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The Great Martian War #1
The Great Martian War: Invasion!
Following the defeat of the Martian invasion of Britain, a new threat to humanity lands in the American west. President Roosevelt musters the captains of industry and leading scientists to find a way to turn back the Martian tide
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2016
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88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 13, 2021
A very good sequel to the original tale. Make sure to read all of these stories by Washburn.
May 29, 2017
In my younger days, I enjoyed H.G. Well's books, especially War of the Worlds. When Scott Washburn's version of the second invasion was announced, I couldn't wait for it. This is a grand tale of epic proportions. A story where personal lives matter and decisions have global ramifications. You get to see inside the thoughts of both the Americans and their Martian adversaries. An excellent book. His mixing of real historical personalities really makes the history seem real.
August 17, 2020
Great fun
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have always liked alternative history books and the fact this is based on H.G. Wells classic The War of the Worlds just added to the fun. Well written and an easy read, can hardly wait to read the next instalment.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have always liked alternative history books and the fact this is based on H.G. Wells classic The War of the Worlds just added to the fun. Well written and an easy read, can hardly wait to read the next instalment.
December 23, 2016
This is a very engaging listen. My rating 4.25. I will post a full review after Christmas.
February 27, 2017
A mix of Independence Day and Cowboys and Aliens.
June 23, 2023
I feel like this sort of book, the kind that tries to build off a classic that has passed into the public domain, come almost with an expectation that they will either be outshined by their source material or will be such a departure from that source material that they won't really be comparable to one another. This book manages to avoid those two pitfalls. Not only is it well written but, in my opinion, it expands on the original work in such a believable and intricate manner that I find myself seeing the original story as being incomplete without it. It is ultimately a different story in a different context than its source material, but despite that, I feel that it very much captures the "vibe" for lack of a better term, of the original story, and does so in a much more expanded setting and on a much more epic scale.
To go into more detail, in this story we not only get a view of how the world and more specifically America reacted to the events of the original book, but we also get to see the perspective of the Martian invaders. Where they were essentially just faceless imperialists in the original work, here we get a more nuanced but not overly convoluted look at the politics of this alien species with its own internal divisions and faced with a major societal challenge in the form of their world slowly dying out from under them. Not only that, but their world views are appropriately alien to us human readers and help to reinforce their villainous inhumanity.
Earth is also not without it's nuance. All these events are playing out in a world only a few years removed from the outbreak of WWI as well as in a context of European imperialism and the book does a good job of capturing, in an indirect manner, how a number of these tensions are still at play even as the world braces for a renewed Martian invasion. America is ultimately the focus, however, and the book does an equally good job at capturing the feeling of America at the turn of the 20th century. It is at once a country on the cusp of major technological advances, as portrayed through the likes of Edison and Tesla, but also a country not far removed from the technological and infrastructural paradigms of the 19th century, especially in the west, where the Martian invasion begins.
These elements combine to create an interesting opening for the series, where the modern elements of war like early tanks and artillery as well as the logistical systems needed to supply them, namely the railroads, meet the rugged, sparsely populated and still developing areas of the American west. And it is here, in this more limited and remote context, where the first clash of this renewed conflict takes place and where we get to see new and largely untested human weapons and systems of organization going up against more advanced and terrifying opponents in a (based on the context of the original book) very believable manner. It is a comparatively minor opening skirmish in the grand scheme of things, but one which promises much greater things to come in the books to follow, which I can already assure you are well worth a read as well.
To go into more detail, in this story we not only get a view of how the world and more specifically America reacted to the events of the original book, but we also get to see the perspective of the Martian invaders. Where they were essentially just faceless imperialists in the original work, here we get a more nuanced but not overly convoluted look at the politics of this alien species with its own internal divisions and faced with a major societal challenge in the form of their world slowly dying out from under them. Not only that, but their world views are appropriately alien to us human readers and help to reinforce their villainous inhumanity.
Earth is also not without it's nuance. All these events are playing out in a world only a few years removed from the outbreak of WWI as well as in a context of European imperialism and the book does a good job of capturing, in an indirect manner, how a number of these tensions are still at play even as the world braces for a renewed Martian invasion. America is ultimately the focus, however, and the book does an equally good job at capturing the feeling of America at the turn of the 20th century. It is at once a country on the cusp of major technological advances, as portrayed through the likes of Edison and Tesla, but also a country not far removed from the technological and infrastructural paradigms of the 19th century, especially in the west, where the Martian invasion begins.
These elements combine to create an interesting opening for the series, where the modern elements of war like early tanks and artillery as well as the logistical systems needed to supply them, namely the railroads, meet the rugged, sparsely populated and still developing areas of the American west. And it is here, in this more limited and remote context, where the first clash of this renewed conflict takes place and where we get to see new and largely untested human weapons and systems of organization going up against more advanced and terrifying opponents in a (based on the context of the original book) very believable manner. It is a comparatively minor opening skirmish in the grand scheme of things, but one which promises much greater things to come in the books to follow, which I can already assure you are well worth a read as well.
September 15, 2017
( Format : audiobook )
"Keep moving and try to find cover. "
An intriguing alternative history, set at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Following an initial, failed invasion by Martians in England some seven years before, President Roosevelt aims to prepare America for a future attack. But despite new ideas and inventions, when it comes, the country is still taken by surprise and the invaders seem unstoppable.
The story follows Andrew Comstock's progression from cadet, then up through the officer ranks as he becomes personally acquainted with the ordanace under construction then with the Martians, themselves. But the greater intelligence of the book is that it is also interspersed with a vision of the war from the Martian perspective, their own hopes and struggle shown.
Understandably, the pacing throughout is brisk and this is emulated by the narrator, whose fast presentation is, however, also given with understanding and sentiment. His voicings of the various protagonists is fine, though limited in range. Overall, a good performance by Ray Greenley.
My thanks to the rights holder, who gifted me a complementary copy of The Great Martian War, via Audiobook Boom. It was a clever concept with a feel of authenticity. Interesting to consider what might have been had such an invasion actually occured then and how would the peoples of earth sought to defend themselves
"Keep moving and try to find cover. "
An intriguing alternative history, set at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Following an initial, failed invasion by Martians in England some seven years before, President Roosevelt aims to prepare America for a future attack. But despite new ideas and inventions, when it comes, the country is still taken by surprise and the invaders seem unstoppable.
The story follows Andrew Comstock's progression from cadet, then up through the officer ranks as he becomes personally acquainted with the ordanace under construction then with the Martians, themselves. But the greater intelligence of the book is that it is also interspersed with a vision of the war from the Martian perspective, their own hopes and struggle shown.
Understandably, the pacing throughout is brisk and this is emulated by the narrator, whose fast presentation is, however, also given with understanding and sentiment. His voicings of the various protagonists is fine, though limited in range. Overall, a good performance by Ray Greenley.
My thanks to the rights holder, who gifted me a complementary copy of The Great Martian War, via Audiobook Boom. It was a clever concept with a feel of authenticity. Interesting to consider what might have been had such an invasion actually occured then and how would the peoples of earth sought to defend themselves
March 19, 2021
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: The first alien invasion ended almost as soon as it began. Pathogens, sickness. Martians had to run or die. Some died even though they ran. But their position is too desperate, they must try again, and soon.
Humans are getting ready for it, at least those who know it’ll happen again, for you can’t convince the masses that neither saw nor heard anything other than tales about some weird aliens in Europe. First airplanes are being built, first tanks, for there’s not much you can do with a shotgun off a horse’s back.
My Opinion: It’s definitely a good book for what it is. But in general, I didn’t enjoy it much. Too much riding, walking, and thinking where to ride or walk next.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: The first alien invasion ended almost as soon as it began. Pathogens, sickness. Martians had to run or die. Some died even though they ran. But their position is too desperate, they must try again, and soon.
Humans are getting ready for it, at least those who know it’ll happen again, for you can’t convince the masses that neither saw nor heard anything other than tales about some weird aliens in Europe. First airplanes are being built, first tanks, for there’s not much you can do with a shotgun off a horse’s back.
My Opinion: It’s definitely a good book for what it is. But in general, I didn’t enjoy it much. Too much riding, walking, and thinking where to ride or walk next.
November 21, 2017
Most of the world dismissed the martian invasion of England 'In the last years of the 19th century' as nonsense. Now the martians have returned and this time it's war.
Teddy Roosevelt leads the U.S. Showing the Brits just how it should be done. Even though I know the Brits are much better than the U.S. I cant help cheering them on. Cavalry vs martian war machines.
Well written and faithful to the original. I was very impressed to discover just how right H.G.Wells predicted modern warfare as far back as 1895. He described blitzkrieg, lasers, biological warfare, genocide and total devastation.
Teddy Roosevelt leads the U.S. Showing the Brits just how it should be done. Even though I know the Brits are much better than the U.S. I cant help cheering them on. Cavalry vs martian war machines.
Well written and faithful to the original. I was very impressed to discover just how right H.G.Wells predicted modern warfare as far back as 1895. He described blitzkrieg, lasers, biological warfare, genocide and total devastation.
May 26, 2023
Brilliant!
I don't normally read science-fiction books, but I LOVED this book.
Washburns easy to read, yet well researched writing style is something I don't always find in other books, and you could tell he knew his subject well when it came to military and military tactics.
A great 'encore' to the original war of the world's, and I encourage anybody who loved the original to read this book. I was hooked and found it hard to put down.
Can't wait to read the others books on his series.
I don't normally read science-fiction books, but I LOVED this book.
Washburns easy to read, yet well researched writing style is something I don't always find in other books, and you could tell he knew his subject well when it came to military and military tactics.
A great 'encore' to the original war of the world's, and I encourage anybody who loved the original to read this book. I was hooked and found it hard to put down.
Can't wait to read the others books on his series.
February 9, 2018
Epic War with a bit off a twist.
Mr. Washburn weaves a gripping tale in this sequel to H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds. His knowledge of military science along with multiple view points paints a compelling yet believable tale of humanity struggling against Invaders from Mars.
Mr. Washburn weaves a gripping tale in this sequel to H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds. His knowledge of military science along with multiple view points paints a compelling yet believable tale of humanity struggling against Invaders from Mars.
June 5, 2017
Great atmosphere!
October 15, 2020
It's the 2nd War of the Worlds. Washburn adds a Martian perspective. Teddy Roosevelt leads the charge as Martians invade the American west.
Silly Martians, New Mexico is for rattlesnakes.
Silly Martians, New Mexico is for rattlesnakes.
March 23, 2016
A complete page tunrer for sure! This book should be a must read for any fan of H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds. As well as those who have played and or familiar with the board game, All Quiet on the Martian Front. This is hopefully a start into an new series. a series with countless opportunities and ideas in which to explore. Mr. Washburn goes a fantastic job of weaving the complex yet simple story filled with fictional and historical characters you'll either love or hate. He captures the feel of the early 20th century with changes around the corner, and those that want to stay with the old ways of life. Have to say that one of the best parts of this book is the level of technology on both sides. Of course the martians being more advanced and yet the gap between martian and man isn't that wide. It still gives you the feeling that mankind may have an chance after all. While at the same time can still lose. It gives the story more of a realistic feeling.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews