Reddit mentions: The best military fantasy books

I'll skip over the classics (Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Philip K Dick) as they've already been covered.

• Peter F Hamilton is incredibly good, I'd suggest starting with the Confederation Universe series. Very long, and can get a little heavy, but in my opinion, absolutely superb hard sci fi. The universe is similar in size and scope to that of Tolkien's, the science is detailed and well constructed, the space combat is awesome, and I found the characters believable and easy to empathize with. Judging from your criteria, I have a feeling that this series may be just what you're looking for.
  
  
• As others have suggested, Alastair Reynolds is an absolute stand-out in today's sci fi line-up. His Revelation Space universe is complex, engaging and has some of the best science theory I've read. He also includes a lot of biotechnology / biological themes in his work - which is a refreshing change from the nanomachines / cyborg / tech-heavy staples that seem to dominate a lot of modern sci-fi. There's an incredible sense of tension that is maintained for the entire series, more-so than any other modern anthology I've read.
  
  
• Richard Morgan is another of my personal favorites. If you want action-heavy, quality sci fi, look no further. I'd recommend starting with the Kovacs series, (Altered Carbon, Broken Angels, Woken Furies) they're equal parts Noir / Drama / Action / Sci-Fi / Awesome. Not much space combat, but the ground combat is really, really good.
  
  
• If you haven't read Robert Heinlen's original Starship Troopers (Don't judge it by the movie; seriously) I'd highly recommend it. Not much you can say about it, except that the movie cut entirely too much of the thought provoking content out.
  
  
• John Steakley's Armor is superficially similar to Starship Troopers, but it's far more weighted on the psychological trauma of war; the action is almost ancillary - in fact, where Starship Troopers tends to glorify war a touch, Armor tends to question the validity and purpose of war in an advanced society.
  
  Finally:
  
  
• I'm not going to say anything other than: "Do yourself a favor and read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash."
  
  Seriously. No space combat, but without doubt one of the most entertaining fiction I've read in any genre, and a superb example of dystopian sci-fi. For god sakes, the hero - Hiro Protagonist (I know, right?!) - is a Hacker / Samurai that works for the mafia. Delivering pizzas. Trust me on this: Go with it, you won't be sorry.
  
  Hope that helps and wasn't a Great Wall of Boring Text :-)

Yeah, no I don't think so. I've read the entire Ringworld series. The ring structure seems like the only similarities to me.

From what I know of Halo, the armor and Master Chief character seem inspired by John Steakley's Armor I've read this twice now, it is a really fun read.

http://www.amazon.com/Armor-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687

BTW this was published in 1984, well before any Halo stories.

Edit: I really have to recommend the audio book too, the narration and voice acting are awesome. (listen to a sample here)

For lore I would personally recommend starting here. It is the best place to start and wont cost you the earth, like getting into the actual hobby. If that pique's your interest there is a whole treasure trove of lore to be had in the 40k universe.

ALL of John Ringo's Posleen War series. I always recommend people start with Gust Front even though it's #2 in the series. You can decide for yourself whether you want to follow the Cally O'Neal story arc - I didn't care too much for it personally, but there are plenty of other stories in that universe (Ringo's nothing if not prolific) to keep you busy.

Once you're grounded in the 'verse you can branch out to the books he wrote with other authors; Watch on the Rhine features rejuved Waffen SS soldiers fighting to defend a limp-wristed Germany from the invading aliens. Yellow Eyes chronicles the defense of the Panama Canal.

Ringo is far & away my favorite military sci-fi author. He has another series in a different universe that begins with March Upcountry and is also awesome (written with David Weber btw).

Other authors... have you read David Feintuch? Midshipman's Hope is the first one I think. After the 3rd or 4th book in that series they get a little stale but I enjoyed them for a while. The Starfist series is kind of fun if you can handle a formulaic approach to the prose (more or less the same story in every book IMO).

I didn't care too much for Kratman's A Desert Called Peace but my dad (retired Air Force) did. I'll second the Scalzi & Haldeman recommendations too, and not just the books already listed - their entire bibliography (both guys) is solid.

I'd be furious with myself if I didn't include Steakley: Armor is one of my all-time favorite books and I try to re-read it once a year.

I'll keep thinking - I know there is more out there.

Could go with Armor

I love Ender's Game. Its my favorite book but I have to admit I think Armor is the better book.

I liked it, but I was introduced to it by my dad (sci-fi nerd) when i was 14 or something. It is a fast, fun read, but it will not change your life or anything. I read it a second time a few years ago. I still liked it.

It is basically the same setting as starship troopers, but there isn't much time dedicated to social philosophy or whatever. It reads faster, more like Ender's Game. it mostly focuses on the specific missions and the obstacles the main character must overcome in order to survive. It goes into a lot more detail about power armor and fighting bug-like aliens.

The story is told in two perspectives (through two main characters) and I think one of them is more interesting than the other. So like 1/3 of the book kind of drags a bit (relatively) and I just want to read through to get back to the other guy. I think it's worth it, but some people (in reviews on amazon, etc) hate it. Some parts of it are really cool though.

I don't think this book rivals Neal Stephenson or William Gibson or anything, but it totaly kicks Terry Goodkind's ass. Also, it has half a star more on Amazon than either Snow Crash or Neuromancer. That's kinda bs, but ARMOR is a good, fast read.

EDIT: Seems like major retailers usually carry it (Barnes&Noble, Hastings, etc), and I often notice copies of it at used bookstores.

EDIT2: He also made the list of finalists: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/07/138938145/science-fiction-and-fantasy-finalists

They JUST had started a reprint-run of "Gaunts Ghosts": http://www.amazon.com/First-Only-Gaunts-Ghosts-Abnett/dp/1849708568/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420145754&sr=8-4&keywords=First+and+Only

Noticed the same. I buy every Warhammer 40k book on its release (I just love the universe and am proud of my own "library"). Recently I noticed I really have some treasures in my collection. Stuff like the Uplifting Primer, Tactica Imperialis, several Gaunts Ghosts and Gothic Wars novels.

No book will prepare you for law enforcement, it has to be touched, smelled, heard, and seen. If you're already a cop then the best thing you can do to be better is to be a well rounded human being and books can help with that.

Here's the recommended reading from some of the prior threads I was able to find in the sub.

1. On Killing
   
2. On Combat
   
3. Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement
   
4. Intro to Criminal Evidence
   
5. Blue Blood
   
6. 400 Things Cops Should Know
   
7. Cop: A True Story
   
8. [Verbal Judo] (https://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Judo-Gentle-Persuasion-Updated/dp/0062107704/)
   
9. [What Cops Know] (https://www.amazon.com/What-Cops-Know-Connie-Fletcher/dp/0671750402/)
   
10. [Into the Kill Zone] (https://www.amazon.com/Into-Kill-Zone-Deadly-Force/dp/0787986038/)
    
11. Training at the Speed of Life
    
12. Sharpening the Warrior's Edge
    
13. The Gift of Fear
    
14. Deadly Force Encounters
    
15. The Book of Five Rings
    
    I've read a good portion of the above listed. I highly recommend Emotional Survival and going to see one of Gilmartin's talks if he's in your area. Below are a few of my personal suggestions.
    
    
16. Meditations
    
17. Blink - Not sure if I buy it, but interesting to think about.
    
18. [Armor] (https://www.amazon.com/Armor-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687/)
    
19. Iron John: A Book About Men
    
20. The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
    

Armor by John Steakley. I am not a big sci fi fan, but I picked this up at a used book store 20 years ago and loved it.

Armor John Steakley. Sooo good. I wish they would make it into a show on scifi (: I know i know people are scared of that but scifi can do good shows too.

Some of my favorites:

• Noir - K.W. Jeter
  
• Macroscope - Piers Anthony
  
• Armor - John Steakley
  
• Protector - Larry Niven
  
• I Robot - Isaac Asimov
  
• Neuromancer - William Gibson
  
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Philip K. Dick
  
• The Fall of Reach (Halo) - Eric Nylund
  
• Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
  
• Cachalot - Alan Dean Foster
  
• Islands in the Net - Bruce Sterling
  
• Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
  
• Reality Dysfunction - Peter F. Hamilton
  
  I tried to get as many different authors as possible in there. Many of those authors have plenty of really good books you shouldn't miss.

There is only the one book. The movie only used the book as a premise and went off on its own. Anyone who has read the book pretty much doesn't like the movie. I don't think the 2nd and 3rd made it to theaters...
If you like bug killing adventures, look at Armor. If you like a more engrossing story look at Ender's Game.

Armor is also a great book in the vein of Starship Troopers.

The bugs from Armor were good as well in terms of sheer numbers/tenacity.

http://www.amazon.com/Armor-science-fiction-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687

Armor by John Steakley. I was remembering bits through it, but it wasn't until close to the end that I fully remembered reading it. It was just as good the second time.

If you've never read Armor by John Steakley, I'm gonna go ahead and recommend you read the fuck out of that.

https://www.amazon.com/Armor-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687

Awesome Work! Cant wait for your next one!

I would rather see the book Armor turned into a movie. It's a fantastic read.

Here's the link to the book.

I just finished Armor by John Steakley. He only wrote two books that I know of and I really enjoyed them both.

If you like military Sci-Fi, then check out the Galactic Marines Trilogies by Ian Douglas (Pseudo-name for William Keith Jr.)


The Heritage Trilogy


Semper Mars

Luna Marine

Europa Strike



The Legacy Trilogy


Star Corps

Battlespace

Star Marines



The Inheritance Trilogy


Star Strike

Galactic Corps

Semper Human

I'm not certain about the time slowdown. In fact it probably didn't seem to, because I remember being amazed at how incredibly fast I moved my arms. They were a little sore afterwards.

btw, if you are interested, here is the link for Armor.

Armor

http://www.amazon.com/Armor-science-fiction-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303873711&sr=1-1

A version of the same characters also appear in Vampires which is much better than the movie

http://www.amazon.com/Vampires-John-Steakley/dp/B002HRELFE/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Armor, by John Steakley is a good one.

http://www.amazon.com/Armor-science-fiction-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687

This may not be it, but it has certain elements similar. Especially following the survival of that soldier.

John Steakley's Armor might be worth checking out. It was inspired by Starship Troopers, but strips out all the 'superfluous' non-action stuff.

You might like this book.

Armor by John Steakley

Ex Heroes by Peter Clines

14 by Peter Clines

And everything by William Gibson. Seriously, just all the things by him but start with Neuromancer

"You are what you do when it counts."

-Armor, by John Steakley

I read this book around age 15, and trust me when I say that this is a heavy read, from an emotional perspective. This simple phrase was one of those things that stuck with me, and I've found new depth in it over the years. I chanted it to myself before I proposed to my wife. I've used it when talking to a friend facing death, and another who was ready to commit suicide. It definitely stuck with me.

You really need to read John Steakley's "Armor". It's a little older now, but the book itself won't seem dated, and you should be able to get it on Amazon.

Edit: Here's the link.

Armor by John Steakley, though I know it would turn into a movie about CGI robots fighting CGI ants... Kind of like Starship Troopers.

Mandatory pointer to Armor, by John Steakley.

Armor - by John Steakly

Heh, at the moment Amazon says it is frequently bought together with Starship Troopers and The Forever War

Armor

Armor

One of them is bound to finish me off. Just not that one. Or that one.

Read Armor.

Try:

• The Forever War by John Haldeman
  
  
• Armor by John Steakley
  
  
• Old Man's War by John Scalzi
  
  Hmm, apparently anything written by a John something or the other will work...

Under The Ember Star by: Charles Gramlich
https://www.amazon.com/Under-Ember-Star-Human-Knacker-Wildside/dp/1434444538

Armor

Isn't this the plot of Armor

https://www.amazon.com/First-Only-Gaunts-Ghosts-Book-ebook/dp/B01N942H0T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1487024408&sr=1-1

That should work, it should be the link directly to the Kindle version.

How about
Armor?

I suggest you read the book Armor

Unfortunately it isn't available as an ebook anymore.
Click the link under "Tell the publisher" and try to change that

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0886773687/ref=kinw_rke_rti_1

Armor by John Steakley. It's what I wanted Starship Troopers to be.

Also The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Ship to ship space combat at relativistic speeds!

Try Armor by John Steakley. An older book, but includes several scenes with soldiers in powered exo-skeleton suits fighting in low-g.

Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet

John Steakley Armor

John Scalzi Old Man's War

Joe Haldeman The Forever War

• Armor - More ground base fighting in powersuits than in space - Second half of the book isn't very exciting - Audiobook is awesome
  
• The Forever War - War fought against aliens over a long period of time. Space and ground battles
  
• Old Man's War - Lots of advanced tech in these books with space battles and ground combat - This would probably be my first recommendation
  
• Currently reading Leviathan Wakes which is turning out to be pretty good

This is the first one. The other two are listed in the frequently night together. Called doom of the elves and death of the old world. These three books contain the original six novels and some short stories in between.

I recommend Armor: http://www.amazon.com/Armor-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687.

Although it is about combat in power armor, the real conflict is in the mind of the guy inside the suit as he is thrown into battle after pointless battle.

I addition to The Forever War and Old Man's War, let me throw Armor out there. It gets into the psychology of an individuals war pretty heavily. I put it up there close to Starship Troopers, and slightly above The Forever War.

First I'll tackle your query regarding one of my favorite novels:

>Read The Forever War, thought it was O.K. I've heard the sequels were bad, would like confirmation on this?

There's one sequel to Forever War, and it's Forever Free. It goes in a weird direction and has an unsatisfying ending. There's a short story that tells the end of the forever war from Mary Gay's point of view, called "A Seperate War". It's pretty good if only for the fact that it just retreads the novel.

Haldeman has a book called Forever Peace, published in 1998, which tackles the same basic concept of never-ending war... But in no way is it actually connected to The Forever War in a narrative sense.

Second:

Some books that I read and enjoyed are...

• Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
  
  
• Gateway by Frederik Pohl
  
  
• Armor by John Steakley. When it comes to military science fiction, in my head there are three books that complete a trilogy of three different takes on the subject matter. Starship Troopers, which holds that service is noble. Forever War, regarding the pointlessness of war. And then Armor, which is about the human spirit in such a horrific space war.

>i’m new to 40k in general...

>the simplicity of these regular average joes really peaked my interest...

I'm gonna stop you right there before I get into talking shop. Go buy yourself a copy of Ciaphas Cain and a copy of First and Only. These two book series are what sold me on the Guard. They're fun reads and they're absolutely fantastic for establishing the 'feel' of Imperial Guard.

Now let's see here. 100 points of Guards? That's not a whole lot, even with us being among the most points-efficient armies in the game.

Here's the core of literally every Guards list:

Infantry Squad. This is every Guard army's bread and butter. They can have a special weapon and a heavy weapon integrated right into the squad to give them some much-needed punch.

A Commissar, for the leadership. On their own, Guardsmen (and especially Conscripts) have poor Leadership and you'll likely lose a model (or two, or three, or four...) every time the squad takes casualties. Commissars help with that.

An Officer, for the orders. In this case a Platoon Commander. The IG's unique mechanic is their Orders, allowing an Officer (either Company Commander, Platoon Commander or Tank Commander) to use their Voice of Command ability to make units do shit like move farther, shoot twice as much, reroll 1s (Take Aim so you can safely supercharge plasma), make attacks when not otherwise able (Fix Bayonets!, Forwards For the Emperor! and Get Back In The Fight!)

Here's what's also good and fits inside the points limits:

Heavy Weapons Squad (three heavy weapons of your choice, but no meatshields)

Special Weapons Squad (three special weapons of your choice, only three meatshields)

If memory serves, a Commissar is about 20 points, a Platoon Commander is about 25. Infantry Squad is about 40 points before Heavy/Special weapons, about 60 points after. Spare points can go into a special weapon for your infantry, then maybe a heavy weapon. You might have to drop the Commissar, but don't drop the Platoon Commander - Guard needs* their orders, particularly "First Rank Fire! Second Rank Fire!"

The problem with 100 points here is that you've got between 20% and 50% of your overall cost going into overhead (ie Platoon Commander & Commissar) just to make the Infantry not suck. Another way to do it would be to run 2-3 infantry squads, or infantry + heavy weapon team, or heavy weapon team + special weapon team, or maybe just two SWTs for all the plasma you can carry.

The problem is, without a platoon commander to issue orders you're losing a lot of firepower and versatility (for example, Fix Bayonets or Get Back In The Fight), and without a Commissar you're going to eat a fair amount of losses to morale as your guys start running away once their squaddies start dying. If this way, say, a 250 point game, it would be much easier.