This is the first in an ongoing series that follows the Legionnaires, an elite fighting force that are used to support the Republic in their fight against a multitude of different enemies.
In this particular instance, a unit of Legionnaires is on the planet Kublar, escorting one faction to meet another so that they can discuss a peace treaty, hopefully allowing the Republic access to the planet in a fair and reasonable manner. The Natives of Kublar, colloquially known as ‘Koobs’, are seen as a frog like species, with a large diaphragm under their throats that they use to speak with and make other sounds. Although they have some level of technology, the planet is a mixed culture of partially rich and wealthy with the best of everything, down to the mostly poor and impoverished, living in shanti towns and having to scavenge for a living. Of course, they all have one thing in common, a dislike for humans.
The story is told from the point of view of Sergeant Cohen Chhun, a Sergeant in Victory Company.
The Legionnaires are given a specialised helmet, their armour apparently isn't that special, and apart from the sniper who can pick a tic off a flea buried on the back of a shaggy dog at 3000metres, their weapons are nothing special given it is so far in the future. (Although at least it is better than 40K where they still use bullets and haven’t developed range finders…) The Helmet though, is every Clone and Storm troopers dream, although our story teller loses his pretty early, and it quickly becomes apparent that this book is not about the tech, this is about the characters and the war they are in.
This did remind me a lot of the Clone Troopers TV series, in which you had Republic Clone Troopers in the Clone wars that could actually shoot things with basic guns and armour, but a decent bucket on their heads for information, you know, before they turned into brain dead Stormtroopers who couldn’t hit the side of a barn with a rocket launcher from 3 feet away – no wonder they lost to Ewoks….
But the Legionnaires are much like the Clones if you have seen, or read any of the Star Wars material. Superior fighting men, but amazingly enough, they have emotions, souls, and at times, they wonder why they are doing what it is they are doing?
The characters in this book are brilliant. As stated, the story is told from Sergeant Chhun’s point of view, a veteran who tells us true emotions, not heroic dribble about how he can survive everything and has no fear. Chhun covers all of the emotional spectrum as he battles along, from anger, fear, horror, happiness, sadness, gut wrenching sorrow, to just plain exhaustion, where you reach a point that you are so numb you don’t feel anymore. The Authors have done a brilliant job of detailing what it is like to be in the thick of things, to be under fire, the stress of the situation, and the reflexes and muscle memory you grow as a soldier to survive.
The story starts with the group leading our diplomats along nicely, until they are ambushed, and then it turns into total mayhem and chaos, and this is where the book just accelerates, and doesn’t slow down. It becomes a cross between a Clone Wars episode and Black Hawk Down (without the helicopter), as the Legionnaires are suddenly facing 1000s of Koob’s intent on killing them and their charges at all costs, regardless of the lives lost.
Even though the Legionnaires have superior weaponry, they are vastly outnumbered, for every 10 they kill, there are 20 or 30 to replace them. And thus the ‘Black Hawk Down’ running gun battle starts through the cities of Kublar.
This is a brutal, full-on Military action story, you are with the Sergeant (who gets a field promotion after the ambush to Lieutenant) all the way, and you live the fight with him, feel his anxiety, fear and stress, as he is pounded from pillar to post trying to keep his men and the diplomats alive and reach the objective. Command has been eliminated, and he is left with a field promoted Captain who has the experience to do the job, and a bureaucrat who is at the same level, who looks after the support teams, and is trying to get the all killed with his stupidity.
As a first book, this is the introduction you want to the Galaxy’s Edge, great story, exceptional characters, not bogged down in the tech, doesn’t get lost in the action or the characters either, with a good balance between all of it to leave you flipping pages so fast if you are holding a paperback, it will act as a fan for you.
If you love Military Sci-Fi, or just good Military Action stories, get into this – it is brilliant.
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Popular Highlights in this book
Reincarnation must be real, because no one could get that stupid in one lifetime.Highlighted by 726 Kindle readers- And if you don’t know how liberating it feels to no longer give a damn, I highly recommend you find out.Highlighted by 398 Kindle readers
- “He wasn’t wrong, Masters. I agree. But sometimes you can be right and do the wrong thing.”Highlighted by 208 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
Hold on, you’re about to make the jump to light-speed in Galaxy’s Edge.
Leap into a living universe of war’s heroes knee-deep in dark intrigues, blasters and bots in blind alley combat, and scoundrel captains looking to coax one more smuggling run out of their broken-down freighters.
Each book in the Galaxy's Edge series is an essential piece of an interconnected whole. Fight alongside Lieutenant Chhun and Victory Company through the deserts of Kublar in Legionnaire. Join the roguish Captain Keel and notorious bounty hunter Tyrus Rechs as they chase the same target in Galactic Outlaws. Continue to Kill Team to see how all these characters find their place on the galactic stage together, along with Legion Commander Keller, Dark Ops, and the mysterious secret agent X... then brace for a civil war initiated by the enigmatic Goth Sullus in Attack of Shadows.
And that's only the beginning.
Gripping Audiobooks!
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Galaxy's Edge Part INarrated by award-winner R.C. Bray, Galaxy's Edge Part I combines the first two books of the series (Legionnaire & Galactic Outlaws) into one riveting listening experience. |
Galaxy's Edge Part IIPart II consists of Kill Team and Attack of Shadows, with R.C. Bray delivering another commanding performance! |
Galaxy's Edge Part IIIPart III continues to provide listeners two books per volume, capturing the moment when the series begins to thread all portions together: Sword of the Legion & Prisoners of Darkness. |
A Self-Contained and Expansive Universe!
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Galaxy's Edge Season OneThe primary story arc detailing how the legionnaires of Victory Company found themselves at the center of a galactic-wide crisis more sinister, violent, and underhanded than they could possibly imagine!
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Tyrus Rechs: Contracts & TerminationsA series of action-adventure thrillers following the Galaxy's most notorious bounty hunter, Tyrus Rechs. This series sheds more light on Rechs's place in the galaxy, and the events leading up to the Battle of Kublar. |
Compelling Stand-AlonesGalaxy's Edge is rich in its own history, with virtually every character having a detailed back story, just waiting to be told. Imperator tells the origins of Goth Sullus, the would-be ruler of the Republic. Tin Man provides a touching tale of a repurposed war bot. |
More to come!The galaxy is a dumpster fire, and that fire still burns! Still scheduled for release are series detailing the SAVAGE WARS, Kill Team Victory, Wraith's Dark Ops Mission, The Order of the Centurion winners and more! |
Reviews with images
The first book that made me exited to read!
Struggling with dyslexia growing up and still today reading was always a chore to me, that changed when I came across an ad for this book and decided to give it a chance. From the first chapter I found myself involved with a book like I have never been before. Legionnaire is easy to follow and sets the tone for the rest of the series while building the galaxy you will see it play out in. Before I even finished Legionnaire I bought a bookshelf and quickly filled it with the rest of the Galaxy’s Edge series. The universe these authors have created is amazing and has spread off the page into the real world with the fan base that has come to love their work. As I’m sure you can tell I would highly recommend this book/ series. Give it a change for yourself and join the Legion!
Top reviews from other countries
Cybertrader
A Great Read Even if You're not into Sci-Fi
Reviewed in Germany on August 4, 2019
Glenn
The new platinum standard in military sci-fi
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2017Mathijs Kooij
Als je van militaire Sci-Fi of Star Wars houdt een verplichte aankoop
Reviewed in the Netherlands on June 23, 2017