Alien Agendas

Solar Warden #3

by Ian Douglas

Reptilian aliens, Nazis in space, time-traveling humans, kidnapped girlfriends, government psychics--it all comes down to this: New York Times bestselling author Ian Douglas delivers the jaw-dropping finale to his action-packed military sci-fi Solar Warden adventure series.


The Saurians, a highly evolved reptilian species which escaped extinction 65 million years ago, have an agenda: to achieve behind-the-scenes dominance over Earth. Operating from hidden bases, they use psychosocial techniques to plant conspiracy theories and instill fear within the human population. Too weak in numbers to militarily conquer a world they believe to be their own, they seek to renew Nazi strongman ideologies and surrogates to gain absolute control.

Their first attempt is thwarted by the Talis, time-traveling humans from the far future. Yet, their assistance is limited as they face an all-out time war that could sweep modern humanity and their futuristic society into oblivion.

With the human species in danger, Commander Mark Hunter and his Joint Space Strike Team must work alongside Talis agents, the U.S. Space Force, and a young and talented government psychic to stop the Saurians from world dominance.

As if saving earth wasn't challenging enough, Hunter's girlfriend, Jerry, was kidnapped by the infamous Men in Black to control him. Now Hunter has just one chance to find and rescue his love and the rest of the captives before the Saurians bring the entire base crashing down around him and his people.

Commander Mark Hunter and his crew require a miracle, and perhaps even that might not be enough...

Genres: Science Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Ian Douglas is a pseudonym used by William H. Keith Jr..

Reviews

[William Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Alien Agendas", book 3 in Ian Douglas' romp through time and space, is apparently intended to be the final volume in his "Solar Warden" trilogy, and I was excited to receive an ARC from the publishers, Avon and Harper Voyager (to whom I am grateful). I was already familiar with this series, so I was primed, as it were, for its eclectic blend of space travel, time travel and twisted history. This eclecticism, for want of a better term, is the defining characteristic of this sci-fi/fantasy romp featuring Nazis, sentient space-faring Dinosaurs from the distant past and well meaning but extremely secretive progressive beings from the distant future, to include new species descended, in one fashion or another, from humankind. If all that doesn't stimulate at least a wee bit of interest on the part of those readers interested in thinking well outside the box, I don't know what would! As you might expect, any discussion of the plot would likely quickly become subsumed in the vast and astounding cast of characters. My advice to you is to kick back and just enjoy the very wild ride. I found it entertaining in an often eye popping way and a delightful read far removed from some of the far more conventional stuff that formerly populated this writer's rather extensive canon. It begs for someone to adapt the text for a movie or television script (the key would be casting). Enjoy!

[Ernest · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this was a guilty pleasure, go ahead and convict me. It's not, actually, but very valid sf instead. Yes, it would make more lit-oriented readers cringe, but it gets the job done. What job? Glad you asked. Sf should throw up mind-stretching what-if questions and then work hard to keep you entertained while it answers them. Ian Douglas' Solar Warden trilogy (though it may yet add more books) comes up with a nearly Douglas Adams level of questions about everything, mixing "Reptilian aliens, Nazis in space, time-traveling humans, kidnapped girlfriends, government psychics" and every conspiracy theory you the author could think of all in one "action-packed military sci-fi" adventure.

In Alien Agendas, our hero Mark Hunter once a Navy Seal special forces guy, is now in command of the Space Forces elite JSST One force, a mix of special forces types from all the different branches and assigned to Earth's big starship carrier, the Hinckelpopper, or something like that )I should go back and look it up). This all takes place in our present, though clearly in a slightly different timeline, because the historical dates don't quite match up. Otherwise it could be now and the Space Force's real mission and capabilities, including the Lunar base, are just under wraps.

Mark has a white whale of sorts, a girlfriend who was abducted a few books back and is currently in storage in an alien base under the Pacific. He knows this thanks to a gal who does remote viewing (we get fringe science along with the conspiracies) and he's been keen to get her and the hundreds. Thousands? of other abductees in storage out of hock, but the powers that be including MJ-12 (if you don't know, look it up) don't want to rock the boat.

Meanwhile, our Mars Base has been overrun by the Saurians, the time-traveling sentient dinosaurs that have entitlement issues about a bunch of mammals owning the planet, and his team is sent to clear out the lizards.

Action ensues.

One of the interesting things about Ian Douglas' mul-sf is that because it often takes place in the now or the near now, he does a good job of depicting the difficulty of adapting to OOTT (operations other than terra). The JSST-One is a new force and they're still getting their weightless footing and they're badly outgunned by advanced alien tech. Humanity has allies from across the timeline, but they're sort of cautious about how much help we should get because, you know...wiping out their future.

So, back to my opening comment. If Solar Warden is a guilty pleasure, I'll plead to the crime, if crime it be.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alien Agendas by Ian Douglas a.k.a. William H. Keith is the third book in the "Solar Warden" trilogy. This book is a military science fiction book set in an alternative history America. This book ends the story in a fine fashion with plenty of action and many plot twists. I really enjoyed how the author incorporated the COVID-19 pandemic and many of the conspiracy theories present in our society today into the storyline and blamed it on alien influence. Who knows? Maybe he is even correct. Ian Douglas a.k.a. William H. Keith never fails to deliver in his writing. He is always one of my go-to authors when I see a book of his that I haven't read as of yet.

[Gary Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent +

Whew! Someone said that a good book is one that you can't wait for it to end, and then when it does you don't want it to... Well, this was one of those. Great series!!! Had to keep reminding myself that it's fiction. This is an amazing author... I especially enjoyed how he used actual quotes at the beginning of each chapter and tied them to the story. One last comment... This book left me realizing just how thin the ice is that we're walking on as a society, word wide. 🙂

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting a series like this with the third book can be a daunting task. There are lots of different cultures as well as lots of characters, so keeping it all straight and following it can be difficult. Having said all that, however, I was entertained by the book, and that is my major yardstick in assessing any book. I think I will need to find the first two books in the series to really appreciate the series. I’m sure a lot of blank spots would get fleshed out. So what I think, is that the book had lots of action and was well worth reading.

[Al Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting and decently technical so somewhat believable. I liked the fact that “aliens” weren’t even aliens in the actual sense. I did think the dinosaurs probably should win over humans whom are destroying the environment but in this reality the dinosaurs probably are as well. In any case I thought the dinosaurs being there first meant they do have a right to earth and I was much more on their side. I would have liked to see a little more of their perspective. Otherwise a fun read and somewhat realistic.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fight continues...

LtCmdr. Hunter fights to understand all sides in the war he is caught in the middle of...who is really on his side, who can he count on? An is the people he is fighting with what he believes them to be.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recent Reads: Alien Agenda. The final book in Ian Douglas' Solar Warden milSF series. FTL and time travel means all UFO conspiracies are real, past and future are at war and we are the battleground. It's time for humanity to take control of its destiny. Intelligent space opera.

[Garrett Olinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting story, and background. The story has too many elements going at once, too many oddball resolutions, and an improbable premise. I have read a few of the author's books, and might not read any more.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual genre.

The book was so-so for me.

I won a copy from Goodreads.

[irina · Rating 2 out of 5]

quite primitive

Standard military story transferred into space. One stereotype after another. The plot is both convoluted and very primitive. Often implausible.

[Judy Belle Hall]

Still reading it. Will get back with you! 🙂

[Jordan Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great third book in the series. Definitely enjoyed the storyline and how it made you think about other possibilities aka conspiracy theories #GoodreadsGiveaway

[Lee Jenkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I saw no loose ends, Mr. Douglas seems to have included everything and turned it into a first rate SciFi story.

[Timothy Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting tale

I enjoyed this book and the brief rundown of various theories in the general public today. I wonder if there will be more to this series.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

And more. Waiting for some payoff. This one wrapped up a dumb plot line with a girlfriend and added some sex that seemed unnecessary and dull.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the trilogy. It does fell kind of unfinished. Still enjoyed it.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alien Agendas : Solar Warden Book 3 by Ian Douglas

This is an exceptionally good series with a VERY diverse cast of characters and plot lines. Interstellar travel blended with time travel, vengeful dinosaurs and demented Nazis plus Amazonian beauties as grandchildren.
Hunter as the former Seal and Elana, the telepathic knockout continue in their main roles. The Space Force is maturing along with its equipment and personnel. The author does a great job incorporating some of the more ludicrous aspects of today’s society. Fake new, memes, conspiracy theories seem dreadfully appropriate the night before the mid-term election. It seems more believable that all this rampant stupidity is imposed by an inimical outside force than ordinary people ignoring common sense and suddenly hating their neighbors. If only it were so…
Perhaps Douglas has an inside track.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.