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Rika's Marauders #0.5
Rika Mechanized
A Novella of the Orion War (Aeon 14)
Rika is a scout mech, once human, now she is the property of the Genevian military.
Rika's crime was small, stealing food. But when faced with a five-year prison term, or conscription in the Genevian military, she chose war.
She had no idea what that conscription would entail.
Now little of Rika's human body remains, and she serves as an SMI-2 scout mech, the meat inside a cyborg body. She, and others like her, are sent in ahead of the human soldiers to tip the scales of war.
But the enemy has upped the ante and the mechs of Rika's fireteam will have to go up against unimaginable odds if they want to serve their time and become human again.
An Aeon 14 series
The events of the Rika's Marauders series occur during the New Canaan time span in The Orion War series. This series may be read at any time after reading Destiny Lost, New Canaan, or Orion Rising.
About M. D. Cooper & Aeon 14
M. D. Cooper is a New York Times bestselling author who has envisioned a rich future for humanity, one where planet-sized megastructures house trillions of humans, and civilization has risen only to fall and rise again.
Fans of Starship Troopers, Honor Harrington, The Expanse, or Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War will feel right at home in this, the first book of the Rika's Marauders, which takes a deeper dive into the world of Aeon 14.
Over the course of the next few years, M. D. Cooper plans to release an additional twenty-two books in this expanding universe. So strap in with Rika and get ready to kick some ass as we find out what the future has in store for us.
What is Aeon 14?
The universe of Aeon 14 is based on the premise that advanced, intelligent, starfaring life takes 14 billion years to evolve. In astronomy an aeon is a billion years. In Aeon 14, humanity is at the leading edge of this evolution in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Humanity and the AIs they have created spread out amongst the stars and find that they are alone, though it may not always be that way....
Recommended Reading Order: Outsystem A Path in the Darkness Destiny Rising can also be read in place of Outsystem & A Path in the Darkness Building Victoria Destiny Lost (also works as a starting point) Set the Galaxy on Fire New Canaan Orion Rising Rika Mechanized (can be read at any time after Destiny Lost) Close Proximity (Forthcoming - can be read at any point after Destiny Lost) Strike Vector (Forthcoming - to be read after Close Proximity) Rika Outcast (Forthcoming - can be read at any point after Destiny Lost) Notes:
- The forthcoming Delta-Team stories can be read at any point after Destiny Lost, but may contain small spoilers.
- The forthcoming 242nd Marine stories can be read at any point after Outsystem.
Rika is a scout mech, once human, now she is the property of the Genevian military.
Rika's crime was small, stealing food. But when faced with a five-year prison term, or conscription in the Genevian military, she chose war.
She had no idea what that conscription would entail.
Now little of Rika's human body remains, and she serves as an SMI-2 scout mech, the meat inside a cyborg body. She, and others like her, are sent in ahead of the human soldiers to tip the scales of war.
But the enemy has upped the ante and the mechs of Rika's fireteam will have to go up against unimaginable odds if they want to serve their time and become human again.
An Aeon 14 series
The events of the Rika's Marauders series occur during the New Canaan time span in The Orion War series. This series may be read at any time after reading Destiny Lost, New Canaan, or Orion Rising.
About M. D. Cooper & Aeon 14
M. D. Cooper is a New York Times bestselling author who has envisioned a rich future for humanity, one where planet-sized megastructures house trillions of humans, and civilization has risen only to fall and rise again.
Fans of Starship Troopers, Honor Harrington, The Expanse, or Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War will feel right at home in this, the first book of the Rika's Marauders, which takes a deeper dive into the world of Aeon 14.
Over the course of the next few years, M. D. Cooper plans to release an additional twenty-two books in this expanding universe. So strap in with Rika and get ready to kick some ass as we find out what the future has in store for us.
What is Aeon 14?
The universe of Aeon 14 is based on the premise that advanced, intelligent, starfaring life takes 14 billion years to evolve. In astronomy an aeon is a billion years. In Aeon 14, humanity is at the leading edge of this evolution in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Humanity and the AIs they have created spread out amongst the stars and find that they are alone, though it may not always be that way....
Recommended Reading Order: Outsystem A Path in the Darkness Destiny Rising can also be read in place of Outsystem & A Path in the Darkness Building Victoria Destiny Lost (also works as a starting point) Set the Galaxy on Fire New Canaan Orion Rising Rika Mechanized (can be read at any time after Destiny Lost) Close Proximity (Forthcoming - can be read at any point after Destiny Lost) Strike Vector (Forthcoming - to be read after Close Proximity) Rika Outcast (Forthcoming - can be read at any point after Destiny Lost) Notes:
- The forthcoming Delta-Team stories can be read at any point after Destiny Lost, but may contain small spoilers.
- The forthcoming 242nd Marine stories can be read at any point after Outsystem.
116 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2017
219 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Cooper
186 books522 followersMalorie Cooper likes to think of herself as a dreamer and a wanderer, yet her feet are firmly grounded in reality.
A ‘maker’ from an early age, Malorie loves to craft things, from furniture, to cosplay costumes, to a well-spun tale, she can’t help but to create new things every day.
A rare extrovert writer, she loves to hang out with readers and people in general. If you meet her at a convention, she just might be rocking a catsuit, cosplaying one of her own characters, or maybe her latest favorite from Overwatch!
She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would like to build, and ideas…
A ‘maker’ from an early age, Malorie loves to craft things, from furniture, to cosplay costumes, to a well-spun tale, she can’t help but to create new things every day.
A rare extrovert writer, she loves to hang out with readers and people in general. If you meet her at a convention, she just might be rocking a catsuit, cosplaying one of her own characters, or maybe her latest favorite from Overwatch!
She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would like to build, and ideas…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 9, 2017
Raw.
This story is raw and brutal, telling of what one race will do to their own citizens in order to win a war.
This story is raw and brutal, telling of what one race will do to their own citizens in order to win a war.
October 24, 2018
I love and hate this book.
I absolute love the writing style. I absolutely hate with a passion Rios’s government. I would love to see them go at a minimum the process of getting their humanity stripped from them in the exact same way they did to Rika and then forced into a gauntlet for 5 years and endure the same hell as she did. I’ve have yet to be as upset over a character being mistreated as this. I just started this series and really hope she has something good happen in her life because lord knows she’s been trough nothing but hell. I will be buying the rest of this series ASAP.
I absolute love the writing style. I absolutely hate with a passion Rios’s government. I would love to see them go at a minimum the process of getting their humanity stripped from them in the exact same way they did to Rika and then forced into a gauntlet for 5 years and endure the same hell as she did. I’ve have yet to be as upset over a character being mistreated as this. I just started this series and really hope she has something good happen in her life because lord knows she’s been trough nothing but hell. I will be buying the rest of this series ASAP.
August 8, 2018
Short science fiction war story featuring women in mech suits. A short novella to set you up for Rika Outcast. I decided to read this novella first to see if I would get anything out of the rest of the Rika series, or any of the books in M.D. Cooper's expansive space opera.
All in all, it's not a badly written story, but on a personal level I probably would've gotten more out of this book when I was 14 or 15. By my twenties, stories about war stopped being entertaining to me as I was able to comprehend the wide range of horror war brings and it's not something I personally want to read about.
If you're into Military Sci-Fi, that's cool, I recommend M.D. Cooper's saga. If you're not, I would recommend you skip it.
To be honest, I was hoping this series would propel me into the Altered Carbon series, but I think I will bypass any other Science Fiction series and cut to the chase.
All in all, it's not a badly written story, but on a personal level I probably would've gotten more out of this book when I was 14 or 15. By my twenties, stories about war stopped being entertaining to me as I was able to comprehend the wide range of horror war brings and it's not something I personally want to read about.
If you're into Military Sci-Fi, that's cool, I recommend M.D. Cooper's saga. If you're not, I would recommend you skip it.
To be honest, I was hoping this series would propel me into the Altered Carbon series, but I think I will bypass any other Science Fiction series and cut to the chase.
August 24, 2018
Definitely a prequel, not much story to get into. Lot's of action.
October 12, 2019
Press gangs return
In a high tech twist on the old press gangs, the government has turned to an age old recruiting tactic. Instead of waking up aboard ship, these new recruits are turned into the latest weapons. Dark and fun read, cannot wait for more Rika.
In a high tech twist on the old press gangs, the government has turned to an age old recruiting tactic. Instead of waking up aboard ship, these new recruits are turned into the latest weapons. Dark and fun read, cannot wait for more Rika.
May 29, 2017
Nicely done
I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the three women of Hammerfall squad. It was a well written short for the upcoming book Rika's Marauders. Which if the author uses the same style for book 1 should be quite good.
I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the three women of Hammerfall squad. It was a well written short for the upcoming book Rika's Marauders. Which if the author uses the same style for book 1 should be quite good.
August 21, 2017
Exciting intro
I liked the tech explanations, and also the character development. These ladies really care for each other. People who like military tactical action will enjoy it, as I did.
I liked the tech explanations, and also the character development. These ladies really care for each other. People who like military tactical action will enjoy it, as I did.
October 10, 2017
Although this was a prequel, it felt like a stand alone adventure. The great news is there are more. I enjoyed living in Rika's world for awhile and have already purchased or wish listed the rest of the series. Already reading the next one.
December 27, 2017
Nicer than I expected
I am not normally a fan of military sci-fi due to the high miss-hit ratio but this gamble paid off because this writer is rather good. I will be reading more of this.
I am not normally a fan of military sci-fi due to the high miss-hit ratio but this gamble paid off because this writer is rather good. I will be reading more of this.
January 28, 2018
Hardcore military sci-fi from the pic of an woman convicted and sent to become a cyborg scout in the war effort.
A cyborg barely recognizable as human anymore, acting as a military scout, and treated as disposable, yet whole battles depend on her and her cohorts.
A cyborg barely recognizable as human anymore, acting as a military scout, and treated as disposable, yet whole battles depend on her and her cohorts.
March 23, 2019
Neat little story. Pretty grim and dark perspective, though I know this is written as a prequel to a series, so it's more just an exploration of the background of the character. Cooper writes excellent sci-fi and this is pretty standard for him. Solidly written, great pace. Quick, fun read.
March 13, 2018
Great new heroine!
Rika rocks! Hardcore action in a heartless galaxy. More machine than organic but has a heart of gold. Reading the next books in the series!
Rika rocks! Hardcore action in a heartless galaxy. More machine than organic but has a heart of gold. Reading the next books in the series!
May 30, 2018
Wow, brutal and touching.
Rika's squad is in the thick of it, see how they care for each other even though changed into Mechs, most of their bodies gone.
Rika's squad is in the thick of it, see how they care for each other even though changed into Mechs, most of their bodies gone.
June 12, 2018
surprisingly good!
September 28, 2018
Interesting beginning
This short story introduced us to Rika, and what will become Rika's Marauders. Seeing Rika meeting with the enemy who is more than willing to use nukes.
This short story introduced us to Rika, and what will become Rika's Marauders. Seeing Rika meeting with the enemy who is more than willing to use nukes.
April 4, 2018
For those who read the Starting novel Outcast then this is a handy fill in , for those who are new to the Aeon 14 Universe or just Rika then this is a nice jumping point.
Rika surviving in a world at war , commits the crime of being a Meat body ready for the grindmill of war, all they need is a few bits of evidence and a fabricated story.
So Rika starts her illustrious career as a MECH, stronger faster and more obedient than a human solider they are the way to win the war.
Because of this the treatment that they are subjected to makes a MECH a substandard human and to mean nothing means that a MECH such as Rika must be something special to keep her humanity intact and this is such a story of someone who can survive the odds to become something we can love.
Rika surviving in a world at war , commits the crime of being a Meat body ready for the grindmill of war, all they need is a few bits of evidence and a fabricated story.
So Rika starts her illustrious career as a MECH, stronger faster and more obedient than a human solider they are the way to win the war.
Because of this the treatment that they are subjected to makes a MECH a substandard human and to mean nothing means that a MECH such as Rika must be something special to keep her humanity intact and this is such a story of someone who can survive the odds to become something we can love.
May 1, 2018
Author M.D. Cooper brings us a different view of his universe through the eyes of Rika. She was once a street rat on one of the worlds under the Genevian government but was picked up for taking some food. She was turned into a scout mech with very little of her original body intact. She and her three mech team Hammerfall are on a planet in the Genevian Federation which is being attacked by their enemies and are tasked with stopping them while getting to the evacuation point. This is great short read and reminded me of Battletech but I will be looking forward to reading the next book the series and I do highly recommend it to all science fiction fans.
May 2, 2018
I actually read "Rika Remade" which consisted of this prequel and the first book in the series. Cyborg stories aren't really my cup of tea but there is a lot of action and I did enjoy the characters, particularly when Rika becomes part of the Marauders. I'm glad I read the two books in combination as the prequel sets the story in a really dark and depressing state of affairs for those that are forced to become mechs. Things get quite a bit better for the main character as the story progresses. The most intriguing part for me is the character of "the old man" and the entire marauder association. I like the idea of a large military organization that isn't entirely corrupt.
November 1, 2019
Tight story. Great novelette, short story. She diverges from the main story in that she describes Rika's criminal sentence as being five years; while the main series says it was a capital offense. And yeah, Rika stole food; but the government said it was military gear. In the prequel, the authoress forgot that fact. She said food, and five years. Since I read the prequel first, it affected my view of Rika. Who would get their arms and legs cut off, and go to war; as opposed to five years in jail? But yeah, the first novel corrected that. Sort of an editing error. It's all good though. Otherwise great book.
June 9, 2022
Nightmares Come To Life... & Life Is Cheap
Rika's experience by her own judicial system is brutal. The result of making her into a "Meat Mech" is horrifying. The end result is a lethal Scout Mech which are highly effective and efficient. One can only hope she can keep her sanity and pray she survives and hopefully one day can be made a intact human once again. Our introduction to Rika is brief, brutal and to the point. Very little fluff here. Shock & Awe rules the day! Interested to read how this character progresses! Enjoyed the read!
Rika's experience by her own judicial system is brutal. The result of making her into a "Meat Mech" is horrifying. The end result is a lethal Scout Mech which are highly effective and efficient. One can only hope she can keep her sanity and pray she survives and hopefully one day can be made a intact human once again. Our introduction to Rika is brief, brutal and to the point. Very little fluff here. Shock & Awe rules the day! Interested to read how this character progresses! Enjoyed the read!
May 10, 2018
I was able to better judge this book after reading the next one. As a "prequel" it did fill in gaps and background that made reading the next book in the series better. If you have already read Rika's Marauders #1 and haven't read #0 you already have the summary of what this book is about. If you want to re-read #1, I'd suggest picking up #0 and then re-reading for the extra story and background.
August 12, 2017
Cool New Character
This is a new chapter in the M D Cooper universe with an intriguing new character in Rika who we are given an introduction to here. This was an interesting little tale and I look forward to reading more about Rika soon.
This is a new chapter in the M D Cooper universe with an intriguing new character in Rika who we are given an introduction to here. This was an interesting little tale and I look forward to reading more about Rika soon.
April 4, 2018
Great start of Rika story
I first met Rika when she finally meets up with Tanis in the Orion War series and decided to come back and read her series, this looks to be a great start to another one of Coopers stories! Can’t wait to read the next one!
I first met Rika when she finally meets up with Tanis in the Orion War series and decided to come back and read her series, this looks to be a great start to another one of Coopers stories! Can’t wait to read the next one!
November 14, 2018
Interesting premise, well thought out fighting and tactics, and a main character you genuinely like, admire, and pity at the same time. This book is the full package so far and I can't wait to read more of it.
February 2, 2019
Rika was the series I read of Cooper's Aeon 14 universe. Rika is possibly my favorite character too.
I get that Cooper is doing his best with his ambitious universe building, but I think his strength lies in the more intimate stories in this universe.
I get that Cooper is doing his best with his ambitious universe building, but I think his strength lies in the more intimate stories in this universe.
July 30, 2019
Having the option I thought id listen from prequel forward and it was a mistake. The characters meant nothing to me and never did get there. The action was on pont though. However a little depth and a kot of action had me losing interest. Ill come back to it after getting more into the series.
July 22, 2022
War is brutal, and this story really captures that brutality and the desperation it creates with compelling characters that will do what they use to survive and reclaim any shred of their former humanity.
October 24, 2017
Just plain depressing.
June 18, 2017
Damn. That poor kid.
June 21, 2017
Great start to new Aeon 14 universe series! I highly recommend checking it out!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews