Legions of Orion

Star Crusades Nexus Book 1

By: Michael G. Thomas

Narrated by: Brad McDowell

Legions of Orion is the first book in the epic new series set in the Star Crusades universe that chronicles humanity's first steps away from Alpha Centauri and beyond.

A chance discovery on the jungle world of Hyperion leads Alliance scientists on a path to creating a permanent spacebridge to the distant Orion Nebula. In a matter of days, great fleets of military and civilian ships depart for the single greatest expedition since the colonization of Alpha Centauri. Into this great adventure travel two heroes of the war, retired Marines Spartan and Teresa Morato, and their son Jack. Now senior members of an elite private military corporation, they are at the heart of the Alliance bold new plan. Their discovery of buried machines, as well as derelict spacecraft in the first system encountered triggers events that will see the Alliance embroiled in a military conflict like no other. Discoveries of a dead people who have been wiped out by an unknown enemy sends a shudder through the many worlds of the Alliance.

The Alliance must make a decision. Either they will have to abandon the riches they have found or they will have to fight for it. In the past the citizens of Centauri have fought amongst themselves for money, fame, power and religion. Now they must unify their many disparate factions including the Zealots and biomechanical warriors known as the Jötnar, if they are to survive in this new world.

Star Crusades Nexus is a classic work of realistic military science fiction set against the background of the Centauri Alliance's expansion into the Orion Nebula. Also available is the prequel series, Star Crusades Uprising that is set two decades earlier and covers the events of the Great Uprising, that brought humanity to the brink of destruction.

©2012, 2015 Michael G. Thomas (P)2015 Swordworks Books

A Space Bridge

I enjoyed this first book in the "Star Crusaders Nexus" series. Scientists have created a way to travel to the Orion Nebula through a spacebridge. I liked that characters from other series of this author were featured in this new series. It was like catching up with family members who had been gone for a long time. There was plenty of action. There were some surprising twists and turns. I admired the realistic descriptions which gave the story a classic science fiction ambiance. Brad McDowell's narration was great, and his performance added to the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which included my opinions.

Great story

I loved this story! And the narrator, as always, was amazing. Great description for all the characters too.

Poor, poor naration

I couldn't tell if the story is good or not, the narrator is so bad I had to stop listening after 5 minutes.

Tragically Bland and Monotonous

First and foremost: This book may have not been my cup of tea. The writer seems to devote all creative energy to military pomp, expository space history, and spaceship design. All these things would’ve been fine, if a shred of mood or emotion could be found in the tale. There were battles, but no thrills. Death, but I did not care who died. Exploration, but no sense of wonder. It really is a shame that this story of humans in space seems without beauty or excitement. The narrator makes a noble attempt to inject life into the characters, but the characters seem too flat to be inflated with it. I listened to the whole thing, and I'll say that the revelation at the end was the most lackluster, as nothing profoundly interesting is discovered. Outer space doesn’t seem worth the trip.