First Contact
The Terran
survey ship Aurora makes a startling discovery in an uncharted star system: two
planets inhabited by an advanced, and decidedly unfriendly, non-human
civilization. Disabled by gigantic alien warships before it can escape, the
Aurora is boarded by nightmarish blue-skinned warriors with claws and fangs who
slaughter the crew in ritual combat using primitive weapons. The sole survivor,
Midshipman Ichiro Sato, is returned to Earth as a messenger bearing a device
that warns of an impending attack.
For
that is the way of the Kreelan Empire, which has waged war against countless
civilizations across the stars in its quest for a savior, one not of their own
blood, foretold in an ages-old prophecy. With only a few generations left
before their ancient species faces extinction, the Kreelans will wage their
last war against humanity, hoping against hope for redemption of sins long
past.
First Contact (SF
Military War)
(The Last War Trilogy
Book #1)
By Michael R. Hicks
Imperial Guard
Publishing
B004IPQE0I
Kindle Price $0.00
373 Pages
Rating 4 Stars
“Well Researched
Military Detail.”
Taking place far in the future when Planet Earth has
achieved interstellar spaceflight, and Earthmen have settled on planets in
other star systems, their survey ships have often found life on other planets,
but never intelligent life. But when the Aurora jumps into an unknown star
system all that changes. Huge ships are fast approaching their entry point, as
if they were expected. Before they can return to their jump port, huge warrior
women wielding swords bent on slaughtering all on board invade their ship.
Taking but a few captives, the prisoners are placed in an arena to fight to the
death; only one is left alive to carry the message to Earth – the aliens now
know where their planet systems are located, and an invading force will soon be
on the way. They have 18 months to prepare for war.
The Kreelan Empire has been around for five hundred thousand
years, and their technology is highly advanced. But they have a strange sense
of honor, even though they happily slaughter millions (billions?) of innocent
people, they will fight using technology on the level of their foes. The war
that they wage with the Earth fleet near one of Earth’s colony planets is fast
and ferocious. They fight for their honor, whether they win or die in battle,
and they don’t care if their foes are peaceful civilians or professional
military soldiers, they will die in battle to give them honor and pleasure.
This reminded me of one of Robert A. Heinlein’s juvenile stories,
to be honest. SPACE CADET comes to mind. The fighting is fierce, then suddenly, for little reason, the
Kreelan warrior stops slaying to fight an Earthman they think has shown bravery
or something, and then will fight that person to the death – though often
sparing them, which doesn’t make any sense, either. Earth should have stood
little chance against their superior power, yet we walk away to mend our wounds
and fight again another day. The Kreelans could have wiped us out in one massive
wave using weapons far superior to our own, but merely played with us by
slashing our heads off. Though probably set thousands of years in the future,
the words “embedded”, “blogger” and “Gary Owen” are mentioned. Remember,
supposedly there hasn’t been a war since we entered space, and all monies have
been directed to space travel. Embedded should have been a word long forgotten.
And Bloggers? Heck, even today Bloggers are moving away from Blogs to other
social medias. Will there still be a 7th Cavalry in the far future,
when war is forgotten, and man turns his eyes toward space? Who will remember
Gary Owen?
I don’t know what the point of the story was. The novel is totally
war, killing, and profanity. I’ve been to war, and this novel made me think of kids
play-acting – or role-playing games. So millions of people are killed, so what,
it’s only a game. Although it certainly wasn’t for me, I understand there are
many readers who do like this sort of thing, and for them it’s recommend. But
if you are like me, read a Star Trek novel, at least there is more than war,
killing, and profanity. You might even enjoy a good yarn.
Tom Johnson
Author of Pangaea:
Eden’s Planet
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