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Frontlines #2
Lines of Departure
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2014)Vicious interstellar conflict with an indestructible alien species. Bloody civil war over the last habitable zones of the cosmos. Political unrest, militaristic police forces, dire threats to the solar system�
Humanity is on the ropes, and after years of fighting a two-front war with losing odds, so is Commonwealth Defense Corps officer Andrew Grayson. He dreams of dropping out of the service one day, alongside his pilot girlfriend, but as warfare consumes entire planets and conditions on Earth deteriorate, he wonders if there will be anywhere left for them to go.
After surviving a disastrous spaceborne assault, Grayson is reassigned to a ship bound for a distant colony—and packed with malcontents and troublemakers. His most dangerous battle has just begun.
In this sequel to the bestselling Terms of Enlistment, a weary soldier must fight to prevent the downfall of his species…or bear witness to humanity’s last, fleeting breaths.
Humanity is on the ropes, and after years of fighting a two-front war with losing odds, so is Commonwealth Defense Corps officer Andrew Grayson. He dreams of dropping out of the service one day, alongside his pilot girlfriend, but as warfare consumes entire planets and conditions on Earth deteriorate, he wonders if there will be anywhere left for them to go.
After surviving a disastrous spaceborne assault, Grayson is reassigned to a ship bound for a distant colony—and packed with malcontents and troublemakers. His most dangerous battle has just begun.
In this sequel to the bestselling Terms of Enlistment, a weary soldier must fight to prevent the downfall of his species…or bear witness to humanity’s last, fleeting breaths.
315 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2014
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1,753 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 938 reviews
February 10, 2017
I'd been meaning to read this one for a while ever since Marko Kloos withdrew it from the Hugo nominations in '15 because of the Sad Puppy controversy. I respected his decision. It also turned me on to two great authors I probably never would have read, otherwise.
I never really considered myself a fan of Mil-SF. Not really. But then I keep reading great Mil-SF.
Marko Kloos has a style that's extremely readable. It's clear as hell with a charming and droll voice. It certainly helps, considering the topic.
Aliens with overwhelming and irresistible force, loss of almost every human planetary colony, in-fighting among the nations of earth, slow starvation and rebellion on earth, and mass rebellion within the military, itself.
Kinda sounds impossible and hopeless, doesn't it?
Yeah. And to make things worse, his higher-ranking woman just proposed to him and the military has thrown up a ton of red tape barring their union and is keeping them apart. Lousy sons of bitches.
:)
This series has got to be some of the most purely enjoyable popcorn-fiction Mil-SF's I've ever read, and this one in particular was like a deluge of all the shit hitting the fan at once rather than the previous novel which was more like one damn thing after another. The novel is simple in concept and simple in ideas. It's survival and endless war from all sides. Humanity can't get its shit together and the gallows humor is in full swing.
Now, is this a Hugo-worthy novel? I personally don't think so, but my choice would not be strictly based on how much fun I had while reading it. I'd also add the dimension of what it adds to the genre, too. It doesn't really add anything except as a fantastically good example of a very large sub-genre. I'm not saying it isn't great, because it is great, but its ideas have been done for decades and decades.
I'm absolutely going to continue it because I *am* having a damn lot of fun with it, though. :)
I never really considered myself a fan of Mil-SF. Not really. But then I keep reading great Mil-SF.
Marko Kloos has a style that's extremely readable. It's clear as hell with a charming and droll voice. It certainly helps, considering the topic.
Aliens with overwhelming and irresistible force, loss of almost every human planetary colony, in-fighting among the nations of earth, slow starvation and rebellion on earth, and mass rebellion within the military, itself.
Kinda sounds impossible and hopeless, doesn't it?
Yeah. And to make things worse, his higher-ranking woman just proposed to him and the military has thrown up a ton of red tape barring their union and is keeping them apart. Lousy sons of bitches.
:)
This series has got to be some of the most purely enjoyable popcorn-fiction Mil-SF's I've ever read, and this one in particular was like a deluge of all the shit hitting the fan at once rather than the previous novel which was more like one damn thing after another. The novel is simple in concept and simple in ideas. It's survival and endless war from all sides. Humanity can't get its shit together and the gallows humor is in full swing.
Now, is this a Hugo-worthy novel? I personally don't think so, but my choice would not be strictly based on how much fun I had while reading it. I'd also add the dimension of what it adds to the genre, too. It doesn't really add anything except as a fantastically good example of a very large sub-genre. I'm not saying it isn't great, because it is great, but its ideas have been done for decades and decades.
I'm absolutely going to continue it because I *am* having a damn lot of fun with it, though. :)
March 21, 2015
Lines of Departure picks up approximately five years after the events of the first book in the series, Terms of Enlistment. And those five years were not good to humanity. About half of Earth's precious colonies have been wiped out by the relentless, unfathomable Lankies. Meanwhile, on Earth the domestic situation is growing increasingly dire. With every resource being thrown at the military, already meager rations are cut. The colony lottery is stopped. The pressure valves are gone and unrest boils over in the urban megaplexes.
Andrew Grayson has a front row seat to all of this, or rather the reader following Grayson does. He is a combat specialist, charged with ground target acquisition. When this involves fighting back against the Lankies, he likes what he does. He stoically accepts the fact that he might die. But if he must die, this is a cause worth dying for. By contrast, when he is fighting the Sino-Russian Alliance, it seems like an enormous waste. An alien race is exterminating humanity and all we can do is fight amongst ourselves? His reservations grow even deeper when he sees the death and pain military action causes in innocent civilians. This all comes to a head when he and a unit of disgruntled soldiers are sent to an icy planet on the edge of the settled worlds.
One of the things that I like about this series is the author's vision. In the first book, I was captured by his dystopian vision of the future. That vision is still there; however, what really struck me are the Lankies - the seldom seen, seldom encountered but utterly terrifying alien race. Unlike many science fiction stories out there that assume a roughly equivalent technology, there is no contest here. The Lankies are far superior to humans. They can terraform planets in weeks, not decades. We can't even scratch their star ships. Compounding this power differential is the utterly alien mentality of the Lankies. They are casually snuffing out humanity, like we would eliminate an inconvenient ant hill or hornet's nest. Pretty cool stuff.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. I like the direction that this series is headed and look forward to #3.
Andrew Grayson has a front row seat to all of this, or rather the reader following Grayson does. He is a combat specialist, charged with ground target acquisition. When this involves fighting back against the Lankies, he likes what he does. He stoically accepts the fact that he might die. But if he must die, this is a cause worth dying for. By contrast, when he is fighting the Sino-Russian Alliance, it seems like an enormous waste. An alien race is exterminating humanity and all we can do is fight amongst ourselves? His reservations grow even deeper when he sees the death and pain military action causes in innocent civilians. This all comes to a head when he and a unit of disgruntled soldiers are sent to an icy planet on the edge of the settled worlds.
One of the things that I like about this series is the author's vision. In the first book, I was captured by his dystopian vision of the future. That vision is still there; however, what really struck me are the Lankies - the seldom seen, seldom encountered but utterly terrifying alien race. Unlike many science fiction stories out there that assume a roughly equivalent technology, there is no contest here. The Lankies are far superior to humans. They can terraform planets in weeks, not decades. We can't even scratch their star ships. Compounding this power differential is the utterly alien mentality of the Lankies. They are casually snuffing out humanity, like we would eliminate an inconvenient ant hill or hornet's nest. Pretty cool stuff.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. I like the direction that this series is headed and look forward to #3.
May 1, 2017
Before you pick this book up let me tell you this, it ends in one H*** of a cliffhanger. I mean it ties up local events but...other events are far from tied up.
And I have no idea how long before we'll see another novel.
What Mr. Kloos? Did someone tell you writers get a life or something?
Anyway, another good read, maybe even an exceptional read. For those of you who like more "depth" in your action we are becoming a bit more introspective here. I think it had to go that way due to transpiring events. I do hope that doesn't take over as I do frankly like the books as "novels"...stories in other words. Still some thought has to be stirred occasionally (no matter how hard we try to avoid it, sigh).
The events here pick up roughly 5 years after the last book. Andrew has "reupped" and signed for another 5 years (as has Halley). The alien race encountered in the last novel has driven humans back to only 30 light years from home and they show no sign of slowing down. Humans have never won an engagement against them.
However humans are also still beating the h*** out of each other two trying to snatch the existing colonies away from each other (North American Alliance vs. Russian Sino Alliance).
AND the high brass running the war(s) are still idiots...and that my friends is too often very close to the real story. I was in in '75. If anyone tells you the reason Vietnam was such a CF was the way it was run...you're getting the straight dope. From the get go with President Kennedy's advisers trying to run the war like book keepers (X number of rounds fired should equal Y number of enemy dead) to the end with generals trying to run things like s political police action (take a hill, give it back, take it again-troops being fired on from Cambodia or Laos but no fire can be returned-on and on).
I'd like to go on about some parallels but that would entail spoilers.
So, excellent read. If you like action, military fiction, military science fiction or science fiction you will more than likely like this (these) books. Highly recommended.
And I have no idea how long before we'll see another novel.
What Mr. Kloos? Did someone tell you writers get a life or something?
Anyway, another good read, maybe even an exceptional read. For those of you who like more "depth" in your action we are becoming a bit more introspective here. I think it had to go that way due to transpiring events. I do hope that doesn't take over as I do frankly like the books as "novels"...stories in other words. Still some thought has to be stirred occasionally (no matter how hard we try to avoid it, sigh).
The events here pick up roughly 5 years after the last book. Andrew has "reupped" and signed for another 5 years (as has Halley). The alien race encountered in the last novel has driven humans back to only 30 light years from home and they show no sign of slowing down. Humans have never won an engagement against them.
However humans are also still beating the h*** out of each other two trying to snatch the existing colonies away from each other (North American Alliance vs. Russian Sino Alliance).
AND the high brass running the war(s) are still idiots...and that my friends is too often very close to the real story. I was in in '75. If anyone tells you the reason Vietnam was such a CF was the way it was run...you're getting the straight dope. From the get go with President Kennedy's advisers trying to run the war like book keepers (X number of rounds fired should equal Y number of enemy dead) to the end with generals trying to run things like s political police action (take a hill, give it back, take it again-troops being fired on from Cambodia or Laos but no fire can be returned-on and on).
I'd like to go on about some parallels but that would entail spoilers.
So, excellent read. If you like action, military fiction, military science fiction or science fiction you will more than likely like this (these) books. Highly recommended.
October 20, 2016
Markos Kloos levels up as a writer with a fantastic second book.
It is five years after the events of . Grayson and Halley have just re-enlisted in the NAC armed forces, but things are grim everywhere. Humans are still fighting among themselves, both in terms of the NAC and SRA, and in terms of civilian riots on Earth. Meanwhile human activity in space is undergoing a full rout with the Lankies taking world after world with the NAC and SRA being annoyances at best.
There is very little about this book that's not a tremendous improvement from the first one. The first quarter largely redeems the worst aspects of the first book, as does the last third, all while making it feel like a natural progression. That's a good trick. The ending as well is very satisfying while offering a clear continuation point for the rest of the series.
One of the best military SF series I've read.
It is five years after the events of . Grayson and Halley have just re-enlisted in the NAC armed forces, but things are grim everywhere. Humans are still fighting among themselves, both in terms of the NAC and SRA, and in terms of civilian riots on Earth. Meanwhile human activity in space is undergoing a full rout with the Lankies taking world after world with the NAC and SRA being annoyances at best.
There is very little about this book that's not a tremendous improvement from the first one. The first quarter largely redeems the worst aspects of the first book, as does the last third, all while making it feel like a natural progression. That's a good trick. The ending as well is very satisfying while offering a clear continuation point for the rest of the series.
One of the best military SF series I've read.
December 3, 2023
This book earned a fifth star from me during this reread. This was so good!
______________________________
Original review:
This begins five years after the first book, .
The MC, Andrew Grayson, decided to reinlist. The military is fighting a seemingly losing battle against the Lankies, an alien race eighty feet tall. The Lankies are taking over all of the colonial outposts and exterminating the human residents. As if this isn't enough, humans are fighting each other, too, and all over the place. No wonder we're on the verge of annihilation! Gee whiz.
There were some portions of this book that seemed to drag, but there were also a couple of "holy crap!" moments. All around I enjoyed it enough to soldier on to the end of the series. Now that the "Freighter of Doom" has entered the picture, I'm optimistic that humanity may not be on the way out ;)
July 19, 2016
My reaction to Terms of Enlistment - the first book in Marko Kloos' Frontlines series - was mixed, but mostly positive. I said at the end of that review that in spite of Kloos' obvious talent, I was unsure if I wanted to continue reading this particular series. After finishing Lines of Departure, I am glad I ignored my earlier misgivings. The sequel maintains all of the qualities I enjoyed in the first book, and irons out most of the unevenness that gave me reservations about coming back for more.
Kloos' darkly cynical vision of the future gives us an overpopulated Earth pushed to the brink of self-annihilation, that can't even put aside our internal power struggles and genocidal tendencies to face an unstoppable alien force that is charging into our corner of the galaxy and methodically exterminating us like pests. Lines of Departure digs much deeper into the central dramatic question that the first book posed - Is there anything worth fighting for when, arguably, the human race deserves the fate this alien threat has planned for us?
Kloos is one of those writers that makes everything hard about storytelling look easy - efficient, perfectly balanced character and story development, with a writing style that finds the right tone and momentum for the tale he is telling. Sometimes the book moved a little too quickly when I wanted it to stop and take a breath, and Kloos does a little hand wave to avert a potential plot hole near the end, but otherwise this is as good as milSF gets.
Kloos' darkly cynical vision of the future gives us an overpopulated Earth pushed to the brink of self-annihilation, that can't even put aside our internal power struggles and genocidal tendencies to face an unstoppable alien force that is charging into our corner of the galaxy and methodically exterminating us like pests. Lines of Departure digs much deeper into the central dramatic question that the first book posed - Is there anything worth fighting for when, arguably, the human race deserves the fate this alien threat has planned for us?
Kloos is one of those writers that makes everything hard about storytelling look easy - efficient, perfectly balanced character and story development, with a writing style that finds the right tone and momentum for the tale he is telling. Sometimes the book moved a little too quickly when I wanted it to stop and take a breath, and Kloos does a little hand wave to avert a potential plot hole near the end, but otherwise this is as good as milSF gets.
February 28, 2021
These books are like binge watching Star Trek. In this series the 'redshirt' character survives to fight another day.
What a lonely life Andrew Grayson lives.
If he stopped for a moment a gave it a thought he would say the same thing.
That's why he keeps moving.
Shooting off nukes like firecrackers.
Ok.
Still fun.
That's what these are supposed to be.
A simple plot with simple writing
More funner than Leviathan Wakes The Expanse Books by James S. A. Corey.
More funner? Like i said simplistic writing
What a lonely life Andrew Grayson lives.
If he stopped for a moment a gave it a thought he would say the same thing.
That's why he keeps moving.
Shooting off nukes like firecrackers.
Ok.
Still fun.
That's what these are supposed to be.
A simple plot with simple writing
More funner than Leviathan Wakes The Expanse Books by James S. A. Corey.
More funner? Like i said simplistic writing
August 6, 2019
4.5 stars. Excellent space opera with a main character I really like.
April 5, 2024
Loyalty. Courage. Ability to choose. Fear. Affection. Devotion. Knowing how to lead. The capacity to stand on the battlefield. Understanding the meaning of sacrifice. These are all things I thought about while reading this novel.
There's a marked speed-up from the first novel. The action scenes are gripping and precise, but never dull. And I loved that. I like how Kloos keeps the characters in focus. I like how he makes you think about what's right and what's wrong. I like the way he adds color and nuance to the story. It's a gripping novel. I can't wait to dive into the third one.
There's a marked speed-up from the first novel. The action scenes are gripping and precise, but never dull. And I loved that. I like how Kloos keeps the characters in focus. I like how he makes you think about what's right and what's wrong. I like the way he adds color and nuance to the story. It's a gripping novel. I can't wait to dive into the third one.
August 8, 2022
The Frontlines series continues on with more military sci-fi goodness. I likedÌýTerms of EnlistmentÌýquite a bit and enjoyedÌýLines of DepartureÌýeven more. TheÌýbook started out full speed and once again just never let up. I’m such a sucker for these action packed books!
Bringing into the sequel more ethical conflicts and increasing the level of bad-assery, so far I would definitely recommend this series for anyone interested.
...
Five years have passed since Andrew and Halley survived the wreck of the Versailles and humanity met the Lankies. Both are now at least staff sergeants and Andrew has become a combat controller! I like seeing his career develop. Things are heating up in the Lanky war while also going to hell on Earth.Ìý With tension off the charts and humanity incapable of pointing it’s guns in the same direction...
Yeah, wow, if the North American Commonwealth wasn’t so busy fighting itself they could do some great things.Ìý This is a huge theme inÌýLines of DepartureÌýas a dissenting chunk of the military is shipped off to a moon of ice and left there with the transportation nodes closed.
When ordered to attack and seize civilian assets, Grayson and Fallon say “f*ck you kindlyâ€� and stage a mutiny.Ìý I love everything about this storyline SO MUCH
I am also SO glad that Fallon wasn’t a one and done character. I just love her. Same with colonel Campbell, I’m glad he came back and was developed into a character with the only personality in the fleet on par with Fallon’s craziness! His speech about the nukes was impressive. I kind of hope he hooks up with Fallon at one point because they would be unstoppableÌýï¿�
With the aliens attacking as far as Mars in our own solar system and the military too busy fighting itself, unlikely alliances form with SRA refugees. The mutinous (read heroic) soldiers are going to find one way or another to get home.
(I loved the lead scientist on the planet too because science and physics should save the day in sci-fi)
The main characters grew some more depth here too. I loved the chapter where Grayson went home and took his mom to Vermont.Ìý She deserved every second of that trip. Halley is going to have a big book three I hope since she didn’t see much fighting action in this one. Overall I just have a ton of respect for the main characters at this point
My only gripe was that I don’t think the passage of time was well represented on the Fomalhaut moon.Ìý It seemed like only weeks had gone by when there was enough time for the solar system to be overcome as far as Mars, it seemed like it had to have been months gone by.
Overall, this was an action-packed and exciting second installment with hecking awesome characters too. I feel like I just want to binge read this series. It’s addictive!
As a quick note on the audio: once again I think Luke Daniels was phenomenal.Ìý I love his pilot voices but he makes everyone sound so real and bad ass. About 9 hours from Brilliance Audio, I would definitely recommend either reading or listening
Bringing into the sequel more ethical conflicts and increasing the level of bad-assery, so far I would definitely recommend this series for anyone interested.
...
Five years have passed since Andrew and Halley survived the wreck of the Versailles and humanity met the Lankies. Both are now at least staff sergeants and Andrew has become a combat controller! I like seeing his career develop. Things are heating up in the Lanky war while also going to hell on Earth.Ìý With tension off the charts and humanity incapable of pointing it’s guns in the same direction...
Yeah, wow, if the North American Commonwealth wasn’t so busy fighting itself they could do some great things.Ìý This is a huge theme inÌýLines of DepartureÌýas a dissenting chunk of the military is shipped off to a moon of ice and left there with the transportation nodes closed.
When ordered to attack and seize civilian assets, Grayson and Fallon say “f*ck you kindlyâ€� and stage a mutiny.Ìý I love everything about this storyline SO MUCH
I am also SO glad that Fallon wasn’t a one and done character. I just love her. Same with colonel Campbell, I’m glad he came back and was developed into a character with the only personality in the fleet on par with Fallon’s craziness! His speech about the nukes was impressive. I kind of hope he hooks up with Fallon at one point because they would be unstoppableÌýï¿�
With the aliens attacking as far as Mars in our own solar system and the military too busy fighting itself, unlikely alliances form with SRA refugees. The mutinous (read heroic) soldiers are going to find one way or another to get home.
(I loved the lead scientist on the planet too because science and physics should save the day in sci-fi)
The main characters grew some more depth here too. I loved the chapter where Grayson went home and took his mom to Vermont.Ìý She deserved every second of that trip. Halley is going to have a big book three I hope since she didn’t see much fighting action in this one. Overall I just have a ton of respect for the main characters at this point
My only gripe was that I don’t think the passage of time was well represented on the Fomalhaut moon.Ìý It seemed like only weeks had gone by when there was enough time for the solar system to be overcome as far as Mars, it seemed like it had to have been months gone by.
Overall, this was an action-packed and exciting second installment with hecking awesome characters too. I feel like I just want to binge read this series. It’s addictive!
As a quick note on the audio: once again I think Luke Daniels was phenomenal.Ìý I love his pilot voices but he makes everyone sound so real and bad ass. About 9 hours from Brilliance Audio, I would definitely recommend either reading or listening
March 3, 2014
In Lines of Departure, Marko Kloos picks up where left off. Earth is overpopulated, various terrestrial governments are still warring with one another in space as people colonize the stars, and there's a new nearly indestructible alien species that appears determined to exterminate mankind.
The combat scenes are crisp and the action flows at a nice clip. For the majority of the narrative, we tag along with Andrew Grayson as he along with his fellow NAC troopers battle the Lanky, the new aliens on the block. Again we are plunged into a universe where the Chinese, Russians, and North American Commonwealth manage to still fight one another in space as they simultaneously battle the eighty-foot tall Lanky.
Kloos writes a nice sequel, but unlike many others, I didn't feel that Lines of Departure was as strong as . Still, this is a good Military SF book and worth your time. I like the military hardware, interactions between troops and civilians, and the realistic paradoxical bureaucracy that apparently still plagues humanity's future.
My favorite scene? Andrew Grayson having breakfast with his mother in a small Vermont diner. I like Military SF combat, and Kloos writes good combat scenes. But the breakfast is something special. Character development happens seamlessly, dialogue feels effortless and natural, and there is some genuine emotional growth occurring. I could almost taste the food, smell the coffee, and feel the heft of the menu and napkins.
The ending is good, maybe not surprising, but it's true to the story and well written. Nice Job, Mr. Kloos. Thank you for not overreaching. You gave me what the story needed, and you resisted the temptation of adding too many whirly-bangs.
Luke Daniels narrates the audiobook, and turns in another outstanding reading.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you've read , you'll want to give this a go.
The combat scenes are crisp and the action flows at a nice clip. For the majority of the narrative, we tag along with Andrew Grayson as he along with his fellow NAC troopers battle the Lanky, the new aliens on the block. Again we are plunged into a universe where the Chinese, Russians, and North American Commonwealth manage to still fight one another in space as they simultaneously battle the eighty-foot tall Lanky.
Kloos writes a nice sequel, but unlike many others, I didn't feel that Lines of Departure was as strong as . Still, this is a good Military SF book and worth your time. I like the military hardware, interactions between troops and civilians, and the realistic paradoxical bureaucracy that apparently still plagues humanity's future.
My favorite scene? Andrew Grayson having breakfast with his mother in a small Vermont diner. I like Military SF combat, and Kloos writes good combat scenes. But the breakfast is something special. Character development happens seamlessly, dialogue feels effortless and natural, and there is some genuine emotional growth occurring. I could almost taste the food, smell the coffee, and feel the heft of the menu and napkins.
The ending is good, maybe not surprising, but it's true to the story and well written. Nice Job, Mr. Kloos. Thank you for not overreaching. You gave me what the story needed, and you resisted the temptation of adding too many whirly-bangs.
Luke Daniels narrates the audiobook, and turns in another outstanding reading.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you've read , you'll want to give this a go.
February 4, 2014
This worthy follow up to "Terms of Enlistment" is simply awesome. I'm not sure if it is because the author writes in a style that I find particularly appealing or what, but once I started this book, I could not put it down.
The pace is perfect. The characters are vivid and interesting. The most fascinating aspect about the protagonist is that he has no super edge, no ace up the sleeve trick to get out trouble. He is an everyman, thrust into difficult positions, with only his conscience and training to guide him.
The setting is bleak and amazing from a socio-economic sense and terrifies me a bit. This is military science fiction at its finest.
The details and background are measured in even doses with no gratuitous infodumps to be found. I particularly appreciated the personal flourishes added to the charcters; not just combat but complex relationships and hard moral choices.
The final five chapters had me furiously turning pages and I was delighted to be utterly shocked at the climax.
Cannot wait for the next book. Well done science fiction at its best.
The pace is perfect. The characters are vivid and interesting. The most fascinating aspect about the protagonist is that he has no super edge, no ace up the sleeve trick to get out trouble. He is an everyman, thrust into difficult positions, with only his conscience and training to guide him.
The setting is bleak and amazing from a socio-economic sense and terrifies me a bit. This is military science fiction at its finest.
The details and background are measured in even doses with no gratuitous infodumps to be found. I particularly appreciated the personal flourishes added to the charcters; not just combat but complex relationships and hard moral choices.
The final five chapters had me furiously turning pages and I was delighted to be utterly shocked at the climax.
Cannot wait for the next book. Well done science fiction at its best.
August 31, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up because the pace is always even and engaging.
Whatever the rumors, however, the conclusions are similar in every mess hall and crew berth on the ship. This deployment will be a hasty clusterfuck of epic proportions, and at the end of the day, the grunts and pilots and wrench spinners will be left holding the bag.
Whatever the rumors, however, the conclusions are similar in every mess hall and crew berth on the ship. This deployment will be a hasty clusterfuck of epic proportions, and at the end of the day, the grunts and pilots and wrench spinners will be left holding the bag.
December 25, 2024
Sometimes a writer really can make military fiction have the right “feel�. Mr Kloos served in his country’s military and that experience comes through in his writing. Great military SiFi series. Very recommended
March 6, 2014
Before you pick this book up let tell you this, it ends in one H*** of a cliffhanger. I mean it ties up local events but...other events are far from tied up.
And I have no idea how long before we'll see another novel.
What Mr. Kloos? Did someone tell you writers get a life or something?
Anyway, another good read, maybe even an exceptional read. For those of you who like more "depth" in your action we are becoming a bit more introspective here. I think it had to go that way due to transpiring events. I do hope that doesn't take over as I do frankly like the books as "novels"...stories in other words. Still some thought has to be stirred occasionally (no matter how hard we try to avoid it, sigh).
The events here pick up roughly 5 years after the last book. Andrew has "reupped" and signed for another 5 years (as has Halley). The alien race encountered in the last novel has driven humans back to only 30 light years from home and they show no sign of slowing down. Humans have never won an engagement against them.
However humans are also still beating the h*** out of each other two trying to snatch the existing colonies away from each other (North American Alliance vs. Russian Sino Alliance).
AND the high brass running the war(s) are still idiots...and that my friends is too often very close to the real story. I was in in '75. If anyone tells you the reason Vietnam was such a CF was the way it was run...you're getting the straight dope. From the get go with President Kennedy's advisers trying to run the war like book keepers (X number of rounds fired should equal Y number of enemy dead) to the end with generals trying to run things like s political police action (take a hill, give it back, take it again-troops being fired on from Cambodia or Laos but no fire can be returned-on and on).
I'd like to go on about some parallels but that would entail spoilers.
So, excellent read. If you like action, military fiction, military science fiction or science fiction you will more than likely like this (these) books. Highly recommended.
And I have no idea how long before we'll see another novel.
What Mr. Kloos? Did someone tell you writers get a life or something?
Anyway, another good read, maybe even an exceptional read. For those of you who like more "depth" in your action we are becoming a bit more introspective here. I think it had to go that way due to transpiring events. I do hope that doesn't take over as I do frankly like the books as "novels"...stories in other words. Still some thought has to be stirred occasionally (no matter how hard we try to avoid it, sigh).
The events here pick up roughly 5 years after the last book. Andrew has "reupped" and signed for another 5 years (as has Halley). The alien race encountered in the last novel has driven humans back to only 30 light years from home and they show no sign of slowing down. Humans have never won an engagement against them.
However humans are also still beating the h*** out of each other two trying to snatch the existing colonies away from each other (North American Alliance vs. Russian Sino Alliance).
AND the high brass running the war(s) are still idiots...and that my friends is too often very close to the real story. I was in in '75. If anyone tells you the reason Vietnam was such a CF was the way it was run...you're getting the straight dope. From the get go with President Kennedy's advisers trying to run the war like book keepers (X number of rounds fired should equal Y number of enemy dead) to the end with generals trying to run things like s political police action (take a hill, give it back, take it again-troops being fired on from Cambodia or Laos but no fire can be returned-on and on).
I'd like to go on about some parallels but that would entail spoilers.
So, excellent read. If you like action, military fiction, military science fiction or science fiction you will more than likely like this (these) books. Highly recommended.
January 22, 2018
I picked up this series as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription, wanting something in the sci-fi genre. This second book in the series is an improvement over the first, but I still think it is average. At least this time around, we are fighting the Lankie aliens.
I can't quite put my finger on what it is that bugs me most - there is a lot of action/battle scenes, but they lack something; the romantic subplot moves forward, but it is still superficial in feelings (maybe both characters really are that aloof, but it doesn't do anything to create drama); and then we have the politics of society reemerging - yes the military shouldn't be shooting the people they are bound to protect, but again something is missing to make me care.
I can't quite put my finger on what it is that bugs me most - there is a lot of action/battle scenes, but they lack something; the romantic subplot moves forward, but it is still superficial in feelings (maybe both characters really are that aloof, but it doesn't do anything to create drama); and then we have the politics of society reemerging - yes the military shouldn't be shooting the people they are bound to protect, but again something is missing to make me care.
May 7, 2019
5 Stars
No second book letdown here as Lines of Departure is even better than the first book in the series.
Starting off five years after the end of Terms of Enlistment, Andrew Grayson is now a veteran, having spent the last several years fighting against the North American Commonwealth’s human enemies as well as against the alien species that is devastating colony after colony. Following his participation in a failed attack, Andrew is sent to a remote colony with a vague mission along with a motley collection of troublemakers. The quiet colony soon becomes the center of dramatic action that forces Andrew into making a decision that could change the rest of his career.
I loved the first book, and this book is even better. It has everything that made the first book good, but this time we got some added depth to several key characters, fixing one of my few complaints from the first book. Pacing continues to be a strength. There is lots of exciting action, but even when there is nothing getting blown up or shot at the story never felt slow.
This series can be pretty cynical at times, with a fairly bleak vision of humanity in the future. Most of Earth overcrowded and natural resources depleted. The majority of Earth’s population crammed into crime ridden housing clusters. Constant fighting between various human alliances. Despite all that, things never felt overly grim. There was still optimism and there were still characters that, while cynical and world weary, you could root for.
The book ends with a dramatic cliffhanger, and I immediately went out and bought the next book.
No second book letdown here as Lines of Departure is even better than the first book in the series.
Starting off five years after the end of Terms of Enlistment, Andrew Grayson is now a veteran, having spent the last several years fighting against the North American Commonwealth’s human enemies as well as against the alien species that is devastating colony after colony. Following his participation in a failed attack, Andrew is sent to a remote colony with a vague mission along with a motley collection of troublemakers. The quiet colony soon becomes the center of dramatic action that forces Andrew into making a decision that could change the rest of his career.
I loved the first book, and this book is even better. It has everything that made the first book good, but this time we got some added depth to several key characters, fixing one of my few complaints from the first book. Pacing continues to be a strength. There is lots of exciting action, but even when there is nothing getting blown up or shot at the story never felt slow.
This series can be pretty cynical at times, with a fairly bleak vision of humanity in the future. Most of Earth overcrowded and natural resources depleted. The majority of Earth’s population crammed into crime ridden housing clusters. Constant fighting between various human alliances. Despite all that, things never felt overly grim. There was still optimism and there were still characters that, while cynical and world weary, you could root for.
The book ends with a dramatic cliffhanger, and I immediately went out and bought the next book.
March 25, 2014
The second book in the series lived up to my expectations. Great sci-fi, great military sci-fi esp. Kloos is a good writer, his characters are likable and his tech and military understanding is obvious. The book ends on much more of a cliffhanger than the previous one, which drives me crazy as i don't yet see the publishing date of the next installment. Arg! If you like Starship Troopers, or John Ringo their ilk, you're going to love this.
Read
January 21, 2024Even better than the first one, and Sergeant Fallon is back, which makes me very happy.
February 9, 2018
En voila un tome très sympa. Une ambiance plus sombre que le premier mais toujours dans le même esprit, j'ai vraiment bien aimé cette lecture.
Nous suivons la suite des aventures d'Andrew Grayson dans les forces militaires. Cinq années sont passées depuis la fin du premier tome est la situation a pas mal évolué. Mais évolué dans le mauvais sens car les humains sont incapable de tenir tête aux aliens et se contentent de leur mener la vie la plus dure qu'ils peuvent, c'est à dire pas grand chose et à un prix très élevé en matériel et vies humaines. Pendant ce temps sur la Terre la situation est pire qu'avant car le chaos s'installe un peu de partout et personne ne semble en mesure de réussir à ne pas dégrader la situation ...
Ce tome ci est vraiment sur le même principe que le précédent, nous suivons des épisodes de la vie d'Andrew. Il est peut être un peu moins éparpillé que le précédent parce qu'Andrew ne change pas de poste durant tout le livre, c'est juste la situation qui change.
Cette série arrive vraiment à se démarquer de par son atmosphère à défaut du reste. On a vraiment une sensation de fin du monde durant tout le tome. Tout le monde sait qu'ils n'ont aucune chance face à leur adversaire. Andrew comparé la situation avec la lutte contre les insectes (bug control), ou une éradication et ça sonne vrai. En fait les humains sont vraiment des insectes en comparaison avec leur adversaire et le jour ou ceux ci attaqueront la Terre, rien ne pourra être fait pour les en empêcher car ils sont vraiment supérieurs en tout points. D'ailleurs pour l'instant les humains n'ont jamais réussi à détruire un de leurs vaisseaux dans l'espace ...
Sachant qu'ils s'en approchent de jour en jour, vous imaginez la situation et l'état d'esprit des personnages, le désespoir ambiant.
En fait ce que j'adore ici c'est surtout la vision cynique d'Andrew sur la situation. Il a un coté je-m'en-foutiste qui va vraiment bien avec ce qu'il se passe, comme si il s'en foutait royalement de ce qu'il se passe et se contentait d'avancer dans sa vie. Et j'adore ça façon d'analyser les décisions de ses supérieurs ou des politiques avec des comparaisons qui touchent toujours juste et qui nous font limite rigoler du pire. Il allège vraiment l'ambiance en fait.
Du coup on a une bonne balance entre le coté désespoir/fin du monde et les pensées d'Andrew.
Le livre est toujours plein d'actions en tout genre, toujours sur un rythme très rapide. Si vous voulez des combats vous serez servit, ça ne manque pas du tout. On est vraiment dans de la Science-fiction militaire genre artillerie lourde et bombardements incessants.
Le livre se termine sur un cliffhanger remarquable qui me donne envie de ne pas trop tarder à lire le suivant !
16/20
March 14, 2015
Marko Kloos is one of the new crop of self-published authors who acquired enough of an audience to break into the big leagues (or at least the midlister leagues). I enjoyed his first book, Terms of Enlistment, and found the second book in the series to be better; Kloos is definitely developing as a writer. Where Terms of Enlistment was a fairly by-the-numbers knock-off of Starship Troopers, Lines of Departure takes place several years later and further develops the universe and its politics.
In the first book, humans encountered their first alien race � eighty-foot giants who build almost indestructible climate-altering machines that render a planet's atmosphere unbreathable to humans. As the second book begins, humanity is losing their ongoing war with the "Lankies." They've lost eighty colonies and have yet to actually take a planet back from the invaders.
Despite what is clearly an existential threat, the two terrestrial superpowers, the North American Commonwealth and the Sino-Russian Alliance, are also at war over their shrinking stock of colonies
With all this warfare going on, Earth is becoming an overpopulated, underfed planet of slums and riots.
Andrew Grayson, our protagonist, has become a career soldier, realizing he doesn't have anything else to do and that while war in space is likely to shorten his lifespan, it beats going back to Earth to stew in a slum and eat recycled waste. He also has a girlfriend who's a fighter pilot, and is a combat network controller, making him a respected professional in the NAC's beleaguered military.
The first half of the book illustrates the growing tension in human space � Grayson participates in a disastrous assault on a SRA world (as soon as they're told they've got great intelligence and a well-planned strategy, you know everything is going to go to hell) and witnesses the indestructibility of the Lankies' colony ships.
Then he is sent on on a mission to a remote, icy colony world at the ass-end of human space, supposedly to guard a critical nexus against SRA and Lanky invasion, but it turns out the task force is made up of washed out officers and malcontent homeguard troopers from Earth. Grayson meets up with an old friend from his own stint as a trooper on Earth, and finds out just how bad things are back on Earth, and how screwed they are.
This book really ratchets up the drama in the final act, in which Grayson and his fellow soldiers are ordered by a tyrannical fleet admiral to seize all civilian resources on the little colony where they've been stationed. Refusing to follow these orders splits the fleet and results in a battle over control of the ground, just before the colony is threatened with both SRA and Lanky invaders.
Lines of Departure is a fine example of military SF, and while perhaps not quite as philosophical as Heinlein's Starship Troopers, Grayson does become an interesting and thoughtful character as he has to weigh his duties as a soldier with the morality of unlawful orders and the practicality and consequences of disobeying them. As well, the stupidity of fleet staff and the intransigence of political leaders is quite believable � yes, I think we Earthlings really would keep squabbling among ourselves even in the face of alien invasion.
Be warned, though, that this book ends in a cliffhanger, so if you've been hooked this far, you will not see the story resolved until the next volume.
In the first book, humans encountered their first alien race � eighty-foot giants who build almost indestructible climate-altering machines that render a planet's atmosphere unbreathable to humans. As the second book begins, humanity is losing their ongoing war with the "Lankies." They've lost eighty colonies and have yet to actually take a planet back from the invaders.
Despite what is clearly an existential threat, the two terrestrial superpowers, the North American Commonwealth and the Sino-Russian Alliance, are also at war over their shrinking stock of colonies
With all this warfare going on, Earth is becoming an overpopulated, underfed planet of slums and riots.
Andrew Grayson, our protagonist, has become a career soldier, realizing he doesn't have anything else to do and that while war in space is likely to shorten his lifespan, it beats going back to Earth to stew in a slum and eat recycled waste. He also has a girlfriend who's a fighter pilot, and is a combat network controller, making him a respected professional in the NAC's beleaguered military.
The first half of the book illustrates the growing tension in human space � Grayson participates in a disastrous assault on a SRA world (as soon as they're told they've got great intelligence and a well-planned strategy, you know everything is going to go to hell) and witnesses the indestructibility of the Lankies' colony ships.
Then he is sent on on a mission to a remote, icy colony world at the ass-end of human space, supposedly to guard a critical nexus against SRA and Lanky invasion, but it turns out the task force is made up of washed out officers and malcontent homeguard troopers from Earth. Grayson meets up with an old friend from his own stint as a trooper on Earth, and finds out just how bad things are back on Earth, and how screwed they are.
This book really ratchets up the drama in the final act, in which Grayson and his fellow soldiers are ordered by a tyrannical fleet admiral to seize all civilian resources on the little colony where they've been stationed. Refusing to follow these orders splits the fleet and results in a battle over control of the ground, just before the colony is threatened with both SRA and Lanky invaders.
Lines of Departure is a fine example of military SF, and while perhaps not quite as philosophical as Heinlein's Starship Troopers, Grayson does become an interesting and thoughtful character as he has to weigh his duties as a soldier with the morality of unlawful orders and the practicality and consequences of disobeying them. As well, the stupidity of fleet staff and the intransigence of political leaders is quite believable � yes, I think we Earthlings really would keep squabbling among ourselves even in the face of alien invasion.
Be warned, though, that this book ends in a cliffhanger, so if you've been hooked this far, you will not see the story resolved until the next volume.
January 13, 2015
I went through three distinct phases while reading this book:
For about the first half, the book was not as strong as its predecessor, more three than four stars. Then at about half way came a great twist I will try not to spoil. I didn't like it at all and I had to really work on reading further. The finale did much to bring me around and I await the next book, but I still cannot overlook this huge problem in the middle of the book.
But frankly there were problems in this book that happened much earlier, even if they didn't impact that high. The characters get some development (still no first name though) and the narration has much of its earlier quality. But the story looses more and more due to the lack of proper world building, which can be exemplified by something that happens in the first few pages: Five years have gone since the first book and in those five years, apparently there has been a restructuring of the armed forces. This is mentioned nowhere. So once the narrator starts talking about "the Fleet Arm" and "Spaceborn Infantry" I thought for several moments there was something wrong with the book or that maybe the author had switched manuscripts. Yes, I got to the point where I recognized what had happened and yes, there is an explanation (about a third in the book, where it serves no real good), but this pushed me out instead of pulling me into the book. Why are there American troops in Norway and Indian spaceships in the Sino-Russian-Coalition? And while we're at it, why are there Russian and Chinese ships in there as well? These things kept nagging me and there was no explanation.
Those problems were nagging, but at no point really that bad. It became problematic, once holes became plot points. The way space travel worked was never really explained but suddenly there was a plan that used this. No background, no explanation, just a plan. A plan, that might be monumentally moronic but we may never know (or at least not until the next book).
And that plan is what made me nearly stop reading. Not the plan itself, but the events started by it and especially the reaction of the narrator. It felt out of character and had the potential of turning the story in a completely different direction, maybe even another genre. Even worse, it felt like a dead end, with no realistic way out.
The book is salvaged by the finale, that - admittedly - is set up well by the catastrophic twist and the monumental cliffhanger that makes me actually want to read the next book. But there is still the lingering danger, that the series takes a turn I won't like, but I will give it the benefit of the doubt considering the good first book and the good parts of the second.
For about the first half, the book was not as strong as its predecessor, more three than four stars. Then at about half way came a great twist I will try not to spoil. I didn't like it at all and I had to really work on reading further. The finale did much to bring me around and I await the next book, but I still cannot overlook this huge problem in the middle of the book.
But frankly there were problems in this book that happened much earlier, even if they didn't impact that high. The characters get some development (still no first name though) and the narration has much of its earlier quality. But the story looses more and more due to the lack of proper world building, which can be exemplified by something that happens in the first few pages: Five years have gone since the first book and in those five years, apparently there has been a restructuring of the armed forces. This is mentioned nowhere. So once the narrator starts talking about "the Fleet Arm" and "Spaceborn Infantry" I thought for several moments there was something wrong with the book or that maybe the author had switched manuscripts. Yes, I got to the point where I recognized what had happened and yes, there is an explanation (about a third in the book, where it serves no real good), but this pushed me out instead of pulling me into the book. Why are there American troops in Norway and Indian spaceships in the Sino-Russian-Coalition? And while we're at it, why are there Russian and Chinese ships in there as well? These things kept nagging me and there was no explanation.
Those problems were nagging, but at no point really that bad. It became problematic, once holes became plot points. The way space travel worked was never really explained but suddenly there was a plan that used this. No background, no explanation, just a plan. A plan, that might be monumentally moronic but we may never know (or at least not until the next book).
And that plan is what made me nearly stop reading. Not the plan itself, but the events started by it and especially the reaction of the narrator. It felt out of character and had the potential of turning the story in a completely different direction, maybe even another genre. Even worse, it felt like a dead end, with no realistic way out.
The book is salvaged by the finale, that - admittedly - is set up well by the catastrophic twist and the monumental cliffhanger that makes me actually want to read the next book. But there is still the lingering danger, that the series takes a turn I won't like, but I will give it the benefit of the doubt considering the good first book and the good parts of the second.
April 27, 2015
This one gets a more accurate 2.5/2.75, and note, I've got spoilers and will try to code appropriately.
I'm mostly still of the same position. Grayson is less of a sociopath, but none of the characters has too much development. I was pleased to see some attention and background being given to Grayson's mother, but by and large there's a lack of character development all around.
The worldbuilding is pretty lacking still. I still don't understand why the world is the way it is. There's no explanation of why there's a Russia/China alliance against a unionized everyone else (seriously unlikely even during the Cold War). There's no explanation of why the welfare population is so large or why there isn't more obvious tension between the welfare population and the more middle class population. There's just not a lot of explanation of the world in general.
Book 2 picks up five years after the end of Terms of Enlistment. Grayson re-enlists and goes out to fight the Lankies. The Lankies are by and large kicking the humans' butts.
It just didn't work for me.
Side note: my favorite line of this whole book has no highlights on kindle. It's on pg 274 "I do science all day" Dr. Stewart says "Astrophysics. 'It's a super-long shot' is practically the motto of our profession."
I'm mostly still of the same position. Grayson is less of a sociopath, but none of the characters has too much development. I was pleased to see some attention and background being given to Grayson's mother, but by and large there's a lack of character development all around.
The worldbuilding is pretty lacking still. I still don't understand why the world is the way it is. There's no explanation of why there's a Russia/China alliance against a unionized everyone else (seriously unlikely even during the Cold War). There's no explanation of why the welfare population is so large or why there isn't more obvious tension between the welfare population and the more middle class population. There's just not a lot of explanation of the world in general.
Book 2 picks up five years after the end of Terms of Enlistment. Grayson re-enlists and goes out to fight the Lankies. The Lankies are by and large kicking the humans' butts.
It just didn't work for me.
Side note: my favorite line of this whole book has no highlights on kindle. It's on pg 274 "I do science all day" Dr. Stewart says "Astrophysics. 'It's a super-long shot' is practically the motto of our profession."
August 3, 2016
Enjoyed this one a lot less than the first one.
Its not the book's fault.
I find descriptions of military strategy and tactics dull, and when 80% of the book is about war (which is totally fair and reasonable and to be expected when reading military sci-fi), I'm just not that into it.
Cool characters and story line just wish they spent more time hugging it out or something :P
Its not the book's fault.
I find descriptions of military strategy and tactics dull, and when 80% of the book is about war (which is totally fair and reasonable and to be expected when reading military sci-fi), I'm just not that into it.
Cool characters and story line just wish they spent more time hugging it out or something :P
August 12, 2015
dinosaur‬� aliens ,corrupt government ,civil war,space war with the Russian and the Chinese
and you leave all that and talk about some insignificant mutiny by some self-absorbed boys for half the book
and you leave all that and talk about some insignificant mutiny by some self-absorbed boys for half the book
October 5, 2019
This is the second book in Kloos' Frontline series. I know I've reviewed these books totally out of order but I did actually read them order. This is review procrastination at its best... lol
If you're contemplating this military sci-fi series then you more then likely already like lots of action which is a good thing because this series has plenty of it. It also has extremely large aliens known as the Lankies that are wreaking havoc around the system. I must say, I think the Lankies are the largest aliens I've ever read about. I thought their enormous size (I believe they said 80 feet tall) might actually deter me from liking this series as I thought this was most unrealistic. However, one of the characters in the series did point out the fact that we do have our own stereotypical vision of aliens but that's not necessarily what they will look like if we ever do have the pleasure, or displeasure depending on your view, to encounter them. I do have to agree with that point however, I really had to throw out all of my perceived expectations. I still have trouble picturing Lankie ships and pods big enough to fit not just one, but large quantities of these 80 feet tall aliens but sometimes I guess you just have to willingly suspend your disbelief. This was one of those series where I was actually "willing" to do so primarily because the rest of the characters and story were enjoyable enough for me to overlook those pesky little details. Now will everyone be able to do that, maybe not, but the series is definitely worth giving a shot. It reeled me in to the point that I had to listen to all 8 books (6 books, 2 novellas) back-to-back, till the very end...and was still wishing there were more.
If you're contemplating this military sci-fi series then you more then likely already like lots of action which is a good thing because this series has plenty of it. It also has extremely large aliens known as the Lankies that are wreaking havoc around the system. I must say, I think the Lankies are the largest aliens I've ever read about. I thought their enormous size (I believe they said 80 feet tall) might actually deter me from liking this series as I thought this was most unrealistic. However, one of the characters in the series did point out the fact that we do have our own stereotypical vision of aliens but that's not necessarily what they will look like if we ever do have the pleasure, or displeasure depending on your view, to encounter them. I do have to agree with that point however, I really had to throw out all of my perceived expectations. I still have trouble picturing Lankie ships and pods big enough to fit not just one, but large quantities of these 80 feet tall aliens but sometimes I guess you just have to willingly suspend your disbelief. This was one of those series where I was actually "willing" to do so primarily because the rest of the characters and story were enjoyable enough for me to overlook those pesky little details. Now will everyone be able to do that, maybe not, but the series is definitely worth giving a shot. It reeled me in to the point that I had to listen to all 8 books (6 books, 2 novellas) back-to-back, till the very end...and was still wishing there were more.
May 9, 2023
Suite directe du premier livre, nous retrouvons Andrew, ayant prolongé son contrat dans l’armée suite à la découverte des Lankies, des aliens géants et surpuissants, contre lesquels l’humanité se retrouve en compétition sur certaines de ses colonies.
Autant le premier étant l’enfant illégitime de Old Man’s War et de Starship Troopers, autant celui-ci trouve enfin sa propre voie, en développant bien plus son propos et son world-building : une grande partie du livre est dédiée à l’aspect socio-économique de la vie sur Terre, et la guerre contre les Lankies a enfin un aspect un peu plus original (dans leur côté très Kaiju quasi indestructibles). Bref, plutôt sympa !
Autant le premier étant l’enfant illégitime de Old Man’s War et de Starship Troopers, autant celui-ci trouve enfin sa propre voie, en développant bien plus son propos et son world-building : une grande partie du livre est dédiée à l’aspect socio-économique de la vie sur Terre, et la guerre contre les Lankies a enfin un aspect un peu plus original (dans leur côté très Kaiju quasi indestructibles). Bref, plutôt sympa !
December 16, 2014
ABR's full audiobook review and many others can be found at .
I really enjoyed the first book in the Frontlines series, so giving book two a shot only seemed natural. I really hope that Kloos can create the same magic, the same intensity, the same well developed story. Many times a second book in a series will lack in the same energy and intensity as the first. I really hope that Kloos can keep this from happening.
I have suddenly found myself listening to more military science fiction than ever before, and I have to admit that I love it. Every author letting their imagination go wild and create awesomeness from nothing.
Lines of Departure is, so far in my opinion, even better than the first book. Filled with meticulously crafted military battle scenes. Enough action was packed in to get me jacked like I drank too much coffee. I listened to this in one sitting and I think many other will do the same.
Kloos was able to dynamically evolve all of the characters that I loved from the first book. While introducing many others. A majority of the story took place on a distant ice planet where the situation becomes FUBAR. I can’t say much because I do not want to give anything away.
If you enjoyed Terms of Enlistment you will love book two. If you were on the fence about book one you will love book two. I cannot wait until book tree comes out as I will be waiting in line for it.
In over 1000 audio books that I have listened to in my life. I have never heard a performance like the one Luke Daniels gives in Lines of Departure. He injects every sentence with so much energy and emotion. Daniels is truly at the top of his game. While there was a plethora of characters for Daniels to keep straight, he gave each their own voice with ease. At part he made me jump out of my seat by actually yelling when a character was.
Another reason for the success of this audio performance was Daniels ability to change the pacing on a dime. Slowing down for the sentimental parts. Then exploding into a frantic blitz action and battles, without missing a beat.
Audiobook purchased for review by the ABR.
I really enjoyed the first book in the Frontlines series, so giving book two a shot only seemed natural. I really hope that Kloos can create the same magic, the same intensity, the same well developed story. Many times a second book in a series will lack in the same energy and intensity as the first. I really hope that Kloos can keep this from happening.
I have suddenly found myself listening to more military science fiction than ever before, and I have to admit that I love it. Every author letting their imagination go wild and create awesomeness from nothing.
Lines of Departure is, so far in my opinion, even better than the first book. Filled with meticulously crafted military battle scenes. Enough action was packed in to get me jacked like I drank too much coffee. I listened to this in one sitting and I think many other will do the same.
Kloos was able to dynamically evolve all of the characters that I loved from the first book. While introducing many others. A majority of the story took place on a distant ice planet where the situation becomes FUBAR. I can’t say much because I do not want to give anything away.
If you enjoyed Terms of Enlistment you will love book two. If you were on the fence about book one you will love book two. I cannot wait until book tree comes out as I will be waiting in line for it.
In over 1000 audio books that I have listened to in my life. I have never heard a performance like the one Luke Daniels gives in Lines of Departure. He injects every sentence with so much energy and emotion. Daniels is truly at the top of his game. While there was a plethora of characters for Daniels to keep straight, he gave each their own voice with ease. At part he made me jump out of my seat by actually yelling when a character was.
Another reason for the success of this audio performance was Daniels ability to change the pacing on a dime. Slowing down for the sentimental parts. Then exploding into a frantic blitz action and battles, without missing a beat.
Audiobook purchased for review by the ABR.
November 8, 2015
This is an exceedingly well-written space military book. I have a few quibbles with some aspects of the story but I heartily endorse this to anyone who likes gritty futuristic war books pitting Homo sapiens against an implacable, inscrutable alien species that is capable of kicking humanity's butt. I like the way the author does not belabor the lack of knowledge about these aliens that are so clearly (at this point anyway) beyond our technological status. The likelihood that our planet would still be uselessly and shortsightedly self-destructing by warring with other humans is so realistic that it is depressing. I do question whether a MSGT would be leading the ground forces - I know MSGTs and Chief MSGTs and I do know they would be doing all the work but they rarely would take on that kind of out-on-a-limb leadership role that Fallon had in the story. I especially loved the idea that an astrophysicist saves the day although in reality, the military does have its own scientists and someone else should have come up with a similar scenario at some point. Some of the best lines in the book are delivered by Dr. Stewart about physics, which is always going to get a huge thumbs-up from me. "Nobody's immune to physics." Hell yeah! I have not read the first book in the series and did not feel the lack, although I will now eagerly endeavor to find it (somewhere) and read it as soon as possible, along with the follow-up books. With all that said, it probably would not have gotten my first place vote for the Hugo, but it definitely would have received my second place endorsement. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
April 24, 2014
I don't know why everyone gave this book higher marks. I also don't know what Kloos was thinking. He finished the first book with an awesome Kaiju / military Sci-fi twist and screwed it up with the start of this book. His writing style changed, he threw things into the story from the start that left you wondering if you missed three or four chapters somewhere, and he didn't finish or add to the Kaiju plot he added in the first book.
The only reason I gave this book three stars is that I hope Kloos pulls his head out and gets back after it in a third book.
The only reason I gave this book three stars is that I hope Kloos pulls his head out and gets back after it in a third book.
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