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Von Neumann's War #1
Von Neumann's War
New series. Mars is changing. Seemingly overnight the once "Red" planet is turning to gray. Something is happening, something unnatural. A team of, literally, rocket scientists figure out a way to send a probe, very fast, to Mars to determine how and why it is changing. However, when the probe is destroyed well short of the formerly red planet, it's apparent that Mars is being used as a staging ground. The only viable target for that staging ground is Earth. Ranging from rocket design to brilliant paranoids to “in your face” fighting in Iraq, Von Neumann’s War is a fast paced look at what would happen if the earth was attacked by a robot race that, quite accidentally, was bent on destroying civilization.
576 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
29 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
John Ringo
101 books1,831 followersJohn Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 3, 2012
I picked up this book because I was in the mood for a good invasion novel. The synopsis had all the things that should go into a good novel describing an invasion of the Earth in the near future.
Too bad that was the only place there was anything “good” concerning this novel.
This novel had all the potential to be a very enjoyable story, but it lacked many things that would have put it in the “great book” category. The authors manage to bury what little action and tension is in the book with a lot of scientific explanations that act more as an attempt to show how well the authors can research a subject like astronomy, rocket propulsion and government procedure instead of showing how they can craft a good story. As you can see from the other reviews, many readers wound up skipping much of the book that covered the scientific explanations as they hunted for the action and good parts.
There were times in the book where the authors flirted with greatness like mentioning the crisis in Europe after the invasion force took over Paris. They could have developed these sections much further and created a significant impact on the reader, but instead they gloss over them in a few pages. This is unfortunate because it gives you the sense that the authors do not know how to tell a good narrative and are more comfortable with repeating scientific theory (some which are wrongly quoted).
What little action there is in the book is okay, but not great. There are too many times where the passages de-evolve down into clichés and stereotypes that one would find in a trash fiction. Even when I could overlook the “US rules” messages, there were just too many formulaic scenes to really hold my interest.
My advice is to skip this book. What little good in the book is buried among a lot of technical garbage that serves to pull the reader out of the story and distract their attention. I would call this book a Harlequin Sci Fi novel, but that would be insulting to the Harlequin authors.
Too bad that was the only place there was anything “good” concerning this novel.
This novel had all the potential to be a very enjoyable story, but it lacked many things that would have put it in the “great book” category. The authors manage to bury what little action and tension is in the book with a lot of scientific explanations that act more as an attempt to show how well the authors can research a subject like astronomy, rocket propulsion and government procedure instead of showing how they can craft a good story. As you can see from the other reviews, many readers wound up skipping much of the book that covered the scientific explanations as they hunted for the action and good parts.
There were times in the book where the authors flirted with greatness like mentioning the crisis in Europe after the invasion force took over Paris. They could have developed these sections much further and created a significant impact on the reader, but instead they gloss over them in a few pages. This is unfortunate because it gives you the sense that the authors do not know how to tell a good narrative and are more comfortable with repeating scientific theory (some which are wrongly quoted).
What little action there is in the book is okay, but not great. There are too many times where the passages de-evolve down into clichés and stereotypes that one would find in a trash fiction. Even when I could overlook the “US rules” messages, there were just too many formulaic scenes to really hold my interest.
My advice is to skip this book. What little good in the book is buried among a lot of technical garbage that serves to pull the reader out of the story and distract their attention. I would call this book a Harlequin Sci Fi novel, but that would be insulting to the Harlequin authors.
January 31, 2009
Mmmmmmm..... pulpy goodness. You know when people keep telling you that you just have to read so and so? Then you see the cover and the publishing house and know exactly what you're getting into? That's how I felt when I arrived at my in-laws and, after years of begging off saying "ohhhhh....yeah...that sounds greeeeaaaaattt" was presented with nearly a dozen John Ringo books- the cream of the crop as my well-intentioned father-in-law said. What to do, what to do? I have been humoring him for years now, so the polite thing to do would be to sit down and devour one or two of these during the course of our stay and then "accidentally" leave the rest in the guest room when we leave. He's a wily bastard though and now they're loaded in the back of our car accompanying us on our great journey North. So I guess I have a lot of book credits just waiting to be cashed in at some point...
The book itself? Standard invasion from another planet fluff. You know you're in for a treat when on the first page you learn that it is dedicated "to the soldiers, contractors, analysts, scientists, and engineers who press daily to maintain our nation's security." I am clearly in a whole other philosophical universe than the authors of this jingoistic pablum but labored through it so that you, dear reader, would not have to. Tough-guy Alpha male military types (who within the first 40 pages have already described the Iraqi insurgents as "dogs without honor" and "subhumans") and the rogue rocket scientists who love them may appeal to some but if this is the example of what is going to save humanity from extinction then maybe humanity doesn't need saving.
The book itself? Standard invasion from another planet fluff. You know you're in for a treat when on the first page you learn that it is dedicated "to the soldiers, contractors, analysts, scientists, and engineers who press daily to maintain our nation's security." I am clearly in a whole other philosophical universe than the authors of this jingoistic pablum but labored through it so that you, dear reader, would not have to. Tough-guy Alpha male military types (who within the first 40 pages have already described the Iraqi insurgents as "dogs without honor" and "subhumans") and the rogue rocket scientists who love them may appeal to some but if this is the example of what is going to save humanity from extinction then maybe humanity doesn't need saving.
October 5, 2011
In the beginning of this book, various professional and amateur astronomers notice that Mars is changing color. It is becoming slowly less red and more grey. Eventually, they figure out that it is being consumed by Von Neumann machines. For those who aren’t familiar, these are machines capable of replicating themselves. A team of Very Smart People in Huntsville, Alabama ends up developing the concepts for and leading the defense. If the location sounds familiar, it is the site of the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Redstone Arsenal, some of the premier rocket design locations in the United States. The book starts fast, and gets faster, as a reconnaissance probe is sent to find out more about the Von Neumann “probes” and then these attack Earth. The “motivation” of the probes is interesting. They only kill as a side effect. Mostly they just grab anything metal, including dental braces, cars, metal eyelets out of shoes, dog tags and rebar out of buildings, to make more of themselves. The story focuses on the Very Smart People, and they are quite a fun bunch of rocket scientists.
This is what happens when you combine Ringo, known for fast moving prose and a twisted sense of humor, with Taylor, who can write one heck of a fast moving plot. Hold on tight! Just like in his other works, Taylor’s story creeps up on you. It starts very small and by the end the fate of the world is at stake and the action scenes crowd each other out on the page. The initial alien attack conveniently lands near Paris. I say conveniently because the US can act as the Last Citadel. I suspect it also gave our authors a chance to destroy France. This book is great fun, the science is fascinating and the main characters sound like a group of people I’d like to have a beer with.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1205
This is what happens when you combine Ringo, known for fast moving prose and a twisted sense of humor, with Taylor, who can write one heck of a fast moving plot. Hold on tight! Just like in his other works, Taylor’s story creeps up on you. It starts very small and by the end the fate of the world is at stake and the action scenes crowd each other out on the page. The initial alien attack conveniently lands near Paris. I say conveniently because the US can act as the Last Citadel. I suspect it also gave our authors a chance to destroy France. This book is great fun, the science is fascinating and the main characters sound like a group of people I’d like to have a beer with.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1205
November 22, 2012
The Story: Mars is changing. Its albedo is getting brighter as it turns gray. The US sends a probe to Mars to find out what’s going on and finds structures that are being built by nanobots. Soon they discover that they have reformed most of the planets in the solar system and the Moon is next and then Earth. The nanobots consume everything metal which wreaks havoc once they come to earth. Satellites are down, communication is difficult and most weapons don’t work. A team of scientists and a rogue genius work separately then together to find a way to defeat the threat and save Earth.
My Thoughts: I like Ringo and Taylor as authors and have read many of their books. They have similar styles except that Ringo is a battle geek and Taylor is a science geek. That is very clear in this novel which blends a lot of military speak with a lot of tech-talk. While this is interesting is the right doses, in this novel it overpowers the story which is underdeveloped along with the characters. This is most noticeable in the first two-thirds of the book where we have a limited amount of actions and way too many characters none of which we really care about. Once the probes get to Earth the story gets better but by then I was ready to out the book down.
My Thoughts: I like Ringo and Taylor as authors and have read many of their books. They have similar styles except that Ringo is a battle geek and Taylor is a science geek. That is very clear in this novel which blends a lot of military speak with a lot of tech-talk. While this is interesting is the right doses, in this novel it overpowers the story which is underdeveloped along with the characters. This is most noticeable in the first two-thirds of the book where we have a limited amount of actions and way too many characters none of which we really care about. Once the probes get to Earth the story gets better but by then I was ready to out the book down.
February 13, 2017
I'm so fed up with the scientific details and discussions about made up tech stuff that I can't hardly stand to write this much of a review. The premise is interesting but applying it to a full length novel is incredibly boring. After 200 pages I was interested enough that I figured I could skim through the nearly incessant discussions and meetings about ideas and every bit of scientific explanation about those ideas and the repetitive, lame Hooters references and corny humor, but I couldn't manage to do that. I quit with only about 100 pages to get through. I'd rather move on to something else than suffer through anymore just to find out what clever way they beat the bots.
February 19, 2022
Another book about extraterrestrial menace that threatens humanity’s very existence. The plot strongly resembles the “Posleen war” series by Ringo: Earth has some time to prepare itself, but fails, and shortly after the invasion US is the only remaining country. Then, at the moment when all seems to be lost, a miraculous turnaround helps to win the battle and gives hope to eventually free the world.
Though the science is good, and though there are some really funny moments here and there, they are sparse and rare. I would not recommend this book. Instead, go and reread the “Posleen war” series again.
Though the science is good, and though there are some really funny moments here and there, they are sparse and rare. I would not recommend this book. Instead, go and reread the “Posleen war” series again.
April 23, 2008
Honestly, if they'd made the book faster paced and not explained every bit of technology related to what they were doing (I'm sure that is the Taylor parts of the book btw), I'd have given the book five stars. Too much technobabble, but the action sequences and the concept of Von Neumann probes was interesting.
If you like alien invasion stories, you should read this one; just remember to struggle past the intensely technical technology oriented passages.
I might point out that Heinlein wrote hard SF and made it understandable to his readers; Taylor has a bit of a way to go. Ringo does better by himself in my opinion.
Mind you, I don't dislike Taylor; I read two of his books which were pretty good once you got past the technobabble. Ringo is just by far the better of the two writers; in fact, I'd call him one of the brightest talents in SF today.
If you like alien invasion stories, you should read this one; just remember to struggle past the intensely technical technology oriented passages.
I might point out that Heinlein wrote hard SF and made it understandable to his readers; Taylor has a bit of a way to go. Ringo does better by himself in my opinion.
Mind you, I don't dislike Taylor; I read two of his books which were pretty good once you got past the technobabble. Ringo is just by far the better of the two writers; in fact, I'd call him one of the brightest talents in SF today.
May 30, 2017
Can I give a book 2.5 stars? Written totally without style, but well-visualized enough to be an engaging page-turner, this alien invasion potboiler sees Earth assaulted by swarms of flying alien drones who rip metal out of buildings, vehicles, and human prosthetics, reproducing at lightning speed. The story starts slowly; for the first 1/4 of the book the aliens are only seen in telescopes as they terraform Mars, and then the moon, turning the red planet gray as they stripmine the planet to build vast metal megacities. But what begins as a distant, creeping threat becomes real as the probes make planetfall in Europe, destroying everything within reach and slowly creeping across the continents, till at last only Fortress America (of course) remains to put up a last stand against the ever-spreading alien probes.
John Ringo's "A Hymn Before Battle" invasion novel -- really just a series of infantry squad battles against uninteresting giant killer lizards -- bored me to tears, but his co-author Travis Taylor must bring something to the mix, because "Von Neumann's War" manages a sense of rising threat and apocalypse, bolstered by lots of science. If anything, too much science: large portions of the book consist of astronomers, scientists and military tacticians explaining the science of the alien invasion, analyzing the aliens' scheme and coming up with counterstrategies. Female characters are either adorable little girls or big-breasted sex objects, from the hero's tween daughter who realizes the invaders are Von Neumann machines while watching a "Justice League" episode about Von Neumann machines (very meta), to the astrophysicist who works as a Hooters waitress and offers up scientific advice while flirting with the male good ole' boys. (Oh, John Ringo!) The US military and scientific establishment are firmly heroic, though the paranoid anti-government survivalist genius scientist gets his turn as a hero too . But despite all the cheese and data-dumps and machismo, Ringo & Taylor know how to gradually tease us with information about the mysterious invaders, how to slowly amp up the apocalypse, level and how to keep the reader guessing about the climax till the very last minute, although . I came at this book with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised that it was entertaining enough to read through to the end, and that's the best compliment I can pay it.
John Ringo's "A Hymn Before Battle" invasion novel -- really just a series of infantry squad battles against uninteresting giant killer lizards -- bored me to tears, but his co-author Travis Taylor must bring something to the mix, because "Von Neumann's War" manages a sense of rising threat and apocalypse, bolstered by lots of science. If anything, too much science: large portions of the book consist of astronomers, scientists and military tacticians explaining the science of the alien invasion, analyzing the aliens' scheme and coming up with counterstrategies. Female characters are either adorable little girls or big-breasted sex objects, from the hero's tween daughter who realizes the invaders are Von Neumann machines while watching a "Justice League" episode about Von Neumann machines (very meta), to the astrophysicist who works as a Hooters waitress and offers up scientific advice while flirting with the male good ole' boys. (Oh, John Ringo!) The US military and scientific establishment are firmly heroic, though the paranoid anti-government survivalist genius scientist gets his turn as a hero too . But despite all the cheese and data-dumps and machismo, Ringo & Taylor know how to gradually tease us with information about the mysterious invaders, how to slowly amp up the apocalypse, level and how to keep the reader guessing about the climax till the very last minute, although . I came at this book with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised that it was entertaining enough to read through to the end, and that's the best compliment I can pay it.
October 5, 2017
Like some of Ringo's other books, this one was over-filled with scientific explanations. Not that I object to the science - it is science fiction, after all! But there's a limit to how much you can force down the throat of your reader while still maintaining an interesting story line and keeping it moving. I did, as a matter of fact, enjoy the story. And most of the characters, of whom there are many, and at least some of the humor, which was, sadly, rather nerdish. The author answers the question of how such a war might be fought and strives for realism in dealing with its realities. But if this somewhat specialized niche of SF doesn't really appeal, skip this. You won't have the patience, and it did require some patience to put up with all the idea-explaining bogging the story down.
September 3, 2021
What can I say, it's entertaining and fun to read. It lost a star for a bit of lack of imagination. A more interesting outcome and any kind of useful explaination as to why the Von Neumann probes existed at all and who made them would be good, even if it was just a prologue side story that the main characters never become aware of would be fine. Lost opportunity to explore some possibilities there. Read it if you need a mostly not serious scifi romp.
June 14, 2019
This is a fantastic book! As always, Ringo does not sugarcoat: war is war, and it brings on many casualties. But the story itself is a hymn to American people, American ingenuity, American warriors, and even America's conspiracy theorists! The role Huntsville Hooters plays in the story is a great bi-line and a wonderful comic relief!
February 29, 2024
I didn't hate it. But I didn't write my review right after reading so I've forgotten my thoughts. My youngest brother recommended a different series by the author. Hopefully my library will eventually carry that title in audiobook form and I can give this author another try.
September 4, 2017
This book deserves a sequel!
May 18, 2021
good invasion by aliens story, machine repeating goo formation, runaway effect... maybe.
April 24, 2022
more like 3.2
January 6, 2023
This is really probably a 3.5 for me. I love the idea of fighting a war against replicating bots, but the approach and wroting is so militaristic and that aspect doesn't really appeal to me.
November 21, 2023
Very good.
July 29, 2025
Alien robots take over Earth's solar system. A collection of scientists and military work together in Huntsville, AL to turn the tide. Exciting and fast.
October 26, 2025
This book came recommended (not by people who know my tastes, but by Reddit readers talking about alien invasion books).
I was very excited to start this one, but, unfortunately, really disappointed by it.
As others have mentioned, sections are a real slog, and there is surprisingly little of anything happening considering the length of the book. Yes, scientific things are explained, but that doesn't usually bother me. In fact, I usually enjoy it. Here, however, something about it felt like it was more trying to make a point of having done some homework than really being integral to the author's storytelling.
This, however, wasn't my big issue with the book, and what drove me to write a review/warning:
WARNING FOR READERS:
This book leans heavily into the "rah rah" vibe, often described as HFA, and it is hard to get through. Moreover, this book is squarely aimed at the type of audience who want their heroes (literally) having their big meetings at Hooters as they discuss the waitress' body, over and over again.
Just not my thing, and it really got in the way of the core story.
I was very excited to start this one, but, unfortunately, really disappointed by it.
As others have mentioned, sections are a real slog, and there is surprisingly little of anything happening considering the length of the book. Yes, scientific things are explained, but that doesn't usually bother me. In fact, I usually enjoy it. Here, however, something about it felt like it was more trying to make a point of having done some homework than really being integral to the author's storytelling.
This, however, wasn't my big issue with the book, and what drove me to write a review/warning:
WARNING FOR READERS:
This book leans heavily into the "rah rah" vibe, often described as HFA, and it is hard to get through. Moreover, this book is squarely aimed at the type of audience who want their heroes (literally) having their big meetings at Hooters as they discuss the waitress' body, over and over again.
Just not my thing, and it really got in the way of the core story.
March 5, 2013
Spoilers ahead, if that really matters? Pretty sure you should know what you're getting into if you look at the front cover.
This book is schlock, a decently-executed thought experiment with unengaging plot added to pad it to book length. It nerds out over hardware specifications and such in a way that only starts makes up for its painfully normative characters and derivative plot. I mean, do we really need another story where the aliens are defeated because of hacking or viruses? The Von Neumann aspect did give the villains an interesting mindless ferocity that smacked of an alien zombie invasion. Unfortunately, without any explanation for who sent them, why they attacked Earth, or how many other similar swarms may be roaming the cosmos and ruining whatever planets they land on, they don't bring any depth to the story. The entire plot can be summarized as so: "Hey Mars is turning grey think that might be aliens? Yep aliens oh no they're eating all the metals and we can't stop them! But this one guy said we can hack them and win the war so then we did that."
This book is schlock, a decently-executed thought experiment with unengaging plot added to pad it to book length. It nerds out over hardware specifications and such in a way that only starts makes up for its painfully normative characters and derivative plot. I mean, do we really need another story where the aliens are defeated because of hacking or viruses? The Von Neumann aspect did give the villains an interesting mindless ferocity that smacked of an alien zombie invasion. Unfortunately, without any explanation for who sent them, why they attacked Earth, or how many other similar swarms may be roaming the cosmos and ruining whatever planets they land on, they don't bring any depth to the story. The entire plot can be summarized as so: "Hey Mars is turning grey think that might be aliens? Yep aliens oh no they're eating all the metals and we can't stop them! But this one guy said we can hack them and win the war so then we did that."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2010
Imagine you had to fight a full blown war against a highly intelligent, technologically superior adversary that can replicate itself in less than thirty seconds. Sounds tough, right? It gets better. Your weapons cannot include any sort of metal and you cannot use any sort of wireless electronics to communicate. At all. Why? Because the metal eating monsters from Mars are here and they don't give a darn about what you think of their presence.
Von Neumann's war is a rare bird of a book in which the adversary is so tough that halfway through I was wondering if they would actually win. Because the cards could not have been more stacked against the humans. The story is fast paced, intelligent, creative and best of all, believable. The characters are interesting and likable and the way they work together, often without realizing it, is great.
Von Neumann's war is a rare bird of a book in which the adversary is so tough that halfway through I was wondering if they would actually win. Because the cards could not have been more stacked against the humans. The story is fast paced, intelligent, creative and best of all, believable. The characters are interesting and likable and the way they work together, often without realizing it, is great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2015
Von Neumann's War By John Ringo
Depending on the depth of your science background, the title may provide more info than you expect. The book deals a future where the Borg may exist.
Ringo's strong point is the camaraderie he illustrates and the loyalty his characters have to their peers. I enjoy that aspect a great deal. The book waxed a bit pandemically but not enough to deter from the plot or enjoyment. Mankind faces an implacable foe and as the world succumbs, the USA fights back.
I recommend the book.
Web sites: http://www.johnringo.net/Home.aspx
Depending on the depth of your science background, the title may provide more info than you expect. The book deals a future where the Borg may exist.
Ringo's strong point is the camaraderie he illustrates and the loyalty his characters have to their peers. I enjoy that aspect a great deal. The book waxed a bit pandemically but not enough to deter from the plot or enjoyment. Mankind faces an implacable foe and as the world succumbs, the USA fights back.
I recommend the book.
Web sites: http://www.johnringo.net/Home.aspx
July 18, 2011
This novel walks a fine line between giving good military/scientific detail and lecturing.At times it slides into the lecturing aspect but overall is very good on balancing between the two.While there is an advantage to using technobabble, it is nice to see authors using real science for a change.
The premise of Von Neumann probes makes an interesting and different type of villian.It is easy to see how this could be a multi-volume series.The action is well-paced and balanced.
The premise of Von Neumann probes makes an interesting and different type of villian.It is easy to see how this could be a multi-volume series.The action is well-paced and balanced.
January 19, 2015
In an alternate timeline where Mars probes have failed to land on the red planet a recon flyby is planned to find out what is going on. What they find is scary to say the least and is something that could destroy the Earth itself!
Overall a really good book and one that I've read and reread many times. Highly recommended. Read my full review here.
Overall a really good book and one that I've read and reread many times. Highly recommended. Read my full review here.
January 23, 2009
This was very entertaining and a realistic look at what an alien invasion would probably be like. The characters are likable for the most part and the point of reference is limited to just a few characters - all Americans. At no time do we see what is happening in other parts of the world unless the author sends somebody there.
March 13, 2009
A good alien invasion book with typical overwhelming odds against the humans from Ringo.
I like the characters, though I felt they didn't have distinct plot lines, some just added for flavor.
The technical stuff just got a little overwhelming as well. Lots of hitting next page because I didn't want to learn the minutest detail of rocket construction.
I like the characters, though I felt they didn't have distinct plot lines, some just added for flavor.
The technical stuff just got a little overwhelming as well. Lots of hitting next page because I didn't want to learn the minutest detail of rocket construction.
December 28, 2011
If you love SCIENCE fiction (not stuff just pulled out of author's nether regions and accepted as reality) then you HAVE to read the books by John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor. Trust me, having a noted physicist (and accomplished write himself) as a co-author helps though Goddess knows Ringo can stand on his own.
November 18, 2009
Just what you would expect from John Ringo. I have become addicted to his military SF and I have found them all to be enjoyable reads. This one is no exception.
I found it well written and compelling. I could hardly put it down and when I was reading, I was totally immersed in the story.
I found it well written and compelling. I could hardly put it down and when I was reading, I was totally immersed in the story.
October 10, 2010
If the government really has evidence of alien intelligence and is covering it up, why does NASA have to struggle just to get a budget? If you've ever wondered how the government would react to having hard evidence of technological aliens, this book will remove all doubt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews