Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Berkley Publishing Group 2013.
Description
The Great Reawakening did not come quietly. Across the country and in every nation, people began to develop terrifying powers, summoning storms, raising the dead, and setting everything they touch ablaze. Overnight the rules changed, .but not for everyone. Colonel Alan Bookbinder is an army bureaucrat whose worst war wound is a paper-cut. But after he develops magical powers, he is torn from everything he knows and thrown onto the front-lines. Drafted into the Supernatural Operations Corps in a new and dangerous world, Bookbinder finds himself in command of Forward Operating Base Frontier, cut off, surrounded by monsters, and on the brink of being overrun. Now, he must find the will to lead the people of FOB Frontier out of hell, even if the one hope of salvation lies in teaming up with the man whose own magical powers put the base in such grave danger in the first place, Oscar Britton, public enemy number one.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Readsalot81
**** Also posted as Guest review over at Paranormalhaven.com ****
In a rare instance, social media (don’t snicker now) will induce me to try an author I might not normally pick up on my own. Such was the case with Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier. I’ve read and enjoyed his blog and
Colonel Alan Bookbinder is a paper pusher who has never seen combat. At the beginning of the novel, he discovers that he is a “Latent”, that is, someone who possesses magical abilities. The Colonel is whisked away from his family and the life he’s known to a strange realm where he lands at the Forward Operating Base Frontier. Myke Cole does an incredible job with conveying Colonel Alan Bookbinder’s confusion and fear regarding his status as a “Latent.” You really get the sense of his frustration at the non-answers that come from his doctors and the various military personnel he comes into contact with. In addition to his new status as a Latent, he keeps coming up against Camp Commandant Taylor, a man who makes it abundantly clear that he thinks Bookbinder is pretty much worthless. When all hell breaks loose and the Forward Operating Base Frontier is attacked, Alan Bookbinder has to step up and lead the soldiers at the Forward Operating Base Frontier.
One of the most satisfying parts of the novel was watching the transformation of Colonel Alan Bookbinder. He starts off as a pretty ordinary man who is very well aware of his limitations and simply does what he’s told. You see him gain the confidence as he goes through the battles, but he still is plagued with self-doubt and it makes you feel for the guy. The author does a remarkable job with communicating Bookbinder’s fears, his pride, not to mention the crippling self-doubt.
While this is a military fantasy, the jargon is kept to a minimum and there is a very handy glossary at the end of the book, which I referenced several times. The language choice is economical and smooth, and because of this, makes for a very easy read. Nothing ever feels extraneous in the book. Every word choice has a purpose and serves the narrative extremely well. My only big caveat to this novel is that I felt a little unclear as to Oscar Britton’s motivations. Because I haven’t read Control Point, the first book in the series, I was missing out on the character development of Britton, and he does take up a sizable chunk of text within Fortress Frontier. On the whole, Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier was a fantastic adventure that had me rooting for Colonel Alan Bookbinder all throughout the book. This was my first book by Myke Cole, but it won’t be my last.
In a rare instance, social media (don’t snicker now) will induce me to try an author I might not normally pick up on my own. Such was the case with Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier. I’ve read and enjoyed his blog and
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Twitter feed, and generally have liked what he has to say. So when I was offered the chance to review the book, I promptly picked it up thinking that what I’ve read online thus far could translate into a really good book.Colonel Alan Bookbinder is a paper pusher who has never seen combat. At the beginning of the novel, he discovers that he is a “Latent”, that is, someone who possesses magical abilities. The Colonel is whisked away from his family and the life he’s known to a strange realm where he lands at the Forward Operating Base Frontier. Myke Cole does an incredible job with conveying Colonel Alan Bookbinder’s confusion and fear regarding his status as a “Latent.” You really get the sense of his frustration at the non-answers that come from his doctors and the various military personnel he comes into contact with. In addition to his new status as a Latent, he keeps coming up against Camp Commandant Taylor, a man who makes it abundantly clear that he thinks Bookbinder is pretty much worthless. When all hell breaks loose and the Forward Operating Base Frontier is attacked, Alan Bookbinder has to step up and lead the soldiers at the Forward Operating Base Frontier.
One of the most satisfying parts of the novel was watching the transformation of Colonel Alan Bookbinder. He starts off as a pretty ordinary man who is very well aware of his limitations and simply does what he’s told. You see him gain the confidence as he goes through the battles, but he still is plagued with self-doubt and it makes you feel for the guy. The author does a remarkable job with communicating Bookbinder’s fears, his pride, not to mention the crippling self-doubt.
While this is a military fantasy, the jargon is kept to a minimum and there is a very handy glossary at the end of the book, which I referenced several times. The language choice is economical and smooth, and because of this, makes for a very easy read. Nothing ever feels extraneous in the book. Every word choice has a purpose and serves the narrative extremely well. My only big caveat to this novel is that I felt a little unclear as to Oscar Britton’s motivations. Because I haven’t read Control Point, the first book in the series, I was missing out on the character development of Britton, and he does take up a sizable chunk of text within Fortress Frontier. On the whole, Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier was a fantastic adventure that had me rooting for Colonel Alan Bookbinder all throughout the book. This was my first book by Myke Cole, but it won’t be my last.
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LibraryThing member Geekocosm
Loved it and loved Control Point as well. I read both of them fairly quickly and now I am at a loss as to when the next one will appear. Myke Cole joins a list of authors I know haven't quite "hit it big" yet (big being in the George R.R. Martin class) but are the future of sci-fi/ fantasy; the
I highly recommend this series, and when you're done, grab a few from the guys I mentioned and you won't regret a thing.
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guys who have me checking for their new stuff at Amazon every time I log on: Richard Kadrey, James Tuck, Wesley Chu, Chuck Wendig, Justin Cronin, Joe Nassise, Marion G. Harmon...I highly recommend this series, and when you're done, grab a few from the guys I mentioned and you won't regret a thing.
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LibraryThing member kevbayer
Pretty good. Coulda used more Britton through the whole thing, but this book wasn't really his story. I thought there was more when I reached the last page. I was sad it was over.
LibraryThing member renbedell
This series is getting really good. Myke Cole really took the story off and made it incredibly interesting. The first book was good, but this book is so much better. The writing is better, the relationships among characters are better, and the action is better. I'm really glad he put in a second
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main protagonist as it really opened up the story and let you see a different angle on how magic in the military would be perceived. This book really sets it up for the last book and it seems like the series should have a very exciting ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ralphd00d
This is the second novel in the Shadow Ops series by Cole, and again, I am amazed at his writing. Like the first book followed Oscar Britton as he became 'Latent', this story tells the story of Alan Bookbinder, as he becomes 'Latent' and also continues the main story that is happening, including
Even though I am not one much for heavy military reading, Cole is able to make the reader feel like they are "in the know" with military lingo and routine. What one feels he may have left out, it just isn't needed in the story. Great continuation on the story from the first novel, introducing a new major character, yet keeping the time line constant. Though there are small contacts with previous characters, there is not much additional detail about them, which leaves me to think that Cole did this on purpose to keep the reader focused on the new characters here. In a sense, that he will expand in more detail in a future book (s).
I greatly enjoyed this read, as much as I did the first one. At this time I know there is a third book out, and I will be reading it soon.
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Britton, the FOB, etc. It almost sounds like there is too much going on, but the details are clearly explained, and the story just keeps you hooked, wondering what is going to happen next.Even though I am not one much for heavy military reading, Cole is able to make the reader feel like they are "in the know" with military lingo and routine. What one feels he may have left out, it just isn't needed in the story. Great continuation on the story from the first novel, introducing a new major character, yet keeping the time line constant. Though there are small contacts with previous characters, there is not much additional detail about them, which leaves me to think that Cole did this on purpose to keep the reader focused on the new characters here. In a sense, that he will expand in more detail in a future book (s).
I greatly enjoyed this read, as much as I did the first one. At this time I know there is a third book out, and I will be reading it soon.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2013-01-31
Physical description
344 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0425256367 / 9780425256367