by John Ringo
First published 2002
The first wave of Posleen attacks has been repelled, but at a terrible cost. Earth's defenders managed to halt the alien advance through desperate fighting and captured alien weapons, yet victory feels hollow. The real invasion looms just months ahead, and humanity's battered forces know the worst is yet to come. Battle-scarred veterans who survived the initial onslaught now face an impossible task: preparing a wounded world for total war against an enemy that nearly destroyed them the first time. These traumatized soldiers carry the weight of humanity's survival on their shoulders. They have seen what the Posleen can do, felt the terror of facing an implacable alien horde, and watched comrades die in the brutal fighting. Now they must find the strength to rally Earth's defenses and transform a planet into a fortress. The clock ticks down toward humanity's ultimate test of survival.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, aliens
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Earth
Period: Future
721 pages · Paperback · Baen
Content warnings: graphic-violence, war