Home World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 6

If you love sci fi stories that play on the concept of character in different ways, then this is a great series for you. Having finished this last book in the series (to date), I am impressed with the author's ability to write a well conceived plot about a man who displays character (in the ethical sense) while at his most irreverent misadventures...thereby calling into question what defines a man's character.Making the series even more enjoyable are the impish flaws of McGill's personality, which make each book a much more entertaining journey than can be captured by this review. His character portrayal is at times antisocial, other times narcissistic, but always with the best of intentions...leading the reader to ponder on the concept that it is not our faults which define us, but rather what we do with them that gets us ahead...and McGill's smart character does a lot.While some of the characters' names resemble their less heralded attributes (eg. Claver is too clever for his own good, Graves is too grave to dance with the other schemers in the books, yet all the women in the books have proper names), this did not come across as a tacky pun but rather read consistent with McGills personality and thereby added style, intentional or not.Overall, I found that behind this series' lighthearted facade and romp through sci fi oriented creativity, it also whispers quiet questions to the reader about the nature of character (in the ethical sense), character (in the personality sense), and character (in the development of a style sense). Forgive me if my writing style is thick, I do not have Mr. Larson's playful imaginings...and my estimation of this series is that there is much more to it than meets the eye because his writing is pleasantly understated. Thank you for both a truly enjoyable read, and a subtle gym time for the brain - I enjoyed it thoroughly.Regarding future books, I could see McGill saving the world producing the regeneration machines from annihilation in the galactic wars...and thereby saving Varus, elevating Earth, and providing some good but sloppy times on yet another world in preparation for dealing with the Core Worlds later on...but given what I have read so far, Mr. Larson has the talent to turn vegetables into a controlling command force...I have no doubt that where he takes his readers next will be far better than this musing. I hope he continues this series, as it is a delightful read with swashbuckling adventures...and then some.

Very good addition to the series. While their Galactic masters are absent, Earth faces conquest and subjugation by a race of slavers. The Legions muster to protect Home, with Varus baying in the lead. James McGill is now an officer, learning to lead the remorseless trained killers and now responsible for his platoon, which puts a damper on his individual heroics (or so we expect). His Nemeses, the renegades Claver and Turov, return (and keep returning) to steal leadership of Earth's forces and surrender Mankind to the squid slavers. McGill and his troops must overcome these lurkers, the squids, and other foes to find a way to preserve Earth and her worlds from subjugation, "editing", or extermination - before the Galactics return and attempt to permanently kill him for official mischief (again).The book is written well, with good depth and interaction of the main characters. The antagonist races take on more depth and context for their interstellar position and actions. Earth's delicate position takes on more context, balanced among unfriendly neighbors, suspicious Galactic bureaucrats, and unscrupulous human leaders. McGill and his platoon members have more personal depth now, building in new layers of depth, motivation, and fears. McGill begins emerging from his brash, glib role as a rogue and loose cannon - he has more responsibility than he bargained for! Claver and Turov remain enigmas, with tantalizing glimpses into their ultimate motivations.I rated this at four stars - good book, but I began looking (early and often) for what the McGuffin (Galactic key) would enable this time. The threat of perming gets kind of thin, as major characters are supposedly killed out but return a chapter or so later. Characters who appear to be out of range for revival also return, with minimal reason for this. Unfortunately, this telegraphed some of the surprises. McGill saves much of the day, but the actions and methods get a bit strained. The denouement is where one of the major twists comes in, setting the stage for several future books.One of the places for future revelation is just how deep one must dig to uncover Claver's true masters and his hidden refuges. He went from a sleazy minor character to some one more elusive and challenging than Professor Moriarity. I don't see some of the depths here, but he might be more trouble than a Cephalopod High Queen. How is he linked to the more corrupt part of Galactic bureaucracy, why and how? Will someone finally put an end to him?

If you liked the first five books, you'll like the sixth. Its consistent, about as believable as the rest, similar high level of creativity.Amazon review asks if there's sexual content. Well, he's not celibate, but its not exactly a pr0n novel either. Like 1% or less sex? But I can't honestly say "no, none at all". As per graphic violence yeah that's about 50% of the text, the rest is puzzles, storytelling in general, its not for the faint of stomach, but its not completely a slasher movie either.On the hard/soft scifi spectrum, its fairly hard. Without dropping spoilers, its got plenty of "if this technology existed, the narrative would change as follows" all in a realistic and interesting manner.Five star fiction to me, means it deserves a movie. I'd watch it if they made it. Maybe it would make a better miniseries on TV.Its relatively light fiction. Not James Joyce full of symbolism for generations of english majors to write papers about. In other words it reads pretty fast and is not confusing or ... overly complicated for the sake of being complicated.On a technical level there are no obvious technical faults in the plot (at least nothing so messed up as LOL level) and the editor did a professional job of eliminating misspellings or typos or whatever.

I have never lasted longer than book four in a sci-fi series and here I finished vol. 6 and am eager for vol. 7. A tremendously gifted author who makes each book as exciting as the previous one. One comment: C!aver has to go! 😀

Great Storyline with plenty of blood and guts lol. What a great way to basically live forever lol live fight for and then repeat lol. Loving this storyline

Eventually a sequel ! This one is as action packed and thrilling as Nr.1-5, but quite another approach. And it succeeded in making you longing for a continuous Extension

Après deux tomes toujours très agréables à lire mais assez répétitifs (Machine World et Death World) , BV Larson renoue avec l'excellence : ce sixième tome des aventures de James Mc Guill est électrisant, branché qu'il est en permanence sur le 380 Volts.C'est de la SF militariste, qui passe par tous les passages obligés du genre (le héros prend régulièrement du galon...) mais c'est surtout très drôle, très rythmé, intelligent, du grand art !La légion Varus et l'inénarrable Mc Guill, désormais élevé au grade d'Adjunct (pour Adjudant ou Lieutenant) doivent faire face à une menace terrible : c'est désormais notre bonne veille Terre qui est sous le feu ennemi (et quel ennemi !). Bien entendu la garce Galina Turov, l'horrible méchant Claver et tous les autres personnages de la série sont bien présents, pour le plus grand plaisir du lecteur.Les personnages sont nombreux, mais tous très bien caractérisés, un des point fort de cette série, avec son ton sarcastique à la première personne. Ce personnage principal, séducteur, tête brûlée, génie de l'improvisation, menteur comme un arracheur de dent, rebelle à toute autorité, est absolument impayable.J'ai essayé d'autres séries de cet auteur (très productif) : je n'y ai jamais retrouvé l'inventivité, l'intelligence, l'humour et le sens of wonder des Mercenaires Increvables. Il faut dire qu'en comparaison de cette série géniale, tout semble grossier, fade et sans relief...La fin du livre est très réussie, on sort du cadre de l'aventure spatiale militaire pour atteindre des sommets inexplorés jusqu'alors dans cette série, et ça sonne juste.C'est cette série ci qu'il faut lire si vous aimez la SF marrante, électrisante, pleine d'idées géniales et totalement dénuée d'autre ambition que celle de divertir ses lecteurs.J'ai adoré ce sixième volet, si vous avez été comme moi un peu déçus par les tomes 4 et 5 allez y sans crainte, vous retrouverez l'intensité et la créativité des trois premiers volets.Vivement la suite !

Epic! McGill is the kind of character that can land in a disaster zone and come out smelling of roses, even when he causes the disaster. Massive battles, well described tech and a level of intrigue and back stabbing in the leadership that would make the Byzantium's blush. This series just keeps getting better and is by far superior to Mr Larson's other series Starforce. I shudder to think of the mayhem that McGill will get up to with the return of Battle Fleet. I'm still hoping to find out just what happened in the galactic core.