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Marko Kloos
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Terms of Enlistment (Frontlines Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Marko Kloos (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 23,663 ratings

“There is nobody who does [military SF] better than Marko Kloos. His Frontlines series is a worthy successor to such classics as Starship Troopers, The Forever War, and We All Died at Breakaway Station.” —George R. R. Martin

The year is 2108, and the North American Commonwealth is bursting at the seams. For welfare rats like Andrew Grayson, there are only two ways out of the crime-ridden and filthy welfare tenements: You can hope to win the lottery and draw a ticket on a colony ship settling off-world . . . or you can join the service.

With the colony lottery a pipe dream, Andrew chooses to enlist in the armed forces for a shot at real food, a retirement bonus, and maybe a ticket off Earth. But as he starts a career of supposed privilege, he soon learns that the good food and decent health care come at a steep price . . . and that the settled galaxy holds far greater dangers than military bureaucrats or the gangs that rule the slums.

The debut novel from Marko Kloos, Terms of Enlistment is an addition to the great military sci-fi tradition of Robert Heinlein, Joe Haldeman, and John Scalzi.

Revised edition: This edition of Terms of Enlistment includes editorial revisions.

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  1. Book 1 of 8
    Frontlines
  2. Print length
    345 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    47North
  5. Publication date
    14 May 2013
  6. File size
    1.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 8 books in this series.
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  1. “There’s no perfect place, you know. You always end up trading one kind of shit for another. Me, I’ll stick with the shit I know.”
    Highlighted by 533 Kindle readers
  2. When you do exactly as you’re told, and you’re neither the best nor the worst at any task, you can disappear in the crowd and have a small measure of solitude.
    Highlighted by 459 Kindle readers
  3. It feels strangely liberating to do precisely as instructed. I don’t have to worry about displeasing the sergeant as long as I follow his orders exactly.
    Highlighted by 369 Kindle readers
  4. Together, the rifle and the armor turn me into something different, something more advanced than the sum of myself and the technology in which I am wrapped.
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Review

“Military science fiction is tricky because it either intends to lampoon the military industrial complex or paints it in such a way that you must really have to love guns to enjoy the work. Terms of Enlistment walks that fine line by showing a world where the military is one of the few viable options off a shattered Earth and intermixes it with a knowledge of military tactics and weapons that doesn’t turn off the casual reader.” —Buzzfeed

“Much like Scalzi’s Old Man’s War and its sequels, Terms of Enlistment and Lines of Departure are combat-grade military SF, and should come with an addiction warning.” —io9

“Frontlines is earnest, optimistic, and fun, even as it deals with subject matter that’s intrinsically grim. It’s a story that strikes the perfect balance between escapism and serious reflection, and it’s the perfect military sci-fi series to escape into for a week or two.” —The Verge

About the Author

Marko Kloos is the author of the Frontlines series of military science fiction and is a member of George R. R. Martin’s Wild Cards consortium. Born in Germany and raised in and around the city of Münster, Marko was previously a soldier, bookseller, freight dockworker, and corporate IT administrator before deciding that he wasn’t cut out for anything except making stuff up for fun and profit. Marko writes primarily science fiction and fantasy—his first genre love ever since his youth, when he spent his allowance mostly on German SF pulp serials. He likes bookstores, kind people, October in New England, fountain pens, and wristwatches. Marko resides at “Castle Frostbite” in New Hampshire with his wife, two children, and roving pack of voracious dachshunds. For more information, visit www.markokloos.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CIXX144
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ 47North; Revised edition (14 May 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 345 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 23,663 ratings

About the author

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Marko Kloos

Marko Kloos

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Marko Kloos was born in Germany and raised in and around the city of Münster.

Marko writes primarily science fiction and fantasy, his first genre love ever since his youth when he spent his allowance on pulp serials. He's the author of the bestselling Frontlines and Palladium Wars series of military science fiction.

Marko lives in New Hampshire with his wife, two children, and their roving pack of dachshunds.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
23,663 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and interesting to read. They appreciate the realistic storyline with strong overtones of practical reality. The writing quality is praised as well-written and easy to understand. Readers praise the sympathetic, believable characters and find the voice fitting the main character perfectly. The book is set in a futuristic world with the right amount of science fiction elements to keep them engaged. Overall, customers find the book fast-paced and enjoyable after a slow start.

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214 customers mention ‘Storyline’201 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline. They find it engaging with a realistic underlying story that develops nicely. The book is well-written as a first-person narrative, with believable characters and an interesting world. Readers appreciate the action sequences and fast-paced reading style.

"...Superb start to the series and easy to lose track of time to...." Read more

"...The action sequences are good, the read generally fast paced and the author obliquely raises enough issues to make it worth reading even if one is..." Read more

"...The book starts off right at the beginning, with the cadets going through basic recruitment, and follows them as they find themselves tossed around..." Read more

"...The soldiers kit is futuristic but not overly so and the tactics seemed realistic. As do the inevitable failings in the urban operations...." Read more

212 customers mention ‘Readability’203 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style. They find it interesting and well-crafted, making it a good read that sets the stage for the next installment in the series. The way the protagonist moves from one situation to the next is also praised.

"...So this came across my search for something new & interesting to read so took the plunge I honestly thought I'll give it a few chapters so I can say..." Read more

"...paced and the author obliquely raises enough issues to make it worth reading even if one is not only interested in the firefights...." Read more

"...a flaw, or a strength which gives them a roundness that makes them interesting to read about...." Read more

"...It is not a very sophisticated narrative style, but very engaging none-the-less...." Read more

96 customers mention ‘Writing quality’88 positive8 negative

Customers find the writing quality enjoyable and engaging. They appreciate the fast-paced, well-developed characters and succinct events descriptions. The book feels like a proper read, not just an ebook.

"...It was so in depth and detailed, I was holding my Kindle tighter, I was just rapt during those chapters it was almost sad we had to move on to his..." Read more

"...This probably makes it relatively easy both for the author and the reader in not having to come to terms with abstract, advanced systems but robs..." Read more

"...The descriptions are detailed but never boring. The tension is constant and ever building. The encounters are often surprising, always terrifying...." Read more

"As someone who is a great appreciator of good writing (I'm just talking about the craft, right now, rather than story), this book is wonderful...." Read more

75 customers mention ‘Character development’67 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They find the protagonist sympathetic and believable. The book is full of three-dimensional characters who contribute to the story. The voice perfectly fits the main character, making it easy to visualize characters, action, and places.

"...The characters are all very well crafted, and each has a flaw, or a strength which gives them a roundness that makes them interesting to read about...." Read more

"...The characters are reasonable and I liked the descriptions of the army actions...." Read more

"...It even added to my enjoyment as the voice so perfectly fitted with the main character and his reflections and actions. Buy the book...." Read more

"...The characters and environment are quite flat. Almost cyphers. For example the groups, be it squads or shish crew are homogenous scenery...." Read more

36 customers mention ‘Pacing’27 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it has just the right amount of futuristic elements to remind them that it's science fiction. The story is set in a futuristic world with politics, economics, and technology. The characters are well-developed and the plot keeps their interest throughout. Overall, customers describe the book as interesting and innovative, with a good mix of military, future politics, and SF.

"...The soldiers kit is futuristic but not overly so and the tactics seemed realistic. As do the inevitable failings in the urban operations...." Read more

"...The military politics are also handled well. If you want a space opery kind of combat novel then this one is for you." Read more

"...Pretty captivating: The political, personal and sci fi drama. Just got the second book in the series too" Read more

"...- Pretty standard "Action Film" type affair with very little of interest outside of the description of the fire fights...." Read more

35 customers mention ‘Pace’28 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the writing smooth and the storyline engaging. The book flows smoothly, with believable action and a well-thought-out plot.

"...The action sequences are good, the read generally fast paced and the author obliquely raises enough issues to make it worth reading even if one is..." Read more

"This yarn is nicely paced and quite entertaining. A by the numbers recruit military scifi story...." Read more

"Generally this is a fast paced space opera, though you wouldn't really guess this from the first part of the book which is set in a dystopic 'united..." Read more

"...I love this novel, it flows really well, I like the characters..." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Military action’14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the military action in the book. They appreciate the realistic descriptions of army actions and combat on the frontline. The story is described as a good mix of military, future politics, and science fiction, with a convincing military structure that rings true.

"...The characters are reasonable and I liked the descriptions of the army actions...." Read more

"...We follow his training and first experiences of military action, culminating in a traumatic space encounter, and we meet his friends, some of whom..." Read more

"...It takes you through his basic training and his stint in his first branch of the military, before he is badly wounded and manages to negotiate a..." Read more

"There is definitely military action in this book but for two thirds of it we are still on earth...." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Author talent’8 positive0 negative

Customers like the author's writing. They say it's another interesting book by Marko Kloos.

"...From the very start I was impressed. Firstly the author has talent and a flair for good English and grammar...." Read more

"...of the best Sci-Fi is in multiple books and most of the best authors expand on their work because people want to read more about the characters!..." Read more

"Good book. Good author. Whets your appetite for the rest of the series." Read more

"...Sign of a good book and good author. Recommended read, hope the next one is as good and turns out to be a long series in true Assimov style." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • BlueBellPaws
    5.0 out of 5 stars converted genre lover
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    OK so before this book I had it in my head I don't like Sci-fi.
    How I knew this when I had never read any I have no idea. So this came across my search for something new & interesting to read so took the plunge I honestly thought I'll give it a few chapters so I can say I tried then go back to my usual reads of thillers which I have gotten a bit tired of.
    Well the first night I was up for 3 hours reading this! I couldn't go to sleep I kept saying to myself oh one more chapter and before I knew it it was early hours of the morning, that is a perfect sign for me I really enjoyed the book.
    This has SO much to get a novice into this genre, It starts off with a little over half on earth & Andrew being an army grunt, well the author puts in an amazing very taught gun street fight I was holding my breath & didn't realise I was! It was so in depth and detailed, I was holding my Kindle tighter, I was just rapt during those chapters it was almost sad we had to move on to his space journey but that is the sci fi element & it starts & it didn't disappoint.
    I was annoying my husband the next day explaining the lankies, I failed big time but I actually had fun telling my partner all about this book. I started this at the start of Dec 2023 I am now on book 7 and it is very early Jan 2024 that is how engrossed I have been in this series!!!! Oh and book 6 must be read for the ride of the valkeries scene total genius! You'll know what I mean if/when you read it.
    Superb start to the series and easy to lose track of time to. If like me your new to this genre or your already into it then this series does not disappoint. Very strong beginning.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • AK
    4.0 out of 5 stars A generally well executed near future space adventure - if at times too close to current reality to be fully convincing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The author - formerly a soldier himself - has written a near future space adventure story, heavily steeped in the military side of things. The protagonist - Andrew Grayson - starts out as a so called welfare rat, living in a tenement in the Boston area. for people like him there are only two ways out - the lottery to be assigned a rare place on a colony ship as a colonist, or the military. He takes the latter and the rest of the book largely deals with his recruitment, training and early combat missions.

    One can clearly feel the author's own military experience in this part, both for better and worse. While on the positive side, the organizational, training and combat aspects are realtively realistic, the equipment used is at times conservative, if one wants to be gracious about it.

    The book plays out almost 90 years in the future (2108 is the start date), yet much of the equipment (apart from the space element) is of a level that is already in use or has at least been encountered in prototype form as far back as the 1980s. This probably makes it relatively easy both for the author and the reader in not having to come to terms with abstract, advanced systems but robs the book of some fascination, too, in my opinion. And the Sino-Russian Alliance as a counterpart to the North American Commonwealth smacks of laziness, as well.

    The book also features a romantic story, of sorts, although whether it is necessary or superfluous will probably lie in the eyes of the beholder.

    Even if it looks that 'faint praise' is being applied, the book is better than that. The action sequences are good, the read generally fast paced and the author obliquely raises enough issues to make it worth reading even if one is not only interested in the firefights. The end turns out a sufficient surprise to keep you interested in the follow-up - Lines of Departure (Frontlines Book 2) - as well.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • N. Walton
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book, and a great start to a new series.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I had no idea how big this book was until I started reading it. There is a lot of material here, far more than the paltry price on Kindle would suggest, and it's worth more than twice that.

    Trying to escape a fate of living in a hellhole on earth, one of ten billion lost souls with nothing better to do than watch TV and collect government handouts, Andrew Grayson decides to join the navy. Unfortunately, he gets assigned to a less-than-salubrious mission: as a member of the army assigned to keep the self-same hellholes that he was living in, under a tight thumb. Things don't work out as planned, and he goofs big time, earning him a discharge into a different service, which is where things start to get really interesting.

    I absolutely loved this book, and after reading it instantly bought the whole of the rest of the series that was available. Nothing in the book comes across as a coincidence, and the author doesn't use deus ex machinas to solve crises, nor does he visit a constant stream of woes upon them, to seem like the ordeal of Sisyphus. The whole storyline plays out very naturally, and nothing feels 'forced' in any way. I was extremely impressed by the accuracy and the pacing of the military action parts of the book itself.

    Although some of the settings may seem a little derivative, when everything is put together, this is a truly unique journey. It tells the rise, fall and rise of the protagonist, and shows it through the lens of an unfolding sequence of events that eventually leads to the disastrous discovery of an alien menace which is wonderful in the lack of actual information which is given about them in the book. They remain mysterious and inscrutable, which is perfect for a malignant enemy.

    The characters are all very well crafted, and each has a flaw, or a strength which gives them a roundness that makes them interesting to read about. The book starts off right at the beginning, with the cadets going through basic recruitment, and follows them as they find themselves tossed around as military and political pawns, until they come face to face with the new threat.

    I loved this book, and it's a brilliant start to a new series!
    15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • praveen kumar
    5.0 out of 5 stars You can't put down the book 👍
    Reviewed in India on 20 September 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Very happy that i picked up this book to quench my sci-fi thirst. Nice story and a lot of action. Looking forward for the next book
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Never read a book so fast
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on 1 December 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a casual reader and usually read a few pages in bed to fall asleep. Usually it takes weeks or even months to finish a book. This one was done within a week. The story kept pulling me back in the book and before I knew it, I was already half way in 3 days. Spoiler alert: Some scenes felt a bit repeatable like the thermobaric round on the sniper and a few pages ahead another thermobaric round into the apartment building. Also, why didn't the dropship destroy the heavy guns on the rooftops and whatever happened to the sniper in the city? Also fitting a tight flight helmet when you have a big cut on your face would be worth mentioning a few times. Other than that, great read, exactly my taste.
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  • Alberto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bello!
    Reviewed in Italy on 7 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Il libro è interessante si vede che è stato scritto da qualcuno che ha esperienza militare. Il personaggio principale ha un particolare senso dell'umorismo che ho molto divertente! Sicuramente continuerò la serie.
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  • Diego
    5.0 out of 5 stars Diferente
    Reviewed in Spain on 9 May 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Me ha gustado, la historia es muy creíble e interesante. No contiene mucha acción pero representa muy bien el mundo en el que se establece
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  • Petras Furtado
    4.0 out of 5 stars a excelente releitura de um clássico.
    Reviewed in Brazil on 11 May 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Os fãs de ficção científica militar vão certamente apreciar o primeiro livro destes série de Marko Kloss, que revisita os temas e conceitos de Starship Troopers - Tropas Estelares - de Robert Heinlein, mas com várias reviravoltas e uma inclusividade e diversidade que eu não esperava e que muito me agradou. Apesar de não investir em mecha, do qual o livro que o inspirou é o santo padroeiro, Terms of Enlistment narra o cotidiano de soldados de várias forças diferentes, sem perder o ponto de vista individual e o senso crítico. Recomendo.
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