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The Anatomy of Courage

A First Contact Standalone

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The Anatomy of Courage

By: Peter Cawdron
Narrated by: Tim Fannon
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Dr. Christopher Walters has been assigned to a medical evac team serving on the front line of the war against the alien invaders known as the Novo.

As part of the Dog Food Squad, his role is to provide battlefield triage to wounded soldiers in no man's land. Life expectancy at the front is so low no one uses their real names, and he teams up with Hawk, Mouse, Leech, Lavender, and William Sunday to save those he can from the brutal reality of war. The Novos, though, are not what they seem. Inconsistencies leave Doc questioning the war and wondering what the price will be for peace...

First Contact is a series of standalone novels that explore humanity's first interaction with extraterrestrial life. This series is similar to Black Mirror or The Twilight Zone in that the series is based on a common theme rather than common characters. This allows these books to be listened to in any order. Technically, they're all first as they all deal with how we might initially respond to contact with aliens, exploring the social, political, religious, and scientific aspects of First Contact.

Contains a special note from the author.

©2024 Peter Cawdron (P)2024 Podium Audio Adventure Hard Science Fiction Military Science Fiction War

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another great book in the first contact series. unique story with a great character development and surprising ending

another great book in the first contact series

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Anatomy of Courage follows Dr. Christopher Walters, a US surgeon who has been assigned to the front in a war against an alien enemy. The aliens are known as the Novo, a spider like species with energy weapons. The front line is a blood-bath, soldiers have a very low life expectancy, so low, that they don’t use their real names, and don’t bother telling each other about their lives, as it’s not worth making the connection or going through it with each new person. They are just not around long enough. Walters, who is known as Doc, meets his squad – Dog Food Squad or DFS, and each of the members, Hawk, Mouse, Leech, Lavender and William Sunday.
At the start of the story, Doc has a notebook, and is making notes on each of his squad mates, as he wants to write a book about what it’s like on the frontline. When the others notice, they ask him what his book is about, and what it’s called, and he tells them, “The Anatomy of Courage” – what is the definition of courage.
As the story unfolds, we see Dog Food Squad perform their role, running out into the no-mans land of the battlefield, finding wounded soldiers so Doc can perform triage on them, and then bring them back into makeshift hospitals. The aim is to try and save as many lives as possible, given the horrendous turn-over rate.
Initially, Doc finds the process brutal and confronting. However, after a particular event, when he comes face-to-face with a Novo, he starts to wonder what they are actually fighting for?
What is the point of the conflict? Has anyone actually tried to make first contact with the aliens and find out what they want?
As with all of Cawdron’s books, the character work is exceptional. Doc’s character is brilliant as he comes to the front with a certain enthusiasm for the role, and whilst he understands the ‘concept’ of what he has signed up for, this is vastly different to the reality. Even being a trauma surgeon in the ER, he still finds the brutality of the front confronting.
Doc’s story is gripping and powerful, as his understanding of the front grows, and he begins to question everything that is happening.
One of the most extraordinary characters in the book is William Sunday. Her name comes from her brother who died at the hands of the aliens, and the day she lost her family to them. She lived in the area that was first hit by the aliens, and lost her entire family, and everyone she knew. Now she fights and works to help those on the front. She is a contradiction on many levels, having a very kind soul, but at the same time, she is ruthless when it comes to the Novo. When Doc starts, Sunday takes him under her wing, doing all she can to make his stay more bearable, and to help him. On the battlefield, she is always by his side, making sure he is safe. She carries a heavy burden from the loss of her family, refusing to answer to her real name, but she is very compassionate when it comes to others.
There are other interesting characters, Hawk, is quiet, but he is a skilled scout. Doc and Hawk form a unique bond as the story continues. Mouse’s name is ironic, and his character is brilliant (I’ll let you read about him). Leech is a typical soldier in a lot of ways, but the war has had a significant impact on him. Lavendar is another fascinating character, one that is incredibly in-depth, but like Mouse, I’ll let you read about her.
The descriptive work in this book is outstanding, incredibly gritty, and at times, very intense. The portrayal of the frontlines and combat scenes is blunt, authentic and candid, leaving little to the imagination. Cawdron takes you to the frontline and walks you through the trenches. It is a combination of World War 1, aspects of the Gulf War, and an alien war. A no-mans land that is shelled each day by heavy artillery to stop the Novo from ‘digging in’ (they bury themselves into the ground and wait for ambush), with a trench system on the human side, including a ‘MASH’ style hospital system buried in the trenches to serve the wounded. It is a fascinating combination of different aspects of warfare throughout history.
This is another astounding tale from Peter Cawdron in his First Contact series, combining outstanding characters with extraordinary storytelling. This is another thrilling epic not to be missed!
Tim Fannon does an exceptional job with the Narration, providing clear and concise narration throughout the audiobook. He does a brilliant range of voices, both male and female, that are easy to understand, and easy to distinguish so you can understand the different characters during the story.
Fannon also does an outstanding job of providing the emotional aspects of the voices so that you really understand how the characters are feeling in the story. It brings the story to life, making this so much better to listen to than reading.
Fannon’s Narration is engaging and captivating, and shouldn’t be missed – fantastic job!

Frontline Doc in an Alien War

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I’d love to hear this as a series for when the next set of aliens arrive at earth and how the Novos help us defend ourselves.

Awesome book

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