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Recon #3
A Battle for the Gods
The mission couldn’t be simpler. It sounds like an easy, straightforward operation to take care of some small-time raiders hijacking black-market weapons shipments in the Pirate Worlds. Former Recon Marine war hero Randall Munroe doesn’t need to know why his Corporate bosses care about one group of criminals stealing from another, he just has to do the job.
But when Munroe is ordered to lead his crack squad of mercenaries into a gang war on the harsh, ice-covered, barely-habitable battleground that is Peboan, he discovers that things are never simple and straightforward when you work for Andre Damiani, the Executive Director of the Corporate Council. And just when he thinks he knows what the battle is about, he’s thrown a new curve.
Because if there’s one thing that every criminal, mercenary or Corporate executive in the Commonwealth is willing to kill for, it’s access to the lost technology of the mysterious Predecessors. The alien race known as the Predecessors or Ancients engineered hundreds of planets and moons to support life, created a system of wormholes that connected them and then simply vanished without a trace, tens of thousands of years ago. Opportunists search endlessly for any remnant of their world-shattering power, while others go so far as to worship them as gods. And when you’re fighting for the powers of the very gods, no price is too high.
But when Munroe is ordered to lead his crack squad of mercenaries into a gang war on the harsh, ice-covered, barely-habitable battleground that is Peboan, he discovers that things are never simple and straightforward when you work for Andre Damiani, the Executive Director of the Corporate Council. And just when he thinks he knows what the battle is about, he’s thrown a new curve.
Because if there’s one thing that every criminal, mercenary or Corporate executive in the Commonwealth is willing to kill for, it’s access to the lost technology of the mysterious Predecessors. The alien race known as the Predecessors or Ancients engineered hundreds of planets and moons to support life, created a system of wormholes that connected them and then simply vanished without a trace, tens of thousands of years ago. Opportunists search endlessly for any remnant of their world-shattering power, while others go so far as to worship them as gods. And when you’re fighting for the powers of the very gods, no price is too high.
- GenresScience Fiction
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2017
37 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Rick Partlow
226 books377 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 25, 2017
Enjoyable Series
Above and beyond your normal mil SciFi as the author takes us, the reader, through the military in book 1 and established credibility, militarily, and involving us first with MC and then cast of characters surrounding him in books 2 n 3.
Good mil credibility as I've commented on in book 1 review. And then he built on that with suspense, and mystery to a certain extent. Add a solid universe with relatable characters and the series is a winner. And.....he (author) doesn't kill everybody off -- unfortunately some do die As the reader, it has an impact on you.
What else do you need? Twists, turns, underlying sub-plot (or maybe plot -- MCs mother, I flunked English in HS so....), solid-credible 'action ', relatable characters with suspense and mystery -- who, what are predecessors, what's mum up to , political arena .........
It all equals to enjoyable read. I'm not sure about ending, if that's legit or not. I know I'm frustrated over it and want the next book yesterday. Is that normal?
Last, why no 5? Awhile back, I realized that a Five, to me, should be special, a Classic. Tried to go back n fix but not sure if I got them all. All Quiet on the Western Front, Forgotten Soldier (my dad was one), Attacks, Fields of Fire by Webb, Dispatches, Pork Chop Hill by Marshall, Guerdian, Remarque, a few by Nolan ---- my Five List isn't that big, there's some more but you get the idea.
Above and beyond your normal mil SciFi as the author takes us, the reader, through the military in book 1 and established credibility, militarily, and involving us first with MC and then cast of characters surrounding him in books 2 n 3.
Good mil credibility as I've commented on in book 1 review. And then he built on that with suspense, and mystery to a certain extent. Add a solid universe with relatable characters and the series is a winner. And.....he (author) doesn't kill everybody off -- unfortunately some do die As the reader, it has an impact on you.
What else do you need? Twists, turns, underlying sub-plot (or maybe plot -- MCs mother, I flunked English in HS so....), solid-credible 'action ', relatable characters with suspense and mystery -- who, what are predecessors, what's mum up to , political arena .........
It all equals to enjoyable read. I'm not sure about ending, if that's legit or not. I know I'm frustrated over it and want the next book yesterday. Is that normal?
Last, why no 5? Awhile back, I realized that a Five, to me, should be special, a Classic. Tried to go back n fix but not sure if I got them all. All Quiet on the Western Front, Forgotten Soldier (my dad was one), Attacks, Fields of Fire by Webb, Dispatches, Pork Chop Hill by Marshall, Guerdian, Remarque, a few by Nolan ---- my Five List isn't that big, there's some more but you get the idea.
July 13, 2017
Good series need some improvement.
I have read all three books, I have enjoyed them for the most part there are things that I do not like such as in all three books Tyler seems to always loses Helmut, is this becoming a trope in the series? And why does the author keep killing off characters that should be developed they were characters killed in this last book that had some potential. And no recon Marine is going to fall into a hole and start sightseeing while there are people trying to kill him. I hope that Tyler gets additional augments to increase his stamina and strength. I am waiting for the next book and I will happily suggest that anybody who likes science fiction give this book a chance.
I have read all three books, I have enjoyed them for the most part there are things that I do not like such as in all three books Tyler seems to always loses Helmut, is this becoming a trope in the series? And why does the author keep killing off characters that should be developed they were characters killed in this last book that had some potential. And no recon Marine is going to fall into a hole and start sightseeing while there are people trying to kill him. I hope that Tyler gets additional augments to increase his stamina and strength. I am waiting for the next book and I will happily suggest that anybody who likes science fiction give this book a chance.
July 6, 2017
Writing Poorly Executed and Banal: "D+"
Read the first two (2) books in the series by Mr. Rick Partlow, and thought they were ok, not great, but ok.
In "Recon Book Three: A Battle for the Gods," the writing devolved into a muddled, banal, formulaic, hackneyed mess. The plot stretches credulity beyond the breaking point, the main character, Randall Munroe, has become just an annoying whiner, and overall, it seems the author is just "going through the motions." It's a disappointment for this reviewer, far from the entertainment of Book 1, and should be an embarrassment to the author.
"Recon Book 3," is not recommended and was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
Read the first two (2) books in the series by Mr. Rick Partlow, and thought they were ok, not great, but ok.
In "Recon Book Three: A Battle for the Gods," the writing devolved into a muddled, banal, formulaic, hackneyed mess. The plot stretches credulity beyond the breaking point, the main character, Randall Munroe, has become just an annoying whiner, and overall, it seems the author is just "going through the motions." It's a disappointment for this reviewer, far from the entertainment of Book 1, and should be an embarrassment to the author.
"Recon Book 3," is not recommended and was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
November 12, 2018
Good
Not as good as the second book in the series but enjoyable enough. I am finding it more difficult however as time passes to both read and have patience with books like this where the hero(s) face one seemingly unsurmountable obstacle after another and the gets out of it by the slimmest margins at the end. That is the reason why I'm more drawn to books by authors like TJ Reeder these days that tells a good story with the good guys doing good deeds for all the right reasons without getting caught in webs of deceit or lies. Sometimes I just need a story to lift my spirit. Life is difficult enough.
Not as good as the second book in the series but enjoyable enough. I am finding it more difficult however as time passes to both read and have patience with books like this where the hero(s) face one seemingly unsurmountable obstacle after another and the gets out of it by the slimmest margins at the end. That is the reason why I'm more drawn to books by authors like TJ Reeder these days that tells a good story with the good guys doing good deeds for all the right reasons without getting caught in webs of deceit or lies. Sometimes I just need a story to lift my spirit. Life is difficult enough.
August 9, 2018
Summary: Lots of action, reasonable plot the premise is not right, but overall not a bad story
Plotline: A bit one threaded and not too many surprises, but moves along nicely carrying on from the first two books
Premise: I like the aliens and artefacts but the political set up doesn't really work
Writing: Pretty good, gritty.
Ending: Our hero is a hero
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: A bit one threaded and not too many surprises, but moves along nicely carrying on from the first two books
Premise: I like the aliens and artefacts but the political set up doesn't really work
Writing: Pretty good, gritty.
Ending: Our hero is a hero
Pace: Never a dull moment!
July 24, 2017
Who's on first?
There are a frightful number of characters , locales and plot changes in this tale. But never fear, these all comprise a taut story that grabs the reader from the beginning. Hold on ,buckaroos, its going to be a bumpy but satisfying ride.
There are a frightful number of characters , locales and plot changes in this tale. But never fear, these all comprise a taut story that grabs the reader from the beginning. Hold on ,buckaroos, its going to be a bumpy but satisfying ride.
August 28, 2017
I have enjoyed this series very much. Good space opera with enough action to keep things interesting without too much romance to bog things down.
May 25, 2018
Recon
This is as I stated before about the other books written Rick Partlow was a great read and I can't wait to see where goes next.
This is as I stated before about the other books written Rick Partlow was a great read and I can't wait to see where goes next.
October 17, 2018
I liked it, but I never really got pulled in like I did with Recon One. I know most people think this book is the best one of the series, so maybe it was me.
June 21, 2020
Good story
Interesting and lots of actions. Maybe too many escapes from overwhelming odds but a fun read for me. Liked the characters
Interesting and lots of actions. Maybe too many escapes from overwhelming odds but a fun read for me. Liked the characters
April 7, 2021
Good read
This has been and exciting and intriguing series full of surprises. Great storyline with abundant subplots that catch you by surprise.
This has been and exciting and intriguing series full of surprises. Great storyline with abundant subplots that catch you by surprise.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews