# Military Science Fiction Recommendations
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 11, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230 "2012-01-11T23:47:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@HardlySanguine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HardlySanguine)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/1 "2012-01-11T23:47:13Z")
My goto novels have always been in the fantasy genre. Lately, I’ve read a couple military science fiction series and have been enjoying them. So - I’m looking for recommendations on what I should read next! My preference is for plots that don’t involve aliens (somehow, elves and gnomes are OK but BEMs will take me out of the story).
If it’ll help, I’ve liked the following authors (for the most part): Lois Bujold, David Weber, Mike Shepherd and Elizabeth Moon.
John Scalzi, Tanya Huff and David Feintuch were just OK.
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/2 "2012-01-12T00:49:44Z")
Two mostly low-tech but science fictional military sci fi works.
_Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen_ by H. Beam Piper; Calvin Morrison a Pennsylvania cop & veteran is dropped by accident in an alternate low tech world and proceeds to, well, make himself “Lord Kalvan”.
The [Belisarius series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belisarius_series) by David Drake & Eric Flint. Set during the Byzantine empire, in a timeline where two competing far-future factions have sent agents into the past to reshape it. With that kind of interference it rapidly diverges from real world history, including the introduction of ever more advanced technology like gunpowder & telegraphs.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/3 "2012-01-12T01:03:54Z")
For military SF, I highly recommend [S.M. Stirling](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SMStirling?from=Main.ptitle28cp295k) and [Jerry Pournelle.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Pournelle) Stirling, in particular, writes the most vivid battle-scenes I have ever read. I especially recommend [_The General_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheGeneral) series, co-authored with [David Drake.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DavidDrake)
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/4 "2012-01-12T01:43:59Z")
Or you could just combine the two suggestions above and go straight to David Drake. His “Hammers Slammers” books and stories are excellent. Incredibly vivid and realistic combat scenes. He’s a Vietnam vet, and it comes through in his writing.
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/5 "2012-01-12T01:57:35Z")
Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein. Pretend there never was a movie that shared the name, just read the book.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/6 "2012-01-12T02:33:18Z")
Then go pick up just about all of [John Ringo’s](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AJohn+Ringo&keywords=John+Ringo&ie=UTF8&qid=1326335556&sr=8-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B000APPSXE)stuff. After that, maybe some Alan Cole/Chris Bunch ([Sten series](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AJohn+Ringo&keywords=John+Ringo&ie=UTF8&qid=1326335556&sr=8-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B000APPSXE#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sten&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Asten)).
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/7 "2012-01-12T02:49:01Z")
TVTropes, of course, has a whole page on [Military Science Fiction.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MilitaryScienceFiction)
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/8 "2012-01-12T03:03:12Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> After that, maybe some Alan Cole/Chris Bunch ([Sten series](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AJohn+Ringo&keywords=John+Ringo&ie=UTF8&qid=1326335556&sr=8-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B000APPSXE#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sten&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Asten)).
Oh, yeah; I love the Sten series.
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### Author:  [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/9 "2012-01-12T03:24:41Z")
I have, but have yet to read, [The Forever War.](http://www.amazon.com/The-Forever-War-ebook/dp/B005BVM9YI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326338628&sr=1-1)
I hear it’s supposed to be pretty good.
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### Author:  [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/10 "2012-01-12T03:37:15Z")
\*Starship Troopers \*by Robert A. Heinlein and \*The Forever War \*by Joe Haldeman
“No Truce with Kings”, “The Queen of Air and Darkness” _Fire Time_, and just about all of the Dominic Flandry books, save _A Stone in Heaven_, by Poul Anderson
“Superiority” and “Hide and Seek” by Arthur C. Clarke
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### Author:  [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/11 "2012-01-12T05:12:44Z")
“The Lost Fleet” series by Jack Campbell features a fleet of starships trying to limp back home after being defeated and stranded deep in enemy territory. If you enjoy the political side of military command and exploring ways that starship combat could realistically work, it’s good fun. It’s mostly all humans vs humans, although aliens do eventually come into one of the subplots.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/12 "2012-01-12T05:18:53Z")
I love the naval battles, described in excruciating detail, in David Weber’s _Safehold_ series. I mean, I love the court drama and the political maneuvering as well, but the naval battles arguably are the best parts of the books. Come to think of it, the infantry/calvary battles have been pretty damned good as well.
His _Starfire_ series, written with Steve White, was also very good.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/13 "2012-01-12T05:22:28Z")
For Stirling and Pournelle together, get the _Janissaries_ books (incomplete)(damn you, Jerry!), and the various books that deal with the CoDominium (_Falkenberg’s Legion_).
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### Author:  [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/14 "2012-01-12T06:50:42Z")
Ender’s game? Most people would have already read it of course, but if Starship troopers is being recommended, I figured Ender should be 🙂
It’s a pretty good read. if you can get past the lead characters being 11 or so years old.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/15 "2012-01-12T07:03:56Z")
If you’re near a used bookstore that has lots of paperback SF, look for the Tor _There Will Be War_ series of anthologies of SF war-stories, edited by Jerry Pournelle. _Imperial Stars_ is good too.
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/16 "2012-01-12T10:06:10Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein. Pretend there never was a movie that shared the name, just read the book.
Also, _The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress_, by the same guy.
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### Author:  [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/17 "2012-01-12T11:29:22Z")
OK you said elves were OK – how about Christopher Stasheff’s Warlock in Spite of Himself – it is not military but it has your fantasy elements and some of your science fiction elements too
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/18 "2012-01-12T11:59:08Z")
What have you got against the OP, that you would recommend Stasheff to him/her?
I assume that the OP has read Elizabeth Moon’s _Deed of Paksennarion_ trilogy, as well as her military SF. There’s the trilogy, the Gird duology, and now Moon has released at least two more books in that series. I never could get into Moon’s SF, but I love her fantasy.
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### Author:  [@FasterThanMeerkats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FasterThanMeerkats)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/19 "2012-01-12T14:01:14Z")
Maybe _World War Z_? It’s about everyone (including the military) vs. zombies.
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### Author:  [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-science-fiction-recommendations/609230/20 "2012-01-12T15:47:56Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein.
Agreed, but feel free to skip ahead a little when it gets too preachy.
> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> Or you could just combine the two suggestions above and go straight to David Drake. His “Hammers Slammers” books and stories are excellent. Incredibly vivid and realistic combat scenes. He’s a Vietnam vet, and it comes through in his writing.
Absolutely!
Let me recommend the Bolo series by Keith Laumer. Intelligent tanks, oh yeah.
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