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timinbc's review
4.0
If you don't like military SF, you won't like this, because that's just what it is.
And for its first half, it looked as if this was just another of the same old same old. Crusty, capable Sarge will do anything for his team (but no one will ever match Sgt. Jackrum). Stiff-arsed officers are all idiots. He's snarky and sassy, but Capable Sarge always is.
But hmm. Maybe these officers aren't idiots; maybe they're dirty. But which ones?
Then we slip back into "I've got to assemble a team" and ten rounds of "no way, nope, I'm out, nuh-uh ... okay." But at least these show us how Sarge works, so it's OK.
Now the inevitable "we have to get to X" --> "it's impossible, no, forget it, no way ... OK."
But when they arrive at their destination, it becomes much more of a "hmm, whose game are we pawns in?"
A good read, but can we please have a book about a lieutenant or a captain? Maybe one whose plans don't always work out? We really haven't come very far from Harry Harrison's Deathworld and Bill the Galactic Hero.
Even them we are taken all the way to the end before we realize who really won this confusing game.
And for its first half, it looked as if this was just another of the same old same old. Crusty, capable Sarge will do anything for his team (but no one will ever match Sgt. Jackrum). Stiff-arsed officers are all idiots. He's snarky and sassy, but Capable Sarge always is.
But hmm. Maybe these officers aren't idiots; maybe they're dirty. But which ones?
Then we slip back into "I've got to assemble a team" and ten rounds of "no way, nope, I'm out, nuh-uh ... okay." But at least these show us how Sarge works, so it's OK.
Now the inevitable "we have to get to X" --> "it's impossible, no, forget it, no way ... OK."
But when they arrive at their destination, it becomes much more of a "hmm, whose game are we pawns in?"
A good read, but can we please have a book about a lieutenant or a captain? Maybe one whose plans don't always work out? We really haven't come very far from Harry Harrison's Deathworld and Bill the Galactic Hero.
Even them we are taken all the way to the end before we realize who really won this confusing game.
joosty's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
yathol's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
judassilver's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
asdvj's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
piratequeen22's review
4.0
What a great story! At first I didn’t like the main character bc he seemed too arrogant but he definitely mellowed out. I loved all the twists and didn’t see any of them coming! I don’t read too many sci-fi books but I’m trying to read more of them so this was a really good one to start with!
mary_soon_lee's review
4.0
"The Misfit Soldier" is a standalone miltary science fiction novel, lighter in tone than Mammay's earlier trilogy (first book: "Planetside"). It's easy to underrate the importance of fun in fiction, and this was a very fun read. It has a great main character in Sergeant Gastovsky, better known as Gas, a man who never wanted to be a soldier and who runs a variety of illicit operations, while still being absolutely committed to his squad. There's plenty of humor, military action, a heist, a smidge of romance, and maybe even a message. It reminds me a bit of Tanya Huff's Confederation of Valor series, though Sergeant Gastovsky (the main character) has looser principles than Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys the lighter side of military SF.
Four out of five somewhat shady stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Four out of five somewhat shady stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
dawn_marie's review
3.0
I enjoyed The Misfit Soldier by Michael Mammy more than I thought I would. It was fun, fast-paced, and contained a good deal of humor. I don’t know who is responsible for the blurb calling this novel “Ocean’s Eleven meets John Scalzi” but I think they’re doing a disservice to the novel; the novel isn’t so much as a heist as it is an action-adventure novel with a solid dose of political intrigue and conspiracy theories mixed in.
The novel is narrated by Sergeant Jared “Gas” Gastovsky, an unconventional soldier with a disregard for authority and a profitable side hustle running various smuggling/illegal activities. When one member of his team is left behind after a planetside mission, Gas mounts a rescue mission. As things are wont to happen in novels of this ilk, things are not quite what they seem, and Gas finds himself in the middle of a power struggle amongst military leaders while he learns of a shocking coverup.
The plot moves along quickly; the narration is pleasant, told in first-person, and filled with Gas’s self-deprecating humor. While the characters are not especially well-developed, they are interesting and fun to read.
I know this is slated as a stand-alone, but I would like a prequel as Mr. Mammy dropped several morsels about Gas’s past, specifically the reasons why he enlisted, that I think would make for interesting stories.
The novel is narrated by Sergeant Jared “Gas” Gastovsky, an unconventional soldier with a disregard for authority and a profitable side hustle running various smuggling/illegal activities. When one member of his team is left behind after a planetside mission, Gas mounts a rescue mission. As things are wont to happen in novels of this ilk, things are not quite what they seem, and Gas finds himself in the middle of a power struggle amongst military leaders while he learns of a shocking coverup.
The plot moves along quickly; the narration is pleasant, told in first-person, and filled with Gas’s self-deprecating humor. While the characters are not especially well-developed, they are interesting and fun to read.
I know this is slated as a stand-alone, but I would like a prequel as Mr. Mammy dropped several morsels about Gas’s past, specifically the reasons why he enlisted, that I think would make for interesting stories.
chromatick's review
5.0
4.5 stars
This book was a blast. I'm a fan of the Carl Butler novels (and I really hope he keeps writing them), so I was already primed to enjoy this novel.
While it isn't stated, I assume this book takes place in the same world. It follows a new soldier "Gas" and his mission to rescue one of his squadmates who was left behind planetside. The thing is, this mission isn't sanctioned and Gas is equal part con artist and soldier.
What follows is essentially a heist story told within a military sci-fi framework.
It's really good and I highly recommend it.
This book was a blast. I'm a fan of the Carl Butler novels (and I really hope he keeps writing them), so I was already primed to enjoy this novel.
While it isn't stated, I assume this book takes place in the same world. It follows a new soldier "Gas" and his mission to rescue one of his squadmates who was left behind planetside. The thing is, this mission isn't sanctioned and Gas is equal part con artist and soldier.
What follows is essentially a heist story told within a military sci-fi framework.
It's really good and I highly recommend it.