of locusts! I wonder how the author will wrap up this series. The last book was just released today, as a matter of fact. I already bought and downloaded it to my Kindle. I'll be bummed to see this series end!
Number 6 in the Frontlines series.
It's been three years since the Battle of Mars in the last book. The Lankies have adapted to the radiation and have burrowed below the surface. They are quite the industrious species. Unfortunately they're smart, too.
Andrew Grayson is now a Captain. He's assigned to a shnazzy brand-spanking new ship that's armed to the teeth. He is deployed to Mars, Titan, and that little ice moon from a few books ago, New Svalbard, to bring the fight to the Lankies.
The fight for the colony on New Svalbard in particular was really something. The inhospitable setting, the sheer numbers of invaders, the storm... These aliens are like a plague of locusts! I wonder how the author will wrap up this series. The last book was just released today, as a matter of fact. I already bought and downloaded it to my Kindle. I'll be bummed to see this series end!
February 8, 2018
I'm frustrated. Will this series ever end with an actual result? Each book is just one battle for one planet or moon against the Lankie aliens. I'm tired.
In this installment, we get to go back to the icy moon that Andrew helped liberate a few books ago. This time instead of freeing it from an unjust military, the Lankies have taken over. The humans have some shiny new toys to bring to the battle, including the biggest starship they have ever built, and some fun exoskeletons, but they still get their butts kicked. Well, not really kicked. Just like the last book, there is no real victory or defeat on either side.
Previous books have had Andrew consider the moral issues: following orders, humans killing humans instead of fighting the real enemy, the justification of the rich vs the struggles of the poor, etc. In this book, the big moral dilemma seems to be whether Andrew should medicate for his PTSD.
I just don't know if I can read another installment. I'm too frustrated.
In this installment, we get to go back to the icy moon that Andrew helped liberate a few books ago. This time instead of freeing it from an unjust military, the Lankies have taken over. The humans have some shiny new toys to bring to the battle, including the biggest starship they have ever built, and some fun exoskeletons, but they still get their butts kicked. Well, not really kicked. Just like the last book, there is no real victory or defeat on either side.
Previous books have had Andrew consider the moral issues: following orders, humans killing humans instead of fighting the real enemy, the justification of the rich vs the struggles of the poor, etc. In this book, the big moral dilemma seems to be whether Andrew should medicate for his PTSD.
I just don't know if I can read another installment. I'm too frustrated.
January 26, 2018
I was really looking forward to seeing the end of the line somewhere in the distance here. It just seems like this will either be the last one with a lackluster ending or keep going with possibly a new protagonist but don't look for much advancement in the over arching story.
There was way too much talk about PTSD, new equipment, previous deployments. Sixty to seventy percent of the book was superfluous.
And that's it. I give it one more volume and if not remarkably better than this one, I'll give up.
2.0 Stars
There was way too much talk about PTSD, new equipment, previous deployments. Sixty to seventy percent of the book was superfluous.
And that's it. I give it one more volume and if not remarkably better than this one, I'll give up.
2.0 Stars
January 28, 2018
Executive Summary: I originally gave this book 4 stars when I finished, but having time to reflect on it, I dropped it by a star (maybe we'll call it a 3.5?) because very little actually happened.
Audiobook: Luke Daniels continues to be one of my favorite narrators. Another fantastic job.
Full Review
Marko Kloos first came to my attention when he was nominated for a Hugo and dropped out due to controversy surrounding that nomination. He earned a lot of respect from me for his decision and put this series on my radar.
I'm not a big military fiction fan, but he does a good job of it. These books are always fun, and light. The fights are action packed, the technology is cool and the stakes are high. This book was no different.
I was excited coming into this book because I read (or thought I did) this would be the final book, and I was looking forward to wrapping up events of the series. It is for that reason that I was totally surprised that this wasn't in fact the final book. In fact the more I reflected on the book after finishing it, very little actually happened.
I really like the characters in this book. That wasn't always the case. Andrew wasn't a very good person at the start of the series. He's had a lot of growth. This book isn't different. We get into the effects of PTSD, something I don't recall being addressed in the other military fiction I've read.
However when all is said and done, the last few books have been proceeding at a bit of a crawl. The books have become a bit formulaic and I find myself hoping things will be wrapped in the next book.
That said, I still enjoyed listening to this book and I'll pick up the next one just as soon as it's out.
Audiobook: Luke Daniels continues to be one of my favorite narrators. Another fantastic job.
Full Review
Marko Kloos first came to my attention when he was nominated for a Hugo and dropped out due to controversy surrounding that nomination. He earned a lot of respect from me for his decision and put this series on my radar.
I'm not a big military fiction fan, but he does a good job of it. These books are always fun, and light. The fights are action packed, the technology is cool and the stakes are high. This book was no different.
I was excited coming into this book because I read (or thought I did) this would be the final book, and I was looking forward to wrapping up events of the series. It is for that reason that I was totally surprised that this wasn't in fact the final book. In fact the more I reflected on the book after finishing it, very little actually happened.
I really like the characters in this book. That wasn't always the case. Andrew wasn't a very good person at the start of the series. He's had a lot of growth. This book isn't different. We get into the effects of PTSD, something I don't recall being addressed in the other military fiction I've read.
However when all is said and done, the last few books have been proceeding at a bit of a crawl. The books have become a bit formulaic and I find myself hoping things will be wrapped in the next book.
That said, I still enjoyed listening to this book and I'll pick up the next one just as soon as it's out.
September 25, 2019
I felt like this was a satisfying ending to the series although I would have loved for the series to have continued for a few more books. I wasn't ready to leave the characters and their world behind just yet.
Audiobook fans, this is another series with really good audio narration!
Audiobook fans, this is another series with really good audio narration!
March 21, 2019
My least favorite of the series (a series that I love!), and I'm at the point where I think Kloos should have wrapped it up and moved on to another project.
November 6, 2017
I've been anxiously awaiting the release of Points of Impact. I did a binge read on the Frontlines series when I got a recommendation. Author Marko Kloos has created a marvelous universe for those addicted to science fiction--it's got everything: a magnetic, but all-too-human protagonist, action, adventure, aliens, love and friendship.
What has kept my interest is the growth of the main character, Andrew Grayson. In this book, he's taking up a big leadership role and it feels like a natural progression of a real life. The author has a skillful way of using the science and technology that underlie all sci-fi works, keeping it believable and understandable, but a backdrop to the story itself.
In this book, a large part of the tale becomes about new, advanced technology and the hubris that can accompany its development New machines and weapons have been juxtaposed with people and places from past books, in a recombinant DNA that results in a fresh, exciting story. There is a richness and complexity that is as delicious as chocolate layer cake--but without the sugar high.
Once again, I am struck with the way the author fashions a society where there is no gender dominance. Heroics and villainy appear in both sexes, and in that, the future feels like one we aspire to--it is Trekian is that way. But every person is multi-dimensional, with shades of grey. I am especially enamored of Grayson's wife Halley, a skilled pilot and leader who outranks her spouse.
The starkness of all bad is reserved for the Lankies, but even this formidable enemy is being shown to be more complex than mindless insects. The aliens are still quite a mystery however, and I would like to know more about them...perhaps in the next book?
Mr. Kloos writes authentically about combat and its toll. No one comes through a war completely untouched--some are honed and some are shattered.
Like all great sagas, it's not the time, place, or technology that enthralls, it is the people who are impacted by the events. Points of Impact is great science fiction...
but read the other books first.
What has kept my interest is the growth of the main character, Andrew Grayson. In this book, he's taking up a big leadership role and it feels like a natural progression of a real life. The author has a skillful way of using the science and technology that underlie all sci-fi works, keeping it believable and understandable, but a backdrop to the story itself.
In this book, a large part of the tale becomes about new, advanced technology and the hubris that can accompany its development New machines and weapons have been juxtaposed with people and places from past books, in a recombinant DNA that results in a fresh, exciting story. There is a richness and complexity that is as delicious as chocolate layer cake--but without the sugar high.
Once again, I am struck with the way the author fashions a society where there is no gender dominance. Heroics and villainy appear in both sexes, and in that, the future feels like one we aspire to--it is Trekian is that way. But every person is multi-dimensional, with shades of grey. I am especially enamored of Grayson's wife Halley, a skilled pilot and leader who outranks her spouse.
The starkness of all bad is reserved for the Lankies, but even this formidable enemy is being shown to be more complex than mindless insects. The aliens are still quite a mystery however, and I would like to know more about them...perhaps in the next book?
Mr. Kloos writes authentically about combat and its toll. No one comes through a war completely untouched--some are honed and some are shattered.
Like all great sagas, it's not the time, place, or technology that enthralls, it is the people who are impacted by the events. Points of Impact is great science fiction...
but read the other books first.
January 12, 2018
If you are looking for a lot of actions and explosions, you might be disappointed. The novel takes even a more somber atmosphere in which Andrew contemplated almost everything. The action parts - i..e. big fighting with the Lankies came near the end of the book.
Now, we are lucky that he was such a likable and competent character so all the observations are acceptable and not irritating. I appreciate that PTSD is one of the main themes here and become the subject of many discussions that I believe happen in real life military personnel - what will we do after the war? should I get out now before it's too late?
I think it is a testament to Kloos' ability to create a story and character that is simple and engaging enough for me to read, even though a considerable amount of time was spent in reminiscing past events and describing military tech and how they operate.
Speaking of mil tech, this is basically a porn for tactical tech. It would be useful if you have some knowledge on many abbreviations like PACs -I have to ask the author what it stands for - so you will understand the context.
Another solid entry for the Frontlines series. I don't think I'll ever get bored reading these books.
Now, we are lucky that he was such a likable and competent character so all the observations are acceptable and not irritating. I appreciate that PTSD is one of the main themes here and become the subject of many discussions that I believe happen in real life military personnel - what will we do after the war? should I get out now before it's too late?
I think it is a testament to Kloos' ability to create a story and character that is simple and engaging enough for me to read, even though a considerable amount of time was spent in reminiscing past events and describing military tech and how they operate.
Speaking of mil tech, this is basically a porn for tactical tech. It would be useful if you have some knowledge on many abbreviations like PACs -I have to ask the author what it stands for - so you will understand the context.
Another solid entry for the Frontlines series. I don't think I'll ever get bored reading these books.
January 20, 2018
This book doesn't actually start until around 85% in.
I cant believe this is actually a book.
Its almost like this was written by another person.
Im only giving it 2 starts out of respect for the first 5 books.
So disappointed.
I cant believe this is actually a book.
Its almost like this was written by another person.
Im only giving it 2 starts out of respect for the first 5 books.
So disappointed.
August 5, 2023
The Frontlines series is entertaining, action packed, has good dialogue, lots of explosions and fighting and high stakes, species evolution, and a phenomenal narrator that brings all the personality in the world to the audiobooks.
All these things remain true in Points of Impact. I love that the books aren’t getting longer as the series continues, because personally I would rather read more shorter books that happen at various points in the timeline, than one long book trying to encompass years.
Each book has an underlying theme, and this one is the long term effects of war on the individual. It has been three years since the end of the last book and the humans are slugging away at the Lankies remaining on Mars. They are exhausted, experiencing equipment failures and starting to feel the long term psychological impact of extended war plus lengthy deployments.
I think it’s awesome that Kloos shows Andrew being willing to go get help and then that he isn’t (too) ashamed to admit it, and encourage others to seek it as well. He’s getting testy and short fused, losing sight of things, and decides to see if talking to the ship’s psychiatrist can help. I think Halley was on his case too but he was very willing to be open minded about talking to someone.
The humans are going on the offensive for the first time due to their new technology. We’ve got terminator like exo suits now and a giant new class of war ship that’s unlike anything humanity has had before. We have a chance.
Old characters return, civvies save the day, and Kloos really hammers home the fact that sometimes people just die. The ending of this one was freaking sad, I think it was by far the darkest in the series.
I think the editor should have clamped down slightly on some of Kloos’ repetitive writing here. He briefly summarizes past events quite a few times but repeats himself. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this installment and can’t wait to see the conclusion.
Some extra quotes and thoughts can be found up at https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/08/0...
All these things remain true in Points of Impact. I love that the books aren’t getting longer as the series continues, because personally I would rather read more shorter books that happen at various points in the timeline, than one long book trying to encompass years.
Each book has an underlying theme, and this one is the long term effects of war on the individual. It has been three years since the end of the last book and the humans are slugging away at the Lankies remaining on Mars. They are exhausted, experiencing equipment failures and starting to feel the long term psychological impact of extended war plus lengthy deployments.
I think it’s awesome that Kloos shows Andrew being willing to go get help and then that he isn’t (too) ashamed to admit it, and encourage others to seek it as well. He’s getting testy and short fused, losing sight of things, and decides to see if talking to the ship’s psychiatrist can help. I think Halley was on his case too but he was very willing to be open minded about talking to someone.
The humans are going on the offensive for the first time due to their new technology. We’ve got terminator like exo suits now and a giant new class of war ship that’s unlike anything humanity has had before. We have a chance.
Old characters return, civvies save the day, and Kloos really hammers home the fact that sometimes people just die. The ending of this one was freaking sad, I think it was by far the darkest in the series.
I think the editor should have clamped down slightly on some of Kloos’ repetitive writing here. He briefly summarizes past events quite a few times but repeats himself. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this installment and can’t wait to see the conclusion.
Some extra quotes and thoughts can be found up at https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/08/0...
October 2, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down because, while I loved the deeper characterization, this book suffers of the same drawbacks of the previous one, namely a less inspired story and slower rhythm.
Still, I’m going to start with the final one of the series right away.
It should feel weird to be sitting in this office and telling all this stuff to someone who looks like I have ten years of life experience and eight years of service on her. But I know that this is her job, and it feels better saying these words in front of a live human who can at least feign empathy than keeping them percolating in my skull unsaid, or writing them down in a PDP file that nobody will ever read.
Still, I’m going to start with the final one of the series right away.
It should feel weird to be sitting in this office and telling all this stuff to someone who looks like I have ten years of life experience and eight years of service on her. But I know that this is her job, and it feels better saying these words in front of a live human who can at least feign empathy than keeping them percolating in my skull unsaid, or writing them down in a PDP file that nobody will ever read.
June 15, 2021
A stale bag of Cool Ranch Doritos while watching Euro 2020
When I was a kid my mother would send me shopping for milk and eggs. She would always say to me "Check the expiration date!"
Well I should have checked the expiration date on this bag of Cool Ranch Doritos because it was stale. The worst of the six books.
'I toss my gear bag onto the bunk to unpack it. The locker next to the bunk already has some stuff in it.'
'There's a small vestibule connecting the gym to the running track. The workout shirts in both branches are black.'
'In the SI officer's wardroom everyone is wearing the standard SI battle tunic with it's distinctive camo pattern.'
This is what's called 'filler'. Way too much filler
The rest of the book was testing a new ship and simulating an attack on the Lankies.
"Now let's get ready for this war-gaming business and pretend like we have an enemy to fight"
Fascinating! Not!
When I was a kid my mother would send me shopping for milk and eggs. She would always say to me "Check the expiration date!"
Well I should have checked the expiration date on this bag of Cool Ranch Doritos because it was stale. The worst of the six books.
'I toss my gear bag onto the bunk to unpack it. The locker next to the bunk already has some stuff in it.'
'There's a small vestibule connecting the gym to the running track. The workout shirts in both branches are black.'
'In the SI officer's wardroom everyone is wearing the standard SI battle tunic with it's distinctive camo pattern.'
This is what's called 'filler'. Way too much filler
The rest of the book was testing a new ship and simulating an attack on the Lankies.
"Now let's get ready for this war-gaming business and pretend like we have an enemy to fight"
Fascinating! Not!
January 24, 2018
Points of Impact is a decent addition to the Frontlines series. This series is great Military Scifi and I am a huge fan.
Points of Impact picks up three years after the mars war and explores the effects of a long running war on soldiers and humanity. This thread is abandoned midway through the book and this decision is quite disappointing. Other than that, this book is basically a stepping stone to the next set of books which will probably detail out the next phase of the Lanky invasion.
Points of Impact picks up three years after the mars war and explores the effects of a long running war on soldiers and humanity. This thread is abandoned midway through the book and this decision is quite disappointing. Other than that, this book is basically a stepping stone to the next set of books which will probably detail out the next phase of the Lanky invasion.
March 21, 2018
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a very average military space opera.
The characters are boring and nothing really happens for large periods of the story.
Far better military space operas about.
This is a very average military space opera.
The characters are boring and nothing really happens for large periods of the story.
Far better military space operas about.
Read
June 19, 2025Rating: minus 4 on a scale of minus 5 to plus 5 .
I did not finish this book. Certain ideas are interesting but they do not coalesce. It is sad that it seems that he made an effort but failed.
To reset I benefited from the YouTube channels Doctor Who/They Break My Heart -RecklessGirl100, Red Glasgow, Mia Mulder, LuckyBlackCat, Some More News, Ukraine Calling, Bobbing Along, Fit 2B Read, Welcome to Ukraine, Nerdy Kathi, Expert Book Smuggler, Shonalika, Ashley Embers, Octopus Lady, Scholars Shelf, May Moon Narrowboat, Acollierastro, Biz, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, Kyiv Independent, Just in Time Worldbuilding, A Cosy Creative, Amie's Literary Empire, Jaymee Goh, Kazachka, Kings and Generals, Kevin Steil, The Narrowboat Pirate, Sailing Melody, Ben and Emily, Winging it on a Budget, Kathy's Flog in France, Mynameismarines, Bookfox, Book Furnace, Bookpilled, A Day of Small Things, Sacha Black, AuroraTrek, Anark, Jay Exci, Unlearning Economics, Kat Blacque, Natasha's Adventures, Dr Ben Miles, Red Viburnam Song, Esmie the Author, Jess of the Shire, The Steampunk Explorer, The Feral Historian, Historia Civilis, Graysons Projects, Lady Knight the Brave, Welcome to Ukraine, Leena Norms, Ro Ramdin, Central Crossing, Yarmak -Ragnarok, Dungeon Dad, Dungeons and Discourse, Alizee, May, NFKRZ, Depressed Russian, Ukraine Matters, Operator Starsky, GirlnextGondor, Listen2Kristen, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Truth to Power, V. Birchwood, Shannon Makes, Rachel Maksy, Karolina Zebrowska, Artur Rehi, ThePrimeChronus, Double Down News, Emma Thorne, No Justice, Barely Informed, Owen Jones, Keffals, Crow Caller, Fun Size Reader, ATP Geopolitics, Boat Time, Econ Lessons, Widebeam and Wellingtons, The Narrowboat that James Built, Radio Retrofuture, The Orbital Array, The League of S.T.E.A.M., Professor Gerdes Explains, Space 1899, Hysteria, Covert Cabal, Tank Museum, ConeOfArc, United 24,'Eugenia from Ukraine.
A member of the Village Idiot Party, whilst attacking a female channel essayist complained to her that I list channels with trans creators. It must be something in the US air. To that idiot and his fellows, these channels include primatologist, Swedish, bi, tall, archaeologist, cis, economist, Irish, het, historian, trans, communist, essayist, WOC, gay, book reviewer, asexual, gamer, sewist, socialist and other female creators or as the sane label them Women. Almost as upsetting to you will be the other BIPOC, Welsh, mathematician, other LGBTQ+, socialist, redhead, Danish, anarchist, philosopher, fashion historian, linguist, modeller, science educator and other creators or as the sane refer to them Human Beings. If still driven to expose yourself to new information, you must immediately seek therapy, pastoral counselling or a proper Catholic exorcism. My feelings towards these idiots is similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island when their surrender was demanded by the Russian navy. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself." Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
The character work was a better job than usual for Kindle loans but the worldbuilding undercut characters.
The picture of several regiments of 3 to 4 thousand troops retaking a planet is unbelievable. Assault battalions supported only by light armour is unbelievable. Mars lacking orbital defences is unbelievable. Lack of heavy armour, heavy artillery or air support against 25 meter tall aliens is unbelievable.
Planetary battlefield is too large for such a small intervention force. The US at its peak force level deployed more than 650,000 troops to battle in South Vietnam. Artillery is the battle winning arm. Air superiority is standard doctrine for all large militaries.
Most low end military science fiction as well as games create bizarre labels such as "Heavy Tactical Strategic Assault Units" .
He created a US that consists only of ghettos and suburbs and no recognizable economic base. The impoverished USA build six large warships with a financial gift from Europe. Europe can not build the ships themselves for Reasons. US ghetto residents become super soldiers immediately after basic training Because... No other nation commits troops or ships to actual battle Because ... The Territorial forces are trained to kill suppress food riots only. Though this may change under Starmer, UK Territorial forces are not created to kill the subjects of HM.
Veterans assume control of government Because ... and by way of Somethings. The theme seems to be that even dissolution, USA is number one. There was no mass mobilisation, no study of the aliens, no mention of the colonies, no massive research effort.
Low end Kindle writers are satisfied to run with serious knowledge deficiencies and no attempt to do research. This is not the only book in the genre for which US publishers have suspended research requirements for writers. The genre is written at the 10 years old reading level but the obvious flaws should have been addressed.
I have earned another mental reset. This next was courtesy of YouTube channels Hailey Hughes, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Mia Mulder, Bobbing Along, HBomberGuy, ScaredKetchup, Sabine Hossenfelder, Sumatha Reads, AllShorts, Ship Happens, Gutsick Gibbon, Cindy's Villa, Dr Fatima, According to Alina, The Orbital Array, Elina Charatsidou, Eileen, Parkrose Permaculture, Supertanskiii, Times Radio, The Caspian Report, Nicole Raflee, Puddles Pity Party, FAFO, Jess Owens, The Interesting Times, Bookum, Wera, Books & Borders, May, The Gaze, Myocore, Ember Green, Emma Thorne, UATV, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Fit 2B Read, Hoots, Munecat, Raw News and Politics, Hardcover Podcast, Gingers are Black, Julie Nolke, Planet D, Authors Behaving Badly, Caelan Conrad, Fun Size Reader, Anka Daily News, Ponderful, Lady of the Library, Kady2.0, Patrick(H)Willem, Eckharts Ladder, Lynn Saga, Dominic Noble, Rachel Oates, Rebecca Watson, Electro Swing, Trae Crowder, Liz Webster, Reese Waters, Silicon Curtain, Anna from Ukraine, Think that Through, The Researcher, Reporting from Ukraine, DW News, Lily Simpson, The Juice Media, Jenny Gillblad, Yarmak -Ragnarok, Leena Norms, Jessica Kellgren Fozard, Horses, Oceanliner Designs, My2, Tiff Reads Books, Democratic Penguin Republic, Dark Brandon, Books and Things, Jean's Thoughts, MoAn Inc, Weirdo Book Club, Council of Geeks, Bardcore, Katy Montgomerie, Miranda Mills, Reedsy, Captured in Words, Honestly Sophie, Hej Sokoly, Belle of the Ranch, Lisa McLeod, Subha Reads, Verilybitchie, Keffals, Adam Something, Mynameismarines, Angelika Oles, Julia Kalef, Fall of Civilisations, Micro-Digressions.
A number of KIndle writers have made failed but seeming good faith attempts at first books. Instead of manuscripts being returned with notes for improvement, they are printed. Fans are conditioned by Kindle/Goodreads to accept any narrative as long as it is popular, which explains Hoover, Maas and others.
Please consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist. As example, somewhere about three years ago, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth, a poorly written salute to the sociopathic January 6, 2021 hero. The writer, Travis Corcoran self-described as libertarian and advocate for the return of chattel slavery, veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin. He must be the MAGA poster child. My thought was that the glorification of overthrow of the US government with the aid of the military for the the newly rich to not pay taxes, was dangerous and unhealthy. This incensed the writer and six fellow patriots. It is sad that these morons do not appreciate irony.
For almost a year there were increasingly needy demands from writer and followers demanding my engagement. These are the perfect example of the MAGA intellectual. Finally Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr wrote a comment proudly declaring that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that They had launched a year long campaign against apparently every channel which I had mentioned and it has continued to the present. The archaeologist, book reviewer, economist, essayist and the many other female creators were taken aback but not impressed. The world's overabundance of unpleasantness was certainly increased and They did deliver an eerily accurate self-portrait of the snowflake (vicious, poorly educated US man-child) to a multinational audience. This was a Victory. Goodreads discourse, Yay ?? USA,Yay ??
This was the most extreme comment cloud of several years of attacks but while the last, the first of these gangs had been organised against my reviews within six months of the start of my membership.
I turned away from print fiction after two years of pretending that in some exotic fashion Amazon/Kindle/Goodreads suggestions might be normal. I dropped my Unlimited sub and needed more than a year to rekindle my lifelong love of reading. I was rescued by the BookTube 😍, which provide communities of thoughtful, curious readers enamoured of all things bookish. They are far different to the Goodreads environment and I recommend a visit to several channels. They reminded me that across the many genres there are thoughtful writers, though Kindle and Goodreads have not seemed to find them.
Time for another reset. This next was brought to you by YouTube - DUST, Bart's Book Space, Gabi Belle, Terrible Writing Advice, Agro Squirrel Narrates, What do they know -Songs Sped Up, Annamarie Forcino, TVP News, Lily Alexandre, Some More News, Pink Floyd - Hey Hey Rise Up, Bitchuation Room, Shitty Book Club, Captured in Words, Tale Foundry, Wizards and Warriors. Science Insanity, Broken Peach, Anton Petrov, Battle Order, Chloe Sunflora. The Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Lexi aka NewlyNova, Think That Through, Depressed Russian, NFKRZ, Books with Ella K, Lindsay Ellis, Just in Time Worlds, The New Enlightenment, ThePrImeChronus, NerdForge, UNTV, A Day of Small Things, Hardy's Books, OrangeRiver, Science Fiction with Damien Walker, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, May, Library Ladder, Jean's Thoughts, Silicon Curtain, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Nursena Yener, Sarah Z, Lady of the Library, Operator Starsky, Ship Happens, Reads with Rachel, Haropones, Books with Chloe, Beau of the Fifth Column, Tanya Fiona, The Cosy Creative, Anna Fern, Living Anachronism, Radio Retrofuture,, Planarwalker, UATV, Ben G Thomas, History with Kayleigh, Princess Weekes, Megalithhunter, Book Chats with Shelley, Ellbat, MegwithBooks, TVP News, May Moon Narrowboat, Dark Brandon, SarawithoutanH, Shades of Orange, A Sunny Book Nook. According to Alina, Harbo Wholmes, Beck Leavesly, Nomadic Crobot, Well Deck Diaries, Ben and Emily, Battle Order, According to Alina, Books and Lala, With Olivia, Savannah Brown, Anna Gramling, Templin Institute, The Gaze, Leeja Miller, Annie's Literary Empire, Jay Exci, Historia Civilis, Hailey Hughes, Diemmi Reads, Yugopnik, Kirkpattiecake, Searching for Samantha, Nikki Carreon, CBC News, Olive's Book Nook, The Queer Kiwi, Keffals, NarraTale, ScaredKetchup, Books and Borders, Badisread2, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Declassified UK, Novara Media, Weirdo Book Club, The C J Werleman Show, Double Down News, uncivilized, Times Radio,Steve Shives, PPR Global, Emilie's Literary Corner, A Very Casual Librarian, Jay Reed, The Military Show,
Ominous music begins. 😊 Goodreads actively encourage the comment clouds. Based on mine and other negative science fiction reviews, those comment gangs are loosely organised and operate in coherent clouds. Similar gangs exist in Romance, horror and other genre fiction but are less long-term and more ad hoc in defence of problematic representation, often racist or misogynist or other anti-human themes. From BookTube reviewers I learned that gangs engage in stalking, doxxing and threats against the one star reviewer.
My own attack swarms had none of them the book or even the genre on their shelves. One does begin to wonder how and why they were directed to my humble self. They defended books, which they had not read. These freaks were from their bookshelves 35+ years old professionals if the Financial, Engineering and other reference works are indications.
BookTube discussed the abuses of Goodreads but Goodreads have never. Kindle and Amazon support these bizarre behaviours, which I have come to understand are normal for the US. Amazon do not rein in mental members, writers or emotionally damaged employees regardless of their behaviours. I suspect that this is a dying site and Amazon Book Clubs are waiting on the wings.
Kindle/Goodreads gave my meagre message history to my mental following. A request was made through Pine Gap Centre of Australian Intelligence to interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed and left two outraged customers. Amazon only became concerned after our sharing this very illegal intervention. Since then all harassment visible to other readers, which I can document, suddenly disappeared. This included all lurkers whom I was previously not Allowed to remove. The most interesting was the elusive Dr Susan Hamilton, Maths Professor Emeritus at University of Tennessee, an overdone backstory which indicates governmental creation. I did not expect that writing a review on this site would be not only tedious but dangerous as well.
I suggest a few precautions which will make your exposure on the site, not safe but less dangerous until you are able to move to a non-Amazon e-reader or reader forum.
Remove all personal information or identification from Goodreads profile and avoid the messaging function. Remove the lurker, those who never post. They are monitors not admirers. Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, the screenshot of the odd and the ugly are invaluable.
Do Not use Kindle Files, Contacts, Calendar or Email. These are the most dangerous data collection devices. Do not buy ebooks on or pay for play games with Kindle. I admit my regret at having made those obvious mistakes. Ebooks on Kindle are only yours as long as you maintain your Amazon account. Should it be closed, your books are deleted. If Amazon decide to remove the books, they are allowed. As for games, there are other sites which support the same or similar games. Kindle distorted two keyboards over two years, though after the Australian event the keyboard returned to normal functioning suddenly. One game was deleted with no explanation and now another game suddenly will not install updates or allow me to continue play. Sharing your personal life with rather questionable employees or having months of game payments disappear with no explanation may be comfortable for you, in which case ignore my Kindle advice.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produced a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind To EBay. The couple were awarded multi-millions of pounds. The ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. Things to think about, when dealing with the tech boys.
To follow the above will cost you nothing but to not might do. If you enjoy temporary immunity, good on you but your status is dependent on the whims of mad men/women. In addition to a lack of non-Randian morality, acceptable socialisation or self-awareness, it is important to remember that these members and employees alike are also US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be careful. May we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
Some More News, ScaredKetchup, aidan knight, Not Just Another Fat Girl,v LuckyBlackCat, Owen Jones, Mia Mulder, May Moon Narrowboat, Red Glasgow, Bella Ciao -Kamerad Kosmo, Malinda, Nomadic Crobot, What Vivi did next, Hej Sokoly, Reads with Rachel, Jess Owens, Omeleto, France 24, J Draper, Shannon Makes. Aid Thompsin, AllShorts, Truth to Power, Jabzy. Perun, ATP Geopolitics, Tara Mooknee, Keffals, Kirkpattiecake, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Words in Time, Eva Schubert, Carl Duncan, Insights from Ukraine, Ship Happens, Verilybitchie Brandon Fisichella, Twinshangout Kenya, Lady of the Library, LIbrary Ladder, Radio Retro Future, DUST, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Verilybitchie, Omeleto, Renegade Cut, Lady Knight the Brave, WokeGardener, Raw News and Politics, Kyiv Independent, 69 Minutes Australia,Eilidh Briwn, NITV, Think Ukraine, Hoots, James Tullos, Veritas at Caritas, Emperor Tigerstar, Kings and Generals, Candlelit Tales, Opus Elenae, Brianna Savrovski, Covert Cabal, Alizee, DW World, Oceanliner Designs, Military Aviation History, Military History Visualized, Fundie Fridays, Lily Simpson, Cruising Crafts, Bobbing Along, Welldeck Diaries, Activist Witch, The Diary of a Ditch Witch, No Justice MTG, Trae Crowder, Lilly's Expat Life, With Olivia, Tennessee Brando, Silicon Curtain, Times Radio, Radio Retrofuture, It's Black Friday, Abney Park, Gutsick Gibbon, Planarwalker, Prime of Midlife, Holly the Cafe Boat, Travelling K, Cruising Crafts, Cruising The Cut, Horses, Council of Geeks, Outlaw Bookseller, The Brothers Gwynne, JimmyTheGiant, Dan Davis History, Invicta, DW News, The Library of a Viking, Political X, Combat Veteran Reacts Rowan Ellis, Rachel Oates, Ultimate Public Entertainment, The Shogunate, Biz, Andrewism, Amadeus Quartet, Cass Ellis, Anda Kent, BobbyBroccoli, BritMonkey, Leftist Cooks, Tennessee Brando, The Great War, Military History Visualized, The Miracle Aligner, Broken Peach, Matriarchetype, Solar Punk, Philosophy Tube, Jessie Gender, Megalithhunter, History with Kayleigh, Cold Fusion. Linguoer Mechanic, Steve Shives, Lily Simpson, Dr Fatima, Abby Cox, Karolina Zebrowska, Engineering Knits, Ash L G, Leftist Cooks, Shannon Makes, Mrs Betty Bowers, Burd's Books, Maria Druska, Books N Cats, Tale Foundry, Cover in French, Double Down News, Adam Something, KernowDamo, Characters Welcome, Stanzi, Supertanskiii, Keffals, Atun Shei Films, Guard the Leaf, Reese Waters, Skip Intro, APTN News, Red Pen, Welsh Viking,Brittany Page, Elvira Bary, Warthog Defence, One Day More Aboard, Kat Abughazaleh, The Indigo Life, Asturia Quartet, Lucy Darling, Sarah Millican, Subha Reads, Cecilia Blomdahl.
I wish you a sunny morning, an exciting afternoon, a relaxed evening, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
A partisan may not survive but can hope to be remembered as a flower on the mountain. From "Bella Ciao".
I did not finish this book. Certain ideas are interesting but they do not coalesce. It is sad that it seems that he made an effort but failed.
To reset I benefited from the YouTube channels Doctor Who/They Break My Heart -RecklessGirl100, Red Glasgow, Mia Mulder, LuckyBlackCat, Some More News, Ukraine Calling, Bobbing Along, Fit 2B Read, Welcome to Ukraine, Nerdy Kathi, Expert Book Smuggler, Shonalika, Ashley Embers, Octopus Lady, Scholars Shelf, May Moon Narrowboat, Acollierastro, Biz, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, Kyiv Independent, Just in Time Worldbuilding, A Cosy Creative, Amie's Literary Empire, Jaymee Goh, Kazachka, Kings and Generals, Kevin Steil, The Narrowboat Pirate, Sailing Melody, Ben and Emily, Winging it on a Budget, Kathy's Flog in France, Mynameismarines, Bookfox, Book Furnace, Bookpilled, A Day of Small Things, Sacha Black, AuroraTrek, Anark, Jay Exci, Unlearning Economics, Kat Blacque, Natasha's Adventures, Dr Ben Miles, Red Viburnam Song, Esmie the Author, Jess of the Shire, The Steampunk Explorer, The Feral Historian, Historia Civilis, Graysons Projects, Lady Knight the Brave, Welcome to Ukraine, Leena Norms, Ro Ramdin, Central Crossing, Yarmak -Ragnarok, Dungeon Dad, Dungeons and Discourse, Alizee, May, NFKRZ, Depressed Russian, Ukraine Matters, Operator Starsky, GirlnextGondor, Listen2Kristen, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Truth to Power, V. Birchwood, Shannon Makes, Rachel Maksy, Karolina Zebrowska, Artur Rehi, ThePrimeChronus, Double Down News, Emma Thorne, No Justice, Barely Informed, Owen Jones, Keffals, Crow Caller, Fun Size Reader, ATP Geopolitics, Boat Time, Econ Lessons, Widebeam and Wellingtons, The Narrowboat that James Built, Radio Retrofuture, The Orbital Array, The League of S.T.E.A.M., Professor Gerdes Explains, Space 1899, Hysteria, Covert Cabal, Tank Museum, ConeOfArc, United 24,'Eugenia from Ukraine.
A member of the Village Idiot Party, whilst attacking a female channel essayist complained to her that I list channels with trans creators. It must be something in the US air. To that idiot and his fellows, these channels include primatologist, Swedish, bi, tall, archaeologist, cis, economist, Irish, het, historian, trans, communist, essayist, WOC, gay, book reviewer, asexual, gamer, sewist, socialist and other female creators or as the sane label them Women. Almost as upsetting to you will be the other BIPOC, Welsh, mathematician, other LGBTQ+, socialist, redhead, Danish, anarchist, philosopher, fashion historian, linguist, modeller, science educator and other creators or as the sane refer to them Human Beings. If still driven to expose yourself to new information, you must immediately seek therapy, pastoral counselling or a proper Catholic exorcism. My feelings towards these idiots is similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island when their surrender was demanded by the Russian navy. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself." Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
The character work was a better job than usual for Kindle loans but the worldbuilding undercut characters.
The picture of several regiments of 3 to 4 thousand troops retaking a planet is unbelievable. Assault battalions supported only by light armour is unbelievable. Mars lacking orbital defences is unbelievable. Lack of heavy armour, heavy artillery or air support against 25 meter tall aliens is unbelievable.
Planetary battlefield is too large for such a small intervention force. The US at its peak force level deployed more than 650,000 troops to battle in South Vietnam. Artillery is the battle winning arm. Air superiority is standard doctrine for all large militaries.
Most low end military science fiction as well as games create bizarre labels such as "Heavy Tactical Strategic Assault Units" .
He created a US that consists only of ghettos and suburbs and no recognizable economic base. The impoverished USA build six large warships with a financial gift from Europe. Europe can not build the ships themselves for Reasons. US ghetto residents become super soldiers immediately after basic training Because... No other nation commits troops or ships to actual battle Because ... The Territorial forces are trained to kill suppress food riots only. Though this may change under Starmer, UK Territorial forces are not created to kill the subjects of HM.
Veterans assume control of government Because ... and by way of Somethings. The theme seems to be that even dissolution, USA is number one. There was no mass mobilisation, no study of the aliens, no mention of the colonies, no massive research effort.
Low end Kindle writers are satisfied to run with serious knowledge deficiencies and no attempt to do research. This is not the only book in the genre for which US publishers have suspended research requirements for writers. The genre is written at the 10 years old reading level but the obvious flaws should have been addressed.
I have earned another mental reset. This next was courtesy of YouTube channels Hailey Hughes, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Mia Mulder, Bobbing Along, HBomberGuy, ScaredKetchup, Sabine Hossenfelder, Sumatha Reads, AllShorts, Ship Happens, Gutsick Gibbon, Cindy's Villa, Dr Fatima, According to Alina, The Orbital Array, Elina Charatsidou, Eileen, Parkrose Permaculture, Supertanskiii, Times Radio, The Caspian Report, Nicole Raflee, Puddles Pity Party, FAFO, Jess Owens, The Interesting Times, Bookum, Wera, Books & Borders, May, The Gaze, Myocore, Ember Green, Emma Thorne, UATV, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Fit 2B Read, Hoots, Munecat, Raw News and Politics, Hardcover Podcast, Gingers are Black, Julie Nolke, Planet D, Authors Behaving Badly, Caelan Conrad, Fun Size Reader, Anka Daily News, Ponderful, Lady of the Library, Kady2.0, Patrick(H)Willem, Eckharts Ladder, Lynn Saga, Dominic Noble, Rachel Oates, Rebecca Watson, Electro Swing, Trae Crowder, Liz Webster, Reese Waters, Silicon Curtain, Anna from Ukraine, Think that Through, The Researcher, Reporting from Ukraine, DW News, Lily Simpson, The Juice Media, Jenny Gillblad, Yarmak -Ragnarok, Leena Norms, Jessica Kellgren Fozard, Horses, Oceanliner Designs, My2, Tiff Reads Books, Democratic Penguin Republic, Dark Brandon, Books and Things, Jean's Thoughts, MoAn Inc, Weirdo Book Club, Council of Geeks, Bardcore, Katy Montgomerie, Miranda Mills, Reedsy, Captured in Words, Honestly Sophie, Hej Sokoly, Belle of the Ranch, Lisa McLeod, Subha Reads, Verilybitchie, Keffals, Adam Something, Mynameismarines, Angelika Oles, Julia Kalef, Fall of Civilisations, Micro-Digressions.
A number of KIndle writers have made failed but seeming good faith attempts at first books. Instead of manuscripts being returned with notes for improvement, they are printed. Fans are conditioned by Kindle/Goodreads to accept any narrative as long as it is popular, which explains Hoover, Maas and others.
Please consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist. As example, somewhere about three years ago, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth, a poorly written salute to the sociopathic January 6, 2021 hero. The writer, Travis Corcoran self-described as libertarian and advocate for the return of chattel slavery, veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin. He must be the MAGA poster child. My thought was that the glorification of overthrow of the US government with the aid of the military for the the newly rich to not pay taxes, was dangerous and unhealthy. This incensed the writer and six fellow patriots. It is sad that these morons do not appreciate irony.
For almost a year there were increasingly needy demands from writer and followers demanding my engagement. These are the perfect example of the MAGA intellectual. Finally Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr wrote a comment proudly declaring that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that They had launched a year long campaign against apparently every channel which I had mentioned and it has continued to the present. The archaeologist, book reviewer, economist, essayist and the many other female creators were taken aback but not impressed. The world's overabundance of unpleasantness was certainly increased and They did deliver an eerily accurate self-portrait of the snowflake (vicious, poorly educated US man-child) to a multinational audience. This was a Victory. Goodreads discourse, Yay ?? USA,Yay ??
This was the most extreme comment cloud of several years of attacks but while the last, the first of these gangs had been organised against my reviews within six months of the start of my membership.
I turned away from print fiction after two years of pretending that in some exotic fashion Amazon/Kindle/Goodreads suggestions might be normal. I dropped my Unlimited sub and needed more than a year to rekindle my lifelong love of reading. I was rescued by the BookTube 😍, which provide communities of thoughtful, curious readers enamoured of all things bookish. They are far different to the Goodreads environment and I recommend a visit to several channels. They reminded me that across the many genres there are thoughtful writers, though Kindle and Goodreads have not seemed to find them.
Time for another reset. This next was brought to you by YouTube - DUST, Bart's Book Space, Gabi Belle, Terrible Writing Advice, Agro Squirrel Narrates, What do they know -Songs Sped Up, Annamarie Forcino, TVP News, Lily Alexandre, Some More News, Pink Floyd - Hey Hey Rise Up, Bitchuation Room, Shitty Book Club, Captured in Words, Tale Foundry, Wizards and Warriors. Science Insanity, Broken Peach, Anton Petrov, Battle Order, Chloe Sunflora. The Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Lexi aka NewlyNova, Think That Through, Depressed Russian, NFKRZ, Books with Ella K, Lindsay Ellis, Just in Time Worlds, The New Enlightenment, ThePrImeChronus, NerdForge, UNTV, A Day of Small Things, Hardy's Books, OrangeRiver, Science Fiction with Damien Walker, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, May, Library Ladder, Jean's Thoughts, Silicon Curtain, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Nursena Yener, Sarah Z, Lady of the Library, Operator Starsky, Ship Happens, Reads with Rachel, Haropones, Books with Chloe, Beau of the Fifth Column, Tanya Fiona, The Cosy Creative, Anna Fern, Living Anachronism, Radio Retrofuture,, Planarwalker, UATV, Ben G Thomas, History with Kayleigh, Princess Weekes, Megalithhunter, Book Chats with Shelley, Ellbat, MegwithBooks, TVP News, May Moon Narrowboat, Dark Brandon, SarawithoutanH, Shades of Orange, A Sunny Book Nook. According to Alina, Harbo Wholmes, Beck Leavesly, Nomadic Crobot, Well Deck Diaries, Ben and Emily, Battle Order, According to Alina, Books and Lala, With Olivia, Savannah Brown, Anna Gramling, Templin Institute, The Gaze, Leeja Miller, Annie's Literary Empire, Jay Exci, Historia Civilis, Hailey Hughes, Diemmi Reads, Yugopnik, Kirkpattiecake, Searching for Samantha, Nikki Carreon, CBC News, Olive's Book Nook, The Queer Kiwi, Keffals, NarraTale, ScaredKetchup, Books and Borders, Badisread2, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, Declassified UK, Novara Media, Weirdo Book Club, The C J Werleman Show, Double Down News, uncivilized, Times Radio,Steve Shives, PPR Global, Emilie's Literary Corner, A Very Casual Librarian, Jay Reed, The Military Show,
Ominous music begins. 😊 Goodreads actively encourage the comment clouds. Based on mine and other negative science fiction reviews, those comment gangs are loosely organised and operate in coherent clouds. Similar gangs exist in Romance, horror and other genre fiction but are less long-term and more ad hoc in defence of problematic representation, often racist or misogynist or other anti-human themes. From BookTube reviewers I learned that gangs engage in stalking, doxxing and threats against the one star reviewer.
My own attack swarms had none of them the book or even the genre on their shelves. One does begin to wonder how and why they were directed to my humble self. They defended books, which they had not read. These freaks were from their bookshelves 35+ years old professionals if the Financial, Engineering and other reference works are indications.
BookTube discussed the abuses of Goodreads but Goodreads have never. Kindle and Amazon support these bizarre behaviours, which I have come to understand are normal for the US. Amazon do not rein in mental members, writers or emotionally damaged employees regardless of their behaviours. I suspect that this is a dying site and Amazon Book Clubs are waiting on the wings.
Kindle/Goodreads gave my meagre message history to my mental following. A request was made through Pine Gap Centre of Australian Intelligence to interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt at my personal history failed and left two outraged customers. Amazon only became concerned after our sharing this very illegal intervention. Since then all harassment visible to other readers, which I can document, suddenly disappeared. This included all lurkers whom I was previously not Allowed to remove. The most interesting was the elusive Dr Susan Hamilton, Maths Professor Emeritus at University of Tennessee, an overdone backstory which indicates governmental creation. I did not expect that writing a review on this site would be not only tedious but dangerous as well.
I suggest a few precautions which will make your exposure on the site, not safe but less dangerous until you are able to move to a non-Amazon e-reader or reader forum.
Remove all personal information or identification from Goodreads profile and avoid the messaging function. Remove the lurker, those who never post. They are monitors not admirers. Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, the screenshot of the odd and the ugly are invaluable.
Do Not use Kindle Files, Contacts, Calendar or Email. These are the most dangerous data collection devices. Do not buy ebooks on or pay for play games with Kindle. I admit my regret at having made those obvious mistakes. Ebooks on Kindle are only yours as long as you maintain your Amazon account. Should it be closed, your books are deleted. If Amazon decide to remove the books, they are allowed. As for games, there are other sites which support the same or similar games. Kindle distorted two keyboards over two years, though after the Australian event the keyboard returned to normal functioning suddenly. One game was deleted with no explanation and now another game suddenly will not install updates or allow me to continue play. Sharing your personal life with rather questionable employees or having months of game payments disappear with no explanation may be comfortable for you, in which case ignore my Kindle advice.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produced a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind To EBay. The couple were awarded multi-millions of pounds. The ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. Things to think about, when dealing with the tech boys.
To follow the above will cost you nothing but to not might do. If you enjoy temporary immunity, good on you but your status is dependent on the whims of mad men/women. In addition to a lack of non-Randian morality, acceptable socialisation or self-awareness, it is important to remember that these members and employees alike are also US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be careful. May we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
Some More News, ScaredKetchup, aidan knight, Not Just Another Fat Girl,v LuckyBlackCat, Owen Jones, Mia Mulder, May Moon Narrowboat, Red Glasgow, Bella Ciao -Kamerad Kosmo, Malinda, Nomadic Crobot, What Vivi did next, Hej Sokoly, Reads with Rachel, Jess Owens, Omeleto, France 24, J Draper, Shannon Makes. Aid Thompsin, AllShorts, Truth to Power, Jabzy. Perun, ATP Geopolitics, Tara Mooknee, Keffals, Kirkpattiecake, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Words in Time, Eva Schubert, Carl Duncan, Insights from Ukraine, Ship Happens, Verilybitchie Brandon Fisichella, Twinshangout Kenya, Lady of the Library, LIbrary Ladder, Radio Retro Future, DUST, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Verilybitchie, Omeleto, Renegade Cut, Lady Knight the Brave, WokeGardener, Raw News and Politics, Kyiv Independent, 69 Minutes Australia,Eilidh Briwn, NITV, Think Ukraine, Hoots, James Tullos, Veritas at Caritas, Emperor Tigerstar, Kings and Generals, Candlelit Tales, Opus Elenae, Brianna Savrovski, Covert Cabal, Alizee, DW World, Oceanliner Designs, Military Aviation History, Military History Visualized, Fundie Fridays, Lily Simpson, Cruising Crafts, Bobbing Along, Welldeck Diaries, Activist Witch, The Diary of a Ditch Witch, No Justice MTG, Trae Crowder, Lilly's Expat Life, With Olivia, Tennessee Brando, Silicon Curtain, Times Radio, Radio Retrofuture, It's Black Friday, Abney Park, Gutsick Gibbon, Planarwalker, Prime of Midlife, Holly the Cafe Boat, Travelling K, Cruising Crafts, Cruising The Cut, Horses, Council of Geeks, Outlaw Bookseller, The Brothers Gwynne, JimmyTheGiant, Dan Davis History, Invicta, DW News, The Library of a Viking, Political X, Combat Veteran Reacts Rowan Ellis, Rachel Oates, Ultimate Public Entertainment, The Shogunate, Biz, Andrewism, Amadeus Quartet, Cass Ellis, Anda Kent, BobbyBroccoli, BritMonkey, Leftist Cooks, Tennessee Brando, The Great War, Military History Visualized, The Miracle Aligner, Broken Peach, Matriarchetype, Solar Punk, Philosophy Tube, Jessie Gender, Megalithhunter, History with Kayleigh, Cold Fusion. Linguoer Mechanic, Steve Shives, Lily Simpson, Dr Fatima, Abby Cox, Karolina Zebrowska, Engineering Knits, Ash L G, Leftist Cooks, Shannon Makes, Mrs Betty Bowers, Burd's Books, Maria Druska, Books N Cats, Tale Foundry, Cover in French, Double Down News, Adam Something, KernowDamo, Characters Welcome, Stanzi, Supertanskiii, Keffals, Atun Shei Films, Guard the Leaf, Reese Waters, Skip Intro, APTN News, Red Pen, Welsh Viking,Brittany Page, Elvira Bary, Warthog Defence, One Day More Aboard, Kat Abughazaleh, The Indigo Life, Asturia Quartet, Lucy Darling, Sarah Millican, Subha Reads, Cecilia Blomdahl.
I wish you a sunny morning, an exciting afternoon, a relaxed evening, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
A partisan may not survive but can hope to be remembered as a flower on the mountain. From "Bella Ciao".
June 21, 2019
3.5 Stars
A bit of a letdown compared with previous installments, Points of Impact was a solid entry in the Frontlines series that hopefully laid the foundation for future novels.
The battle for Mars is over, and the humans won. Mostly. But the fight is far from over, and the effort to cleanse Mars of the Lankies is exhausting the military, and Andrew Grayson in particular. A mission aboard a brand new ship seems like an excellent change of pace. However, to the surprise of no one, things don’t go quite as planned.
I won’t spend too much time going through all the details of why this series is great, hopefully my previous five reviews made that point clear. I’ll spend my time focusing on the main things that I liked and didn’t like about this latest entry.
First, I think some of the character development here was the best in the series. We get some great glimpses about what is really going on with a few characters, beyond the surface level, and it was very well done. From the toll of seemingly endless war on Andrew to some more abstract thoughts/conversations about soldiers and war in general, it was intelligently executed.
My main disappointment with this book is that it never seemed to really get going. It felt at times like a very long introduction, but even after that section was over I didn’t put the book down with a real sense of resolution. It felt more like a long middle chapter in a story as opposed to a complete narrative that can stand on its own. I realize that it’s difficult to pull that off in a long running series, but the author has done it marvelously to this point so it was a bit of a letdown.
This was by no means a bad book, but it did fall a bit short of the author’s own very high quality standards from previous entries. That said, I will still eagerly read the next book once it becomes available.
A bit of a letdown compared with previous installments, Points of Impact was a solid entry in the Frontlines series that hopefully laid the foundation for future novels.
The battle for Mars is over, and the humans won. Mostly. But the fight is far from over, and the effort to cleanse Mars of the Lankies is exhausting the military, and Andrew Grayson in particular. A mission aboard a brand new ship seems like an excellent change of pace. However, to the surprise of no one, things don’t go quite as planned.
I won’t spend too much time going through all the details of why this series is great, hopefully my previous five reviews made that point clear. I’ll spend my time focusing on the main things that I liked and didn’t like about this latest entry.
First, I think some of the character development here was the best in the series. We get some great glimpses about what is really going on with a few characters, beyond the surface level, and it was very well done. From the toll of seemingly endless war on Andrew to some more abstract thoughts/conversations about soldiers and war in general, it was intelligently executed.
My main disappointment with this book is that it never seemed to really get going. It felt at times like a very long introduction, but even after that section was over I didn’t put the book down with a real sense of resolution. It felt more like a long middle chapter in a story as opposed to a complete narrative that can stand on its own. I realize that it’s difficult to pull that off in a long running series, but the author has done it marvelously to this point so it was a bit of a letdown.
This was by no means a bad book, but it did fall a bit short of the author’s own very high quality standards from previous entries. That said, I will still eagerly read the next book once it becomes available.
May 12, 2018
Another solid entry in the series. At this point I will pretty much read anything else that comes along in Frontlines. I am attached to the characters and the story. It isn't world shattering writing but good, straight to the point and entertaining. I blew through this one quicker than most.
November 29, 2020
Yet another book in the series. It has all the highpoints and faults found in the rest. See my review of Fields of Fire (Frontlines, #5)
Kloos continues to write really detailed MIL-SF. His descriptions of ground and air combat are quite good. They're very detailed. Unfortunately, Kloos is a grunt-at-heart, but he's not a techie-at-heart. (Along with having naval experience.) He's inconsistent with worldbuilding. He carefully drugs his audience with details. He also, consistently steps on his lizard, by forgetting to pay attention to those small, but important details throughout the narrative. This breaks his comprehensive, laboriously, built-up illusion.
For example, he has a comms time-lag for intra-system comms only when its convenient; his space craft maneuver like airplanes in orbit almost without inertia despite their mass; and there are so many 'man-in-the-loop' systems, when faster automation should be doing the tactical, ship-to-ship, warfighting (I note The Palladium Wars doesn't have this issue.). I wonder when Kloos is going to discover combat drones to battle the Lankies on the surface? Also, I suppose we learn by repetition, but I don't like reading the exact same descriptions of combat systems more than once too.
Kloos needs a better editor. A lot of these problems could be easily solved, if he had competent, critical, editing. My eyes shouldn't be rolling when his very nautical, spacemen call doors "hatches", floors "decks" and then the part of their ship's compartment above their head "the deck" (again). (Its an overhead.) Come to think of it, doesn't properly call the shipboard washroom the "head" either.
In this story Grayson and his wife are on the same warship, like in Star Trek. (A entertainment show he obliquely reviles in the book.) I find their relationship to be eye-rollingly saccharine, even for the YA readership he's after. However, I did like it, that in this book, Grayson came away with a medical diagnosis of PTSD. I every book of the series, he takes both a physical and emotional shellacking. Thirty minutes later, he just gets up and does it again the next day (Amen). At least now he's showing something like normal wear 'n tear for a human being.
BTW, his time lines continue to be hinky. He continues to pack enough combat action in 4-8 hours in what traditionally occurs spreads across days. You wonder when when Greyson, ever finds time to: eat, relieve some stress with a disco-nap, and use the bathroom once he's 'planet-side'?
This particular book takes the series one step forward. The ground combat is good. The space combat is mostly good. It paves the way for humanity getting military parity with the Lankies. The boy/girl stuff is awkward. Frankly, this felt like Kloos was just giving his Frontlines series a pulse while he digs-into his The Expanse
-like Palladium Wars series. How many more Frontlines books are there out there, if he's going to phoning-in the series?
Kloos continues to write really detailed MIL-SF. His descriptions of ground and air combat are quite good. They're very detailed. Unfortunately, Kloos is a grunt-at-heart, but he's not a techie-at-heart. (Along with having naval experience.) He's inconsistent with worldbuilding. He carefully drugs his audience with details. He also, consistently steps on his lizard, by forgetting to pay attention to those small, but important details throughout the narrative. This breaks his comprehensive, laboriously, built-up illusion.
For example, he has a comms time-lag for intra-system comms only when its convenient; his space craft maneuver like airplanes in orbit almost without inertia despite their mass; and there are so many 'man-in-the-loop' systems, when faster automation should be doing the tactical, ship-to-ship, warfighting (I note The Palladium Wars doesn't have this issue.). I wonder when Kloos is going to discover combat drones to battle the Lankies on the surface? Also, I suppose we learn by repetition, but I don't like reading the exact same descriptions of combat systems more than once too.
Kloos needs a better editor. A lot of these problems could be easily solved, if he had competent, critical, editing. My eyes shouldn't be rolling when his very nautical, spacemen call doors "hatches", floors "decks" and then the part of their ship's compartment above their head "the deck" (again). (Its an overhead.) Come to think of it, doesn't properly call the shipboard washroom the "head" either.
In this story Grayson and his wife are on the same warship, like in Star Trek. (A entertainment show he obliquely reviles in the book.) I find their relationship to be eye-rollingly saccharine, even for the YA readership he's after. However, I did like it, that in this book, Grayson came away with a medical diagnosis of PTSD. I every book of the series, he takes both a physical and emotional shellacking. Thirty minutes later, he just gets up and does it again the next day (Amen). At least now he's showing something like normal wear 'n tear for a human being.
BTW, his time lines continue to be hinky. He continues to pack enough combat action in 4-8 hours in what traditionally occurs spreads across days. You wonder when when Greyson, ever finds time to: eat, relieve some stress with a disco-nap, and use the bathroom once he's 'planet-side'?
This particular book takes the series one step forward. The ground combat is good. The space combat is mostly good. It paves the way for humanity getting military parity with the Lankies. The boy/girl stuff is awkward. Frankly, this felt like Kloos was just giving his Frontlines series a pulse while he digs-into his The Expanse
-like Palladium Wars series. How many more Frontlines books are there out there, if he's going to phoning-in the series?
July 10, 2019
J'ai passé un bon moment dans ce tome, comme tout les précédents, mais j'ai trouvé que malgré son titre il avait moins d'impact que les précédents.
Après la grosse bataille de Mars, l'humanité à repris confiance en elle et veut en découdre contre les Lankys.
Cette fois ci c'est à elle de lancer l’offensive !
Nouveau vaisseaux tout neufs, nouvelles technologies, budget illimité ... Tout est fait pour donner une vrai nouveau départ dans cette guerre.
Mais alors que le premier prototype est en phase de tests et que rien n'est encore au point, un appel d'urgence leur parvient de New Svalbard, une des toutes dernières colonies "cachées" humaines. Ils sont sous le feu d'un assaut massif de Lankys et ont vraiment besoin d'aide ...
On retrouve donc Andrew Grayson et sa femme Halley. J'aime beaucoup ce personnage, avec son coté réaliste et cynique.
Il y a d'ailleurs dans ce tome une séance psy que j'ai trouvé très intéressante qui nous dévoile un peu plus ses motivations et sa façon d'être.
On sent venir la fin pour cette série et surtout pour ces personnages au final dans ce tome. Ils pensent à raccrocher ce qui ne serait pas une mauvaise idée vu le nombre d'années qu'ils sont sur le front.
Pour ce qui est de l'intrigue de ce tome j'avoue qu'à coté de tout les précédents qui étaient très forts, ce tome ci était quand même d'un niveau en dessous.
Premièrement parce que la phase de départ, de tests et tout prend plus de la moitié du roman et que du coup le coté bataille en est d'autant réduit. Mais surtout parce que ça m'a moins donné l'impression d'assister à un passage essentiel de l'ensemble.
Au final c'était limite juste une "petit bataille". C'est le fait qu'ils ne soient pas vraiment prêts pour se battre qui la rend si dangereuse pour les soldats présents.
Malgré tout ça reste un épisode que j'ai bien apprécié, je ne me suis pas du tout ennuyée et je trouve les personnages toujours aussi intéressants à suivre.
Dommage que l'intrigue soit un cran en dessous.
16/20
Après la grosse bataille de Mars, l'humanité à repris confiance en elle et veut en découdre contre les Lankys.
Cette fois ci c'est à elle de lancer l’offensive !
Nouveau vaisseaux tout neufs, nouvelles technologies, budget illimité ... Tout est fait pour donner une vrai nouveau départ dans cette guerre.
Mais alors que le premier prototype est en phase de tests et que rien n'est encore au point, un appel d'urgence leur parvient de New Svalbard, une des toutes dernières colonies "cachées" humaines. Ils sont sous le feu d'un assaut massif de Lankys et ont vraiment besoin d'aide ...
On retrouve donc Andrew Grayson et sa femme Halley. J'aime beaucoup ce personnage, avec son coté réaliste et cynique.
Il y a d'ailleurs dans ce tome une séance psy que j'ai trouvé très intéressante qui nous dévoile un peu plus ses motivations et sa façon d'être.
On sent venir la fin pour cette série et surtout pour ces personnages au final dans ce tome. Ils pensent à raccrocher ce qui ne serait pas une mauvaise idée vu le nombre d'années qu'ils sont sur le front.
Pour ce qui est de l'intrigue de ce tome j'avoue qu'à coté de tout les précédents qui étaient très forts, ce tome ci était quand même d'un niveau en dessous.
Premièrement parce que la phase de départ, de tests et tout prend plus de la moitié du roman et que du coup le coté bataille en est d'autant réduit. Mais surtout parce que ça m'a moins donné l'impression d'assister à un passage essentiel de l'ensemble.
Au final c'était limite juste une "petit bataille". C'est le fait qu'ils ne soient pas vraiment prêts pour se battre qui la rend si dangereuse pour les soldats présents.
Malgré tout ça reste un épisode que j'ai bien apprécié, je ne me suis pas du tout ennuyée et je trouve les personnages toujours aussi intéressants à suivre.
Dommage que l'intrigue soit un cran en dessous.
16/20
June 3, 2018
I had not read any previous books in the series, and I really enjoyed this one. From a start on Mars - but not as you know it - where humans have to pick off Lanky invaders from tunnels, to a new spaceship assembled in secret and being sent out to support an ice-world colony, this is a gripping read.
Some readers have complained that there is a lot of space travel and not enough war. Well, it's a big galaxy. Travel takes time. I appreciated that we see how order and discipline must be kept aboard battleship, while crew have time to exercise, then reflect on the lengthy war, PTSD, and how the three hundred billion humans are going to either survive (fed somehow) or be crushed. As I had no background I appreciated learning how humanity had to pull together to face the new threat, though I appreciate series readers may feel the recap is padding.
We get battles on the ground and in space near the end, and they are extremely well written. Tipping of odds, bitter decisions, using and abandoning top quality gear are the important facets of these battles, not the guns and explosions. This is a well thought out account with strong characters.
I found this book suitable for readers from late teens to adults.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
Some readers have complained that there is a lot of space travel and not enough war. Well, it's a big galaxy. Travel takes time. I appreciated that we see how order and discipline must be kept aboard battleship, while crew have time to exercise, then reflect on the lengthy war, PTSD, and how the three hundred billion humans are going to either survive (fed somehow) or be crushed. As I had no background I appreciated learning how humanity had to pull together to face the new threat, though I appreciate series readers may feel the recap is padding.
We get battles on the ground and in space near the end, and they are extremely well written. Tipping of odds, bitter decisions, using and abandoning top quality gear are the important facets of these battles, not the guns and explosions. This is a well thought out account with strong characters.
I found this book suitable for readers from late teens to adults.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
January 16, 2018
A bit of a grind, but you know what, I think that was the point. Its a somewhat hopeless war, and the characters and the equipment are both getting worn out, fried, and generally burnt-out and on edge. Points for having characters develop in "real" ways, instead of being supermen/women who can endlessly take anything with no repercussions.
The downside is the story a bit of a ramble at times, and while I definitely care about the main characters and their trials and tribulation, extended descriptions, as an example, of how stupid/awesome the new fleet uniforms are feels a little like bolted on filler.
But you know, back to what I started with, maybe the whole point was feeling alienated, worn out, and even a little bored.
Hat tip to Mr. Kloos, and looking forward to the next one.
The downside is the story a bit of a ramble at times, and while I definitely care about the main characters and their trials and tribulation, extended descriptions, as an example, of how stupid/awesome the new fleet uniforms are feels a little like bolted on filler.
But you know, back to what I started with, maybe the whole point was feeling alienated, worn out, and even a little bored.
Hat tip to Mr. Kloos, and looking forward to the next one.
March 3, 2018
This leg of the story is a notch above its predecessor, but I doubt any book will surpass the first in series. Andrew Grayson continues to advance in his military career, taking on a low ranking command position. Unlike other action heroes, he has been with the same girl since boot camp, and I LOVE it. It is a realistically crafted relationship forged during a time of war. The author, as always, has exceptional pacing, mixing plot progression, character development, and action sequences effectively. I have no desire for this series to end anytime soon.
April 20, 2022
I've read all the books in the Frontlines series up through this one and it will be my last. The plot does not advance 1 millimeter in this book, and everything that does occur is a rehash of past events in prior books. The Lankies do not use any new tactics, we do not learn anything new about the Lankies biology or motivation, we do not even learn anything new about the human strategy for this war.
June 13, 2022
makes zero sense
I’m not a huge fan of these books there is no rational for lots of decisions. The book takes place mostly in space but almost all of the battles happen as if they are in a two dimensional world.
It also seems like earth does not care about research into the lankies to find out how they work or why they are doing what they do. Why are the tunnels there? Send in someone to research how bodies are use?? Nope let’s just blow everything up.
I’m not a huge fan of these books there is no rational for lots of decisions. The book takes place mostly in space but almost all of the battles happen as if they are in a two dimensional world.
It also seems like earth does not care about research into the lankies to find out how they work or why they are doing what they do. Why are the tunnels there? Send in someone to research how bodies are use?? Nope let’s just blow everything up.
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