Bernd Struben presents a riveting tale of an endless battle for Galactic domination with the ultimate survival of the Human Race as the prize. Struben blends science fiction with science fact, and military topics with humanistic concerns, with a skill worthy of Robert A. Heinlein or Orson Scott Card. For twelve hundred years humanity has raced against the alien Pfrlanx to secure the galaxy's last habitable planets at any cost. Humanity's Soldiers - the Augmented Combat Personnel - are bioengineered to be the finest warriors Earth has ever known. They are kept in stasis for years on end, awakened only to fight for new ground. Using overwhelming military might, the ACP brutally subdue the inhabitants of each new planet prior to human settlement. The Pfrlanx alternative is far worse, as the alien conquerors methodically eradicate each world's population before moving in. When the inhabitants of a remote planet 40 years from the nearest military Staging Area refuse to surrender despite staggering losses, the ACP Soldiers are forced to contemplate Pfrlanx-style genocide. With the fate of billions in his hands, veteran commander Brink D'Mar desperately searches for other options. But time is running out.
40 Years
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Mark Chitty
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
You know, there are often times when I get a book through the post, one I've not heard of before, and think - shall I or shan't I? This was the case with 40 Years by Bernd Struben from Strider Nolan Media. The cover didn't really appeal to me and pique my interest that much, but reading the blurb did. It sounded like the sort of book I would enjoy and I instantly thought of John Scalzi's Old Man's War books, a series I've enjoyed immensely. 40 Years is also a fairly short novel, standing at just shy of 200 pages, so when I browsed my to-read stack this stood out as one I should try - I wasn't going to lose much by giving it a shot. I can honestly say that I was so glad I did decide to pick it up - it's a quick read that packs so much into it's pages and left me wanting more!
Brink D'Mar is the commander we follow through 40 Years as the ACP arrive at a new planet ripe for the taking. The usual tactics of suppression don't work and the ACP find themselves in a bitter fight against the natives who just don't want to give up their land. While humanity's enemy, the Pfrlanx, choose to genocide a native population in order to gain access to the planet and its resources, this is not something humanity does, instead preferring to oppress the population before taking control of the planet, leaving the natives alive and consigned to specific areas. Not used to fighting this sort of war they have to make some choices that not everyone agrees with, but they make a discovery that surprises even them.
The first thing I have to say about 40 Years is that it is a well written novel that makes you want to read more. Bernd Struben has done an excellent job of portraying the ACP forces and the natives, leaving much to be embraced about the story. The action is fast and furious, well thought out and not unreasonable, while the society presented on the planet is strange, yet relatable. He's created some good aliens here, but much of the story focuses on D'Mar and the choices both made by him and the ACP force as a whole.
One of the questions I found he handled particularly well was that of genocide - is it right, why should it be done and what would the consequences of such an action be. The Pfrlanx are spoken about many times and the overall impression is that they do not care about the inhabitants of the planets they take and annihilate them all to take the system as their own, a point that humanity make when trying to talk to the natives of the planet they are invading. We also have a character that is tired of the wars that humanity are fighting and instead want to live side by side with the aliens they meet rather than above them, something that gives the reader that other perspective that is needed in a story of this type.
Speaking of characters, Struben has a variety here that all work together as part of a unit, and as part of the hierarchy of a military force. There's the group that is tiring of the way life is going, while others strictly adhere to the orders given by their superiors. The interactions and discussions that go on are interesting and varied, helping to flesh out both the characters and the story.
Suffice to say that Bernd Struben has delivered an impressive novel, full of military action, good characters, believable conditions and interesting storylines. There's talk of a sequel to this book and I'll be making damned sure I pick it up as soon as humanly possible! Great stuff.
Brink D'Mar is the commander we follow through 40 Years as the ACP arrive at a new planet ripe for the taking. The usual tactics of suppression don't work and the ACP find themselves in a bitter fight against the natives who just don't want to give up their land. While humanity's enemy, the Pfrlanx, choose to genocide a native population in order to gain access to the planet and its resources, this is not something humanity does, instead preferring to oppress the population before taking control of the planet, leaving the natives alive and consigned to specific areas. Not used to fighting this sort of war they have to make some choices that not everyone agrees with, but they make a discovery that surprises even them.
The first thing I have to say about 40 Years is that it is a well written novel that makes you want to read more. Bernd Struben has done an excellent job of portraying the ACP forces and the natives, leaving much to be embraced about the story. The action is fast and furious, well thought out and not unreasonable, while the society presented on the planet is strange, yet relatable. He's created some good aliens here, but much of the story focuses on D'Mar and the choices both made by him and the ACP force as a whole.
One of the questions I found he handled particularly well was that of genocide - is it right, why should it be done and what would the consequences of such an action be. The Pfrlanx are spoken about many times and the overall impression is that they do not care about the inhabitants of the planets they take and annihilate them all to take the system as their own, a point that humanity make when trying to talk to the natives of the planet they are invading. We also have a character that is tired of the wars that humanity are fighting and instead want to live side by side with the aliens they meet rather than above them, something that gives the reader that other perspective that is needed in a story of this type.
Speaking of characters, Struben has a variety here that all work together as part of a unit, and as part of the hierarchy of a military force. There's the group that is tiring of the way life is going, while others strictly adhere to the orders given by their superiors. The interactions and discussions that go on are interesting and varied, helping to flesh out both the characters and the story.
Suffice to say that Bernd Struben has delivered an impressive novel, full of military action, good characters, believable conditions and interesting storylines. There's talk of a sequel to this book and I'll be making damned sure I pick it up as soon as humanly possible! Great stuff.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Sci-fi Novel I've Ever Read!
1 Dec 2008
By J. Wetherell
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just finished reading 40 Years and the book was great. I really appreciate the inclusion of genuine believable honor. A lot of fiction makes weak use of honor and it often seems a side note to the action. I love how Struben made it an underlying link throughout the book.
I'm also glad Struben did not shy away from the reality that violence and bloodshed can be an effective tool in winning the hearts and minds of their inhumane enemies. The paradoxical relationship between the tools of force and pacifism is striking here. Struben showed how both are powerful and both are effective when applied at the right time and situation.
My biggest disappointment was the length. I loved it when I finished and I was sad at the same time because 200 pages was all there was. Regardless of the length, I highly recommend this book!
I'm also glad Struben did not shy away from the reality that violence and bloodshed can be an effective tool in winning the hearts and minds of their inhumane enemies. The paradoxical relationship between the tools of force and pacifism is striking here. Struben showed how both are powerful and both are effective when applied at the right time and situation.
My biggest disappointment was the length. I loved it when I finished and I was sad at the same time because 200 pages was all there was. Regardless of the length, I highly recommend this book!
4.0 out of 5 stars
A well written and interesting mil-sf
17 May 2010
By Mark Chitty
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
You know, there are often times when I get a book through the post, one I've not heard of before, and think - shall I or shan't I? This was the case with 40 Years by Bernd Struben from Strider Nolan Media. The cover didn't really appeal to me and pique my interest that much, but reading the blurb did. It sounded like the sort of book I would enjoy and I instantly thought of John Scalzi's Old Man's War books, a series I've enjoyed immensely. 40 Years is also a fairly short novel, standing at just shy of 200 pages, so when I browsed my to-read stack this stood out as one I should try - I wasn't going to lose much by giving it a shot. I can honestly say that I was so glad I did decide to pick it up - it's a quick read that packs so much into it's pages and left me wanting more!
Brink D'Mar is the commander we follow through 40 Years as the ACP arrive at a new planet ripe for the taking. The usual tactics of suppression don't work and the ACP find themselves in a bitter fight against the natives who just don't want to give up their land. While humanity's enemy, the Pfrlanx, choose to genocide a native population in order to gain access to the planet and its resources, this is not something humanity does, instead preferring to oppress the population before taking control of the planet, leaving the natives alive and consigned to specific areas. Not used to fighting this sort of war they have to make some choices that not everyone agrees with, but they make a discovery that surprises even them.
The first thing I have to say about 40 Years is that it is a well written novel that makes you want to read more. Bernd Struben has done an excellent job of portraying the ACP forces and the natives, leaving much to be embraced about the story. The action is fast and furious, well thought out and not unreasonable, while the society presented on the planet is strange, yet relatable. He's created some good aliens here, but much of the story focuses on D'Mar and the choices both made by him and the ACP force as a whole.
One of the questions I found he handled particularly well was that of genocide - is it right, why should it be done and what would the consequences of such an action be. The Pfrlanx are spoken about many times and the overall impression is that they do not care about the inhabitants of the planets they take and annihilate them all to take the system as their own, a point that humanity make when trying to talk to the natives of the planet they are invading. We also have a character that is tired of the wars that humanity are fighting and instead want to live side by side with the aliens they meet rather than above them, something that gives the reader that other perspective that is needed in a story of this type.
Speaking of characters, Struben has a variety here that all work together as part of a unit, and as part of the hierarchy of a military force. There's the group that is tiring of the way life is going, while others strictly adhere to the orders given by their superiors. The interactions and discussions that go on are interesting and varied, helping to flesh out both the characters and the story.
Suffice to say that Bernd Struben has delivered an impressive novel, full of military action, good characters, believable conditions and interesting storylines. There's talk of a sequel to this book and I'll be making damned sure I pick it up as soon as humanly possible! Great stuff.
Brink D'Mar is the commander we follow through 40 Years as the ACP arrive at a new planet ripe for the taking. The usual tactics of suppression don't work and the ACP find themselves in a bitter fight against the natives who just don't want to give up their land. While humanity's enemy, the Pfrlanx, choose to genocide a native population in order to gain access to the planet and its resources, this is not something humanity does, instead preferring to oppress the population before taking control of the planet, leaving the natives alive and consigned to specific areas. Not used to fighting this sort of war they have to make some choices that not everyone agrees with, but they make a discovery that surprises even them.
The first thing I have to say about 40 Years is that it is a well written novel that makes you want to read more. Bernd Struben has done an excellent job of portraying the ACP forces and the natives, leaving much to be embraced about the story. The action is fast and furious, well thought out and not unreasonable, while the society presented on the planet is strange, yet relatable. He's created some good aliens here, but much of the story focuses on D'Mar and the choices both made by him and the ACP force as a whole.
One of the questions I found he handled particularly well was that of genocide - is it right, why should it be done and what would the consequences of such an action be. The Pfrlanx are spoken about many times and the overall impression is that they do not care about the inhabitants of the planets they take and annihilate them all to take the system as their own, a point that humanity make when trying to talk to the natives of the planet they are invading. We also have a character that is tired of the wars that humanity are fighting and instead want to live side by side with the aliens they meet rather than above them, something that gives the reader that other perspective that is needed in a story of this type.
Speaking of characters, Struben has a variety here that all work together as part of a unit, and as part of the hierarchy of a military force. There's the group that is tiring of the way life is going, while others strictly adhere to the orders given by their superiors. The interactions and discussions that go on are interesting and varied, helping to flesh out both the characters and the story.
Suffice to say that Bernd Struben has delivered an impressive novel, full of military action, good characters, believable conditions and interesting storylines. There's talk of a sequel to this book and I'll be making damned sure I pick it up as soon as humanly possible! Great stuff.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome, action-packed book that has deep moral undertone!
13 Feb 2009
By J. SCOTT Arnold
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I loved this book! Plain and simple.
Bernd is an extremely talented author who makes it easy to visualize the characters and the various worlds this book describes. The book is fast-paced with action scenes and moral dilemnas. I bought the book because it looked like a great sci-fi action story and it is. However, it is much more than just a good sci-fi story, the more you read the book you get a sense that the main character D'Mar and others are the voice of reason for what is right and what is wrong with the missions they are commanded to accomplish. Some of the other characters seem to represent what is wrong with human nature such as revenge and the desire to conquer and kill. The story could easily be applied to current conflicts such as the Iraq war or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and I can't wait for his next book. It would not surpise me at all if this book isn't made into a movie or the next big video game such as Halo or Mass Effect.
Bernd is an extremely talented author who makes it easy to visualize the characters and the various worlds this book describes. The book is fast-paced with action scenes and moral dilemnas. I bought the book because it looked like a great sci-fi action story and it is. However, it is much more than just a good sci-fi story, the more you read the book you get a sense that the main character D'Mar and others are the voice of reason for what is right and what is wrong with the missions they are commanded to accomplish. Some of the other characters seem to represent what is wrong with human nature such as revenge and the desire to conquer and kill. The story could easily be applied to current conflicts such as the Iraq war or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and I can't wait for his next book. It would not surpise me at all if this book isn't made into a movie or the next big video game such as Halo or Mass Effect.
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