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The Jack Rhodes Chronicles #2
Earth Gambit
When Earth was allowed into the Imperium, Jack Rhodes thought his problems were over and that he could finally return to the peaceful life he had always wanted. Unfortunately, the galaxy has other ideas.
When Jack learns that Imperium warlords plan to take control of Earth and its resource wealth, he decides to take the fight to the enemy. The best defense, after all, is a good offense. And who better to help strike at the heart of the enemy than Jack's Black Company friends?
Can Jack Rhodes help Earth remain a free world, or are humanity's days numbered? Find out in Earth Gambit, Book 2 of The Jack Rhodes Chronicles.
When Jack learns that Imperium warlords plan to take control of Earth and its resource wealth, he decides to take the fight to the enemy. The best defense, after all, is a good offense. And who better to help strike at the heart of the enemy than Jack's Black Company friends?
Can Jack Rhodes help Earth remain a free world, or are humanity's days numbered? Find out in Earth Gambit, Book 2 of The Jack Rhodes Chronicles.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2023
128 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
G.P. Hudson
98 books72 followersG.P. Hudson is the author of the hit space opera, The Pike Chronicles. He writes fast paced military science fiction, with an emphasis on world building, vast galactic empires, and power struggles. The Pike Chronicles is an epic science fiction adventure spanning the galaxy.
G.P. Hudson has been writing stories since childhood, and is a lifelong reader of science fiction. His study of history provides limitless inspiration for his stories.
For updates on new releases join G.P Hudson's mailing list at http://gphudson.com
G.P. Hudson has been writing stories since childhood, and is a lifelong reader of science fiction. His study of history provides limitless inspiration for his stories.
For updates on new releases join G.P Hudson's mailing list at http://gphudson.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2023
Keeps you interested
A little light on character development but a very interesting series. The author's style is more like you are hearing a story from a storyteller. G.P. Hudson is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to his books.
A little light on character development but a very interesting series. The author's style is more like you are hearing a story from a storyteller. G.P. Hudson is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to his books.
February 10, 2023
Jack, Kosta and Black Company continue their fight for humans and Earth. Lots of action again and some surprises along the way. Looking forward to their future adventures. For fans of military-SF.
April 10, 2023
Even after reading this second book, I still think this is a strange series, but it is also very good. Jack Rhodes is the main character and he was an Earth Marine, retired. He and his daughter were abducted by aliens or actually by a rogue AI. This kind of abduction had been going on for a long, long time on Earth, but as usual, no one paid much attention since none of these abductees ever returned to Earth. In Jack's case, he along with his daughter, Jessica age 11, were eventually sold/bought/rescued by an mercenary company called the Black Company.
In the first book, you read all about Jack Rhodes' exploits in his new situation. Having died for 20 years and being revived by his now 31 year old daughter who was an Imperium doctor, was kind of just the beginning for strange things for Jack. Jack continued to train and develop as a Black Company mercenary. He also died many more times, but with the medical advances of the galaxy, he was revived each time. Then he was made aware that Earth was being secretly invaded by the Raeth Collective. This group was the prime competitor of the Imperium. While both the Raeth Collective and the Imperium wanted Earth in their sphere of influence, neither were ready to reveal the greater galactic community to Earth because they didn't feel Earth humans were ready. But the Imperium was going to just stand by and allow the Raeth Collective to take over Earth, so they sent the Black Company to tell the Earth leadership what was happening. Jack Rhodes became the point man for this effort.
The Black Company was successful in stopping the Raeth Collective efforts on Earth. They also managed to get Earth to hire them as kind of a protectorate for Earth while Earth built up it's own space capabilities. The Imperium even allowed the Earth to start learning about some of the advances in medicine available to all Imperium citizens even though they were not ready to grant Earth full membership in the Imperium. Once Earth became able to defend itself and provide assets to the Imperium military, then they would be granted full membership, but that was a long way off.
Earth found out that even though the Imperium was around, they were not necessarily going to protect Earth against all aggression. That's where the interest from the warlords of the greater galaxy came in to play. Several began to contemplate conquering Earth just for the wealth of it's mineral assets. The Black Company was going to be the deterrent to such attacks except they couldn't defend Earth by themselves. So, the Imperium secretly told Jack Rhodes to contact the Schrik, another mercenary company, whose leader, Bothar, Jack had defeated in a combat duel. Because of the personal defeat, Bothar considered Jack a brother and was willing to help the Black Company defend Earth as long as the Schrik were getting paid by the Imperium.
So, this book is going to tell you about several battles that the Black Company and the Schrik have with first an alien warlord name Klichton and then others. The first operation is an assassination while the second involves taking one of his mining planets for Earth. Earth is attempting to establish a reputation for itself so other know it is not something to be picked on just because humans might appear weak. In the story, you'll read about several other characters than Jack and get to read about some of their backgrounds. Abducted humans who live in the greater galaxy like the members of the Black Company have the benefit of extended life-times. One Black Company soldier was abducted during World War I and another was a Roman Centurion who isn't quite human any more. So, the stories contains some very interesting character development which fills in a lot of the time when there isn't any fighting.
I don't know where the story will go, but I do know that book 3, "Brutal Business" is available for pre-order on Amazon and should be available for reading on/about 21 April 2023. I'll be looking to add it to my reading list.
In the first book, you read all about Jack Rhodes' exploits in his new situation. Having died for 20 years and being revived by his now 31 year old daughter who was an Imperium doctor, was kind of just the beginning for strange things for Jack. Jack continued to train and develop as a Black Company mercenary. He also died many more times, but with the medical advances of the galaxy, he was revived each time. Then he was made aware that Earth was being secretly invaded by the Raeth Collective. This group was the prime competitor of the Imperium. While both the Raeth Collective and the Imperium wanted Earth in their sphere of influence, neither were ready to reveal the greater galactic community to Earth because they didn't feel Earth humans were ready. But the Imperium was going to just stand by and allow the Raeth Collective to take over Earth, so they sent the Black Company to tell the Earth leadership what was happening. Jack Rhodes became the point man for this effort.
The Black Company was successful in stopping the Raeth Collective efforts on Earth. They also managed to get Earth to hire them as kind of a protectorate for Earth while Earth built up it's own space capabilities. The Imperium even allowed the Earth to start learning about some of the advances in medicine available to all Imperium citizens even though they were not ready to grant Earth full membership in the Imperium. Once Earth became able to defend itself and provide assets to the Imperium military, then they would be granted full membership, but that was a long way off.
Earth found out that even though the Imperium was around, they were not necessarily going to protect Earth against all aggression. That's where the interest from the warlords of the greater galaxy came in to play. Several began to contemplate conquering Earth just for the wealth of it's mineral assets. The Black Company was going to be the deterrent to such attacks except they couldn't defend Earth by themselves. So, the Imperium secretly told Jack Rhodes to contact the Schrik, another mercenary company, whose leader, Bothar, Jack had defeated in a combat duel. Because of the personal defeat, Bothar considered Jack a brother and was willing to help the Black Company defend Earth as long as the Schrik were getting paid by the Imperium.
So, this book is going to tell you about several battles that the Black Company and the Schrik have with first an alien warlord name Klichton and then others. The first operation is an assassination while the second involves taking one of his mining planets for Earth. Earth is attempting to establish a reputation for itself so other know it is not something to be picked on just because humans might appear weak. In the story, you'll read about several other characters than Jack and get to read about some of their backgrounds. Abducted humans who live in the greater galaxy like the members of the Black Company have the benefit of extended life-times. One Black Company soldier was abducted during World War I and another was a Roman Centurion who isn't quite human any more. So, the stories contains some very interesting character development which fills in a lot of the time when there isn't any fighting.
I don't know where the story will go, but I do know that book 3, "Brutal Business" is available for pre-order on Amazon and should be available for reading on/about 21 April 2023. I'll be looking to add it to my reading list.
May 11, 2024
A Future That May Be Our’s
G. P. Hudson is an ‘excellent’ Sci-Fi writer. Earth Gambit tells a great story of what our future just might have in store for us! You will grow to cheer Jack Rhodes on as he puts Earth 1st in all he does. The space fighting is well thought out and Hudson keeps you guessing every step of the way. This book is made for all ages & genders. I highly recommend this book to all Sci-fi lovers!
G. P. Hudson is an ‘excellent’ Sci-Fi writer. Earth Gambit tells a great story of what our future just might have in store for us! You will grow to cheer Jack Rhodes on as he puts Earth 1st in all he does. The space fighting is well thought out and Hudson keeps you guessing every step of the way. This book is made for all ages & genders. I highly recommend this book to all Sci-fi lovers!
February 13, 2023
Great read!
Thoroughly enjoying this series.God characters,good stories,believable specifics.Hope the next one is as good,if not better!
Highly recommend this to all space opera addicts!
Thoroughly enjoying this series.God characters,good stories,believable specifics.Hope the next one is as good,if not better!
Highly recommend this to all space opera addicts!
February 14, 2023
Good Space Opera
Good read. Fast paced. Takes a lot of the backstory from the Undying Mercenaries series, but with out a lot of the details on regeneration. Overall, I recommend it.
Good read. Fast paced. Takes a lot of the backstory from the Undying Mercenaries series, but with out a lot of the details on regeneration. Overall, I recommend it.
February 19, 2023
repetitive
I forced myself to finish this but won’t go on with them. One fight after another mowing down hordes of bots and cyborgs. I found it boring.
I forced myself to finish this but won’t go on with them. One fight after another mowing down hordes of bots and cyborgs. I found it boring.
May 31, 2023
Fun read
Mostly the progress of older military into galactic society is always a great time for me. This is worth the time.
Mostly the progress of older military into galactic society is always a great time for me. This is worth the time.
September 10, 2023
More
A continuing story.There has to be some follow on bookd.The story cannot end this way leaving a reader looking for more
A continuing story.There has to be some follow on bookd.The story cannot end this way leaving a reader looking for more
December 12, 2023
Good read
I really enjoy this writer's work. This is the second series that I have found and I already can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I really enjoy this writer's work. This is the second series that I have found and I already can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews