Obstinate to the Core

In “Home world,” James McGill is still as obstinate and stubbornly determined to do what he thinks is right no matter what anyone else has to say; and he now has rank, as in Adjunct. He seems to have become somewhat more mature and diplomatic given his new positon, but deep down he’s still the same old James McGill, and that’s what makes this series fun.
As the title suggests, the setting of the six book in the “Undying Mercenaries,” series is earth. It is under attack by the “Squids,” and their superior force seems destined to destroy the planet; but for better or worse earth has James McGill. To try and save mankind James will travel to the core of the Galactics universe to retrieve some high tech weaponry that could turn the tide of the war and piss off a lot of aliens.
His usual gang of mercenaries is present and accounted for along with Imperator Turov, and Claver of course. In my opinion this is the best of the series and listening to Mark Boyett play James McGill is the only way to enjoy it.

29 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Author got lazy

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This book was enough to make me stop reading the series. The author got lazy with the story. Specifically relating to Turov and Winslade. Author kept bring them back over and over under progressively more ridiculous circumstances as a lazy way to progress the story.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not any more from this series.

Have you listened to any of Mark Boyett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, he's awesome

What character would you cut from Home World?

Turov and Winslade

14 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great story! Action, invasion, and introspection!

This is a wonderful series! The tech is awesome, the battles are exciting, and the plots are thick and twisting. The universe is interesting and believable. The people are real. Few other authors can juggle all these aspects as well as Larson does here.

I read (listen) a lot. I have been a reader all my life (well since about 4). I read and write academic analyses and criticisms. In my book (yuk yuk), Larson has created a perfect set of characters in this series. They are distinct and well-rounded, with their flaws as well as their strengths. And they fill necessary roles. There are no superfluous characters. Harris, Graves and Carlos are real and vital. Kivi, Natasha, and Della are different from each other. Even the ones we love to hate-- Winslow, Claver, and Turov-- have their important places. These are people we wish we knew, even if we want to perm them sometimes.

And McGill, ah McGill. Irreverent, insubordinate, lying, conniving, loyal, philandering, seat-of-the-pants McGill, ya gotta love him even when you slap his face. He'll quote his mama's rules as he disobeys them, explain the universe with hog farm philosophy, and scheme and plot on a dime to save his friends or all humanity. He is so real, you will miss him when the story ends.

Despite McGill's seeming superficial flirtation and rutting, he does get himself into some practical self-evaluation and realistic, honorable contemplation of the future. Deep down he has a good sense of right and wrong, fairness, and commitment. This saves him from just being a total jerk. This book could be the end of the series, but we sure don't want it to be.

Mark Boyett's performance is superb. He has the voice range an opera singer would envy, so is able to create anything from a gravelly gunnery sergeant to a wisp of a girl. He keeps all his characterizations in order. But the best is his ability to inflect correctly. We know that these performances are not rehearsed as in theater, but he gets it right all the time. McGill is southern po' boy, and Boyett is smack on with his delivery of the accent, the phrasing and pausing, and tone. He delivers lines that will crack you up. For example: "She rolled her eyes. Women do that all the time around me." Or:

McGill: I was wondering what exactly our mission is, when we get aboard [the enemy ship]?
Graves: I would think that would be obvious. You're to eliminate the crew and take control of the ship.
McGill: Is that all? You don't want us to... repaint it or nuthin?

Best line in the book, perfectly delivered!!! And each book has at least one like it.

Keep 'em coming.

14 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

I'm done

I enjoyed this series until now. The writing was never amazing, but it was good enough, but the sixth book was very disappointing. I'm done, I don't care what happens anymore, and obviously neither does the author. This is some of the laziest writing I've come across.

I suspect the rating of this book series has been gamed heavily by bots, as I can see no way any real person would give this 5 stars.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Unbelievable

Having listened to and enjoyed the previous books I was pleased to see another 4 plus star offering from BV Larson. Whilst I accept that the series is probably aimed at a much younger audience than myself I had found the previous books to have enough character and plot development to be satisfying. This time around, however, I was reminded (on more than one occasion) of how, when playing as kids, one or other of us would miraculously revive from a mortal blow we had succumbed to earlier or some other highly imaginative reason to return to the game, to the point that I began to wonder how old BV Larson was and whether the books were aimed at 12 - 14 yr old boys!
As usual the narration was excellent and McGill is still a likeable character, but the fabric of believability has been stretched too thin in many places.
I do hope the next book gets back on track as the previous books , although light, at least has some credibility.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Mark Boyett is the voice of B V Larson's books

Mark Boyett is the voice and soul of the books

But B V Larson has a major shortcoming, he refuses to take risks.

Each of first 4 books Great. They are campy and reminds me of old school sci fi. But he won't allow a main character to stay "permmed" So each book is Mcgill does something against orders, military action sequence, Carlos and/or Keevee dies, he gets blamed for the ensuring disaster, he BSes his way out, he gets laid and somehow saves the day.

Rinse and repeat. For newer listeners, I wouldn't go past Death World. The series really hits it stride. No main characters die, he and Tourov get in some sort of bitch fight. When this book said Tourov was permmed I was happy. It would allow the plot to advance. But nope. she makes a return. At this point, the plot sounds like a broken record.

9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

I think Larson is losing track of his universe

Having listened to the entirety of the Undying Mercenaries series up to this point I feel like this is definitely one of the weaker stories on offer so far, at least from a consistency and action perspective. The main thing that bothers me is that it feels like the equipment used by the legions is actually getting worse, rather than better. I remember in earlier books heavy armor came with an integrated energy shield, plasma swords (which was originally the best weapon to use against a squid), and full power assist that could be redirected between things like speed, strength, and stealth. Now based on these scene descriptions I feel like Larson is either deliberately making the equipment under-perform, or else he is forgetting what capabilities he gave to the soldiers in earlier books.

9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Must be rated by bots

Yea I have the same complaint that many other people have. Good over all universe as far as concept with the Empire and how it works. But the stupid schemes that should not work hook up with lots of women who are always willing even knowing he is a pos "that part is believable lots of women seem to like guys that just use them as meat" save the day through blind luck rinse repeat is getting old. Let at least one of the main bad guys die and replace them with something new to progress the story or at least let them get kicked to the side. I have to agree with what someone else said these reviews just vaguely saying this book is awesome 5 star must be bots. I'm still going to get the rest of the books and just hope the author gets some new inspiration like he had when he started the series. And and continue to ignore the lame sexual crap.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

OH come on!!

Spoiler alert: James McGill is an idiot. Multiple opportunities to come clean about the galactic key and his past truth stretching blindly ignored. Allowing Graves to shoot himself and Drusus to be arrested to protect and return control of everything (and the Galactic key) back over to Turov the biggest traitor to the human race makes his dumb ass just as guilty as her and Claver. I had to quite listening! I just couldn't take it any more. I stopped right there. Now I'm listening to Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi. I highly recommend it. I've read multiple series by B.V. Larson and have liked most of them and will continue but this was just too much.

As always Mark Boyett was awesome!!

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Repetitive schemes aren't surprises after 5 books

I liked this series until the repetitive nonsense of Turov&Claverjustneverends and they never have consequencesfortheiractions.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile