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Editorial Reviews
HE JOINED THE LEGION. HE SURVIVED TRAINING ON PLANET HELL. HE THOUGHT HE'D SEEN IT ALL. HE WAS WRONG.
His Legion designation is Beta 3, warname Thinker. This will be his first real mission, the first mission for all the members of Beta squad—young men and women given immortality but trained to die for the cause of freedom. They are going into the deep Outvac to investigate the remote planet Andrion 2. What they find could start a war, they all know that, but what they don’t know will take every ounce of training to survive.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Soldier of the Legion is an action-packed, fast-paced science fiction series in the tradition of Starship Troopers. It chronicles the adventures of a squad of young soldiers dedicated to honor and duty who stand as the only shield to save humankind from those bent on their destruction.
"Soldier Of The Legion by Marshall S. Thomas is an epic science fiction novel. Set in the far-flung future, Soldier Of The Legion chronicles the struggles of a brave squad of Legionnaires who must fight to survive horrific battles against a corrupt, slave-raiding empire—and a far worse force of inhumans. A perilous, exciting space saga, Soldier Of The Legion is enthusiastically recommended reading for fans of the science fiction action/adventure genre." — Midwest Book Review
BOOKS IN THE SOLDIER OF THE LEGION SERIES
Solider of the Legion
March of the Legion
Slave of the Legion
Secret of the Legion
Cross of the Legion
Curse of the Legion
More information can be found at: www.soldierofthelegion.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marshall S. Thomas is a retired U.S. Government official who served overseas in East Asia for most of his 35 year career. Marshall attended the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, the University of New Mexico and the University of Miami with a major in Government/International Affairs and a minor in History.
Marshall currently lives in Williamsburg, Virginia with his wife Kim Lien. His youngest son Alexander, 22, is now in college studying biochemistry. His eldest son Christopher is a graduate of Radford University who studied art and graphic design. Marshall loves to write, and especially enjoys writing science fiction He is a member of the Virginia Writers Club, Goodreads, the Authors Den, and C.E. Winterland's Mindsight Forum.
AWARDS
2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist for Science Fiction (Curse of the Legion)
2009 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist for Science Fiction (Cross of the Legion)
2003 IBPA Ben Franklin Award Finalist for Popular Fiction (Solider of the Legion)
2002 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist for Science Fiction (Soldier of the Legion)
His Legion designation is Beta 3, warname Thinker. This will be his first real mission, the first mission for all the members of Beta squad—young men and women given immortality but trained to die for the cause of freedom. They are going into the deep Outvac to investigate the remote planet Andrion 2. What they find could start a war, they all know that, but what they don’t know will take every ounce of training to survive.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Soldier of the Legion is an action-packed, fast-paced science fiction series in the tradition of Starship Troopers. It chronicles the adventures of a squad of young soldiers dedicated to honor and duty who stand as the only shield to save humankind from those bent on their destruction.
"Soldier Of The Legion by Marshall S. Thomas is an epic science fiction novel. Set in the far-flung future, Soldier Of The Legion chronicles the struggles of a brave squad of Legionnaires who must fight to survive horrific battles against a corrupt, slave-raiding empire—and a far worse force of inhumans. A perilous, exciting space saga, Soldier Of The Legion is enthusiastically recommended reading for fans of the science fiction action/adventure genre." — Midwest Book Review
BOOKS IN THE SOLDIER OF THE LEGION SERIES
Solider of the Legion
March of the Legion
Slave of the Legion
Secret of the Legion
Cross of the Legion
Curse of the Legion
More information can be found at: www.soldierofthelegion.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marshall S. Thomas is a retired U.S. Government official who served overseas in East Asia for most of his 35 year career. Marshall attended the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, the University of New Mexico and the University of Miami with a major in Government/International Affairs and a minor in History.
Marshall currently lives in Williamsburg, Virginia with his wife Kim Lien. His youngest son Alexander, 22, is now in college studying biochemistry. His eldest son Christopher is a graduate of Radford University who studied art and graphic design. Marshall loves to write, and especially enjoys writing science fiction He is a member of the Virginia Writers Club, Goodreads, the Authors Den, and C.E. Winterland's Mindsight Forum.
AWARDS
2010 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist for Science Fiction (Curse of the Legion)
2009 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist for Science Fiction (Cross of the Legion)
2003 IBPA Ben Franklin Award Finalist for Popular Fiction (Solider of the Legion)
2002 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist for Science Fiction (Soldier of the Legion)
Related Reviews
Midwest Book Review - enthusiastic recommendation
Beta 3, called "Thinker," because others see his capacity to reason even though he has been trained to react instantly as a part of a military team, is sent with his detachment to Andrion 2 to secure the planet. He is part of "The Legion," an army sworn to protect to the death. And death is the price a soldier of the Legion must be willing to pay to defend the Confederation of Free Worlds against the "System." Although an uneasy truce exists between "ConFree" and the System, unusual activity on Andrion 2 leads the Legion to speculate about possible illegal actions from the "Systies." Thinker is part of a unit. Each soldier has a unique personality. Some, Thinker is convinced, are insane. But in the Legion, they are brothers. One mind - one heart - and one life.
The planet is inhabited by a people the soldiers refer to rather derisively as "Scalers." These people, actually called the "Taka," attack the Legion. But, when they are saved by the soldiers from the disgusting exosegs, horrible, deadly creatures that aren't supposed to be on Andrion 2, the Taka declare their loyalty to the Legion.
What is happening on the planet? Are the Systies there? How did the exosegs get to Andrion 2? Nothing makes sense. Thinker's sense of alarm is muted by his desire for another soldier, Priestess - and the conflict he feels when a past love from his training days on Planet Hell shows up and declares that she and Thinker are tied together for eternity. Where is his heart? Does it belong to Priestess or Valkyrie? Is this emotional battle compromising his ability to sense danger? Thinker needs all of his wits and training - because there is a surprise on Andrion 2. One more diabolic and dangerous than any of the soldiers have prepared themselves for.
SOLIDER OF THE LEGION is a deep, rich story that captures the heart of Sci-fi while bringing the elements of suspense, mystery, horror, and romance together and blending them into a perfect story that everyone will enjoy. Thomas's talent as a writer shines through the action, making the dialogue captivating, and in many passages, moving. His protagonist, Thinker, may be involved in a life that few of us have experienced, but Thomas keeps Thinker so human that we are able to experience the joy, the pain, and the fear that a soldier of the Legion endures while putting his or her life on the line without question.
I highly recommend SOLDIER OF THE LEGION, one the best books I've read this year! Watch for the next books in this exciting series!
Started to read this book on a whim, and was pleasantly surprised. Decent character development, and interstellar war is always churning, giving the author the ability to add/subtract new characters at will. The underlying back stories, what motivates Thinker and Beta Squad, starts out with basic needs like survival in a chaotic combat situation. Technology changes all the time, but the authors example of human spirit remains constant throughout the book. The Legion Armor makes all of the members of Beta Squad the same during combat, which is a great analogy to the quest for uniformity in the current professional military services. The author makes the assumption that the seasoned reader knows that soldiers fight and die for the squad mate on their left or right, not for theology/politics/social order. It's a good lesson for all to learn. The character's war names took me a while to get past, but then I remembered my own experiences, and we had nicknames for everybody... the character's war name makes it official. Great first book in the series and I would recommend it to anyone needing a few hours of exciting escapism!!
Wait until this series is out in full and discounted to a rational price.
I listened, for nine and a half hours, to Soldier of the legion, with acclimated interest. Generally speaking, it was put together very well and held my interest throughout. It does have several glitches that need attention, as do several of the other audio publications from this publisher. I felt that most of their audio products were overpriced and confirmed my misgivings by finding several of the titles available brand new on various online sales sites for less than my discounted cost direct from the publisher. My biggest problem with this particular publication is the ending, or complete lack thereof.
From the reader's perspective, they have just spent almost $50 (retail) for 8 CD's and invested 9 and half hours of listening while the story builds to the climax of intergalactic battle (that you have been waiting for since the beginning), and then cuts off without warning with a curt "to be continued". There isn't even a cursory attempt at any type of closure for the reader/listener, or any type of moral cap to the story that leaves you begging for part two. It builds to a high point and cuts off abruptly. Good authors (and their editors) like Tolkien, Lewis, Weiss, Anthony, and Rowling segment their stories in such a manor as to complete a portion of the storyline giving the reader food for thought and leave them aching for more. Authors and editors interested in the monetary end of publications, without any moral or ethical obligatory feelings for their readers, do exactly what was done here. Unfortunately, those authors dwindle away to nothingness in short order.
Even huge Authors have destroyed their fan base by doing what has been done here. Stephen King, for example, changed his writing style and "dummied up" (if you will allow the term) his writing so that it could be marketed to the masses right about the same time he finished the Dark Tower series in the same unscrupulous manor that this story was ended. After waiting 8 years, and spending several hundred dollars on hardbacks, his readers felt they deserved something better. He didn't feel that way and it backfired on him and his publisher. He lost some 70% of his fan base over the next two years and his hardback publication sales have dwindled down to that of a semi-popular Romance author. Once you go down that road, there is no turning back, because you have developed a reputation for that type of immoral cut & paste writing/publishing.
Just as my angst is directed at the publishing house (because I own a bookstore), my customers angst would be directed at me for selling this type of material to them, taking their money, and smiling quietly the whole time they listened (or read) knowing they left their wallet on the counter without knowing it (figuratively speaking). Large bookstores, selling on consignment, with return policies in place, can afford to deal in this manor. (Of course, the big bookstores are also going the way of the dinosaur the past two years) Independently owned bookstores that require customer loyalty cannot.
I listened, for nine and a half hours, to Soldier of the legion, with acclimated interest. Generally speaking, it was put together very well and held my interest throughout. It does have several glitches that need attention, as do several of the other audio publications from this publisher. I felt that most of their audio products were overpriced and confirmed my misgivings by finding several of the titles available brand new on various online sales sites for less than my discounted cost direct from the publisher. My biggest problem with this particular publication is the ending, or complete lack thereof.
From the reader's perspective, they have just spent almost $50 (retail) for 8 CD's and invested 9 and half hours of listening while the story builds to the climax of intergalactic battle (that you have been waiting for since the beginning), and then cuts off without warning with a curt "to be continued". There isn't even a cursory attempt at any type of closure for the reader/listener, or any type of moral cap to the story that leaves you begging for part two. It builds to a high point and cuts off abruptly. Good authors (and their editors) like Tolkien, Lewis, Weiss, Anthony, and Rowling segment their stories in such a manor as to complete a portion of the storyline giving the reader food for thought and leave them aching for more. Authors and editors interested in the monetary end of publications, without any moral or ethical obligatory feelings for their readers, do exactly what was done here. Unfortunately, those authors dwindle away to nothingness in short order.
Even huge Authors have destroyed their fan base by doing what has been done here. Stephen King, for example, changed his writing style and "dummied up" (if you will allow the term) his writing so that it could be marketed to the masses right about the same time he finished the Dark Tower series in the same unscrupulous manor that this story was ended. After waiting 8 years, and spending several hundred dollars on hardbacks, his readers felt they deserved something better. He didn't feel that way and it backfired on him and his publisher. He lost some 70% of his fan base over the next two years and his hardback publication sales have dwindled down to that of a semi-popular Romance author. Once you go down that road, there is no turning back, because you have developed a reputation for that type of immoral cut & paste writing/publishing.
Just as my angst is directed at the publishing house (because I own a bookstore), my customers angst would be directed at me for selling this type of material to them, taking their money, and smiling quietly the whole time they listened (or read) knowing they left their wallet on the counter without knowing it (figuratively speaking). Large bookstores, selling on consignment, with return policies in place, can afford to deal in this manor. (Of course, the big bookstores are also going the way of the dinosaur the past two years) Independently owned bookstores that require customer loyalty cannot.
Had potential, but didn't live up to it
Lots of potential with this one. Far future troopers who are effectively immortal thanks to their technology fighting another formidable opponent. Once you get past the concept though it goes down hill fast. The biggest complaint I have with this is the complete lack of explanation. You are thrust into a new world, looking through the eyes of a new legionnaire and are inundated with the terms of his world. I'm ok with that. Most authors that throw you new terms and concepts right off the bat tend to explain them as the book goes on. But no this guy. No. I surmised a lot, but I don't have any clue as the motivations, origins or pretty much anything else that has to do with the Legion. The personal motivations of this main character elude me, frankly I don't actually like him that much. The use of different terms as replacements for our current modern terms takes a lot of use to figure out. There is apparently an entire religious aspect to the Legion that could be very interesting, but isn't touched at all. How there are so many other books after this baffles me, but I assure you that I will not be reading them. This was a struggle to read, the skill of the author is very minimal in using a first person narrative. I'd normally give it 1 star, but it gained a 2nd star simply for being just interesting enough to make me finish it (though I was anxiously awaiting it to end so that I could finally be done trudging through this trash).
Not for everyone, but I loved it
This book is not for everyone - it's style is rather unusual, in fact. As someone else noted, the author doesn't explain all of the technology in detail. To me, that's good! I'm a techno-geek, but really if it's something in the far future and far advanced technology, then it's likely unexplainable in terms I can understand. (the Arthur C Clarke "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" idea)
Using future colloquialisms and jargon is a bit annoying, but ok.
Other than that, though, this is a fun and fast-paced military-SF series, and well worth the price. I was sad when I finished the last book, because I wanted it to continue!
It's not Honor Harrington so don't expect that.
Using future colloquialisms and jargon is a bit annoying, but ok.
Other than that, though, this is a fun and fast-paced military-SF series, and well worth the price. I was sad when I finished the last book, because I wanted it to continue!
It's not Honor Harrington so don't expect that.
A good book but the writing style i found a little disjointed,the book is like a cross between Halo and Starship Troopers.The legion is made up of soldiers taken as teenagers and made immortal with armoured fighting suits to combat slavers and aliens i would definitely be buying the rest of the books in the series.
This series is poorly written. The dialog is the same from book to book and it is on the level of a teen-age mind. No real development of character and the so called "hi tech weapons" are confusing and bunk. The overall development of the series would be better suited to a oldtime "B" class Saturday matinee like Rocket Man. Save your money and seek out Sci-Fi reading from estabished known authors.
Bill
Bill
I love a book that has a rythem to it. In the traditions of Edmund Hamilton and Robert Heinlein. This book has the right beat to it. You get the great tags where the author is trying to bring your mind up to speed. Be it on weapons or science. The mind or the new frontiers of morals. Then BAM He jumps into the action with both fists fingers feet kicking butt slaming anger or passion. This makes you unable to put the book down you simply have to keep on keeping on. til you get to the end.
I thought that for .99 cents what was I really risking? It turns out this truly was a case of you get what you pay for: zero character development, ridiculous character names, poor plot development, silly, stilted, and horribly contrived dialogue with no credibility, and finally, battle scenes that seem straight out of a 50s Hollywood matinee in which the "good guys" always win, and the "bad guys" always die.
To be fair, there were instances of imagery that I thought were actually pretty good, but they were few and far between. I only finished reading this book to see if it got better as it went, but it never improved.
Really, save your buck and skip this.
To be fair, there were instances of imagery that I thought were actually pretty good, but they were few and far between. I only finished reading this book to see if it got better as it went, but it never improved.
Really, save your buck and skip this.
This book felt like a cliff-notes version of a sci-fi combat book. I felt like so much was being skimmed over or left out in both action and character interplay/development. The jargon "of the time and place" left me a bit cold as well. I don't enjoy reading for entertainment where I need to consult the glossary to know what the characters are talking about, their equipment, or what they're doing. I would not recommend this book to friends. If you want a great sci-fi first-person combat book, read Armor by John Steakley.
Lots of good action. A little jumpy in places (like I had to see if I skipped a page or a chapter was missing). That's part of the reason for four stars. The other is the price. It's grossly overpriced. It's not worth $15-20. Wait for the price to drop, or buy it elsewhere.
A perilous, exciting space saga
Book one of the "Beta 3" series, Soldier Of The Legion by Marshall S. Thomas is an epic science fiction novel. Set in the far-flung future, Soldier Of The Legion chronicles the struggles of a brave squad of Legionnaires who must fight to survive horrific battles against a corrupt, slave-raiding empire -- and a far worse force of inhumans. A perilous, exciting space saga, Soldier Of The Legion is enthusiastically recommended reading for fans of the science fiction action/adventure genre.
Very creative story for adults because of the mayhem. Professionly done and the sound effects were outstanding. Hope there is a another book in the making.
This eBook updated version works well, with a better-defined story arc than its print version. The story is wonderful, and the chioce of a first-person narrator keeps things focused. Very enjoyable, I reccomend this eBook to anyone who enjoys military, war, and/or scienece fiction.
Trying to finish the book, but it has no substance. There is no real depth to the characters, and no real thought given to the science of the time, just running around shooting anything that moves. I imagine anyone who liked starship troopers might like this. At least starship troopers was a satire. I'm only going through the motions of reading it because I spent $18.00.
A perilous, exciting space saga
Book one of the "Beta 3" series, Soldier Of The Legion by Marshall S. Thomas is an epic science fiction novel. Set in the far-flung future, Soldier Of The Legion chronicles the struggles of a brave squad of Legionnaires who must fight to survive horrific battles against a corrupt, slave-raiding empire -- and a far worse force of inhumans. A perilous, exciting space saga, Soldier Of The Legion is enthusiastically recommended reading for fans of the science fiction action/adventure genre.
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Mind blowing battles. Adrenalin pumping encounters with alien life. Mr. Thomas packs that and more into this futuristic sci fi masterpiece.
From first page to last, the action stopped just long enough to let me catch my breath. The story unfolds through the eyes of Thinker, a Legion warrior who joined up after a broken romance. Thinker and his fellow warriors are kept young and strong, immortal, through biotechnology beyond our present imagination. The barren worlds they face and alien life they battle become real through the author's creative mind and skillful writing style.
Horrific other-worldly combat assignments come alive through Mr. Thomas's prose. Eerie images of fire and destruction dance on the face plates of their armor as our heroic warriors slog their way through blood, fire, slime, and body parts to hard-won victories. From fossilized cities that once housed vanished civilizations, to violent volcanic worlds, Thinker and his Beta unit take on forces that are bent on destroying life. All human life. These immortal warriors face horror and human degradation beyond imagination. But ruthless slavers and hives of terrifying alien maneaters barely prepare them for the scourge of all creation, the soulless Omnis.
Times of respite are few and far between for soldiers of the Legion. Thinker has the violently possessive Valkyrie and tender-hearted Priestess to take his mind off warring. Except for those rare occasions, Thinkers mind is seldom far from thoughts of battles, past and future. It's the way of the Legion.
At the end of Soldier of the Legion, the author sets us up for what will no doubt be an equally exciting sequel. If what follows is as good as his first, Marshall Thomas should soon be a major name in futuristic sci fi. I enthusiastically recommend this book to fans of the genre as well as those who simply enjoy excellent story telling.