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Red Company #1
Red Company: First Strike!
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? To find out, read B. V. Larson’s RED FIRST STRIKE! a pulse-pounding, high-stakes military sci-fi adventure.
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? To find out, read B. V. Larson’s RED FIRST STRIKE! a pulse-pounding, high-stakes military sci-fi adventure.
267 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2023
588 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
B.V. Larson
132 books1,517 followersBrian Larson is an American science fiction and fantasy author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 18, 2023
disappointed
Hoped for something a bit more sophisticated? The whole military angle seemed a bit like someone idea that has no knowledge of a professional military.
Hoped for something a bit more sophisticated? The whole military angle seemed a bit like someone idea that has no knowledge of a professional military.
June 7, 2023
Meh
I typically enjoy Larson's mix of action and humor when I want to relax with some light reading but this one disappointed me. I kept waiting for the famous Larson humor to kick in but it never appeared. The story started out strong establishing the main character as a good person with strong morals but it never really took off from there. I found the main character not fleshed out enough to be really interesting, ditto for all the other characters, who all seemed like straight archetypes from central casting. It's like various bits and pieces of young adult Sci Fi were all just recycled and pasted together with a little bit of the movie Alien tossed in for good measure. This author is capable of so much more but with no humor and no sense of wonder it really felt like it was just phoned in. It wasn't terrible but I probably won't be reading the next one unless I am really desperate for some light reading .
I typically enjoy Larson's mix of action and humor when I want to relax with some light reading but this one disappointed me. I kept waiting for the famous Larson humor to kick in but it never appeared. The story started out strong establishing the main character as a good person with strong morals but it never really took off from there. I found the main character not fleshed out enough to be really interesting, ditto for all the other characters, who all seemed like straight archetypes from central casting. It's like various bits and pieces of young adult Sci Fi were all just recycled and pasted together with a little bit of the movie Alien tossed in for good measure. This author is capable of so much more but with no humor and no sense of wonder it really felt like it was just phoned in. It wasn't terrible but I probably won't be reading the next one unless I am really desperate for some light reading .
May 5, 2023
Entertaining
Some light, fun reading. While BV's protagonists tend be very similiar, particular when it comes to their sense of humour, this one is different. Likeable, if a bit bland.
Some light, fun reading. While BV's protagonists tend be very similiar, particular when it comes to their sense of humour, this one is different. Likeable, if a bit bland.
February 6, 2024
Not Larson's best work but I can see the core of something that might be worth pursuing especially given how much I love his Undying Mercenaries series.
May 29, 2024
Really solid BV Larson science fiction.
I'm writing the review because I feel like my four-star rating is pending how the next few books play out. Normally if I really like one of Larson's series it's getting a 5 and if it's sort of meh it's getting a three because it's usually still pretty good. They tend to be polarizing for me a little bit. But this one was a solid four which made me think I should talk it through here.
Not a lot seems to happen but a lot gets set up. He effectively explores a creditocracy driven society setting down stakes across the solar system. Unlike previous Larson adventures relationships are taking time to form and connections made in this book could go in a few different directions. In general this book isn't a flashy white hot flame but more like a stoking fire which should grow over time.
I'm going to read the next couple for sure and if the series plays out well it's going to be because this book helped set it up and I will likely come back and adjust my rating to reflect how it contributes to the whole series.
I'm writing the review because I feel like my four-star rating is pending how the next few books play out. Normally if I really like one of Larson's series it's getting a 5 and if it's sort of meh it's getting a three because it's usually still pretty good. They tend to be polarizing for me a little bit. But this one was a solid four which made me think I should talk it through here.
Not a lot seems to happen but a lot gets set up. He effectively explores a creditocracy driven society setting down stakes across the solar system. Unlike previous Larson adventures relationships are taking time to form and connections made in this book could go in a few different directions. In general this book isn't a flashy white hot flame but more like a stoking fire which should grow over time.
I'm going to read the next couple for sure and if the series plays out well it's going to be because this book helped set it up and I will likely come back and adjust my rating to reflect how it contributes to the whole series.
June 8, 2023
good first book
Larson is a journeyman storyteller with a long list of great books to his credit, this latest addition was not his best work or properly proofread but it was a a solid read and I did enjoy it. I will continue with the series and glad he’s still producing good books!
Larson is a journeyman storyteller with a long list of great books to his credit, this latest addition was not his best work or properly proofread but it was a a solid read and I did enjoy it. I will continue with the series and glad he’s still producing good books!
June 27, 2023
For some reason, this book reads strange to me. I don’t exactly know how to explain it, but having read a ton of B. V. Larson books, this one just seemed off. I don’t know whether it was the lack of character development or just the entire story, but it didn’t seem up to the quality I expect from B. V. Larson.
You start off as an indentured miner on a space capable mining rig/ship called the *Borag*. It seems to be a fairly large ship with a crew some where near one-thousand which includes officers, NCOs, enlisted, and miners. I think the miners group also includes those who do routine ship-board maintenance and other labor as required. Most everyone, including the Captain, owe a debt of some kind to the corporation that sponsors them. Miners are considered class D-Contract rock-rats. These guys and gals are trying to work off a large debt but they’re only managing to stay alive at the convince of the ship they’re part of. As miners doing their job in space, they have to pay for the very air they breathe, the water they consume and of course, the meager food they get. This keeps them in debt usually until they die.
Devin Starn is one of these rock-rats with not much hope of getting out of his situation. He’s operating a drill-bot on a desolate rock somewhere in space hoping to stay alive for a while longer. Then the rock he and the ship *Borag* is on finds they are not alone. Claim jumpers or actually pirates have came to take over this rock. The Captain of the *Borag* isn’t about to let that happen, so she and a couple of her “Marines” confront these pirates and tell them to leave. The shooting then starts with the Captain running for her life while her Marines are gunned down. About the time that the Captain is being captured by three pirate thugs, Devin Starn steps in to provide some assistance. He’s definitely unarmed, but he’s also from Earth and much more capable than those humans born in space or from less gravity intensive planets. He manages to knock down two of the three pirates while the Captain handles the third.
So, Devin has rescued the Captain of the *Borag*, whom he had never intended or thought he would ever meet. She has taken note of his fighting skills and invites him to fill a vacancy in her Marine contingent called “Red Company”. He has to sign another contract, but this one pays much more and provides him with better living conditions and everything else so he’d be an idiot to not sign. Devin’s no idiot so he becomes a Red Company Marine although his acceptance by the other members of the company doesn’t go too well. They are responsible for up-training him and making him part of the team, but usually rock-rats don’t raise above their station in this manner. Some definitely don’t like it.
Now, let’s be clear. Red Company is nothing more than hired mercenaries. They are not highly trained or skilled US Marines by any stretch of the imagination. Why they are called Marines is beyond me, but they have been somewhat tactically trained by their officers, but there’s no explanation as to who trained the officers. Devin doesn’t get much training himself, but the Captain eventually uses him as a bodyguard anyway.
The ship has to make a profit on these mining adventures or it will be scrapped and sold to whomever. The crew then has to find other contracts to fill so they can continue paying off their ever-growing debts. That’s the way the system works in space beyond Earth’s government control.
Then a Colonel from Earth’s government shows up and asks the Captain of the Borag to agree to go on a secret mission. He will make the rewards for doing this great enough that she can’t refuse although it will affect everyone of her crew. She doesn’t plan on telling anyone what this mission is until they are well on their way, if even then. She’s afraid her crew might mutiny if they found out the extent of the mission. Devin knows. He was there when the mission was described and agreed to. Will he “spill the beans” or will he even survive this deadly mission?
Not give anything away, but this story does continue in Book 2, “Red Company: Discovery”. I’ve already added it to my reading list, but I do hope the writing gets better.
You start off as an indentured miner on a space capable mining rig/ship called the *Borag*. It seems to be a fairly large ship with a crew some where near one-thousand which includes officers, NCOs, enlisted, and miners. I think the miners group also includes those who do routine ship-board maintenance and other labor as required. Most everyone, including the Captain, owe a debt of some kind to the corporation that sponsors them. Miners are considered class D-Contract rock-rats. These guys and gals are trying to work off a large debt but they’re only managing to stay alive at the convince of the ship they’re part of. As miners doing their job in space, they have to pay for the very air they breathe, the water they consume and of course, the meager food they get. This keeps them in debt usually until they die.
Devin Starn is one of these rock-rats with not much hope of getting out of his situation. He’s operating a drill-bot on a desolate rock somewhere in space hoping to stay alive for a while longer. Then the rock he and the ship *Borag* is on finds they are not alone. Claim jumpers or actually pirates have came to take over this rock. The Captain of the *Borag* isn’t about to let that happen, so she and a couple of her “Marines” confront these pirates and tell them to leave. The shooting then starts with the Captain running for her life while her Marines are gunned down. About the time that the Captain is being captured by three pirate thugs, Devin Starn steps in to provide some assistance. He’s definitely unarmed, but he’s also from Earth and much more capable than those humans born in space or from less gravity intensive planets. He manages to knock down two of the three pirates while the Captain handles the third.
So, Devin has rescued the Captain of the *Borag*, whom he had never intended or thought he would ever meet. She has taken note of his fighting skills and invites him to fill a vacancy in her Marine contingent called “Red Company”. He has to sign another contract, but this one pays much more and provides him with better living conditions and everything else so he’d be an idiot to not sign. Devin’s no idiot so he becomes a Red Company Marine although his acceptance by the other members of the company doesn’t go too well. They are responsible for up-training him and making him part of the team, but usually rock-rats don’t raise above their station in this manner. Some definitely don’t like it.
Now, let’s be clear. Red Company is nothing more than hired mercenaries. They are not highly trained or skilled US Marines by any stretch of the imagination. Why they are called Marines is beyond me, but they have been somewhat tactically trained by their officers, but there’s no explanation as to who trained the officers. Devin doesn’t get much training himself, but the Captain eventually uses him as a bodyguard anyway.
The ship has to make a profit on these mining adventures or it will be scrapped and sold to whomever. The crew then has to find other contracts to fill so they can continue paying off their ever-growing debts. That’s the way the system works in space beyond Earth’s government control.
Then a Colonel from Earth’s government shows up and asks the Captain of the Borag to agree to go on a secret mission. He will make the rewards for doing this great enough that she can’t refuse although it will affect everyone of her crew. She doesn’t plan on telling anyone what this mission is until they are well on their way, if even then. She’s afraid her crew might mutiny if they found out the extent of the mission. Devin knows. He was there when the mission was described and agreed to. Will he “spill the beans” or will he even survive this deadly mission?
Not give anything away, but this story does continue in Book 2, “Red Company: Discovery”. I’ve already added it to my reading list, but I do hope the writing gets better.
May 15, 2023
The setup is pretty good: Devin is a miner on the ship Borag. The accountants run everything out in this dystopian future and the ship along with everyone on it needs to make a profit. Devin is in debt with no hope of ever changing the situation. He's not alone.
The ship has a good haul when pirates hail the captain. The ship's accountant is clear: if they give up even a tiny fraction of the haul they'll go into further debt. The captain sees it differently. If the choice is between debt and death, she'll take debt.
That's the setup. The problem I had early on is how Devin moves from being a miner to a Red Company marine. I had to suspend disbelief to get past this point, and then the story continues. I won't say what it is, but I enjoyed the book. Sure, the editing needs help and there are gaps in the plot but that's fine. Not every fiction book is perfect.
What made the book work for me is Devin, and to a certain extent the captain. Of all the other people on the ship, they are the only ones that stand out for having a strong sense of honor. Devin falters once and pays the price for it, but other than that this is a fun semi-military sci-fi first contact novel. I say semi-military sci-fi because Red Company are the in-house marines for the ship.
4/5*
The ship has a good haul when pirates hail the captain. The ship's accountant is clear: if they give up even a tiny fraction of the haul they'll go into further debt. The captain sees it differently. If the choice is between debt and death, she'll take debt.
That's the setup. The problem I had early on is how Devin moves from being a miner to a Red Company marine. I had to suspend disbelief to get past this point, and then the story continues. I won't say what it is, but I enjoyed the book. Sure, the editing needs help and there are gaps in the plot but that's fine. Not every fiction book is perfect.
What made the book work for me is Devin, and to a certain extent the captain. Of all the other people on the ship, they are the only ones that stand out for having a strong sense of honor. Devin falters once and pays the price for it, but other than that this is a fun semi-military sci-fi first contact novel. I say semi-military sci-fi because Red Company are the in-house marines for the ship.
4/5*
April 22, 2024
This is the story of a young indentured worker and the oppressive organization which owns him. How he is punished for saving two lives, how he is loathed by his new peers when he rises in rank, how his idiot superiors accuse him of being a fckup, how he meets the girl, and how they all go for a space romp.
At best, this is a "meh" story. Back in the olden days, pulp fiction authors would crank out stories the way that McDonalds cranks out burgers. They were basic mindless stories with a bit of action, a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance, and maybe even a bit of humor. Except for the humor, this perfectly describes Larson's First Strike. I made it all the way through the book just to see if it actually went anywhere, other than by me throwing it across the room. It didn't. If you're looking for a bit of exercise for your eyes by moving them back and forth across a page, you might find this book useful.
At best, this is a "meh" story. Back in the olden days, pulp fiction authors would crank out stories the way that McDonalds cranks out burgers. They were basic mindless stories with a bit of action, a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance, and maybe even a bit of humor. Except for the humor, this perfectly describes Larson's First Strike. I made it all the way through the book just to see if it actually went anywhere, other than by me throwing it across the room. It didn't. If you're looking for a bit of exercise for your eyes by moving them back and forth across a page, you might find this book useful.
May 25, 2023
It was 2125. Devin Storm an earth-born D-Class rock rat mining ore on asteroids was deeply in debt to his employer when on instinct he intervened with claim-jumpers. His life changed. Moving from the bowels of his mining ship, the Borag, he began a new life in Red Company as a marine if he could fit in and prove himself and survive.
This is the first book in a series (science fiction military fiction) and my first read of B.V. Larson. The story hooked me right away. It was a fast-paced read. Devin's character emerged as the central character. There was a strong straightforward story line with little scientific explanations to take the reader on byways. The ending leads to the continuation of the story. I had enough to be both satisfying and intriguing for what comes next.
I look to following Devin in the next in the installment of the series.
This is the first book in a series (science fiction military fiction) and my first read of B.V. Larson. The story hooked me right away. It was a fast-paced read. Devin's character emerged as the central character. There was a strong straightforward story line with little scientific explanations to take the reader on byways. The ending leads to the continuation of the story. I had enough to be both satisfying and intriguing for what comes next.
I look to following Devin in the next in the installment of the series.
January 7, 2024
This book is pretty mid.
I get the point is to somehow equate this starships with Napoleonic sea going ships with a contingent of Marines and sailors.
However, the squad tactics fail. I am not even sure there is an entire company of marines, it feels like there is barely a platoon of Marines.
The corporate would is under fleshed out. This is clearly a Klepto-Slavery economy and that could be fleshed out far more (I was actually expecting a workers rebellion to be the 'First Strike').
The science and economics of space travel is super squishy. How can this 1000 person mining ship travel from inner to outer solar system? What is their fuel source? How many supplies do they bring?
I get the point is to somehow equate this starships with Napoleonic sea going ships with a contingent of Marines and sailors.
However, the squad tactics fail. I am not even sure there is an entire company of marines, it feels like there is barely a platoon of Marines.
The corporate would is under fleshed out. This is clearly a Klepto-Slavery economy and that could be fleshed out far more (I was actually expecting a workers rebellion to be the 'First Strike').
The science and economics of space travel is super squishy. How can this 1000 person mining ship travel from inner to outer solar system? What is their fuel source? How many supplies do they bring?
July 10, 2024
Our hero in First Strike is an asteroid miner working off an indenture but piling up debts he will never be able to pay. He is rescued from this dreary fate by joining a company of marines sent to investigate an alien contact on the dwarf planet Eris. Inspired by the Alien film series, the story has some engaging twists on the familiar plot. I also appreciate that it is a first-contact story set within the confines of the solar system. B. V. Larson is one of a whole gang of writers who have produced extensive catalogs of military science fiction. First Strike! is a bit better than average. 3.5 stars.
June 6, 2023
Fun and fast book with the usual expected stuff - (first person narration) the down-on-his-luck tough guy who gets a break and starts proving himself, over-the-top action, irony and sarcasm, a bit of romance, impossible odds, aliens and pirates etc. Goes really fast so can be finished in one sitting and I definitely plan to read book 2 which continues where book 1 ends.
Overall enjoyed it a lot as a fast pulpy solar system action adventure with an ending at a good tbc point.
Overall enjoyed it a lot as a fast pulpy solar system action adventure with an ending at a good tbc point.
May 27, 2024
I enjoyed it, the universe had depth, and a reminiscent feeling of the age of sale. There were areas for improvement to be sure but overall, the experience was great, and I felt connected to the setting and what was occurring in it. The antagonistic characters were wonderfully dislikable, I found myself hoping one, an Accountant Blackwood, would have an 'accident' and the main character would get a last laugh moment.
May 12, 2023
Doesn't seem like a b.v. Larson book
Slow going. Characters were pretty dull. Not much happened. Resolution of the plot was flat.
I am a huge bv Larson fan. he is my favorite author. hard to give a 2 star rating but if it wasn't written by bv i would not have spent time finishing the book. Bv writes great stories. Did not feel like it was his book
Slow going. Characters were pretty dull. Not much happened. Resolution of the plot was flat.
I am a huge bv Larson fan. he is my favorite author. hard to give a 2 star rating but if it wasn't written by bv i would not have spent time finishing the book. Bv writes great stories. Did not feel like it was his book
September 21, 2023
Good start
Mr. Larson did a great job entertaining me. I love a good space story, and this has all the right elements. I love the main character. He started out as a tragic hero who blossomed into a Space Marine. Give it a chance. The start is not as slow as it seems at first. Good read.
Mr. Larson did a great job entertaining me. I love a good space story, and this has all the right elements. I love the main character. He started out as a tragic hero who blossomed into a Space Marine. Give it a chance. The start is not as slow as it seems at first. Good read.
May 2, 2023
Great new series by BV Larson
I can't wait until the next book comes out! This book was captivating and fun, hard to put down! BV Larson did a great job of building an entire new spacefaring civilization in short order.
I can't wait until the next book comes out! This book was captivating and fun, hard to put down! BV Larson did a great job of building an entire new spacefaring civilization in short order.
May 15, 2023
Entertaining with plenty of action
Larson has written an exciting book with plenty of action and an interesting hero that the reader can emphasize with. I am ready to read the next book in the series!
Larson has written an exciting book with plenty of action and an interesting hero that the reader can emphasize with. I am ready to read the next book in the series!
May 28, 2023
Another excellent series
Started off a bit slow, but the author does a wonderful job of building the characters. Overall, the book is very entertaining and difficult to put down! Highly recommend this one and now I'm off to the next.
Started off a bit slow, but the author does a wonderful job of building the characters. Overall, the book is very entertaining and difficult to put down! Highly recommend this one and now I'm off to the next.
July 23, 2023
A promising start.
A very deft and well crafted storyline. A bit predictable so far; but the right elements of a promising space opera are in place. Mr. Larson continues to craft novels worth reading.
A very deft and well crafted storyline. A bit predictable so far; but the right elements of a promising space opera are in place. Mr. Larson continues to craft novels worth reading.
August 23, 2023
starts a bit ho him but
Not a great start for a space opera but not a bad beginning…
Interesting start then a bit slow but the storyline picks up. Secondary plot develops pretty well - pirates
Goo storyline at end +
Will probably buy next one
Not a great start for a space opera but not a bad beginning…
Interesting start then a bit slow but the storyline picks up. Secondary plot develops pretty well - pirates
Goo storyline at end +
Will probably buy next one
October 29, 2023
Working for the man
Interesting read, truly deplorable conditions existing in this future that make the middle ages and peasants look like they were having a good time. Sort of combined indentured servants and slaves working in a company town lifting 16 tons.
Interesting read, truly deplorable conditions existing in this future that make the middle ages and peasants look like they were having a good time. Sort of combined indentured servants and slaves working in a company town lifting 16 tons.
December 20, 2023
A messed up system of government.
Corporate greed on a solar scale and the poor marines at the bottom.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
Corporate greed on a solar scale and the poor marines at the bottom.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
December 26, 2024
I love Larson's Undying Mercenaries series. I'm on book 19. It's action packed and hilarious. This book is so flat. The characters are completely empty and there's no real plot. Not sure how it's the same author
January 16, 2025
Another great series from Mr Larson
B.V. Larson has a way with these sci fi stories no one else does. Loved undying mercenaries and so far with the start of this series it might be better.
B.V. Larson has a way with these sci fi stories no one else does. Loved undying mercenaries and so far with the start of this series it might be better.
May 13, 2023
Good writing
Larson has come through again. While the plot is well worn, the author cast
new characters. I will remain a reader of all his works.
Larson has come through again. While the plot is well worn, the author cast
new characters. I will remain a reader of all his works.
May 31, 2023
Decent read
The main character was not very developed but it was worth the time. Lets see if the series I moves wit h time
The main character was not very developed but it was worth the time. Lets see if the series I moves wit h time
June 18, 2023
A Good Start
I like the characters, and grew to care about them, my priority for stories. The plot and science come after. Give this a try.
I like the characters, and grew to care about them, my priority for stories. The plot and science come after. Give this a try.
June 21, 2023
Too formula
July 2, 2023
Great start
Fantastic start to a great new series. Love it already and going for book 2. Keep up the great work
Fantastic start to a great new series. Love it already and going for book 2. Keep up the great work
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews