What do you think?
Rate this book
Order of the Centurion #1
Order of the Centurion
A PRICE PAID IN BLOOD
“The Order of the Centurion is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in, or with, the Legion. When such an individual displays exceptional valor in action against an enemy force, and uncommon loyalty and devotion to the Legion and its legionnaires, refusing to abandon post, mission, or brothers, even unto death, the Legion dutifully recognizes such courage with this award.”
Tired of sitting out the war on Psydon in a mobile office hab, Legion Lieutenant Washam agrees to undertake a covert and unsanctioned mission with a band of Republic Recon Marines. Inserted deep behind enemy lines, the strike force uncovers a surprise key to ending a bitter war. Now they must navigate a hostile jungle teeming with murderous alien rebels, pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities, to get this vital intel to Legion Command--if they can survive that long.
THE ORDER OF THE CENTURION is an all-new series of stand-alone military science fiction thrillers set in the GALAXY'S EDGE universe, ranging from the Savage Wars to the arrival of the Black Fleet. Each book features the legendary heroes of the Legion who forgot nothing in their earning of the Legion's highest honor.
“The Order of the Centurion is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in, or with, the Legion. When such an individual displays exceptional valor in action against an enemy force, and uncommon loyalty and devotion to the Legion and its legionnaires, refusing to abandon post, mission, or brothers, even unto death, the Legion dutifully recognizes such courage with this award.”
Tired of sitting out the war on Psydon in a mobile office hab, Legion Lieutenant Washam agrees to undertake a covert and unsanctioned mission with a band of Republic Recon Marines. Inserted deep behind enemy lines, the strike force uncovers a surprise key to ending a bitter war. Now they must navigate a hostile jungle teeming with murderous alien rebels, pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities, to get this vital intel to Legion Command--if they can survive that long.
THE ORDER OF THE CENTURION is an all-new series of stand-alone military science fiction thrillers set in the GALAXY'S EDGE universe, ranging from the Savage Wars to the arrival of the Black Fleet. Each book features the legendary heroes of the Legion who forgot nothing in their earning of the Legion's highest honor.
Audible Audio
First published September 5, 2018
599 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Jason Anspach
184 books837 followersJASON ANSPACH is the author of Galaxy's Edge, Wayward Galaxy, Forgotten Ruin. and more.
He lives in Puyallup, WA with his wife and their seven (not a typo) children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 22, 2018
Heroes
What makes a hero? Points aren't supposed to be heroes, they're perceived as cowards in the job for their own, and the House of Reason's, gain.
This is the story of two Points and it totally blew me away, painfully personal and shockingly real. There are few books that leave me devastated by the realities of a far future war but this story has managed that feat.
If I could give more stars I would.
What makes a hero? Points aren't supposed to be heroes, they're perceived as cowards in the job for their own, and the House of Reason's, gain.
This is the story of two Points and it totally blew me away, painfully personal and shockingly real. There are few books that leave me devastated by the realities of a far future war but this story has managed that feat.
If I could give more stars I would.
September 24, 2018
Review
Another excellent book in this series!They keep getting better and better.Nice to go back in time for some back stories.
Another excellent book in this series!They keep getting better and better.Nice to go back in time for some back stories.
July 21, 2019
…the general said, his voice subdued and low, speaking for just the two of them to hear, “on behalf of a thankful galaxy, I award to you, in the place of your son, the highest honor the Legion can bestow: the Order of the Centurion."
Order of the Centurion: Order of the Centurion #1
by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole
Kindle Edition, 314 pages
Published September 21st 2018 by Galaxy's Edge
ASIN B07H6J551T
The Order of the Centurion series is set in Nick Cole and Jason Anspach’s Galaxy’s Edge universe. Other than this first volume, each one is also written with another author or authors, giving us a glimpse not only into other times and places, but differing ways of telling a story around a common theme:
The Order of the Centurion is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in, or with, the Legion. When such an individual displays exceptional valor in action against an enemy force, and uncommon loyalty and devotion to the Legion and its legionnaires, refusing to abandon post, mission, or brothers, even unto death, the Legion dutifully recognizes such courage with this award.
Order of the Centurion is set many years before Legionnaire, but it serves to bring us full circle in a way, by showing us both how the Legion was brought low by political interference, and also showing us the value of good men who meekly serve something greater than themselves.
The truth of it is, I understand a bit how Lieutenant Washam feels as one of the first appointed officers in the Legion. While he seems in many ways like a Legionnaire, he is in practice always on the outside looking in. No matter what uniform he wears, or what his rank is, he is not one of them.
The fanbase for the Galaxy’s Edge series is heavily weighted toward veterans of military service. Legionnaire in particular seems like the novelization of the Afghanistan experience, and the series as a whole is frequently praised by veterans as a faithful representation of their lived experience. In addition to the shared jokes of barracks life, and the myriad annoyances of living under a hierarchy of leaders who may or may not have been promoted based on their ability to lead and inspire the rough men who guard us while we sleep, one of the key elements of bonding among combat veterans is their shared experience of exhilaration, terror, and random death. At the same time, this separates them from those of us who quite simply have no idea what this is like.
Unlike me, Wash undergoes a baptism of fire that will haunt him forever. Like me, however, Wash is conscious of a barrier of separation between him and the soldiers that he loves and respects. What makes Wash such an admirable man is that his response to scorn and disbelief is to redouble his own efforts, to make the best of himself and his chosen path that he can, no matter what anyone else thinks.
I’ve said before that the real heroes are often dead, which is why the Order of the Centurion is awarded posthumously 98.4% of the time. However, not every hero dies a glorious death. Sometimes, they just toil away in obscurity, wondering why they are the ones who lived.
Order of the Centurion: Order of the Centurion #1
by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole
Kindle Edition, 314 pages
Published September 21st 2018 by Galaxy's Edge
ASIN B07H6J551T
The Order of the Centurion series is set in Nick Cole and Jason Anspach’s Galaxy’s Edge universe. Other than this first volume, each one is also written with another author or authors, giving us a glimpse not only into other times and places, but differing ways of telling a story around a common theme:
The Order of the Centurion is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in, or with, the Legion. When such an individual displays exceptional valor in action against an enemy force, and uncommon loyalty and devotion to the Legion and its legionnaires, refusing to abandon post, mission, or brothers, even unto death, the Legion dutifully recognizes such courage with this award.
Order of the Centurion is set many years before Legionnaire, but it serves to bring us full circle in a way, by showing us both how the Legion was brought low by political interference, and also showing us the value of good men who meekly serve something greater than themselves.
The truth of it is, I understand a bit how Lieutenant Washam feels as one of the first appointed officers in the Legion. While he seems in many ways like a Legionnaire, he is in practice always on the outside looking in. No matter what uniform he wears, or what his rank is, he is not one of them.
The fanbase for the Galaxy’s Edge series is heavily weighted toward veterans of military service. Legionnaire in particular seems like the novelization of the Afghanistan experience, and the series as a whole is frequently praised by veterans as a faithful representation of their lived experience. In addition to the shared jokes of barracks life, and the myriad annoyances of living under a hierarchy of leaders who may or may not have been promoted based on their ability to lead and inspire the rough men who guard us while we sleep, one of the key elements of bonding among combat veterans is their shared experience of exhilaration, terror, and random death. At the same time, this separates them from those of us who quite simply have no idea what this is like.
Unlike me, Wash undergoes a baptism of fire that will haunt him forever. Like me, however, Wash is conscious of a barrier of separation between him and the soldiers that he loves and respects. What makes Wash such an admirable man is that his response to scorn and disbelief is to redouble his own efforts, to make the best of himself and his chosen path that he can, no matter what anyone else thinks.
I’ve said before that the real heroes are often dead, which is why the Order of the Centurion is awarded posthumously 98.4% of the time. However, not every hero dies a glorious death. Sometimes, they just toil away in obscurity, wondering why they are the ones who lived.
December 28, 2020
I like the Galaxy's Edge series of military sci-fi, so I got this to give it a try. It's set in the same galaxy, but some years before that series begins. It should have been enjoyable, but it wasn't. The best buddy of the MC rigs a mission behind enemy lines just to improve his political chances, and mayhem ensues. Themes are friendship, bravery, and conflict between military branches.
Unfortunatey, I couldn't forgive the plot. The officers are incompetent, the story is completely unbelievable, and the dialog was a bit pathetic. I'm disappointed, but I'm definitely in the minority.
Happily, Mark Boyett did a great job with the narration of the audiobook.
Unfortunatey, I couldn't forgive the plot. The officers are incompetent, the story is completely unbelievable, and the dialog was a bit pathetic. I'm disappointed, but I'm definitely in the minority.
Happily, Mark Boyett did a great job with the narration of the audiobook.
February 17, 2024
Good military sci-fi. These authors know how to write about the pressures and trauma facing military personnel. Good battle scenes without gratuitous gore. And the climactic battle is especially well-written with lots of tension and action (not a spoiler as having a climactic battle is almost required in military stories). The ending is a very good wrap-up and needed in a work intended to be a stand-alone book in a universe of series.
January 7, 2021
I was a little surprised at the focus here on straight up character development and military action. I didn't really feel anything was missing, but I expected a little more spice - like humor, or angst. There was some angst to be sure, especially at the end. But the whole story wasn't what I was expecting. The plot focuses on one specific action - we don't know anything really about the aliens or why these guys are on this planet. What really comes through is the way soldiers relate to each other and the chain of command. It is truly military fiction and doesn't venture into anything else.
Bare bones, I guess.
I was also iffy about Mark Boyett at first, but he was excellent. I'll probably continue with the series.
Bare bones, I guess.
I was also iffy about Mark Boyett at first, but he was excellent. I'll probably continue with the series.
March 23, 2020
I will keep this short. As a former member of the armed forces, I found myself thinking about the men I knew who gave their lives in service to our country. This book moved my soul, bringing back memories good and bad. For that reason alone I would have given it 5 🌟. It is well crafted and it makes a war on a world created by words alone believable and made me feel like I was there. Ooh-Rah!
June 14, 2019
This review was longer than GoodReads gives us to share, so check out my full review on my website.
https://jrhandley.com/2019/06/13/book...
Summary:
First, let me say that none of what I’ll say in this section couldn’t be found on the back copy of the novel. Heck, I cribbed this summary from the back, and then I added my own twist! And not even much of one, since most of the books I read have kick butt descriptions (aka blurbs). If the blurb doesn’t catch my eye, then I tend to skip the book unless a friend recommends it. Generally speaking, my goal is to provide a spoiler-free review, so here goes nothing!
“The Order of the Centurion is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in, or with, the Legion. When such an individual displays exceptional valor in action against an enemy force, and uncommon loyalty and devotion to the Legion and its legionnaires, refusing to abandon post, mission, or brothers, even unto death, the Legion dutifully recognizes such courage with this award.”
Tired of sitting out the war on Psydon in a mobile office hab, Legion Lieutenant Washam agrees to undertake a covert and unsanctioned mission with a band of Republic Recon Marines. Inserted deep behind enemy lines, the strike force uncovers a surprise key to ending a bitter war. Now they must navigate a hostile jungle teeming with murderous alien rebels, pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities, to get this vital intel to Legion Command – if they can survive that long.
THE ORDER OF THE CENTURION is the first novel in an all-new series of stand-alone military science fiction thrillers set in the GALAXY’S EDGE universe, ranging from the Savage Wars to the arrival of the Black Fleet. Each book features the legendary heroes of the Legion who forgot nothing in their earning of the Legion’s highest honor.
If you like epic space opera, with a side of military science fiction, you should read this series. Plenty of explosions, with authentically gritty combat. If this sounds like your flavor of badassery, then you’ve come to the right place! This novel is a brilliant continuation of the Galaxy’s Edge Universe, where they fix everything George Lucas broke in this Star-Wars-Not-Star-Wars adventure. I wish I could give you an easy comparison, “if you enjoyed Book X, buy this book,” but I really feel like Nick and Jason broke new ground here. They’ve revived that sense of newness and fun that we loved as children, that brought most of us to the science fiction genre! There are new series popping up that follow this vibe, I’ve heard of them… but until I read them, I can’t recommend them. So, until then, I will stick with the belief that there are other military sci-fi books out there, but none quite like this!
Characters:
In this novel, we again followed a small group of characters, which I find is how I like this universe. We meet a young Lieutenant Washam, Major D’lay Berlin, Sergeant Shotton, Specialist Alistair and Subs. All of the characters were a lot of fun to spend time with again and made me want the book to never end (hint, hint)!
Lieutenant Washam (Wash): He’s a rich kid from a prominent family on Spilursa who becomes one of the Legion’s first ‘point (appointed) officers. He was genuinely dedicated to the ideals of the Republic, the House of Reason and the Legion. Unlike his fellow points, he earned his commission the hard way and his peers hated him for it. The rest of the Legion? They hated him too, never giving him a chance. Instead, they relegate him to some backwater supply depot doing work normally reserved for lowly corporals. When the opportunity comes to go on a mission led by Major Berlin, seeking to hunt down the guns terrorizing the Republic forces on Psydon, he reluctantly rises to the situation. He becomes the living embodiment of the Legion mantra, KTF. He kills them first, showing the Legion and the Dobies that he was a force to be reckoned with. He felt real and not one of those stereotypical military killers. He was badass, a consummate professional and genuinely good officer for his troops. He’s the kind of guy you’d want on your side in a firefight, despite having essentially bribed his way into the Legion. He was my favorite character in this novel, I enjoyed following him! Overall, I really liked him and felt like there was so much more to come from him! I can’t wait to see where his arc concludes in Retribution!
Major D’lay Berlin: He’s a rich kid from a prominent family on Spilursa who becomes one of the Legion’s first ‘point officers. He was genuinely dedicated to the ideals of the Republic and the House of Reason, though he was an unashamedly spoiled rotten brat. He takes a lot for granted, learning the true meaning of service… and he does it the hard way. In the end, he proves his mettle under fire during operations on Psydon. I both hated and loved this character throughout the course of the novel, but in the end, he won me over.
Sergeant Major Boyd (Subs): He’s a Dark Ops Legionnaire who’s on temporary duty at Republic Army Firebase Hitchcock. He was severely wounded on his last Dark Ops mission and was stuck out in the boonies to ride out the last of his service time before he could retire. He was a motivated, gung-ho type of leej who knew how to get things done and passed those skills on to the Repub Army soldiers he was stationed with. When a rogue mission into the Psydon jungle runs into trouble, Subs rushes off towards the sounds of the guns to help his fellow legionnaires. I really loved this character and wanted more from him. He was the sort of operator who had plenty of stories left to his name, stories that deserve to be told.
Specialist Alistair: He’s a Repub Army “basic” who’s the radio operator for Republic Army Firebase Hitchcock. He’s befriended Dark Ops Legionnaire Sergeant Major Boyd (Subs), whom he sees as his mentor. When Subs makes his way into the woods for an impromptu rescue operation, Alistair heeds the call of duty and proves his worth. I really liked this character and wanted to see what happened to him after the events that take place in The Order of the Centurion.
Sergeant Shotton: He’s a Repub marine sergeant, who was in charge of the marine detachment that went on the patrol with Major Berlin and Lieutenant Washam. He was a grizzled old NCO, but no-nonsense kind of guy every rookie wants on their side in a firefight. He was a consummate warfighter, one who shows everyone that the Legion isn’t the only bubbas who can KTF! I really enjoyed this character and wouldn’t mind seeing more from him. Seriously, I would love to know what happened to him after the SLIC pulled him out of the jungles!
Doros (aka Dobies): These are a doglike race of humanoids that look similar to an Earthlike Doberman, hence their nickname of dobie. They were a fierce species with a pack mentality and were capable warriors. They are from the planet Psydon and were ultimately forced into the fold of the Republic by the Legion during a period of fierce struggle. These were the enemies from Tin Man and the Order of the Centurion. I love these aliens and wanted more from them. I bet they would be fun aliens to explore from their own perspective. (Hint, hint, hint.)
Overall, it was fun to meet one of the important characters from the main series. I liked learning Wash’s backstory and how he achieved the peaks he climbed. I give these characters 5 out of 5 Grenades and can’t wait to see where the author takes Wash in the last Galaxy’s Edge novel, Retribution.
Overall:
First, I’ll start by saying that I really loved the concept that is the Order of the Centurion Series. The concept behind this is basically a “day in the life” style of prose where they explore the stories of the individual legionnaires. And not just any leejes, but the best of the best. We get to read the stories of the bravest the Legion and the Republic has to offer. Further, the set up will have many guest authors telling stories of these men and women in this epic universe. Again, for transparency, I do have a novel coming out in this series. I don’t know when the book will launch, but The Reservist will be a part of this series. Okay, enough about that… let’s move past the series and talk about this specific book.
Despite the serious nature of my review, all of the novels in this universe harkened back to what I loved about the first book Legionnaire. The combat was gritty and visceral, sucking you in through the pages and into another world. So about that world I was sucked into… the vibe of this story is amazing. I loved every nail-biting second of this novel! Obviously, we knew that Wash would live, but everyone else was fair game! It meant that we never lost the tense feeling. There were no deep messages, or political themes, just good clean fun. Like the previous novels, this story was compelling and made me want to know more. This book left me wanting novels about Subs and Alistair. I wanted to know what happened to the marine sappers, basically, I wanted to know more about all of the secondary characters.
Like the previous novels in this universe, the first thing that caught my eye was the fantastic cover. Seriously, they’re all amazingly compelling. If you want to learn more about them, the Galaxy’s Edge mailing list will show you how the covers evolved to their final version. You’ll also get a free short story, Tin Man! The Galaxy’s Edge covers reminded me of the iconic science fiction covers I loved as a kid, or the movie posters from the action adventures I watched when I was supposed to be studying. The image of a legionnaire fading out like some sort of glitch in the matrix gave this cover a videogame vibe. The fonts worked, and while I would’ve preferred an image of Wash, after seeing the other covers in this series I understand why this artistic choice was made. Seriously, the cover is amazing and when I finally have a dedicated office or man cave, I’m decorating it with ALL of these covers! Are you reading this, Wife? My man cave, my decorating choices! I should be okay, right? Right?
One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel was that it leaned into the military side of the Galaxy’s Edge Universe. This series has been a bit bipolar at times, bouncing between the space opera and military science fiction subgenres. I love them both and I really shouldn’t pick a favorite, but in this love triad my heart favors the military sci-fi! It was fun to revisit that, to read a gripping tale of action and adventure and lose myself for a few hours while I listen to Mark Boyett read to me. While they did spend a significant amount of time making the world of Psydon come alive, they never took their foot off the gas were let up on the action. The authors balanced that with enough lulls in the fighting that we could let out the collective breath we were holding. This was seriously a master class in proper pacing!
Speaking of master classes, this novel also did an excellent job at characterization. They managed to create compelling three-dimensional characters without sacrificing the action. There was no unneeded navel-gazing, but Jason and Nick still managed to build compelling characters we wanted to know more about. Seriously, there’s wasn’t a single secondary character that I didn’t want to read a whole novel about. Heck, I would even love to read a story written from the dubies point of view! Yes, I’m hinting strongly here… hoping the authors read this and give us more from Subs, Alistair and the marines from Psydon! I’m looking at you Jason!!
One of the aspects of this novel that I loved the most was learning the backstory of Lieutenant Washam, someone who was an interesting tertiary character in the main series. After reading Message for the Dead, it became clear that he was going to become more important, so I paused before reading Retribution. I had to know more about him before the final gut punch that I expect the last novel in the series to be. I expected his backstory to be interesting, but I didn’t expect him to be so badassed. I wanted to drink a beer with the man and listen to him tell more stories about the horrors that were guerrilla warfare fought in dense jungles. I would love to go on about this, but I promised to keep this spoiler free.
Another part of this book that I loved was how Jason and Nick portrayed the military culture. The overall military ambiance was spot on, just what I’d expect from Army veteran Nick Cole. Nobody felt like cookie cutter clichés or parodies of the warrior, and the ethos was spot on. I loved how they showcased the relationship between the enlisted marines and the Legion officers. This was perfectly illuminated by the interactions between Lieutenant Washam and Sergeant Shotton. It was clear that Wash was ultimately in charge, but the grizzled Sergeant Shotton was pulling the strings a wee bit, guiding him along. We also got to see average soldiers/marines who weren’t just stereotypical tropes, they were humans with all of the flaws that that entails. We got to meet point officers who weren’t horrible. They were just flawed products of their upbringing, some bad and some good. These creatures, officers who’re normally hated by the lower enlisted in the readers alike, were shown to have good qualities about them. This fleshed out the concept for me, adding depth to what could be seen as a flat trope. Further, we get to see that even “good officers” like Wash can mess up. The deadly literary duo of Anspach and Cole understand the culture of the grunt and don’t shy away from the consequences of war! When military leaders mess up, good people die. I loved that they show leaders making hard choices under fire, choices that are distasteful to armchair generals judging from the safety of the sidelines. War is an ugly thing, and these authors lean into that and make sure the readers appreciate the consequences of the Pew Pew we love to read about. None of these combat actions happen in a vacuum, affecting the soldiers who are forced to make them. As someone who’s been there, I can relate to this level of attention to the details of the soldiers who fight and die under the banner of the Legion. The marines don’t come away unscathed, making their losses even more heart-wrenching. Seriously, this novel felt like I was reading about Storm Troopers in Vietnam and I really dug it!
And since we mentioned the Appointed Officers or points, let’s take a moment to talk about them. I love how this story showed a more nuanced view of this issue. The complexity, regarding point officers, shown in this novel made it hard to determine how I was supposed to feel about this subject. With officers like Wash, and ultimately Berlin, it is hard to say that the program is entirely horrific. The political entities were garbage, but some of the officers their program commissioned were halfway decent leaders. Obviously, we know that the good officers are the outliers for this program, but those officers had merit. If we discussed this subject in more depth, someone could argue that the good officers would have, and should have, gone through the normal commissioning channels. I would agree with that; you can’t make policy for large organizations from the margins. However, I liked that this novel showed that it could end differently. By not relying on tropes that weren’t absolute, by layering on the complexity, the authors were able to drive home the general wrongness of this program.
Another thing that I liked about this novel, and the universe writ large, was that I believe it has the potential to stand the test of time. It’s an awesome read for me, but it’s written in such a way that my kids could potentially read these books. Maybe play the videogames or watch the movies someday? It brought back the epic sci-fi battles that I acted out as a kid, laying in the grass playing with my action figures. As I read this novel, I found myself wishing for toys I could share with my son’s. I want them to be able to experience this setting with me, we could bond over the epic tales of heroism and duty. I could envision teaching them about the complexity of the world, of how black and white thinking didn’t always work. This world could serve as the perfect social story for the boys if I could find a way to get them hooked. I really believe that this universe has the potential to become a classic, one of those family-friendly heirloom type stories.
Aside from how Nick and Jason covered the military troops themselves, they made it clear that their world was flushed out and didn’t fall into some of the traps most military sci-fi did. The troops run out of ammo, dumb luck happens, and good men still die. (Still bitter) In this novel, luckily, the carnage was contained by the tight focus on the small unit attached to Major Berlin. The action was intense, and the characters responded as you’d expect in those circumstances. Moving right along, the ground combat described was primal, and immersive. I had to rethink my life choices after reading this novel! Seriously, why didn’t I get to sign up for the Legion with Washam and Subs? This novel was everything you want from the genre. The battle scenes were believable, gripping and I never felt like the author missed a chance to get creative with the tactics. It was textbook KTF, the mantra of the Legionnaire! Kill them first! Such a detailed portrayal of the tactics is rare.
I listened to this novel on my daily walks, so I couldn’t comment on any grammatical or technical issues with this book, but it did contribute to a healthier me! Action so intense I literally sweated with them! Okay, I’ll lay off the dad jokes and move on to the conclusion. I realize I’ve gone full fanboy, but the authors have definitely raised the bar for military science fiction authors everywhere. I imagine you aren’t surprised that I fanboy out over this, I mean I did start their fan club on Facebook. I was hooked from the first page because they wove the action in such a compelling way that you wanted to jump into the page and join the party. Some of that was because I’m already invested in this world, but if you’ve been following me, you already know that. Basically, they had me hooked from the beginning and kept it going throughout the whole novel. This is a book I would happily recommend, and an author I will definitely read again. Buy the novel! But hey, it’s easy to spend someone else’s money! I give this novel a 5 out of 5 grenades!
https://jrhandley.com/2019/06/13/book...
Summary:
First, let me say that none of what I’ll say in this section couldn’t be found on the back copy of the novel. Heck, I cribbed this summary from the back, and then I added my own twist! And not even much of one, since most of the books I read have kick butt descriptions (aka blurbs). If the blurb doesn’t catch my eye, then I tend to skip the book unless a friend recommends it. Generally speaking, my goal is to provide a spoiler-free review, so here goes nothing!
“The Order of the Centurion is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in, or with, the Legion. When such an individual displays exceptional valor in action against an enemy force, and uncommon loyalty and devotion to the Legion and its legionnaires, refusing to abandon post, mission, or brothers, even unto death, the Legion dutifully recognizes such courage with this award.”
Tired of sitting out the war on Psydon in a mobile office hab, Legion Lieutenant Washam agrees to undertake a covert and unsanctioned mission with a band of Republic Recon Marines. Inserted deep behind enemy lines, the strike force uncovers a surprise key to ending a bitter war. Now they must navigate a hostile jungle teeming with murderous alien rebels, pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities, to get this vital intel to Legion Command – if they can survive that long.
THE ORDER OF THE CENTURION is the first novel in an all-new series of stand-alone military science fiction thrillers set in the GALAXY’S EDGE universe, ranging from the Savage Wars to the arrival of the Black Fleet. Each book features the legendary heroes of the Legion who forgot nothing in their earning of the Legion’s highest honor.
If you like epic space opera, with a side of military science fiction, you should read this series. Plenty of explosions, with authentically gritty combat. If this sounds like your flavor of badassery, then you’ve come to the right place! This novel is a brilliant continuation of the Galaxy’s Edge Universe, where they fix everything George Lucas broke in this Star-Wars-Not-Star-Wars adventure. I wish I could give you an easy comparison, “if you enjoyed Book X, buy this book,” but I really feel like Nick and Jason broke new ground here. They’ve revived that sense of newness and fun that we loved as children, that brought most of us to the science fiction genre! There are new series popping up that follow this vibe, I’ve heard of them… but until I read them, I can’t recommend them. So, until then, I will stick with the belief that there are other military sci-fi books out there, but none quite like this!
Characters:
In this novel, we again followed a small group of characters, which I find is how I like this universe. We meet a young Lieutenant Washam, Major D’lay Berlin, Sergeant Shotton, Specialist Alistair and Subs. All of the characters were a lot of fun to spend time with again and made me want the book to never end (hint, hint)!
Lieutenant Washam (Wash): He’s a rich kid from a prominent family on Spilursa who becomes one of the Legion’s first ‘point (appointed) officers. He was genuinely dedicated to the ideals of the Republic, the House of Reason and the Legion. Unlike his fellow points, he earned his commission the hard way and his peers hated him for it. The rest of the Legion? They hated him too, never giving him a chance. Instead, they relegate him to some backwater supply depot doing work normally reserved for lowly corporals. When the opportunity comes to go on a mission led by Major Berlin, seeking to hunt down the guns terrorizing the Republic forces on Psydon, he reluctantly rises to the situation. He becomes the living embodiment of the Legion mantra, KTF. He kills them first, showing the Legion and the Dobies that he was a force to be reckoned with. He felt real and not one of those stereotypical military killers. He was badass, a consummate professional and genuinely good officer for his troops. He’s the kind of guy you’d want on your side in a firefight, despite having essentially bribed his way into the Legion. He was my favorite character in this novel, I enjoyed following him! Overall, I really liked him and felt like there was so much more to come from him! I can’t wait to see where his arc concludes in Retribution!
Major D’lay Berlin: He’s a rich kid from a prominent family on Spilursa who becomes one of the Legion’s first ‘point officers. He was genuinely dedicated to the ideals of the Republic and the House of Reason, though he was an unashamedly spoiled rotten brat. He takes a lot for granted, learning the true meaning of service… and he does it the hard way. In the end, he proves his mettle under fire during operations on Psydon. I both hated and loved this character throughout the course of the novel, but in the end, he won me over.
Sergeant Major Boyd (Subs): He’s a Dark Ops Legionnaire who’s on temporary duty at Republic Army Firebase Hitchcock. He was severely wounded on his last Dark Ops mission and was stuck out in the boonies to ride out the last of his service time before he could retire. He was a motivated, gung-ho type of leej who knew how to get things done and passed those skills on to the Repub Army soldiers he was stationed with. When a rogue mission into the Psydon jungle runs into trouble, Subs rushes off towards the sounds of the guns to help his fellow legionnaires. I really loved this character and wanted more from him. He was the sort of operator who had plenty of stories left to his name, stories that deserve to be told.
Specialist Alistair: He’s a Repub Army “basic” who’s the radio operator for Republic Army Firebase Hitchcock. He’s befriended Dark Ops Legionnaire Sergeant Major Boyd (Subs), whom he sees as his mentor. When Subs makes his way into the woods for an impromptu rescue operation, Alistair heeds the call of duty and proves his worth. I really liked this character and wanted to see what happened to him after the events that take place in The Order of the Centurion.
Sergeant Shotton: He’s a Repub marine sergeant, who was in charge of the marine detachment that went on the patrol with Major Berlin and Lieutenant Washam. He was a grizzled old NCO, but no-nonsense kind of guy every rookie wants on their side in a firefight. He was a consummate warfighter, one who shows everyone that the Legion isn’t the only bubbas who can KTF! I really enjoyed this character and wouldn’t mind seeing more from him. Seriously, I would love to know what happened to him after the SLIC pulled him out of the jungles!
Doros (aka Dobies): These are a doglike race of humanoids that look similar to an Earthlike Doberman, hence their nickname of dobie. They were a fierce species with a pack mentality and were capable warriors. They are from the planet Psydon and were ultimately forced into the fold of the Republic by the Legion during a period of fierce struggle. These were the enemies from Tin Man and the Order of the Centurion. I love these aliens and wanted more from them. I bet they would be fun aliens to explore from their own perspective. (Hint, hint, hint.)
Overall, it was fun to meet one of the important characters from the main series. I liked learning Wash’s backstory and how he achieved the peaks he climbed. I give these characters 5 out of 5 Grenades and can’t wait to see where the author takes Wash in the last Galaxy’s Edge novel, Retribution.
Overall:
First, I’ll start by saying that I really loved the concept that is the Order of the Centurion Series. The concept behind this is basically a “day in the life” style of prose where they explore the stories of the individual legionnaires. And not just any leejes, but the best of the best. We get to read the stories of the bravest the Legion and the Republic has to offer. Further, the set up will have many guest authors telling stories of these men and women in this epic universe. Again, for transparency, I do have a novel coming out in this series. I don’t know when the book will launch, but The Reservist will be a part of this series. Okay, enough about that… let’s move past the series and talk about this specific book.
Despite the serious nature of my review, all of the novels in this universe harkened back to what I loved about the first book Legionnaire. The combat was gritty and visceral, sucking you in through the pages and into another world. So about that world I was sucked into… the vibe of this story is amazing. I loved every nail-biting second of this novel! Obviously, we knew that Wash would live, but everyone else was fair game! It meant that we never lost the tense feeling. There were no deep messages, or political themes, just good clean fun. Like the previous novels, this story was compelling and made me want to know more. This book left me wanting novels about Subs and Alistair. I wanted to know what happened to the marine sappers, basically, I wanted to know more about all of the secondary characters.
Like the previous novels in this universe, the first thing that caught my eye was the fantastic cover. Seriously, they’re all amazingly compelling. If you want to learn more about them, the Galaxy’s Edge mailing list will show you how the covers evolved to their final version. You’ll also get a free short story, Tin Man! The Galaxy’s Edge covers reminded me of the iconic science fiction covers I loved as a kid, or the movie posters from the action adventures I watched when I was supposed to be studying. The image of a legionnaire fading out like some sort of glitch in the matrix gave this cover a videogame vibe. The fonts worked, and while I would’ve preferred an image of Wash, after seeing the other covers in this series I understand why this artistic choice was made. Seriously, the cover is amazing and when I finally have a dedicated office or man cave, I’m decorating it with ALL of these covers! Are you reading this, Wife? My man cave, my decorating choices! I should be okay, right? Right?
One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel was that it leaned into the military side of the Galaxy’s Edge Universe. This series has been a bit bipolar at times, bouncing between the space opera and military science fiction subgenres. I love them both and I really shouldn’t pick a favorite, but in this love triad my heart favors the military sci-fi! It was fun to revisit that, to read a gripping tale of action and adventure and lose myself for a few hours while I listen to Mark Boyett read to me. While they did spend a significant amount of time making the world of Psydon come alive, they never took their foot off the gas were let up on the action. The authors balanced that with enough lulls in the fighting that we could let out the collective breath we were holding. This was seriously a master class in proper pacing!
Speaking of master classes, this novel also did an excellent job at characterization. They managed to create compelling three-dimensional characters without sacrificing the action. There was no unneeded navel-gazing, but Jason and Nick still managed to build compelling characters we wanted to know more about. Seriously, there’s wasn’t a single secondary character that I didn’t want to read a whole novel about. Heck, I would even love to read a story written from the dubies point of view! Yes, I’m hinting strongly here… hoping the authors read this and give us more from Subs, Alistair and the marines from Psydon! I’m looking at you Jason!!
One of the aspects of this novel that I loved the most was learning the backstory of Lieutenant Washam, someone who was an interesting tertiary character in the main series. After reading Message for the Dead, it became clear that he was going to become more important, so I paused before reading Retribution. I had to know more about him before the final gut punch that I expect the last novel in the series to be. I expected his backstory to be interesting, but I didn’t expect him to be so badassed. I wanted to drink a beer with the man and listen to him tell more stories about the horrors that were guerrilla warfare fought in dense jungles. I would love to go on about this, but I promised to keep this spoiler free.
Another part of this book that I loved was how Jason and Nick portrayed the military culture. The overall military ambiance was spot on, just what I’d expect from Army veteran Nick Cole. Nobody felt like cookie cutter clichés or parodies of the warrior, and the ethos was spot on. I loved how they showcased the relationship between the enlisted marines and the Legion officers. This was perfectly illuminated by the interactions between Lieutenant Washam and Sergeant Shotton. It was clear that Wash was ultimately in charge, but the grizzled Sergeant Shotton was pulling the strings a wee bit, guiding him along. We also got to see average soldiers/marines who weren’t just stereotypical tropes, they were humans with all of the flaws that that entails. We got to meet point officers who weren’t horrible. They were just flawed products of their upbringing, some bad and some good. These creatures, officers who’re normally hated by the lower enlisted in the readers alike, were shown to have good qualities about them. This fleshed out the concept for me, adding depth to what could be seen as a flat trope. Further, we get to see that even “good officers” like Wash can mess up. The deadly literary duo of Anspach and Cole understand the culture of the grunt and don’t shy away from the consequences of war! When military leaders mess up, good people die. I loved that they show leaders making hard choices under fire, choices that are distasteful to armchair generals judging from the safety of the sidelines. War is an ugly thing, and these authors lean into that and make sure the readers appreciate the consequences of the Pew Pew we love to read about. None of these combat actions happen in a vacuum, affecting the soldiers who are forced to make them. As someone who’s been there, I can relate to this level of attention to the details of the soldiers who fight and die under the banner of the Legion. The marines don’t come away unscathed, making their losses even more heart-wrenching. Seriously, this novel felt like I was reading about Storm Troopers in Vietnam and I really dug it!
And since we mentioned the Appointed Officers or points, let’s take a moment to talk about them. I love how this story showed a more nuanced view of this issue. The complexity, regarding point officers, shown in this novel made it hard to determine how I was supposed to feel about this subject. With officers like Wash, and ultimately Berlin, it is hard to say that the program is entirely horrific. The political entities were garbage, but some of the officers their program commissioned were halfway decent leaders. Obviously, we know that the good officers are the outliers for this program, but those officers had merit. If we discussed this subject in more depth, someone could argue that the good officers would have, and should have, gone through the normal commissioning channels. I would agree with that; you can’t make policy for large organizations from the margins. However, I liked that this novel showed that it could end differently. By not relying on tropes that weren’t absolute, by layering on the complexity, the authors were able to drive home the general wrongness of this program.
Another thing that I liked about this novel, and the universe writ large, was that I believe it has the potential to stand the test of time. It’s an awesome read for me, but it’s written in such a way that my kids could potentially read these books. Maybe play the videogames or watch the movies someday? It brought back the epic sci-fi battles that I acted out as a kid, laying in the grass playing with my action figures. As I read this novel, I found myself wishing for toys I could share with my son’s. I want them to be able to experience this setting with me, we could bond over the epic tales of heroism and duty. I could envision teaching them about the complexity of the world, of how black and white thinking didn’t always work. This world could serve as the perfect social story for the boys if I could find a way to get them hooked. I really believe that this universe has the potential to become a classic, one of those family-friendly heirloom type stories.
Aside from how Nick and Jason covered the military troops themselves, they made it clear that their world was flushed out and didn’t fall into some of the traps most military sci-fi did. The troops run out of ammo, dumb luck happens, and good men still die. (Still bitter) In this novel, luckily, the carnage was contained by the tight focus on the small unit attached to Major Berlin. The action was intense, and the characters responded as you’d expect in those circumstances. Moving right along, the ground combat described was primal, and immersive. I had to rethink my life choices after reading this novel! Seriously, why didn’t I get to sign up for the Legion with Washam and Subs? This novel was everything you want from the genre. The battle scenes were believable, gripping and I never felt like the author missed a chance to get creative with the tactics. It was textbook KTF, the mantra of the Legionnaire! Kill them first! Such a detailed portrayal of the tactics is rare.
I listened to this novel on my daily walks, so I couldn’t comment on any grammatical or technical issues with this book, but it did contribute to a healthier me! Action so intense I literally sweated with them! Okay, I’ll lay off the dad jokes and move on to the conclusion. I realize I’ve gone full fanboy, but the authors have definitely raised the bar for military science fiction authors everywhere. I imagine you aren’t surprised that I fanboy out over this, I mean I did start their fan club on Facebook. I was hooked from the first page because they wove the action in such a compelling way that you wanted to jump into the page and join the party. Some of that was because I’m already invested in this world, but if you’ve been following me, you already know that. Basically, they had me hooked from the beginning and kept it going throughout the whole novel. This is a book I would happily recommend, and an author I will definitely read again. Buy the novel! But hey, it’s easy to spend someone else’s money! I give this novel a 5 out of 5 grenades!
April 23, 2019
I’ve had seven Galaxy’s Edge books for quite awhile now, but was reluctant to start listening to the one I had on audiobook or have someone read any to me (my vision problems prevent me from reading and writing for myself) because, for reasons I can’t figure out, the very thought intimidated me.
Maybe I was afraid I’d be let down. The book covers are some of the best I’ve ever seen. I can still see colors and contrast fairly well and these are all extremely well done.
Maybe I just didn’t want to ruin my expectations.
Well, I got over my reluctance and decided to try the only audiobook I have which was my latest acquisition, “Order of the Centurion”.
I can only start by saying I wish I would have started sooner as this story was outstanding.
It had everything I love about action science fiction.
It had a great story line with fleshed out characters, enough drama to be considered a drama story, cool yet creepy environments, an enemy you’d never want to meet even in your nightmares and terrific action scenarios.
But I think what I liked about it most is the multiple protagonists of which several were equally heroic.
Even most of the sub characters played significant roles.
This was simply a well written story and one I won’t easily forget, but best of all, there are a ton more Galaxy’s Edge books left for me to experience.
The only sad part for me is that I don’t have anymore on audio and will have to wait for my next month’s Audible credit to purchase another one.
I might be able to find a reader in the meantime, but that’s been difficult since working people have little time to themselves.
Oh well, that’s life.
But please give yourself a nice treat and read the “Galaxy’s Edge” series. It’ll make you very happy.
Maybe I was afraid I’d be let down. The book covers are some of the best I’ve ever seen. I can still see colors and contrast fairly well and these are all extremely well done.
Maybe I just didn’t want to ruin my expectations.
Well, I got over my reluctance and decided to try the only audiobook I have which was my latest acquisition, “Order of the Centurion”.
I can only start by saying I wish I would have started sooner as this story was outstanding.
It had everything I love about action science fiction.
It had a great story line with fleshed out characters, enough drama to be considered a drama story, cool yet creepy environments, an enemy you’d never want to meet even in your nightmares and terrific action scenarios.
But I think what I liked about it most is the multiple protagonists of which several were equally heroic.
Even most of the sub characters played significant roles.
This was simply a well written story and one I won’t easily forget, but best of all, there are a ton more Galaxy’s Edge books left for me to experience.
The only sad part for me is that I don’t have anymore on audio and will have to wait for my next month’s Audible credit to purchase another one.
I might be able to find a reader in the meantime, but that’s been difficult since working people have little time to themselves.
Oh well, that’s life.
But please give yourself a nice treat and read the “Galaxy’s Edge” series. It’ll make you very happy.
October 5, 2018
Move over Rechs (and X), there are more heroes to love in this galaxy!
I was a fan of the Galaxy's Edge books from the first one released and read, but Anspach and Cole blow the lid off of my legion love with "Order of the Centurion". Military sci-fi that nails combat, human emotion, the desire to earn respect, fight for the brothers/sisters beside you - it was impossible to put down this book. I felt this story dove deeper into the bonds of friendship than previous books in this Galactic World and it reached me in a way that was real and relatable. This is an amazing ride of an adventure story as well and I respect the authors for presenting a tale that didn't need a bunch of trash language or ridiculous political correctness to be amazing. Can not wait for more and applaud this new storyline. (No spoiler, but you're going to find it hard not to respect Wash and how he goes above and beyond as the newest great character)
I was a fan of the Galaxy's Edge books from the first one released and read, but Anspach and Cole blow the lid off of my legion love with "Order of the Centurion". Military sci-fi that nails combat, human emotion, the desire to earn respect, fight for the brothers/sisters beside you - it was impossible to put down this book. I felt this story dove deeper into the bonds of friendship than previous books in this Galactic World and it reached me in a way that was real and relatable. This is an amazing ride of an adventure story as well and I respect the authors for presenting a tale that didn't need a bunch of trash language or ridiculous political correctness to be amazing. Can not wait for more and applaud this new storyline. (No spoiler, but you're going to find it hard not to respect Wash and how he goes above and beyond as the newest great character)
November 14, 2018
Probably the most heartfelt story of the series and spinoffs yet
Get past the first chapter, because when you see who this book is about you might think: “Really? Him?”
It is such a great story and near the middle I was thinking: “Do we get another book with wash?” I think it would be pretty awesome and could fill in so much more backstory of the rise of the house of reason.
But, it stands on its own and was a great read.
Looking forward to what the authors give us next!!
Get past the first chapter, because when you see who this book is about you might think: “Really? Him?”
It is such a great story and near the middle I was thinking: “Do we get another book with wash?” I think it would be pretty awesome and could fill in so much more backstory of the rise of the house of reason.
But, it stands on its own and was a great read.
Looking forward to what the authors give us next!!
July 20, 2021
I'm not sure how I should record these books so I'm going to do them individually just like any other book I've read. See, I got six ebooks in one package called the "Order of the Centurion: Complete Boxed Set". I think there are other authors besides Anspach and Cole writing some of the books so that's also why I'm going to write the reviews separate. I may have to consolidate all these reviews into one large one when I get around to posting them on Amazon. But, for now, I'm doing them like this.
First up is this one, and it's a very, very good book. If you have been paying attention to what's going on in the Commonwealth, you should know that the Legion wants nothing to do with politics. The Legion has strongly held that they solely exist to kill enemies of the Republic no matter when or who they are. That's their sworn duty. They don't want the House of Reason meddling in their business and the House of Reason certainly doesn't want the Legion messing with government business, yet the House of Reason feels that it should be in control of the Legion.
So now they have figured out a way to get that control on some level. They appoint their own Officers into the Legion with the understanding that such Officers will naturally favor those who appointed them.
It's been made a pretty big deal to be appointed by a House of Reason Representative since each Rep. gets only two, I think that's the way it works. It also works that those appointed usually come from families that can contribute the most to these Representatives political aspirations or agenda. Two such Officers are now identified as a Major B'lay Berlin and Lieutenant Washam or just "Wash" to everyone that knew him. Being "Points" they were in the Legion, but being Points, the Legion wanted nothing to do with either of them.
Oh, Major Berlin played the game with his House of Reason supporters and they eventually blessed him with promotions for basically doing nothing. He could have actually gone through the Legion training course and he did do some of it, but most he just blew off knowing that it wasn't what he was really made for. No his goal in life was to become a House of Reason Representative, the pinnacle of political prestige and power! He just needed this military time on his record to make him look good.
Yet, Lieutenant Wash was a different kind of guy. Although he did come from a very wealth family and was appointed to the Legion by the same Representative that appointed Berlin, Lt. Wash actually wanted to earn his way. That was something unexpected in a Point. Still, even then the Legion wanted nothing to do with him or Berlin. Wash understood that, but still he was in the Legion so he figured out early on that he might get himself ready if he was ever called to do something. Right now he was buried in supply requisitions and that looked like how he would finish his fine Legion service time. Until Major Berlin changed all of that.
Major Berlin was a manipulator supreme. He could talk a good talk, but there was probably little substance behind that talk if anyone cared to look. One day, he took it upon himself to create a mission that was going to earn him some combat experience that would look very good on his political record. So he commandeered a helicopter with qualified pilots and got a Marine Recon squad assigned to a mission he thought up all in his own head. Oh, he could read a map, but didn't have any kind of intelligence about the mission. He just knew that he wasn't going to be a hero sitting behind the lines all the time. The mission day came and of course he asked his friend, Lt. Wash, to come with him and while Wash knew very well that said mission would get him and Berlin killed, he did worry about the Squad of Marines that might also get killed. So off these two "Point" officers go into what they have no clue to do what they even have less of a clue. As you can expect, it doesn't turn out very well for, well, anyone!
No one knows how they will react in combat. Some think they know what they're getting into, but few ever really know until it's too late. Learning what you should be doing while trying to stay alive is a bad training plan. Fortunately, Lt. Wash has paid attention when he went to Legion OCS and he did what he was supposed to do. He was treated like dirt by every Legionnaire instructor since they couldn't believe a Point could ever become a real Legion officer. But, Lt. Wash passed the course. And he passed with flying colors, but no one was going to ever say that. No, the Legion would never admit that a Point Officer could also be a good Legion Officer. So, Lt. Wash was assigned to this out-of-the-way supply warehouse where he reviewed supply requistions, all day, every day, until his friend, Maj. Berlin showed up.
This story is very good. It shows what can happen when people who should know better, do stuff they have no business doing. It shows how deadly this can be to the average or even above average soldier or Marine as we have in this story. Leadership means leading and you can't do that if you don't know what you're supposed to do, if you've not been trained and learned that training until it's automatic. That's why OCS and basic training is so hard. It should be automatic if you've been through it, you know what to do. Doesn't always work out, but you had a chance. We these two officers around, the Marines with them almost had no chance. Still, it did have a decent ending. I liked what happened overall. I hope the next book in this collection is just as good!
First up is this one, and it's a very, very good book. If you have been paying attention to what's going on in the Commonwealth, you should know that the Legion wants nothing to do with politics. The Legion has strongly held that they solely exist to kill enemies of the Republic no matter when or who they are. That's their sworn duty. They don't want the House of Reason meddling in their business and the House of Reason certainly doesn't want the Legion messing with government business, yet the House of Reason feels that it should be in control of the Legion.
So now they have figured out a way to get that control on some level. They appoint their own Officers into the Legion with the understanding that such Officers will naturally favor those who appointed them.
It's been made a pretty big deal to be appointed by a House of Reason Representative since each Rep. gets only two, I think that's the way it works. It also works that those appointed usually come from families that can contribute the most to these Representatives political aspirations or agenda. Two such Officers are now identified as a Major B'lay Berlin and Lieutenant Washam or just "Wash" to everyone that knew him. Being "Points" they were in the Legion, but being Points, the Legion wanted nothing to do with either of them.
Oh, Major Berlin played the game with his House of Reason supporters and they eventually blessed him with promotions for basically doing nothing. He could have actually gone through the Legion training course and he did do some of it, but most he just blew off knowing that it wasn't what he was really made for. No his goal in life was to become a House of Reason Representative, the pinnacle of political prestige and power! He just needed this military time on his record to make him look good.
Yet, Lieutenant Wash was a different kind of guy. Although he did come from a very wealth family and was appointed to the Legion by the same Representative that appointed Berlin, Lt. Wash actually wanted to earn his way. That was something unexpected in a Point. Still, even then the Legion wanted nothing to do with him or Berlin. Wash understood that, but still he was in the Legion so he figured out early on that he might get himself ready if he was ever called to do something. Right now he was buried in supply requisitions and that looked like how he would finish his fine Legion service time. Until Major Berlin changed all of that.
Major Berlin was a manipulator supreme. He could talk a good talk, but there was probably little substance behind that talk if anyone cared to look. One day, he took it upon himself to create a mission that was going to earn him some combat experience that would look very good on his political record. So he commandeered a helicopter with qualified pilots and got a Marine Recon squad assigned to a mission he thought up all in his own head. Oh, he could read a map, but didn't have any kind of intelligence about the mission. He just knew that he wasn't going to be a hero sitting behind the lines all the time. The mission day came and of course he asked his friend, Lt. Wash, to come with him and while Wash knew very well that said mission would get him and Berlin killed, he did worry about the Squad of Marines that might also get killed. So off these two "Point" officers go into what they have no clue to do what they even have less of a clue. As you can expect, it doesn't turn out very well for, well, anyone!
No one knows how they will react in combat. Some think they know what they're getting into, but few ever really know until it's too late. Learning what you should be doing while trying to stay alive is a bad training plan. Fortunately, Lt. Wash has paid attention when he went to Legion OCS and he did what he was supposed to do. He was treated like dirt by every Legionnaire instructor since they couldn't believe a Point could ever become a real Legion officer. But, Lt. Wash passed the course. And he passed with flying colors, but no one was going to ever say that. No, the Legion would never admit that a Point Officer could also be a good Legion Officer. So, Lt. Wash was assigned to this out-of-the-way supply warehouse where he reviewed supply requistions, all day, every day, until his friend, Maj. Berlin showed up.
This story is very good. It shows what can happen when people who should know better, do stuff they have no business doing. It shows how deadly this can be to the average or even above average soldier or Marine as we have in this story. Leadership means leading and you can't do that if you don't know what you're supposed to do, if you've not been trained and learned that training until it's automatic. That's why OCS and basic training is so hard. It should be automatic if you've been through it, you know what to do. Doesn't always work out, but you had a chance. We these two officers around, the Marines with them almost had no chance. Still, it did have a decent ending. I liked what happened overall. I hope the next book in this collection is just as good!
August 23, 2019
Really really enjoyed this story. It kept me hooked from the very first page. I was listening to this while at work, let me tell you now, I got really annoyed when people were trying to talk to me while I was listening to this.
The action was so on point. It was great to see the Washam adapt and change. To see him grow into who is.
The action was so on point. It was great to see the Washam adapt and change. To see him grow into who is.
January 13, 2019
I loved this book. All the feels that Tin Man evoked, in novel length. Perfection.
August 13, 2019
Great book!!! The tears flowed when Major Berlin died
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2019
An expanded and extended version of this review is found at "Papa Pat Rambles" for August 17, 2019.
The preliminary material describes the nature of the “Order of the Centurion.” which only goes to those who display exceptional valor, refusing to yield even unto death, and that 98.4% of all citations are awarded posthumously.
Lieutenant “Wash” Washam is stuck in a rear-echelon as a paper-pusher, and he hates it. He's part of a group of political appointees that have been commissioned in the Legion, the elite military force that is responsible for the continued existence of civilization. To a man, they have been rejected as unworthy by the rest of the Legion, who correctly see them as
The rest of the 'points,' as the legion contemptuously calls them, accept their status as a method of post-service advancement, and spend their days doing nothing that looks like work. Washam alone went through all of the training required to be a regular member of the Legion, while the other points skipped everything, knowing that there were no consequences.
Except: there are political consequences, and there are consequences that have tissue damage attached to them. Wash has ignored the political, and prepared for the lethal. Unfortunately, the Legion will not give him the opportunity to show what he can do. And so he sits, processing supply requests.
Until his buddy shows up. Almost everybody has a buddy like this; they show up, they have a plan, and you know in advance it's going to be a bad idea. Still, they cajole, and prevail; and, despite the fact that good old buddy Major Berlin's idea is most likely to result in death or court-martial, Wash goes along with it.
And the next day, a helicopter shows up, loaded with a squad of Marines, and Berlin and Wash get aboard so that Berlin can get in some combat time, which will almost certainly guarantee a successful political career upon discharge. The fact that he skipped ALL of the training necessary to lead a small group in combat, the fact that these troops are NOT in his chain of command, the likelihood that they will all die; none of that enters his plan. He blithely assumes that he can do Great Things, despite all evidence to the contrary.
It's up to Wash to fix things. The first order of business is to keep the Marines, all with some degree of experience in combat, from fragging Berlin as soon as they realize he is a fraud. The second is to accomplish whatever mission he can, and to bring back as many alive as possible.
Great story, great characters, great world building. I could read books like this every day, and not grow tired of the experience.
Five stars.
The preliminary material describes the nature of the “Order of the Centurion.” which only goes to those who display exceptional valor, refusing to yield even unto death, and that 98.4% of all citations are awarded posthumously.
Lieutenant “Wash” Washam is stuck in a rear-echelon as a paper-pusher, and he hates it. He's part of a group of political appointees that have been commissioned in the Legion, the elite military force that is responsible for the continued existence of civilization. To a man, they have been rejected as unworthy by the rest of the Legion, who correctly see them as
“The long con everyone saw and couldn’t get out of.”
Anspach, Jason. Order of the Centurion (Galaxy's Edge) (p. 4). Galaxy's Edge Press. Kindle Edition.
The rest of the 'points,' as the legion contemptuously calls them, accept their status as a method of post-service advancement, and spend their days doing nothing that looks like work. Washam alone went through all of the training required to be a regular member of the Legion, while the other points skipped everything, knowing that there were no consequences.
Except: there are political consequences, and there are consequences that have tissue damage attached to them. Wash has ignored the political, and prepared for the lethal. Unfortunately, the Legion will not give him the opportunity to show what he can do. And so he sits, processing supply requests.
Until his buddy shows up. Almost everybody has a buddy like this; they show up, they have a plan, and you know in advance it's going to be a bad idea. Still, they cajole, and prevail; and, despite the fact that good old buddy Major Berlin's idea is most likely to result in death or court-martial, Wash goes along with it.
And the next day, a helicopter shows up, loaded with a squad of Marines, and Berlin and Wash get aboard so that Berlin can get in some combat time, which will almost certainly guarantee a successful political career upon discharge. The fact that he skipped ALL of the training necessary to lead a small group in combat, the fact that these troops are NOT in his chain of command, the likelihood that they will all die; none of that enters his plan. He blithely assumes that he can do Great Things, despite all evidence to the contrary.
It's up to Wash to fix things. The first order of business is to keep the Marines, all with some degree of experience in combat, from fragging Berlin as soon as they realize he is a fraud. The second is to accomplish whatever mission he can, and to bring back as many alive as possible.
Great story, great characters, great world building. I could read books like this every day, and not grow tired of the experience.
Five stars.
May 21, 2021
I inhaled the military science fiction Galaxy’s Edge series books. It is total escapism in the ‘shoot ‘em up, bang-bang’ (aka action) genera. This is a spin-off and #1 in a new series, but could easily be a standalone novel. Newly minted Legionnaires (think Navy SEALs) – one a desk jockey and a other a politician wannabe – lead Marines into battle. OK, there's more to it, but not much. Almost halfway through the book, it’s nothing special. In fact, parts are downright corny. But it is what it is – an entertaining distraction from ________ (whatever). Later, it gets a little better when a Dark Ops Legionnaire (a super-warrior) and a young hero-worshiping Army soldier join the story to rescue the Marines. … The reader knows that the book is about a hero – the Order of the Centurion is the series’ Medal of Honor – but the authors hide who it will be until the last few chapters.)
It was good military sci-fi/escapism, but the authors missed the pizzazz I was looking for that was in most of the main series. While a only 3-star read, I will probably read #2 in hopes that the series gets better. ... Silly me.
It was good military sci-fi/escapism, but the authors missed the pizzazz I was looking for that was in most of the main series. While a only 3-star read, I will probably read #2 in hopes that the series gets better. ... Silly me.
August 23, 2021
3* not because it is mediocre, or thought it was just “ok”, but because Goodreads uses a ridiculous underpowered, relatively useless 5* rating system.
The choice of genre here is secondary (it could just as well been sent back through time as historical fiction) to the action oriented, relatively spiffily nuanced characterisation and solid, if not particularly original, plot.
The book appears to have been written by a team of 3 authors and oddly enough, probably makes the production more robustly refreshing. Seemingly imparting to the narrative a sort of anonymous, self generated feel.
The enemy is the enemy is not given too much attention, they are “the other”, near savage “dog-people” who seem to possess a military capability beyond their means. I suppose this mystery is fleshed out in the next book in the series.
The good guys are competent, loyal, self-effacing , quietly heroic and flawed.
If you like your military sci-fi entertaining, understated, possessing the qualities of verisimilitude, not (overly) sentimental, well-crafted, not too deep and to the point you’ll like this one.
Fine narration.
The choice of genre here is secondary (it could just as well been sent back through time as historical fiction) to the action oriented, relatively spiffily nuanced characterisation and solid, if not particularly original, plot.
The book appears to have been written by a team of 3 authors and oddly enough, probably makes the production more robustly refreshing. Seemingly imparting to the narrative a sort of anonymous, self generated feel.
The enemy is the enemy is not given too much attention, they are “the other”, near savage “dog-people” who seem to possess a military capability beyond their means. I suppose this mystery is fleshed out in the next book in the series.
The good guys are competent, loyal, self-effacing , quietly heroic and flawed.
If you like your military sci-fi entertaining, understated, possessing the qualities of verisimilitude, not (overly) sentimental, well-crafted, not too deep and to the point you’ll like this one.
Fine narration.
January 11, 2020
Another fantastic entry in the Galaxy's Edge series. This provides a backstory to one of the characters in the main story line, Washam. He's a point, but he's not just an ordinary point. He may be a political appointee, but he's completed Leej basic training, with honours. He wants to be a Leej, even if the Legion doesn't want him.
As a newly minted Lieutenant, he and his Major friend Berlin, hatch a plan to see combat on Psydon, where the Doro are busy revolting against the Galactic Republic. Somewhere out in the jungle, the Doro artillery pounds Leej and Marine bases every night. The Republic can't locate them, and simply by accident, Berlin and Wash, and the Recon Marines with them have found the big guns.
Now all they have to do is stay alive, and get a message through to the Republic, to save lives and stop the war. Trouble is, the Doro's are aware they are in the area, and are now hot on their trail. Their only chance is a single Dark Ops Leej, a basic, and a med bot. And Wash is determined not to lose.
As a newly minted Lieutenant, he and his Major friend Berlin, hatch a plan to see combat on Psydon, where the Doro are busy revolting against the Galactic Republic. Somewhere out in the jungle, the Doro artillery pounds Leej and Marine bases every night. The Republic can't locate them, and simply by accident, Berlin and Wash, and the Recon Marines with them have found the big guns.
Now all they have to do is stay alive, and get a message through to the Republic, to save lives and stop the war. Trouble is, the Doro's are aware they are in the area, and are now hot on their trail. Their only chance is a single Dark Ops Leej, a basic, and a med bot. And Wash is determined not to lose.
May 15, 2019
Tight. Well written. On point
Another fast-paced installment in the Galaxy’s Edge saga. This time the Legion is engaged in some serious KTF action on planet Psydon. But not everyone is in the fight. What’s a man with an ego the size of Texas supposed to do when he’s assigned to the rear echelon? Start his own war.
The two main characters Berlin and Washam are putting in their time as appointed officers in non-combat positions where they can do the least harm. Appointed officers, referred to as points, are considered paper soldiers who didn’t earn their bars. Regular legionnaires shun them.
In Order of the Centurion, these two forged their characters in the crucible of combat where they learned to persevere through intense struggle and loss.
Great story and I look forward to the next.
Another fast-paced installment in the Galaxy’s Edge saga. This time the Legion is engaged in some serious KTF action on planet Psydon. But not everyone is in the fight. What’s a man with an ego the size of Texas supposed to do when he’s assigned to the rear echelon? Start his own war.
The two main characters Berlin and Washam are putting in their time as appointed officers in non-combat positions where they can do the least harm. Appointed officers, referred to as points, are considered paper soldiers who didn’t earn their bars. Regular legionnaires shun them.
In Order of the Centurion, these two forged their characters in the crucible of combat where they learned to persevere through intense struggle and loss.
Great story and I look forward to the next.
February 13, 2022
This is a superb standalone adventure in the Galaxy's Edge saga, and yet it is also a surprise prequel to Message for the Dead - being kind of an origin story for Legion Commander Washam - so IF you're going to read the entire saga, it is best to read this story after MftD.
This book is very well written, the author has succeeded in making me care for just about every character in this book. It even made me shed a tear, which is a feat because there aren't many books that have that effect on me, let alone military scifi.
So yeah, absolutely recommend this one!
As for narration: this is a good narrator; but I like R.C. Bray (who narrates the main saga) much better for this particular genre, with all of the many hardass, gruff military heroing going on in these books.
This book is very well written, the author has succeeded in making me care for just about every character in this book. It even made me shed a tear, which is a feat because there aren't many books that have that effect on me, let alone military scifi.
So yeah, absolutely recommend this one!
As for narration: this is a good narrator; but I like R.C. Bray (who narrates the main saga) much better for this particular genre, with all of the many hardass, gruff military heroing going on in these books.
March 26, 2019
Great military science fiction! Legion Lieutenant Washum, while stuck in an unexciting logistics post is given the opportunity to join an unsanctioned mission with a Marine recon unit. They end up much farther in enemy territory and must do their best to survive until they can be extracted. Great stereotypical characters in the LT, Major, and the Marine NCOs, and I do not have a problem with this, because, for a military novel, it's expected. My first read by the authors. I'll keep them on my to-read list. Excellent narration by Mark Boyett for the audible version.
April 15, 2019
I appreciated the chance to learn more about Washam after reading the GE main series. This book follows a plot that is reminiscent of Behind Enemy Lines, in my opinion. I don't want to spoil the story, but the authors continue their strategy of developing relate-able characters, colorful and intricate worlds, as well as thrilling, weaving plot lines. Washam is shown to be a true hero in this tragic story.
July 19, 2023
This is the five-star rating system I use:
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
October 27, 2018
How the world works in the Legionnaires
Two point Legionnaires become real Legionnaires, because one gets a real helmet. They take a marine recon and go out further than anyone else, they find the mobile artillery platforms and then try to keep from dying to let the Legion know about them.
Read and enjoy.
Two point Legionnaires become real Legionnaires, because one gets a real helmet. They take a marine recon and go out further than anyone else, they find the mobile artillery platforms and then try to keep from dying to let the Legion know about them.
Read and enjoy.
May 27, 2020
This book was amazing. The backstory of one of the final chapter characters from the Galaxy’s Edge series.
This book left me in tears and was masterfully told.
Thank you for bringing to life what military personnel in warfare experience. You helped this civilian understand in a way I didn’t before.
This book left me in tears and was masterfully told.
Thank you for bringing to life what military personnel in warfare experience. You helped this civilian understand in a way I didn’t before.
July 22, 2021
Anspach and Cole do it again, this time through the smooth baritone of Mark Boyett. Come for the detailed account of one of Galaxy's Edge's most infamous battles from the point of view of everyone's favorite "point," stay for the poignant moments of self-discovery, sacrifice, and redemption. You won't be disappointed.
July 22, 2021
4.7/5
Beautiful and moving military excursion story (which also goes to explain a key character in the Galaxy's edge main storyline). Non-stop action, humour and clear visuals. Wasn't sure how I'd like the new narrator but he fit the role perfectly.
This felt like the first book, Legionnaire, to me, which was a favorite of mine.
Beautiful and moving military excursion story (which also goes to explain a key character in the Galaxy's edge main storyline). Non-stop action, humour and clear visuals. Wasn't sure how I'd like the new narrator but he fit the role perfectly.
This felt like the first book, Legionnaire, to me, which was a favorite of mine.
January 3, 2023
damn…
Great, tight story. If you haven’t read the “main” series, I’d consider holding off until you have.
However, if you’re reading this first, it will give you some insight to a lot of things happening there.
Just an FYI, you may want to ensure you have both the time and the lack of distractions to read the last part of the story alone.
Great, tight story. If you haven’t read the “main” series, I’d consider holding off until you have.
However, if you’re reading this first, it will give you some insight to a lot of things happening there.
Just an FYI, you may want to ensure you have both the time and the lack of distractions to read the last part of the story alone.
October 7, 2018
Another Great Story
I have ready every book in the Galaxy's Edge saga and they keep getting better with each new addition. Order of the Centurion is a back/side story in the series. If you have not read any of the other books I recommend starting with the first in the series.
I have ready every book in the Galaxy's Edge saga and they keep getting better with each new addition. Order of the Centurion is a back/side story in the series. If you have not read any of the other books I recommend starting with the first in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews