Sci-fi: Reluctant/unwilling soldier - forced fighting

[Empress]

I'm looking for books that involve human main character that is forced or dragged into military service or military-like service.
Preferred genre science fiction.

Thank you.

EDIT: So far book recs received:
Forging Zero
Bill, the Galactic Hero
Armor (read)
#2/7 Peter suggested:
Starship Troopers (read)
The Forever War (read)
Poor Man's Fight
Terms of Enlistment
Orphanage
#3 Tina suggested:
Path of the Fury
#4 Marrilee suggested
The Reader
#9 Jum suggested:
Keith Laumer
Jerry Pournelle
Old Man's War (read)
#11 Gnome Claire Suggested
All You Need Is Kill (read)
#13 Ann suggested:
The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted

[Peter]

Have you read Starship Troopers? Rico joined voluntarily, but it's one of the absolute classics of military sf.

The Forever War is another classic. The author admits it's a response to or at least influenced by Starship Troopers, but where Heinlein's experience with the military was in and around World War II, Haldeman's came from Vietnam, and the book reflects that. The war is a complete mess both because it's run by a bureaucracy and because time dilation from travel ensures it takes place over multiple centuries. It's hard to describe, but well worth reading, and the protagonist definitely did not volunteer.

Poor Man's Fight is not a classic, but I liked it quite a bit. The main character volunteers for the military, but only because a heavily rigged educational system has left him so far in debt that he has no other viable choice. Once he settles in to his new profession he finds that he's very good at committing violence but that he doesn't like it one bit. It makes for a nice contrast to some of the other action heroes you run across.

[TinaNoir]

David Weber's Path of the Fury. It is about an ex super soldier who is retired and living at home with her family because of a huge betrayal by the military. But she is dragged back into a war/hunt for some space pirates who attack her home planet.

FYI... that book was later expanded to a much (much!!) longer version which tells all of the events that lead up to Alicia (that is the main character) leaving the military. In Fury Born.

I recommend reading the shorter book.

[Merrilee]

This happens to a secondary character in The Reader, but it's part of a series so there may be more of this character in the second and third book. The Reader just came out last month though, so there will be a wait for books 2 & 3.

[Empress]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

Peter I've read Starship troopers and The Forever War, but I plan on re-reading those at some point. Poor Man's Fight seem like something I will like! Thanks a lot

Tina, thank you for recommending me the shorter book. This will be my next David Weber Book

Merrilee, I am leaning more towards sci-fi, but I hope eventually to get to the fantasy TBR pile so thank you as well.

[Bruce]

A Call to Duty by David Weber is good.
You might also be interested in the Family Law series by Mackey Chandler, its not war per se but a good read.

[Peter]

A couple more come to mind:

Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos is about a man who grew up in a dystopian future America. He joins or is drafted into the military and is part of an interstellar war against another human faction, until aliens arrive with the apparent aim of wiping out all of humanity. I liked this one because it was well written, with great characters and good action. I also liked it because the aliens are interesting and unique and huge and because humanity keeps fighting each other as well as the aliens, which is sadly realistic despite how stupid it would be. I think the series is up to four so far, along with a couple of short stories.

Orphanage by Robert Buettner is another homage to Starship Troopers, following a teenager through basic training and into combat with slug-like aliens. The sequels take the character out into the wider universe, where he encounters a variety of different human planets, each with their own problems and dangers.

[Empress]

Thanks for coming back with more suggestions. I really appreciate it. Both of these are on my list but now I can bump them up. I like a good alien species (with salt and pepper on top :)

[Jim]

Check out Keith Laumer's books. He started the Bolo series (self-aware tanks) & used this theme in other books. His Retief books are good, too.

Jerry Pournelle also wrote quite a few books that might fit.

To go along with "Forever War" & all, you might try Scalzi's Old Man's War & other books. I think reading "Starship Troopers", "Forever War", "Armor", & then "Old Man's War" in that order is pretty interesting - our changing attitudes on war.

[Empress]

Jim wrote: "Check out Keith Laumer's books. He started the Bolo series (self-aware tanks) & used this theme in other books. His Retief books are good, too.

Jerry Pournelle also w..."


Thanks Jim. Keith Laumer is an author I wasn't familiar with.

I did start to read Future History by Jerry Pournelle, but then had a non-reading stage. I need to get back and finish it. I remember loving it as it is written so believable, a no nonsense sci-fi.

Thank you for the suggestions.

[Gnome Claire *Wishes she was as cool as Gnome Ann*]

I can't remember the details exactly but the main character doesn't really want to be there.

All You Need Is Kill

[Empress]

Thank you Gnome Claire. I always assumed this is only available as a graphic book.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted could possibly meet your requirements. But even if it isn't exactly what you are looking for, I'm going to recommend it anyway. Mainly because I do love that Slippery Jim. ;o) (Oh, and there is more than a dash of humour in it.)

[Empress]

Thanks Ann :)

[Empress]

Bump.

[Rosa]

"With His Head Tucked Under His Arm", from Bruce Coville's Oddly Enough.
Also, Yeah! (part 8).