Top Five POWER-ARMOR Novels Ranked !!!

[@ashley-r-pollard]

For Ringo, I would've gone either with A Hymn Before Battle, or Into the Looking Glass as better power armor stories. I shall check out the Horus Rising by Abnett on your recommendation. My only trouble with this ranking is that it concentrates on the classic three, adds the Webber and Ringo collaboration and thene throws in a curve ball with the WH40K story. Nothing wrong with that, but the genre is bigger than that, and rolling out these classics does the power armor genre a disservice by lessening how wide it has become. So, my recommendations for your next power armor reads are: Rick Patlow's Drop Trooper series; Blaine Lee Pardoe's Land & Sea series; Marko Kloos's Frontlines series; The Heritage Trilogy by Ian Douglas (with two sequel trilogies Legacy and Inheritance as well); and the little known Jason Wander (Orphanage series) by Robert Buettner. And my vote One each as they really are worth calling it a draw.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Hymn Before Battle was certainly in that top ten list from Goodreads. And you make some good points. Unfortunately, if you widen the field it gets too large to handle adequately. At least for me! Thank you for checking out the video Ashley and the great comments!

[@rickcantrell5302]

Great comparison video, G! I've only read two of these books, but since those are the Heinlein and the Haldeman, I'll let my self vote. Unfortunately, they are both amazing, and I liked them about the same. So I vote:Tie. I've ordered the other three as ebooks or audiobooks. I would also put in a vote for Xenophon's The Anabasis. Those guys wore armor, too (but not technically powered). Very enjoyable video! Thanks for putting this together.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Thanks for checking it out Rick! I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the Horus Heresy.

[@occultdetective]

Troopers, without question.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Got it one vote for Troopers! Thanks for checking out the video Bob!

[@secretfirebooks7894]

Starship Troopers! I'm doing my part!

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Thank you for doing your part Secret Fire! And vote noted!

[@User_Un_Friendly]

Guys, I'm not sure how long this lasts, and it's disconcerting to mention on a Powered Armor video comments, but the first 3 James Herriot (Alfred Wright) books are very low price on Kindle. And today is a double rewards day too.🤑🤑

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Interesting, I'll take a look User.

[@TheBeastReads]

I'm a Starship Troopers guy, I read it when i was 12 and wanted to be a Starship Trooper when I grew up. For more Power Armor books try Rimrunners by C.J.Cherryh or others in her Alliance/Union series. The main character in Rimrunners is a former Power Armor wearing Trooper.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Rimrunners sounds interesting and by Cherryh. That's a plus!

[@nealbullington8301]

I remember some scifi mag. running a contest to write the best synopsis of a scifi book in ten words or less. I wrote one on Starship Troopers but didn't win. I feel the editor cheated in picking the winner because it had more than ten words, but you see where my vote is.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I got your vote Neal! ... And you were robbed!

[@iragreene5220]

Starship Troopers is #1. Forever War is a better book, but it's standing on Heinlein's shoulders. I'd love to hear your perspective on Busby's Hulzein series and on Pournelle's Janissaries series. Loved your take on power armor. 👍✌️

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Thanks Ira and noted one vote for Troopers! I need to track down Busby, that's a new author for me. I know Pournelle of course, but I'll need to track down his Janissaries books.

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@GrammaticusBooks Eh...I don't remember much about the Janissaries. Much better are the CoDominion books, like the Mercenary, and West of Honor.🫡

[@iragreene5220]

​@@GrammaticusBooks F.M. Busby wrote other great books, but the Hulzein saga is space opera like no other and includes use is a power suit at several critical hinge moments to save the day. Rissa Kerguelen (1976, later reissued as Young Rissa and Rissa and Tregare) Young Rissa Rissa and Tregare The Long View (1976) Zelde M'Tana (1980) Renalle Kerguelen (2015, Kindle only) Hulzein edit The Star Rebel (1984) Rebel's Quest (1984) The Alien Debt (1984) Rebel's Seed (1986) The Rebel Dynasty - Volume I (omnibus) (1987) - Contains Star Rebel and Rebel's Quest The Rebel Dynasty - Volume II (omnibus) (1988) - Contains The Alien Debt and Rebel's Seed

[@papakhan3461]

Good video 👍 maybe you could do the same but for modern military sci-fi - there's a ton!

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Thanks PapaKhan! I'd have to start researching the more modern novels....Warhammer?

[@papakhan3461]

@@GrammaticusBooks Not Warhammer. I was thinking more in line what Aethon Books publishes (military sci-fi), like Rick Partlow's World War Mars! Or whatever J.N. Chaney is releasing. Or the Galaxy's Edge (not Star Wars) writers.

[@SkylerinAmarillo]

I've read both, and that's a tough one to decide. As the first to do it, I have to go with Heinlein. I think it was more entertaining than you did. I spent a couple of decades in the Marines and I found his descriptions of training to be very interesting, and although his politics are weird at best, I always found them thought provoking.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I agree on the thought provoking politics and training philosophies. Check out my full review on the book if you have a chance Sky. Also, got you down for one vote for Troopers. And thank you for your service. That's a long time in the Corp brother! Amen! (full disclosure, I'm a former Squid)

[@SkylerinAmarillo]

@@GrammaticusBooks Your review of Starship Troopers is how I found your channel.

[@HideAndRead]

The new Doom trailer released yesterday. Very timely, if you are in a power armor mood you will surely enjoy it. Great topic!

[@GrammaticusBooks]

There's a new Doom game??? Or did they make a movie? Loved that game back in the day.

[@HideAndRead]

@@GrammaticusBooks Last two were great.

[@kyrilson71]

My vote is The Forever War. It’s not bogged down with that middle section of politics that Starship Troopers has. I have read all of these, they’re all excellent. Additional note: the WH40K books are consistently good military sci-fi. It’s too bad too many snobs out there shun that franchise.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Agreed Kyrlison, the WH40K books are consistently good SF. And some are fantastic. There are a few stinkers out there but few and far between. And vote noted for Forever War!

[@nstents7781]

Easily one of the top 5 Grammaticus videos of all time. I wonder how many of us choose the first powered armor book we read as the best one, mainly because my first, Starship Troopers, blew me away from the start with the attack on the Skinnys.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Thanks Tents! And the start of Troopers is awesome...as is the ending!

[@StevenEverett7]

I admit to reading only Starship Troopers and the Empire of Man series. I enjoyed Troopers at the time and as I like Heinlein so much, I'm going to vote for him over Haldeman. My own personal favorite however is the Weber/Ringo series. I loved that set of stories. I did notice that at the end of the series the authors left an opening for the series to continue which unfortunately hasn't happened yet.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Ringo and Weber left an opening to keep writing the series?...I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! ; ) And duly noted Steven, one vote for Troopers and thank you for checking out the video!

[@StevenEverett7]

@@GrammaticusBooks 🤣🤣🤣

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@GrammaticusBooks not really. 🐶😂. It's pretty obvious that everything had been resolved.

[@frankblazkiewicz2636]

Starship Troopers gets my vote

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Noted Frank, one vote for Troopers.

[@DDB168]

The Forever War is better than Starship Troopers, TFW gets my vote. Here's hoping MKV gets well soon.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Ditto on MKV DDB. And duly noted one vote for Forever War.

[@wooddavid8293]

Forever War v. Starship Troopers? I can't decide. I'm a Heinlein nerd and Troopers is in my top 3 favorite RH novels. I read Forever War as a serial in Analog. Between Troopers mid novel treatise on politics and service to your "tribe" (country, planet, species, etc) and Forever Wars alienation and psyche scars of prolonged conflict, it's hard to pick.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I completely understand your dilemma!

[@watsondna]

I have read 3 of the 5. Looks like I need to find Horace Rising and March to the sea.

[@muttleyinlove8648]

Same for me.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Would love to hear your thoughts on Horus Rising!

[@muttleyinlove8648]

@@GrammaticusBooks I will read that one next (never heard of it prior to your video). Currently, I am re-reading "Stranger in a Strange Land" for the third time! So much fun. Thanks!

[@parazatico9030]

Great video, very enjoyable. I've only read Heinlein and Haldeman, but I ordered a copy of Armor (which should be 'Armour', of course😀) a while ago and it hasn't arrived yet. I won't be bothering with the Horus one, as GW stuff gives me the vapours, but I might have a look at March to the Sea. So, for me it's a straight choice between two, and I'd vote Haldeman, despite the fact (from what I remember) the armour in Forever War was about as dangerous to the wearer as it was to anybody else. Can't have too much power armour, can you?

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Excellent memory on the dangers of power armor in Forever War Para! And I’d be interested in your thoughts on Armor when it arrives. And lastly, duly noted one vote for FW.

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@GrammaticusBooks I was amused by the laser fingers. Gives a whole new meaning to "giving someone the finger". 😂🤣

[@parazatico9030]

@@GrammaticusBooks This morning, an elderly lady came to my house to give me a package that had been delivered to her in error. She had walked about 2/3rds of a mile to do so. It turned out to be 'Armor', which had made it from the U.S. to Eastern England, only to fall at the last hurdle. I was touched by this, as she could have just written 'Not Known' on it and put it in a post box (or just binned it), but instead she took the trouble to deliver it to me. The kindness of strangers.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Glad it arrived Para! Sounds like it was destined to find its way to you.

[@tabbenmishima9186]

I’d pick Starship Troopers as the winner. I read Forever war and it starts to fast forward into a montage toward the middle where it just accelerates and Starship troopers, for all it’s political blah blah, continues with a linear story and stays interesting. I know that is the point, but I thought it was a bit lazy…you start out knowing the character, and you end up knowing the effects of time travel and its effects.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

One vote for Troopers. Duly noted Tabben!

[@chrisroberts1440]

I have to go for Forever War, as much as I like ST it was FW that even now I feel the strongest reaction to.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Got it Chris one vote for Forever War.

[@fionam3554]

I have 1) Troopers, 2) Forever War - in a close one, then a good gap to Armor, I have not read the other two. Read a few Ringos online, Baen free library often has some, they are usually what i think of more as cotton candy books, download, enjoyable, but not as substantive as some others. Like that Western on TV that isn't True Grit or Unforgiven, but a pleasant evening with some popcorn. Might have to look at Horus. Read a more modern military version, Ten Thousand, by Harold Coyle, not bad. but it is military, not SF.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I hear you on Ringo and Weber Fionam. And that's one vote for Troopers (If I'm reading your comment correctly).

[@fionam3554]

@@GrammaticusBooks You are. Forever War is a close, but definite, second, Armor a distant third

[@DavidSmith-pg1ob]

"Old Man's War" kind of has power armor, but it's internal! :)

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Hah! And that’s one that I’m due for a reread on.

[@vintagesf]

More action puts ‘The Forever War’ on top. Read a contemporary power armour story which could be a challenger. ‘The Light Brigade’ 2019 by Kameron Hurley. From Wikipedia: its brutal descriptions of war and economic exploitation in a dystopian future are used to provide strongly critical commentary on the nature of warfare and capitalism.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Noted Vintage, one vote for Forever War! And a 2019 Power Armor novel not in the WH universe? Intriguing!

[@SkylerinAmarillo]

Back in what was probably the mid 90’s I read a book about power armor. I thought it was pretty good, maybe might make a top ten list. Maybe. I can’t for the life of me find it. There was some kind of war, mostly in the US. I think he published a few sequels. I think I read them on kindle. The publisher was some company that started with a B, maybe Baen? I think you’re straining the cobweb dusting apparatus in my brain.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Always here to strain cobwebs out! Lord knows I need that done! Regarding the novel your trying to remember...an alien invasion of earth?

[@SkylerinAmarillo]

@@GrammaticusBooks Yes, I guess it must have been an alien invasion. I read it in the late 90’s. I only remember that I enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind reading it again, or other work by the author if he stuck to it.

[@robertorr7410]

I have read the first three you put up there. Have read from the 40000 space marine universe but not that book and.thenlast never heard of....

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I'm guessing the one you've not heard of is the David Weber book?

[@paulbigbee]

Forever War. Also, adding to the 40K voices here: Helsreach, by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (and if you want the visual experience, check out the personally crafted animated version that can be found with a simple search).

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I will definitely track down that video! And one vote for Forever War.

[@fithfath3615]

Starship Troopers all the way.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Got it FF, one vote for Troopers.

[@fithfath3615]

@@GrammaticusBooks I've also added Horus Rising to my wish list. I like Dan Abnett as a comic book writer, so it'll be good to read a novel by him.

[@RichH9944]

Going with the Forever War by a nose

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Got it one vote for Forever War!

[@theprincipalofficer_1]

Starship troopers. Space Marines 40k the iconic beakies or angry face armour marks 4/5 and legendary terminator power armour. Don’t know more 😂

[@GrammaticusBooks]

One vote for Troopers! Warhammer can be excellent fiction if f you get the right author.

[@babyl48]

Starship Troopers

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Duly noted Baby!

[@DavidKetchin]

Forever war - (and its sequels)

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Noted David!

[@xenephon7620]

Forever War

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Noted!

[@marley4142]

Forever War #2

[@GrammaticusBooks]

So....Starship Troopers #1?

[@PeculiarNotions]

I vote for Forever War.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Got it PN!

[@mysteriousoul]

The Science Fiction and Fantasy snobs will eventually realise just how amazing the Black Library stable of writers are and how enormous and well crafted the world building of Warhammer Fantasy, Age of Sigmar, Necromunda and especially Warhammer 40k and Horus Heresy fiction are when compared to similar franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and Alien on the science fiction front and Conan, Dune, LotR and WoT in the fantasy realm. By the time they wake up to what they’ve been missing they’ll be too old to read the essential canon and would have missed out on exploration of sone of the greatest fictional universes ever conceived. Sounds like big claims? Prove me wrong

[@GrammaticusBooks]

I can’t disagree with any of that MS! And there’s some great WH40k fiction out there. Dan Abnett is an excellent author.

[@vilstef6988]

Forever War. I will admit my bias, I've known Haldeman nearly 50 years!

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Well that's awesome that you know Joe! And duly noted Vilstef, one vote for the Forever War!

[@vilstef6988]

@grammaticusbooks I met Joe and Gay at ICON one in 1975, my second SF convention. I've seen them many times since and broken bread with them more times than I can easily remember. Really lovely people!

[@GrammaticusBooks]

@@vilstef6988 Great story and great to hear he's a good person in addition to being a fantastic writer!

[@muttleyinlove8648]

The Forever War.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Got it one for the Forever War.