Retrograde reads: War dogs by greg bear

Science fiction novel imagines taking humanity to its limit with warfare set on the planet Mars

Interviewing Vietnam veterans was certainly one of my more formative high school experiences. I remember long nights in garages among folding chairs and spent beer cans, asking for permission to record and getting several expletives along the lines of “sure, why not” in answer. The context of these conversations gives a bit of background for why I want you to pick up Greg Bear’s “War Dogs" at your earliest convenience: this book, set on Mars in the midst of an alien conflict, is reminiscent of a true military story.

stantial achievement for him and a possible warning for the prospective reader.

timate Veggie Omelet; it was well-seasoned and well-made. I have a certain apprehension for eggs made at cafes and restaurants, – rarely have I had a good egg I didn’t make myself – but here, there is nothing to fear. All of the food options range from about eight to eleven dollars including tax, and the amount of food you get is comparable to spending that same money at any given fast-food place, and it tastes far better.

I Love U A-Latte provides the ideal quiet study environment, complete with fast wifi, refreshing drinks and comfy chairs. While not cheap, the café is not prohibitively expensive, and the vibes of the space are immaculate. If only every café in America were like this one! National productivity would soar through the roof. It is a 5/5 coffee shop, where you can sit back, relax, and then remember the essay that needs four more pages typed up. So next time you’re considering where to get coffee, I Love U A-Latte should be on your shortlist as a spot to get The Fix. Have a favorite place for coffee/tea yourself? Reach out to managingeditor@ utdmercury.com or @UTDMercury on twitter with your favorite place to get The Fix, and we might review for the next issue!

Bear is well-known for his work in science fiction. Well-awarded, too: he's got two Hugos and five Nebula Awards for a reason. Any one of his books would appeal to the UTD crowd, from the FBI counterrorism procedural "Quantico" to the “Legend of Zelda”-esque "Songs of Earth & Power.” He... also wrote several of the “Halo” novels, which you Brian David Gilbert fans might appreciate.

"War Dogs,” however, stands out from the crowd due to its unique narration and incredibly compelling story structure.

The narrator, Master Sergeant Michael Venn, alternates between telling the story of his experience as a Marine on Mars and the trouble he now faces back on Earth, with his unit lost in the dust and a government conspiracy brewing to cover it all up. He questions why they were ever sent there, fighting and dying to repay an alien civilization that may not actually have humanity’s best interests at heart.

That writing style quickly becomes the highlight of the novel. The setting by itself wouldn’t be all-too interesting: the dusty and desolate Martian surface, the cramped interiors of tents and tunnel systems, a single living room once the main character returns to Earth. Sergeant Venn’s inner monologue throughout all this, however, stays tense and well-paced enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Brief phrases like, “Fear is a drug you need to survive,” are framed beautifully by more extended- and horrifying sequences like the following on the enemies’ biological weapons used against the Skyrines (Earthlings’ word for the Marines sent into space).

“We panicked,” he says. “We would have killed each other rather than face the goddamned needles, and now that stokes my rage, the rage that eats me inside, that

Bear’s background in government consulting and science lends a healthy dose of realism to the story, but what really makes it stick is the humanity written into it. He never lets you forget the trauma of war and its impact on the narrator, who slowly comes apart over the course of telling the story.

Congratulations, Greg!

You’ve joined the higher end of my tier list of authors who are frighteningly good at writing panic attacks, which is both a sub-