SWARM: STAR FORCE Book 1 by B.V. Larson

Narrated by Mark Boyett

Shanghaied Professor Becomes Tactical Genius

After listening to Larson’s first two Undying Mercenaries books, and liking them, I set out to try Larson’s most popular series: Star Force. I liked the opening section of discovery and wonder, but found the climax to be anti-climatic. The Computer Science Professor protagonist is interesting. I like the way he is able to work around the Artificial Intelligence machines with his mad programming skills. It becomes farcical though when he is the sole person to figure out just the right process for defeating the enemy at each and every step in the conflict. He even becomes the on the ground field commander of combat troops in as the battle escalates. If this was a Philip K. Dick story that would be a clear indication that our guy is hallucinating, but in this book, the hero is supposed to be for real. I am well used to the idea of willing suspension of disbelief—a prerequisite for a Science Fiction reader—but after already buying the idea that intelligent alien machines are in a war and need our help; believing that a nerdy professor can go from teaching at a community college to leading the forces of earth to repel the first wave of alien invaders and single-handedly negotiating a peace that will enslave mankind for a generation, is one suspended disbelief too far. Do I think this series has potential?  Yes, I can imagine how this can expand into something far more vast than this first installment, and so I may try the next book in the series at a later date.

Mark Boyett is, as always, excellent. I think the Undying Mercenaries series gives him more opportunity to demonstrate his range, but even here he is pitch perfect.