TLDR: I do not typically like "infantry" science fiction but I loved it and want more!

I'm an old 2300AD fan from the original release of the game so I have read many of the background books which feed this story. This is important to understand my review because a good deal of the interest and tension of the story centers on the mystery of humanity's opponents in their first truly interstellar war. I came into this book knowing the main "secret" it was revealing to me.

Pete Rogan STILL managed to engage, hold, and increase my interest as the story progressed.

I'm a 22 year naval veteran and his military characters felt like people I'd served with. He brought out aspects of the setting that I hadn't considered and did so without multi-page expository dumps. The plot's tension was well maintained and split between internal and external sources so I never knew what which way the story was going to turn. This is relatively rare for me as I often find plots predictable. It was really fun!

If you love 2300AD read the book for a fun window into a favorite setting that has way too little fiction for my taste.

if you're new to 2300AD read it as a nice introduction.

If you just like military SF read it for a relatively unique take on an enemy whose experience of consciousness is different than ours...quite literally in many ways.

If you just love SF: this isnt "war porn." In addition to the above, plus a healthy glimpse of a truly alien world, it's also a realistic take at the drives, motivations, and issues of human beings in a pretty difficult environment.

Pete Rogan, you've done an excellent job here! My only complaint is that it wasn't longer, I wanted the story to keep going. It's been many years since I played, but I always thought the 2300 universe was a sci-fi gem, and the world of Aurore is one of the most richly conceived planets in all of science fiction, whatever the medium. You built on that strong base with a well-written, gripping story. This novel has a stark beauty like Weber's In Fury Born or the reimagined Battlestar Galactica. The science and technology is good classic hard sci-fi, interesting without being intrusive. The cultural interplay is well crafted. The military banter is great fun, and the combat is a rush to read! On top of all that, you even work in a credible, narrative-appropriate philosophical discussion on the Kafer's affinity for Sartre! Please, write another.

Fun memories (with some changes) from the supplements concerned, with not bad execution for game fiction.