usnmm2 50 for 2008

#1,#2 and #3
The Lost Fleet, Dauntless, The Lost Fleet, Fearless and The lost Fleet, Courageous by Jack Campbell

Not bad reads. Good for the night stand, they are sort of "Battlestar Galactica" meets Hornblower. The author even invokes the Royal Navy with ship names like Defiant, Renown or Revenge. And the battle scenes unfold like old naval battles, with grapeshot and broadsides. No Brainers just escape and enjoy.

Started #4
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer (note to self read this one over a year ago didn't care for then)

Bought #5 The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

#5
Just received an advance readers copy of "American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA" by Nick Taylor
read the first 50 or 60 pages so far and seems like it's going to be a good history of a little known agency from the depression era.

Just finished #5 The Ghost Brigades and am looking forward to the next one when I locate a copy

#5 Pork Chop Hill by S.l.a. Marshall

A very readable book about an almost forgotten battle in almost forgotten war. S.L.A. Marshall went to Korea as a war correspondent . At the request of the army he spent his time intereviewing the troops as they came back from patrols and battles to analyze our methods to see if they were working (this is the same thing he was doing in WW2). This book is the result of those interviews and gives an almost minute by minute account of the battle. A must read for any military history buff. ( )

#6. On Basilisk Station by David Weber
Honor Harrington has been billed as
the female Hornblower in space. And the story does have that feel to it.
Commander Harrrington has made her superiors look foolish so her ship and her are sent to Basilisk Station. A back water (space) asignment for the Royal Space Navys Worst Officers.
When she gets there she is abandoned by her senior officer and left on her own. At which point she starts doing the job that the Navy is supposed to do. Of coarse this does not sit well with some very high ranking people. THis is where the fun starts.
I found the book a pleasent read. My one complaint (and it's a small one) would be it's a little long. It could have been shaved by about a 1/4, and still been a good story. I would recommend this book to any who like the military sci fi sub genre, or those who like a story with lots of twists and turns.

#7. "Uprising" by Brent Monahan

This is a story of a 1000 year old Irish witch brought back to life. What makes this book different from a 100's of others is the witch is the heroine of the story. I came across ths book while going thru a bx of old books I had read years ago. Sat down and re-read it in one sitting. and it was as good as I remembered it.

#8 Non-Stop by Brian Aldiss

A story of a group of humans lost on a multi-generational Starship.

Roy Compline is a hunter living with the nomatic Greene tribe in a place they call quarters. They tribe survives by burrowing its way thru a dense jungle called "ponics" and mining "rooms they find for supplies.

They have a religion based on "foyd" and "yong", that is full of myths of forwards and mysterious people called gaint and outsiders.

After a series of events Roy along with three other companons decide to leave and traval to forwards.

It was an interesting story in that as you traval with the group you star to piece togeth a story of what happened. ( of coarse what you think is all wrong by the end of the book).

I couldn't help but to keep camparing it to Heinleins Orphans of the Sky just to see what was the same and the differences. which was one reason I enjoyed it so much.

(edited for typeos)

after a heavy dose of hi tech sci fi it's time to go back to first century Rome with Gordianus the Giver in Steven Saylor's book The Jugment of Caesar: A Novel of Ancient Rome

#9. "The Jugment of Caesar: A Novel of Ancient Rome" by Steven Saylor

I enjoyed this book. After reading about the series in several places I decided to try one. The story was interesting containing no big surprizes. The author gives you enought background of the players to know their relation in this story. But leaves hints that make you want to find out more of what happened before. So I will try to find the first one in the series and see how Gordianus the Giver started and it all began.

Have two books going at this time. Can't make up my mind which century to be in.

#10. A Watery Grave (Wiki Coffin Mysteries)
by Joan Druett

#11. Stark's War (Stark's War, Book 1) by John G. Hemry

O.K. time to update this;
Bill The Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison what a pleasent find.
He spoofs almost every major sci fi book writen at that time. Starship Troopers, The Foundation Series, n and I'm sure there is more I don't Know about. It brought I smile to my face and even laughed out load a few times. I would say that this is a must for anyone that likes military sci and can stand a little the satire of their favorites books and stories. Besides the sign of a good story or book is a good spoof.
In fact I think I'm going to dig up a copy of Bored of the Rings which I read 20 years ago or so.

#10. A Watery Grave (Wiki Coffin Mysteries) by Joan Druett.
Wilki Coffin (a half New Zealand Maori Indian) is accused of murder just before leaving with the United States South Seas Exploring Expedition of 1838. (a real fleet whose artifacts were the basis for the Smithsonian Museam). He is exonerated and deputized by the sheriff to find the murder who is believed to be with the fleet.
This is a good story for any who like historical, age of sail and/or mysteries stories. The author gives enough nautical background to satisfy any nautical fan but not so much to overwhelm the novice.

#11 Stark's War (Stark's War, Book 1) by John G. Hemry

A rather well written military sci fi novel (first in a series of three)., in the line of Starship Troopers. Other people may know John G. Hemry as Jack Cambell the author of the on going Lost Fleet series.
The premise of the story is the U.S. wants to retake the moon for it's resourses.

"The Black Ship" by Dudley Pope
Is a account of the most violent and bloodiest mutiny on a Royal Naval Frigate in 1797. It took place in the West Indies almost at the same time but independent of the great fleet mutinies at Nore England. Pope is a good writer and does a great job of setting the scene of Naval life and the mutiny in the 18 th century.
The reader is not overwhelmed with useless details that only a historian would need or want. The book almost reads like a novel in places.
Highly recommended for anyone interested naval life in this time period.

Douglas Reemans first novel, A Prayer for the Ship, published in 1968, and is biographical in nature, and were based on his service in the Royal Navy aboard Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) during the Second World War. A very good read for any who like naval books of that era.
Douglas Reeman might be known to some readers as Alexander Kent author of The Bilitho series of books his entry into of the age of sail genre.

I'm a little behind in my reading so time to update a little.

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson I've never been a big Spider Robinson fan but I did enjoyed this series of related stories centered around a saloon. Its' a place that any man would long to hang out in and I would have gone looking for it if the author hadn't made it clear that it didn't exist.

The Last Colony by John Scalzi The third book of his Old Mans War series. A fair read. His character's are getting a little stiff and old and worn out. I kept thinking I"ve read this somewhere else. Still If you read and liked the first two you'll like this one too. I enjoyed it.

Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. by E. Somerville. A pure joy to read.
If you saw the BBC series years ago there are no surprizes, just the pleasure of visting old friends.

Ramage #1 by Dudley Pope. The first book in his Lord Ramage series.
Again no surprizes here if your a fan of this genre. Easier to read than O'brian, a little more believeable than Hornblower. Already bought the next two to read (I am a fan of this genre)

To Move the World" by Brent Monahan
This is an historical novel of the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage in the Third Century B.C. from the point of view of the independent City State of Siracusa on the Island of Sicily.

The story is told by Leonides a soldier and champion of the city and nephew of Archemedes. It is thru his eyes we see the political intrigues between the factions who on one side want to side with Rome (their ally and trading partners of many years) and the others who want to side with Carthage (for purposes of greed and power lust). this story unfolds like a Greek Tragedy you see the errors of their ways and how their greed and intrigues leads to the destruction of their way of life.

The title of the book alludes to a quotation of Archemedes "For if I had a place to stand upon, I could move the world" , and he has a prominent place at the beginning and the end of the book.

The sub title is "An Historical Odyssey" This is played out by Leonides. At the start of the book he is a professional soldier and pentathlon champion of Siracusa. He can barley read or write and is forced into a political marriage to a Roman girl who is in love with all things Greek. It is her (a Roman) that teaches him to read,write and discover his culture. In doing this he changes his mind that being the best soldier and good at killing is not a glorious or proud profession, and sees the tragidy of a war that will only destroy his world.

The book isn't like most historical novels. Not full of sweeping sagas and larger than life characters. You see the characters as real people trying to do what they must. You see their faults and strengths and you can be sympathic to their plights.
Overall I would highly recommend this book all.

Got three going at this time;

#24 Orphanage by Robert Buettner
#25 Gradisil by Adam Roberts
#26 "No Place On Earth" by Louis Charbonneau

Just finished Orphanage by Robert Buettner the first in the series and I enjoyed it immensely. No surprises', even fewer if you have read Starship Troopers or The Forever War. Not so much an imitation but a homage to those books.

Earth's cities are being destroyed one by one by an alien race. Jason Wanders' father is dead and his mother is killed in one of the attacks. After getting in trouble for fighting he is given a choice - enlist in the army or serve time in jail. (Of coarse we know what he which he will pick).

The storys' pace and development is very familar to any who have read the above mentioned books. But it has an up to date feel, as if this was being told about todays army and wars.

I've already started the second book Orphan's Destiny.

Orphan's Destiny About par for a second book of a series. We see the survivors ( 700 of ten thousand) of the Battle of Gandymede come home to a Hero's welcome. after which they are descarded by a war weiry populations. General Jason Wander is paraded around as a trophy and celebrity to drum up support for politicians' ideas that he doesn't agree with. Of course the Slugs return and the battle begins again.

Still not a bad read. Have bought the third book "Orphan's Journey" to read after I finish a few others on my TBR pile.

Orphan's Journey by Robert Buettner
I think the series has run its' coarse.
There are just to many things taken from other stories, books and authors.
Plus the charactors are static not growing or maturing at all (you would think there would be some change in the 20 years these books cover so far)

I don't want to make this a spoiler so lets just say the book is "John Carter of Mars" meets "Stargate" with overtones of Heinlein. I'm not saying it's and bad book, it's well written the story is tight and well paced. Just not my cup of tea.
I don't think I'll be reading the fourth book.

"No Place On Earth" by Louis Charbonneau
This book (written in 1958) is another entry to the world ruled by "The Leader" and the "Leaders' Party".
The world population now lives 200+ years and is always on the verge of famine so there are strict population controls. These controls are in the form of laws monitored by the feared PCC (Population Control Core), who are vigilant at routing out enemies of the state (People who what to have more than 2 children or have them outside the prosrcibed age range (50 to 65 years old). Of coarse the plot revoles around just such a couple.
What makes this book a little different is it's told though a series of flash backs during the interogation of the main charactor Petr Claybourne.
As the story unfolds you find out about the "underground", double agents spies ect.
Overall I enoyed this book even if some of it is a little dated.

This Island Earth by Raymond F. Jones

I bought and read this book because the 1955 movie is one of the great classic sci fi flicks and one of my favorites. And I was pleasently surprised by the story as told in the book.

This book was written in 1952 is the source for the movie of the same title, but the stories aren't the same.
Cal Meacham is a electronics engineer that is recruited by the mysterious "Peace Engineers", to run one of their plants. In this factory they are making "interosticors".
As the story unfolds we see that these machines are to main weapons for a war that has gone on for centuries between the Llannan (the good guys) and the Guarra (the bad guys).
The war has taken a turn for the worse and the Earth is in danger of being abandoned and destroyed.

Warnning Spoiler!!!!!!

Now those of you who are star trek fans will like this part. It seems this war has been run by computers, and the Guarra have figured out that the way to win is to make random attacks that make no sense to the Llannan computers. Cals now becomes the voice of reason to convince the Llannan to go against their computers by reinforcing the Earth and turn the tide of the battle and save the Earth.

Cool Hand Luke by Dunn Pearce
A good read, no big surprizes if you have seen the movie. Pearce has a nice easy writing style, his prose boarders on poetry in some places.
He has a good handle on dialact and idiom of the south.
I'm surprised that he is not better know, I plan on looking for some of hi other books.

The Book of Common Dread/a Novel of the Infernal by Brent Monahan

A private library of ancient books and scrolls is donated to Princeton University. One of these scrolls contain the true story of creation and the war between good and evil. All copies of these scrolls and their translations have been destroyed though out the years. But by whom and why? (A vampire!)
This was not your normal vampire story or gothic tale. These vampires feel pain and can be wounded, but are not effected by holywater, garlic or crosses, and they dont't burst into flames in the sunlight. The pace and the way the stories unfold is more like a fine mystery book.

I enjoyed this book and have ordered its sequal The Blood of the Covenant. I'm surprised that Brent Monahan isn't read by more people.

Escape From The Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew by Alex Kershaw

This is the story of the USS Tang who in her five war patrols sank more enemy ships and rescued more airmen than any other allied ship at that time.
During her final 2 night battle (on her 5th patrol) with two convoys, sank 5 more ships before she was struck and sunk by a defective torpedo. Of the crew of ninety only 9 survived. 4 that were blow off the bridge, and 5 who made the not only historic but heroic accent from a depth of 180 ft.

The story of the battle and the escape read like a hollywood movie script. But all true. The second part of the book deals with their capture and torture in the Japanese interrogation camp know as the "torture Farm"

The last few chapers deal with their return and not always a happy ending.

Escape from the Deep: A Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew

Alex Kershaw has wrote an excellent and readable history of a little kown and regretfully almost forgotten part of the war in the Pacific.

Here's an updated list;

#1.The Lost Fleet, Dauntless
#2. The Lost Fleet, Fearless
#3. The lost Fleet, Courageous
#4. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
#5 Pork Chop Hill by S. L. A. Marshall
#6. On Basilisk Station by David Weber
#7. Non-Stop by Brian W. Aldiss
#8. "Uprising" by Brent Monahan
#9. The Judgment of Caesar: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Steven Saylor
#10. Stark's War (Stark's War, Book 1) by John G. Hemry
#11. A Watery Grave (Wiki Coffin Mysteries) by Joan Druett
#12. "The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President"
#13. A Prayer for the Ship by Douglas Reeman
#14. Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison
#15 Black Ship by Dudley Pope
#16 The Spanish Bow by andromeda romano-lax
#17 Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. by E. Somerville
#18. Callahan's Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson
#19 The Last Colony by John Scalzi
#20 Ramage #1 by Dudley Pope
#21 "To Move the World" by Brent Monahan
#22 Orphanage by Robert Buettner
#23 Gradisil by Adam Roberts
#24 "No Place On Earth" by Louis Charbonneau
#25 Orphan's Destiny by Robert Buettner
#26 Orphan's Journey by Robert Buettner
#27 The Battle of the River Plate : The Hunt for the German Pocket Battleship Graf Spee by Dudley Pope
#28 This Island Earth by Raymond F. Jones
#29 The Book of Common Dread/a Novel of the Infernal by Brent Monahan
#30 Escape From The Deep by Alex Kershaw
#31 Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4 of 6) by Jack Campbell
#32 The Blood of the Covenant: A Novel of the Vampiric by Brent Monahan.
#33 & #34 A Confederation of Valor (omnibus) by Tanya Huff
(contains the first two books of her Confederation series;
1. Valor's Choice (finished 7/13/08)
2. Better Part of Valor (started 7/23/08)
so I'll count it as two books)
#35 People Of The Book by Geraldine Brooks
#36 The Mercenary by Jerry Pournelle
#37 King David's Spaceship by Jerry Pournelle
#38 West of Honor by Jerry Pournelle
#39 The Mote in Gods Eye by Larry Niven (a reread)
#40 The Bedford Incident by Mark Rascovich
#41 The Rift by Walter J. Williams
#42 The Kill by Emile Zola
#43 To The Last Man by Jeff Shaara
#44 The Shadow-Line: A Confession
by Joseph Conrad
#45 Armor by John Steakle
#46 A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
#47 Orphan's Alliance by Robert Buettner
#48 Mutiny: The True Events That Inspired The Hunt For Red October
by Boris Gindin
#49 The Myriad: Tour of the Merrimack #1 by R.M. Meluch

Re-reads:
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Glory Road and Starman Jones, Red Planet, Red Planet, The Mote in God's Eye, Red Planet, Double Star

Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4 of 6) by Jack Campbell
If your a fan of the series you'll enjoy this book. If you haven't been reading the series don't start with this one. It is as many other people have stated a middle book. Not much happens, even the big battle in the first 100 pages is really a continuation of the big battle in book three. A lot of talk and expanding on ideas hinted at in the other books are brought up. It seems more of a set up for the next two books. Still I enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one

The Blood of the Covenant: A Novel of the Vampiric by
Brent Monahan.

The sequel to The Book of Common Dread it starts right where the first book leaves off (they are really one book). The story progresses at a fairly good place and there are not surprises but still is a good twist on the standard vampire tales.

Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff This is the first of her "confederation" series.
The "Confederation" is at war with the "others" so when a new non confederation race is discovered a diplomatic mission is sent to try and convince these people to join the confederation.
As an Honor Guard Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr and her platoon of battle hardened marines are ordered to escort (along with a new untried Second Lt.) the diplomatic mission to the planet.
Of coarse the mission is way layed while traveling across the planet, and a battle starts.
The Platoon is full of the usual charactors of any army story, and the Sergeant must walk a fine line between advisor and insubordination to steer her new Looie in the right direction.
Not badly written I'am looking forward to the 2nd book.

The Mercenary by Jerry Pournelle;

I don't know how I missed this when it came out in the 70's. It is a good story.
The Co-Dominion (a world alliance led by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.) have colonized many new worlds and now uses them to ship their prisoners and unwanted population to. This alliance is about to crumble due to the rise in nationalism. Due to budget cuts Col. John Christian Falkenberg and his brigade of space marines are let go from the service. They form a mercenary army that will go to the highest bidder. These bidders are worlds that the C. D. can no longer afford to keep, so are being given their independence.
But there is more to this setup than meets the eye.
Although the characters are a cardboard the story is well told an still has a modern tone two it.
He went on to write four more books in this series known collectively as "Falkenberg's Legion" They can be found in one book called "The Prince"
which I have ordered.

People of the Book: A Novel by Geralldine Brooks;
I was a little disappointed with this one. Overall I enjoyed it, but I guess I was expecting more from a Pulitzer winning author. And that's most likely has more to due with my expectations that the book itself.

The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff

The saga continues of Staff Sergeant
Torin Kerr. She is again hand picked by General Morris to head a picked group of the fleets best Marines to board and search and alien spaceship of unknown origin.
This is one of the best 2nd books of a series that I have read. Have already purchased the 3rd book, The Heart of Valor

King David's Spaceship by Jerry Pournelle falls into the same timeline as his The Mote in God's Eye, and a reference is made to the discovery of the Moties near the end of the book.

Prince Samual's World is rediscovered by the Empire. On the surface they are helpful. Even ally themselves with Haven the most powerful Kingdom on the planet. They help them to bring one world government to the planet. This help has a price.

A few people in high places find out that because the planet doesn't have space travel, that they won't be admitted to the Empire as an equal but as a colony instead, with their lands and government to be taken over by families and traders from the Empire.

Of coarse the fix is to develop space travel. They find out that in the near by world of Makassar there is an intact pre-empire library that might have what they need. So under the guise of a trading mission (with the help of the Imperial Navy) they send a trading mission.

So will they find what they need? Will they Be able to bring it back? Can they secretly build a spaceship without the Empire finding out? Read the book and find out.

I have no idea how I missed so many Jerry Pournelle books. I have read and enjoyed his The mote in God's Eye and The Gripping Hand which he wrote with Larry Niven several times. But never heard of this one. Don't know how I missed these books in the past, but am taking measures to correct it.

West of Honor by Jerry Pournelle

This is the sequel to his 1973 Hugo nominee novella The Mercenary, although the story pre-dates that one.

The CoDominiun has been dumping convicts and unwanted populations on its colony worlds for years. These people now are banding together into petty fiefdoms and roving bands of outlaws.

On the planet Arrarat things have gotten so bad that a unit of line Marines under the command of Captain John Christian Falkenberg and some junior officers to try to settle things.

Not a bad read if for a little escapeism and if you like a military sc fi story. It's more of a comming of age story for the main charactor Lt. Hal Slater, as he learns to listen to his sergents, while figuring out how to command troops in combat.

The Burning Eye War World Vol 1 by Jack Carr and others concecpt by Jerry Pournelle.

In the 70's and 80's it became the fashion to have muliple authors write either chapters or a series of short stories based on an idea supplied by an editor or another author.

This Book falls into this catagory. The story falls into Jerry Pournelles CoDomion and future histories of the first and second galactic empires.

#40 The Mote in Gods Eye by Larry Niven (a reread)
Read this one when it was first published, Enjoyed it then and even more this time.

#41 The Bedford Incident by Mark Rascovich
You may know this story from the movie of the same name. It was and is a great movie starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier.
After the first 30 or 40 pages when you stop comparing the book and the movie the charactors take on a whole new dynamic. The story is Melville's Moby Dick retold.

The Rift by Walter J. Williams

At 900 plus pages was a long read but not a bad book if you like the mass disaster type of story. Takes about 200 pages to get all the charactors in place but worth the time.

The basic story is a massive earthquake that hits the mid-west along the new Madrid fault which runs
through the Mississippi Valley (The last one happened about 150+ years ago and changed the landscape). It does give a good picture of what would happen if it were to happen today, in our modern cities, farms, Levi systems etc. Plus populations in the millions rather than a few 100 thousand that lived on the frontier.
The author does manage to keep you interested ang feel for the charactors.

la Curee by Emile Zola This is the 2 nd of his epic 20 novel cycle of French third empire. A good read reads very contemperary for a book that was writen 150+ years ago.
Deals with wealth for wealth sake and how people spend that wealth just to show off and out spend their rivals just cause they can.

Started The Shadow-Line: A Confession by Joseph Conrad. I haven't been a Conrad fan in the past but read the first few pages and it caught my interest.

Finished The Shadow-Line: A Confession by Joseph Conrad. Haven't been much of a Conrad fan in the past, but I enjoyed this one. I quess tastes change through the years. I may look into some of his others.
The last two books were a little heavy. Need a rest. So on to a little mindless military Sci Fi with Armor by John Steakley is next on the hit parade.

Starman Jones and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress an Glory Road by Robert A. Hienlien after much thought I decided to include these re-reads.

Armor by John Steakey;
Just A quick review. After reading about it for several years, I picked up a copy to read. Not a bad read, slow in parts but that can be said of many books.
The book starts with an invasion of the planet Banshee, where everything goes wrong. Felix the main character is the ultimate soldier. At this point the story is like Heinlein's Starship Troopers Men in powered Armour fighting bugs (or in this case ants).
Right at the height of the battle, the story changes to John Crow, who is imprisoned in the salt minds on some alien planet. He manages to escape and ends up on a starship of a crew that has mutinied. He makes a deal with the captain of the mutineers to help get them some much needed fuel.
John is taken to a planet that has a research station, and a town full of refugees from the ant war.
He meets and befriends the leader of the research group and gives him a suit of powered amour (that was supplied by the mutineers). The whole middle of the book is devoted to re-living the memories (stored in the suit) of the soldier who fought in the suit (Felix). This is the slow part of the book. You wonder what the two stories have in common. But they do come together in the end.
Overall I enjoyed the book. The mixed reviews are, I think, due in part that most people are attracted to the action part but lose interest in the middle part of the story. But roll with it.

usnmm2:

Regarding Conrad, I think you would very much enjoy the novella Typhoon, which is normally found in a collection called Typhoon and Other Tales.

Regarding the Korean War, are you familiar with a book entitled The Four Deuces: a Korean War Story by C.S. Crawford? I own it, although I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Looks like something that would be right up your alley, though.

rocketjk:
Thanks for the recommendations. "Typhoon" I had already put on my "to be looked into" list. And The Four Deuces I will definitely be reading. Thanks again.

#47 Orphan's Alliance by Robert Buettner

When I read the third book I said I might not read the fourth. Well by this time I should know better than to make such statements. It was not a bad read. It takes place almost 30 years later and there is a Human Union of planets to fight the slugs. The story has more politics and some of it sounds uncomfortably recent with modern events.

#48 Mutiny: The True Events That Inspired The Hunt For Red October
by Boris Gindin

A great book! Not so much for excitement or action, but for the quick history of the Soviet Navy, and the incites to the mind set of the average Soviet Sailor during the Cold War. And the realization that a Sailor is a Sailor no matter what colour his uniform or Flag might be. (They have their equivalents to a bucket of steam, sea bats and left handed monkey wrenches)

#49 The Myriad: Tour of the Merrimack #1 by R.M. Meluch

Not a bad story for a military Sci Fi book. Has a little of everything, war with bugs (called the hive), finding unknown worlds, problems with Politicians, and even a few love interests. Bought the next two to read.
Message edited by its author, Today, 1:24pm.