Marines: From Now to the Far Future: A Jonathan Brazee Starter Library

by Jonathan P. Brazee

Colonel Jonathan Brazee, USMC (Ret), is a prolific writer with 30 published novels. Authors should write what they know, and the colonel knows Marines. From Iraq in 2006 to centuries in the future, these are the first books in six series that cover what it means to be a combat Marine. Being a Marine is more than a time or place; it is a way of life.

1. The Few
Gunny Jacob McCardle is the commander of the Marine Detachment at the US Embassy, New Delhi, and when the president of the US arrives, the embassy is attacked by a mob of nationalists. With the Indian government seemingly unwilling to take action and with an ambitious vice-president seizing this as an opportunity to move up to the White House, it is up to Gunny McCardle and his small band of Marines to keep the president alive. Faced with tremendous odds, Gunny has to lead his Marines in an almost impossible task.

2. Prisoner of Fallujah
Cpl Nicholas Xenakis was born to be a Marine, but when his wife gave him the “me or the Corps” ultimatum, he joined the local reserve battery for one last pump. Although no longer a grunt, Nick figured at least he was back in the fight. But when his convoy was hit in Fallujah, Nick faced the most life-threatening situation a Marine in Iraq could face, and he would have to face it alone.

3. Semper Lycanus
PCF Aiden Kaas has enlisted in the Corps for all the wrong reasons. Now deployed to Iraq, he just wants to put in his time and serve out his enlistment. However, after being bitten by a seemingly rabid mujahideen, he starts suffering from a strange illness, one with consequences beyond his wildest imaginings. As the disease ravages his body and exposes him to dangers far darker than active combat, Aiden must come to grips with what it is he has become.

4. Recruit
Centuries from now, Ryck Lysander enlists in the United Federation Marine Corps, hoping to make a better future for himself. From bootcamp brawls to skirmishes with galactic pirates, Ryck's new life presents him with unimaginable adventures and forces him to prove his mettle as he forges his new identity and fights to earn his place as one of the Brotherhood of Marines.

5. Gladiator
United Federation Marine Lance Corporal Tamara Veal catches the attention of recruiters who nominate her to serve as a Single Combat Specialist to fight the alien Klethos. Called Gladiators, they are genetically modified human champions who meet Klethos d’relle in combat. Win, and the planet remains human; lose, and not only do they lose their lives, but the world as well. With the Klethos much more advanced and militarily powerful, able to defeat humanity in an all-out war, the challenge ring is the only way to retain at least some of the worlds of man.

LCPL Veal, who has found a home in the Corps, has to decide whether to accept the nomination. She would have to leave her fellow Marines and undergo extreme genetic modification that will leave her almost unrecognizable from the woman she was before. Becoming a gladiator will enable her to serve humanity to a far greater extent than anything else she could do, but at a tremendous personal cost.

6. Legacy Marines
Esther and Noah are the twin children of General Ryck Lysander, Commandant of the Marine Corps, leader of the Evolution, and Chairman of the Federation. When they are told that their parents have been assassinated, both are devastated. Cut adrift, they each decide to enlist in the Corps—but for different reasons. Esther feels it is her duty to carry on the family legacy, confident that she can excel and reach the top. Noah simply wants to earn his father’s pride, even if it is too late.
As children of General Lysander, they are not “normal” recruits.

1499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2017

About the author

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews

[Steven Reneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this nowl

If you haven't read any Jonathan Brazee stories, this is a great place to start. Finely woven tales with believable, even relatable characters that are sure to have you staying up late to finish.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

good series

The stories were a fun and easy read However there were a lit if typos and s few grammatical errors that had to be reread to clear up. Otherwise I enjoyed the books