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Undying Mercenaries #14
Edge World
A lonely planet circles a star on the very border of Province 921. Critical resources produced there are claimed by both the Mogwa and the Skay. War between the Galactic giants becomes more likely every day.
James McGill and Legion Varus are deployed to protect Edge World, a planet that rotates at a walking pace. Each day is as long as a year back on Earth. The sun-side of the world is baked with endless sunshine, the night-side is freezing and full of strange creatures. Living in an inhabitable zone on the edge of their world, a shadow-line between night and day, nomadic peoples roam the planet. It is these inhabitants Earth’s forces must protect.
Three fleets converge: the Mogwa, the Skay, and Earth’s growing armada. Peace talks are held, but then McGill opens his big mouth, and things go badly…
James McGill and Legion Varus are deployed to protect Edge World, a planet that rotates at a walking pace. Each day is as long as a year back on Earth. The sun-side of the world is baked with endless sunshine, the night-side is freezing and full of strange creatures. Living in an inhabitable zone on the edge of their world, a shadow-line between night and day, nomadic peoples roam the planet. It is these inhabitants Earth’s forces must protect.
Three fleets converge: the Mogwa, the Skay, and Earth’s growing armada. Peace talks are held, but then McGill opens his big mouth, and things go badly…
466 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2020
758 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
B.V. Larson
134 books1,529 followersBrian Larson is an American science fiction and fantasy author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
January 29, 2021
4.5⭐ overall
If you don't know by now I love this series. It's 14 books deep and I still enjoy getting a new book and diving back into the world and romping around the universe with James McGill.
I wish I could get more people to read this series, but, alas, it seems my reach is puny, small, insignificant.
But here I am, 14 books in, still telling you that these books are fun. You aren't gonna find anything super deep here. What you are gonna find is a great cast of characters. Some fun world building. And a meteoric amount of shenanigans.
They're fun. They're fast. And they're well worth your time. Undying Mercenaries is one of my favorite series.
If you don't know by now I love this series. It's 14 books deep and I still enjoy getting a new book and diving back into the world and romping around the universe with James McGill.
I wish I could get more people to read this series, but, alas, it seems my reach is puny, small, insignificant.
But here I am, 14 books in, still telling you that these books are fun. You aren't gonna find anything super deep here. What you are gonna find is a great cast of characters. Some fun world building. And a meteoric amount of shenanigans.
They're fun. They're fast. And they're well worth your time. Undying Mercenaries is one of my favorite series.
January 19, 2021
McGill still a pig, the universe still mildly interesting. It's like having a solid frame with a pigheaded main character that some people find charming while others, like me, just find annoying after the first few books. But I came this far so I want to see the end game. Will Earth became a superpower instead of simpering at the edge of extinction every damn book. Will see after 14 more novels, maybe.
April 10, 2021
I think this will be the last of this series I read. It has become predictable - rinse and repeat. I like BV Larson's books, but this series has run its course.
December 17, 2023
"Edge World" is the 14th book in the Undying Mercenaries series by B V Larson, a prolific author of science fiction and fantasy. The series follows the adventures of James McGill, a soldier of fortune who works for Legion Varus, a mercenary unit hired by Earth to fight in a galactic war. McGill is a charismatic, cunning, and reckless hero who often finds himself in trouble with his superiors, his enemies, and his lovers. He also has the advantage of being able to revive after death, thanks to an alien technology that Earth has acquired.
In this book, McGill and his comrades are sent to Edge World, a planet that lies on the border of two rival factions: the Mogwa and the Skay. The planet has a unique feature: it rotates so slowly that one side is always in daylight and the other in darkness, creating a narrow habitable zone between them. The planet is also rich in resources that both factions covet, and a war is brewing over its ownership. McGill's mission is to protect the native inhabitants of Edge World, who live in nomadic tribes and have their own culture and secrets. However, things get complicated when McGill discovers a hidden threat that could endanger the whole galaxy, and he has to use his wits and skills to save the day.
The audiobook is narrated by Mark Boyett, who has voiced all the previous books in the series. Boyett does a great job of bringing the characters to life, especially McGill, who he portrays with a distinctive Southern accent and a humorous tone. Boyett also varies his voice for the different alien races, giving them distinct personalities and accents. He also adds emotion and intensity to the action scenes, making them more engaging and thrilling.
The book is a fast-paced and entertaining read, full of humor, action, and twists. Larson has a knack for creating imaginative and diverse alien worlds and creatures, and Edge World is no exception. The planet is a fascinating setting, with its extreme climate and ecology, and its mysterious history and secrets. The book explores the culture and politics of the galactic war, and the role of Earth and its allies in it. The book also delves into McGill's personal life, as he reunites with his family and faces some romantic dilemmas.
The book is not without its flaws, however. Some readers may find the plot too predictable and formulaic, as it follows a similar pattern to the previous books in the series.
Overall, "Edge World" is a fun and enjoyable audiobook for fans of the Undying Mercenaries series and the genre of military science fiction. It is not a literary masterpiece, but it is a good example of escapist entertainment that offers a dose of humor, action, and adventure. It is recommended for listeners who are looking for a light and easy listen that will keep them entertained and amused.
In this book, McGill and his comrades are sent to Edge World, a planet that lies on the border of two rival factions: the Mogwa and the Skay. The planet has a unique feature: it rotates so slowly that one side is always in daylight and the other in darkness, creating a narrow habitable zone between them. The planet is also rich in resources that both factions covet, and a war is brewing over its ownership. McGill's mission is to protect the native inhabitants of Edge World, who live in nomadic tribes and have their own culture and secrets. However, things get complicated when McGill discovers a hidden threat that could endanger the whole galaxy, and he has to use his wits and skills to save the day.
The audiobook is narrated by Mark Boyett, who has voiced all the previous books in the series. Boyett does a great job of bringing the characters to life, especially McGill, who he portrays with a distinctive Southern accent and a humorous tone. Boyett also varies his voice for the different alien races, giving them distinct personalities and accents. He also adds emotion and intensity to the action scenes, making them more engaging and thrilling.
The book is a fast-paced and entertaining read, full of humor, action, and twists. Larson has a knack for creating imaginative and diverse alien worlds and creatures, and Edge World is no exception. The planet is a fascinating setting, with its extreme climate and ecology, and its mysterious history and secrets. The book explores the culture and politics of the galactic war, and the role of Earth and its allies in it. The book also delves into McGill's personal life, as he reunites with his family and faces some romantic dilemmas.
The book is not without its flaws, however. Some readers may find the plot too predictable and formulaic, as it follows a similar pattern to the previous books in the series.
Overall, "Edge World" is a fun and enjoyable audiobook for fans of the Undying Mercenaries series and the genre of military science fiction. It is not a literary masterpiece, but it is a good example of escapist entertainment that offers a dose of humor, action, and adventure. It is recommended for listeners who are looking for a light and easy listen that will keep them entertained and amused.
November 18, 2020
I really look forward to each of the books in this series. They are all so very interesting and humorous. I guess finding humor in most science fiction books is a rarity, but these books do it very well. We’re back with James McGill, Centurion of Varus Legion, Earth. If you’ve read any of the Undying Mercenaries books then you obviously know Jame McGill. He is a galactic screwup, scoundrel, wise-ass, and troublemaker. Plus he’s a womanizer and con artist. McGill is also a very competent warrior. He gets thinks done while everyone else stands around worrying about breaking some Galactic Law, whereas James McGill just ignore them.
Breaking a Galactic Law or rule is a very serious offense. It could result in the extermination of Earth’s entire population. That has been the preferred penalty of most Galactic overlords who have had the unfortunate experience of visiting Earth and interacting with humans. Humans are considered in a similar vein as cattle or worse yet, as slaves who do the bidding of the Galactic masters. Earth sits way out on the frontier of the galaxy and very few of the older civilizations that comprise the center of the galaxy consider us worth having around. They have tolerated us because we have a product to sell and that is our war fighting skills. We have managed to stave off extermination because of our Legions who are sent to various places to enforce Galactic Law although we, ourselves tend to break such when it suits our needs. One James McGill usually is at the center of such law breaking and he’s almost always at the center of whatever method we have found to prevent our extermination and survive another visit by the Galactic overlords. This story follows along the same patterns as others.
Humans have found something on the Moon which is pretty shocking. It appears that the Skay and the Mogwa, both life-long enemies, fought a fierce battle many centuries ago at or near our Moon. That battle resulted in the Mogwa starship embedding itself in the Skay. You have to recall that the Skay are huge creatures. Most mature Skay are the size of our Moon, and this one appears to have been somewhat smaller so that through thousands of years, it and the embedded Mogwa starship have been buried beneath tons of moon rocks. These two galactic enemies now comprise most of what we though of as our Moon. The way we found all this out was by sending a “volunteer” into the depths of these underground objects. Now, we didn’t exactly know what was there, only that one or the other might be hollow. By using a transporter, the Legion at Hq could send someone down through these dense materials and if they came out in a space large enough to accommodate their body, then they would report what they saw. If they unfortunately merged with solid rock then they would be dead and, after revival, would get a chance to try again! James McGill was the “volunteer”!
So he provided the information as to what was embedded in the Moon. He also accidentally triggered a galactic signal that went to the center of the galaxy alerting the Mogwa and the Skay as to the location of their long lost starships. Both entities were going to send representatives to investigate the Moon. For Earth, this is not good. You don’t want to give the Galactic overlords and excuse to visit, but nothing much can be done about it. They will also bring the Naribs, who are kind of Galactic Lawyers. They will determine if Earth was responsible for any of the damages to the Mogwa or Skay starships. Such finding, would of course, result in the total extermination of Earth.
Now, this is the first part of this book. I’m not exactly sure how it got onto the second part, but this is an extraordinarily long book for a book in this series. So, our attention now switches to a problem with a planet in our sector of the galaxy, Sector 921 to be exact, and a planet which is at the edge of this sector, but will soon transition to Sector 926, which is controlled by the Skay. We, Earth, are minions of the Mogwa so if the Mogwa have a problem with losing a planet to the Skay, it becomes our problem too! This planet, 91 Aquarii, was barely habitable, but it was by three different tribes of near-humans. That, of itself wasn’t important. What was important was that the most intelligent of the three tribes, the Shadowlanders, were also the builders of all the galaxies revival machines!
So, the Mogwa were coming to see if there was anything they could do to prevent this planet from sliding into Sector 926, while a Skay was coming to take control of the planet when it did come into his territory. Since the Shadowlanders sold and leased revival machines to everyone that used them, they did so through the graces of the Mogwa as they resided in Sector 921. Earth got a good deal on their revival machines just by the virtue of being under the Mogwa banner, but that situation could drastically change. Earth could actually lose it’s revival machines and would have to supply troops for the Legions who would permanently die in battle. Even James McGill didn’t want a permanent death!
As you can suspect, Jame McGill will be at the very center of this entire story. And it’s a good thing he was. There are so many Galactic rules about all of this that most of the leadership of Legion Varus are at a total loss as to how to handle all this Galactic attention. It’s up to one Jame McGill to figure out how to keep Earth’s steady supply of revival machines and replacement parts coming while at the same time not getting all of humanity completely exterminated. He has to do this while under the watchful eye of a completely hostile group of Naribs!
If Centurion James McGil doesn’t get promoted after this story, then I don’t think he ever will be! At least you can be assured he does survive. Now on to the next book if that’s going to happen.
Breaking a Galactic Law or rule is a very serious offense. It could result in the extermination of Earth’s entire population. That has been the preferred penalty of most Galactic overlords who have had the unfortunate experience of visiting Earth and interacting with humans. Humans are considered in a similar vein as cattle or worse yet, as slaves who do the bidding of the Galactic masters. Earth sits way out on the frontier of the galaxy and very few of the older civilizations that comprise the center of the galaxy consider us worth having around. They have tolerated us because we have a product to sell and that is our war fighting skills. We have managed to stave off extermination because of our Legions who are sent to various places to enforce Galactic Law although we, ourselves tend to break such when it suits our needs. One James McGill usually is at the center of such law breaking and he’s almost always at the center of whatever method we have found to prevent our extermination and survive another visit by the Galactic overlords. This story follows along the same patterns as others.
Humans have found something on the Moon which is pretty shocking. It appears that the Skay and the Mogwa, both life-long enemies, fought a fierce battle many centuries ago at or near our Moon. That battle resulted in the Mogwa starship embedding itself in the Skay. You have to recall that the Skay are huge creatures. Most mature Skay are the size of our Moon, and this one appears to have been somewhat smaller so that through thousands of years, it and the embedded Mogwa starship have been buried beneath tons of moon rocks. These two galactic enemies now comprise most of what we though of as our Moon. The way we found all this out was by sending a “volunteer” into the depths of these underground objects. Now, we didn’t exactly know what was there, only that one or the other might be hollow. By using a transporter, the Legion at Hq could send someone down through these dense materials and if they came out in a space large enough to accommodate their body, then they would report what they saw. If they unfortunately merged with solid rock then they would be dead and, after revival, would get a chance to try again! James McGill was the “volunteer”!
So he provided the information as to what was embedded in the Moon. He also accidentally triggered a galactic signal that went to the center of the galaxy alerting the Mogwa and the Skay as to the location of their long lost starships. Both entities were going to send representatives to investigate the Moon. For Earth, this is not good. You don’t want to give the Galactic overlords and excuse to visit, but nothing much can be done about it. They will also bring the Naribs, who are kind of Galactic Lawyers. They will determine if Earth was responsible for any of the damages to the Mogwa or Skay starships. Such finding, would of course, result in the total extermination of Earth.
Now, this is the first part of this book. I’m not exactly sure how it got onto the second part, but this is an extraordinarily long book for a book in this series. So, our attention now switches to a problem with a planet in our sector of the galaxy, Sector 921 to be exact, and a planet which is at the edge of this sector, but will soon transition to Sector 926, which is controlled by the Skay. We, Earth, are minions of the Mogwa so if the Mogwa have a problem with losing a planet to the Skay, it becomes our problem too! This planet, 91 Aquarii, was barely habitable, but it was by three different tribes of near-humans. That, of itself wasn’t important. What was important was that the most intelligent of the three tribes, the Shadowlanders, were also the builders of all the galaxies revival machines!
So, the Mogwa were coming to see if there was anything they could do to prevent this planet from sliding into Sector 926, while a Skay was coming to take control of the planet when it did come into his territory. Since the Shadowlanders sold and leased revival machines to everyone that used them, they did so through the graces of the Mogwa as they resided in Sector 921. Earth got a good deal on their revival machines just by the virtue of being under the Mogwa banner, but that situation could drastically change. Earth could actually lose it’s revival machines and would have to supply troops for the Legions who would permanently die in battle. Even James McGill didn’t want a permanent death!
As you can suspect, Jame McGill will be at the very center of this entire story. And it’s a good thing he was. There are so many Galactic rules about all of this that most of the leadership of Legion Varus are at a total loss as to how to handle all this Galactic attention. It’s up to one Jame McGill to figure out how to keep Earth’s steady supply of revival machines and replacement parts coming while at the same time not getting all of humanity completely exterminated. He has to do this while under the watchful eye of a completely hostile group of Naribs!
If Centurion James McGil doesn’t get promoted after this story, then I don’t think he ever will be! At least you can be assured he does survive. Now on to the next book if that’s going to happen.
March 8, 2021
This fourteenth part of the adventures of James Mc Guill keeps all its promises. It's the longest episode of the series (500 pages) but it's one of the very best, if you like running jokes.
Along with the usual intrigues and battles of the Varus Legion, there are a few great ideas that add spice to this new galactic encounter. And as usual, it's very funny.
Admittedly it's not perfect, there are always imperfections here and there, and some situations are very close to those which have already been explored in the previous thirteen episodes, but overall it is extremely pleasant to read and very entertaining.
Along with the usual intrigues and battles of the Varus Legion, there are a few great ideas that add spice to this new galactic encounter. And as usual, it's very funny.
Admittedly it's not perfect, there are always imperfections here and there, and some situations are very close to those which have already been explored in the previous thirteen episodes, but overall it is extremely pleasant to read and very entertaining.
August 19, 2024
Just going to paste my last review for Glass World here (I'll change it up next time if there is anything worth saying): I mean these books are mostly the same now, and so are my reviews of them. This one as about the same as the rest. I think I am settling into these things like a sitcom or cheesy syfy show that you can put on without too much to think about and unwind from work. There is value here in that way. So I guess I'll keep going.
November 18, 2020
McGill is in fine form for this installment, he tramples through complicated problems with an eye for debauchery and fun foremost. He also has a better success rate stumbling through than all the schemers around him ever seem to have. Top notch story.
January 16, 2021
McGill always gets the girl.
Yup, in the end , sometimes the beginning and sometimes the middle as well, McGill always gets the girl. I am actually surprised that there is only one child of James McGill. Most men would envy him. McGill is a scheming, lying, good guy, but going through normal channels does not work for him. Those machinations are what make the story. Wittisms such as, "My daddy always said, 'if you don't show up you don't get to run the church picnic'", are standard fare for McGill. The ladies love it - at least according to B. V. Larson. Larson has a gift for weaving a story that is simply awesome. The stories are so good that once started it is hard to put down. I recommend this to ADULTS who like Science Fiction / Fantasy / Opera / Whatever it is.
Yup, in the end , sometimes the beginning and sometimes the middle as well, McGill always gets the girl. I am actually surprised that there is only one child of James McGill. Most men would envy him. McGill is a scheming, lying, good guy, but going through normal channels does not work for him. Those machinations are what make the story. Wittisms such as, "My daddy always said, 'if you don't show up you don't get to run the church picnic'", are standard fare for McGill. The ladies love it - at least according to B. V. Larson. Larson has a gift for weaving a story that is simply awesome. The stories are so good that once started it is hard to put down. I recommend this to ADULTS who like Science Fiction / Fantasy / Opera / Whatever it is.
January 7, 2021
I have read all 14 books in the series. Loved all of them save a couple. Which I think gives me street cred to call myself a fan of "The McGill". Here are my answers to the usual insults thrown at the fans of his highness and our hero.
The protagonist is an idiot - That sirs and ladies is a strategy our leader employs effectively. Some say it comes to him naturally.
The protagonist is a womanizer - Why thank you! says The McGill and if you haven't caught the drift yet, see above accusation.
Well, how come he saves the day all the time? - Don't know, don't care.
The story is formulaic, how can you love this shit fest? - See first accusation. And us fans of The McGill adore him, so what does that make us? You really think a formulaic story would bother us? Check your tapper for an "lol" from The McGill.
Fucking five stars. Amazing work and bravo Mr. Larson! Write more and I'll give your more of my money.
The protagonist is an idiot - That sirs and ladies is a strategy our leader employs effectively. Some say it comes to him naturally.
The protagonist is a womanizer - Why thank you! says The McGill and if you haven't caught the drift yet, see above accusation.
Well, how come he saves the day all the time? - Don't know, don't care.
The story is formulaic, how can you love this shit fest? - See first accusation. And us fans of The McGill adore him, so what does that make us? You really think a formulaic story would bother us? Check your tapper for an "lol" from The McGill.
Fucking five stars. Amazing work and bravo Mr. Larson! Write more and I'll give your more of my money.
April 15, 2021
I cannot entirely dislike one of these books.
True, it's still one more in the series and nothing extremely new came out of it.
There is nothing new, but it is still entertaining to read.
That said, I wonder how long it will take to make me bored with the entire concept...
Oh, well, short summary... New world, right on the edge of the frontier that becomes the new play ground of the undying playboy. With the new world comes a new conquest and it doesn't matter that its an alien that looks, and at least in the reproductive chapter, is identical to any human female... that is just part of the mystery.
Our hero once again saves humanity from the powerful galactics, not once, but several times... By using its most strong quality: Lying through his teeth...
and that is it.
Avoid this book, or the entire series if you are feminist or even you want to exercise a few neurons... Read if you want an engaging fast paced story without the need to put much though to enjoy it.
True, it's still one more in the series and nothing extremely new came out of it.
There is nothing new, but it is still entertaining to read.
That said, I wonder how long it will take to make me bored with the entire concept...
Oh, well, short summary... New world, right on the edge of the frontier that becomes the new play ground of the undying playboy. With the new world comes a new conquest and it doesn't matter that its an alien that looks, and at least in the reproductive chapter, is identical to any human female... that is just part of the mystery.
Our hero once again saves humanity from the powerful galactics, not once, but several times... By using its most strong quality: Lying through his teeth...
and that is it.
Avoid this book, or the entire series if you are feminist or even you want to exercise a few neurons... Read if you want an engaging fast paced story without the need to put much though to enjoy it.
February 4, 2021
The series title, "Undying Mercenaries" sounds like a zombie series. It ain't. These soldiers have resurrection machines, and when they die they get re-printed.
The main character James McGill is a hoot. He doesn't pretend to be a hero or anything. He's just a Georgia swamp boy, a bit on the large side, who tries to enjoy each day.
Especially if there is a woman involved.
Yet, in all 14 books to date, McGill has saved the day each time. It's light, it's fun, and the characters can be relied on book after book to provide great tension and dialog.
If you enjoy sci-fi, you can't miss this series. Start at the beginning and binge.
The main character James McGill is a hoot. He doesn't pretend to be a hero or anything. He's just a Georgia swamp boy, a bit on the large side, who tries to enjoy each day.
Especially if there is a woman involved.
Yet, in all 14 books to date, McGill has saved the day each time. It's light, it's fun, and the characters can be relied on book after book to provide great tension and dialog.
If you enjoy sci-fi, you can't miss this series. Start at the beginning and binge.
October 19, 2020
Yeppers. He did it again.
I needed a break. I've been reading the Dune Saga and I was a little weary of all the ethereal speculation and discussions contemplating universal power and existentialism. McGill is what I needed. Varus Legion too. Mr. Larson has given the first person account of these adventures for 14 books now, and I haven't tired of them yet. Bravo Sir for giving us another tale that is genuinely larger in scope than anything George Double R 'Never gonna finish those books' Martin will ever write. You get 5 stars....again. Keep 'em coming.
I needed a break. I've been reading the Dune Saga and I was a little weary of all the ethereal speculation and discussions contemplating universal power and existentialism. McGill is what I needed. Varus Legion too. Mr. Larson has given the first person account of these adventures for 14 books now, and I haven't tired of them yet. Bravo Sir for giving us another tale that is genuinely larger in scope than anything George Double R 'Never gonna finish those books' Martin will ever write. You get 5 stars....again. Keep 'em coming.
October 25, 2020
This series is one that I’ve following for along time and this book is by far one of the best. McGill is still doing his regular ( lying like a true politician would) and scheming to the tune of trying to wrangle every girl into bed. I liked the fact that he is starting to do more thinking than using brawny ball busting ways, hah fat chance. A good fun reading for the Covid days, no, it really sucks being inside not enjoying Florida’ rain, mosquitoes and every nasty bug you can think off. Must why I relate so much to Mc Gills Georgia home when not at Varys.
October 26, 2020
Loved it
McGill is truly a masterpiece! He can fall into the proverbial crapper and come out smelling like a field of roses with a girl on his arm! I enjoyed the twists and turns this book provides. I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out old McGill but he still amazes me with the lying wit, and dumb luck. Keep him coming back for more please!
McGill is truly a masterpiece! He can fall into the proverbial crapper and come out smelling like a field of roses with a girl on his arm! I enjoyed the twists and turns this book provides. I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out old McGill but he still amazes me with the lying wit, and dumb luck. Keep him coming back for more please!
October 15, 2020
Good and fast paced reading.
Interesting story line, very entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the possibilities of revive machines. Please continue the macgillis story line. Could you give him a fitting and humorous ending when series ends.
Interesting story line, very entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the possibilities of revive machines. Please continue the macgillis story line. Could you give him a fitting and humorous ending when series ends.
October 28, 2020
Awesome series
Brilliant storyline, fantastic characters. Love this series and hope it continues on for another 14 books. Can’t wait to see what new adventures and mischief James manages to get himself tied up in!
Brilliant storyline, fantastic characters. Love this series and hope it continues on for another 14 books. Can’t wait to see what new adventures and mischief James manages to get himself tied up in!
November 21, 2020
Best one so far
This series has so much fun with good characters. I love the conniving McGill. I'd like more of Etta . she is a good character. McGill needs a promotion.
This is a fun romp well worth the time to read.
This series has so much fun with good characters. I love the conniving McGill. I'd like more of Etta . she is a good character. McGill needs a promotion.
This is a fun romp well worth the time to read.
October 30, 2020
The same entertaining characters and the usual shenanigans somewhat ruined by a highly compressed and entirely unbelievable ending (even within the framework of the series).
January 5, 2021
I can't finish this. Mr. Larson has created "The Guiding Light.". The back story is different while the characters are exactly the same. Boring!!
April 4, 2024
POPKulturowy Kociołek:
Tym razem McGill i legion Varus zostają wysłani na sam skraj Rubieży 921, gdzie wedle starego powiedzenia diabeł mówi dobranoc. Ich celem jest samotna skalista planeta zwana Światem Skraju, gdzie doba trwa jeden ziemski rok. Ponadto panujące tam temperatury wahają się od mrożącego krew w żyłach chłodu do piekielnego żaru. Miejsce to jest jednak bardzo ważne dla obu stron trwającego konfliktu dwóch frakcji Galaktyków. Zadaniem Jamesa i legionu jest nie tylko obrona planety, a znajdującej się tam technologii, która może zmienić oblicze wojny.
Larson kolejny i udany raz zręcznie buduje napięcie, stopniowo odkrywając przed czytelnikiem sekrety Świata Skraju. Tajemnice te być może nie należą do najbardziej zaskakujących, ale doskonale powiązane są z różnymi wątkami fabuły (również tymi z wcześniejszych tomów). Bardzo ciekawie prezentuje się za to początkowa koncepcja rozdzielenia fabuły na dwa różne miejsca akcji. Dzięki takiemu rozwiązaniu intryga gęstnieje z każdą stroną, a zwroty akcji sprawiają, że książka staje się mocno angażująca. Autor nie stroni tu również od charakterystycznej dla serii mocnej akcji z odrobiną niezbyt przesadzonej brutalności. Obok tego pełno tu rozbudowanych opisów mrocznych zakamarków planety, co nadaje powieści odpowiedniego klimatu i realizmu.
Słowa pochwały należą się także projektowi McGilla. Ponownie James ukazany jest jako charyzmatyczny człowiek zmagający się z wieloma własnymi demonami, które znacząco wpływają na jego życie i niektóre podejmowane decyzje. Małą łyżeczką dziegciu są jednak momenty, w których zaczyna on myśleć innymi częściami ciała niż mózgiem (na szczęście tym razem jest ich naprawdę mało)...
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/legio...
Tym razem McGill i legion Varus zostają wysłani na sam skraj Rubieży 921, gdzie wedle starego powiedzenia diabeł mówi dobranoc. Ich celem jest samotna skalista planeta zwana Światem Skraju, gdzie doba trwa jeden ziemski rok. Ponadto panujące tam temperatury wahają się od mrożącego krew w żyłach chłodu do piekielnego żaru. Miejsce to jest jednak bardzo ważne dla obu stron trwającego konfliktu dwóch frakcji Galaktyków. Zadaniem Jamesa i legionu jest nie tylko obrona planety, a znajdującej się tam technologii, która może zmienić oblicze wojny.
Larson kolejny i udany raz zręcznie buduje napięcie, stopniowo odkrywając przed czytelnikiem sekrety Świata Skraju. Tajemnice te być może nie należą do najbardziej zaskakujących, ale doskonale powiązane są z różnymi wątkami fabuły (również tymi z wcześniejszych tomów). Bardzo ciekawie prezentuje się za to początkowa koncepcja rozdzielenia fabuły na dwa różne miejsca akcji. Dzięki takiemu rozwiązaniu intryga gęstnieje z każdą stroną, a zwroty akcji sprawiają, że książka staje się mocno angażująca. Autor nie stroni tu również od charakterystycznej dla serii mocnej akcji z odrobiną niezbyt przesadzonej brutalności. Obok tego pełno tu rozbudowanych opisów mrocznych zakamarków planety, co nadaje powieści odpowiedniego klimatu i realizmu.
Słowa pochwały należą się także projektowi McGilla. Ponownie James ukazany jest jako charyzmatyczny człowiek zmagający się z wieloma własnymi demonami, które znacząco wpływają na jego życie i niektóre podejmowane decyzje. Małą łyżeczką dziegciu są jednak momenty, w których zaczyna on myśleć innymi częściami ciała niż mózgiem (na szczęście tym razem jest ich naprawdę mało)...
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/legio...
October 9, 2021
I've enjoyed reading the Undying Mercenaries series. I think the books will make an excellent foundation for a Sci-Fi series. It is a good mix of humour, action, fiction and a bit of science :). The author's imagination describing the various planets the series' protagonists visit and alien species they interact with is captivating and keeps you wanting to read more. I'd recommend reading the series in sequence, starting from the first book. Although, once you've read the first, you can realistically pick anyone of them, each book is its own story, whatever references are made to previous books are explained in some detail.
Now, set your expectations correctly, this isn't some philosophical Sci-Fi, the characters aren't terribly deep and the outcomes are somewhat predictable. You'd enjoy reading this the same way you'd enjoy watching James Bond movies :). This was a very enjoyable and entertaining experience for me and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Now, set your expectations correctly, this isn't some philosophical Sci-Fi, the characters aren't terribly deep and the outcomes are somewhat predictable. You'd enjoy reading this the same way you'd enjoy watching James Bond movies :). This was a very enjoyable and entertaining experience for me and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
August 21, 2024
Ridiculously silly hillbilly James T McTurd betrays/kills/uses friend, ally and enemy alike, as usual performing his antics gambling the future of humanity and calling it "working his magic"... The story goes well for stretches and then the plot, story, consistency thins and warps to come up with some sort of paper thin transparent last minute boondoggle evasion that makes no logical sense... and the cycle starts anew on some new theme world. I'm going to try and make it through but at this point I don't have high hopes. Purple world? Ear world? Band-aid world? Will we find out how the same armor that makes teddy bears 50% harder to kill makes McTurd completely impervious? Nah, probably not. Will McTurd be less of a D-bag? Unlikely.
May 16, 2021
Make TV series please
Damnation! How can McGill get all the women, even their mothers (eel almost)!
On a more serious note, I’ve been wanting to suggest this since book 6: make a SciFi series! It’s going to beat Firefly and Altered Carbon hand down and become the greatest space series of all time! Yes we have make do watching McGill’s naked butt every now and then but hey, we get to ogle Turov and other pretty girls too!
There’s going to be a guffaw a minute and lots of hardcore battles that make this series such a joy to read.
Someone please find a producer (or a director) already!
Damnation! How can McGill get all the women, even their mothers (eel almost)!
On a more serious note, I’ve been wanting to suggest this since book 6: make a SciFi series! It’s going to beat Firefly and Altered Carbon hand down and become the greatest space series of all time! Yes we have make do watching McGill’s naked butt every now and then but hey, we get to ogle Turov and other pretty girls too!
There’s going to be a guffaw a minute and lots of hardcore battles that make this series such a joy to read.
Someone please find a producer (or a director) already!
January 8, 2023
I like this series. I've been reading it for along time. It's still very military hooah and McGill is still a huge slut who sleeps around, but Larson doesn't just let him get away with it. The women around him have just as much agency and there are consequences and boons for his actions. Fun. Light. And yet still an epic series with a crumbling galactic empire and aliens with different motivations that are not all human-looking and long term plot arcs. I'd recommend this to my dad (since he reads Weber's sci-fi) if he had more time to read.
October 29, 2020
Best world yet!
This is the fourteenth in the series of books involving the exploits of Legion Varus as they travel across the galaxy. As the troops sent to the worst and most dangerous worlds possible, the legion has to primarily rely on the guile and dumb luck of its most famous (infamous) Centurion, James McGill.
These books are fantastic, and each one builds on the previous stories. Without giving any spoilers, I highly recommend all of the "World" books.
This is the fourteenth in the series of books involving the exploits of Legion Varus as they travel across the galaxy. As the troops sent to the worst and most dangerous worlds possible, the legion has to primarily rely on the guile and dumb luck of its most famous (infamous) Centurion, James McGill.
These books are fantastic, and each one builds on the previous stories. Without giving any spoilers, I highly recommend all of the "World" books.
December 10, 2020
Great Fun Series
Always look forward to the next McGill adventure! I like that the side characters are keep coming into play. I think my favorite chapter was McGill leading the Blood Worlders. I hope he ends up leading them and gets to build his own team.
I think a good world would be a Rigel Slave world that Earth attempts to liberate. All the neighboring world species could represented.
Always look forward to the next McGill adventure! I like that the side characters are keep coming into play. I think my favorite chapter was McGill leading the Blood Worlders. I hope he ends up leading them and gets to build his own team.
I think a good world would be a Rigel Slave world that Earth attempts to liberate. All the neighboring world species could represented.
December 17, 2020
Love this series
Old McGill, the “hick” from swampy Georgia, does it again. He fights, wins, finagles, and wows his co-legionnaires and aliens alike, and confounds our overlords from the Core World Imperium.
Kind of a future, more clever, more deceitful, but nevertheless strong-ass Hercules and his Labors.
And he gets his clever-and-beautiful women, just like ol’ Herc does, as well.
Read the whole series, starting at book one. Every one is just as great.
Old McGill, the “hick” from swampy Georgia, does it again. He fights, wins, finagles, and wows his co-legionnaires and aliens alike, and confounds our overlords from the Core World Imperium.
Kind of a future, more clever, more deceitful, but nevertheless strong-ass Hercules and his Labors.
And he gets his clever-and-beautiful women, just like ol’ Herc does, as well.
Read the whole series, starting at book one. Every one is just as great.
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.
Definitely recommend it if you are looking for some space combat, mixed with good character development and a decent story line.
October 22, 2020
14th book and just as good as the first.
This book was fun and full of action from beginning to end. Usually when I read a series there are parts you speed read ahead to get to the more action packed part of the story. Not so with this book. The series is still enjoyable and had me laughing out loud more than once. Thank you B.V. Larson.
This book was fun and full of action from beginning to end. Usually when I read a series there are parts you speed read ahead to get to the more action packed part of the story. Not so with this book. The series is still enjoyable and had me laughing out loud more than once. Thank you B.V. Larson.
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