March Upcountry: Prince Roger Series, Book 1

I had bought book 4 we few years ago. I was rereading we few and realized I had missed books 1, 2 and 3. Very good and well written.

I only listen to audiobooks and this is a review of the Prince Roger Series - Authors: David Weber & Jon Ringo. From Amazon Reviews: "Science fiction icon David Weber (the Honor Harrington series) teams up with Airborne-soldier-turned-author John Ringo (A Hymn Before Battle) in their novels about Prince Roger Ramius Sergei Chiang Alexander MacClintock, Heir Tertiary to the Throne of Man".The 4 books (as of now) are: March Upcountry, March to the Sea, March to the Stars, We Few.READER OF ALL BOOKS: STEFAN RUDNICKI (AAA+ reader - my first experience with him was in Ender's Game".)After finishing this series I must say that I think it is a story RIPE for a continuation!!!! AND I REALLY hope they do - this is a "too good to miss story". Well, assuming you like military futuristic fantasy (Ender's Game anyone? ... this is just as captivating). This series was my first contact with either of these authors - both of which seem to have their own following here on Amazon. BTW, the overall reviews on Amazon on the individual books in this series are ALL, overall, 4.0 to 4.5. GIVEN, the reader, I'd give it a 4.75 to 5.0 (i.e. this is just about as good as storytelling gets, with a AAA+ reader to make it come alive).You'll laugh (there is a lot of humor in these stories mixed in with the battles and personal stories ("de pocking ting don't work" LOL) and you'll cry (at the heroic deaths of Roger's hard-won but faithful followers, - almost ALL of Bronze Battalion of the Empress's Own Marine bodyguards(particularly of Captain Armand Panar), and just as much the Mardukan heros who end up dieing for Roger in the final battle of the story, ... and in so many battles before... Rastar in particular......and then there is Costas (Roger's Valet, and absolute friend who'd followed him almost all of his life) - finally eaten by a "damncroc" on Marduk while fetching Roger water. Then there are the unforgettable Mardukan animals, which both: hone Roger's inate skills as predators against him on Marduk; but also become his closest friends (Dogzard and Paddy who saved Roger's neck SO MANY times in the numerous battles and personal confrontations both on Marduk and on Earth).Then, there is the underlying story of Roger's Mother, the Empress, ... SO miserably used and abused, FINALLY saved by Roger and his colorful mixed army of humans and extraterrestials.OH, and don't forget the romantic drivel so well mixed in ... Nimochete Despreau in particular - who started out refusing to marry Roger if he became Emperor - (which everyone knew he would eventually) and ofcourse ends up with Roger anyway -.There are just too many fascinating and well told character stories in this story to mention or describe them all ... and like I said, this series is RIPE for continuation of "Roger the Emperor" ... going after the surviving bad guys at the end of the series.What happens with Roger's poor abused but still regal Mother, who turned over the crown of the "house of man" to Roger at the end of the story?What happens with Roger and Nimochete (who must produce an heir to the throne - well, I can imagine where that would go)?What happens with the newly elevated Mardukans who followed Roger to Earth on his wild quest?What happens to Marduk itself? Now infested with Roger loving royal followers ... and where... Roger had claimed he would rule one day in peace with Nimochete.Hmmm.... sounds ripe for more story to me. And I'm looking forward to it if it comes, IF it is as good as these that's as good as they'll need to be for me.The characters in this story are superbly developed even though the story moves along quickly, and while the story line may be somewhat predictable (Roger's going to win in the end) getting there is a MARVELOUS journey through a truly captivating but brutal world. Just like our own eh?

This novel by Weber and Ringo (I am not sure who the primary author was, if any), while having a fairly predictable backstory (spoiled brat prince becomes responsible man over time in face of adversity), is a very well-written book with some original plot events and an excellent way to kill 6+ hours (600 page book).I really don't have any complaints, though I did find the fact the aliens who had the party captive did not decide to simply take the casualties to capture their weapons, and that the party leadership was allowed, armed, in the presence of the king during the battle.Much of the battle sequences reads like Ringo's posleen series, with hordes of enemies being killed by a numerically inferior force.This is an enjoyable book - well worth reading.

John Ringo captures the imagination and epic storytelling with the empire of Man series. If you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down.

March Upcountry is the first book I've read by either of these authors, or listened to rather. (Stefan Rudniki does an incredible job narrating this one.)I love the military science fiction genre and historical military fiction as well. March Upcountry enthralled my imagination immediately. I was intrigued by the cast of characters and thought the intrigue and world building fascinating. Great detail. These authors are clearly very experienced in this genre.So I was a bit bemused when I realized how dramatically the point of view shifts and how head jumping occurs so frequently that I hear writing coaches all over the world writhing in misery. However, there is something to be said for the fact I didn't notice the much derided technique at first.Probably because I was wrapped up in the story and dying to see what happened to each character. My writer's mind wrote this phenomena off as something I shouldn't try but perhaps works for these two master story tellers.In the end, I was really glad to have bought the book and listened to it. The details and suspenseful plot combined with characters I really empathize with has made March Upcountry worth every moment of my time. One group of antagonists are called Saints, a sociopolitical group dedicated to removing Terran influence from the universe. They are depicted as fanatical conservationist, a group that has taken a possibly noble ideal to a destructive extreme. This book does not delve into the minds of the Saints, but I imagine future books will. It should be interesting at least.March Upcountry is a great book. I recommend it.

this is the first of a three book set. I usually buy kindle books at around 3.99 or less. since I have read approx. 700 in kindle format it gets expensive !! however I will pay more for certain authors. David Weber is one of these. anyway, these three books were worth every penny. by the way, I feel a good deal is about a penny a page. so if the book is longer then I will pay more. always check the length of a book before you buy. I have seen 2.99 for a book with 90 or less pages. back to the book .. I think this/ series is a great story and the author tells it very well. I do not give many books 5 stars. I can't believe the number of 5 stars that readers give out.. I mean 5 stars should be for outstanding books not good books. back to this book again .. it is not an epic novel, but it is a damn good one

The entire Empire of Man series is a great read, with great storytelling and imagination as one would expect from Ringo & Weber in combination. The underlying premise that at some point mankind will be governed by some blonde-haired, blue-eyed Emperor or Empress does give me some pause, as it smacks of being a little too 'white man's burden-y', but that apart, however, as I said, the series is excellent and Upcountry gets it off to a great start.

What a team and I don't just mean Prince Roger McLintock and his bodyguard stranded on the alien planet Marduk - David Weber and John Ringo write excellent together, with all the characterisation and historic knowledge put to good use in the series of books of which this is the first (March Upcountry, March to the sea, March to the stars and We few). A trek across an alien world with only the human know how of how to survive all manner of dangers to reach an escape from the planet to journey boldly home.

J'ai dévoré ce livre en deux jours. Des personnages, de l'action et du rythme.on est tellement pris que l'on arrive à la fin s'en s'en rendre compte.

One of my favourite authors - didn't disappoint me

Weber et son compère excellent dans le SF d'action qq peu militariste... Les batailles sont titanesques dans chacun des 4 ouvrages de la série. Avis aux amateurs.