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The Other Guys #1
Heroes of Last Resort
Jack Jensen is a middle-aged nobody who lives a lackluster life in an even more uninteresting town. Having sampled every job the small town of Merrill, Wisconsin has to offer, he has excelled at nothing but growing his beer gut and his luxurious curly, chestnut brown hair. His life is one of unrealized potential and lack of direction.
Things change one morning when his brother, an Army Major, lands his helicopter in the parking lot of Jack’s less-than-profitable gaming store in a desperate bid to thrust the perennial slacker into the role of saving the country, the world, and even more unlikely, himself.
Heroes of Last Resort is a LitRPG series that features leveling, detailed character systems, epic world saving quests, and much more. The story features a middle-aged MC born in 1975.
Things change one morning when his brother, an Army Major, lands his helicopter in the parking lot of Jack’s less-than-profitable gaming store in a desperate bid to thrust the perennial slacker into the role of saving the country, the world, and even more unlikely, himself.
Heroes of Last Resort is a LitRPG series that features leveling, detailed character systems, epic world saving quests, and much more. The story features a middle-aged MC born in 1975.
- GenresFantasy
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2021
112 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 13, 2021
Let me start by saying that I pity the narrator who has to read this book. There are dozens and dozens of different voices used by the characters, from Morpheus to Pinocchio to Keanu Reeves, and much more besides. If someone can pull this off, more power to them.
This is your standard D&D style book, with a portal found in the middle of Alaska (it's never really explained in any detail) that takes you to another world where you get to be the Champion for Earth to keep a reptilian race from taking over the world. Or someone helping the champion from Earth, depending on when you got there.
I do think that the military aspect early on in the book could have been skipped. There are dozens of reasons I can think of why portal usage was limited besides the military, and I doubt the military would ever send a 5'9" overweight guy who runs a comic book store. (Think a fat version of Stuart from TBBT).
Most importantly, the story is good after Jack (the MC) gets inside the portal and explores this new world. Honestly, if we had just started there it would have been much better, and much quicker to get to the action.
I should also note that there are multiple references to movies, TV, and almost every other kind of pop culture type out there. Again, this is most noticeable in the beginning, and calms down later on inside the portal.
While I enjoyed reading the book, there are some oddities in Jack's (the MC) characterization. His brother chastises him for not being able to hold a job down for more than a few months, but later on he's an Eagle scout, and someone who went hunting every summer with his grandfather.
To me, that doesn't sound like someone who can't keep at something. Eagle scout is not easy to achieve, yet Jack pulled it. I have a feeling these discrepancies will disappear in book 2, as the authors get out of first book mode and into their author careers.
Most importantly, the book does get better after the 30% mark. I laughed out loud during the goblin quest, and it gets better from there. There's still the odd hiccup, but I enjoyed the book much more, and adding Gooch was a good move as well. The team completes a few quests as they learn about the world, and what they need to do next.
It's not a perfect novel, but if you skip the first 25-30%, you won't encounter most of what I described above, and you'll get to enjoy what is best about this book: the fun of having your LitRPG dreams come true.
A lot of fun. 4/5*
PS -- Harvard doesn't offer Harvard athletic scholarships, and pineapples don't grow on trees. Just saying.
This is your standard D&D style book, with a portal found in the middle of Alaska (it's never really explained in any detail) that takes you to another world where you get to be the Champion for Earth to keep a reptilian race from taking over the world. Or someone helping the champion from Earth, depending on when you got there.
I do think that the military aspect early on in the book could have been skipped. There are dozens of reasons I can think of why portal usage was limited besides the military, and I doubt the military would ever send a 5'9" overweight guy who runs a comic book store. (Think a fat version of Stuart from TBBT).
Most importantly, the story is good after Jack (the MC) gets inside the portal and explores this new world. Honestly, if we had just started there it would have been much better, and much quicker to get to the action.
I should also note that there are multiple references to movies, TV, and almost every other kind of pop culture type out there. Again, this is most noticeable in the beginning, and calms down later on inside the portal.
While I enjoyed reading the book, there are some oddities in Jack's (the MC) characterization. His brother chastises him for not being able to hold a job down for more than a few months, but later on he's an Eagle scout, and someone who went hunting every summer with his grandfather.
To me, that doesn't sound like someone who can't keep at something. Eagle scout is not easy to achieve, yet Jack pulled it. I have a feeling these discrepancies will disappear in book 2, as the authors get out of first book mode and into their author careers.
Most importantly, the book does get better after the 30% mark. I laughed out loud during the goblin quest, and it gets better from there. There's still the odd hiccup, but I enjoyed the book much more, and adding Gooch was a good move as well. The team completes a few quests as they learn about the world, and what they need to do next.
It's not a perfect novel, but if you skip the first 25-30%, you won't encounter most of what I described above, and you'll get to enjoy what is best about this book: the fun of having your LitRPG dreams come true.
A lot of fun. 4/5*
PS -- Harvard doesn't offer Harvard athletic scholarships, and pineapples don't grow on trees. Just saying.
October 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this book.
This book was really enjoyable to read as it made me get engaged with the characters and root for them to come out on top. The world building is interesting and the characters are intriguing as they remind me of some of my old RPG friends. Overall it was a excellent book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
This book was really enjoyable to read as it made me get engaged with the characters and root for them to come out on top. The world building is interesting and the characters are intriguing as they remind me of some of my old RPG friends. Overall it was a excellent book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
August 13, 2021
Great book
Stellar work from JK Galileo and CT Knospe! Lots of action and adventure, skills and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!
Stellar work from JK Galileo and CT Knospe! Lots of action and adventure, skills and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!
August 13, 2021
Readable just barely
The main character gets old very fast,the writer started putting in all kinds of moral crap and put in supposedly funny quotes but that does not make story at all!!.A gammer who is better than a special forces person? Yeah right!! Obviously the writers no nothing of the different types of training goes into special forces!!
The main character gets old very fast,the writer started putting in all kinds of moral crap and put in supposedly funny quotes but that does not make story at all!!.A gammer who is better than a special forces person? Yeah right!! Obviously the writers no nothing of the different types of training goes into special forces!!
February 27, 2022
Fun book, great characters, written with a sense of humor
What would you do if you were offered the chance to step through a door to an unknown world where life played out like a video game, but your very life was at risk just by stepping through this gateway? You would go of course!
At least the main character here does.. and so would I!
This was a very enjoyable first book in a new series where the characters are likeable, the pace was relatively quick and steady all the way through, and I loved that whoever or whatever controlled the video game logic in this world was written as having a sense of humor!
What would you do if you were offered the chance to step through a door to an unknown world where life played out like a video game, but your very life was at risk just by stepping through this gateway? You would go of course!
At least the main character here does.. and so would I!
This was a very enjoyable first book in a new series where the characters are likeable, the pace was relatively quick and steady all the way through, and I loved that whoever or whatever controlled the video game logic in this world was written as having a sense of humor!
September 4, 2021
Funny and a new plot!
I don't find many authors that I am able to agree with on their choices for their characters so I was pleasantly surprised when I agreed with every choice in the book! Author, great minds and all that. Well done.
I don't find many authors that I am able to agree with on their choices for their characters so I was pleasantly surprised when I agreed with every choice in the book! Author, great minds and all that. Well done.
September 19, 2021
Well written. Captivating story line. Stayed up all night before I knew it while reading it.
See the above. Highly recommend to all lovers of lrpg. Going to let my Grandson read it. I believe he'll love it!
See the above. Highly recommend to all lovers of lrpg. Going to let my Grandson read it. I believe he'll love it!
September 16, 2021
Not terrible but not great. The story is interesting but the execution could use some work. The MC goes up levels and gains skills very quickly and yet he doesn’t seem to get that much better at fighting. He’s a rogue class but every time he gains a level his constitution increases but not his agility. This makes no sense. The world building is also pretty weak. There’s potential here but the author needs to do more work to really bring it out.
August 24, 2021
i hope for many more to come
I really enjoyed this! I believe it’s the first I’ve read where real world skills translate into skills and feats in the New World. Example do you know how to cook you get +10 to the cooking skills to start. very well done.
I really enjoyed this! I believe it’s the first I’ve read where real world skills translate into skills and feats in the New World. Example do you know how to cook you get +10 to the cooking skills to start. very well done.
February 14, 2022
Love it
Buy it, read it. Love this book, great characters, very retro 80s and 90s memories. The story was great and am looking forward to seeing what happens in the future.
Buy it, read it. Love this book, great characters, very retro 80s and 90s memories. The story was great and am looking forward to seeing what happens in the future.
February 14, 2022
Bard main character with potential for group setting in the following books. Count me in.
September 6, 2021
Very enjoyable
Funny and action filled portal fantasy. Great wish fulfillment as it seems only a "loser" can save us all. Not a loser at all of course
Funny and action filled portal fantasy. Great wish fulfillment as it seems only a "loser" can save us all. Not a loser at all of course
August 17, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: This was well written and edited. I found one mistake.
Plot: The entire military minds not being able to adapt was unbelievable. Military folks tend to be well read, especially the special forces. They would have been able to adapt to a new world, not have their heads explode. So if you ignore that and how the brother is recruited, this is a pretty good story.
Characters: The random movie quotes is slightly annoying, otherwise likable characters.
7/10
Mistakes: This was well written and edited. I found one mistake.
Plot: The entire military minds not being able to adapt was unbelievable. Military folks tend to be well read, especially the special forces. They would have been able to adapt to a new world, not have their heads explode. So if you ignore that and how the brother is recruited, this is a pretty good story.
Characters: The random movie quotes is slightly annoying, otherwise likable characters.
7/10
August 14, 2021
Pretty good start to a new series
Overall it was a good read. Only a few minor gripes about choices by the MC, but enjoyed what I read and look forward to reading what happens next.
Overall it was a good read. Only a few minor gripes about choices by the MC, but enjoyed what I read and look forward to reading what happens next.
April 12, 2023
DNF at 44%
It trys too hard. Too many dad jokes, too many pop culture references.
It seems that after several successful books that skillfully weave pop culture references throughout the story there has been several authors that have tried to jump on the bandwagon by stuffing in as much pop culture in as possible, throw in some lame humour then loosely tie a story around it and hope for the best. This unfortunately is the later. It could have been good... but it's not.
It trys too hard. Too many dad jokes, too many pop culture references.
It seems that after several successful books that skillfully weave pop culture references throughout the story there has been several authors that have tried to jump on the bandwagon by stuffing in as much pop culture in as possible, throw in some lame humour then loosely tie a story around it and hope for the best. This unfortunately is the later. It could have been good... but it's not.
January 10, 2022
Ace
Well done, sizing up to be a winning tale. Really looking forward to future installments. Please make it as soon as you can!
Well done, sizing up to be a winning tale. Really looking forward to future installments. Please make it as soon as you can!
September 19, 2021
Could be better
Not bad story, but interrogation of captured enemy, who probably knew how to save billions of earthlings was great disappointment
Not bad story, but interrogation of captured enemy, who probably knew how to save billions of earthlings was great disappointment
March 15, 2022
Solid and Unique
Litrpg's are one of those genres when something is great its amazing but also when it's bad it's terrible. There is no middle ground usually. This book grew on me the more I read and story structure was good and not many gram errors.
The story of turning real life and transferring to character sheet is not unique to the genre. I mean it is one of the few ways to make thus genre along with virtual capsules and the other is world altering events. What makes it unique is both the cast of characters and a semi believable plot. As ridiculous as the plot may be, there is nothing that takes away from the immersion of the story. That is a fatal flaw when authors try to mix in their politics and social beliefs in stories. It's usually jarring and you are left saying, "Where did that come from."
I usually rank any book I complete as a 3 no matter what cause it did it's job and left me captivated to the end. I give this a 5 cause well I admire the humor, the cast of unassuming heroes looks promising, and the stats/perks leave me intrigued for more. This is on my recommend list. The story isn't earth shattering like some others but it is a very solid novel.
Litrpg's are one of those genres when something is great its amazing but also when it's bad it's terrible. There is no middle ground usually. This book grew on me the more I read and story structure was good and not many gram errors.
The story of turning real life and transferring to character sheet is not unique to the genre. I mean it is one of the few ways to make thus genre along with virtual capsules and the other is world altering events. What makes it unique is both the cast of characters and a semi believable plot. As ridiculous as the plot may be, there is nothing that takes away from the immersion of the story. That is a fatal flaw when authors try to mix in their politics and social beliefs in stories. It's usually jarring and you are left saying, "Where did that come from."
I usually rank any book I complete as a 3 no matter what cause it did it's job and left me captivated to the end. I give this a 5 cause well I admire the humor, the cast of unassuming heroes looks promising, and the stats/perks leave me intrigued for more. This is on my recommend list. The story isn't earth shattering like some others but it is a very solid novel.
April 15, 2023
These were OK.
The MC was likeable enough (loser finds a purpose and grows to fill his new role) and the supporting cast grows on you as well.
The story was fine though the battles were dull. It was like having someone tell you about their D&D fight and how they slowly ground down the HP of the opposing creature. More interesting if you are actually there than hearing about it. And there were a number of battles. Eventually, I started to fast forward past them. I never felt as though the author would suddenly kill off the MC or an important secondary. They would be beaten and bruised but ultimately triumph.
Speaking of D&D, this drew so heavily from that ancient (crappy) system that I am surprised the ghost of Gygax didn't show up muttering about lawsuits. The magic system and game system were dull and added nothing new to what we've seen in countless LitRPG's of the past.
Either the writer is a 'gen x'er' or they believe that 'Murican culture peaked in the 80's.
It's mostly the characters and story which keep me plodding forward.
Note, this same review applies to book 2 as this series in another 'long assed story over several books' type of thing.
The MC was likeable enough (loser finds a purpose and grows to fill his new role) and the supporting cast grows on you as well.
The story was fine though the battles were dull. It was like having someone tell you about their D&D fight and how they slowly ground down the HP of the opposing creature. More interesting if you are actually there than hearing about it. And there were a number of battles. Eventually, I started to fast forward past them. I never felt as though the author would suddenly kill off the MC or an important secondary. They would be beaten and bruised but ultimately triumph.
Speaking of D&D, this drew so heavily from that ancient (crappy) system that I am surprised the ghost of Gygax didn't show up muttering about lawsuits. The magic system and game system were dull and added nothing new to what we've seen in countless LitRPG's of the past.
Either the writer is a 'gen x'er' or they believe that 'Murican culture peaked in the 80's.
It's mostly the characters and story which keep me plodding forward.
Note, this same review applies to book 2 as this series in another 'long assed story over several books' type of thing.
August 31, 2021
This started out as a good idea but fell apart during the execution.
The main character is suppose to be intelligent and adaptable. He makes the same mistakes throughout the book by doing the same foolish things over and over. He based his character in selfish desires and not by his current situation. The levels and skill progression are unbalanced with their actual ability. All the perks they are given and combat at the end feels no different than in the beginning. The gracious way of describing the character does not fit with his choices and actions. This is a good idea that was lost in the writing.
The main character is suppose to be intelligent and adaptable. He makes the same mistakes throughout the book by doing the same foolish things over and over. He based his character in selfish desires and not by his current situation. The levels and skill progression are unbalanced with their actual ability. All the perks they are given and combat at the end feels no different than in the beginning. The gracious way of describing the character does not fit with his choices and actions. This is a good idea that was lost in the writing.
April 11, 2023
I had a hard time with this book, in my opinion it was too many skills, too many perks.
Why have sex : male in the status and list it multiple times. It doesn't change its like having durability or rarity of skill. It's just there to pad word count and it detracts heavily on audiobooks.
Instead of listening to one status we now get multiple status sheets from multiple people.
Some weird cutting of chapters where it ends after listing skills, perks and status for 10mins then continues the same the next chapter
Why have sex : male in the status and list it multiple times. It doesn't change its like having durability or rarity of skill. It's just there to pad word count and it detracts heavily on audiobooks.
Instead of listening to one status we now get multiple status sheets from multiple people.
Some weird cutting of chapters where it ends after listing skills, perks and status for 10mins then continues the same the next chapter
November 26, 2025
Extremely silly and requiring more than a little suspension of disbelief to get beyond the premise (The US Army turns to a slacker to save the world), but an effortless fun read. Great audiobook by SoundBooth Theater as well. Filled with enough random pop references to make Matt Dinniman blush, this series will give you occasional chuckles as it barrels through well-executed tropes with abandon. Definitely recommend as a palate cleanser or distraction from less frothy fare.
April 9, 2022
....i love this book SO effing much...=.=
its not fair that i can't get my hands on book two yet.
as someone who KNOWS what's it like to be a nobody with too many rando-job-skills/jack of all trades/loser....this book is a really nice comfort fantasy.
its not fair that i can't get my hands on book two yet.
as someone who KNOWS what's it like to be a nobody with too many rando-job-skills/jack of all trades/loser....this book is a really nice comfort fantasy.
October 28, 2021
great book
I cannot wait for the next book, I just loved the characters and the story that brings them together. So please hurry and get the next book out 😀
I cannot wait for the next book, I just loved the characters and the story that brings them together. So please hurry and get the next book out 😀
March 20, 2022
Fantastic fun read
This is just a fantastic fun read. A bit of wish fulfillment, but the characters are fun and well done.
This is just a fantastic fun read. A bit of wish fulfillment, but the characters are fun and well done.
March 24, 2022
Good story
I like the premise of this series. It is well written, with a good mixture of action and humor. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I like the premise of this series. It is well written, with a good mixture of action and humor. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 28, 2022
Loved this book.
This was a really fun read. Just the right blend of action and comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series.
This was a really fun read. Just the right blend of action and comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series.
May 8, 2022
cool
Geeks have to save the world when the army can’t. I found it entertaining.
Rating : 4/5
Cover : 5/5
Narration: NA
Favorite Line: NA
Geeks have to save the world when the army can’t. I found it entertaining.
Rating : 4/5
Cover : 5/5
Narration: NA
Favorite Line: NA
March 21, 2023
Cheesy but enjoyable... except one thing near the end. I really get irritated with that particular dumbass trope. It's just a special level of stupid that doesn't make sense to me.
July 2, 2023
Fun times!
I honestly love this take on the genre, and makes me wish I'd thought of it first.
Recommend greatly!
Enjoy!
I honestly love this take on the genre, and makes me wish I'd thought of it first.
Recommend greatly!
Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews