Hard Duty
Merkiaari Wars, 1
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $23.08
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Mikael Naramore
-
By:
-
Mark E. Cooper
About this listen
Humanity's last encounter with aliens saw 16.2 billion people killed in a war with the Merkiaari that had spanned decades.
Two hundred years later, the Alliance is cautiously exploring beyond its borders again, but the survey corp is considered a mere gesture by some. General Burgton of the 501st Infantry Regiment believes a lack of expansion is leading the Alliance into stagnation. So when one small ship discovers a new alien race, it should be an easy decision to make contact, but what if the aliens are like the Merkiaari?
Captain Jeff Colgan of the survey ship ASN Canada is at the tip of the spear. His ship made the discovery, his crew's lives are on the line, and his decisions will decide the outcome. Will the Alliance make new friends or will he be responsible for another 16 billion deaths? When the aliens discover his ship and begin hunting him through their system, his mission changes from one of study to one of survival.
©2012 Mark E. Cooper (P)2014 Mark E. CooperListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Spaceship in the Stone
- Space Legacy, Book 1
- By: Igor Nikolic
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Michael Freeman is a disabled veteran who had just been fired from his mind-numbing cubicle job, which allowed his opportunistic girlfriend to dump him. Now, he only wants to spend some time at his grandfather's mountain cabin so he can unwind, away from the drudgery of daily life and with a cold beer in his hands. Standing in his way is an ancient spaceship with an emotional AI, nanites that have invaded his body, an international crime syndicate, a suicidal FBI agent on a vigilante mission, terrorists . . . and that's just the beginning.
-
-
20% Sci-Fi, 80% terrorist shoot-‘em-up, power fantasy.
- By Christopher on 11-12-22
By: Igor Nikolic
-
Federation Chronicles
- The Complete Series
- By: Ken Lozito
- Narrated by: Phil Thron
- Length: 34 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
First came the development of the Personality Matrix Construct—PMC, transferring human consciousness into a machine. It changed the galaxy and the way wars were fought. Then something went wrong with PMCs and the Federation Wars toppled the galactic order. PMCs became a menace to be hunted and exterminated.
-
-
A Captivating Sci-fi World builder
- By Amazon Customer on 06-07-23
By: Ken Lozito
-
Preparing for the Future
- Future Visions, Book 1
- By: Jeremy Eaton
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twenty-seven years is a long time unless you are trying to save the world. Nick was enjoying a late fall day, happily skipping his English class, when he was interrupted by a little silver ball. A ball that not only spoke, but claimed to be an alien artificial intelligence sent to warn humanity that a xenophobic alien race was on its way to wipe out every man, woman, and child on the Earth. The catch: They would arrive in 27 years.
-
-
A Contrived Weak Mess
- By Mr. Williams on 10-28-22
By: Jeremy Eaton
-
Uplink Squadron
- By: J.N. Chaney, Chris Kennedy
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Five years ago, aliens destroyed a carrier and its airwing at Jupiter without warning. Since then, the Earth’s nations have learned to work together, and they want to know more about the aliens who appeared, attacked, and vanished without a trace. The Americans have provided a new carrier. Chinese technology has made going after the invaders possible. And the Russians have developed a new control system that will give the craft never-before-seen capabilities. Mankind’s next war is upon us, and Uplink Squadron is the tip of the spear.
-
-
total sci-fi
- By Nate on 06-11-22
By: J.N. Chaney, and others
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-04-17
By: Craig Alanson
-
Cast Adrift
- Cast Adrift, Book 1
- By: Christopher G. Nuttall
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the years, humans have grown used to their position within the empire, serving as soldiers and spacers for alien masters as well as building a place in the universe for themselves. But now, in the aftermath of a violent interstellar war that shattered the power of the Alphans, humanity has rediscovered its pride.
-
-
well done
- By alan on 12-13-21
-
The Spaceship in the Stone
- Space Legacy, Book 1
- By: Igor Nikolic
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Michael Freeman is a disabled veteran who had just been fired from his mind-numbing cubicle job, which allowed his opportunistic girlfriend to dump him. Now, he only wants to spend some time at his grandfather's mountain cabin so he can unwind, away from the drudgery of daily life and with a cold beer in his hands. Standing in his way is an ancient spaceship with an emotional AI, nanites that have invaded his body, an international crime syndicate, a suicidal FBI agent on a vigilante mission, terrorists . . . and that's just the beginning.
-
-
20% Sci-Fi, 80% terrorist shoot-‘em-up, power fantasy.
- By Christopher on 11-12-22
By: Igor Nikolic
-
Federation Chronicles
- The Complete Series
- By: Ken Lozito
- Narrated by: Phil Thron
- Length: 34 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
First came the development of the Personality Matrix Construct—PMC, transferring human consciousness into a machine. It changed the galaxy and the way wars were fought. Then something went wrong with PMCs and the Federation Wars toppled the galactic order. PMCs became a menace to be hunted and exterminated.
-
-
A Captivating Sci-fi World builder
- By Amazon Customer on 06-07-23
By: Ken Lozito
-
Preparing for the Future
- Future Visions, Book 1
- By: Jeremy Eaton
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twenty-seven years is a long time unless you are trying to save the world. Nick was enjoying a late fall day, happily skipping his English class, when he was interrupted by a little silver ball. A ball that not only spoke, but claimed to be an alien artificial intelligence sent to warn humanity that a xenophobic alien race was on its way to wipe out every man, woman, and child on the Earth. The catch: They would arrive in 27 years.
-
-
A Contrived Weak Mess
- By Mr. Williams on 10-28-22
By: Jeremy Eaton
-
Uplink Squadron
- By: J.N. Chaney, Chris Kennedy
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Five years ago, aliens destroyed a carrier and its airwing at Jupiter without warning. Since then, the Earth’s nations have learned to work together, and they want to know more about the aliens who appeared, attacked, and vanished without a trace. The Americans have provided a new carrier. Chinese technology has made going after the invaders possible. And the Russians have developed a new control system that will give the craft never-before-seen capabilities. Mankind’s next war is upon us, and Uplink Squadron is the tip of the spear.
-
-
total sci-fi
- By Nate on 06-11-22
By: J.N. Chaney, and others
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-04-17
By: Craig Alanson
-
Cast Adrift
- Cast Adrift, Book 1
- By: Christopher G. Nuttall
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the years, humans have grown used to their position within the empire, serving as soldiers and spacers for alien masters as well as building a place in the universe for themselves. But now, in the aftermath of a violent interstellar war that shattered the power of the Alphans, humanity has rediscovered its pride.
-
-
well done
- By alan on 12-13-21
-
First Command Box Set: Spacers, Books 1-6
- By: Scott Bartlett
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 43 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Out of the blue, a young Space Fleet officer's dream becomes reality: He's made captain of a starship. Just in time for the return of humanity's most terrible enemy, after 50 years of peace. To survive against this enemy, Captain Tad Thatcher will have to do more than learn how to become an effective commander, or how to wrangle his wayward crew. He will need to reinvent space combat. From scratch.
-
-
One of my favorite series!
- By Julia Monzon on 08-10-22
By: Scott Bartlett
-
Earth at War, Books 1-3
- By: Rick Partlow
- Narrated by: Scott Aiello
- Length: 30 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a sci-fi author with a hit TV show, I have a few ideas about what alien invaders are supposed to look like. In my stories, they’re technologically advanced monsters, with tentacles, and no faces. Turns out I was right about the technology. And about how angry they’d be. But the way they look…that’s more terrifying than even I could have imagined. They look exactly like us. Because they are us.
-
-
A Space Journey With ‘The Feels’
- By L. D. Roy the Junior on 02-14-24
By: Rick Partlow
-
Grimm's War: Books 1-3
- By: Jeffery H. Haskell
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 36 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Idealistic Navy Lieutenant Jacob Grimm just wanted to honor his mother’s sacrifice in the last great war. When he’s forced to return fire and destroy a squadron of ships to save his own, he thinks he’s the hero...until they discover the ships are full of children. Disgraced and denied promotion, Jacob’s career is over. That is until the head of ONI needs a disposable officer to command a battered destroyer on the rim.
-
-
I love it!
- By Brothanoomsy on 02-14-23
-
The Choice of Magic
- Art of the Adept, Book 1
- By: Michael G. Manning
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 20 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient magic of wizards was anything but dark. It was the enlightenment that lifted humanity from the squalor of superstition, and the worship of fell spirits and capricious gods, but those days are gone. The shining glory of the sorcerers burned away the subtlety of wisdom, replacing it with easy power, held only in the hands of the elite - a new age built upon the elemental supremacy of aristocrats and the ignorance of the masses.
-
-
Here's my opinion...
- By Amazon Customer on 06-17-20
-
Red Company: First Strike!
- Red Company, Book 1
- By: B.V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For centuries, mankind has searched for nonhuman civilizations in the cosmos. These lost alien societies have finally been discovered—but they were destroyed long ago. Devin Starn starts off as a lowly rock rat aboard Borag, a mining ship working the dangerous end of the asteroid belt. Slowly, he gains prestige and purpose. When an alien base is uncovered, however, he must risk everything to protect his ship and her crew. What wiped out all the civilizations that came before humanity?
-
-
Stopped listening
- By jake on 08-18-23
By: B.V. Larson
-
Steel World
- Undying Mercenaries, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers....
-
-
A 14 year old boy’s idea of a “Real Man”
- By C. Brown on 04-16-19
By: B. V. Larson
-
Starship for Sale
- By: M.R. Forbes
- Narrated by: Dave Jackson
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Ben Murdock receives a text message offering a fully operational starship for sale, he’s certain it has to be a joke. Already trapped in the worst day of his life and desperate for a way out, he decides to play along. Except there is no joke. The starship is real. And Ben’s life is going to change in ways he never dreamed possible. All he has to do is sign the contract. Joined by his streetwise best friend and a bizarre tenant with an unseverable lease, he’ll soon discover that the universe is more volatile, treacherous, and awesome than he ever imagined.
-
-
Change the audio preview sample to Chap1 please!
- By Jon Button on 07-30-22
By: M.R. Forbes
-
Swarm
- Star Force, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kyle Riggs is snatched by an alien spacecraft sometime after midnight. The ship is testing everyone it catches and murdering the weak. The good news is that Kyle keeps passing tests and staying alive. The bad news is the aliens who sent this ship are the nicest ones out there.
-
-
Finally some ORIGINAL scifi action.
- By Amazon Customer on 10-25-11
By: B. V. Larson
-
Into the Void
- Star Wars Legends (Dawn of the Jedi)
- By: Tim Lebbon
- Narrated by: January LaVoy
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the planet Tython, the ancient Je’daii order was founded. And at the feet of its wise Masters, Lanoree Brock learned the mysteries and methods of the Force - and found her calling as one of its most powerful disciples. But as strongly as the Force flowed within Lanoree and her parents, it remained absent in her brother, who grew to despise and shun the Je’daii, and whose training in its ancient ways ended in tragedy. Now, from her solitary life as a Ranger keeping order across the galaxy, Lanoree has been summoned by the Je’daii Council on a matter of utmost urgency.
-
-
Pleasant surprise, best SW novels of late
- By AnthroGal on 05-30-13
By: Tim Lebbon
-
The Last Hunter
- By: J.N. Chaney, Terry Mixon
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two centuries after the Confederation staved off an invasion by the robotic Locusts, Captain Jack Romanoff faces mandatory retirement from an ever-shrinking navy. Actions speak louder than words. The Confederation doesn’t think the Locusts are coming back. But what if the politicians are wrong?
-
-
Quality stuff
- By Eric on 02-28-22
By: J.N. Chaney, and others
-
Wayward Galaxy
- By: Jason Anspach, J. N. Chaney
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A company of Army Rangers is sent on an interstellar colony ship to secure a foothold on a dangerous, alien planet through violence of action. Leaving behind a warring Earth flung headfirst into a conflict of mutual assured destruction, the Rangers and the accompanying crew of first colonists are guided on a 40-year journey by an unprecedented artificial intelligence. But when they emerge from the frigid embrace of cryosleep, they awake to a nightmare, finding themselves greeted by the same ruthless enemy that brought about the ruin of Earth.
-
-
A breath of fresh air
- By Anonymous User on 09-29-20
By: Jason Anspach, and others
-
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
- Bobiverse, Book 1
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's a reason We Are Legion was named Audible's Best Science Fiction Book of 2016: Its irresistibly irreverent wit! Bob Johansson has just sold his software company for a small fortune and is looking forward to a life of leisure. The first item on his to-do list: Spending his newfound windfall. On an urge to splurge, he signs up to have his head cryogenically preserved in case of death. Then he gets himself killed crossing the street. Waking up 117 years later, Bob discovers his mind has been uploaded into a sentient space probe with the ability to replicate itself.
-
-
Ignore the Publisher's Summary! This is Amazing!
- By PW on 04-12-17
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Related to this topic
-
Battle Cruiser
- Lost Colonies, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One starship will either save Earth or destroy her. A century ago our star erupted, destroying Earth's wormhole network and closing off trade with her colonized planets. After being out of contact with the younger worlds for so many years, humanity is shocked when a huge ship appears at the edge of the solar system. Our outdated navy investigates, both curious and fearful. What they learn from the massive vessel shocks the planet.
-
-
Disappointing, Juvenile
- By Russ on 12-27-15
By: B. V. Larson
-
Rebel Fleet
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They hunt us. They bomb our worlds for target practice. A star cluster in the constellation of Orion rotates once every 1,000 years. Those who rule there have an ancient tradition: When each cycle ends, they train their fleets by spilling the blood of lesser beings. The enemy fleets are coming again. In response, the Rebel Worlds gather their starships to face the terrifying threat, and this time humanity is asked to stand with them. The last time they considered Earth, Vikings in longboats were raiding English coastlines. Today, we're less primitive. Today, we're a target.
-
-
Swarm series all over again
- By Kenneth on 03-18-17
By: B. V. Larson
-
Mercury's Bane
- Book One of the Earth Dawning Series
- By: Nick Webb
- Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They're all gone. We remember them like yesterday: pieces of our stolen heritage. Things like NASA. Football. Parades and pies. Good things, comfortable things. We remember a time when we were alone in the universe, safe and oblivious. But it's all gone now. We called them the Telestines, and in the face of their ruthless invasion we were powerless. By 2040, all the world's governments and militaries had fallen, and the remnants of humanity exiled to the solar system. We looked down on our blue planet, so close to our birthplace, so close to our home.
-
-
A shockingly bad book.
- By Ginger on 04-12-17
By: Nick Webb
-
Omega Rising
- By: Joshua Dalzelle
- Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jason Burke was a man hiding from himself in a small cabin high in the American Rocky Mountains when his simple, quiet life was shattered one night by what he first assumed was an aviation mishap. But when he investigates the crash, what he finds will yank him out of his self-imposed exile and thrust him into a world he could have never imagined.
-
-
Entertaining but nothing special. Take a look.
- By Desmond on 10-31-15
By: Joshua Dalzelle
-
Sten
- Sten Series, Book 1
- By: Chris Bunch, Allan Cole
- Narrated by: Jerry Sciarrio
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first book in an action–packed new SF adventure series. Vulcan is a factory planet, centuries old, Company run, ugly as sin, and unfeeling as death. Vulcan breeds just two types of native: complacent or tough. Sten is tough. When his family is killed in a mysterious accident, Sten rebels, harassing the Company from the metal world’s endless maze-like warrens. He could end up just another burnt–out Delinquent. But people like Sten never give up.
-
-
THE MASTERPIECE BY JERRY SCIARRIO
- By Professor on 10-31-12
By: Chris Bunch, and others
-
War of the Spheres
- By: James Millington, B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When humanity reaches for the stars, our probes are destroyed. They crash into an incredibly advanced piece of technology: a massive force-field. Unknown beings have placed a barrier around our star and planets, enclosing us within. We’re locked inside a Great Sphere. Was this invisible obstacle built to imprison us - or to protect us? No one knows the truth, but it soon becomes clear the barrier has leaks. Aliens infiltrate and try to sabotage our efforts to escape our cage.
-
-
misleading summary...
- By Neil Kresl on 04-04-19
By: James Millington, and others
-
Battle Cruiser
- Lost Colonies, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One starship will either save Earth or destroy her. A century ago our star erupted, destroying Earth's wormhole network and closing off trade with her colonized planets. After being out of contact with the younger worlds for so many years, humanity is shocked when a huge ship appears at the edge of the solar system. Our outdated navy investigates, both curious and fearful. What they learn from the massive vessel shocks the planet.
-
-
Disappointing, Juvenile
- By Russ on 12-27-15
By: B. V. Larson
-
Rebel Fleet
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They hunt us. They bomb our worlds for target practice. A star cluster in the constellation of Orion rotates once every 1,000 years. Those who rule there have an ancient tradition: When each cycle ends, they train their fleets by spilling the blood of lesser beings. The enemy fleets are coming again. In response, the Rebel Worlds gather their starships to face the terrifying threat, and this time humanity is asked to stand with them. The last time they considered Earth, Vikings in longboats were raiding English coastlines. Today, we're less primitive. Today, we're a target.
-
-
Swarm series all over again
- By Kenneth on 03-18-17
By: B. V. Larson
-
Mercury's Bane
- Book One of the Earth Dawning Series
- By: Nick Webb
- Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They're all gone. We remember them like yesterday: pieces of our stolen heritage. Things like NASA. Football. Parades and pies. Good things, comfortable things. We remember a time when we were alone in the universe, safe and oblivious. But it's all gone now. We called them the Telestines, and in the face of their ruthless invasion we were powerless. By 2040, all the world's governments and militaries had fallen, and the remnants of humanity exiled to the solar system. We looked down on our blue planet, so close to our birthplace, so close to our home.
-
-
A shockingly bad book.
- By Ginger on 04-12-17
By: Nick Webb
-
Omega Rising
- By: Joshua Dalzelle
- Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jason Burke was a man hiding from himself in a small cabin high in the American Rocky Mountains when his simple, quiet life was shattered one night by what he first assumed was an aviation mishap. But when he investigates the crash, what he finds will yank him out of his self-imposed exile and thrust him into a world he could have never imagined.
-
-
Entertaining but nothing special. Take a look.
- By Desmond on 10-31-15
By: Joshua Dalzelle
-
Sten
- Sten Series, Book 1
- By: Chris Bunch, Allan Cole
- Narrated by: Jerry Sciarrio
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first book in an action–packed new SF adventure series. Vulcan is a factory planet, centuries old, Company run, ugly as sin, and unfeeling as death. Vulcan breeds just two types of native: complacent or tough. Sten is tough. When his family is killed in a mysterious accident, Sten rebels, harassing the Company from the metal world’s endless maze-like warrens. He could end up just another burnt–out Delinquent. But people like Sten never give up.
-
-
THE MASTERPIECE BY JERRY SCIARRIO
- By Professor on 10-31-12
By: Chris Bunch, and others
-
War of the Spheres
- By: James Millington, B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When humanity reaches for the stars, our probes are destroyed. They crash into an incredibly advanced piece of technology: a massive force-field. Unknown beings have placed a barrier around our star and planets, enclosing us within. We’re locked inside a Great Sphere. Was this invisible obstacle built to imprison us - or to protect us? No one knows the truth, but it soon becomes clear the barrier has leaks. Aliens infiltrate and try to sabotage our efforts to escape our cage.
-
-
misleading summary...
- By Neil Kresl on 04-04-19
By: James Millington, and others
-
Starfire
- By: B.V. Larson
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On June 30, 1908, an object fell from the sky, releasing more energy than a thousand Hiroshima bombs. A Siberian forest was flattened, but the strike left no significant crater. The anomaly came to be known as the Tunguska Event, and scientists have never agreed whether it was the largest meteor strike in recorded history - or something else. Alien artifacts have been uncovered since the 1908 event, and a new star drive is discovered.
-
-
Het
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 04-09-17
By: B.V. Larson
-
Legion of the Damned
- Legion of the Damned, Book 1
- By: William C. Dietz
- Narrated by: Donald Corren
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the future, the terminally ill can prolong life by surrendering their consciousness to a cybernetic life form that is then recruited into the notorious Legion of the Damned, an elite fighting unit charged with protecting humanity.
-
-
Pretty poor
- By Taliesin on 05-09-10
By: William C. Dietz
-
Assault Troopers
- Extinction Wars, Book 1
- By: Vaughn Heppner
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Earth died when aliens rained thermonuclear warheads on her cities and sprayed the surface with a bio-terminator. A deadly poison drifted to every corner of the planet, threatening the last survivors with annihilation. For a soldier like Creed, there is only one way to keep breathing untainted air. He must bury his hatred of the extraterrestrials and join the Jelk Corporation as an assault trooper, leaving the planet for outer space. In return for his and other people's services, the corporation will house the last humans for as long as the assault troopers keep winning.
-
-
Angry, Poor action, No reality, A lot of Yelling
- By Edward on 10-26-13
By: Vaughn Heppner
-
Cobra Slave
- Cobra Rebellion, Book 1
- By: Timothy Zahn
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cobras are technologically-enhanced warriors bred to fight an alien menace no ordinary human can withstand. At the center of action, on the Cobra world of Aventine, is the legendary Moreau clan. While the Cobras are necessary in times of war, in times of peace, they are often reviled by those they have saved. Now, the Cobras have resisted a second invasion of the alien Troft forces, forcing the Troft to a stalemate - even converting some thoughtful Troft into uneasy allies against their kin.
-
-
What?
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-09-15
By: Timothy Zahn
-
Prominence
- By: A. C. Hadfield
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They tried to destroy our planets. Our way of life. They tried to send us into extinction. But we, the Coalition, fought them and won. That was a decade ago. They’re known as the Host: a cabal of aliens seeking to dominate our sector of space. And they’re back - with help from a powerful new enemy. We’re outnumbered and unprepared. But there is hope. An ancient race of long-dead but technologically advanced aliens called the Navigators have a ship called the Blackstar that could potentially turn the tide. That is if I, Kai Locke, a humble ship racer, can find it and learn how to harness its power in time.
-
-
Newly found love.
- By L. Rampey on 03-22-19
By: A. C. Hadfield
-
A Fiery Sunset
- The Omega War, Book 1
- By: Chris Kennedy, Mark Wandrey
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The plot by the Galactic Union’s Mercenary Guild against the Four Horsemen has culminated in an invasion of Earth. Faced with an overwhelming force, the human mercs had no choice. They’ve fled, leaving Sansar Enkh to go to the Mercenary Guild headquarters on Capital Planet to stand trial for humanity. On the run, Jim Cartwright and Nigel Shirazi have travelled to the Winged Hussars’ secret base of New Warsaw, in an effort to convince Alexis Cromwell to join the fight, while the other mercenaries who escaped the fall of Earth have gone to the perceived safe haven of Karma.
-
-
had a hard time finishing
- By Connie Uriarte on 05-17-20
By: Chris Kennedy, and others
-
Swarm
- Star Force, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kyle Riggs is snatched by an alien spacecraft sometime after midnight. The ship is testing everyone it catches and murdering the weak. The good news is that Kyle keeps passing tests and staying alive. The bad news is the aliens who sent this ship are the nicest ones out there.
-
-
Finally some ORIGINAL scifi action.
- By Amazon Customer on 10-25-11
By: B. V. Larson
-
Man of War
- Rebellion, Book 1
- By: M. R. Forbes
- Narrated by: Jeff Hays
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the year 2280, an alien fleet attacked the Earth. Their weapons were unstoppable, their defenses unbreakable. Our technology was inferior, our militaries overwhelmed. Only one starship escaped before civilization fell. Earth was lost. It was never forgotten. Fifty-two years have passed. A message from home has been received. The time to fight for what is ours has come.
-
-
Hope from Ashes
- By Victor @ theAudiobookBlog dot com on 07-23-16
By: M. R. Forbes
-
On Silver Wings
- By: Evan Currie
- Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the Colony on Hayden's world went black, a team was sent to investigate. It was supposed to be a training mission: skip in, find out the Casimir Transmitter had gone dead, report back and wait for resupply from the Fleet. By the time the only surviving member of the team made landfall, it was spectacularly clear that this wasn't a training mission.
-
-
Not the best, but better than many on audible
- By Desmond on 10-27-15
By: Evan Currie
-
The Reality Dysfunction
- Night's Dawn Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Peter F. Hamilton
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 41 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In AD 2600, the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature's boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems, and throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace.
-
-
Finally on Audible!! My favorite Hamilton series!
- By Patrick on 04-05-16
-
The Mote in God's Eye
- By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
- Narrated by: L J Ganser
- Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mote In God's Eye is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre. No lesser an authority than Robert A. Heinlein called it "possibly the finest science fiction novel I have ever read".
-
-
A great read!
- By J. Rhoderick on 02-12-10
By: Larry Niven, and others
-
Ascension Series: Volume I
- Books 1-3
- By: Ken Lozito
- Narrated by: Jeff Hays
- Length: 21 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Contains books one, two and three of the action-packed space opera Ascension series. They’ve been watching us for hundreds of years. Now they need our help. Earth is not safe. Zack is good at finding things, but when he discovers a global conspiracy, life as he knows it is over. Kept secret for 60 years, the discovery of an alien signal forces an unlikely team to investigate a mysterious structure discovered in the furthest reaches of the solar system. Join the crew of the Athena, Earth’s most advanced spaceship on the ultimate journey beyond our wildest imagining.
-
-
Clearly written for the Jr. High School age group
- By Ed H. on 03-11-21
By: Ken Lozito
What listeners say about Hard Duty
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- dailey
- 02-08-15
Boots hit the ground running!
Where does Hard Duty rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Very new and interesting!
Who was your favorite character and why?
Eric I loved following him into battle!
Which scene was your favorite?
The first battle scene I felt like I was there in Eric's head going to battle!
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laughed, I got mad! I wanted to kick some butt!
Any additional comments?
I was looking for something new and different when I found Mark E Cooper's "Hard Duty". I sure found it when I first started reading book one in the series. I got so hooked into the story line I switched to audio and started the book over. I really got a much better experience from the audio book, They narrator really gives a great personally to each character in the book. One of the main character's Eric has a inner voice that is his computer sensors. Very nice touch and funny when he is complaining about it.
I titled this boots "hit the ground running" because that is how this book starts. Our world has been attacked by our worst fears aliens in a 1st contact. Something we had done had drawn them to us. We really take a beating for it with 16.2 billion losses. How were we to know that the "Meriaari's were blood thirsty killers!" But as always we humans remain. Bruise and battered but we will remain.
Now the story moves forward to exploring space. To further our cause and to have a early warning should the Meriaari were to return. We find a second race that we think of a docile cats. So with our inner human kindness we have to make contact to help them if needed. Only to find out they have dealt with the killers themselves. Which make contact with us very nerve racking for them.
I love Mark's books I'm a big fan of being taken to another world and trying something new. With this one. I got lost into Eric's head. I felt like.....
I'm looking right the wall is falling. Oh God my buddy! A Boom behind me. Now jump! Commander called "Full out loping run kill em' all!"
When I finished that first battle I thought I'm so hooked!
At the end I silently thanked Mark for being 3 books ahead of me because I knew I wasn't finished visiting his worlds.
And Thank you to the narrator for being all the characters with suck interesting personalities I couldn't have gotten from reading the book!
Would I listen to the series again! YES!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lori Trisler
- 03-15-15
Still Deciding
Since I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review I really wanted to like it 5 stars worth. Science fiction and meeting new aliens are some of my favorite things in audiobooks, so I liked that about this book. The aliens, in particular, were well described.
I know I'm in the minority here, but the narrator's human female voices were annoying. They all seemed to be the same irritating, old voice. The male voices were well done. I finally finished in my Kindle, and I enjoyed the story more after that.
There seemed to be two separate story lines in this book. I still have no idea why they were together. Unless I seriously missed something, the plot lines never intersected. I kept waiting for them to, but they didn't.
I thought the ending was strange. I haven't decided if I'm going to pick up the next in the series or not. I will admit to being curious, but I'm not sure yet.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Martin Coughlan
- 04-17-14
Highly enjoyable Sci-Fi Series
I received a review copy from the author for an unbiased review.
I'd been looking for a new sci-fi series to get stuck into and I believe I've found it in the Merkiaari Wars series by Mark E. Cooper. The action and build up was great, kept me listening long after I had intended to take a break, I wanted to hear what would happen next, especially when humanity discovered and observed a new alien race. There were times where I felt the female characters all had the same character, although this could have been done to the male narrator's voicing of them! Enjoyed this first book so much when I was just over half way through it I went and ordered the second in the series!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 04-25-14
An enjoyable and exciting story
Hard Duty is a great book, and makes for an excellent audiobook version as well. Mikael Narramore is perfectly cast as the narrator for this series' main character. The performance draws you in immediately, and holds your attention hard and fast. In regards to the story itself, it's choked full of intricate and colorful detail that never feels boring or overwhelming, as well as action and intrigue to spare. Overall I would absolutely recommend this version of Hard Duty, and I myself will be looking forward to enjoying the rest of the series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Karina Larson
- 02-01-15
another great book by Mark Cooper.
I'm a big fan of Mark's books. I really like his writing style and desperately want more. he does such a great job of character and plot development. I like the way he weaves the multiple stories together. I can't wait to find out where this wonderful story goes next. I would recommend this book to anyone.
the narration was again, wonderful. I can't say enough great things about his skill. the voices were wonderful and I love how the voice becomes muffled but is still loud enough to hear when they are communicating behind a closed door or the way he makes the computer's voice sound mechanical like it's coming from a speaker. this is why audio books are so enjoyable to me. it's important to have a great narrator or a truly entertaining book would be awful in the audio version.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J. Minkman
- 03-18-14
Gripping sci-fi story
I received a review copy from the author for an unbiased review.
It's been a while since I read a 'hard sci-fi' book, and I must say it was a pleasant break from all the YA Dystopian I've listened to lately. The narration was top-notch, the characters were interesting, and the whole set-up reminded me a bit of Star Trek (which I'm a huge fan of): an exploration ship that will go where no-one has gone before. If you like classic sci-fi and lots of action and excitement, definitely pick this one up. It's the beginning of an entire series, by the way :)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kenna
- 12-27-14
And so it begins
What made the experience of listening to Hard Duty the most enjoyable?
Finding out what a Viper can really do. They are uber bad ass
Which character – as performed by Mikael Naramore – was your favorite?
Gunnery Sargent Gina because she was the most human thus the most relatable
Any additional comments?
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- RobertT
- 05-07-15
I enjoyed this novel
The story here really had be captivated. I really enjoy having a series of books to listen too. I will definitely look for more from this author!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Trip Williams
- 04-09-14
Lite Sci-Fi
Up front, no mind-twisting serious depth here, and many plot and execution flaws... but somehow it kept me smiling and listening. I hate to say I keep thinking of it as "Young/Juvenile Science Fiction", but that's how it feels to me. Part of me wants to say "Shallow", but a bigger part enjoyed it. I've bought Book 2, So I guess buying the next book in the series is proof that there is enough here to keep me listening, while hoping the story line matures.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- skinmaan
- 12-02-15
Very appropriate to call this a 'space opera'
So why do I think it was appropriate to call this title a "space opera?" Unless you're a huge fan of opera you'll likely find the experience somewhat tedious intermingled with moments of brilliance. That's about how I felt about "Hard Duty." If you're a fan of the series or the author (it turns out that although this is called book 1 it was actually written as a "prequel" after book 2) you'll likely love this book - just look at the number of positive reviews. If you're just reading it as a stand-alone book you might be less than satisfied, which would explain the rest of the reviews.
The overall storyline is good - two alien races nearly wiped out by the evil Merkiaari meet for the first time. Can they see past the terrible scars those encounters left to make a peaceful first contact, or will their justifiable mutual distrust doom the attempt? I loved the first face-to-face meeting of the races - let's just say it doesn't quite go as planned. Narration is good as well - no monotone recitals and good differentiation of characters. There's a lot of characters, so if 1 or 2 of them sound alike that's okay.
The bigger problems really come from the storytelling and progression. There are multiple storylines here. One of them gets dropped 1/3 into the book and doesn't show up again until the very end, and never gets tied to the rest of the plot. The other storyline is more cohesive, but it is difficult to gauge the passage of time and what happens in parallel with what. Both stories end abruptly and not particularly satisfactorily. Probably this is less apparent if you are familiar with the other books in the series. Knowing then what I know now, I might have started with book two.
Overall it's not a bad book, particularly (I believe) if you come into it with some foreknowledge of what is going on. I may still give Book 2 a try because there is some solid storytelling here, even if the overall book may have benefitted from some additional editing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful