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Heritage Trilogy #1
Semper Mars
The Year is 2040.
The Marines have landed on Mars to guard the unearthed secrets of an ancient and dangerous alien Ourselves.
Scientists have discovered something astonishing in the subterranean ruins of a sprawling Martian startling evidence of an alternative history that threatens to split humanity into opposing factions and plunge the Earth into chaos and war. The USMC -- a branch of a military considered, until just recently, to be obsolete -- has dispatched the Marine Mars Expeditionary Force, a thirty-man weapons platoon, to the Red Planet to protect American civilians and interest with lethal force if necessary.
Because great powers are willing to devastate a world in order to keep an ancient secret buried. Because something that was hidden in the Martian dust for half a million years has just been unearthed . . . something that calls into question every belief that forms the delicate foundation of civilization . . .
Something inexplicably human.
The Marines have landed on Mars to guard the unearthed secrets of an ancient and dangerous alien Ourselves.
Scientists have discovered something astonishing in the subterranean ruins of a sprawling Martian startling evidence of an alternative history that threatens to split humanity into opposing factions and plunge the Earth into chaos and war. The USMC -- a branch of a military considered, until just recently, to be obsolete -- has dispatched the Marine Mars Expeditionary Force, a thirty-man weapons platoon, to the Red Planet to protect American civilians and interest with lethal force if necessary.
Because great powers are willing to devastate a world in order to keep an ancient secret buried. Because something that was hidden in the Martian dust for half a million years has just been unearthed . . . something that calls into question every belief that forms the delicate foundation of civilization . . .
Something inexplicably human.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1998
154 people are currently reading
1369 people want to read
About the author
Ian Douglas
99 books569 followersIan Douglas is a pseudonym used by William H. Keith Jr..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 14, 2015
*Another book I really wanted to like. I like military science fiction, I support the military....but this is another on I just couldn't get into.
I think I may reread this. Sometimes things look different given time. I don't know.*
Well, I think this is a first. I read/tried to read this book some time ago and just couldn't get into it (note my original abbreviated review above). I saw that others hadn't been fond of it so figured it was just one of those books.
However I'd read other books by the writer I liked. I mean he's not Hemingway or Tolstoy but the books were good. Other friends told me they couldn't see why I didn't like this book.
So I decided to reread it as I'd said I might.
Okay, so let's talk. I decided once I finished it (this time) to go all the way to 5 stars. It may be "just" 5 stars but it had to go above even 4. The thing is that the book didn't pick up and completely draw me in until I was over half way through the book.
We open here setting up the political situation, introing the players and having a "kind of" romance (a very frustrating part of the book for me as I didn't care for the the way one of the characters developed).
The book is not strong on character development. While the characters aren't shallow neither are they the elaborate people you get to like. If completely character driven books are your forte' then you may find this one weak. The book is definitely plot driven and the plot doesn't really kick in (as I said) untill we're half way through.
Okay so, I can recommend this book. I enjoyed it greatly (this time). Who knows why I couldn't get involved before. I believe it was about the time my wife passed so maybe my I just wouldn't have gotten into anything. Who knows?
Anyway good book and fast moving once it actually starts to move.
I think I may reread this. Sometimes things look different given time. I don't know.*
Well, I think this is a first. I read/tried to read this book some time ago and just couldn't get into it (note my original abbreviated review above). I saw that others hadn't been fond of it so figured it was just one of those books.
However I'd read other books by the writer I liked. I mean he's not Hemingway or Tolstoy but the books were good. Other friends told me they couldn't see why I didn't like this book.
So I decided to reread it as I'd said I might.
Okay, so let's talk. I decided once I finished it (this time) to go all the way to 5 stars. It may be "just" 5 stars but it had to go above even 4. The thing is that the book didn't pick up and completely draw me in until I was over half way through the book.
We open here setting up the political situation, introing the players and having a "kind of" romance (a very frustrating part of the book for me as I didn't care for the the way one of the characters developed).
The book is not strong on character development. While the characters aren't shallow neither are they the elaborate people you get to like. If completely character driven books are your forte' then you may find this one weak. The book is definitely plot driven and the plot doesn't really kick in (as I said) untill we're half way through.
Okay so, I can recommend this book. I enjoyed it greatly (this time). Who knows why I couldn't get involved before. I believe it was about the time my wife passed so maybe my I just wouldn't have gotten into anything. Who knows?
Anyway good book and fast moving once it actually starts to move.
October 24, 2014
I read this book because my brother was cleaning out his bookshelves, and asked if I was interested. As someone who likes reading military stories in SF/F settings, I said okay.
I am kinda wishing I hadn't. Semper Mars isn't BAD - in terms of writing it's fairly middle-of-the-road. It's just that the flaws it does have are pretty glaring.
The back cover blurb promises me mysterious finds on Mars and the implications they have about humanity's place in the solar system - but what I get is a breathless fanboy squeal about the US Marines wrapped in a thick layer of militaristic technobabble and some of the most awkward use of a foreign language I have ever seen.
Yes, apparently Douglas did his research on the Japanese language - perhaps he even speaks it - but his implementation of it in the novel breathes an air of fetishisation. These are not people speaking Japanese; these are cardboard cutout racist cartoons of Japanese people, who can't turn their heads without triggering a narrative gush about samurai or bushido or an info-dump on Japanese customs. It's awkward and clunky and honestly kind of embarrassing to read.
The glorification of the US Marines also goes too far. Now, I appreciate desperate last stands and triumphing against all odds - it's a compelling narrative! - but when a Marine actually sheds a single tear when he sees the US flag raised on Martian soil in an echo of Iwo Jima, the story passes from enthusiastic homage to the downright parodic.
I've got the sequels as well, but it's going to have to be a real dearth of other reading materials around here before I pick them up.
I am kinda wishing I hadn't. Semper Mars isn't BAD - in terms of writing it's fairly middle-of-the-road. It's just that the flaws it does have are pretty glaring.
The back cover blurb promises me mysterious finds on Mars and the implications they have about humanity's place in the solar system - but what I get is a breathless fanboy squeal about the US Marines wrapped in a thick layer of militaristic technobabble and some of the most awkward use of a foreign language I have ever seen.
Yes, apparently Douglas did his research on the Japanese language - perhaps he even speaks it - but his implementation of it in the novel breathes an air of fetishisation. These are not people speaking Japanese; these are cardboard cutout racist cartoons of Japanese people, who can't turn their heads without triggering a narrative gush about samurai or bushido or an info-dump on Japanese customs. It's awkward and clunky and honestly kind of embarrassing to read.
The glorification of the US Marines also goes too far. Now, I appreciate desperate last stands and triumphing against all odds - it's a compelling narrative! - but when a Marine actually sheds a single tear when he sees the US flag raised on Martian soil in an echo of Iwo Jima, the story passes from enthusiastic homage to the downright parodic.
I've got the sequels as well, but it's going to have to be a real dearth of other reading materials around here before I pick them up.
October 17, 2018
Very nice military SiFi story. I have read several books in this writer's universe and I have been impressed each time with the detail and feel of his military stories. Recommended
April 15, 2008
The author's love of the Corps really shines through in this book, on just about every page... but then again, if you pick up a novel called Semper Mars expecting anything other than the U.S. Marine Corps kicking ass on the Red Planet, then I can't help you.
If, however, you aren't bothered by the portrayal as the Americans as the unequivocal Good Guys and the more-or-less faceless Bad Guys being led by all French commanders, then you will find a highly entertaining story of political intrigue and military adventure. I cracked this book expecting basically some gung-ho, ooh-rah!, Semper Fi! fun, and I got exactly that - and a strong desire to pick up the other two installments of this trilogy to boot.
With the "beach reading" season just around the corner, if you're looking for something that basically amounts to a sci-fi summer blockbuster in book form, I think you just may find it in Semper Mars.
If, however, you aren't bothered by the portrayal as the Americans as the unequivocal Good Guys and the more-or-less faceless Bad Guys being led by all French commanders, then you will find a highly entertaining story of political intrigue and military adventure. I cracked this book expecting basically some gung-ho, ooh-rah!, Semper Fi! fun, and I got exactly that - and a strong desire to pick up the other two installments of this trilogy to boot.
With the "beach reading" season just around the corner, if you're looking for something that basically amounts to a sci-fi summer blockbuster in book form, I think you just may find it in Semper Mars.
May 28, 2014
I like military sci fi, but this book has such a stupid premise, I couldn't finish it. It's 2040 and America is on Mars researching a discovery that the evil UN wants part of. To protect American interests, 30 Marines are sent to Mars. That's right -- 30. Against the UN. What the hell are 30 Marines going to do against thousands of UN soldiers??? It's beyond stupid. Couldn't the author have made it a little more believable by sending a regiment, a battalion, etc.? Just another throw-away book. Definitely not recommended.
August 15, 2014
It is, at least, amazingly straightforward in its jingoism. The US are the brave, stalwart truthseekers of the world, and the Marines are their Galahad, Gawain, and Lancelot. They must face the corruption and cowardice of the rest of the world, as represented by the United Nations in general and the French in specific, and must teach their little brother, Japan, the right way.
Also aliens interfered with human development or something. It doesn't really matter.
Also aliens interfered with human development or something. It doesn't really matter.
April 7, 2020
This one was ok. The final fight required substantial suspension of disbelief. It ended in a good enough place that I doubt I'll bother with the rest of the trilogy.
December 22, 2022
I was almost half way through before realising the book wanted me to be on the side of the blinkered, jingoistic, childish US marines. I assumed that by having them make constant foolish decisions driven solely by a desire for 'freedom' in comparison to their opponent's reasonable and responsible arguments meant I was supposed to think the protagonists were idiots. Alas, no. They're 'right' in the end.
It could almost be taken as biting satire were it not so earnest in it's bizarre brand of patriotism.
It could almost be taken as biting satire were it not so earnest in it's bizarre brand of patriotism.
December 4, 2024
Well, one thing I'll say... he's consistent in his predictions in that almost every single one of his predictions about technology or politics has not come to pass (though some political things debatably may much further down the line).
This is also much more nationalist/libertarian than I'm used to reading with him.
That being said, they're well done books and I'm enjoying them.
This is also much more nationalist/libertarian than I'm used to reading with him.
That being said, they're well done books and I'm enjoying them.
February 2, 2014
I just re-read book one of a trilogy I really liked when I was liked when I was 13/14ish. It's sort of a mix of a some what grounded not to distant future earth mash up of a space opra/ALIENS/STAR SHIP TROOPERS thing riddled with War (especially WW2) movie cliques. I have to say that for the most part it holds up to how I remember it. I overly military centric aspects of the book that really hooked me now are slightly off putting, at least to the degree they go.....
I am going to have to finish this later, my laptop battery is about to die.
Wow, ok I am back. Since we last spoke I have gotten myself drunk, ate some chickenfingers that got delivered up to my house thing, learned a Katy Perry song on guitar, and I think I also smoked weed and now I can't decide if I want to watch the first episode of night rider or keep marching on through the stupid last season of the x-files so I can read my season 10 comicbook in peace.
I also bought the movie The Great Escape during all this mess. On instant video, IN HD! Why? Because it is awesome, and the cast is fucking amazing and when I say amazing it fucking star studded. Steve McQueen jumps nazi barbed-wire on a motorcycle, to go hang out in Sweden and James Garder or Garner or what-ever his fucking name is I know him as ROCKFORD FILES aka James Rockford is a scrounger, and fucking Charles Baronson plays like his best part it's awesome. Oh, it's also based on real events I think. I am pretty broke so I shouldn't have bought this movie but I like military shit so to get back to my point...
This book is good, and if you add 20 years to the space exploration timetable and maybe threw in alot of global warming oh, and like a shit ton of crossed fingers this could be the future I hope to live long enough to at least see. That's probably not going to happen because people are stupid, and that's a downside to this book. It feels like well I feel like I started drinking beer in the sort of early afternoon I don't know. THINGS ARE LOOKING BLEAK, SAD FACE.
I picked season one of a idiot abroad to watch while I wrote the second part of this non-sense review, SPOILERS! It's on netflix or blah I don't know gah go fuck youikfnsdoih;oiudf;og
I am going to have to finish this later, my laptop battery is about to die.
Wow, ok I am back. Since we last spoke I have gotten myself drunk, ate some chickenfingers that got delivered up to my house thing, learned a Katy Perry song on guitar, and I think I also smoked weed and now I can't decide if I want to watch the first episode of night rider or keep marching on through the stupid last season of the x-files so I can read my season 10 comicbook in peace.
I also bought the movie The Great Escape during all this mess. On instant video, IN HD! Why? Because it is awesome, and the cast is fucking amazing and when I say amazing it fucking star studded. Steve McQueen jumps nazi barbed-wire on a motorcycle, to go hang out in Sweden and James Garder or Garner or what-ever his fucking name is I know him as ROCKFORD FILES aka James Rockford is a scrounger, and fucking Charles Baronson plays like his best part it's awesome. Oh, it's also based on real events I think. I am pretty broke so I shouldn't have bought this movie but I like military shit so to get back to my point...
This book is good, and if you add 20 years to the space exploration timetable and maybe threw in alot of global warming oh, and like a shit ton of crossed fingers this could be the future I hope to live long enough to at least see. That's probably not going to happen because people are stupid, and that's a downside to this book. It feels like well I feel like I started drinking beer in the sort of early afternoon I don't know. THINGS ARE LOOKING BLEAK, SAD FACE.
I picked season one of a idiot abroad to watch while I wrote the second part of this non-sense review, SPOILERS! It's on netflix or blah I don't know gah go fuck youikfnsdoih;oiudf;og
July 30, 2010
Hoo-rah! This is a fun military sci-fi book. Set in a realistic near-future, Semper Mars is about a platoon of jar heads sent to Mars to protect US interests on the Red planet. The face on Mars turns out to be an artifact from an ancient civilization, and there are other mysteries that need to be solved involving alien technology and an unknown piece of human history.
What's more fun in this book is the political situation back on earth: the United States, Russia, and England are at war with the UN! The American Southwest is threatening to secede from the Union and create a Spanish speaking nation called 'Atzlan.' Brazil has been conquered and turned into a UN zombie state in order to protect the rain forests. US Marines duke it out on the international space station against French Foreign Legion troops. High-tech Japanese space fighters duel with an American orbital laser satellite! And on Mars, a platoon of Marines cross the Martian desert on their way to take their base back from the treacherous UN soldiers who stranded them in some forgotten base.
Semper Mars is a good, fast-paced, and realistic read. This is the not too distant future, and the author did a good job of extrapolating from current political trends to make a realistic world that's only a few decades away. The tech stuff is realistic, and the descriptions of firefights in zero gravity are based in fact. I enjoyed this book a lot.
What's more fun in this book is the political situation back on earth: the United States, Russia, and England are at war with the UN! The American Southwest is threatening to secede from the Union and create a Spanish speaking nation called 'Atzlan.' Brazil has been conquered and turned into a UN zombie state in order to protect the rain forests. US Marines duke it out on the international space station against French Foreign Legion troops. High-tech Japanese space fighters duel with an American orbital laser satellite! And on Mars, a platoon of Marines cross the Martian desert on their way to take their base back from the treacherous UN soldiers who stranded them in some forgotten base.
Semper Mars is a good, fast-paced, and realistic read. This is the not too distant future, and the author did a good job of extrapolating from current political trends to make a realistic world that's only a few decades away. The tech stuff is realistic, and the descriptions of firefights in zero gravity are based in fact. I enjoyed this book a lot.
January 19, 2018
This is outstanding military science fiction with interesting characters and fast-paced, entertaining action with a strong point of view. It makes you really ponder, which is what science fiction is all about. I just ordered Book Two in The Heritage Trilogy - I can't wait to read it.
October 30, 2012
Great science fiction and international political intrigue.
February 1, 2017
It was an okay-ish book until the neckbeard fascination with the Japanese culture started. Sayanora, trilogy.
November 7, 2023
A bit cheesy, but in a way I completely expected when I picked up a book called "Semper Mars." Some of the plot points were a bit of a stretch, but still the characters were great and the story was gripping. Read the first 40 pages or so on the first day, then the remaining 340 pages over the next two days as I was home sick and just couldn't put it down. The writing itself and talent of the author is impeccable so it scores higher for me than perhaps the plot would on its own.
That being said, it loses a point for a few reasons. First, the Japanese are weirdly fetishized. Like a Japanese character couldn't have a scene without talking about bushido or making a metaphor about rice (and I'm not making that up that rice bit for hyperbole's sake). It made every scene with the Japanese just awkward when you can tell the author intended them to be heartwarming.
Second, what love the author had for the Japanese is mirrored by what seems to be hate for hispanic populations. With the exception of the token hispanic character, the only times they're depicted they're rioting, utilizing sneaky backstabbing to kill Americans (and failing horribly), and just generally doing their best to undermine the American way of life for no readily given reason other than "they think the UN will let them get away with it." The hispanic token character actually has a "I'm not like them, I'm a LEGAL hispanic citizen" line for Christ's sake. For someone who seemed to be trying to score points by being progressive in the rest of the novel via moments that seemed to come out of nowhere, it was jarring.
Finally, I genuinely was NOT expecting the US to be the good guys in this book. I did at the beginning because of the propaganda-y title and theming, but then the author goes on a full description about how the Earth is dying from climate change and the UN are the faction that are keeping it from dying. Like that's not just my interpretation, Douglas actually talks about how other than the US, the nations of the world would not stop destroying the Earth if not for the UN's actions. So at first I thought this was a book about that stage of classic sci-fi works where the world comes together under one government for the good of humanity, but from the point of view of one of the holdouts. That would be an amazing premise! But as the novel went on I realized that no, Douglas was being serious when he called the UN dictators for their attempt to - and I repeat - save the world. However, the UN still continued to take (mostly) rational actions like preferring peaceful takeovers rather than killing the marines and then giving them places to live until they can return to their country rather than putting them in an actual prison or camp. This made me think that maybe this entry in the series would be from the US's point of view and another novel in the trilogy would be from the UN's perspective in order to give a complex series of views where there are shades of gray rather than black and white. But nope, they're just the bad guys who happen to be saving the world, and we're supposed to be patriotic for the nation who's doing its best to prevent the world from being saved because that would somehow contradict America's ideals.
That being said, it loses a point for a few reasons. First, the Japanese are weirdly fetishized. Like a Japanese character couldn't have a scene without talking about bushido or making a metaphor about rice (and I'm not making that up that rice bit for hyperbole's sake). It made every scene with the Japanese just awkward when you can tell the author intended them to be heartwarming.
Second, what love the author had for the Japanese is mirrored by what seems to be hate for hispanic populations. With the exception of the token hispanic character, the only times they're depicted they're rioting, utilizing sneaky backstabbing to kill Americans (and failing horribly), and just generally doing their best to undermine the American way of life for no readily given reason other than "they think the UN will let them get away with it." The hispanic token character actually has a "I'm not like them, I'm a LEGAL hispanic citizen" line for Christ's sake. For someone who seemed to be trying to score points by being progressive in the rest of the novel via moments that seemed to come out of nowhere, it was jarring.
Finally, I genuinely was NOT expecting the US to be the good guys in this book. I did at the beginning because of the propaganda-y title and theming, but then the author goes on a full description about how the Earth is dying from climate change and the UN are the faction that are keeping it from dying. Like that's not just my interpretation, Douglas actually talks about how other than the US, the nations of the world would not stop destroying the Earth if not for the UN's actions. So at first I thought this was a book about that stage of classic sci-fi works where the world comes together under one government for the good of humanity, but from the point of view of one of the holdouts. That would be an amazing premise! But as the novel went on I realized that no, Douglas was being serious when he called the UN dictators for their attempt to - and I repeat - save the world. However, the UN still continued to take (mostly) rational actions like preferring peaceful takeovers rather than killing the marines and then giving them places to live until they can return to their country rather than putting them in an actual prison or camp. This made me think that maybe this entry in the series would be from the US's point of view and another novel in the trilogy would be from the UN's perspective in order to give a complex series of views where there are shades of gray rather than black and white. But nope, they're just the bad guys who happen to be saving the world, and we're supposed to be patriotic for the nation who's doing its best to prevent the world from being saved because that would somehow contradict America's ideals.
June 30, 2022
Майбутнє, в якому Марсіанський Сфінкс (або Обличчя Марсу) виявляється не грою світла й тіні, а реальною монументальною спорудою, і людство намагається вишкребти з-під неї та прилеглих руїн побільше артефактів, щоб зробити якісний ривок у технологіях.
О, наче наукова фантастика про ксеноархеологію, але… ні! Не зовсім. Самі копальні роботи тут десь на задньому плані і лише є приводом для роздмухування конфлікту між США та ООН. У цій версії майбутнього ООН має якусь політичну вагу та військову міць, але ми з вами знаємо, як воно насправді. Ще одна фантастична штука в цій книжці - це розвинена москальська космічна програма. Знав би автор свого часу, як воно буде…
Так от, на фоні наукових відкриттів, про які нам розповідають похабцем, закопавши їх у кілька популярних теорій про палеоконтакти та космічне походження людства (серйозно, автор просто переповів вміст якихось уфологічних журналів та Weekly World News) американці відправляють на Марс невеликий загін морської піхоти, аби чого поганого не трапилося. Але трапляється, і весь сюжет просто перекочується у слабенький бойовичок, де морпіхи героїчно роблять те, що зазвичай роблять морпіхи. Науково-фантастична складова - все це відбувається на Марсі (майже, бо є ще битва за МКС), десь поряд є інопланетні руїни із рештками древніх людей. І оцю явну замануху про марсіан автор в першій книжці ніяк не пояснює. Просто вони є, це явно величезне відкриття, новина про нього заставила бунтувати різних фанатиків на Землі.
Інтрига лишилася, але весь фокус на тому, чого і так забагато - на військових у майбутньому. В цьому плані навіть книжка про генетично модифікованих клонів пенсіонерів Old Man's War вигляда як шедевр.
О, наче наукова фантастика про ксеноархеологію, але… ні! Не зовсім. Самі копальні роботи тут десь на задньому плані і лише є приводом для роздмухування конфлікту між США та ООН. У цій версії майбутнього ООН має якусь політичну вагу та військову міць, але ми з вами знаємо, як воно насправді. Ще одна фантастична штука в цій книжці - це розвинена москальська космічна програма. Знав би автор свого часу, як воно буде…
Так от, на фоні наукових відкриттів, про які нам розповідають похабцем, закопавши їх у кілька популярних теорій про палеоконтакти та космічне походження людства (серйозно, автор просто переповів вміст якихось уфологічних журналів та Weekly World News) американці відправляють на Марс невеликий загін морської піхоти, аби чого поганого не трапилося. Але трапляється, і весь сюжет просто перекочується у слабенький бойовичок, де морпіхи героїчно роблять те, що зазвичай роблять морпіхи. Науково-фантастична складова - все це відбувається на Марсі (майже, бо є ще битва за МКС), десь поряд є інопланетні руїни із рештками древніх людей. І оцю явну замануху про марсіан автор в першій книжці ніяк не пояснює. Просто вони є, це явно величезне відкриття, новина про нього заставила бунтувати різних фанатиків на Землі.
Інтрига лишилася, але весь фокус на тому, чого і так забагато - на військових у майбутньому. В цьому плані навіть книжка про генетично модифікованих клонів пенсіонерів Old Man's War вигляда як шедевр.
May 23, 2018
I first heard about this book from a recommendation on the Atomic Rockets website. Atomic Rockets is pretty much the gold standard for detecting bullshit in science fiction, so I decided to give this book a read.
The book is very solid in its science as well as its depiction of military units (at least exceptional military units). The politics are also quite believable, though in real life I think the United Nations is more a footstool of the American Empire than a threat to it. The characters are also a lot more realistic and full-fledged than many similar 'space marine' books such as those by Weber and Nuttall that I've read recently, rather than being caricatures of marines these are somewhat realistic people, some of whom happen to be US Marines.
I could have done without the nascent love story in the book, but at least that's terminated with an orbital laser cannon. I really do not know why every book feels the need to have a romance plot - well, I do, because humans are obsessed with boning each other, but I find it tedious and totally uninteresting.
I am no great fan of the United States government or the Marine corps but I didn't find this book to be overtly jingoistic as some readers have. Perhaps the reason is because many other readers are liberal-internationalist-pro-UN types, whereas I am an outright anarchist and if there's anything I hate more than the American Empire it's world government.
The book is very solid in its science as well as its depiction of military units (at least exceptional military units). The politics are also quite believable, though in real life I think the United Nations is more a footstool of the American Empire than a threat to it. The characters are also a lot more realistic and full-fledged than many similar 'space marine' books such as those by Weber and Nuttall that I've read recently, rather than being caricatures of marines these are somewhat realistic people, some of whom happen to be US Marines.
I could have done without the nascent love story in the book, but at least that's terminated with an orbital laser cannon. I really do not know why every book feels the need to have a romance plot - well, I do, because humans are obsessed with boning each other, but I find it tedious and totally uninteresting.
I am no great fan of the United States government or the Marine corps but I didn't find this book to be overtly jingoistic as some readers have. Perhaps the reason is because many other readers are liberal-internationalist-pro-UN types, whereas I am an outright anarchist and if there's anything I hate more than the American Empire it's world government.
May 8, 2018
un sentiment très ambivalent sur cette trilogie car hélas, je n'ai pas cru un moment aux motivations exposées par l'auteur sur le conflit US vs UN
Dommage !
Le rythme est à la fois lent (les découvertes) et rapide (beaucoup d'actions et de personnages dispersés à la fois sur Terre et sur Mars) avec des passages consacrés à des rappels semi-historiques ou des extrapolations actuelles sur les thèmes chers à la SF (sommes nous seuls dans l'univers, l'homme s'est il construit seul, y a t-il danger pour l'humanité à se faire connaître de l'univers, quels dangers ou bénéfices tirerions nous des sciences et cultures ET, faut il ou ne faut il pas divulguer ce type d' informations avant même de les avoir réellement étudiées, etc ???)
Bien entendu, le parti pris de l'auteur " les Marines sont les meilleurs, les plus courageux, les plus perspicaces etc etc " m'a souvent irrité et caricature l'adversaire Là encore, dommage ! Un ou deux personnages charismatiques et intelligents du côté adverse auraient rendu le conflit plus passionnant même si l'auteur sait écrire et enchaine avec maestria les événements
La découverte d'artefacts anciens d'origine extra terrestre est l'épice qui offre au récit son "sens of wonder"et donne envie au lecteur que je suis de poursuivre ma lecture
Dommage !
Le rythme est à la fois lent (les découvertes) et rapide (beaucoup d'actions et de personnages dispersés à la fois sur Terre et sur Mars) avec des passages consacrés à des rappels semi-historiques ou des extrapolations actuelles sur les thèmes chers à la SF (sommes nous seuls dans l'univers, l'homme s'est il construit seul, y a t-il danger pour l'humanité à se faire connaître de l'univers, quels dangers ou bénéfices tirerions nous des sciences et cultures ET, faut il ou ne faut il pas divulguer ce type d' informations avant même de les avoir réellement étudiées, etc ???)
Bien entendu, le parti pris de l'auteur " les Marines sont les meilleurs, les plus courageux, les plus perspicaces etc etc " m'a souvent irrité et caricature l'adversaire Là encore, dommage ! Un ou deux personnages charismatiques et intelligents du côté adverse auraient rendu le conflit plus passionnant même si l'auteur sait écrire et enchaine avec maestria les événements
La découverte d'artefacts anciens d'origine extra terrestre est l'épice qui offre au récit son "sens of wonder"et donne envie au lecteur que je suis de poursuivre ma lecture
January 15, 2014
Devil Dogs in Space
I read a little awhile go a blog by an author of science-fiction that called for a return to hard science-fiction. They wanted more stories that took science into account. So, a little more realistic, and less Star Wars. I admit over the years I have found little science-fiction that understands the sciences, let alone the fictional science it creates. Sometimes this presents a problem, but since story is the focus, not the science, a decent story can limp along with bad physics. Sometimes I have found science in storytelling in the sub-genre of military science-fiction. The genre is just what you might think, science-fiction from a military view. Most of the time there is an adherence to hard science, but also a tendency to flout patriotism, and military virtues, like ‘might makes right’. Sometimes it is just Jarheads in space, lots of violence, very little depth.
One author who specializes in this genre is Ian Douglas, a pen name for William H. Keith, Jr. Douglas served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Those experiences influence his writing to be sure. He knows his combat and his understands the mind of the service personal. He is a very prolific author who writes in his own universes but also others, like Babylon 5, BattleTech and Doctor Who. While I am still working through a large franchise of his I have finished with the first installment, The Heritage Trilogy. While I have minor critical points, overall is was an entertaining trilogy.
The premise of the novels is that alien life came to earth in humanity’s distant past. They enslaved and used humans, maybe even took them off the planet to other worlds, even tinkered with their genetics. Sounds like Stargate, right? Humans from our future (2040-2067) begin to learn about this when scientists uncover archeological evidence of intelligent life on Mars in the first book. The upheaval that occurs from this find becomes the basis of the story. This also become the over all theme of the series. Each book discloses a new find and new problems surrounding that find. One of the pieces of the puzzle concerning this solar system’s past is that whatever life form enslaved humanity was wiped out by a much more powerful and ruthless life form, the Hunters of the Dawn. However, the books don’t rush to meet this advanced and blood thirsty race. They are more concerned about conflicts in our neighborhood.
The trilogy really covers the politics surrounding the finding and acquiring of alien technology. In the first book, Semper Mars. the United States wants possession of the site on Mars and the well unified, and ‘villainous’, European Union doesn’t think America is trustworthy enough to gain access to any alien tech found there. So, a war breaks out, on Mars. There is a small contingent of Marines on Mars that have to face down a more powerful EU deployment. They are out numbered and out gunned, yet are determined to win. The rest of the trilogy runs much the same, different discoveries being made, the politics between nations, the politics between government and service personnel, the effects on earth of the uncovered alien sites and the conflicts that the good old U.S. Marines begrudgingly take on and win.
Douglas’s politics, as far as storytelling goes, leaves something to be desired. In the simplest fashion, America is the hero, though he is not so heavy handed as some authors. He keeps people in perspective, so most have motivations that make perfect sense, even if they are with the evil EU. The scientific community portrayed in Douglas’s novels are only interested in science and would rather keep governments and their militaries away from their discoveries. Almost all the politicians are liars and cheats, so are the corporations that pay them. The only real honest people are the Marines, and yet they end up being the most two-dimensional characters. They become the good old boys and girls that are knowingly used by politicians to perform the dirty work and left to find some way to find honor and meaning in doing so.
So, this story is not truly character driven. The whole trilogy makes use of individuals, following them through their perspective of the events they are involved in, but these events take place quickly. So, there is no real development, instead you focus on the action, which is the strongest point in these novels. The action is not Hollywood, meaning, there are no fire-based explosions in the vacuum of space. This is where the science kicks in. In one battle scene on the Lunar surface there are space suited Marines bouncing in a semi-controlled fashion across the landscape while firing weapons without sound. A silent ballet of death. Douglas handles the hard science well in much of the writing and uses it to make some pretty powerful images and intense situations. Also, the tech he creates for his novels is not far off form what we already have, and what isn’t is still believable. He provides limitations to build a good story on.
In all, this first trilogy was fun. Each novel starts off slow, but that is because Douglas carefully builds the conflict, so the stakes are made clear to the reader. Then he lets loose some climatic ending, where plot, scientific understanding, and military experience all come in to play. While the people might not be that in depth, the mystery surrounding the alien threat is intriguing. The Hunters of the Dawn are only talked about in this trilogy, and their legacy is treated like a murder mystery that some people are trying solve in between moments of human pettiness. While these novels are not paragons of science-fiction literature, they are solid, hard sci-fi stories that provide a bit of mystery and action. Also, being just the first trilogy in a group of such trilogies, the story promises to become a lot more complex than the simple feuds of earth based governments and good old Uncle Sam patriotism. If you want to read something sci-fi, with good action that isn’t light-sabers but has old fashion Marines with high tech gear, I can suggest these novels.
I read a little awhile go a blog by an author of science-fiction that called for a return to hard science-fiction. They wanted more stories that took science into account. So, a little more realistic, and less Star Wars. I admit over the years I have found little science-fiction that understands the sciences, let alone the fictional science it creates. Sometimes this presents a problem, but since story is the focus, not the science, a decent story can limp along with bad physics. Sometimes I have found science in storytelling in the sub-genre of military science-fiction. The genre is just what you might think, science-fiction from a military view. Most of the time there is an adherence to hard science, but also a tendency to flout patriotism, and military virtues, like ‘might makes right’. Sometimes it is just Jarheads in space, lots of violence, very little depth.
One author who specializes in this genre is Ian Douglas, a pen name for William H. Keith, Jr. Douglas served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Those experiences influence his writing to be sure. He knows his combat and his understands the mind of the service personal. He is a very prolific author who writes in his own universes but also others, like Babylon 5, BattleTech and Doctor Who. While I am still working through a large franchise of his I have finished with the first installment, The Heritage Trilogy. While I have minor critical points, overall is was an entertaining trilogy.
The premise of the novels is that alien life came to earth in humanity’s distant past. They enslaved and used humans, maybe even took them off the planet to other worlds, even tinkered with their genetics. Sounds like Stargate, right? Humans from our future (2040-2067) begin to learn about this when scientists uncover archeological evidence of intelligent life on Mars in the first book. The upheaval that occurs from this find becomes the basis of the story. This also become the over all theme of the series. Each book discloses a new find and new problems surrounding that find. One of the pieces of the puzzle concerning this solar system’s past is that whatever life form enslaved humanity was wiped out by a much more powerful and ruthless life form, the Hunters of the Dawn. However, the books don’t rush to meet this advanced and blood thirsty race. They are more concerned about conflicts in our neighborhood.
The trilogy really covers the politics surrounding the finding and acquiring of alien technology. In the first book, Semper Mars. the United States wants possession of the site on Mars and the well unified, and ‘villainous’, European Union doesn’t think America is trustworthy enough to gain access to any alien tech found there. So, a war breaks out, on Mars. There is a small contingent of Marines on Mars that have to face down a more powerful EU deployment. They are out numbered and out gunned, yet are determined to win. The rest of the trilogy runs much the same, different discoveries being made, the politics between nations, the politics between government and service personnel, the effects on earth of the uncovered alien sites and the conflicts that the good old U.S. Marines begrudgingly take on and win.
Douglas’s politics, as far as storytelling goes, leaves something to be desired. In the simplest fashion, America is the hero, though he is not so heavy handed as some authors. He keeps people in perspective, so most have motivations that make perfect sense, even if they are with the evil EU. The scientific community portrayed in Douglas’s novels are only interested in science and would rather keep governments and their militaries away from their discoveries. Almost all the politicians are liars and cheats, so are the corporations that pay them. The only real honest people are the Marines, and yet they end up being the most two-dimensional characters. They become the good old boys and girls that are knowingly used by politicians to perform the dirty work and left to find some way to find honor and meaning in doing so.
So, this story is not truly character driven. The whole trilogy makes use of individuals, following them through their perspective of the events they are involved in, but these events take place quickly. So, there is no real development, instead you focus on the action, which is the strongest point in these novels. The action is not Hollywood, meaning, there are no fire-based explosions in the vacuum of space. This is where the science kicks in. In one battle scene on the Lunar surface there are space suited Marines bouncing in a semi-controlled fashion across the landscape while firing weapons without sound. A silent ballet of death. Douglas handles the hard science well in much of the writing and uses it to make some pretty powerful images and intense situations. Also, the tech he creates for his novels is not far off form what we already have, and what isn’t is still believable. He provides limitations to build a good story on.
In all, this first trilogy was fun. Each novel starts off slow, but that is because Douglas carefully builds the conflict, so the stakes are made clear to the reader. Then he lets loose some climatic ending, where plot, scientific understanding, and military experience all come in to play. While the people might not be that in depth, the mystery surrounding the alien threat is intriguing. The Hunters of the Dawn are only talked about in this trilogy, and their legacy is treated like a murder mystery that some people are trying solve in between moments of human pettiness. While these novels are not paragons of science-fiction literature, they are solid, hard sci-fi stories that provide a bit of mystery and action. Also, being just the first trilogy in a group of such trilogies, the story promises to become a lot more complex than the simple feuds of earth based governments and good old Uncle Sam patriotism. If you want to read something sci-fi, with good action that isn’t light-sabers but has old fashion Marines with high tech gear, I can suggest these novels.
February 1, 2021
I have a bone in my body that keeps me going back to military sci-fi at any chance I get. Over and over and over again. Then, add in exo-skeleton and advanced chameleon/adaptive camouflage body armor tech and I’m all in. As I began reading the book, I had a bit of a rocky time of it in the initial development... I kept reading though. By 50 pages in I was intrigued... 387 pages later, and in less than 24 hours, and I can say I really liked this book. The author develops the story well including each individual “arc” story line and the character anchor for that “arc”. Much like a conductor entering the fourth movement he brings all of the arcs together masterfully and ties it up with a neat little bow. He includes the right amount of action, science, space battles, ground battles, and political intrigue. You can tell the author has done his research and thought out the story line as he makes it both believable and enjoyable to read. It was definitely worth the time spent reading it!
January 29, 2017
"Semper Mars" is the first book of a military science fiction trilogy that came highly recommended in a Flipboard Magazine article. Since I enjoy reading military science fiction, I decided to check it out. I found it to be an enjoyable read and plan to read the rest of the trilogy. In a somewhat dystopian near future, the United Nations is trying to establish a world government; only Russia, Great Britain, and the United States remain independent. The United States is conducting a joint U.S. - U.N. mission to Mars with 30 U.S. Marines to provide security. The U.N. contingent also has a military presence: several members of the French Foreign Legion. When an American archeologist makes a discovery on Mars that calls into question everything known known about humankind on Earth, it triggers a war between the U.S. and the U.N. This is definitely worth a look if you like military sci-fi.
February 12, 2020
Semper Mars, le premier livre de la série "The Heritage trilogy", une série de science-fiction militaire, par le talentueux Ian Douglas, pseudonyme de William H. Keith. La série se passe dans un futur proche; les humains ont découverts d'immenses artefacts, datant de 500 000 ans sur Mars. L'examen de ces artefacts entraine de plus amples découvertes qui font basculer l'espèce de guerre froide entre les États-Unis, et leurs alliés, et le reste du monde , à cause de l'appréhension des changements que cela peut apporter. Et les marines , sur Mars, seront les premiers impliqués.
Le contexte politique est plus ou moins crédible, mais Douglas a une expérience militaire pendant la guerre du Vietnam, ce qui permet de rendre les combats très crédibles. Et il une écriture serrée, ce qui fait que l'histoire nous accroche et que l'on a tendance à tourner les pages.
J'ai bien aimé.
Le contexte politique est plus ou moins crédible, mais Douglas a une expérience militaire pendant la guerre du Vietnam, ce qui permet de rendre les combats très crédibles. Et il une écriture serrée, ce qui fait que l'histoire nous accroche et que l'on a tendance à tourner les pages.
J'ai bien aimé.
May 16, 2018
If you read this, do yourself a favor and start on page 49 with the Marines guarding the embassy. Trust me, you won't miss anything important.
Currently, I'm on page 116, and you wouldn't miss much if you started there. You'd miss the firefight in chapters 4 and 5, but that grinds to a halt every time a new bit of military hardware needs to be described in detail. Which is why I'm not reading the rest of the book.
Still only the barest hint of a plot. There is more plot in the back cover copy than in the first 116 pages. Characterization seems limited to each Marine's rank, a quick bio, and how much they love the Marine Corps. Non-Marine characters are more varied, but not more interesting.
Currently, I'm on page 116, and you wouldn't miss much if you started there. You'd miss the firefight in chapters 4 and 5, but that grinds to a halt every time a new bit of military hardware needs to be described in detail. Which is why I'm not reading the rest of the book.
Still only the barest hint of a plot. There is more plot in the back cover copy than in the first 116 pages. Characterization seems limited to each Marine's rank, a quick bio, and how much they love the Marine Corps. Non-Marine characters are more varied, but not more interesting.
August 9, 2018
Well.
That was awkward.
You ever have a thing for a girl and think yourself into those spirals about how cute she is? And how sweet she is? And how great she is to be with? And then- like chewing the spoon when you’re eating dinner- you find that...thing about her: maybe she’s a narcissist, or treats others like crap or something but it’s just enough of the wrong chord to jar you into realizing that you were wrong?
Well- I thought for sure this book was going to be awesome. Definitely not great literature obviously but maybe something fun...and then BAM! it turns into a John Birch Society Book of the Month.
That was awkward.
You ever have a thing for a girl and think yourself into those spirals about how cute she is? And how sweet she is? And how great she is to be with? And then- like chewing the spoon when you’re eating dinner- you find that...thing about her: maybe she’s a narcissist, or treats others like crap or something but it’s just enough of the wrong chord to jar you into realizing that you were wrong?
Well- I thought for sure this book was going to be awesome. Definitely not great literature obviously but maybe something fun...and then BAM! it turns into a John Birch Society Book of the Month.
September 7, 2021
I was mostly interested in the findings on Mars, that was what attracted me to the book.
While the battle scenes were exciting, they read too much like a Marines recruiting video.
I also didn't see what the Japanese scenes were for.
The archeological discoveries on Mars were interesting and fun.
I have heard about most of these either on Ancient Aliens on the misnamed History Channel
or on Coast To Coast AM where everything is true.
This is a multi book series but I'm not very interested in reading the rest.
While the battle scenes were exciting, they read too much like a Marines recruiting video.
I also didn't see what the Japanese scenes were for.
The archeological discoveries on Mars were interesting and fun.
I have heard about most of these either on Ancient Aliens on the misnamed History Channel
or on Coast To Coast AM where everything is true.
This is a multi book series but I'm not very interested in reading the rest.
April 21, 2019
It's been a while since I've read a really good Sci-Fi novel, so when I saw this one sitting in the "Free Bin" at my local used bookstore, I decided to give it a shot, and I was not disappointed.
If you enjoy military sci-fi, then give this one a go. It has a good story, solid characters, and I will definitely be reading the other books in the trilogy.
(The book started a little slow, for me, but I fully expect the other books to earn a higher rating, now that the foundation has been established.)
If you enjoy military sci-fi, then give this one a go. It has a good story, solid characters, and I will definitely be reading the other books in the trilogy.
(The book started a little slow, for me, but I fully expect the other books to earn a higher rating, now that the foundation has been established.)
September 1, 2021
Having grown up to the age of 12 inside the culture of the Marine Corps, (My father was a colonel, served 28 years as an aviator from pre-WW2 to the advent of Vietnam.), I thoroughly enjoyed this read in which the familiar tropes.of the Corps got bell rings. The attitudes and motivations are spot on. Marines are a special breed and a special force. Any Marine veteran will enjoy this book, even if not a fan of sci-fi.
May 28, 2025
This book was written in 1998 and I'm reading it for the first time in 2025. The story is set in 2040 and talks about what has happened in the world up to the present time in the story. It was very interesting to read the author's take on the possible future and compare it to our actual present and evolving future. I found the story exciting and the characters well-written. But I did keep comparing the proposed future with the actual present.
August 25, 2021
Product of the times
Not a bad read. It is definitely a product of the last ten years, since 2010. It has echoes of the anti-globalism sentiment. It also shows an insight to just why so many in the military acted the way they did once out of uniform. Besides the obvious political statement, it is an interesting take on Cydonia.
Not a bad read. It is definitely a product of the last ten years, since 2010. It has echoes of the anti-globalism sentiment. It also shows an insight to just why so many in the military acted the way they did once out of uniform. Besides the obvious political statement, it is an interesting take on Cydonia.
Read
September 5, 2021An extremely interesting book!
So what happens when the lesser countries band together to take on the major world powers? This is an interesting option. Although a bit too much military, for me, it was necessary to convey the feelings behind the story. I feel certain the author will forgive us for appropriately rendered tears. Time to read the next offering!
So what happens when the lesser countries band together to take on the major world powers? This is an interesting option. Although a bit too much military, for me, it was necessary to convey the feelings behind the story. I feel certain the author will forgive us for appropriately rendered tears. Time to read the next offering!
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