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Forlorn Hope #1
Frontier Corps
They fight the wars nobody else wants to.
The Frontier Corps are the Terran Empire's repository for failures, malcontents, criminals, and other people with nothing left to lose but to sign their names on the dotted line of a ten year contract for another shot at life.
But flung across the stars to face horrifying enemies, it may as well be a death sentence.
Pari Petrosyan is a grizzled veteran of the Corps. With only a few months left of her contract, she has her mind on her discharge papers. Her easy path on her way to freedom is interrupted when a new commander arrives, ready to launch a large-scale military offensive to finally end the conflict she had spent her entire career fighting.
Caught between the grinding war machines of the empire and the inhuman monstrosities known as the Resh, Pari has to try to survive if she ever hopes to be free.
Experience the start of a Military Sci-Fi series from Joe Kassabian, author of the Liberty of Death Series. This gritty, space marine boots-on-the-ground series is perfect for fans of Rick Partlow, Galaxy's Legionnaire, and Starship Troopers.
The Frontier Corps are the Terran Empire's repository for failures, malcontents, criminals, and other people with nothing left to lose but to sign their names on the dotted line of a ten year contract for another shot at life.
But flung across the stars to face horrifying enemies, it may as well be a death sentence.
Pari Petrosyan is a grizzled veteran of the Corps. With only a few months left of her contract, she has her mind on her discharge papers. Her easy path on her way to freedom is interrupted when a new commander arrives, ready to launch a large-scale military offensive to finally end the conflict she had spent her entire career fighting.
Caught between the grinding war machines of the empire and the inhuman monstrosities known as the Resh, Pari has to try to survive if she ever hopes to be free.
Experience the start of a Military Sci-Fi series from Joe Kassabian, author of the Liberty of Death Series. This gritty, space marine boots-on-the-ground series is perfect for fans of Rick Partlow, Galaxy's Legionnaire, and Starship Troopers.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
273 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 11, 2023
If your thing is military sci-fi, you could do much worse than Joe Kassabian's Forlorn Hope series which starts with Frontier Corps. It's by no means groundbreaking but uses the time-honored trope of following a new recruit into the corps (who really is given no choice but to join up), through her first alien encounters, to her becoming a seasoned first Sargeant. To say more would be to give spoilers and you won't get those from me. I've been in a reading slump lately and have DNF'd most books I pick up, but this story and it's characters kept my interest right through to the end. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series to find out what happens next. BooYa!! Happy reading everyone!
December 9, 2022
A new author (to me, anyway) and a new series. This one is kind of strange, but it turns our pretty good. I'm a self proclaimed male chauvinist having said that many times in my reviews. I'm not drawn to read military science fiction books that have female leads/main characters and this is one of those books. Still, it reads pretty well because the main character is a pretty tough person of any gender. She is Senior Sergeant Pari Petrosyan, 1st Regiment, 16th Squadron, Charlie Troop, 3rd Platon. She's been at the job for nine years now out of ten year service contract. She just has a few months to make it to the end of this contract alive, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen!
You'll find out she didn't start out this way. No, she was a very young, but street-wise Three that made a living freelancing as a fixer on Level Three. Let me explain all that. The city she's was born and raised in on Earth is a hive city. It is stacked at least three levels high with the lowest level numbered three, the next above, level two and then level one. The major difference between the three levels was the amount of sun you actually got. Pari hadn't ever seen the sun. She lived her life running around on Level Three and never really imagined mixing it up with a Level Two and she'd never seen a Level 1. Those were the ultra-rich and royalty. So, Pari ran around fixing things for different gang members while skillfully avoiding becoming a member of any one gang. Most of the stuff she had for sale was just information. Something she heard about one gang member quietly told to someone else that she overheard and found could be profitable if someone else were given that same information. Unfortunately, her last job didn't go so well since she had tried a double-cross and nearly got herself killed.
But now she has just received a strange message telling here about a possible job. She didn't know who the sender was, but he was willing to meet with her at her usual watering hole, the Spot, which was run by her friend Ara. She didn't know Ara all that well, but he had helped her out in some tough spots. He owned the bar and that in itself was remarkable for a Three. So, she agreed to meet whomever sent the message and see what this was all about. That was going to be the one thing that changed her entire live. Oh, and killing two cops also had a lot to do with it.
For a lot of Threes there was only a couple of ways out of their station in life. You could die and that pretty much ended everything and Threes died every day in about every way possible. Then there was the Frontier Corps. You could, if you wanted and weren't to strung out on drugs or altered too much, just join up, but there was a waiting list for those Threes choosing that route. Enlistment in the Frontier Corps was for ten years, period. If you lived through that ten years, you would be retired to a colony planet and given farm. Most Frontier Corpsmen didn't last half their enlistment!
Ok, here's a little problem with this story. The author wants to call members of the Frontier Corps, Corpsmen. To me, that brings to mind those guys in medical units and the one guy in your unit that you always made friends with and made sure they were supplied with cigarettes or anything else that needed. So, it's kind of strange to be reading about all these "Corpsmen" when the author meant this to mean all the soldiers in the Frontier Corps. Actual Corpsmen are referred to as Medics, so at least that clear. Anyway, what's this got to do with Pari Petrosyan? Well, remember that I said she had killed two cops, actually she only killed one, but when she did, she happened to do it right when two members of the Frontier Corps came looking for her. They were recruiters and had been sent by Ara.
One of the Frontier Corpsmen actually finished off the second cop, but that was only so they could get Pari away from the place she was hiding without any witnesses. Of course these two Corpsmen were recruiters and they were taking Pari to join up for her own good. Oh, she could have refused, but having killed a cop, she knew her life on Level Three was just about over no matter what. So, she signed her ten-year enlistment papers and received a new identity down to and including a DNA change. She became Pari Petrosyan from that moment on and we never get to know her real name, ever!
The Frontier Corps is composed of people like her, Threes with no where to go but prison or worse. You were usually sent to an outpost to protect the Empires colonist. The posting Pari got was about the worst she could have gone to because the planet the Empire was trying to colonize had been fighting the native inhabitants for tens of years. After nine of those years, they were still fighting them while Pari became Senior Sergeant Pari Petrosyan. Now she has to stay alive for a few more months and she can be done with all this fighting and dying. She's lost so many friends that she hardly remembers anyone's name or face any more. Yet the enemy is unrelenting and it seems they are getting bolder. Now she has a new Lieutenant that she has to break in hoping he won't be the one to get her and her entire platoon killed.
The book is good, but it has a lot of editing mistakes. Words missing or used twice or sentences that just don't make sense. The book needs to be cleaned up. I might continue with this series, or I might not. That's my male chauvinist coming through, I guess. Either way, book 2, "Cold Steel" is available on Amazon and I've got it on my Reading list.
You'll find out she didn't start out this way. No, she was a very young, but street-wise Three that made a living freelancing as a fixer on Level Three. Let me explain all that. The city she's was born and raised in on Earth is a hive city. It is stacked at least three levels high with the lowest level numbered three, the next above, level two and then level one. The major difference between the three levels was the amount of sun you actually got. Pari hadn't ever seen the sun. She lived her life running around on Level Three and never really imagined mixing it up with a Level Two and she'd never seen a Level 1. Those were the ultra-rich and royalty. So, Pari ran around fixing things for different gang members while skillfully avoiding becoming a member of any one gang. Most of the stuff she had for sale was just information. Something she heard about one gang member quietly told to someone else that she overheard and found could be profitable if someone else were given that same information. Unfortunately, her last job didn't go so well since she had tried a double-cross and nearly got herself killed.
But now she has just received a strange message telling here about a possible job. She didn't know who the sender was, but he was willing to meet with her at her usual watering hole, the Spot, which was run by her friend Ara. She didn't know Ara all that well, but he had helped her out in some tough spots. He owned the bar and that in itself was remarkable for a Three. So, she agreed to meet whomever sent the message and see what this was all about. That was going to be the one thing that changed her entire live. Oh, and killing two cops also had a lot to do with it.
For a lot of Threes there was only a couple of ways out of their station in life. You could die and that pretty much ended everything and Threes died every day in about every way possible. Then there was the Frontier Corps. You could, if you wanted and weren't to strung out on drugs or altered too much, just join up, but there was a waiting list for those Threes choosing that route. Enlistment in the Frontier Corps was for ten years, period. If you lived through that ten years, you would be retired to a colony planet and given farm. Most Frontier Corpsmen didn't last half their enlistment!
Ok, here's a little problem with this story. The author wants to call members of the Frontier Corps, Corpsmen. To me, that brings to mind those guys in medical units and the one guy in your unit that you always made friends with and made sure they were supplied with cigarettes or anything else that needed. So, it's kind of strange to be reading about all these "Corpsmen" when the author meant this to mean all the soldiers in the Frontier Corps. Actual Corpsmen are referred to as Medics, so at least that clear. Anyway, what's this got to do with Pari Petrosyan? Well, remember that I said she had killed two cops, actually she only killed one, but when she did, she happened to do it right when two members of the Frontier Corps came looking for her. They were recruiters and had been sent by Ara.
One of the Frontier Corpsmen actually finished off the second cop, but that was only so they could get Pari away from the place she was hiding without any witnesses. Of course these two Corpsmen were recruiters and they were taking Pari to join up for her own good. Oh, she could have refused, but having killed a cop, she knew her life on Level Three was just about over no matter what. So, she signed her ten-year enlistment papers and received a new identity down to and including a DNA change. She became Pari Petrosyan from that moment on and we never get to know her real name, ever!
The Frontier Corps is composed of people like her, Threes with no where to go but prison or worse. You were usually sent to an outpost to protect the Empires colonist. The posting Pari got was about the worst she could have gone to because the planet the Empire was trying to colonize had been fighting the native inhabitants for tens of years. After nine of those years, they were still fighting them while Pari became Senior Sergeant Pari Petrosyan. Now she has to stay alive for a few more months and she can be done with all this fighting and dying. She's lost so many friends that she hardly remembers anyone's name or face any more. Yet the enemy is unrelenting and it seems they are getting bolder. Now she has a new Lieutenant that she has to break in hoping he won't be the one to get her and her entire platoon killed.
The book is good, but it has a lot of editing mistakes. Words missing or used twice or sentences that just don't make sense. The book needs to be cleaned up. I might continue with this series, or I might not. That's my male chauvinist coming through, I guess. Either way, book 2, "Cold Steel" is available on Amazon and I've got it on my Reading list.
August 21, 2024
Well written but hopelessly anachronistic
Vietnam in space with only predictable improvement in weapons and ridiculous tactics.
The story us well written with good characterisation but there is a lack of imagination in how the military ( any military ) might develop in hundreds of years. Yes I know it's science fiction but still some effort at scientific and military development could be made.
After fighting on a jungle planet for 50 years, no progress has been made in the annihilation of native population by human invaders.
Using tactics last seen in Vietnam the commanding general makes ridiculous plans for a final solution only to discover that the enemy have secretly developed astonishing military progress.
Forcing a major attack automatic defences shoot down enemy missiles and artillery, but human aircraft cannot take off in case they ate also shot down. We can do better than that now.
Gave a 3star for writing and character development but story's yuck.
Vietnam in space with only predictable improvement in weapons and ridiculous tactics.
The story us well written with good characterisation but there is a lack of imagination in how the military ( any military ) might develop in hundreds of years. Yes I know it's science fiction but still some effort at scientific and military development could be made.
After fighting on a jungle planet for 50 years, no progress has been made in the annihilation of native population by human invaders.
Using tactics last seen in Vietnam the commanding general makes ridiculous plans for a final solution only to discover that the enemy have secretly developed astonishing military progress.
Forcing a major attack automatic defences shoot down enemy missiles and artillery, but human aircraft cannot take off in case they ate also shot down. We can do better than that now.
Gave a 3star for writing and character development but story's yuck.
October 21, 2022
A lot of slam, bang action. So much so, I became numb to all the death being meted out in the story. I couldn’t help but wonder at the truth of the story: colonization never works against an indigenous race fighting to save their world. So, to a large extent, I felt no sorrow for all the human troopers who died, trying to take over a world that wasn’t theirs. As I just said, humans never seem to learn that they just can’t march into some other beings neighborhood and take over with some sort of “manifest destiny.”. The one’s already living there won’t let it happen. Afghanistan for example. Or now, the Ukraine.
The other thing I disliked about this book was the terrible editing job. Ugh. Hey Joe, pay me $500 and I’ll correct all the grammar faux pas, etc.
The other thing I disliked about this book was the terrible editing job. Ugh. Hey Joe, pay me $500 and I’ll correct all the grammar faux pas, etc.
October 19, 2022
very gritty and sad, military SF book.
If you like military, sci-fi, and don’t mind all the violence and death, you may enjoy this book. The title of the book or a partial title is Forlorned hope and that’s exactly what you get in this book. the book does not end on a cliffhanger, but it does end on a sad note. I am glad there is going to be a second book to follow up this one. Like the main character also liked her comrades. Unfortunately, a lot of them did not make it. I will not spoil who did or did not make it. but I am eagerly awaiting to see where the series goes from here.
If you like military, sci-fi, and don’t mind all the violence and death, you may enjoy this book. The title of the book or a partial title is Forlorned hope and that’s exactly what you get in this book. the book does not end on a cliffhanger, but it does end on a sad note. I am glad there is going to be a second book to follow up this one. Like the main character also liked her comrades. Unfortunately, a lot of them did not make it. I will not spoil who did or did not make it. but I am eagerly awaiting to see where the series goes from here.
December 20, 2022
Great Story
For one who doesn’t wade into space opera that much, I pulled this down from Kindle Unlimited, with knowledge I send it back easily. I must say, I enjoyed it. A page turner, to say the least. BUT… how can the corps believe the are only primitive beasts with their ability to create and use tech? A big hole. Also, I must comment on the text. This book is chocked full of grammatical errors, missing words, wrong words and a serious problem concerning the correct use of the comma. Joe, you seriously need to fire your proof reader and enlist someone who has a firm grip on the written word
For one who doesn’t wade into space opera that much, I pulled this down from Kindle Unlimited, with knowledge I send it back easily. I must say, I enjoyed it. A page turner, to say the least. BUT… how can the corps believe the are only primitive beasts with their ability to create and use tech? A big hole. Also, I must comment on the text. This book is chocked full of grammatical errors, missing words, wrong words and a serious problem concerning the correct use of the comma. Joe, you seriously need to fire your proof reader and enlist someone who has a firm grip on the written word
October 3, 2023
This MilSF is by-the-numbers battleporn, something that doesn’t tax your brain, which was exactly what I was looking for. Just an uncomplicated Vietnam War in Space story. It’s also just part one of a larger story. This isn’t destined to be a classic like The Forever War or Starship Troopers, it’s just a forgettable actioner to get you through an afternoon. And that’s okay.
October 18, 2022
What an amazing Marine Corp story.
A young person in an intolerable hell hole of a city that doesn't care for the lowest class of people struggling to even survive till the next morning. Come a story of a young person enlisting in the Imperial Marine Corps. This is their story of their lives in (The Monster) that they have been at war for decades!
EXCELLENT WORK, binge reading is quite possible.
A young person in an intolerable hell hole of a city that doesn't care for the lowest class of people struggling to even survive till the next morning. Come a story of a young person enlisting in the Imperial Marine Corps. This is their story of their lives in (The Monster) that they have been at war for decades!
EXCELLENT WORK, binge reading is quite possible.
January 28, 2023
Their?
What’s with all this”their “ stuff. This book isn’t good enough for an author to be making political statements. Stick to entertaining your readers and let your revolution slide while you are trying to be an author. Then start by giving your characters hope. Make them tougher than the enemy. Think of your battles as events rather than the entire book showing that everyone is going to die.
What’s with all this”their “ stuff. This book isn’t good enough for an author to be making political statements. Stick to entertaining your readers and let your revolution slide while you are trying to be an author. Then start by giving your characters hope. Make them tougher than the enemy. Think of your battles as events rather than the entire book showing that everyone is going to die.
October 16, 2022
Frontier Corpzs series book 1 excellent
I read Book 1 of the Frontier Corps on a whlm, not expecting much out of a 99 cent introduction ẹboo. I was completely surprised at the excellent style and plot of this story. A bright sample of SyFi the I have found refreshing. I will be buying the other in this series.
I read Book 1 of the Frontier Corps on a whlm, not expecting much out of a 99 cent introduction ẹboo. I was completely surprised at the excellent style and plot of this story. A bright sample of SyFi the I have found refreshing. I will be buying the other in this series.
October 29, 2022
March or Die
Not sure where that comes from? The Romans maybe, then used by many more people afterwards?
A good book. A new author to add to my list.
The military movement in this book is close to being real. Depending on the time period. The tanks used in this book are just great, being that I am a tanker.
I look forward to more stories
Not sure where that comes from? The Romans maybe, then used by many more people afterwards?
A good book. A new author to add to my list.
The military movement in this book is close to being real. Depending on the time period. The tanks used in this book are just great, being that I am a tanker.
I look forward to more stories
January 18, 2023
the real deal.
It is rare to find a military SciFi novel where the Terrans in the end do not just prevail but triumph.
Pari’s evolution a corpsman and individual were well developed.
The Prince a veteran of palace warfare, has his metal tested by fire and blood.
I look forward to reading other volumes in this series.
It is rare to find a military SciFi novel where the Terrans in the end do not just prevail but triumph.
Pari’s evolution a corpsman and individual were well developed.
The Prince a veteran of palace warfare, has his metal tested by fire and blood.
I look forward to reading other volumes in this series.
Read
January 28, 2023Great story .. Too many 'printing' errors
A ripping yarn well told. Great characters. Way too many grammatical errors and incorrect words used or doubled in error .. Did anyone proof read.this book or was it dictated to a bot?
I'm in two minds whether to read another in this series.
A ripping yarn well told. Great characters. Way too many grammatical errors and incorrect words used or doubled in error .. Did anyone proof read.this book or was it dictated to a bot?
I'm in two minds whether to read another in this series.
August 6, 2025
Good story, poor grammar!
The story line is exciting and the combat realistic. The grammar through out makes parts of it difficult to read. I don't know if it is the authors fault or whatever translated this for e-reading. It should have been proof read before publishing. I hope the rest of the series is better.
The story line is exciting and the combat realistic. The grammar through out makes parts of it difficult to read. I don't know if it is the authors fault or whatever translated this for e-reading. It should have been proof read before publishing. I hope the rest of the series is better.
October 17, 2022
A great book
So I have read Joe's other military sci do series and this one is his best work. It shows how joe continues to improve as a writer.
The story has great characters and surprising twists you don't expect as a cliff hanger for book 1 in a series
So I have read Joe's other military sci do series and this one is his best work. It shows how joe continues to improve as a writer.
The story has great characters and surprising twists you don't expect as a cliff hanger for book 1 in a series
October 23, 2022
Heck of a good tale!
Well written, well paced and packed with action! The story feels real and the characters are well developed. This is one of the best military sci-fi stories I've read!
Well written, well paced and packed with action! The story feels real and the characters are well developed. This is one of the best military sci-fi stories I've read!
October 25, 2022
The Kindle version is riddled with word use and grammar errors, like it went through an OCR or translation program. The plot/characters are better than average for the genre, but the ebook needs to be edited from start to finish.
October 26, 2022
very very good!
I pretty much read this straight thru in a day. It really sucked me in. Pretty similar to the first Frontlines book, but enough different to be interesting. Worth a purchase.
I pretty much read this straight thru in a day. It really sucked me in. Pretty similar to the first Frontlines book, but enough different to be interesting. Worth a purchase.
December 17, 2022
one of the better space marine book
This book is one of the best I’ve read in a while, I like this genre and this as good as any I’ve read. Good characters strong story can’t wait til I get to the next one
This book is one of the best I’ve read in a while, I like this genre and this as good as any I’ve read. Good characters strong story can’t wait til I get to the next one
December 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this!
Kassabian writes Military SciFi for folks who don’t like Military SciFi because of the usual Politics behind it.
It’s a good dive into boots-on-the-ground SciFi Space Vietnam against inhuman aliens that does not go how you expect.
Kassabian writes Military SciFi for folks who don’t like Military SciFi because of the usual Politics behind it.
It’s a good dive into boots-on-the-ground SciFi Space Vietnam against inhuman aliens that does not go how you expect.
January 5, 2023
Frontier Corps +++ 100%
Hard not to become attached to the main character in this book, a born loser if there ever was one. One can only hope she appears again in Kassabain's follow up books.
Hard not to become attached to the main character in this book, a born loser if there ever was one. One can only hope she appears again in Kassabain's follow up books.
January 15, 2023
The story is good; editing issues suggest…
The story is good; editing issues suggest voice-to-text was used, which leaves characteristic errors behind. Will try to help the author clean it it up.
The story is good; editing issues suggest voice-to-text was used, which leaves characteristic errors behind. Will try to help the author clean it it up.
January 7, 2024
Vietnam war but with armed and deadly squid.
Jungle warfare with aliens and squids in the wire. Danger close means something very different when it's rods from the gods.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
Jungle warfare with aliens and squids in the wire. Danger close means something very different when it's rods from the gods.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
June 1, 2024
Thrilling action....
Never ending fight for survival as the corps struggle against a never ending onslaught to destroy the human population. The action kept me glued to the pages till the end.
Never ending fight for survival as the corps struggle against a never ending onslaught to destroy the human population. The action kept me glued to the pages till the end.
June 4, 2024
Well done.
This is the first Joe Kassabian book I've read. It was fast paced enough to hold my attention so I'll give the editing a pass. I didn't find any huge errors, just some grammatical mistakes that made the autism flair a bit, but a solid effort.
This is the first Joe Kassabian book I've read. It was fast paced enough to hold my attention so I'll give the editing a pass. I didn't find any huge errors, just some grammatical mistakes that made the autism flair a bit, but a solid effort.
April 24, 2025
Realistic, and totally can see the history degree flourishing in a new sci fi setting!
I loved the setting and viewpoint of a grunt stuck in a politically fueled military order but I wish the sci fi was more detailed! Like how grotesque the enemy was or how maybe the tank felt sounded as it fired
I loved the setting and viewpoint of a grunt stuck in a politically fueled military order but I wish the sci fi was more detailed! Like how grotesque the enemy was or how maybe the tank felt sounded as it fired
October 13, 2022
Wow ....
Talk about a cliffhanger ending. Totally did not expect the ending that I got. Definitely a must read for Military Sci-fi fans.
Talk about a cliffhanger ending. Totally did not expect the ending that I got. Definitely a must read for Military Sci-fi fans.
October 16, 2022
an intriguing storyline
An intriguing storyline that will keep you wanting to read just one more chapter. Looking forward to reading the next book.
An intriguing storyline that will keep you wanting to read just one more chapter. Looking forward to reading the next book.
October 17, 2022
Good gritty book
Action packed, mostly interesting characters, gritty and bloody tale. Dystopian future.
Quite a few editing errors, a shame since they detract from the story.
Action packed, mostly interesting characters, gritty and bloody tale. Dystopian future.
Quite a few editing errors, a shame since they detract from the story.
October 23, 2022
Action filled story to keep you reading. I did feel some elements lacked consistency and plausibility that stretched things but overall good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews