The Misfit Soldier: War Never Changes – Even in Space
Sergeant Gastovsky (known to all as Gas) discovers that one of his soldiers was left behind on a distant planet. Because of the risk, his superiors don’t approve of a rescue mission. He hatches a plan to escape from a ship to rescue his crew, but when that fails, he creates another plan to bring down a team of soldiers to the planet. Gas has other motives to save the man he loves.
It’s important to say that I was an outsider to this genre when I started reading this book. I don’t usually read military science fiction. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein and The Forever War (by Joe Haldeman) are two of my favourite entries in this genre. I was exposed to some of the most popular tropes like soldiers in mech suits and wars with alien animals, as well as contemplations about the nature of war. They gave me the impression that this genre is either directly fascist propaganda or strongly anti-war.
While the Misfit Soldier may be more cynical about war than others, it isn’t actually. Gas is fighting in a war against other people, but the reasons and politics are only briefly touched on. I don’t find it a problem, even if the book is written in the first person. But, this was something that stood out. Although there is a glimpse at the wide-ranging conspiracy that underlies the war Gas and his soldiers are fighting in, it’s not elaborated upon.
This book also doesn’t contain any unique weapons or technology. With its mech suits and robots, it all feels familiar. Mammary wanted to create a fast-paced and action-packed plot. This was similar to the sci-fi pulps, although those had something different and innovative for the time.
Gas and his crew arrive on the planet with some descriptions. They mention that everything has a purple tint from the gasses in its atmosphere. But for the most part, it doesn’t feel alien. A few words are made about alien species, but there is no mention of their existence. The planet is home to civilians who are no different from Earth. The crew also encounters robots and mech suits.
The first half of the book was boring and repetitive. Gas assembled the crew and established each role. Although there are moments of banter between them, the characters seem pretty standard. There are the tech person, the novice, and the hard-ass veteran.
The twists start to appear halfway through the book, making the story much more enjoyable. This book focuses more on Gas’s life his motivations for completing the mission. It also explains some of the backgrounds behind the war and why it has been ongoing for so long. The intrigue, along with well-written action scenes, pulled me back to the book.
Some things I have to complain about, such as the way Gas describes war-profiteering, is so simplistic. There was so much more to learn about the forces that pull the strings. The plot’s second half focuses on Gas’s attempts to smuggle the information he has discovered and his relationship with one of his coworkers. To me, the novel reads like a Hollywood sci-fi action film.
The Misfit Soldier is a good read, even though it doesn’t do anything new. Although it doesn’t explore all the exciting angles it could, such as creating alien worlds and the politics of the endless war its characters are fighting in, it has enough humour, intrigue and romance to keep it interesting. This book is an excellent choice for sci-fi fans who want a quick and enjoyable read.
