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The Return of the Marines #1
The Few
Gunnery Sergeant Jacob McCardle is the commander of the Marine Detachment at the US Embassy, New Delhi, when the president of the United States arrives on an official visit, the same man who, as a Congressman, sponsored the bill that had decimated the Corps in a cost-cutting effort. As the president arrives, the embassy is attacked and isolated by a mob of nationalists. With the Indian government seemingly unwilling to take action to restore order and with an ambitious vice-president seizing this as an opportunity to move up to the White House, it is up to Gunny McCardle and his small band of Marines to keep the president alive. Faced with tremendous odds, Gunny has to lead his Marines in an almost impossible task. That is nothing new to the US Marines. Impossible tasks are the Corps' forte. But can his small detachment keep up the tradition of the Corps and succeed despite tremendous odds?
- GenresScience Fiction
252 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2009
92 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan P. Brazee
150 books190 followersI am a retired Marine colonel and now a full-time writer living in Colorado Springs with my wife, Kiwi, and infant twin daughters, Danika Dawn and Darika Marie.
I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 85 titles published, 52 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, and my novella, "Fire Ant," was a 2018 Nebula finalist. My novel "Integration" was a 2018 Dragon Award finalist, and my novel "Sentenced to War" was a 2021 finalist. I am a USA Today Bestelling writer.
My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, wrting, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books.
I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts.
As an author, I don't think it is fair for me to rate any other author's books here on Goodreads if that rating is less than five stars. I have certainly read many books that do not deserve five (or four, three, or even two). However, I will not rate any of those here while I am a Goodreads author. Consequently, I will only be listing books that I really like and feel deserve five stars.
If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com.
I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 85 titles published, 52 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, and my novella, "Fire Ant," was a 2018 Nebula finalist. My novel "Integration" was a 2018 Dragon Award finalist, and my novel "Sentenced to War" was a 2021 finalist. I am a USA Today Bestelling writer.
My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, wrting, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books.
I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts.
As an author, I don't think it is fair for me to rate any other author's books here on Goodreads if that rating is less than five stars. I have certainly read many books that do not deserve five (or four, three, or even two). However, I will not rate any of those here while I am a Goodreads author. Consequently, I will only be listing books that I really like and feel deserve five stars.
If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 27, 2013
The story pulls you in from the start and becomes a journey into a possible future where a perceived weakness in our country can lead to catastrophe. It turns out the real enemy is not the faceless mass that threatens the safety of the marine unit guarding the President, but a U.S. Government that has forgotten the core values that make this country the best in the world. The author's extensive knowledge of all things marine lends an air of authenticity to the proceedings. I look forward to the next chapter in the series. - Peter Drago
November 24, 2020
There is a good story in this book. Lots of action and suspenseful moments. However, there are just too many problems which add up to a simply OK book.
There are too many characters. While some (Gunny Mac, the Commandant) are easy to keep track of, the rest blended together too much. I kept mixing up all the rest of the Marines as well as the Cabinet members.
The VP's power grab comes across as filler to make a word count. Nothing is accomplished and it is resolved with one sentence.
I feel like the book is too political. Maybe I am reading more than the author intended, but it feels like there are a lot of jabs at politicians throughout the book.
Overall, not a bad book. Just one in need of an editor.
There are too many characters. While some (Gunny Mac, the Commandant) are easy to keep track of, the rest blended together too much. I kept mixing up all the rest of the Marines as well as the Cabinet members.
The VP's power grab comes across as filler to make a word count. Nothing is accomplished and it is resolved with one sentence.
I feel like the book is too political. Maybe I am reading more than the author intended, but it feels like there are a lot of jabs at politicians throughout the book.
Overall, not a bad book. Just one in need of an editor.
June 4, 2020
Jonathan P. Brazee has the genre locked up. The writing is excellent and the plot is straight forward. The book is about a President who disbands the Marines as not being needed. This all changes when he is in the India Embassy when it is attacked. The men he wanted to get rid of now have the task of trying to save the Presidents life. This is a great book and even brought a tear to this old Marine at the ending. You will do no better than buying this book.
January 19, 2021
RECOMMENDED
The Few, the first book of the series, is outstanding! If you like good military fiction or if you
have a warm place in your heart for the Marine Corps, you will want to read this book!
The Few, the first book of the series, is outstanding! If you like good military fiction or if you
have a warm place in your heart for the Marine Corps, you will want to read this book!
January 22, 2021
Hoping this is not Prophetic
Colonel Beware has given us a well written story that captures the heart of the USMC. I like to think that the lesson learned by the characters in this book can be learned in our world. Highly recommended reading.
Colonel Beware has given us a well written story that captures the heart of the USMC. I like to think that the lesson learned by the characters in this book can be learned in our world. Highly recommended reading.
July 5, 2020
Wonderful, action packed novel. It was very hard to put down. Well written characters. Jonathan Brazee is a excellent military author. I highly recommend this book
February 2, 2021
Tough Marines
Great story, a real,page turner. Greta character development although at times it was hard keeping up with the many names. Highly recommended.
Great story, a real,page turner. Greta character development although at times it was hard keeping up with the many names. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2021
Rousingly good
I’ve read several other books by the author but this one might be his best,in my opinion. First in a trilogy, excuse me but I have to go download the other 2.
I’ve read several other books by the author but this one might be his best,in my opinion. First in a trilogy, excuse me but I have to go download the other 2.
September 1, 2021
A good action read
In true form the Marines are just for escort. The president is attacked while at the India embassy and the Marines save the day.
In true form the Marines are just for escort. The president is attacked while at the India embassy and the Marines save the day.
March 7, 2022
Boring
First two chapters are full of drivel and talking about characters, nothing happens and it's easy to either fall asleep or skip over.
First two chapters are full of drivel and talking about characters, nothing happens and it's easy to either fall asleep or skip over.
May 6, 2022
The concept of a Dismemberment is not far fetched. Just prior to the Falklands War the British Ministry of Defence was contemplating disbanding both the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment as having 'no place in modern warfare'. Luckily for the people of the Falklands they didn't.
September 18, 2023
Lean and Mean
Clean fast paced prose and an all too believable plot make this a terrific read. I look forward to the next volume.
Clean fast paced prose and an all too believable plot make this a terrific read. I look forward to the next volume.
June 5, 2015
Unrelenting action. Shaky grammar and word choices. Two or three dozen main characters. Jargon-laden prose. Usually, any two of these would be enough to have me put down a book in disgust, yet the quality of the action and the expertise with which Brazee fleshes out his multitude of Marines drew me in early and kept me reading.
The story hook was compelling, too. In this near-future tale, the Marines have been disbanded as a separate branch of the military. The few who remain as Marines are serve almost exclusively as embassy guards or security details.
The California senator who had presided over the Dismemberment of the Corps (as the Marines refer to it) is now their Commander In Chief
What justified the cost-cutting measure that ended the Marines was an astonishing about-face by the religion of Islam. In a Reformation as profound as that of Luther and Calvin, Islam had transformed itself into a true religion of peace. With this change, the only wars left are economic: outsourcing of jobs and easing of trade restrictions are the strategic maneuvers. This is not the kind of battlefield on which Marines are needed.
And yet they are. The security detail of Marines at the US Embassy in New Delhi is gathered as an honor guard to welcome the POTUS as he arrives for a trade summit that will be held in the adjacent consulate building. The President barely makes it into the grounds before hostilities open. The Marines he despises are all that stand between him and death.
The action of the tale begins as soon as the opening hymn has sounded and the first players have been introduced. Brazee juggles the different character's motivations and voices well, building a complex view of many players that persists through the most heated action scenes. The tone and language is authentic, if laden with typos and grammatial errors.
And acronyms. Thousands of acronyms: NEO (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation), HEAT ammo (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), DSS (Diplomatic Security Service), pax (passengers), and IOC (Infantry Officers' Course), for a few that weren't obvious.
It helped that there is an acronym list in the back of the book. It did not help that not all the acronyms Brazee throws around are listed, nor that I didn't find the list until I finished reading. It is not listed in the Contents; you have to get there by paging to it. However, I was reading the novel on my Kindle, and used the Wikipedia lookup to help clarify anything that wasn't obvious from the context.
The power of this story was such that despite the hesitations from unfamiliar jargon and typos, the pace was unrelenting. I had to ignore all such petty problems, because Brazee made me want to know these people, learn how their story turns out. I had to read to the end, and having done so, I had to get the next two books in the series. ( The Proud and The Marines , of course!)
Liner Notes:
The flavor of this story reminded me strongly of another Mil SF favorite: Michael Z. Williamson's Freehold series. I suspect Brazee will join Williamson on my "re-read periodically" shelf.
The story hook was compelling, too. In this near-future tale, the Marines have been disbanded as a separate branch of the military. The few who remain as Marines are serve almost exclusively as embassy guards or security details.
The California senator who had presided over the Dismemberment of the Corps (as the Marines refer to it) is now their Commander In Chief
“Sir, you may have made our jobs into being guards,” he replied, with a slight emphasis on the “you,” “but every Marine is a rifleman. We are warriors, by a long tradition earned in blood. And I’m sorry, but with all due respect, no politician can change that.”
What justified the cost-cutting measure that ended the Marines was an astonishing about-face by the religion of Islam. In a Reformation as profound as that of Luther and Calvin, Islam had transformed itself into a true religion of peace. With this change, the only wars left are economic: outsourcing of jobs and easing of trade restrictions are the strategic maneuvers. This is not the kind of battlefield on which Marines are needed.
And yet they are. The security detail of Marines at the US Embassy in New Delhi is gathered as an honor guard to welcome the POTUS as he arrives for a trade summit that will be held in the adjacent consulate building. The President barely makes it into the grounds before hostilities open. The Marines he despises are all that stand between him and death.
The action of the tale begins as soon as the opening hymn has sounded and the first players have been introduced. Brazee juggles the different character's motivations and voices well, building a complex view of many players that persists through the most heated action scenes. The tone and language is authentic, if laden with typos and grammatial errors.
And acronyms. Thousands of acronyms: NEO (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation), HEAT ammo (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), DSS (Diplomatic Security Service), pax (passengers), and IOC (Infantry Officers' Course), for a few that weren't obvious.
It helped that there is an acronym list in the back of the book. It did not help that not all the acronyms Brazee throws around are listed, nor that I didn't find the list until I finished reading. It is not listed in the Contents; you have to get there by paging to it. However, I was reading the novel on my Kindle, and used the Wikipedia lookup to help clarify anything that wasn't obvious from the context.
The power of this story was such that despite the hesitations from unfamiliar jargon and typos, the pace was unrelenting. I had to ignore all such petty problems, because Brazee made me want to know these people, learn how their story turns out. I had to read to the end, and having done so, I had to get the next two books in the series. ( The Proud and The Marines , of course!)
Liner Notes:
The flavor of this story reminded me strongly of another Mil SF favorite: Michael Z. Williamson's Freehold series. I suspect Brazee will join Williamson on my "re-read periodically" shelf.
July 1, 2012
This is one of those books which came out on a list I received, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did. This was a pretty exciting book.
The story takes place about 20 years from now, and it was very believable, especially the Marines getting cut in size because of budget problems. Given the news in Washington over the last couple of years, and the way our government is going, you can sort of imagine it. But budget cuts or not, the Marines have always had a way to get things done, and as you can guess, things are no different in this story.
I like that the author uses a real country for the enemies. I hate all these made up 'stans as the enemy of choice nowadays. It seems that authors use that, or Islam, or a corrupt government. This book uses India, and it makes logical sense given what the author lays out.
Anyway, politics or not, the book is a basic Oorah! Marine book. Things are very believable, (well except for maybe the secret service getting all taken out), exciting, and full of action. As a former military man, I liked this book a lot. I hope there are more to come.
The story takes place about 20 years from now, and it was very believable, especially the Marines getting cut in size because of budget problems. Given the news in Washington over the last couple of years, and the way our government is going, you can sort of imagine it. But budget cuts or not, the Marines have always had a way to get things done, and as you can guess, things are no different in this story.
I like that the author uses a real country for the enemies. I hate all these made up 'stans as the enemy of choice nowadays. It seems that authors use that, or Islam, or a corrupt government. This book uses India, and it makes logical sense given what the author lays out.
Anyway, politics or not, the book is a basic Oorah! Marine book. Things are very believable, (well except for maybe the secret service getting all taken out), exciting, and full of action. As a former military man, I liked this book a lot. I hope there are more to come.
August 25, 2013
It's difficult to review this book without spoilers, so will just say it's U.S. Marines in the near future, after their numbers have been trimmed back quite drastically.
The author is ex-Marines, and as with other similar books by ex-forces, it becomes a kind of "Look how good this branch is" and "don't mess with it".
It's a decent read, most of the characters are quite convincing, but the message is laid on a bit thick in places, and a few characters seem to be there just to get the message across.
The author is ex-Marines, and as with other similar books by ex-forces, it becomes a kind of "Look how good this branch is" and "don't mess with it".
It's a decent read, most of the characters are quite convincing, but the message is laid on a bit thick in places, and a few characters seem to be there just to get the message across.
June 23, 2015
Well written. Nice to read a military book written by someone who actually know weapons and military terms.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews