★ The complete series as one 1,300-page omnibus edition ★
A century ago the world fell – but the war never ended.Now the survivors of the apocalypse are reunited and a new fight begins.
A century after the war that destroyed the planet, the UEC and GPS remain locked in a generational conflict. Split between a vast orbital space station and a base on the moon, neither faction can return to the … station and a base on the moon, neither faction can return to the scorched and irradiated planet.
But for UEC officers, Captain Maria ‘Sal’ Salus and Commander Chris Kurren, there is no longer a choice. They either return planetside, or face annihilation.
The planet contains dangers that Sal and Kurren could not have imagined in their fiercest nightmares. If the radiation doesn’t kill them, the savagely mutated survivors of the fall, known as the Maddened, will.
However, not everyone on the planet died – or succumbed. To save their people and finally put an end to the war, Sal and Kurren must find a Planetsider.
Ignorant of the war that ravaged their world, the planetsiders are immune. Amongst them is the idealistic ranger, Ethan. Burning with a desire to understand his planet’s dark past, Ethan chooses to fight with Sal and Kurren and put an end to the war.
Their perilous adventure pits them against untold dangers, both planetside and in space. In the end, secrets are revealed, betrayals are exposed, and old conflicts breed new alliances.
The war will finally end, but a new war for their future will begin.
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An edge-of-your-seat blend of Mil-SF action & classic apocalyptic science fiction.
Perfect for fans of Resident Evil, Maze Runner, I am Legend and classic apocalyptic sci-fi.
Also available on Audible, performed by J.S. Arquin.
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What a great read! G.J. Ogden has written a wonderful box set full of action and adventure. This is trilogy has it all. good guys, bad guys, monsters, heroes and just maybe the guy gets the girl, as tough as she may be.
The Planetsider is the first novel of the wonderful trilogy. This Young Adult novel is a bit of a misnomer. It certainly has all of the common elements of a good YA, but it is a bit more in depth than you normally find. Full of action, but also introspective. Ethan, the protagonist is on the classic hero’s journey, living through his trials and tribulations. Learning that ignorance is sometimes bliss. This is about a young man coming of age in a Post-Apocalyptic world and his desire to stretch beyond what is expected of him. A young man looking for the truth and finding it cost him his innocence. One of my favorite sub-plots is that he is clueless when it comes to women as all young men are of a certain age. It is hysterically funny without trying to be and that is a hard trick to pull off.
The Second Fall is a pure home-run of Space Opera. G.J. Ogden wrote a truly fun read with very serious undertones. The good guys are the best and the bad guys are the worst, it is all here. War, romance, sacrifice, roads not taken, a boy becomes a man, and petty jealousies all are studied in this excellent novel.
The reader returns five years after the end of The Planetsider and peace is imminent. Treachery raises its ugly head and the heroine Maria must return to planet side for help. In the meantime, the hero Ethan has become a man with all of the responsibilities and must balance his desire to help Maria with his responsibilities to his people.
This is a wonderful read for the story alone. Full of action and and battles. There is plenty for the reader to enjoy just on the surface story. Yet, this is a very contemplative look at the nature of society and human emotions. Ethan, has completed his heroes journey and is now a man. He now experiences the longing of first love returning and realization of the road not taken. It is a moment of ennui that leaves him a bit confused as the boy of the past and the current man now grapples. It is a moment that anyone with a first love briefly returning can understand and it is both understated and perfect.
There is commentary on the environment and what happens when a catastrophe is caused by war. There is a great contrast between the “simple” and the “complex” society with a third introduced and is compared to the first two. It is throughout the novel, but never gets in the way of the story. A true gem of this series is how strong female leads run throughout. It is also so well done that you may miss the larger point that it is the nature of leadership and not gender that matters. They are human with all of the strengths and foibles. Petty arguments get in the way of the mission and grudges are held.
The Last of the Firsts is the final installment of the The Planetsider Trilogy Boxed Set and it does not disappoint. This wonderful novel is closer to Adventure than Space Opera and it works on different levels again. This is a race against time to save the planet and loved ones. The key is an enigmatic old man, but he is nowhere to be found.
G.J. Ogden writes another action filled novel with serious undertones. This is a mature work without much of the angst of the first two novels. Yet, this novel is all about hope and keeping the faith in impossible odds. This is also a true study about the nature of teamwork and facing ones personal past. This is about rectifying the choices that led all down the path and trying to right the wrongs. The antagonist is no one, but the entire planet itself dealing with one death blow after another. It has become hostile to life and deals harsh realities to the survivors. Life goes on, but maybe not for those that are the cause. Once again, G.J. Ogden comments on man’s treatment of the environment without beating the proverbial dead horse.
As contemplative as this novel is, there is more than enough action to satisfy the worse adrenaline junkies. The Last of the Firsts keeps the reader on their toes holding their breath as the novel requires the price for their characters and the price will be paid.
The Planetsider Trilogy Boxed Set completes the arc from an idealistic young man to a battle tested adult. It is about the nature of family, how it is defined and the sacrifice required for it. Perhaps the greatest lesson from the novels are the learning to live with past decisions that cannot be taken back. It is both a warning and admission that forgiveness is essential.
G.J. Ogden inserts into this world all sorts of fun tidbits to be studied and he meshes them incredibly well. There is societal studies on religion, relationships, the end of childhood, truth, as well as war. He blends his elements within the weaving of his tale and you never notice because the story flows so smoothly. I was surprised the story ended so fast because it felt like I just started and it left me wanting more.
What a great read.