Back in June we posted a video on our D3 Reads YouTube Channel that discussed the most influential, best military science fiction novels. That video was meant as a starting point for this most awesome of sub-genres, and now it’s time to build on it. The great folks who joined in on the conversation with comments helped tremendously by offering their favorite novels, and now we’ve crafted our first official D3 R To Be Read list.
So if you’re looking for the best military science fiction, this list is for you!
The top five (Armor to Forever War) is where we started with the Best Sci Fi Books of All Time: Military Science Fiction! video. The next seven (On Basilisk Station to Terms of Enlistment) are next on our radar and we’re shooting for a November release for the next Mil Sci Fi Video. More to come!
Let us know what you think! Did we miss an author, book, or series? Drop it in a comment!
| Author | Title | Year Published |
| Steakly, John | Armor | 1984 |
| Scalzi, John | Old Man’s War | 2005 |
| Card, Orson Scott | Ender’s Game | 1985 |
| Heinlein, Robert | Starship Troopers | 1959 |
| Halderman, Joe | Forever War | 1974 |
| Weber, David | On Basilisk Station | 2012 |
| Bujold, Lois McMaster | Shards of Honor | 2011 |
| Campbell, Jack | Dauntless: Lost Fleet | 2008 |
| Drake, David | Hammer’s Slammers | 1979 |
| Dickson, Gordon | Dorsai! | 1960 |
| Ringo, John | A Hymn Before Battle | 2000 |
| Kloos, Marko | Terms of Enlistment | 2013 |
| Douglas, Ian | Earth Strike: Star Carrier | 2010 |
| Taylor, Travis S | Warp Speed | 2004 |
| White, Steve | Her Majesty’s Rebel | 2020 |
| Flint, Eric | Time Spike | 2013 |
| Schmitz, James H. | Telzey Amberdon | 2014 |
| Williamson, Michael Z. | Freehold | 2004 |
| Allen, Jay | Marines: Crimson Worlds | 2012 |
| Brazee, Jonathon | Sentenced To War | 2021 |
| Pournelle, Jerry | Falkenberg’s Legion | 1990 |
| Laumer, Keith | Bolo: Rogue Bolo | 2020 |
| Gerrold, David | A Matter for Men | 1989 |
| Brown, Pierce | Red Rising | 2014 |
| Alanson, Craig | Convergence | 2022 |
| Adair, Bobby | Freedom’s Fire | 2017 |
| Doherty, Robert | Area 51 | 2014 |
| Gilliland, Alexis | The Revolution From Rosinante | 2011 |