Rating: 
Summary: It Still Takes a Marine
Review: First to Fight is the first novel in the StarFIST series. The 31st Fleet Initial Strike Team is issued a new item of equipment, a Universal Positionator Up-Down link, that will replace the radios, geo position locators, and vector computers throughout the companies. The UPUD has been field tested only at Aberdeen, but passed with flying color. When Gunnery Sergeant Charlie Bass questions such tests and suggests that his company take its current equipment along as backup, he is told that the company has been ordered to immediately turn in all of it. In the field, the UPUDs don't work as advertised, resulting in a number of unnecessary deaths. Back at the base, Bass thoroughly damages the company rep, Daryl George, before he is pulled off. Daryl drops charges against Charlie when told his company could be charged with criminal negligence due to his misrepresentations. Charlie, however, is convicted of conduct unbecoming a noncommissioned officer, demoted one level, and re-assigned to the 34th FIST.In this novel, Joseph F. Dean joins the Confederation Marine Corps and is sent to the training planet, Arsenault. After many weeks in Boot Camp and Advanced Infantry Training, Dean is assigned to the 34th FIST on Thorsfinni's World, with Charlie as his platoon sergeant. His first liberty is even more exciting than the training courses. And then the 34st is sent to Elneal to provide humanitarian aid. This novel gets off to a slow start after the initial UPUD fiasco (which most ex-service types will find familiar -- except Charlie gets in a few good licks), dwelling on the nature and peculiarities of military training, Marine style, but starts picking up the pace after Dean arrives on Thorsfinni's World. The other characters -- McNeal, Chan, Claypoole, Schultz, etc. -- are probably composite archetypes based on people the authors have known; nobody could be such a total goofball as Claypoole seems in his first appearance. This series concentrates on the riots, raids, insurrections, and other relatively small incidents handled mostly by the Marines in our own history. Although the Marines have always been involved in the larger conflicts, the FISTs are the kind of ready deployment force that is the first to fight in most smaller actions. And, in this novel, they soon find themselves in a nasty fight. Some reviewers have wondered why the Marines are not equipped with more futuristic weapons. First, the Navy has the planet-busters if these become necessary. Second, the Army has the tactical nukes, heavy artillery, and heavy tanks if these become necessary. Third, there are people who want to continue living on the planet after the Armed Forces leave. Thus, the Confederation sends in the Marines, light infantry capable of maneuvering in virtually any terrain and armed with weapons capable of taking out anything they face. Minimum force for maximum effect. Recommended for Sherman & Cragg fans and anyone who enjoys small-unit combat in a SF setting.
Rating:
Summary: It Still Takes a Marine
Review: First to Fight is the first novel in the StarFIST series. The 31st Fleet Initial Strike Team is issued a new item of equipment, a Universal Positionator Up-Down link, that will replace the radios, geo position locators, and vector computers throughout the companies. The UPUD has been field tested only at Aberdeen, but passed with flying color. When Gunnery Sergeant Charlie Bass questions such tests and suggests that his company take its current equipment along as backup, he is told that the company has been ordered to immediately turn in all of it. In the field, the UPUDs don't work as advertised, resulting in a number of unnecessary deaths. Back at the base, Bass thoroughly damages the company rep, Daryl George, before he is pulled off. Daryl drops charges against Charlie when told his company could be charged with criminal negligence due to his misrepresentations. Charlie, however, is convicted of conduct unbecoming a noncommissioned officer, demoted one level, and re-assigned to the 34th FIST. In this novel, Joseph F. Dean joins the Confederation Marine Corps and is sent to the training planet, Arsenault. After many weeks in Boot Camp and Advanced Infantry Training, Dean is assigned to the 34th FIST on Thorsfinni's World, with Charlie as his platoon sergeant. His first liberty is even more exciting than the training courses. And then the 34st is sent to Elneal to provide humanitarian aid. This novel gets off to a slow start after the initial UPUD fiasco (which most ex-service types will find familiar -- except Charlie gets in a few good licks), dwelling on the nature and peculiarities of military training, Marine style, but starts picking up the pace after Dean arrives on Thorsfinni's World. The other characters -- McNeal, Chan, Claypoole, Schultz, etc. -- are probably composite archetypes based on people the authors have known; nobody could be such a total goofball as Claypoole seems in his first appearance. This series concentrates on the riots, raids, insurrections, and other relatively small incidents handled mostly by the Marines in our own history. Although the Marines have always been involved in the larger conflicts, the FISTs are the kind of ready deployment force that is the first to fight in most smaller actions. And, in this novel, they soon find themselves in a nasty fight. Some reviewers have wondered why the Marines are not equipped with more futuristic weapons. First, the Navy has the planet-busters if these become necessary. Second, the Army has the tactical nukes, heavy artillery, and heavy tanks if these become necessary. Third, there are people who want to continue living on the planet after the Armed Forces leave. Thus, the Confederation sends in the Marines, light infantry capable of maneuvering in virtually any terrain and armed with weapons capable of taking out anything they face. Minimum force for maximum effect. Recommended for Sherman & Cragg fans and anyone who enjoys small-unit combat in a SF setting.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth reading but weak in a few areas such as leadership
Review: I enjoyed the book, the requirement of coming up through the ranks is one that I sometimes wish I had done. But trying to make the Staff Sergeant Bass seem like the marine icon of a professional, and then failing to perform an equipment inspection before a patrol is difficult to believe. However, there is an understanding of the military from a "Been there, done that" by the authors which make the book worth reading. I will look forward to the follow-on books
Rating:
Summary: Surprise! Better then I thought
Review: I have been reading about this book for sometime now. I never got around to picking it up. I would read the reviews and decide against it.Well I should have picked this up a long time ago. I finished this book very quickly.The story is great the characters are great it's a very enjoyable story that moves quickly. It is obvious that the authors draw on their military experience. I think it lends the book an additonal layer of authenticity. I found myself concerned with the plight of Srg.Bass and his unit. My only gripe is that the real action was a bit later in the book and it was too quick for me. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed the portion of the book about their training as well. I'm glad to also report that their are serval more books in the series. If they are as good as this one I will be a happy reader.Don't even think just buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: All I can say is David Drake...move over.
Review: I thought the book was well written. I am a war veteran and the imagery the book brought to me reminded me so much of my own experiences both in Panama and then in the desert. The young man in the book reminded me so much of myself before Panama and the older veterans so much of myself in the desert. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as it seems
Review: I was disappointed with this book, contrary to the majority of reviewers, it seems. It's not that the basic premise was bad, although it's certainly been done several times before. It's not that the combat scenes aren't exciting -- clearly the authors have some personal knowledge of the subject -- but the technology is really quite simplistic: personal direct fire weapons, squad "automatic" weapons, APCs, radio-equivalents, etc. I think a civilization that has interstellar travel would be far more advanced than this, and a good author with an eye towards future technologies could make things far more believable and interesting. This led some reviewers to point out that the basic story tracked the situation in Somalia in the early '90s when a Recon unit was pinned down in Mogadishu. Well, it's not, folks: real battles aren't settled by single combat, and modern war is not nearly as clean-cut and heroic as it's portrayed here. If you want to know about Somalia, read Black Hawk Down. If you want good combat sci-fi that doesn't read like a "veteran's romance novel," where Marines are good and tough and the enemies are easy to identify, culturally backward and somewhat stupid, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as it seems
Review: I was disappointed with this book, contrary to the majority of reviewers, it seems. It's not that the basic premise was bad, although it's certainly been done several times before. It's not that the combat scenes aren't exciting -- clearly the authors have some personal knowledge of the subject -- but the technology is really quite simplistic: personal direct fire weapons, squad "automatic" weapons, APCs, radio-equivalents, etc. I think a civilization that has interstellar travel would be far more advanced than this, and a good author with an eye towards future technologies could make things far more believable and interesting. This led some reviewers to point out that the basic story tracked the situation in Somalia in the early '90s when a Recon unit was pinned down in Mogadishu. Well, it's not, folks: real battles aren't settled by single combat, and modern war is not nearly as clean-cut and heroic as it's portrayed here. If you want to know about Somalia, read Black Hawk Down. If you want good combat sci-fi that doesn't read like a "veteran's romance novel," where Marines are good and tough and the enemies are easy to identify, culturally backward and somewhat stupid, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: This one's a keeper.
Review: If you like military SF, then put these guys on your short list. This was an excellent read, fast paced and realistic. The authors used their military experience to good effect in creating the characters, situation, and background. Most excellent!
Rating:
Summary: Almost pure story setup - No more for me
Review: If you want a book that you have to think about(not that thinking is a bad thing) get Ender's Game or Starship Troopers. If you want a book that you can read and just enjoy it for the story and not its deepm psycological meaning read this serise. Here are the beginings of the adventures of the 34th FIST, a group of elite military soliders in the 25th century. Yes they are sterotypical, but so is alot of other great science fiction. If you enjoyed Starship Troopers, Ender's Game or even Dune you will enjoy this serise and this book in particular.
Rating:
Summary: Holds your attention
Review: If you want a book that you have to think about(not that thinking is a bad thing) get Ender's Game or Starship Troopers. If you want a book that you can read and just enjoy it for the story and not its deepm psycological meaning read this serise. Here are the beginings of the adventures of the 34th FIST, a group of elite military soliders in the 25th century. Yes they are sterotypical, but so is alot of other great science fiction. If you enjoyed Starship Troopers, Ender's Game or even Dune you will enjoy this serise and this book in particular.
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