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Countdown #1
Countdown: The Liberators (Countdown
Back in Action
Old Soldiers never die...except inside, when they lack a reason to live. Old soldier Wes Stauer is dying inside, from sheer lack of purpose.
And then comes the knock on the door: "Our leader's son and heir has been kidnapped. We don't know where he is. We need you to get him back for us. The people who have him are numerous, warlike, and well armed. But money is no object."
And then old soldiers - sailor and airmen, too - stop fading away and come back into sharp focus.
Old Soldiers never die...except inside, when they lack a reason to live. Old soldier Wes Stauer is dying inside, from sheer lack of purpose.
And then comes the knock on the door: "Our leader's son and heir has been kidnapped. We don't know where he is. We need you to get him back for us. The people who have him are numerous, warlike, and well armed. But money is no object."
And then old soldiers - sailor and airmen, too - stop fading away and come back into sharp focus.
677 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 25, 2011
18 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 8, 2021
Kratman's Countdown series feels a little like a repeat of the Carrera series-- an ex-soldier builds up a mercenary force to take on the world. In this case, the ex-soldier, Wes Stauer, gets a midnight visit from an old friend from Somalia with a plea for Wes to help recuse a kidnapped clan member.
In the ruins of Somalia, various clans are basically establishing areas of influence (war lords); in this, Kratman really did his homework. The father of the kidnapped boy has grafted his way to a small fortune and will give Wes almost a blank check to get his boy back. So, Wes calls up a number of retired soldiers and starts making plans...
This really reminded me of Arnett's (really McQuay's) Genocide Express, where a mercenary company basically takes over a Caribbean nation and goes on to work for various causes around the world. Here, Wes relocates to the Amazon in secret to start training and building up a force to rescue the boy. _Lots_ of logistical details and 'inside baseball' involved here, with almost endless discussion of weapons-- Kratman really knows his stuff in this regard.
So, lots of build up before the action really starts, but Kratman does a good job building up to the denouement, which was pretty fun to say the least. Also included are numerous pointed jabs at 'transnational liberals' (tranzis) for basically fucking up the world they misguidedly are trying to save. I may not buy his politics, but Kratman can write and make you think. 3 stars.
In the ruins of Somalia, various clans are basically establishing areas of influence (war lords); in this, Kratman really did his homework. The father of the kidnapped boy has grafted his way to a small fortune and will give Wes almost a blank check to get his boy back. So, Wes calls up a number of retired soldiers and starts making plans...
This really reminded me of Arnett's (really McQuay's) Genocide Express, where a mercenary company basically takes over a Caribbean nation and goes on to work for various causes around the world. Here, Wes relocates to the Amazon in secret to start training and building up a force to rescue the boy. _Lots_ of logistical details and 'inside baseball' involved here, with almost endless discussion of weapons-- Kratman really knows his stuff in this regard.
So, lots of build up before the action really starts, but Kratman does a good job building up to the denouement, which was pretty fun to say the least. Also included are numerous pointed jabs at 'transnational liberals' (tranzis) for basically fucking up the world they misguidedly are trying to save. I may not buy his politics, but Kratman can write and make you think. 3 stars.
April 2, 2025
Insanely good
I felt empty inside when I read the last Carrera series book and laid it down.
This may even turn out to be better than that series, because it is not written aboug an euphemistic second Earth planet in the future, but our planet and our time.
As a scholar and as a soldier both, this is very highly recommended reading. A sort of handbook on how to fix our collapsing civilization.
Very seldom in my life have I found myself in complete agreement with someone when it comes to world-view. I do here.
Facts are facts. Things consist of nuts, bolts and energy. How to fix them is apparent. It just takes what it takes.
If anyone were to realize this vision, I would not only 'die for it', I would sweat, toil and bleed for it until I die. Knowing army life and then the loneliness and loss of purpose that comes when you re-enter civilian hell, this hits home.
This would be the worthiest cause. And you HAVE to read this. Have to. If you ever even thought about holding an ideal or a rifle in defense of what is good, pick this up and educate yourself. This is what you NEED. What the WORLD needs.
I felt empty inside when I read the last Carrera series book and laid it down.
This may even turn out to be better than that series, because it is not written aboug an euphemistic second Earth planet in the future, but our planet and our time.
As a scholar and as a soldier both, this is very highly recommended reading. A sort of handbook on how to fix our collapsing civilization.
Very seldom in my life have I found myself in complete agreement with someone when it comes to world-view. I do here.
Facts are facts. Things consist of nuts, bolts and energy. How to fix them is apparent. It just takes what it takes.
If anyone were to realize this vision, I would not only 'die for it', I would sweat, toil and bleed for it until I die. Knowing army life and then the loneliness and loss of purpose that comes when you re-enter civilian hell, this hits home.
This would be the worthiest cause. And you HAVE to read this. Have to. If you ever even thought about holding an ideal or a rifle in defense of what is good, pick this up and educate yourself. This is what you NEED. What the WORLD needs.
July 20, 2023
At almost 700 pages, this was a real mixed bag for me. When the action sequences occur, it is quite engaging and feels very realistic. However, getting through the first third before the action starts was a bit of a chore. Characters gearing up and planning for literally hundreds of pages was simply too much detail for me. I don't mind a slow burn, but this was so slow, the flame nearly extinguished. That aside, I appreciated the refreshing political slant of some of the characters at a time when the woke crowd loves to stamp out any dissenting view. Some of the physical action, at times, was brutal and spontaneous and I could tell the author has been through some dangerous situations in his military life. While I won't jump directly into the next book in the trilogy, I am curious as to where it will go and will most likely check it out at some point. But after such a monster of a book, I need a serious break.
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July 19, 2020elibrary
December 14, 2024
Fun military porn, if he'd stop bashing you with his politics beyond all reason.
February 20, 2016
This is some near future, military fiction. Quite plausible too if you think about it (don't though, probably just make you mad). Not nearly as "teckie" as some of Tom Clancy's work, or even as character driven as Clancy. But Kratman really delivers on the action.
I'm an "old salt" myself (battleship sailor) and often wonder why I'm sitting stuck in the doldrums of a mostly boring job. Working with some really good people, but really only a few I could trust with my life. It's hard to find someone who "gets it", Tom Kratman has been there and done that (read his bio); so he gets it. Part of me wishes a group like this really existed, I'm sure they could use a helicopter mechanic.
I'm an "old salt" myself (battleship sailor) and often wonder why I'm sitting stuck in the doldrums of a mostly boring job. Working with some really good people, but really only a few I could trust with my life. It's hard to find someone who "gets it", Tom Kratman has been there and done that (read his bio); so he gets it. Part of me wishes a group like this really existed, I'm sure they could use a helicopter mechanic.
November 18, 2011
Old Soldiers never die or fade away, Kratman takes them from dead end jobs and pulls the rug of retirement out from under our comfortable expectations and creates an all new plausible group The Liberators!
July 4, 2012
When you read Kratman's books, you get some military action and some politics. I am interested in the former, and kind of skip over the latter. I do enjoy the "black and white" aspect of his viewpoints, though.
September 23, 2011
Loved it. Good series.
April 26, 2012
Decent story of military men getting another chance to do what they like best. First in what appears to be an ongoing series set in contemporary times.
December 21, 2012
A damned fine read by Mr. Kratman. He usually writes good stuff. This time is no different.
May 26, 2013
Very good military fiction.
August 15, 2021
A very enjoyable read. 2021 re-read, still a great series!
October 15, 2018
Mr. Kratman writes great war stories
He develops good characters, the men and women in his world are all a bit 'bigger than life, but they need to be because us 'regular Joe's and Jane's couldn't realistically for any of this stuff.
His stories DO get buried in some pretty hefty sections explaining and detailing the logistics of his people. Some people might say this is a negative. After all, who needs to know the intricacies of standing up a War Fighting unti? Well, old military guys like me enjoyed it immensely. I'm an Air Force puke so I found this level of detail extremely interesting. I al s o enjoyed having all the characters be of a 'certain age' . Would I do the same things as these "grizzled Vets" if called upon? Damn Skippy!
So if you enjoyed Mr Kratman's contributions to the Posen Wars series then jump into this story and everything else he has and will write.
doesn't throw in unexplained plot twists,
He develops good characters, the men and women in his world are all a bit 'bigger than life, but they need to be because us 'regular Joe's and Jane's couldn't realistically for any of this stuff.
His stories DO get buried in some pretty hefty sections explaining and detailing the logistics of his people. Some people might say this is a negative. After all, who needs to know the intricacies of standing up a War Fighting unti? Well, old military guys like me enjoyed it immensely. I'm an Air Force puke so I found this level of detail extremely interesting. I al s o enjoyed having all the characters be of a 'certain age' . Would I do the same things as these "grizzled Vets" if called upon? Damn Skippy!
So if you enjoyed Mr Kratman's contributions to the Posen Wars series then jump into this story and everything else he has and will write.
doesn't throw in unexplained plot twists,
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews