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I appreciate that. Striving for the Dorsai ideal!

Sounds like a perfect time for a re-read! Armor is such a powerful book - it’s amazing how it stays with you emotionally even if the details fade. Hope you enjoy diving back into it!

Thanks for sharing! Those elements really highlight Haldeman’s unique take on futuristic military and societal norms.

The author did write a sequel.

@@billbaggans1799 You're absolutely right, thanks for pointing that out! Joe Haldeman wrote a sequel to The Forever War titled Forever Free, but unfortunately it's not Military Sci-Fi.

Thanks for mentioning the graphic novel! I haven't read it, but I'd assume it's a great way to experience The Forever War visually. Have you read it? I'd love to hear your thoughts on how it compares to the book!

You're in for a treat with Armor! It’s a gripping read. I agree - each of these books offers something unique. The films, sadly, didn’t capture the depth of Starship Troopers or Ender’s Game. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Timothy Zahn’s Cobra saga is an excellent recommendation! The original trilogy explores the challenges of creating and reintegrating 'super soldiers' - a fascinating theme in military sci-fi. Timothy Zahn’s incredible talent has earned him five Dragon Awards, and I’ll definitely consider featuring his work in a future video.

Great suggestions! The Mightiest Machine and Lensman definitely influenced space combat and interplanetary war. Thanks for sharing!

Great point! E.E. 'Doc' Smith's Lensmen and Skylark series are foundational, blending epic military action with individual heroism. They’ll definitely feature in my future videos - stay tuned!

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve heard good things about the Legend of the Jade Phoenix trilogy and the unique perspective it offers through Clan Jade Falcon’s society. It’s definitely on my radar, especially as I’m a fan of mecha and love seeing how different cultures are portrayed in sci-fi!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's interesting how The Forever War resonates differently for everyone - Haldeman's experiences definitely shaped its tone. I also love the recommendations for David Drake, Jerry Pournelle, and Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series - top-tier military sci-fi!

Glad The Forever War is a favorite! Interesting take on Contact Front. But I’m curious to see how the rest of the series develops (reading book 5 at the moment).

Agreed, Armor would be amazing as a faithful, shot-for-shot movie - but has Hollywood ever done that? Unfortunately, I can’t think of one!

Thanks for giving it a shot! It's a shame your library didn’t have it, but I hope you enjoy diving into the Drop Trooper universe - it’s worth it! I'd be interested to hear your take after you finish the first book!

That's incredible! Starship Troopers clearly left a profound impact on you-what an amazing way to channel its influence. Thank you for your service!

Thanks for sharing! I also appreciate a more nuanced view of Starship Troopers rather than dismissing it as mere militaristic propaganda. Heinlein’s arguments, though direct, serve the story well and spark meaningful discussions, like the one you mentioned about rights in wartime. It’s definitely a novel that contrasts sharply with modern perspectives and invites debate.

Great recommendation! The Sten series really does hit that perfect mix of military sci-fi, space opera, and humor. It's on my radar for a future video!

I agree that The Forever War would make an incredible big-screen adaptation. Its themes are so profound and relevant, and with the right budget and director, it could be a cinematic masterpiece!

@@BurnEnough I get the feeling that in today's Hollyweird it would get the "Starship Troopers" treatment.

@@timberry4709 You're probably right - there’s always that risk of a Starship Troopers-style reinterpretation. While Forever War deserves a thoughtful and faithful adaptation, today’s Hollywood might focus more on spectacle (and/or wokeness) than capturing the novel’s deeper themes.

Shadowrun's early novels are indeed chillingly prescient about corporate power and tech corruption. It's amazing how well they blend sci-fi with social commentary. A fascinating universe!

That's an amazing testament to their timeless appeal! Revisiting those classics really does feel like catching up with old friends. Truly the mark of great storytelling!

Same here! The Dorsai stories would make an incredible series or movie with the right creative team. Fingers crossed it happens someday!

"Young Bleys" is definitely a different flavor compared to the core Dorsai books. Pournelle & Drake’s works, especially Falkenberg's Legion and Hammer’s Slammers, are fantastic alternatives if you’re after hard-hitting military sci-fi!

Bolo is definitely a cornerstone of military sci-fi, with its sentient tanks and their deep sense of duty and sacrifice. It’s a glaring omission on my part, but I’ll definitely include it in a future video!

The book and movie are indeed very different, almost like two separate works. While the book explores duty, citizenship, and the philosophy of war, the movie leans into satire and anti-war commentary. Both have their merits, but they resonate with audiences in vastly different ways!

Glad to hear you’re reading Armor! It’s such a powerful book. I agree - Starship Troopers and Forever War do present two very different perspectives on the same issue. And yes, there are definitely other worthy contenders. I’ll be making a part 2 video to cover even more titles, so stay tuned!

Absolutely, the characters and factions in Dorsai! are so compelling, and that verse captures the spirit of the series perfectly. Such a powerful reminder of the philosophical depth in Dickson’s writing. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't read The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin yet, but it sounds like a fun and unique take on the genre, especially with no humans involved. I'll have to check it out!

Gap into conflict as well. Not that they shaped anything. Just fun reads.

Great suggestions! "Stainless Steel Rat" and "Gap into Conflict" are definitely fun reads, though not necessarily genre-defining. But sometimes, it's nice to just enjoy a good story! Appreciate the input!

Great recommendation! I plan to include it in my upcoming video on contemporary military sci-fi novels. Thanks for sharing!

@@BurnEnough I'm so behind in my reading I just realized I have "Contact Front" in my Kindle queue. 😁

@@timberry4709 Sounds like you’ve got some great reading ahead! I hope the 16 books in the main series don’t intimidate you, or the 44 books in the entire Drop Trooper universe (if you’re planning to read them all, like me)!

Great picks! The Childe Cycle is indeed a fascinating saga, and the Dorsai-centric stories, along with Soldier, Ask Not, are truly standout works. I just uploaded my Dorsai book review, so feel free to check it out!

Glad I could help with your next read! Thanks for the recommendation - "Theirs Not to Reason Why" by Jean Johnson is a great pick, even if it's a bit outside the classic military sci-fi genre. Keep an eye out for more videos coming soon!

Good catch! Frontlines by Marko Kloos likely influenced a lot of modern military sci-fi, but Contact Front has its own unique twists. Have you read both? I'd love to hear your take!

@@BurnEnough I read and finished the first Frontlines series and started the second one. I like the close correlation to IRL military. I haven't read Contact Front, yet (isn't that another word for frontline 🤔), but it's on my watchlist.

@@thomas_jay Frontlines does an excellent job capturing that real-world military vibe! Contact Front is definitely in the same vein, and yes, the title feels like a nod to 'frontline' action. Hope you enjoy it - it’s a solid addition to the genre!

A True Story is a fascinating early work of speculative fiction! Great point about its influence on storytelling and gaming- thanks for sharing!

Appreciate the feedback! I’ve worked hard to ensure the audio is clear, but I’ll review it again to see if there’s anything I can improve. Thanks for watching!

Wow, thank you so much! I’m thrilled to hear the video got you interested in Dorsai! and that you’ve already added it to your Kindle - you're in for a great read! It’s such a fascinating series with rich ideas and compelling characters. Let me know what you think once you dive in! And thanks for the encouragement-it really means a lot. More videos are definitely on the way!

Great mentions! All of these are great examples of military sci-fi. The early Honor Harrington books and Falkenberg's Legion could be considered classics by now, and Northworld is a Drake favorite. I haven’t read The War yet, so adding it to my list!

Thanks for the suggestion! I haven’t read Fullmetal Alchemist or Amber yet, but they sound fascinating. I’ll add them to my list!

@@BurnEnough I hope you enjoy them. Don't bother with the live action FMA films, but the animated FMA: Conqueror of Shambhalla is a very interesting take on an alternate Weimar Republic, still good but more political than military.

@@ramonmachtesh3035 Thanks for the follow-up! I’ll keep that in mind about the live-action films and look into FMA: Conqueror of Shambhalla. An alternate Weimar Republic sounds like an intriguing twist!

@@BurnEnough It Is! All the characters are there, but it's an alternate universe, so except for Edward, they are all rather different from what they are in the manga/anime.

Great points! Starship Troopers is often misunderstood - it’s more about civic duty and responsibility than glorifying war. The ending of Ender’s Game is a masterstroke, and yes, you’re spot on about the time-dilation aspect in Forever War - such a poignant commentary on the alienation of veterans. Scott Moon is a fantastic pick as well!

Thank you! I'm glad the list resonated with you. Armor is such a standout, and Dorsai! deserves more recognition - it’s a true gem. Totally agree about John Steakley; his passing was a great loss to the genre.

I met John Steakley once in Dallas through a mutual friend. He was the scion of a major car dealership in Dallas - Steakley Chevrolet. Very nice guy but unfortunately an alcoholic - which is what I believe ultimately killed him.

Thank you! I love hearing about books that have been read to the point of replacement - that's the mark of a true classic. Soldier, Ask Not is an excellent recommendation. Its psychological depth and focus on the soldier’s mind add a unique layer to military sci-fi. Appreciate the suggestion!

Reading across genres like that sounds amazing! You’ve definitely built up a diverse library! These stories just click differently for each person, and that's what makes reading such a personal journey. Maybe revisiting one of these after 40 years might spark a new perspective!

Absolutely, Janissaries is a fantastic series! These legendary authors won’t be with us forever, but their works will continue to inspire generations.

Jerry Pournelle’s works are indeed timeless. His ability to intertwine the struggles of soldiers with the political complexities of collapsing empires is unparalleled. Definitely a master of the genre!

Armor is definitely worth checking out! It’s a unique and emotional take on military sci-fi. Let me know what you think if you decide to read it!

Totally agree - Starship Troopers deserves so much better than the film adaptations! Thanks for mentioning Warstrider; underrated mech novels like those deserve more attention. I’ll have to revisit that series (it’s been too long)!

@@BurnEnough Thanks for your reply! I enjoyed your discussion of these 5 influential novels. Happy reading! ; )

Lol, thank you all! I was so chuffed to see starship troopers when it came out, and came out of the theater in WTF mode. Since then, I've seen God knows how many other movie nerds gushing over the satiric elements, and themes of fascist stupidity, etc. Looking back, I can see it, and I get where there coming from. But back then, the subtle or not so subtle commentary completely missed me. All I could think the whole movie was "Who TF does <that>......AND THEN YOU DO <THAT>!?!" I much more got the messaging of the book, but felt like the movie was just done by an idiot as a straight war movie. Bad dialog, ridiculous premises, God tier plot armor etc. I've only seen clips of the second and third. Nope. Though I have to say, the animated traitors of Mars wasn't bad. It at least gets closer to the traditional ape armor.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s amazing how these books resonate in such personal and unique ways. Glad you enjoyed the list! I'll be doing in-depth book review videos for each of these soon (Starship Troopers already out), so stay tuned!

Welcome to the channel! Great picks - Armor and Dorsai are must-reads. Hope you'll enjoy them!

Absolutely! The fact that Starship Troopers is still required reading at military academies shows its lasting relevance in exploring duty, ethics, and citizenship.

Robert Heinlein was a Navy vet and a patriot, he's probably smiling up there now.

Great shoutout to Red Rising! While not purely military sci-fi, its battles and strategies fit the genre. A solid recommendation! Thanks