Kingdom's Swords (Starfist, Book 7) [Mass Market Paperback]

David Sherman (Author), Dan Cragg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Starfist | Publication Date: April 30, 2002

The Marines were told it was a simple peasant rebellion–
but the mission proved to be far deadlier. . . .

Gunny Charlie Bass isn’t the only Marine mystified by the order sending the entire 34th to put down a few seditious serfs on planet Kingdom. Rumors swirl of a deadly alien invasion. But few believe that such sentient beings exist. Except Gunny Bass and the Marines of the 3rd platoon, who once fought enemy aliens called Skinks–fierce, fanatical fighters with hideous weapons who attack for no other reason but to kill.

Then, while slogging through Kingdom’s fetid swamps, the Marines are attacked by awesome unseen weapons that could destroy half a platoon with one shot. Clearly they are facing no normal enemy. And if their adversaries are Skinks, one FIST isn’t enough. Third platoon’s orders are to penetrate deeper into the bloody jungle hell–and find out what happens when a few good men bite the bullet. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

“CAUTION! Any book written by Dan Cragg and David Sherman is bound to be addictive, and this is the first in what promises to be a great adventure series. First to Fight is rousing, rugged, and just plain fun. The authors have a deep firsthand knowledge of warfare, an enthralling vision of the future, and the skill of veteran writers. Fans of military fiction, science fiction, and suspense will all get their money’s worth, and the novel is so well done it will appeal to general readers as well. It’s fast, realistic, moral, and a general hoot. First to Fight is also vivid, convincing–and hard to put down. Sherman and Cragg are a great team! I can’t wait for the next one!”
–RALPH PETERS
New York Times bestselling author of
Red Army

From the Inside Flap

The Marines were told it was a simple peasant rebellion?
but the mission proved to be far deadlier. . . .

Gunny Charlie Bass isn?t the only Marine mystified by the order sending the entire 34th to put down a few seditious serfs on planet Kingdom. Rumors swirl of a deadly alien invasion. But few believe that such sentient beings exist. Except Gunny Bass and the Marines of the 3rd platoon, who once fought enemy aliens called Skinks?fierce, fanatical fighters with hideous weapons who attack for no other reason but to kill.

Then, while slogging through Kingdom?s fetid swamps, the Marines are attacked by awesome unseen weapons that could destroy half a platoon with one shot. Clearly they are facing no normal enemy. And if their adversaries are Skinks, one FIST isn?t enough. Third platoon?s orders are to penetrate deeper into the bloody jungle hell?and find out what happens when a few good men bite the bullet. . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345443713
• ISBN-13: 978-0345443717
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nasty Surprises All Around, September 12, 2005

By 

John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kingdom's Swords (Starfist, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the previous volume of this series, HANGFIRE, readers were set up for some nastiness by the "skinks" without ever finding out just what they were up too. All we knew was that it would not be good for humanity or the marines. We learn more in this book and it is not good for either.

Once again, Sherman and Cragg demonstrate a liking for pursing widely variant plotlines simultaneously. They did an adequate job of this before but their skills are improving in this one.

The main plot involves the committal of the 34th FIST to action on the world of Kingdom. They think they are headed in to suppress a peasant revolt but it turns out that it is the skinks who are the cause of the problems and they are major problems. To make matters worse, Kingdom is a theocracy and the marines must face a local government that is as potentially dangerous as the real enemy. Just to keep the pot stirred up, there are also dissident elements at work within Kingdom that have a strong desire to hurt the marines, the Kingdom government, the confederacy and anyone one else who disagrees with them. To make matters worse, many do not believe in the aliens the marines are fighting and believe it all to be some sort of convoluted plot.

The second plotline concerns Captain Coronado, CO of L Company. A few volumes back he was involved in a hush-hush operation dealing with another alien sentient species. In that book, he did the right thing, against the cruel and inhumane orders of the scientific leader of the post, and is returning to earth to face court martial. This puts strains on his family situations in ways recognizable to anyone who has ever tried to serve both a family and the military. Needless to say, the gallant captain has his own adventures along the way and improvises, adapts and overcomes....just the way a good jarhead is expected to do.

This is actually probably the best book in the series so far. There are a few surprises and new twists. Its going to take at least one more book and some significant reinforcements to get the marines out of this mess.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 34th FIST on deployment, June 25, 2002

By 

Eric Giard "sun52tzu" (Montreal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kingdom's Swords (Starfist, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoyed the book. Although, I will have to wait for the next book to conclude my opinion on this book. The cliffhanger is kind of weird since the whole story of the book doesn't seem to end.

Also, for the first time, the authors tried to do more than one storyline and it feels kind of weird. One of the storyline brings nothing to the actual story or the 34th FIST Marine. This could explain on why they did not conclude the story since they had already too much.

Overall, it is still a good StarFist book. Different from the previous one but this is what bring the joy in reading :o)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but there are a few problems..., May 22, 2002

By 

Michael A. Shaw "ironmike82nd" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kingdom's Swords (Starfist, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am an avid Starfist saga follower, and that will continue, but I thought Startfist 7 was a little weak. The cliffhanger ending needed some more beefing up (Gunny Bass put himself in a dangerous situation without following some simple combat rules he knows very well). Also, many Skinks are flashed (killed), but the 34th FIST never once recovered any of the Skink's acid weapons for analysis. The weapons didn't flash and disappear when the Skinks did, did they? No, of course not! Recovering an acid weapon and analyzing it to develop a defense against it would be the first thing I'd do.

Worth reading to keep the series alive, but I hope Dan Cragg reads this review and takes steps to improve plot quality...