Military Sci-Fi: More Than New Toys?

I'm in the midst of a classic / military sci-fi reading binge. I find that much of what I've read is essentially a projection of current military practices with new guns for the soldiers (Tanya Huff's Valor's Choice and John Scalzi's Old Man's War) , or else a nostalgic projection of past military traditions (David Weber's Honor Harrington series, such as On Basilisk Station, being the easiest example.)

Is there anything out there that convincingly portrays an evolution of current practices? Something that isn't just a special forces squad with laser guns or ships of the line firing nuclear broadside? (Mind you, I like those things -- but I'd like to read something that tries something new.)

I'm interested to see stories that consider how tactics evolve with changing technology. What's out there?

You might try the Dread Empire's Fall series by Walter Jon Williams. Lots of space battles there, done well and very believably.

The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell makes interesting use of tactics in space where real-time communication is impossible. While not strictly sci-fi, Harry Turtledove's Misplaced Legion looks at a Roman Legion dropped on a world that has never seen Roman tactics and makes for some interesting battles. Similarly, his Worldwar series looks at the difficulties of an alien race with advanced technologies combating the much cruder WW 2 era weapons and tactics.

Probably an obvious one, but I thought Starship Troopers (the book, not the film) is a good portrayal of the future Marine Corps. The powered armor and evolution of bug-fighting tactics were interesting. (Of course, I'm sidestepping the whole political issue, which can be a very divisive topic.)

Armor was modeled loosely after Starship Troopers (part 1, at least), but has a more personal aspect to it. The characters are less one-dimensional and the political situation more fluid as well.

I would try some of Charles Stross's books. The best of them, like Glasshouse don't focus on soldiers on the battlefield, but the background world is clearly one whose military tactics have been impacted by the necessity of using "gates" to travel and assemble needed equipment. There is also some passing attention paid to enhancements for soldiers that amount to a lot more than "new guns," more like they can simultaneously inhabit and control thousands of mecha suits....can you tell I like this book? lol

There's also a new book Germline by T.C. McCarthy, which...well it isn't a GOOD book at all, but it features a tactical landscape that relies on tunnels (has a WWI trench warfare-ish vibe) when, I think, they were expecting a more urban/insurgent type mode.

Hope those help. I've been on the hunt for the same kind of book from time to time, but realistically military sci fi is usually aimed at giving the reader a big america-wank and isn't really about the military at all.

Does that make Weber's work a big britain-wank? ;)

RM Meluch looks at what weapons actually work on a spaceship which is kind of interesting, the plot involving a resurgent Roman Empire is ok, but there is a bit of the US Marines Rule The Universe feel to it at times. Fun though with better characters than the norm for mil-sf.

Hammer's Slammers has some interesting takes on how technology will (and won't) change what militaries do.

Thanks for the recommendations. Some of them I'd already marked as potentially interesting (Armor, for one.) and others I've added. I might give Hammer's Slammers another try.

Finding military sci-fi that explores new things instead of revisiting old things is apparently harder than I'd have expected!

>6 brightcopy: ok i'll amend that statement to a nationalism wank or a normative masculinity wank

David Sherman's Starfist series. I enjoy the continued journey of the Marines serving in the 34th FIST, especially after the series introduced a "first contact" element.

Redliners by David Drake

While there are gadgets and gizmos a-plenty, the main focus is on the civilian-military divide.

>11 stonester1:
You might be interested to know, if you don't already, the new Armored anthology from John Joseph Adams has a new Starfist story in it.

I highly recommend All You Need Is Kill.

Tactical or strategic? Aree we talking just the act of moving ships & people, or the full Geo/social/political power influencing the situation? A couple of classics not mentioned yet - The Forever War (time dilation), Ender's Game (impact of antigravity on small unit tactics, time dilation, and a hefty dose of social commentary). Turtledove's "The Guns of the South" - probably his best book - looks at the impact of modern technology on a past conflict.

cherryh's space battles are more realistic than most, even if I can never follow them.

cherryh's space battles are more realistic than most, even if I can never follow them.

Strange, I also want what #1 wanted,

Is there anything out there that convincingly portrays an evolution of current practices?

Yes, I also want to see something NEW, something that excites me. I don't want to see "Nelsons" tactics replicated in space.

Guido.

Take a look at the Bio of a Space Tyrant series by Piers Anthony. It is actually hardcore SF and his space battles (as I recall) deal with 20th century technology. The tactics must be adapted.

Um, I did read/own that series when it first came out. I do remember it had a rather convincing explanation of why 'swords' had a place in "space".
Or am I thinking of something else?
Not sure.
I do know that Piers Anthony is, to my mind, a rather weak author. Who I did like at the time!

Guido,

I think you are thinking of the cluster series where species and their technologies are referred to in terms of the Tarot suit they most resemble. Swords is the suit that includes humans and other species that think in thrust terms. Bio is all human, and the colonies (as I recall), are all within the solar system. Much of the action takes place near Jupiter. It is significantly different from most of Anthony's work.

I enjoyed In Death Ground and The Shiva Option. Both involved tactical evolution quite well...IMHO.