
Steel World
Undying Mercenaries, Book 1
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $31.26
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Mark Boyett
-
Written by:
-
B. V. Larson
About this listen
In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers…someone had to do their dirty work for them, their fighting and dying.
I, James McGill, was born in 2099 on the fringe of the galaxy. When Hegemony Financial denied my loan applications, I was kicked out of the university and I turned to the stars. My first campaign involved the invasion of a mineral-rich planet called Cancri-9, better known as Steel World. The attack didn't go well, and now Earth has entered a grim struggle for survival. Humanity's mercenary legions go to war in Steel World, best-selling author B. V. Larson's latest science fiction novel.
©2013 B. V. Larson (P)2013 Audible, Inc.You may also enjoy...
-
Void Drifter
- Void Drifter, Book 1
- Written by: Jason Anspach, J.N. Chaney
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Amazon rainforest holds a world-changing secret—a ship lost to time from another world. College student Will Kaufman unearthed the biggest archaeological discovery in human history… he just needs to find a way back to Earth to tell people about it. Four thousand years ago, a Federation bounty hunter Void ship crashed on a remote and primitive planet. There it remained until Will found it and accidentally reactivated it, launching him light-years away.
-
-
Enough with the earth cultural references already!
- By Dave Coles on 2025-02-17
Written by: Jason Anspach, and others
-
Ascendant: Book 1
- Written by: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Wizard's Council of Tarador was supposed to tell young Koren Bladewell that he is a wizard. They were supposed to tell everyone that he is not a jinx, that all the bad things that happen around him are because he can't control the power inside him, power he doesn't know about. The people of his village, even his parents, are afraid of him, afraid he is cursed. That he is a dangerous, evil jinx.
-
-
As predictable as vanilla soft serve
- By Aidan on 2021-03-10
Written by: Craig Alanson
-
Cloaked Deception
- Written by: Timothy Zahn
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 21 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A tactical nuclear weapon is stolen from an Indian research facility, setting off a chain of events that spans the globe. Those behind the heist plan to use it to take out thousands of innocent people—all to assure death of a single man who they believe is too dangerous to be left alive. What are the lives of thousands compared to the safety of the world?
Written by: Timothy Zahn
-
The Crypt: Shakedown
- The Crypt, Book 1
- Written by: Scott Sigler
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few know the warship’s actual name. But everyone has heard the rumors. The PUV James Keeling can do something no other vessel in existence can do—slip into another dimension, travel undetected, then re-emerge onto our plane and surprise enemy targets. But the thing that makes the Crypt unique also makes it a nightmare for those onboard; interdimensional travel causes hallucinations, violent behavior, and psychotic breakdowns. Keeling could be the Union’s greatest weapon, a game-changing asset that can defeat the bloodthirsty zealots of the Purist Nation, the Union’s mortal enemy.
-
-
very disappointed
- By Philippe Parent on 2024-02-14
Written by: Scott Sigler
-
Awaken Online: Catharsis
- Written by: Travis Bagwell
- Narrated by: David Stifel
- Length: 16 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jason logs into Awaken Online fed-up with reality. He's in desperate need of an escape, and this game is his ticket to finally feeling the type of power and freedom that are so sorely lacking in his real life. Awaken Online is a brand new virtual reality game that just hit the market, promising an unprecedented level of immersion. Yet Jason quickly finds himself pushed down a path he didn't expect. In this game, he isn't the hero. There are no damsels to save. There are no bad guys to vanquish.
-
-
Interesting premise, terrible writing
- By Blythe on 2018-04-14
Written by: Travis Bagwell
-
Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors
- A Duck & Cover Adventure, Book 1
- Written by: Benjamin Wallace
- Narrated by: Phil Thron
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The post-apocalyptic world isn't that bad. Sure, there are mutants. But, for the people of New Hope, daily life isn't so much a struggle of finding food or medicine as it is trying to find a new shortstop for their kickball team. This makes it difficult for a post-apocalyptic warrior to find work. Thankfully, an army full of killers is making its way to the peaceful town and plans to raze it to the ground. Only a fully trained post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior can stop them.
-
-
a decent mad Max type environment.
- By Mike Reiter on 2024-12-28
Written by: Benjamin Wallace
-
Void Drifter
- Void Drifter, Book 1
- Written by: Jason Anspach, J.N. Chaney
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Amazon rainforest holds a world-changing secret—a ship lost to time from another world. College student Will Kaufman unearthed the biggest archaeological discovery in human history… he just needs to find a way back to Earth to tell people about it. Four thousand years ago, a Federation bounty hunter Void ship crashed on a remote and primitive planet. There it remained until Will found it and accidentally reactivated it, launching him light-years away.
-
-
Enough with the earth cultural references already!
- By Dave Coles on 2025-02-17
Written by: Jason Anspach, and others
-
Ascendant: Book 1
- Written by: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Wizard's Council of Tarador was supposed to tell young Koren Bladewell that he is a wizard. They were supposed to tell everyone that he is not a jinx, that all the bad things that happen around him are because he can't control the power inside him, power he doesn't know about. The people of his village, even his parents, are afraid of him, afraid he is cursed. That he is a dangerous, evil jinx.
-
-
As predictable as vanilla soft serve
- By Aidan on 2021-03-10
Written by: Craig Alanson
-
Cloaked Deception
- Written by: Timothy Zahn
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 21 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A tactical nuclear weapon is stolen from an Indian research facility, setting off a chain of events that spans the globe. Those behind the heist plan to use it to take out thousands of innocent people—all to assure death of a single man who they believe is too dangerous to be left alive. What are the lives of thousands compared to the safety of the world?
Written by: Timothy Zahn
-
The Crypt: Shakedown
- The Crypt, Book 1
- Written by: Scott Sigler
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few know the warship’s actual name. But everyone has heard the rumors. The PUV James Keeling can do something no other vessel in existence can do—slip into another dimension, travel undetected, then re-emerge onto our plane and surprise enemy targets. But the thing that makes the Crypt unique also makes it a nightmare for those onboard; interdimensional travel causes hallucinations, violent behavior, and psychotic breakdowns. Keeling could be the Union’s greatest weapon, a game-changing asset that can defeat the bloodthirsty zealots of the Purist Nation, the Union’s mortal enemy.
-
-
very disappointed
- By Philippe Parent on 2024-02-14
Written by: Scott Sigler
-
Awaken Online: Catharsis
- Written by: Travis Bagwell
- Narrated by: David Stifel
- Length: 16 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jason logs into Awaken Online fed-up with reality. He's in desperate need of an escape, and this game is his ticket to finally feeling the type of power and freedom that are so sorely lacking in his real life. Awaken Online is a brand new virtual reality game that just hit the market, promising an unprecedented level of immersion. Yet Jason quickly finds himself pushed down a path he didn't expect. In this game, he isn't the hero. There are no damsels to save. There are no bad guys to vanquish.
-
-
Interesting premise, terrible writing
- By Blythe on 2018-04-14
Written by: Travis Bagwell
-
Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors
- A Duck & Cover Adventure, Book 1
- Written by: Benjamin Wallace
- Narrated by: Phil Thron
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The post-apocalyptic world isn't that bad. Sure, there are mutants. But, for the people of New Hope, daily life isn't so much a struggle of finding food or medicine as it is trying to find a new shortstop for their kickball team. This makes it difficult for a post-apocalyptic warrior to find work. Thankfully, an army full of killers is making its way to the peaceful town and plans to raze it to the ground. Only a fully trained post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior can stop them.
-
-
a decent mad Max type environment.
- By Mike Reiter on 2024-12-28
Written by: Benjamin Wallace
-
Ruins of the Galaxy
- Ruins of the Galaxy, Book 1
- Written by: J. N. Chaney
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The mission is simple. Escort an emissary to an intergalactic peace summit. Try not to get in the way. Lt. Magnus and his 79th Recon Team have certainly handled worse, after all. But when an explosion rocks the tower and sends everyone into a panic, Magnus and his asset find themselves cut off from the rest of the team. Worse still, a dying alien chieftain gives them a priceless drive of intel, marking them for death. The mission has officially changed. With enemies on all sides, Magnus must do everything in his power to protect the emissary and escape the tower.
-
-
R.C Bray is the only good thing about this book
- By Jim Fernuik on 2020-12-28
Written by: J. N. Chaney
-
Infinite
- Written by: Jeremy Robinson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Galahad, a faster-than-light spacecraft, carries 50 scientists and engineers on a mission to prepare Kepler 452b, Earth's nearest habitable neighbor at 1400 light years away. With Earth no longer habitable and the Mars colony slowly failing, they are humanity's best hope. After 10 years in a failed cryogenic bed - body asleep, mind awake - William Chanokh's torture comes to an end as the fog clears, the hatch opens, and his friend and fellow hacker, Tom, greets him...by stabbing a screwdriver into his heart. This is the first time William dies.
-
-
Excellent Excellent Excellent
- By daniel on 2018-05-14
Written by: Jeremy Robinson
-
Shattered Galaxy
- The Complete After the Galaxy Series Box Set
- Written by: Scott Bartlett
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 27 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Raised fatherless in a galactic Brinktown, Joe Pikeman only ever wanted to escape. The Galactic Guard offered that escape, with the promise of regular meals to boot. Now Joe is a full Guardsman, with his own ship and a snide partner bot who hates humans almost as much as he hates other bots. To the pirates he hunts, Joe is known as the Butcher. His bloody reputation has landed him in the center of a sweeping conspiracy that threatens to stamp out the galaxy’s last surviving human settlements.
-
-
No surprises
- By Joe on 2021-01-28
Written by: Scott Bartlett
-
Dragon Rider
- A Novel
- Written by: Taran Matharu
- Narrated by: Tom Babbage
- Length: 17 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court—ever since his father Rohan, leader of the Steppefolk, led a failed rebellion and was executed by the very emperor Jai now serves. When the emperor’s son and heir is betrothed to Princess Erica of the neighboring Dansk Kingdom, she brings with her a dowry: dragons. Endemic to the northern nation, these powerful beasts come in several forms, but mystery surrounds them.
-
-
Decent voice acting with above average story
- By GoCanada on 2025-02-05
Written by: Taran Matharu
-
The Collapsing Empire
- The Interdependency, Book 1
- Written by: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Our universe is ruled by physics, and faster-than-light travel is not possible - until the discovery of The Flow, an extradimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transports us to other worlds, around other stars. Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It's a hedge against interstellar war - and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.
-
-
ok novel
- By Scott Duncan on 2017-11-03
Written by: John Scalzi
-
Final Days
- Final Days, Book 1
- Written by: Nathan Hystad, Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A mysterious convergence of natural disasters threatens to destroy life as we know it, and people across the United States are going missing. With no one left to investigate, Special Agent Kendra Baker takes the case, trying to solve the disappearances before she’s out of time. Among those abducted is Valeria Miller, the daughter of ex-Marine Corporal Andrew Miller, and he’ll stop at nothing to find her. With the help of an unstable conspiracy theorist, they find themselves on the trail of a reclusive billionaire who just might have all the answers.
-
-
I want my money back
- By Stuka Pilot on 2023-11-21
Written by: Nathan Hystad, and others
-
Convergence
- Convergence, Book 1
- Written by: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
My name is Kazimir Wolfe. People call me "Kaz", except they don’t. I never use my real name; it’s too dangerous, for me and for anyone I meet. I’m on the run from the law, who think I killed my aunt, and from whoever did kill her, because they want to finish the job. So, I move around a lot, working construction or whatever job I can find. It’s a lonely life. I don’t let anyone get close...people who get close to me end up dead. Why? I’m a wizard. The world’s only wizard, as far as I know.
-
-
I wanted to like this book.
- By Anonymous User on 2022-09-24
Written by: Craig Alanson
-
Hell Divers
- Hell Divers Series, Book 1
- Written by: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than two centuries after World War III poisoned the planet, the final bastion of humanity lives on massive airships circling the globe in search of a habitable area to call home. Aging and outdated, most of the ships plummeted back to Earth long ago. The only thing keeping the two surviving lifeboats in the sky are Hell Divers - men and women who risk their lives by skydiving to the surface to scavenge for parts the ships desperately need.
-
-
Cool premise, great action and it's not steampunk
- By MauMx on 2018-09-13
Written by: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
-
The Emperor's Blades
- Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Book 1
- Written by: Brian Staveley
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 19 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.
-
-
Had to stop too cruel
- By Sophia Kelly on 2022-09-15
Written by: Brian Staveley
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- Written by: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
Easily one of the better books I've read..
- By jesse cornelious on 2018-10-31
Written by: Craig Alanson
-
Rebel Fleet
- Written by: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They hunt us. They bomb our worlds for target practice. A star cluster in the constellation of Orion rotates once every 1,000 years. Those who rule there have an ancient tradition: When each cycle ends, they train their fleets by spilling the blood of lesser beings. The enemy fleets are coming again. In response, the Rebel Worlds gather their starships to face the terrifying threat, and this time humanity is asked to stand with them. The last time they considered Earth, Vikings in longboats were raiding English coastlines. Today, we're less primitive. Today, we're a target.
-
-
Good enough for a first book
- By Slap Chop on 2022-04-12
Written by: B. V. Larson
-
Cryptonomicon
- Written by: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 42 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1942, Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse - mathematical genius and young Captain in the US Navy - is assigned to detachment 2702. It is an outfit so secret that only a handful of people know it exists, and some of those people have names like Churchill and Roosevelt. The mission of Watrehouse and Detachment 2702 - commanded by Marine Raider Bobby Shaftoe - is to keep the Nazis ignorant of the fact that Allied Intelligence has cracked the enemy's fabled Enigma code. In the present, Waterhouse's crypto-hacker grandson, Randy, is attempting to create a "data haven" in Southeast Asia....
-
-
Very long and marginally interesting
- By Martin Halliday on 2023-02-01
Written by: Neal Stephenson
What listeners say about Steel World
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joshua
- 2024-09-22
Great First Entry To A New Series
Very unique premise and executed very well. Ignore the "politically correct" police reviews. This book tells a good story. If that story, and its well written main character, offends those who hate all male protagonists, that's their fault. Don't let them steer you away from a worth while series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nicholas Furlong
- 2020-02-21
Thoroughly enjoyed, pumped that there's more!
Didn't know this was the 1st book of what looks to be a long series. Right from the get go I was drawn in. Perfect mix of action, humour and story. Characters started to grow on me as the story progressed!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Howard Heer
- 2024-09-05
Great sci fi and enjoyable plot
Fun easy listening space marine storyline. I enjoyed the overall plot with unique and engaging technology as well as background buildup to an interesting finish. Looking forward to the next book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Peter
- 2018-01-28
A fun read
A good story and build up to a great series, I cant wait to get all the other chapters.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kris Noyes
- 2023-06-14
Great start to a great series!!
First, the Narrator is excellent. The story is well paced, lots of action but measured. The character development of the main protagonist is slow but appropriate for the breadth of the series as a whole. Highly recommend this series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Meredith
- 2021-04-17
New series (to me!)
I really like long series, and got the first in this series at a discount. The writer is very imaginative and the narrator was very consistent. I liked so many of his voices, I couldn't pick a favorite! I am pretty sure this series will be my next binge :)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- crow
- 2021-09-29
it was great it was full of adventure and teach
it took awhile to finish but it was great you will love it to the finish
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Psamathos
- 2024-08-15
Awesome
This has been my favorite series on Audible and I'm currently relistening to the series for the third time. Even though it's the first book in a long series, it stands alone and it's not just a drawn-out introduction. True, it's not a complex plot, nor ground-breaking science fiction, but it's light, entertaining military sci-fi with a great backstory and a solid set of characters. It's not silly enough to be comedy, exactly, but not so serious as Starship Troopers, so it strikes a good balance of action and entertainment. You can just kick back and listen. Mark Boyett does a fantastic job bringing the character to life and does so for the entire series. Give it a listen, you won't regret it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Fabien L.
- 2021-11-28
Great ideas crumble under lots of flaws
The first half of the book has enough interesting ideas with the setting, technology and premise to make you ignore the more goofy aspects and straight up bad parts.
About 2/3 of the way through the hook gets brushed under the rug and the rate of inconsistencies, plot holes and just plain bad passages goes up high enough to make the cons unbearable.
- Uncomfortably sexist depiction of all the female characters. Which could be ''explained'' by the fact that the book is written in the first person by a horny male protagonist, but considering the only female characters in the book are either love interests or hysteric antagonists, it just comes off as misogynistic.
- The main protagonist has no skillset besides being tall, lucky and somehow always intuiting the right course of action through sheer plot armor, since a lot of his ideas make absolutely no sense to begin with. Also has no personality, which somehow makes him the most interesting person in the room. ''Useless rogues'' type characters only work if they're supported by a very good entourage, while not consistently being shitty (See, The Expanse).
- The whole ''reviving tech'' concept starts off extremely interesting as a main plot device, but repeated plot holes and inconsistencies eventually ruin it. Same goes for most ideas in the book.
Stellar performance though!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dave Coles
- 2020-03-08
Dumbed down to my frustrations
I couldn't believe how much over explaining
this author provided which spoiled the flow of action. The lead character was not believable since he was brilliant in one moment and completely obtuse in the next.
Also, this book must have been written pre-me too movement considering all the mysigony.
The story, potentially, was a good idea but assumed the listeners were idiots. The writing was somewhat cliche and could have taken place on Earth, rather than a futuristic story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful