"Good Sci Fi Books" Topic

Guys,

I'm looking for some good sci-fi book recommendations for troops on the ground. I need some grungy ground pounder inspiration.

Any good reading material out there. Downloadable iPad versions too, if possible.

Legion of the damned by W Deitz great series with lots of great ground combat.

The Prince (includes Falkenberg's Legion/The Mercenary) by Jerry Pournelle
A Small Colonial War by Robert Frezza
March Upcountry & its sequels, by David Weber
Marching Through Georgia by S.M. Stirling (although more of an alternative 20th Century timeline).

It's been a long time, but The Cobra & Blackcollar series by Timothy Zahn were enjoyable reads, although these novels are more about super-soldiers.

Black Library

Galaxy's Edge series: link

The Empire's Corps series by Christopher Nuttall: link

Huscarle's list and the Hammer's Slammers series.

David Drake more generally. Not all his ground warfare stuff is in the Slammers volumes.

Old "sword and planet" is not grungy as written, but can be decent inspiration--the first two "Witch World" volumes, or the first three Barsoom books, for instance. No shortage of mercenaries, mutinous troops and close combat. I still think it's a shame no one's ever centered a story on that foreign legion of "Guards" the Witches of Estcarp keep on their borders.

This is a really good combat series, written by a combat vet. Well worth the time to read.

link

I am a big fan of Ian Douglas Star Marines series. Probably the earlier volumes are more what you're looking for though:

amazon.com/dp/B074BQB7WD?searchxofy=true&binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1637701722&sr=8-4

There are lots of series after this set in the same universe.

If you want to go on a quest… The old Fleet series edited by David Drake. All different authors set in the same universe at war. I believe there are 6 books.

Siege of Titan (Star Crusades Uprising Series)
Into the Black (Odyssey One Series)
1632 by Eric Flint
Scrapyard Ship (Scrapyard Ship series)
The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell
Ark Royal by Christopher G. Nuttall
Constitution (Legacy Fleet Series)
Warship (Black Fleet Saga)
Omega Rising (Omega Force) Really like this one.
Starship Blackbeard by Michael Wallace
Rookie (The Nova Chronicles)

Most of those are on Amazon.
You might also check out link

I would add the Starfist series by David Sherman and Dan Craig. Something like 17 book series. Might also consider the Posleen War series by John Ringo for a near future Sci fi series. Both series are written by former service members.

The Dirigent Mercenary Corps series by Rick Shelley might be worth your time; More than an updated nanotech and cyberwarfare version of "Hammer's slammers" it also looks at the various demands on soldiers during their careers as they climb up the ranks, and how that affects the way they view warfare. Lots of ground infantry action, a few armour clashes.
link
His "Lucky 13th" series is also very infantry focussed, and has the added interest of a unit who are involved in the most significant advancement in military technology in their universe for a century. link

Embedded by Dan Abnett
Great post. With the Horus Heresy coming to an end (hopefully) this is a nice guide to books and series that are new to me.

I quite like the Rogue Trader series of novels, as a slightly different take on the 40K universe.

From the Lexicanium
The Rogue Trader series, currently composed by Rogue Star and Star of Damocles, written by Andy Hoare is about a family of Rogue Traders. Operating on the Eastern Fringe of the Ultima Segmentum their sources of profit are shrinking as trade is slowly drying up, affected due unknown reasons. Desperate, Lucian Gerrit the patriarch of the family, together with his son and his daughter, each with his own vessel, turn to other means to make profit.

Glen

Gordon Dickson's Dorsai books are pretty good.

Old Man's War by Scalzi has some skirmishes and is a good story that may remind you of some of Heinlein's work, as well as The Forever War (Haldeman?).

Ground pounders, nooooo. You need tanks. Intelligent tanks. Read the Bolo series.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Greatly appreciated!

You can also try on Baen books site, some of them are free downloads