First to Fight

The Back Story on Stalker

This is book eleven in the Empire Corp Series. The series opened with Edward Stalker and his company being deployed to Avalon. In this episode Nuttall has decided to give us the back story of Stalker’s early life. Stalker was born on Earth in the under city, the home of the poor. He was disgusted with school and ready to graduate; his brother was attempting to recruit Stalker into a gang. Stalker decided he wanted out; to get away, move someplace. From school he finds information regarding military recruiters, he reads about the various services and thinks this might be a way out for him. The family was eating dinner one evening when a gang raids the apartment and kills everyone but Stalker. Stalker then heads to the Marine recruiting center and joins. Nuttall proceeds to tell the story of Stalker life in basic training, the Slaughterhouse and to his first deployment.

Nuttall is constantly improving his writing skills; it is enjoyable to watch the development of a writer. Nuttall has created some very interesting characters and it’s pleasant to learn the back story of the key people. The story is a straight forward basic training type of story with suspense and action along with some humor. Jeffrey Kafer does an excellent job narrating this series.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I just don't like pre-quels.

The story was good, but it shouldn't have come so late in the series, I keep hoping for a resumption of the original story line, the Battle for Avalon.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Now THIS is what we have been waiting for!

Ooh-rah! Love this addition. This is prequel, but that's just fine since you can't write too much about Ed Stocker. Here's to many more from Avalon and on.

This is back to the basics, back to what we love about this series, back to the Marines, back to Ed Stocker. Here we get his history with the hardships of boot camp, the grueling ordeal of the Slaughterhouse, and the depressing deployments to try to bring order to a few outposts of civilization. Here is the gluttony of the obese empire and its military, and the first indications of its downfall. All the idiocy and incompetence of the armchair generals, but also the tremendous capacity of the few reasonable, well-trained soldiers who know how things really are and should be. Truly, if not for these last honorable men and women, the empire would surely have completely imploded.

But we have this, one of the last groups to go through the slaughterhouse, then out into the vast reaches of the diseased, dying monstrosity that is humanity.

We know somewhat of these stories since they have been alluded to in the series, but here is the gutsy, gritty, even gory background to Avalon, even before Han, when Ed Stocker grows from boy to man, and decides who and what he will be. Here is what we all hope we can be if pushed to extremes.

We see all the negativity, and the deserved destruction of the decadent population, but also the honor, the heroism, and the brotherhood that is the Marines. Even though Earth's billions are doomed, and the other planets of humanity are in upheaval, we are grateful that Man's finest qualities are preserved in these few, the proud, the Marines.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Irrelevant

This might have made a good volume 1, but at this point in the series, seems like a waste of time. The Empire’s Corp series is excellent, but this particular volume can be skipped.

Can't stop listening to the books. <br />

I have several other books in my library. But I listen to these first. ALWAYS.

Bloody politics.

Real politic, from the boardroom to the blood and guts. Semper Fu... good shit. Outstanding author/voice actor combo.

awesome origin story

this was a great story about stalker beginning in the corp. I hope there is another one like it focusing on Belinda Lawson story. these books are great!

I love this series!

I love this series! I love Christopher Nuttall! I love the Royal Marines!
semper fi!

Great story of Staker.

This book was a great informative book about Staker! Gives you more understanding view about his rise into his position and what training he has.

Interesting background info.

If you wondered about Stalker's background then here you go but if your looking for a continuation of he overall story arch move on to the next on. Entertaining but I could have skipped it. I know I could not have written it and I appreciate he thought and detail given just not why I was buying the books.