Andy Clanton and the crew return in Book 3 of the Earth at War Series, but the team is not Interstellar at the start, having to deal with more Earth bound issues relating to the theft of ‘The Ship’ as it has become known in higher circles (given it has no name). At the end of Book 2, a conglomerate of Russian and Chinese Mercenaries stole the second Cruiser being developed by the Helta and US forces over Earth, and it is now up to Andy and his team, to not only locate who took it, but where it is before the Helta realise that it is missing, and Earth is not as united as everyone believes, potentially causing issues with their alliance in that everyone will feel that they are too much like the Tevynians.
It becomes even more important that they get this ship back, when they are invited to an Interstellar Alliance meeting of all the various current Alliance members to decide if ‘Humans’ should be allowed to enter into the Alliance with the other species that were created by the Aliens that had originally taken DNA of Humans, and combined it with a selection of animal species on Earth, and then seeded them on other ‘Earth-Like’ planets in the galaxy, including, taking a group of humans from during an era on Earth, and dropping them on a planet to, and these became known as the Tevynians.
The Helta gave technology to all the Allied planets, except Earth, as they are the ‘Source’ planet, and no one was allowed to go to the ‘Source’ planet.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the gang makes it to the Alliance meeting, and there are some very ‘Interesting’ events there, thanks to Andy and his ever charming mouth. This leads to certain things that only Andy can get himself into, with a particular species in the Alliance that is a cross between Humans and Wolves, known as the Skrith, and I have to say, it is certainly one of the more ‘Intriguing’ parts of the book. And by this, I mean you will be laughing yourself stupid, whilst simultaneously flipping through pages utterly engaged in what is going to happen next.
This book is just a fascinating read in many different aspects.
For one, I have made comment recently on a couple of different aspects of Sci-Fi writing, that we see too many aliens that are too ‘humanoid’ in stories, with little or no explanation, and yet, even on our own planet, whilst there has been the natural selection to grow ‘Eyes’ in species in thousands of different ways, and ears in lots of others, they are not humanoid, they are all different types of creatures. So on an alien planet, thousands of light years away from us, or even next door at just a few hundred light years, species that might grow into an ‘Alien’ intelligence, are not going to be ‘Humanoid’ (Sure there is the possibility through natural selection/evolution etc, but there is no way everything is going to be two armed, two legged, and have a different head for convenience sake of the Special Effects department).
However, in this book – Partlow has actually come up with a plausible reason for his different species, and why they are how they are (I won’t go into it – you can read about it), and even then, not all of his aliens are ‘Humanoid’, and it makes for some really fun reading.
The other thing that as a Non-US person, that really drives me nuts in a lot of books, is that an awful lot of writers (and because I am a Sci-Fi nerd – it happens to be a lot of Sci-Fi series), have this whole thing, that when Aliens come to Earth, they are going to land in the US, that the US President is going to make all the decisions for the planet, and everything always happens in the US. Now, I get that it is easier to write a story based on your own country, because you know the lay of the land etc. But (and I say this without trying to offend anyone – honestly, but just as someone who would like to see a bit more diversity in writing?!?), my argument has been it is very narrow-minded to assume that an Alien intelligence would just land in the US for a start, but also that the US President would make all the decisions.
I’m not going to get into it here (there are a number of fun reads on various Facebook pages – Including Ricks – if you want to have a read and get into it!!) – but what I will say, is that Partlow has actually done something really awesome in this book, in that, the US are the ones that make contact with the Helta first, through a series of events in book 1, and it is very plausible. But this sets in motion a chain of events with the rest of the world, especially China and Russia, who are very upset about the US having access to Alien tech, and them not. But more than that, is that the US President makes multiple comments and decisions based on knowing that he is not just dealing with the US, but he is acting for all of the Worlds People, and that he is going to be judged by all of them to. That his actions are going to have ramifications for the whole planet. At the core, this is actually a really fun book – most of it is about a Sci-Fi writer, who has a military background, who suddenly finds himself leading a Delta Squad against an Enemy that are basically Humans that were taken from a time period in our past, given advanced Technology, and rather than playing nicely with the other children, decided it would be more fun to go and kill them all with it. Throughout this book, there are so many references and Easter Eggs to Sci-Fi Books and Movies, that it would make like the best drinking game (I have been thinking about it with the audiobook – get a group together and the last one to work out the reference gets a double shot).
But throughout this book – there are such deep and powerful parts to the story, such as when POTUS is quite literally having a crisis of faith as he realises that he is responsible for the entire planet, that really make this story so good, take it to a whole extra level.
And there are multiple different points in the series like this, when Andy is having nightmares about PTSD (and as someone who suffers from PTSD, Partlow has done such a good job of capturing the raw pain, the emotional angst, and the gritty, powerful, realistic psychological agony that he is feeling over the loss of his friends and comrades, of what he has both seen and done. It is some really great writing, and pays a lot of respect to those who suffer with it each day).
There is the grief of the soldiers at various scenes when they realise that they have lost friends, or the severe casualty rate of friendlies, and even just the senseless killing of the enemy, the psychological impact it has on them. For some, it can actually break them, others, it turns them into stronger soldiers – but at the cost of their souls.
Partlow has obviously done a lot of research into combat, to get the brutality, realism, the pure craziness of it, and for Andy, his collapse into almost a berserker so he can cope with the nature of war. The writing is not just gritty, and real, but very raw and for most of it, very emotive. It is exceptionally well done.
Partlow’s story is extraordinary, in that it can go from side splitting humour, to ethical dilemma’s in the Political arena, and the next chapter, you are utterly engaged in brutal combat, that you just can’t put down, as you have to know what is going to happen, who is going to survive.
Because that is the other thing that Partlow does well, he is willing to take out his main characters, no one is safe. This is a Mil Sci-Fi story, in which the main characters are fighting for their lives on a constant basis in a vicious war, and Partlow doesn’t believe in invulnerable heroes like a lot of books (Hey, we just fought for 10hrs, everyone else is dead, but it’s ok, the main 8 characters came through with only a few scratches – of paint on their power armour….)
If you want a really great read, one that you will not only be seriously having to put the book down as you are crying from laughter at some of the things that Andy has done (the comments that come out of his mouth are priceless), one that makes you think of chocolate (All the Easter Eggs!! There are so many references to Movies and Books, different quotes, it is like Ready Player One), and some of the most incredible action you are going to read – with some fierce action, and more importantly, some Exceptional Characters that tell an outstanding story, you will love this.
Must Read Mil Sci-Fi of 2021!!!
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Next 4 for you in this series
See full series
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2021
Top reviews from other countries
BarryD
Great story, but it grinds along sometimes
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2021