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Military science fiction is a subset of science fiction where interstellar or interplanetary conflict and its armed solution make up the backdrop of the story.
One definition of military science fiction is science fiction in which the main characters are part of the chain of command.
Typically, the conflict is assumed to be inevitable (Humans vs. inhuman bugs, Democracies vs. Dictatorships, ...), and the military approach is not questioned. Traditional military values (discipline, courage, chain of command) are stressed, and the action is described from the point of view of a soldier or officer. Technology is advanced and often described in detail. In some stories technology is fairly static, wars are not primarily won by R&D or even logistics, but by willpower and military virtues. In other stories technological changes are central to plot development.
Thus, while the original Star Wars movies have an armed conflict as backdrop, they would not usually be considered military sf. Most Star Trek series are not part of this genre, although Deep Space Nine borrows some of the genre conventions in later seasons. Similarly, Babylon 5 is a borderline case. Space: Above and Beyond is clear military sf, but the Lensmen cycle by E.E. Doc Smith is not.
A very popular series, and a recommended intro to this subgenre is David Weber's on-going Honor Harrington series, which comes with 'reasonably' logical technology, believable plot, and (disputed by some) outstanding character depth.
Another of the defining authors of the genre is David Drake, especially with his Hammer's Slammers series, but also with many of his other works.
While much military science fiction is pure entertainment, and caters to a similar audience as historical and modern military novels, some authors manage to work within the genre conventions while posing interesting new questions. An example is Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game novel, where children are trained from a young age to fight for humanity.
Many current military science fiction books are published by Baen Books.
Selected list of military science fiction novels and series:
- The Legacy of the Aldenata series by John Ringo
- Armor (1984) by John Steakley
- BattleTech universe (also known as the Mechwarrior universe), started as a wargame, now is the setting of more then seventy books,
- Bill, the Galactic Hero, (1965) Harry Harrison's parody of the whole genre
- Broken Angels (2003) by Richard Morgan
- Clash by Night (1943) by Lawrence O'Donnell (a penname of Henry Kuttner), depicting companies of mercenaries used to fight wars between fortified city states beneath the surface of the Venusian ocean after the nuclear destruction of Earth.
- Crest of the Stars by Morioka Hiroyuki (anime)
- Gaunt's Ghosts by Dan Abnett
- The Gundam metaseries is mostly military SF, with the notable exception of G-Gundam.
- Hammer's Slammers series by David Drake
- Honor Harrington series by David Weber, one of the most popular series of the genre
- The Forever War (1975) by Joe Haldeman, which is rather critical of the military
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes by Tanaka Yoshiki (anime)
- Parts of the Miles Vorkosigan series (especially Borders of Infinity) by Lois McMaster Bujold
- Schlock Mercenary
- The Serrano Legacy by Elizabeth Moon
- Space: Above and Beyond TV series
- Stargate TV Series
- Starship Troopers (1959) by Robert A. Heinlein, and the rather ironic movie
- Vatta's War (2003) by Elizabeth Moon; a new, Honor Harringtonesque series that began with the novel Trading in Danger
- Warhammer 40,000 universe, started as a wargame, and spawned many comics and books (including the mentioned Gaunt's Ghosts series)
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