Need (semi) Military Scifi book

[Croaker]

I'm looking for a Military Scifi book kind of on the level of Stark's War by John G Hemry (which I haven't read yet). I like the idea of corporations running everything including the military and it creating a new social class for them to recruit officers from. The main character is kind of an underdog- doesn't like the corporations and such. Is there any book out there where the main character's beliefs are flip-flopped? Maybe instead of hating corporations, having a reason to fight for them whether it be a good on or a bad. I've read lots of books where certain parts of this were true but most of them ended up having a hero that tried to destroy the "evil empire". I'd like to read about a character before that "hero" came along and changes everything.

[Loerwyn]

I think Vatta's War by Elizabeth Moon (starts with Trading In Danger) would possibly fit the bill. It's a military sci-fi/space opera hybrid with the military themes hanging around in the background until later volumes, and basically it's about Kylara Vatta, a young woman who ends up attempting to rebuild her family's trading empire.

I think the Kris Longknife (starts with Mutineer) would possibly count, but it's less about corporations and more she's the daughter of a very, very important person (he's the prime minister of a planet or something) and so on.

[Rob B]

Have you had a chance to browse through this thread?
Military Science Fiction (Merge of 3 threads)

[krisbslick]

FALLEN DRAGON - P. Hamilton

[psikeyhackr]

Sounds like Mack Reynolds.

Mercenary by Mack Reynolds (1917-1983)
http://librivox.org/mercenary-by-mack-reynolds/

Frigid Fracas by Mack Reynolds
http://www.neotake.com/ebook/frigid-fracas/vmyme.html

Subversive by Mack Reynolds
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/mac...00000000082762

psik

[Croaker]

I did browse through that thread first before starting this one.

And Fallen Dragon was an awesome book. (Working towards reading it a second time in the next few months- 1st time was at least 5 years ago).

I'll definitely look into Mack Reynolds- looks pretty good.

And I might look into Vatta's War- still not sure about Kris Longknife.

If anyone else has some input I'd be very appreciative. I just finished reading Warchild and Burndive by Karin Loawachee- enjoyed them immensely- really like the whole child getting picked up by pirates/aliens and being brought up by them and being the "bad guy" though it's not your fault because you were a kid and didn't know better. Kinda like the Battlestar Galactica cylons- they didn't know they were cylons. Any books like that (similar to Warchild) would be good too.

[Croaker]

Just thought I'd let you know I started in on the Vatta's War series... I'm already on book #3. It's quite a good series and I'm really enjoying it. Thank you for suggesting it.

[Loerwyn]

Just thought I'd let you know I started in on the Vatta's War series... I'm already on book #3. It's quite a good series and I'm really enjoying it. Thank you for suggesting it.

Not a problem!

[aiasminor]

Never read the Vattas War series. Would you compare these with Honor Harrington series. I liked that series.

[Loerwyn]

Never read the Vattas War series. Would you compare these with Honor Harrington series. I liked that series.

Yes and no.

Harrington is largely politically-charged military science fiction with a love for technoporn
Vatta is largely politically-charged trading-related space opera (sort of) with varying degrees of military themes and little technoporn

Similarities? Yes. But it's almost like comparing Middle-Earth to Shannara. There's a lot of overlap (but in different degrees) and the end product is somewhat different.

[fiddler]

technoporn
Vatta is largely politically-charged trading-related space opera (sort of) with varying degrees of military themes and little technoporn

TECHNOPORN ?
I cannot wait to hear you explain where you came up with this word.
Have at it.

[psikeyhackr]

TECHNOPORN ?
I cannot wait to hear you explain where you came up with this word.
Have at it.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...erm=technoporn

David Weber spends a lot of time describing military hardware. Some people like it. I regard it as merely tolerable. Weber is no where near as realistic as Michael McCollum in his Antares trilogy.

People that don't care for much science and technology in their science fiction use the term to ridicule those who do. I have encountered it a few times. I regard the term as silly. I like technology but I don't associate it with sex at all. To me men who love cars are silly. Boring antiquated crap. We should have begun getting turbine engines in the 70s. One almost won the Indy500 in 1968.

psik

[Loerwyn]

I picked up the term from listening to L.E. Modesitt, Jr. on one of the writing excuses podcasts, although I doubt I use it exactly as he did.

Contrary to what psikey implied, I'm not ridiculing anyone for enjoying technology and/or science in their books, merely terming the almost-gratuitous and obsessive description of every single bit of technology (military or otherwise) as "technoporn".