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James McGill is called upon for a sabotage mission, one that only a man of his unique talents can handle. Unfortunately, he performs too well, and our enemies from Rigel are enraged. They come for us, and war is declared.

Both sides call for aid, and it comes from the Core Worlds in the form of two great fleets. The Civil War for the Empire’s Throne spills out into the provinces. In the center of Galaxy, fantastic fleets crush one another and burn thousands of inhabited worlds. When this conflict between the great powers spreads, humanity finds itself swept up in the storm.

Can McGill escape this disaster he’s created? Find out in CLONE WORLD, the twelfth book of the Undying Mercenaries series.

With over three million copies sold, author B. V. Larson is the king of modern military science fiction.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2019

953 people are currently reading
275 people want to read

About the author

B.V. Larson

134 books1,529 followers
Brian Larson is an American science fiction and fantasy author

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5 stars
1,569 (56%)
4 stars
922 (32%)
3 stars
270 (9%)
2 stars
28 (1%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
Profile Image for Jim.
1,229 reviews50 followers
October 14, 2019
This series just goes on forever and I’m certainly OK with that! I love this series and its main character, James McGill. He is something of a rogue and very sarcastic to those who don’t even know he’s giving them a line of BS. A true artist of the lie and BS if there ever was one. I definitely like the humor in these books. It’s not too much nor is it over the top.

James is bored. So, against all common sense, he volunteers for some special mission that will pay him a bonus so he can keep his daughter in training. Unfortunately, this mission could very well be a one way mission with a permanent dead a real possibility. But, knowing Jame McGill, nothing can keep him dead. Yet, after this mission in which he actually destroys a floating city of Rigel (Bears), he’s wanted dead by them for sure. Not only that, but we find a whole world populated by Cleaver clones. Cleaver was once a Varus Adjunct, but he has become a notorious galaxy trader and all round bad guy. Now he’s gone and violated Galactic law that forebids cloning of any kind. He’s established himself on a planet near Rigel whom he is providing security forces for.

Earth has to get rid of these clones. If the Galactics find out that a human has been cloning himself, then Earth and every human could be exterminated. So, to battle goes the Legion against a legion of Cleaver clones! Then the Skay are spotting coming towards Clone World as well as the Mogwa. Both of these Galactic species have been warring with each other for the Galactic thrown. It could be very possible that the human fleet will have to take sides and if they lose, once again, Earth could be terminated. Then the Rigeleans show up! So, it goes without saying that there is a lot of fighting. And, the strangest part of any of this is that none other than James McGill becomes a Fleet Admiral in charge of all of Earths starships! You’re definitely going to have to read the book to find out how that comes about.

I truly hope there are more books in this series. I know we clovered a lot of subjects for these worlds, but surely theres still something left we have seen.
5 reviews
October 4, 2019
Worth your while

The McGill series (otherwise known as the Undying Mercenaries Series ... bit of a mouthful that😊) continues. Some series get quite stodgy or worse yet ridiculous as the author struggles for new plot lines. Some authors though transcend the traps. The characters feel like favourite old shoes but they develop in new and interesting ways. They avoid the stereotypes.

Well this book is number 12 in the series. And I want more. So will you. You can read the book with no context and it will be a fine experience. But you'll miss the development of McGill from a callow youth into a veteran combining the craziness of a teenage video game player with no appreciation for his own mortality with the not so common common-sense that separates the truly high performing from the rest of us.

In this tome, McGill gets involved in an experimental operation that escalates quickly into an inter-worlds war. His willingness to entertain shenanigans most of us would prudently avoid and his desire to get straight to the nub of the issue serve him well as he navigates his way through some intractable situations.

It's a good read. Buy it if you need to while away some spare time in a nice way, like on a train, in a bus, or even on the loo. 😁
82 reviews
October 7, 2019
Pace Perfect

Another winner. The story in Clone World is fast (as usual) and fun. All the characters fit and feel realistic for their places.

What strikes me the most about the series is the overall pace. Each book is filled with action, but when you zoom out, you realize the whole story arc exists over many decades. Since all the characters are basically immortal, they change slowly and you get to experience that change over time. You get to watch McGill and Turov slowly bonding, McGill climbing the military ladder, friendships come and go. It’s what you want from such a long series. Major kudos to Mr. Larson for allowing the story to develop naturally where many authors would rush towards a finish so they could move on. Honestly, I could read another 20 of these books and still want more.

The one thing that I will say: I want to learn about Graves. He has a centuries-long past, and I very much want to learn about it. What forces molded him into his current shape?
Profile Image for Caleb M..
621 reviews32 followers
January 31, 2020
This was one of my favorite entries so far. The world building in this series is a blast and this might just be the most underrated series out there. The characters are great. The banter is great. And I have a huge smile on my face everytime I go through one of these books.

As a rule for myself I try not to include stuff in my review that you can find in the back of the book and I also hate giving spoilers. So on book 12 of this series it makes it a little more tricky to review. So...

I'll just say that this book has a bunch if different plot developments with different alien species that very much push the story forward. And as the name would suggest, there is a whole world filled with clones that have a partner and are creating problems....like always. They way the story is delivered is more of the same but it's done so well.

Again, I love James McGill and crew. I am excited for when I can get into Glass World.
Profile Image for Steve.
630 reviews24 followers
December 14, 2023
“Clone World” is the 12th book in the Undying Mercenaries series, a military science fiction saga that follows the adventures of James McGill, a soldier who can be revived after death using alien technology. In this installment, McGill is sent on a sabotage mission against the Rigelians, a hostile alien race that has declared war on Earth. However, his mission goes too well, and he attracts the attention of Claver, a rogue human who has created an army of clones using the same revival machines. McGill and his legion must stop Claver and his clones before they destroy Earth and its allies. Meanwhile, a galactic civil war between two powerful factions threatens to engulf the entire galaxy, and humanity must choose a side.

The audiobook is narrated by Mark Boyett, who does a superb job of bringing the characters and the action to life. Boyett has a clear and expressive voice, and he uses different accents and tones to distinguish the various characters. He also captures the humor and sarcasm of McGill, the main protagonist, who often makes witty remarks and jokes in the face of danger. Boyett's narration adds to the enjoyment and immersion of the story, and he keeps the listener engaged throughout the audiobook.

The story itself is fast-paced and entertaining, with plenty of twists and turns. Larson has created a rich and complex universe, with diverse alien races, cultures, and technologies. He also explores the ethical and moral dilemmas of cloning, revival, and war, and how they affect the characters and their decisions. The book is full of action, humor, and drama, and it balances the serious and the light-hearted moments well. The book also advances the overall plot of the series, and sets up the stage for the next book.

“Clone World” is a fun and exciting audiobook that will appeal to fans of military science fiction, space opera, and adventure. It is recommended to listen to the previous books in the series first, as they provide the necessary background and context for the story. However, even new listeners can enjoy the book as a standalone, as Larson provides enough explanations and summaries of the previous events.

If you are looking for a sci-fi audiobook that will keep you hooked and entertained from start to finish, you should definitely check out “Clone World.” I look forward to listening to the next one.
Profile Image for Ghhoustph.
3 reviews
March 18, 2024
Jedyny taki tom, przez który gdybym nie wiedziała że powstały nowe części to uznałabym to za koniec serii XDD sytuacje na poziomie kryzysu dla Ziemii.
Profile Image for Jesse Armstrong.
187 reviews
July 24, 2024
I feel like a skipping record on these. If you can get over the massive flaws with this series, it's decent and predictable but still somewhat humorous read.
Profile Image for Leather.
564 reviews12 followers
April 20, 2020
Fun as usual, with many Galactics, the Rigellians and many Clavers.
Profile Image for Tamer Sadek.
262 reviews9 followers
April 27, 2020
I love this series so much. I'm just sad there's only one left (for now). I laughed a lot on this one.
Profile Image for Fred Wagner.
449 reviews
November 25, 2019
Well, this is more of the same from Mr. Larson and our hero James McGill. And that is NOT a bad thing. Sure... in the beginning James kept explaining his "character" a few too many times. Though it did stop mostly. AND it is good I suppose as a reminder when you are months and more between books (though that hasn't been happening with B.V. Sorry, sir, but I don't know you're real name and it is too "late" (I am a major night owl so 8am is pretty "late" in my world) to look into it. It is really too late to be writing a review but here I am. SOOO... I had mentioned that such is actually not a bad thing. Why? Cuz it is simply fun and entertaining. And although some themes are common to all books. There is enough of a plot difference and twist as well as a storyline through the series to follow that it does in some ways keep one on their toes. He's like an old friend or something. It's the "same shit". Just a different day and the changes that entails; and because you like your friend, well, even if he told you the EXACT SAME stories each time you wouldn't tire too easily of it. But this involves differences. And your friend is your friend for a reason.... at least in part because you enjoy spending time with him. And I enjoy reading of the misadventures of James McGill. I will note that with this book some of the outrageous storylines weren't quite so outrageous and impossible to believe this time. Either that or the impossibility of some things just weren't presented as such. And BY NOW we (or at least I!!) have come to believe that NOTHING is impossible or even unlikely in McGill's world. Perhaps that could be a name of one of the upcoming novels: "McGill's World". Just be all stuck up inside the gorilla brain of his for 12 to 16 hours (in Audible format). Eeeeek!! Anyway, I simply enjoy these books. I DO, unfortunately, kind of believe that this series probably shouldn't go ANY further than 15 books. Any more would be just pushing it I suspect. And I suppose we'll just see. I never would have thought prior to reading these books that a series entitled Undying Mercenaries could be so essentially light-hearted and fun YET still pose edge of your seat circumstance on some level (though not so horribly that I personally take that shit into my dreams for as much/little as I am able to pseudo-sleep). Anyway, thanks for these books!! This series!! And as well, too, for the terrific narration by Mark Boyett. I am not aware of any other stories I have read with Mark as the narrator. Suppose that is something else I should check into. Well, looking forward to the 13th installment in the improbable adventures of James McGill!!!!
1,368 reviews5 followers
March 7, 2024
POPKulturowy Kociołek:
James McGill zostaje wysłany na kolejną niebezpieczną misję, z którą może sobie poradzić tylko ktoś taki jak on. Konsekwencje tego zadania mogą być jednak bardzo poważne. W tym samym czasie pozostałe siły Ziemi są mocno uwikłane w wojnę domową pomiędzy Mogwami i Skayami. Konflikt ten staje się coraz ostrzejszy i wyraźnie zmierza do swojego kulminacyjnego momentu. Ludzie muszą więc wybrać jedną ze stron, jakby mieli mało własnych problemów. Decyzja ta nie jest łatwa, gdyż wpłynie ona na całą naszą planetę i jej mieszkańców.

Zaserwowana w Legion Nieśmiertelnych tom 12: Świat Klonów historia niekoniecznie będzie mocno zaskakująca dla największych fanów cyklu. Wydarzenia ukazane we wcześniejszych odsłonach przygotowują bowiem odbiorcę na to, z czym mamy do czynienia w tej książce. Brak większych fabularnych zaskoczeń nie oznacza jednak, braku kosmicznej rozrywki w towarzystwie wartkiej akcji (do której przyzwyczaili się już fani serii). Tej tu zdecydowanie nie brakuje i każda strona potrafi mocno zaangażować czytelnika.

B.V. Larson nie idzie tu jednak na łatwiznę i potrafi wprowadzić do opowieści odrobinę świeżości. Pierwszy raz (o ile mnie pamięć nie myli) Varus i McGill będą bowiem walczyć z innymi ludźmi. Wątek ten powiązany jest z Claverem i jego armią klonów, które stanowią dla Ziemi naprawdę śmiertelne zagrożenie. Przeciwnik ten do łatwych nie należy, a to oznacza dla odbiorcy książki naprawdę dużą porcję widowiskowości.

Całkiem nieźle wypada tu również wątek galaktycznej wojny domowej. Pozwala ona nie tylko dowiedzieć się więcej o potężnych kosmitach (których McGill jakimś cudem ciągle oszukuje), ale również lepiej poznać wykreowany świat gdzie spiski, knowania, zdrady i śmierć są na porządku dziennym....

https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/legio...
4 reviews
May 22, 2021
I love this series and think most of the characters are great. Although over the last few years I think the formula has started to become a bit stale. Yes, the Humans are slowly getting more capable with their technology giving more plot devices and the author is still coming up with very inventive ways to kill the main characters, but they are generally variations on a theme. It would be good to see a few surprises. That being said, I still love the series and you know what you get. I think the universe as well is ripe for spin offs, such as books focused on the Clevers which would probably keep the same tones, or books based more around "humanity" and its expansion in this universe rather than just around the aspects of one legion. I do like books that put humanity as the upstarts in an incredibly old galaxy and we are not that significant in the grand scheme. Maybe it is my longing for some new books in David Brin's uplift universe
Profile Image for Alex Shrugged.
2,753 reviews30 followers
January 3, 2020
If you liked book 1, "Steel World" then you will like this book as well. The writing throughout this series has been consistently good from my perspective. I enjoy the main character, James McGill. He is a lovable rogue.... or exasperating depending on how you look at him. Your choice.

Any modesty issues? Yes. These are the same as throughout the series. The F-word is used. Sex is casual and a sexual undertone is throughout. For example, McGill tends to comment quite a bit on one woman's shapely posterior. Sex itself is not described in detail, but bosoms are exposed and noted.

Despite any drawbacks of the story I find the action exciting and the character of James McGill to be funny. I'll read this book again.
35 reviews
May 26, 2020
Yet another but one thing...

David Bakin, I said the exact same about the last one. Keeping it going this long and interesting as hell is insane. Many kudos to Larson. Your WoT comment is spot on as well. It was interesting initially but look how f'd up it was later on. Proving again what an amazing task Larson has accomplished.
Mark, yeah it was a bit distracting and I hadn't really noticed it before. If I could offer any critique (beyond my personal hopes for character development) it would be to have someone proofread it before publishing. It might be worth half a star simply in comparison to previous books but I'm still gladly giving it 5. Awesome & recommended.
Profile Image for Thomas James.
578 reviews12 followers
January 13, 2021
So Many Ways To Die

It is interesting how these characters keep my interest. McGill is a womanizing, lying, killer for hire, the officers are all power grabbing narcissists, sex is gratuitous at best, the aliens from other planets are not any better and maybe worse and death is meaningless as they just get reborn. What's to like? Well, it turns out just about everything because Larson handles it so well. It's kind of "tongue in cheek" snarky. You know it's not real and is something like a video game where there are so many ways to die and then get a restart. Great fun.
Profile Image for Ernie.
56 reviews
May 15, 2021
This is a great series to read between my other larger series. The character development and world-building is great. It's usually a quick easy read, or if you have audible a nice listen. Doesn't involve any thinking. I was drawn in since book 1 and binged the series.

Definitely recommend it if you are looking for some space combat, mixed with good character development and a decent story line.
3 reviews
May 2, 2020
Fantastic and entertaining read

James McGill is an unconventional hero who’s antics inevitably get him into trouble but lead to success. Each of these books has been a great story with adventure and humor. I strongly recommend this series to everyone especially lovers of science fiction.
Profile Image for Wyatt Smith.
265 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2020
B.V. Larson does it again. By now I thought we had seen every plot point that he can come up with, but I was wrong. All the usual characters are there and this time there's even a clone of .... naah! That would spoil it. I'm still enjoyed this book as much as I did the very first Undying Mercenaries book.
1,185 reviews17 followers
February 10, 2021
If you like this series it’s another continuation, another good book in the series not much change.

Another good book in the series. Same all same all, James Miguel doing what he does best. Lying, cheating, fudging his way through all the intricate plots in the series. If you’d like a good ConMan who has a little smarts you enjoyed the series.
46 reviews
October 28, 2023
Another Great Installment

The main character is getting the hang of this series. I try not to infer too much and let the author spoon-feed the story to me. Some things are repetitive, but all-in-all, it is a good installment of the Undying Mercenaries. I am thoughtful about the resident Mogwa overlord and wonder of its(?) situation.
Profile Image for George.
68 reviews
October 3, 2025
Claver again...

I skipped books to get beyond Larson's insistence on over using the character, Clarver. I refuse to read anymore of this series with Claver as a main or sub-main villain character. Talk about author fixation. Fortunately I am a Prime member and didn't have to directly buy this book as I am returning it at the point Claver shows up.
23 reviews
October 28, 2025
I didn't expect that level of action, with the almost perfect balance between the story and the actions. I would agree with the many reviews that this one is probably the most entertaining of many recent ones. I still like the first 3 or 4 "initial & unique" books, but this one gives me hope that nothing is lost, and there is a lot to follow. THANKS!
Profile Image for John Merrick.
40 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2020
Nothing sophisticated, just an interesting, imaginative space adventure with intriguing characters. Escapist Sci-fi that doesn't strain the brain but also doesn't insult your intelligence. I'm reading all of his series of books.
13 reviews
July 26, 2020
Keeping the series fresh!

I really enjoyed this latest foray with James McGill! Keep on writing and I will keep reading the unique and interesting jams he keeps finding himself in. Thanks!
208 reviews
March 2, 2021
One of the best in the series.

One of the best in the series. McGill and head out to a showdown of galactic proportion. We learn more of the galactic empire, the cover clones and rigel.
Profile Image for Piotr Borowski.
377 reviews8 followers
July 29, 2021
This book is even better than the previous one. Good military sf - three different battles in one book. Each battle more exciting than the precious one. And of course the main plot - galaxy and civil war.
Profile Image for A.R.
431 reviews38 followers
January 23, 2024
A solid addition to the series. Finally the plot feels like it is moving a bit forward. Plenty of action in this one, lots of twists and turns in the story. Maybe some firm movement in the romantic front? We will have to see. Overall, this is one of the better books in the series so far.
5 reviews
May 7, 2025
Glass world

I really enjoyed reading about the clone world adventures. Looking forward to reading about glass world adventures of James McGills and the varus company of mens. Ok now. I'm reaching out to see how long.
Profile Image for Tony.
78 reviews
May 26, 2025
One question (spoiler alert!)

If you haven't read the book skip this. If not, sorry ......................................
How did Drusus come back all of a sudden when it was assumed that he had been permed when Claver was discovered to be an imposter in Drusus' office?



Profile Image for Jane.
200 reviews
July 31, 2025
Could it be that McGill is growing up? Maybe he is emotionally, but he's still a rascal, he's very smart, and he is fair. This series is not as predictable as might be thought - and Clone World is extremely entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews

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