First Strike

Blade #1

by David Robbins

Book by Robbins, David

Genres: Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Action

Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1989

About the author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_L....

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction into this series. We start out with Blade putting his team together and some training. This gives us a chance to see the character of each member of the group and learn a little about them. As is common in the opening book of a series, the pace is slower at the beginning but it's still interesting. Robbins does a good job of sketching in the world quickly, although if you've read his earlier series featuring Blade you'll know about the world.

The training comes to an abrupt halt as the still ungelled squad is thrown into battle against a horrific mutant called The Spider. Lots of action from that point on. Robbins does action very well. A good book and I've already bought the entire series so I'll be reading it as time goes on.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another post-apocalyptic adventure series. This is a spin off series from the Endworld Books. Recommended

[Sanara♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating- 3.5/5 stars

Interesting but a but predictable. I enjoyed reading Terror Strike and Devil Strike more than this..

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

“First Strike”, the beginning of the multi-volume 'First Strike' series is pulp fiction with all its highs and lows.
Blade, a thoughtful warrior, is tasked by the post-Apocalypse Governor of Free California to lead the Freedom Force, a small fast-moving tactical unit.
Reminiscent of 'The Dirty Dozen' the recruits, each from a different tribe, range from mutant to punk to hardened soldier.
After not enough training they are thrown in at the deep end to destroy the lair of The Spider in mountainous Northern California. He (or it) has been abducting women for years but only one has ever escaped.
Athena Morris was held for seven years and repeatedly raped by The Spider. There are two dozen women still being held captive. Those who fail to get pregnant are eaten. Those who do get pregnant produce either a mutant or a human baby.
Cue lots of gore-spattered battle, occasional musing about the nature of good and evil, and plenty of 'OMG!!!” moments.
The editing is appalling, the plot is about as basic as possible, but it does have a kind of manic energy once the bullets start flying.
2.5 Stars, brought back to 2 Stars.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Companion to the Endworld series, A pulp series that I read through junior high and high school. Even then, I knew it was a formulaic series, but it was fun to read and having found them recently in a box from my parents' house, I am thinking of reading them again.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this action/adventure story. Though it is science fiction like in dealing with mutants, it has a plot, caracterization and even a quite interesting philosophical basis.

[Theman Satm · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I still prefer the Endworld series that this series is a spin off of, it is interesting to see more of the world and the people in it.