What do you think?
Rate this book
Earth at War #3
Return Fire
Earth is in turmoil.
The enemy is bearing down on us with every warship they have, and our only allies are in chaos.
Our one hope for survival is Andy Clanton - a hack science fiction writer trying to convince some aliens that humans are worth saving.
It’s an uphill battle, because to the aliens, we are the monsters. We look just like their sworn enemies, the Tevynians, who’ve sworn to wipe out both our civilizations.
When everything falls apart and the fate of the galaxy is on the line, can Andy Clanton pull our fat out of the fire?
He’s outnumbered, outgunned, and in way over his head.
But what else is new?
The enemy is bearing down on us with every warship they have, and our only allies are in chaos.
Our one hope for survival is Andy Clanton - a hack science fiction writer trying to convince some aliens that humans are worth saving.
It’s an uphill battle, because to the aliens, we are the monsters. We look just like their sworn enemies, the Tevynians, who’ve sworn to wipe out both our civilizations.
When everything falls apart and the fate of the galaxy is on the line, can Andy Clanton pull our fat out of the fire?
He’s outnumbered, outgunned, and in way over his head.
But what else is new?
- GenresScience FictionAliens
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2020
302 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Rick Partlow
211 books373 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 29, 2021
Book 3 continues to deliver good action filled scifi/war fun that I expect from the series.
April 24, 2021
Wow! This series keeps getting better and better.
Spoiler Warning! This is the 3rd book in a series and I might mention things that happened in previously books. I'll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum.
In this book we finally get to me the other alien races in the..um..Federation (it's not called that but I can't remember). There are wolf-men, lizard-men, and octopus-men?! Our main character spouts his mouth off at the wrong time and gets in trouble, of course, culminating in a challenge against one of the viscious wolf-men. The outcome of the challenge has ripple effects for the future.
Then it's back to Earth to try to stop the Tyrianians (I know I spelled that wrong) from invading! On the way they stop at Alpha Centauri to see if the enemy is using it as a staging point and sure enough there are enemy ships there. The ship Andy's on and the ship his alien Bear-man friend captains are all they have. They are outnumbered and will have to use tactics to prevail or at least whittle the enemy ships down and then hyperjump the heck out of there before they get killed.
The action never stops from here on to the end and no more spoilers but I'll tell you it's got action and stressful situations galore! And then the very end tantalizes and teases us about the next novel in the series that we will have to wait for, since it's not published yet.
Spoiler Warning! This is the 3rd book in a series and I might mention things that happened in previously books. I'll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum.
In this book we finally get to me the other alien races in the..um..Federation (it's not called that but I can't remember). There are wolf-men, lizard-men, and octopus-men?! Our main character spouts his mouth off at the wrong time and gets in trouble, of course, culminating in a challenge against one of the viscious wolf-men. The outcome of the challenge has ripple effects for the future.
Then it's back to Earth to try to stop the Tyrianians (I know I spelled that wrong) from invading! On the way they stop at Alpha Centauri to see if the enemy is using it as a staging point and sure enough there are enemy ships there. The ship Andy's on and the ship his alien Bear-man friend captains are all they have. They are outnumbered and will have to use tactics to prevail or at least whittle the enemy ships down and then hyperjump the heck out of there before they get killed.
The action never stops from here on to the end and no more spoilers but I'll tell you it's got action and stressful situations galore! And then the very end tantalizes and teases us about the next novel in the series that we will have to wait for, since it's not published yet.
May 29, 2021
A very enjoyable read.
April 13, 2021
I didn’t like the plot contortions the author went through at the end of the previous book, just to send the story off in a new direction. Unfortunately there were several more annoying decisions made by the author in this book, which although not spoiling the whole story it certainly put a damper on it for me.
There were elements I still enjoyed and I have learnt to skip past some of the prolonged descriptions. What I didn’t like was the use of ‘stupidity’ to keep the story going, which is why I have given two stars.
There were elements I still enjoyed and I have learnt to skip past some of the prolonged descriptions. What I didn’t like was the use of ‘stupidity’ to keep the story going, which is why I have given two stars.
January 30, 2021
Earth at War
I enjoyed this series, it was fast paced page turner, it appealed to this Marine as an enjoyable suspense from day to day trudging
I enjoyed this series, it was fast paced page turner, it appealed to this Marine as an enjoyable suspense from day to day trudging
January 27, 2021
What a ride!
I love this book. It’s the best one since the first in my book. At no time did I think any of the main characters were safe. Such a good read.
I love this book. It’s the best one since the first in my book. At no time did I think any of the main characters were safe. Such a good read.
January 27, 2021
Entertaining
This trilogy does not lose any speed in its narrative which so often happens over three books - great fun
This trilogy does not lose any speed in its narrative which so often happens over three books - great fun
January 19, 2021
Space and beyond
When the first race of persons come to visit Earth and then claim to be from Earth.
This is a nice concept of books and reading. The author is doing well with this idea.
I look forward to book 4 or more of this series. Going to meet the gods?
Should be a nice story
When the first race of persons come to visit Earth and then claim to be from Earth.
This is a nice concept of books and reading. The author is doing well with this idea.
I look forward to book 4 or more of this series. Going to meet the gods?
Should be a nice story
February 2, 2022
Andy Clanton and the crew return in Book 3 of the Earth at War Series, but the team is not Interstellar at the start, having to deal with more Earth bound issues relating to the theft of ‘The Ship’ as it has become known in higher circles (given it has no name). At the end of Book 2, a conglomerate of Russian and Chinese Mercenaries stole the second Cruiser being developed by the Helta and US forces over Earth, and it is now up to Andy and his team, to not only locate who took it, but where it is before the Helta realise that it is missing, and Earth is not as united as everyone believes, potentially causing issues with their alliance in that everyone will feel that they are too much like the Tevynians.
It becomes even more important that they get this ship back, when they are invited to an Interstellar Alliance meeting of all the various current Alliance members to decide if ‘Humans’ should be allowed to enter into the Alliance with the other species that were created by the Aliens that had originally taken DNA of Humans, and combined it with a selection of animal species on Earth, and then seeded them on other ‘Earth-Like’ planets in the galaxy, including, taking a group of humans from during an era on Earth, and dropping them on a planet to, and these became known as the Tevynians.
The Helta gave technology to all the Allied planets, except Earth, as they are the ‘Source’ planet, and no one was allowed to go to the ‘Source’ planet.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the gang makes it to the Alliance meeting, and there are some very ‘Interesting’ events there, thanks to Andy and his ever charming mouth. This leads to certain things that only Andy can get himself into, with a particular species in the Alliance that is a cross between Humans and Wolves, known as the Skrith, and I have to say, it is certainly one of the more ‘Intriguing’ parts of the book. And by this, I mean you will be laughing yourself stupid, whilst simultaneously flipping through pages utterly engaged in what is going to happen next.
This book is just a fascinating read in many different aspects.
For one, I have made comment recently on a couple of different aspects of Sci-Fi writing, that we see too many aliens that are too ‘humanoid’ in stories, with little or no explanation, and yet, even on our own planet, whilst there has been the natural selection to grow ‘Eyes’ in species in thousands of different ways, and ears in lots of others, they are not humanoid, they are all different types of creatures. So on an alien planet, thousands of light years away from us, or even next door at just a few hundred light years, species that might grow into an ‘Alien’ intelligence, are not going to be ‘Humanoid’ (Sure there is the possibility through natural selection/evolution etc, but there is no way everything is going to be two armed, two legged, and have a different head for convenience sake of the Special Effects department).
However, in this book – Partlow has actually come up with a plausible reason for his different species, and why they are how they are (I won’t go into it – you can read about it), and even then, not all of his aliens are ‘Humanoid’, and it makes for some really fun reading.
The other thing that as a Non-US person, that really drives me nuts in a lot of books, is that an awful lot of writers (and because I am a Sci-Fi nerd – it happens to be a lot of Sci-Fi series), have this whole thing, that when Aliens come to Earth, they are going to land in the US, that the US President is going to make all the decisions for the planet, and everything always happens in the US. Now, I get that it is easier to write a story based on your own country, because you know the lay of the land etc. But (and I say this without trying to offend anyone – honestly, but just as someone who would like to see a bit more diversity in writing?!?), my argument has been it is very narrow-minded to assume that an Alien intelligence would just land in the US for a start, but also that the US President would make all the decisions.
I’m not going to get into it here (there are a number of fun reads on various Facebook pages – Including Ricks – if you want to have a read and get into it!!) – but what I will say, is that Partlow has actually done something really awesome in this book, in that, the US are the ones that make contact with the Helta first, through a series of events in book 1, and it is very plausible. But this sets in motion a chain of events with the rest of the world, especially China and Russia, who are very upset about the US having access to Alien tech, and them not. But more than that, is that the US President makes multiple comments and decisions based on knowing that he is not just dealing with the US, but he is acting for all of the Worlds People, and that he is going to be judged by all of them to. That his actions are going to have ramifications for the whole planet. At the core, this is actually a really fun book – most of it is about a Sci-Fi writer, who has a military background, who suddenly finds himself leading a Delta Squad against an Enemy that are basically Humans that were taken from a time period in our past, given advanced Technology, and rather than playing nicely with the other children, decided it would be more fun to go and kill them all with it. Throughout this book, there are so many references and Easter Eggs to Sci-Fi Books and Movies, that it would make like the best drinking game (I have been thinking about it with the audiobook – get a group together and the last one to work out the reference gets a double shot).
But throughout this book – there are such deep and powerful parts to the story, such as when POTUS is quite literally having a crisis of faith as he realises that he is responsible for the entire planet, that really make this story so good, take it to a whole extra level.
And there are multiple different points in the series like this, when Andy is having nightmares about PTSD (and as someone who suffers from PTSD, Partlow has done such a good job of capturing the raw pain, the emotional angst, and the gritty, powerful, realistic psychological agony that he is feeling over the loss of his friends and comrades, of what he has both seen and done. It is some really great writing, and pays a lot of respect to those who suffer with it each day).
There is the grief of the soldiers at various scenes when they realise that they have lost friends, or the severe casualty rate of friendlies, and even just the senseless killing of the enemy, the psychological impact it has on them. For some, it can actually break them, others, it turns them into stronger soldiers – but at the cost of their souls.
Partlow has obviously done a lot of research into combat, to get the brutality, realism, the pure craziness of it, and for Andy, his collapse into almost a berserker so he can cope with the nature of war. The writing is not just gritty, and real, but very raw and for most of it, very emotive. It is exceptionally well done.
Partlow’s story is extraordinary, in that it can go from side splitting humour, to ethical dilemma’s in the Political arena, and the next chapter, you are utterly engaged in brutal combat, that you just can’t put down, as you have to know what is going to happen, who is going to survive.
Because that is the other thing that Partlow does well, he is willing to take out his main characters, no one is safe. This is a Mil Sci-Fi story, in which the main characters are fighting for their lives on a constant basis in a vicious war, and Partlow doesn’t believe in invulnerable heroes like a lot of books (Hey, we just fought for 10hrs, everyone else is dead, but it’s ok, the main 8 characters came through with only a few scratches – of paint on their power armour….)
If you want a really great read, one that you will not only be seriously having to put the book down as you are crying from laughter at some of the things that Andy has done (the comments that come out of his mouth are priceless), one that makes you think of chocolate (All the Easter Eggs!! There are so many references to Movies and Books, different quotes, it is like Ready Player One), and some of the most incredible action you are going to read – with some fierce action, and more importantly, some Exceptional Characters that tell an outstanding story, you will love this.
Must Read Mil Sci-Fi of 2021!!!
It becomes even more important that they get this ship back, when they are invited to an Interstellar Alliance meeting of all the various current Alliance members to decide if ‘Humans’ should be allowed to enter into the Alliance with the other species that were created by the Aliens that had originally taken DNA of Humans, and combined it with a selection of animal species on Earth, and then seeded them on other ‘Earth-Like’ planets in the galaxy, including, taking a group of humans from during an era on Earth, and dropping them on a planet to, and these became known as the Tevynians.
The Helta gave technology to all the Allied planets, except Earth, as they are the ‘Source’ planet, and no one was allowed to go to the ‘Source’ planet.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the gang makes it to the Alliance meeting, and there are some very ‘Interesting’ events there, thanks to Andy and his ever charming mouth. This leads to certain things that only Andy can get himself into, with a particular species in the Alliance that is a cross between Humans and Wolves, known as the Skrith, and I have to say, it is certainly one of the more ‘Intriguing’ parts of the book. And by this, I mean you will be laughing yourself stupid, whilst simultaneously flipping through pages utterly engaged in what is going to happen next.
This book is just a fascinating read in many different aspects.
For one, I have made comment recently on a couple of different aspects of Sci-Fi writing, that we see too many aliens that are too ‘humanoid’ in stories, with little or no explanation, and yet, even on our own planet, whilst there has been the natural selection to grow ‘Eyes’ in species in thousands of different ways, and ears in lots of others, they are not humanoid, they are all different types of creatures. So on an alien planet, thousands of light years away from us, or even next door at just a few hundred light years, species that might grow into an ‘Alien’ intelligence, are not going to be ‘Humanoid’ (Sure there is the possibility through natural selection/evolution etc, but there is no way everything is going to be two armed, two legged, and have a different head for convenience sake of the Special Effects department).
However, in this book – Partlow has actually come up with a plausible reason for his different species, and why they are how they are (I won’t go into it – you can read about it), and even then, not all of his aliens are ‘Humanoid’, and it makes for some really fun reading.
The other thing that as a Non-US person, that really drives me nuts in a lot of books, is that an awful lot of writers (and because I am a Sci-Fi nerd – it happens to be a lot of Sci-Fi series), have this whole thing, that when Aliens come to Earth, they are going to land in the US, that the US President is going to make all the decisions for the planet, and everything always happens in the US. Now, I get that it is easier to write a story based on your own country, because you know the lay of the land etc. But (and I say this without trying to offend anyone – honestly, but just as someone who would like to see a bit more diversity in writing?!?), my argument has been it is very narrow-minded to assume that an Alien intelligence would just land in the US for a start, but also that the US President would make all the decisions.
I’m not going to get into it here (there are a number of fun reads on various Facebook pages – Including Ricks – if you want to have a read and get into it!!) – but what I will say, is that Partlow has actually done something really awesome in this book, in that, the US are the ones that make contact with the Helta first, through a series of events in book 1, and it is very plausible. But this sets in motion a chain of events with the rest of the world, especially China and Russia, who are very upset about the US having access to Alien tech, and them not. But more than that, is that the US President makes multiple comments and decisions based on knowing that he is not just dealing with the US, but he is acting for all of the Worlds People, and that he is going to be judged by all of them to. That his actions are going to have ramifications for the whole planet. At the core, this is actually a really fun book – most of it is about a Sci-Fi writer, who has a military background, who suddenly finds himself leading a Delta Squad against an Enemy that are basically Humans that were taken from a time period in our past, given advanced Technology, and rather than playing nicely with the other children, decided it would be more fun to go and kill them all with it. Throughout this book, there are so many references and Easter Eggs to Sci-Fi Books and Movies, that it would make like the best drinking game (I have been thinking about it with the audiobook – get a group together and the last one to work out the reference gets a double shot).
But throughout this book – there are such deep and powerful parts to the story, such as when POTUS is quite literally having a crisis of faith as he realises that he is responsible for the entire planet, that really make this story so good, take it to a whole extra level.
And there are multiple different points in the series like this, when Andy is having nightmares about PTSD (and as someone who suffers from PTSD, Partlow has done such a good job of capturing the raw pain, the emotional angst, and the gritty, powerful, realistic psychological agony that he is feeling over the loss of his friends and comrades, of what he has both seen and done. It is some really great writing, and pays a lot of respect to those who suffer with it each day).
There is the grief of the soldiers at various scenes when they realise that they have lost friends, or the severe casualty rate of friendlies, and even just the senseless killing of the enemy, the psychological impact it has on them. For some, it can actually break them, others, it turns them into stronger soldiers – but at the cost of their souls.
Partlow has obviously done a lot of research into combat, to get the brutality, realism, the pure craziness of it, and for Andy, his collapse into almost a berserker so he can cope with the nature of war. The writing is not just gritty, and real, but very raw and for most of it, very emotive. It is exceptionally well done.
Partlow’s story is extraordinary, in that it can go from side splitting humour, to ethical dilemma’s in the Political arena, and the next chapter, you are utterly engaged in brutal combat, that you just can’t put down, as you have to know what is going to happen, who is going to survive.
Because that is the other thing that Partlow does well, he is willing to take out his main characters, no one is safe. This is a Mil Sci-Fi story, in which the main characters are fighting for their lives on a constant basis in a vicious war, and Partlow doesn’t believe in invulnerable heroes like a lot of books (Hey, we just fought for 10hrs, everyone else is dead, but it’s ok, the main 8 characters came through with only a few scratches – of paint on their power armour….)
If you want a really great read, one that you will not only be seriously having to put the book down as you are crying from laughter at some of the things that Andy has done (the comments that come out of his mouth are priceless), one that makes you think of chocolate (All the Easter Eggs!! There are so many references to Movies and Books, different quotes, it is like Ready Player One), and some of the most incredible action you are going to read – with some fierce action, and more importantly, some Exceptional Characters that tell an outstanding story, you will love this.
Must Read Mil Sci-Fi of 2021!!!
January 20, 2021
An interesting series
This series has interesting characters as well as an intriguing storyline. With lots of action and suspense it will keep you wanting more
This series has interesting characters as well as an intriguing storyline. With lots of action and suspense it will keep you wanting more
January 5, 2021
Fantastic Storyline
Well that was a cracking storyline with some very interesting alien characters lol. Plenty of blood and guts just the way I like my stories. Looking forward to the next book 🐻🐻🐼🐙🐙
Well that was a cracking storyline with some very interesting alien characters lol. Plenty of blood and guts just the way I like my stories. Looking forward to the next book 🐻🐻🐼🐙🐙
December 30, 2020
Return Fire (Earth at War Book 3)
Return Fire, the third book in the Earth at War series, ratchets up every situation from the first two books. The tensions between the nations on Earth are at an all-time high and the likelihood of the Alliance allowing humans into their numbers seems lower than ever. And in the idle of all this is Andy Clanton, a hack science fiction writer, a PTSD-stricken Marine, a recovering alcoholic, an absentee father who is trying to get his life together, and maybe the only man who can save the world.
I’ve read all of Rick Partlow’s books and Andy Clanton is by far my favorite character he’s ever written. Flawed, vulnerable, scared but self-aware and always trying to do the right thing even when he really doesn’t want to.
Do yourself a favor and read this series, you’ll thank me later.
Return Fire, the third book in the Earth at War series, ratchets up every situation from the first two books. The tensions between the nations on Earth are at an all-time high and the likelihood of the Alliance allowing humans into their numbers seems lower than ever. And in the idle of all this is Andy Clanton, a hack science fiction writer, a PTSD-stricken Marine, a recovering alcoholic, an absentee father who is trying to get his life together, and maybe the only man who can save the world.
I’ve read all of Rick Partlow’s books and Andy Clanton is by far my favorite character he’s ever written. Flawed, vulnerable, scared but self-aware and always trying to do the right thing even when he really doesn’t want to.
Do yourself a favor and read this series, you’ll thank me later.
January 5, 2021
Another one out of the park!!
A great snarky,humorous,action packed space thriller...again!! Don't know how you do Rick,just don't stop!(But you don't plan to,do you..wink wink 😉)
A great snarky,humorous,action packed space thriller...again!! Don't know how you do Rick,just don't stop!(But you don't plan to,do you..wink wink 😉)
January 2, 2021
Great book
Rick keeps the plots and action running “All ahead full” which is the command given onboard military ships to go full speed. I agree the star cruisers should be commanded by “Navy/Coast Guard personnel, not ground pounders! Exciting book! Can’t wait for BLACK MATTER to come out!
Rick keeps the plots and action running “All ahead full” which is the command given onboard military ships to go full speed. I agree the star cruisers should be commanded by “Navy/Coast Guard personnel, not ground pounders! Exciting book! Can’t wait for BLACK MATTER to come out!
January 4, 2021
4.5
Love this author’s writing style. Also the copy was fairly clean which made reading a pleasure. I always look forward to RP’S wonderful imagination.
Love this author’s writing style. Also the copy was fairly clean which made reading a pleasure. I always look forward to RP’S wonderful imagination.
January 2, 2021
I love this series
I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed all the books in this series. Lots of action, some suspense, and great dialog.
I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed all the books in this series. Lots of action, some suspense, and great dialog.
December 29, 2020
A great trilogy
Rick Partlow writes wonderful science fiction and this trilogy is representative of his excellent work. The story concludes where it began, in space near Earth. Major Clanton, along with the Delta Team, will fight to the last to save Earth. The diplomacy effort did not produce the desired outcome, which guarantees that the action is virtually non stop.
Buy the first book, you'll be hooked.
Rick Partlow writes wonderful science fiction and this trilogy is representative of his excellent work. The story concludes where it began, in space near Earth. Major Clanton, along with the Delta Team, will fight to the last to save Earth. The diplomacy effort did not produce the desired outcome, which guarantees that the action is virtually non stop.
Buy the first book, you'll be hooked.
January 1, 2021
A fun read. Good characters. Well written with the right balance of action and humor.
December 30, 2020
Let's boldly go
Good amounts of action, high level diplomacy, and tragedy. The next book should have moose hunting, which could become a tourist attraction with certain allies
Good amounts of action, high level diplomacy, and tragedy. The next book should have moose hunting, which could become a tourist attraction with certain allies
December 31, 2020
OUTSTANDING!
Partlow has written an exciting and action filled story that captivates and emotionally drains you! Holy shit! Could not put it down!
Partlow has written an exciting and action filled story that captivates and emotionally drains you! Holy shit! Could not put it down!
December 29, 2020
Another great book
The book picks up where the previous one left off. The action continues at a pace. Loved the introduction of the new races and the ending promises more of the same.
The book picks up where the previous one left off. The action continues at a pace. Loved the introduction of the new races and the ending promises more of the same.
December 27, 2020
An amazing read
This series keeps going from strength to strength. It is so entertaining that is hard to put a book down once you start reading it. I recommend this series to anyone that loves a great read.
This series keeps going from strength to strength. It is so entertaining that is hard to put a book down once you start reading it. I recommend this series to anyone that loves a great read.
December 19, 2021
It's great reading a military science fiction book that is clearly written by an adult! Sorry, but the last book I read was really bad and this one is so, so much better! This, of course, is the third book in the series and it's been very interesting up to this point and it's going to be getting much more interesting.
Of course, this is a science fiction writers dream book since the main character is a former science fiction writer who also happened to have been a former Marine. Through some unusual circumstances, this science fiction writer found himself drafted back into the military while using some of his sci-fi imagination to deal with some new problems mainly involving aliens. Earth has suddenly found that they are certainly not alone in the universe and are in fact one of several civilizations occupying space in the universe. All is fine except for the one problem with the Tevynians. These are the most human looking aliens, but they are also the most aggressive and have been waging war against the other three alien races and now they have found Earth. It's not hard to believe that the Tevynians will bring their war to Earth and very soon.
Still, Major Andy Clanton has been busy. He's found himself in the lead position of a Delta Force having proven his combat skills in books 1 and 2. Now he's come to the attention of the President of the United States since Andy was a Medal of Honor awardee from book 2. He was instrumental in capturing a Tevynian starship, but that starship has now been stolen by the Chinese with the help of the Russians. Part of the reason for this is that the United States has been keeping their relationship with the Heltans a secret and an exclusive association. The Heltans have had no problem giving the American some advance technology and science which has advanced the Americans to a great extent. Security isn't on of those improved areas apparently!
So, Major Clanton and his Delta force is charged with getting the Tevynian starship back. He also believes that the Chinese and Russians are going to use this starship in negotiations with the Tevynians. So, that mission has to get done and then it's back to another mission of a completely different nature.
Major Clanton and his troops are going to a significant conference of the Alliance. This Alliance is a group of aliens, Helta, Vironians and Chamblisi. Major Clanton is in charge of security, not something that will be easy to do, but he's prepared or so he thinks. The problem is the Tevynians are too much like humans and have infiltrated the American contingent. But this is not the last of the American's problems.
The purpose of the Alliance conference is got vote on whether to accept the Americans or humans into that Alliance. It might not go according to the Americans wishes and if it doesn't, then they are going to have to defend Earth and the Solar System by themselves. Intelligence sources say that the Tevynians are preparing to attack the Solar System especially if the Alliance choses not to accept the Americans. With only one combat capable starship in service and one partially finished in the dry docks, the Americans are not ready for any kind of star wars! Yet, that's exactly what happens.
Now Major Clanton finds he must fight a battle he's not prepared to fight. There's no way Earth can stand up to the Tevynians and then the Russians and Chinese begin internal terrorist attacks on American soil. As you can see, there are lots of problems going on and not a lot of solutions. Major Clanton gets captured by the Tevynians and sees his beautiful fiancee's starship explode in front of him. Not what you want to see at the end of an exciting book. You're definitely going to have to read this one to the end!
Of course, this is a science fiction writers dream book since the main character is a former science fiction writer who also happened to have been a former Marine. Through some unusual circumstances, this science fiction writer found himself drafted back into the military while using some of his sci-fi imagination to deal with some new problems mainly involving aliens. Earth has suddenly found that they are certainly not alone in the universe and are in fact one of several civilizations occupying space in the universe. All is fine except for the one problem with the Tevynians. These are the most human looking aliens, but they are also the most aggressive and have been waging war against the other three alien races and now they have found Earth. It's not hard to believe that the Tevynians will bring their war to Earth and very soon.
Still, Major Andy Clanton has been busy. He's found himself in the lead position of a Delta Force having proven his combat skills in books 1 and 2. Now he's come to the attention of the President of the United States since Andy was a Medal of Honor awardee from book 2. He was instrumental in capturing a Tevynian starship, but that starship has now been stolen by the Chinese with the help of the Russians. Part of the reason for this is that the United States has been keeping their relationship with the Heltans a secret and an exclusive association. The Heltans have had no problem giving the American some advance technology and science which has advanced the Americans to a great extent. Security isn't on of those improved areas apparently!
So, Major Clanton and his Delta force is charged with getting the Tevynian starship back. He also believes that the Chinese and Russians are going to use this starship in negotiations with the Tevynians. So, that mission has to get done and then it's back to another mission of a completely different nature.
Major Clanton and his troops are going to a significant conference of the Alliance. This Alliance is a group of aliens, Helta, Vironians and Chamblisi. Major Clanton is in charge of security, not something that will be easy to do, but he's prepared or so he thinks. The problem is the Tevynians are too much like humans and have infiltrated the American contingent. But this is not the last of the American's problems.
The purpose of the Alliance conference is got vote on whether to accept the Americans or humans into that Alliance. It might not go according to the Americans wishes and if it doesn't, then they are going to have to defend Earth and the Solar System by themselves. Intelligence sources say that the Tevynians are preparing to attack the Solar System especially if the Alliance choses not to accept the Americans. With only one combat capable starship in service and one partially finished in the dry docks, the Americans are not ready for any kind of star wars! Yet, that's exactly what happens.
Now Major Clanton finds he must fight a battle he's not prepared to fight. There's no way Earth can stand up to the Tevynians and then the Russians and Chinese begin internal terrorist attacks on American soil. As you can see, there are lots of problems going on and not a lot of solutions. Major Clanton gets captured by the Tevynians and sees his beautiful fiancee's starship explode in front of him. Not what you want to see at the end of an exciting book. You're definitely going to have to read this one to the end!
April 27, 2022
Is it a spacecraft or a spaceship?
Interstellar war comes calling. The odds are desperate. What's a Marine to do? But fight on. Even with the help of Army Rangers and Space Force airedales. Interservice rivalries, traditions, and even lingo contend to settle the question, will space be the realm of the Army Space Force or a Space Navy with Space Marines. This line of inquiry is a bit of gallows humor as America's fledgling space-borne military struggles to survive against enemies both foreign and alien. The bigger question of survival is by necessity grimmer and darker. But desperate times raise up unexpected heroes. And require extraordinary sacrifices. The brave few fight on despite overwhelming odds. In death ground, fight.
Author, Rick Partlow, continues his engaging Earth at War military sci-fi series with Book 3, Return Fire. And delivers page-turning intensity. It succeeds with inspiring examples of individual courage and initiative, "small arms" combat team tactics and cohesion, ship-to-ship combat, and fleet level engagements. (Sounds like a Navy to me.)
Interstellar war comes calling. The odds are desperate. What's a Marine to do? But fight on. Even with the help of Army Rangers and Space Force airedales. Interservice rivalries, traditions, and even lingo contend to settle the question, will space be the realm of the Army Space Force or a Space Navy with Space Marines. This line of inquiry is a bit of gallows humor as America's fledgling space-borne military struggles to survive against enemies both foreign and alien. The bigger question of survival is by necessity grimmer and darker. But desperate times raise up unexpected heroes. And require extraordinary sacrifices. The brave few fight on despite overwhelming odds. In death ground, fight.
Author, Rick Partlow, continues his engaging Earth at War military sci-fi series with Book 3, Return Fire. And delivers page-turning intensity. It succeeds with inspiring examples of individual courage and initiative, "small arms" combat team tactics and cohesion, ship-to-ship combat, and fleet level engagements. (Sounds like a Navy to me.)
January 12, 2026
Outnumbered, Outgunned, and Out of Options: Humanity's Last Stand Heats Up [4/5 Stars]
Book three of Rick Partlow's Earth at War series, Return Fire, picks up the pace and the pressure. If the first two books were about humanity scrambling for a seat at the interstellar table, this is where the table gets flipped and the real brawl begins. Earth is in chaos, our allies are fractured, and the full might of the Tevynian fleet is bearing down on us. Our only hope? A sarcastic, PTSD-riddled sci-fi writer turned reluctant commander, Andy Clanton, who has to convince a galaxy of skeptical aliens that we're the good guys—despite looking identical to their genocidal enemies. It's a desperate, action-packed ride that earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars for delivering exactly what military sci-fi fans crave: high stakes, tense diplomacy, and explosive payoffs.
Key Themes: Trust, Identity, and the Burden of Command
The Crippling Weight of Distrust: The brilliant core conflict—humans looking exactly like the monstrous Tevynians—reaches its peak here. Andy isn't just fighting a war; he's fighting prejudice on a galactic scale. The book explores how deep-seated fear can cripple alliances, making diplomacy as dangerous as any frontline battle.
Found Family Under Fire: The crew of the James Bowie has evolved from a military unit into a tight-knit, surrogate family. This theme is tested as external pressures mount and internal loyalties are strained, showing how bonds forged in combat become the emotional backbone needed to survive impossible odds.
Leadership vs. Heroism: Andy's journey is a masterclass in reluctant leadership. He's not a born hero; he's a flawed man making brutal, pragmatic calls. The story contrasts the glamour of heroic last stands with the grim, thankless work of strategic command and political maneuvering required to save civilizations.
Character Analysis: The Writer and the Warrior
Andy Clanton: His character arc deepens meaningfully. No longer just the "hack writer" in over his head, he's now a seasoned officer grappling with the psychological toll of command. His veteran's perspective and sci-fi knowledge remain his secret weapons, but we see the cracks from the stress, making him more relatable and human.
The Expanded Cast: This book shines in introducing the wider galactic alliance. We meet the Skrith (wolf-like warriors), the Chelon (reptilian), and others, each with distinct cultures and prejudices. These aren't just set dressing; their interactions with humanity drive the plot and force Andy into a hilarious yet deadly serious confrontation that has major repercussions.
Pops and Julie: Andy's core Earth-bound relationships continue to provide grounding. Their struggles back home remind us that the war has a domestic front, where political betrayal and personal fear are just as threatening as alien warships.
Writing Style & Pacing: Authentic and Relentless
Partlow, an Army veteran, brings gritty authenticity to the tactical dialogue and combat sequences. The prose is straightforward and functional, prioritizing momentum and clarity over poetic flourish. The pacing is relentless, a common strength noted by readers who describe it as "non-stop action". After a necessary setup, the story becomes a sprint through space battles, diplomatic crises, and ground assaults. Some readers felt certain action sequences could be trimmed, but the breakneck speed effectively mirrors the characters' constant state of crisis. The tone expertly blends gallows humor with genuine tension, making the high stakes feel real.
What I Liked/Disliked
Liked:
World-Building Payoff: Meeting the various alliance races is a highlight. Partlow provides a clever, pseudo-scientific rationale for the "humanoid" aliens that is more satisfying than most hand-waving in the genre.
Elevated Stakes: The threat feels existential and urgent. The Tevynians are a formidable, hate-driven foe, and the political chaos on Earth adds a compelling layer of danger from within.
Andy's Voice: His cynical, pop-culture-laced internal monologue remains a delight, offering perfect levity amidst the chaos.
Disliked (or Considerations):
Formulaic Action Beats: A few of the "do-or-die" scenarios can feel repetitive, relying on last-minute, against-all-odds escapes that might strain believability for some.
Political Simplification: The geopolitics, particularly involving rival nations like Russia and China, can sometimes veer toward simplistic "pot-boiler" tropes, as noted in reviews of earlier books.
A Familiar Feel: At its heart, the story follows a classic military sci-fi framework. The unique premise carries it, but fans of the genre will recognize well-trodden narrative paths.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Final Verdict: Return Fire is a must-read for anyone invested in the Earth at War series. It successfully raises the stakes, expands the universe in exciting ways, and delivers the gritty, action-focused storytelling that defines Partlow's work.
You'll love this book if: You enjoyed the first two books, love tactical military sci-fi with a strong "band of brothers" vibe, and appreciate stories where diplomatic tension is as thrilling as space combat. Fans of John Ringo or David Weber's early work will feel right at home.
You might want to DNF if: You prefer hard sci-fi or deeply philosophical plots. This is unapologetically a war story focused on action, tactics, and the perseverance of soldiers (even accidental ones).
If you're looking for a propulsive, entertaining sci-fi series that improves with each book, Return Fire solidifies Earth at War as a binge-worthy contender. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger that will have you immediately checking for Book 4.
Book three of Rick Partlow's Earth at War series, Return Fire, picks up the pace and the pressure. If the first two books were about humanity scrambling for a seat at the interstellar table, this is where the table gets flipped and the real brawl begins. Earth is in chaos, our allies are fractured, and the full might of the Tevynian fleet is bearing down on us. Our only hope? A sarcastic, PTSD-riddled sci-fi writer turned reluctant commander, Andy Clanton, who has to convince a galaxy of skeptical aliens that we're the good guys—despite looking identical to their genocidal enemies. It's a desperate, action-packed ride that earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars for delivering exactly what military sci-fi fans crave: high stakes, tense diplomacy, and explosive payoffs.
Key Themes: Trust, Identity, and the Burden of Command
The Crippling Weight of Distrust: The brilliant core conflict—humans looking exactly like the monstrous Tevynians—reaches its peak here. Andy isn't just fighting a war; he's fighting prejudice on a galactic scale. The book explores how deep-seated fear can cripple alliances, making diplomacy as dangerous as any frontline battle.
Found Family Under Fire: The crew of the James Bowie has evolved from a military unit into a tight-knit, surrogate family. This theme is tested as external pressures mount and internal loyalties are strained, showing how bonds forged in combat become the emotional backbone needed to survive impossible odds.
Leadership vs. Heroism: Andy's journey is a masterclass in reluctant leadership. He's not a born hero; he's a flawed man making brutal, pragmatic calls. The story contrasts the glamour of heroic last stands with the grim, thankless work of strategic command and political maneuvering required to save civilizations.
Character Analysis: The Writer and the Warrior
Andy Clanton: His character arc deepens meaningfully. No longer just the "hack writer" in over his head, he's now a seasoned officer grappling with the psychological toll of command. His veteran's perspective and sci-fi knowledge remain his secret weapons, but we see the cracks from the stress, making him more relatable and human.
The Expanded Cast: This book shines in introducing the wider galactic alliance. We meet the Skrith (wolf-like warriors), the Chelon (reptilian), and others, each with distinct cultures and prejudices. These aren't just set dressing; their interactions with humanity drive the plot and force Andy into a hilarious yet deadly serious confrontation that has major repercussions.
Pops and Julie: Andy's core Earth-bound relationships continue to provide grounding. Their struggles back home remind us that the war has a domestic front, where political betrayal and personal fear are just as threatening as alien warships.
Writing Style & Pacing: Authentic and Relentless
Partlow, an Army veteran, brings gritty authenticity to the tactical dialogue and combat sequences. The prose is straightforward and functional, prioritizing momentum and clarity over poetic flourish. The pacing is relentless, a common strength noted by readers who describe it as "non-stop action". After a necessary setup, the story becomes a sprint through space battles, diplomatic crises, and ground assaults. Some readers felt certain action sequences could be trimmed, but the breakneck speed effectively mirrors the characters' constant state of crisis. The tone expertly blends gallows humor with genuine tension, making the high stakes feel real.
What I Liked/Disliked
Liked:
World-Building Payoff: Meeting the various alliance races is a highlight. Partlow provides a clever, pseudo-scientific rationale for the "humanoid" aliens that is more satisfying than most hand-waving in the genre.
Elevated Stakes: The threat feels existential and urgent. The Tevynians are a formidable, hate-driven foe, and the political chaos on Earth adds a compelling layer of danger from within.
Andy's Voice: His cynical, pop-culture-laced internal monologue remains a delight, offering perfect levity amidst the chaos.
Disliked (or Considerations):
Formulaic Action Beats: A few of the "do-or-die" scenarios can feel repetitive, relying on last-minute, against-all-odds escapes that might strain believability for some.
Political Simplification: The geopolitics, particularly involving rival nations like Russia and China, can sometimes veer toward simplistic "pot-boiler" tropes, as noted in reviews of earlier books.
A Familiar Feel: At its heart, the story follows a classic military sci-fi framework. The unique premise carries it, but fans of the genre will recognize well-trodden narrative paths.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Final Verdict: Return Fire is a must-read for anyone invested in the Earth at War series. It successfully raises the stakes, expands the universe in exciting ways, and delivers the gritty, action-focused storytelling that defines Partlow's work.
You'll love this book if: You enjoyed the first two books, love tactical military sci-fi with a strong "band of brothers" vibe, and appreciate stories where diplomatic tension is as thrilling as space combat. Fans of John Ringo or David Weber's early work will feel right at home.
You might want to DNF if: You prefer hard sci-fi or deeply philosophical plots. This is unapologetically a war story focused on action, tactics, and the perseverance of soldiers (even accidental ones).
If you're looking for a propulsive, entertaining sci-fi series that improves with each book, Return Fire solidifies Earth at War as a binge-worthy contender. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger that will have you immediately checking for Book 4.
May 28, 2021
Great story, but it grinds along sometimes
Impossible challenges, inept aliens, great writing. Likeable characters but I found myself skipping ahead pages as we would grind though another do or die action scene with a Hail Mary pass at the end. The author is great at description, but he’s sudden death to his characters. I look forward to book 4 and will explore his other works though as he’s got style.
Impossible challenges, inept aliens, great writing. Likeable characters but I found myself skipping ahead pages as we would grind though another do or die action scene with a Hail Mary pass at the end. The author is great at description, but he’s sudden death to his characters. I look forward to book 4 and will explore his other works though as he’s got style.
January 10, 2021
And this is all far as I got because the Idiot Ball finally got passed one too many times for my suspension of disbelief to survive. As it's listed in tvtropes.com, the idiot ball is used when the writers can't justify any of the plot elements without characters that should all know better doing something really really stupid to keep the story going. This was just the last straw.
February 28, 2021
Fun Sci Fi filled with interesting twists
Another new take on the genre, where the enemy is us, the tech is grounded, and the plot us full of the unexpected and interesting.
The entire Earth at War series are fun, fast page turners, and I can't wait for the series to continue from where it left off.
Another new take on the genre, where the enemy is us, the tech is grounded, and the plot us full of the unexpected and interesting.
The entire Earth at War series are fun, fast page turners, and I can't wait for the series to continue from where it left off.
April 22, 2022
Complements to the author, this the third book continues to entertain.
Although like manu series some of the dialog is repeditive, but the author did not allow this to interfeer with the story or with the characters.
With the way the author is building the storyline, it seems that there could be at least another 3 book.
Although like manu series some of the dialog is repeditive, but the author did not allow this to interfeer with the story or with the characters.
With the way the author is building the storyline, it seems that there could be at least another 3 book.
February 27, 2021
Excellent story!
It's a good read, but how am I supposed to criticize and suggest when I cannot write myself? There were times I laughed, this story tickled my funny bone. But I would rather read John Ringo, but I can't afford him.
It's a good read, but how am I supposed to criticize and suggest when I cannot write myself? There were times I laughed, this story tickled my funny bone. But I would rather read John Ringo, but I can't afford him.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews