The War Dogs Trilogy

War Dogs #1-3

by Greg Bear

Collected in a single volume for the first time, the epic War Dogs trilogy of interstellar war from a master of science fiction.

The Gurus made their presence on Earth known thirteen years ago. Providing technology and scientific insights far beyond what mankind was capable of, they became indispensable advisors and promised even more gifts that we just couldn't pass up.


But they were followed by mortal enemies -- the Antagonists -- from sun to sun, planet to planet, and now the Gurus are stretched thin -- and they need humanity's help.


Our first bill has come due.


Skyrines like Michael Venn have been volunteered to pay the price. They face insidious enemies who were already inside the solar system, establishing a beachhead on Mars.

Venn and his comrades will be lucky to make it out alive -- let alone preserve the future of all of mankind.
The War Dogs Trilogy
War Dogs
Killing Titan
Take Back the Sky

Genres: Science Fiction

960 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2017

About the author

Greg Bear was an American writer and illustrator best known for science fiction. His work covered themes of galactic conflict (Forge of God books), parallel universes (The Way series), consciousness and cultural practices (Queen of Angels), and accelerated evolution (Blood Music, Darwin’s Radio, and Darwin’s Children). His last work was the 2021 novel The Unfinished Land. Greg Bear wrote over 50 books in total.

(For a more complete biography, see Wikipedia.)

Reviews

[Cole Simchick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite. I may have too much going on right now to really appreciate this book. The plot has a lot of twists and turns, but it left too much unexplained and it really did not make sense to me. Worth reading if you don't have much else on your list.

[Dick Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to Bear's hard SF writing. Felt a little juvenile like it was written more for a game or TV series.
(re: Heinlein's Starship Troopers) I still have faith in him not giving in to the trend and am waiting faithfully for The Unfinished Land (2020 and not SF).

[Claudia Putnam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't think it's worth enumerating the ways I hated this book. No more Greg Bear for me.

[Robert Funk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked most Bear books but this one I had to wade through. I finished it but why - it left lots open and ended like he ran out of plot and time.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two books rate 4 stars, but the third...

[George Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the first third, tolerated the second, slogged thru the third

I liked the first book quite a bit, both the action and mystery worked. The second tried to build on the second but started changing the characters and by the time I got to the third book it was unrecognizable to me. The secret has been revealed and outside of where they are there is no mystery or suspense left.

[Stephen Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard core epic battle science fiction that gets weird and trippy towards the end.

[Janell Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters, good storyline just a little long winded at the end.

[David G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am disappointed in the conclusion. After reading three books, a more epic finish was required.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too predictable and unnecessarily long

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very difficult read. I was assured it was fantastic sci-fi and a must read but 700+ pages only to find out that it was all just leading to a [Spoiler Alert] season 2 episode 16 rip off of the original Star Trek. That was a tad disappointing.

It just dragged.

The last book of the trilogy - ie the final 200 pages - did finally turn interesting, which oddly is the poorest of GR ratings, but even still, the ending seemed so terribly rushed considering the pace of the previous 500 pages. Almost like the author himself just wanted to mercifully end it after blessedly finding an escape route by ripping off Mr Roddenberry.