The Legionnaires [Kindle Edition]

T.C. McCarthy (Author)

Book Description

In this short story by T.C. McCarthy, one ordinary woman with nothing to lose joins the French Foreign Legion and finds herself, and her comrades, pinned down in a bunker surrounded by enemies. Thousands of the mantis-like creatures swarm towards them and with no communications and little ammo, survival is a desperate hope. She is a volunteer and a soldier, and to save herself, her squad, and the refugees they defend, she must remember the life she left behind.

Word count: ~ 14,000

Editorial Reviews

Review

McCarthy brilliantly weaves together the interlocked plots of past and present... creates gripping characters in strange but relatable circumstances...  does a brilliant job of storytelling.  A writer to watch, without doubt. -Digital Science Fiction

Product Details

• File Size: 173 KB
• Print Length: 51 pages
• Publisher: Orbit (April 18, 2011)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004LLISJE
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,434 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read April 23, 2011

By Another Texan

Format:Kindle Edition

If you like sci-fi, military fiction, and Robert Heinlein, this is a great novella. The story, set in the future, follows a volunteer Legionnaire pressed into a leadership role in combat even though she's still in training. This life-or-death situation forces her to make decisions and, afterward, deal with the consequences. I enjoyed reading this novella and am looking forward to reading this author's other work.

3.0 out of 5 stars A "chapter" of a novel September 22, 2012

By Lawndart37

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had read the rest of the Subterranean War series and found them to be a great trilogy. I did not realize that this book was a "short story". It is basically a couple chapters out of, what should be, another novel in the Subterranean War universe. It was a good quick read but, due to its length, it was lacking alot of depth. The main character was developed but I found myself wanting to know more about her. It was like walking into the middle of a battle scene from a movie and then walking out before it was completely finished. I would be very happy if the author did a complete novel on this character/storyline. I would recommend this book only if the reader had read the subterranean series and wanted a little more.

4.0 out of 5 stars Exanding his unviverse September 13, 2012

By Chris Reviews

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love the short fiction format and I admit I'm finding McCarthy's writing very interesting. This is the first thing of his that I could say is a stand alone from his universe that he has created. It could have been in his future war novels, the characters and the settings, and the bleakness are all there. Where the stories shines is the characters. Could have been longer and some of the scenes built up a bit more which can happen in short fiction. If you enjoy this type of story download it and enjoy it.

More About the Author

T.C. McCarthy is an award winning and critically acclaimed southern author whose short fiction has appeared in Per Contra: The International Journal of the Arts, Literature and Ideas, in Story Quarterly and in Nature. His debut novel, Germline, and its sequel, Exogene are available worldwide and the final book of the trilogy, Chimera, was released in August 2012. In addition to being an author, T.C. is a PhD scientist, a Fulbright Fellow, a Howard Hughes Biomedical Research Scholar, and a winner of the prestigious University of Virginia's Award for Undergraduate Research. Visit him at http://www.tcmccarthy.com.