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Territory Wars #1
Scourge
What could test a marine more than all-out war? The Scourge.
A simple distress beacon…
A mining colony in the outer reaches…
Supposedly another routine deployment for Mike Barton of the Combined States Marine Corps, but what they find on the surface is unlike anything anyone had ever encountered.
Horribly wounded in a battle with an unknown enemy, Barton only survives through a chance encounter with two special operators. As if the skirmish wasn’t enough, what comes next will be beyond his imagination.
Thrown into a joint task force with troops from the New Russian Confederacy, Barton must return to the colony, face what had befallen him there, and investigate what killed everyone.
But the investigation will have to wait because the Scourge won’t. The fight for his life rages on, and his chances are slim.
A simple distress beacon…
A mining colony in the outer reaches…
Supposedly another routine deployment for Mike Barton of the Combined States Marine Corps, but what they find on the surface is unlike anything anyone had ever encountered.
Horribly wounded in a battle with an unknown enemy, Barton only survives through a chance encounter with two special operators. As if the skirmish wasn’t enough, what comes next will be beyond his imagination.
Thrown into a joint task force with troops from the New Russian Confederacy, Barton must return to the colony, face what had befallen him there, and investigate what killed everyone.
But the investigation will have to wait because the Scourge won’t. The fight for his life rages on, and his chances are slim.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2021
114 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Devon C. Ford
80 books430 followersDevon is from the UK, having lived in many places until finally settling in the Midlands. His career in public services started in his teens and has provided a wealth of experiences, both good and some very bad, which form the basis of the book ideas that cause regular insomnia.
He first started reading for fun as an adult, having tried his hardest to avoid anything resembling academia growing up, and at that point the world became a far bigger place. He has been reading, at least one book at a time, ever since.
His debut works, the After It Happened series, (Survival, Humanity, Society) were published in April 2016 followed by Hope (July 2016) and Sanctuary (December 2016). The first part of the series concluded with the release of Rebellion which was published in June 2017.
Storming high into the charts with the first books of the After It Happened series, Devon launched into the top 10 sellers listings in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US, and he made the decision to write full time shortly after the launch of Hope.
Devon’s self-published beginnings caused a stir in the publishing world, and resulted in contracts with Podium Publishing for Audible, narrated by R.C. Bray (The Martian, Expeditionary Force, Arisen), before a publishing deal for kindle and paperbacks with Vulpine Press.
Further works have seen the start of a multi-author series, sci-fi/post-apocalyptic cross genre, futuristic dystopian and alternative history zombie apocalypse. Spin-off books from the After It Happened world have been announced for 2018.
He first started reading for fun as an adult, having tried his hardest to avoid anything resembling academia growing up, and at that point the world became a far bigger place. He has been reading, at least one book at a time, ever since.
His debut works, the After It Happened series, (Survival, Humanity, Society) were published in April 2016 followed by Hope (July 2016) and Sanctuary (December 2016). The first part of the series concluded with the release of Rebellion which was published in June 2017.
Storming high into the charts with the first books of the After It Happened series, Devon launched into the top 10 sellers listings in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US, and he made the decision to write full time shortly after the launch of Hope.
Devon’s self-published beginnings caused a stir in the publishing world, and resulted in contracts with Podium Publishing for Audible, narrated by R.C. Bray (The Martian, Expeditionary Force, Arisen), before a publishing deal for kindle and paperbacks with Vulpine Press.
Further works have seen the start of a multi-author series, sci-fi/post-apocalyptic cross genre, futuristic dystopian and alternative history zombie apocalypse. Spin-off books from the After It Happened world have been announced for 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 18, 2022
Final book to reach my 171 book Challenge this year. Yay!
This was a pretty good read about a territory war between the US and Russia in space. Some good
battles, right along with some snarky remarks between our hero Michael Barton and Aleksander Komarov, the leader of the Russians that were supposed to be at a truce with the US, to only try to kill all of the team. But, hey! The MC's were easy to remember: Michael Barton, Michael Anders, and Michael MacMillan. LOL
No romance and the F-bomb was used 153 times.
As for the narration: Hmmm! It was just alright for me. James Patrick Cronin has a good reading voice but doesn't have much emotion when he reads the story. Time and time again someone would be in battle and yell something to another and all Cronin would do is read in a normal voice. That's not good preforming to me.
This was a pretty good read about a territory war between the US and Russia in space. Some good
battles, right along with some snarky remarks between our hero Michael Barton and Aleksander Komarov, the leader of the Russians that were supposed to be at a truce with the US, to only try to kill all of the team. But, hey! The MC's were easy to remember: Michael Barton, Michael Anders, and Michael MacMillan. LOL
No romance and the F-bomb was used 153 times.
As for the narration: Hmmm! It was just alright for me. James Patrick Cronin has a good reading voice but doesn't have much emotion when he reads the story. Time and time again someone would be in battle and yell something to another and all Cronin would do is read in a normal voice. That's not good preforming to me.
May 8, 2022
First let me say that I would give this a score of 3.75 out of five but I always round down is my rule.
I found the story interesting fast-paced and the dialogue really well done. The World building falls a little bit short for my tastes. For instance, aside from FTL travel and some plasma weapons the weaponry doesn't seem all that advanced for what would presumably be more than 100 years in the future (they make reference to a previous interplanetary war happening 100 years in the past). Additionally I have some gripes with using depleted uranium as body armor (to my understanding it would be too heavy to be practical alongside being toxic and radioactive).
I would be the first to admit that my gripes with this story are nitpicky to say the least.
Regardless I thoroughly enjoyed this and very much look forward to seeing more.
TLDR really good dialogue and story. World building and science could be better. Does a great job of not trying to over explain the science that's not getting overly bogged down and getting to the important part of the story.
I found the story interesting fast-paced and the dialogue really well done. The World building falls a little bit short for my tastes. For instance, aside from FTL travel and some plasma weapons the weaponry doesn't seem all that advanced for what would presumably be more than 100 years in the future (they make reference to a previous interplanetary war happening 100 years in the past). Additionally I have some gripes with using depleted uranium as body armor (to my understanding it would be too heavy to be practical alongside being toxic and radioactive).
I would be the first to admit that my gripes with this story are nitpicky to say the least.
Regardless I thoroughly enjoyed this and very much look forward to seeing more.
TLDR really good dialogue and story. World building and science could be better. Does a great job of not trying to over explain the science that's not getting overly bogged down and getting to the important part of the story.
October 29, 2022
3.5 Stars
Good pacing with minimal character development. As a military SciFi, it was strong on the first and weak on the second.
The action seemed authentic with tactics, doctrine, and rank structures taken straight out of modern-day American armed forces. The Sci-Fi elements boiled down to spaceships and extra sharp blades. Seemingly there was no technology that changed combat in 200 years. I was disappointed not to see even current cutting-edge tech imagined in future scenarios. There are no temporary distributed networks with terrain mapping and augmented reality. No area denial systems. And no semi-autonomous drones with weapons packages. Instead, we get plasma blades that cut well, and space-going sub-marines (yes that's what they're called). Sigh.
Much of my disappointment was blown away by an excellent, if slightly stuttering, ending. It certainly did the job of making me want to continue reading... so I will.
Good pacing with minimal character development. As a military SciFi, it was strong on the first and weak on the second.
The action seemed authentic with tactics, doctrine, and rank structures taken straight out of modern-day American armed forces. The Sci-Fi elements boiled down to spaceships and extra sharp blades. Seemingly there was no technology that changed combat in 200 years. I was disappointed not to see even current cutting-edge tech imagined in future scenarios. There are no temporary distributed networks with terrain mapping and augmented reality. No area denial systems. And no semi-autonomous drones with weapons packages. Instead, we get plasma blades that cut well, and space-going sub-marines (yes that's what they're called). Sigh.
Much of my disappointment was blown away by an excellent, if slightly stuttering, ending. It certainly did the job of making me want to continue reading... so I will.
October 21, 2021
This is another book where everything is upside down. The British siding with the Russians in the New Russian Confederacy. They are supposed to be working together with the Combined States Marine Corps to discover what has been turning ordinary people, miners and the people sent to investigate, into zombie like creatures on the colony of a planet who's people sent out a distress call asking for help.
But all is not as it seems on the surface.
Mike Barton of the Combined States Marine Corps finds he is in the fight for his life.
This is the first book of this series. It is an interesting read and intriguing.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
But all is not as it seems on the surface.
Mike Barton of the Combined States Marine Corps finds he is in the fight for his life.
This is the first book of this series. It is an interesting read and intriguing.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
October 19, 2021
( Format : ebook )
"Pieces in a game board."
Captivated from the very first paragraph, I enjoyed this book immensely to the very end - and wanted more. Barton's first live action as a Marine was not as he expected, and after that, well, I guess it just became worse! Near non-stop action told in large part from Barton's point of view but also as a general background commentary, the pace is fast, the main character personable, sardonic and well developed and the futuristic political lines established are believable. It's dialogue can be funny, too. Can't wait for the next book in series.
"Pieces in a game board."
Captivated from the very first paragraph, I enjoyed this book immensely to the very end - and wanted more. Barton's first live action as a Marine was not as he expected, and after that, well, I guess it just became worse! Near non-stop action told in large part from Barton's point of view but also as a general background commentary, the pace is fast, the main character personable, sardonic and well developed and the futuristic political lines established are believable. It's dialogue can be funny, too. Can't wait for the next book in series.
February 28, 2024
Wow.
Best military sfi-fi I've ever experienced. This was an experience, not something I just read. The action was excellent - very well described. What really captivated me, however, were the characters: their attitudes, emotions, and motivations. The dialogue brought back some memories of interesting times with a few phrases that were new to me. Most events were down in the trenches with just a few scenes devoted to senior officers. I saw the consequences of top brass decisions and their effects on the guys doing the sweating and bleeding. Brilliant.
Best military sfi-fi I've ever experienced. This was an experience, not something I just read. The action was excellent - very well described. What really captivated me, however, were the characters: their attitudes, emotions, and motivations. The dialogue brought back some memories of interesting times with a few phrases that were new to me. Most events were down in the trenches with just a few scenes devoted to senior officers. I saw the consequences of top brass decisions and their effects on the guys doing the sweating and bleeding. Brilliant.
October 23, 2021
Very good military Syfy
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story is interesting & the characters are captivating. In some ways it’s falls into typical Cold War stereotypes but they’re very well done. For me it is reminiscent of my own Cold War military service. Most Russian soldiers aren’t stereotypical villains. Nevertheless, there are some stereotypical arrogant jerks among elite soldiers. Using those stereotypes makes for a fun read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story is interesting & the characters are captivating. In some ways it’s falls into typical Cold War stereotypes but they’re very well done. For me it is reminiscent of my own Cold War military service. Most Russian soldiers aren’t stereotypical villains. Nevertheless, there are some stereotypical arrogant jerks among elite soldiers. Using those stereotypes makes for a fun read.
December 8, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: I found a few and listed them on Goodreads.
Plot: We have the normal soldier in the space Marines, what is different from other books like this is a lack of alien threat. Also odd was the British being allied with Russia against the United States of America. Oh and the zombies.
Characters: The MC is very impatient, at least in his own head. He questions a lot but never sherks his duty.
8/10
Mistakes: I found a few and listed them on Goodreads.
Plot: We have the normal soldier in the space Marines, what is different from other books like this is a lack of alien threat. Also odd was the British being allied with Russia against the United States of America. Oh and the zombies.
Characters: The MC is very impatient, at least in his own head. He questions a lot but never sherks his duty.
8/10
January 24, 2022
Good space but continental division
So I liked the space drama, how it was similar but different with current technology. But they built up this who thing regarding the aliens and space zombies and most of the real conflict was with other humans. That’s not really what I was looking forward to. I kept waiting for the Zerg or something from halo but this wasn’t that. Disappointing. I’ll try the next book though as I liked the character dialog and action.
So I liked the space drama, how it was similar but different with current technology. But they built up this who thing regarding the aliens and space zombies and most of the real conflict was with other humans. That’s not really what I was looking forward to. I kept waiting for the Zerg or something from halo but this wasn’t that. Disappointing. I’ll try the next book though as I liked the character dialog and action.
April 22, 2022
Deja vu
I almost felt like I knew the major character from a previous book. Good story about a marine who is the sole survivor of his group and is sent to help a SOGCOM team where it's probably hoped he will die so he doesn't reveal any of the secrets of the planet he was on. It seemed like they were attacked by zombies and the military doesn't want that to get our.
Looking forward to the next book.
I almost felt like I knew the major character from a previous book. Good story about a marine who is the sole survivor of his group and is sent to help a SOGCOM team where it's probably hoped he will die so he doesn't reveal any of the secrets of the planet he was on. It seemed like they were attacked by zombies and the military doesn't want that to get our.
Looking forward to the next book.
October 12, 2022
Hoorah!
This book was the best military novel I've read in a long time. While the premise is nothing new, the execution was flawless and I wasn't bored once! The characters voices and internal monologue had me in stitches, and I've learned some wonderful new insults which will be included in my regular vocabulary.
The plot moves at a good pace, and there's a nice balance between action and exposition.
Overall, a highly recommended read.
This book was the best military novel I've read in a long time. While the premise is nothing new, the execution was flawless and I wasn't bored once! The characters voices and internal monologue had me in stitches, and I've learned some wonderful new insults which will be included in my regular vocabulary.
The plot moves at a good pace, and there's a nice balance between action and exposition.
Overall, a highly recommended read.
October 20, 2021
Wow ! What a brilliant book! The excitement started right from the first chapter and bang, that was it, hooked to the end. Loved the storyline and the characters were great, especially Barton, he was really well written. Very fast paced and plenty of nail biting moments. Didn't want it to finish but glad the next in the series is coming soon. Scourge, don't miss out.
October 24, 2021
Want to read about a Marines story of combat read and courage?
Here one that I couldn't put down. A Corporal Barton sent with his squad to investigate an SIS from a mining outpost. To find only one causality, and absolutely no one else!
This story gets really into some extreme firefights.
Definitely one to look at!
Author Devon Ford has written another best seller
Here one that I couldn't put down. A Corporal Barton sent with his squad to investigate an SIS from a mining outpost. To find only one causality, and absolutely no one else!
This story gets really into some extreme firefights.
Definitely one to look at!
Author Devon Ford has written another best seller
November 2, 2021
Exciting
This was one of the most exciting stories that I have read. Full of action and suspense throughout with a dash of inter military tension, which I know from experience. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last page. Everyone who enjoys stories filled with action should read it.
This was one of the most exciting stories that I have read. Full of action and suspense throughout with a dash of inter military tension, which I know from experience. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last page. Everyone who enjoys stories filled with action should read it.
November 3, 2021
Excellent
I didn’t want to like this. I grabbed it on a whim. Normally, I don’t like regular mil sci fi, preferring space opera or space fantasy. This book drew me in and I finished in a day. My only complaint is that I don’t love the shift from first to third person and back again.
On to the next.
I didn’t want to like this. I grabbed it on a whim. Normally, I don’t like regular mil sci fi, preferring space opera or space fantasy. This book drew me in and I finished in a day. My only complaint is that I don’t love the shift from first to third person and back again.
On to the next.
November 12, 2021
I have no idea how Devon C Ford does it but just keeps on writing simply BRILLIANT books. This just gets you from the beginning and takes on a wonderful journey rhat leaves you wanting more. Books 2 and 3 already pre ordered. Its that good. James Patrick Cronin once again does he does best, just nails it.
December 11, 2021
Surprisingly good
This book isn't mind blowing as far as Mil-Sci-fi goes, however, it is quite well-written, well paced with a handful of characters, all of whom are likeable. It's odd that in the future we're still fighting amongst ourselves as countries - but human's are humans. The focus is on the special operators so action is kicked up a notch, along with sinister enemies.
This book isn't mind blowing as far as Mil-Sci-fi goes, however, it is quite well-written, well paced with a handful of characters, all of whom are likeable. It's odd that in the future we're still fighting amongst ourselves as countries - but human's are humans. The focus is on the special operators so action is kicked up a notch, along with sinister enemies.
November 29, 2021
My first book by this author and I will be coming back for more. I dont usually bother finishing a book unless the characters interest me, and they did here. Add to that some great snark and yep, I would recommend
December 12, 2021
Scourge: Territory wars book one
Traditional beginning of grunt. Good character growth. Neat 3rd possible enemy introduced. Training was believable . Plot was semi predictable with authors twists. Will read next in series.
Traditional beginning of grunt. Good character growth. Neat 3rd possible enemy introduced. Training was believable . Plot was semi predictable with authors twists. Will read next in series.
December 30, 2021
An amazing first book in a new series
Intergalactic warfare and a breaking of a truce.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one 😀
Intergalactic warfare and a breaking of a truce.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one 😀
March 19, 2023
Book 1
Book 1 was an okay read and had errors throughout. The overall plot was interesting, but the author needs to fine time his writing. The verbage used is a bit redundant and annoying to re-read information already given. I might read the next book in the series.
Book 1 was an okay read and had errors throughout. The overall plot was interesting, but the author needs to fine time his writing. The verbage used is a bit redundant and annoying to re-read information already given. I might read the next book in the series.
August 22, 2025
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, read with the Alexa audio assist application. Military space opera. Political methods fail, time to stop training and start fighting. Own single volume and 3 book box set.
October 20, 2021
Great book.
Was extremely excited to find a three book series.
Loved the characters.
Would have liked more info on the axes.
Was extremely excited to find a three book series.
Loved the characters.
Would have liked more info on the axes.
October 23, 2021
an intriguing storyline
This book has great characters with lots of action and suspense. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series
This book has great characters with lots of action and suspense. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series
December 8, 2021
Hidden Gem
Hidden gem of a book .
Would recommend to any avid military readers
Get Vaccinated, stay safe
Happy Holidays to all
Hidden gem of a book .
Would recommend to any avid military readers
Get Vaccinated, stay safe
Happy Holidays to all
December 13, 2021
Great story
Well that was interesting all tho I cannot believe that the British would side with the Russians lol. I am looking forward to the next book Hades
Well that was interesting all tho I cannot believe that the British would side with the Russians lol. I am looking forward to the next book Hades
January 3, 2022
Series overall 4.5 stars for the first three books.
The main character, Mike Barton, is a joy to read. He’s a good mashup of floundering, dark humor, and heroics.
There’s some pretty solid side characters too.
The series is a bit violent at times, and a few OTT moments. But those are actually good things in this series. IMO, it works.
The main character, Mike Barton, is a joy to read. He’s a good mashup of floundering, dark humor, and heroics.
There’s some pretty solid side characters too.
The series is a bit violent at times, and a few OTT moments. But those are actually good things in this series. IMO, it works.
July 12, 2022
Fast-paced and BA with a feeling of authenticity. Not a big fan of space "zombies", but a fun read.
November 12, 2021
I have no idea how Devon C Ford does it but just keeps on writing simply BRILLIANT books. This just gets you from the beginning and takes on a wonderful journey rhat leaves you wanting more. Books 2 and 3 already pre ordered. Its that good. James Patrick Cronin once again does he does best, just nails it.
July 10, 2022
It should have been easy. Just a simple distress call from a colony. But then things go sideways in a hurry. I enjoyed this story. Keep up the good work. I recommend it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews