Top 5 Best Military Science Fiction Novels Of Ever

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5. Old Man's War - John Scalzi

First Contact has been made, humans are no longer alone in the universe. The Colonial Defense Force has been tasked with taking humanity to the stars. Setting up human colonies and defending them from attack by hostile aliens. The Colonial Defense Force army is an elite group that is different from other army's. For starters you can't join until you turn 75 years old.

To be honest I've never actually read this book. I listened to the unabridged audio book narrated by William Dufris, and it was Awesome! Audio books are tricky, I've listened to fantastic books turned to hash by an uninspired narrator, and I've listened to mediocre books over and over again because of a skilled narrator. This book is both fantastically written and beautifully narrated.

Dufris does a fantastic job of bringing John Scalzi's characters and worlds to life. The book is fast paced without feeling rushed. Great Book.

4. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Humans have discovered faster than light travel and begin their exploration of the Universe when they run into an alien species called the Fornics. Hostilities ensue. Humans soon discover that the generals who led army's on Earth are out of their depth in space. A solution is set forth with the building of Battle School, an orbiting space station that is used to train children in everything they will need to know to command fleets in space.


I have read the short story version published in 1977 and the full length novel published in 1985 (I actually read the version published in 1991, in which Card made some changes in politics to more accurately represent the times).


A little like Lord of the Flies in space, but with at least the appearance of control by the adults set to watch over them. Instead of being a coming of age story, this is a story of children being forced to grow up sooner than they should. I can happily recommend this story to any Young Adult I come across.

3. The Forever War - Joe Haldeman

Earth has begun it's exploration of space when a United Nations Exploratory Force comes under attack by a group of aliens. Earth puts together an elite group of super intelligent soldiers (IQ's above 150) to find out what happened to the UNEF group and to exact revenge. Star ships in this universe can move from point to point between collapsars, but travel between planets and collapsars must be done in normal space at speeds approaching the speed of light. As the soldiers approach the speed of light they experience time dilation. One year of time for the soldiers in space equals decades back on earth. Each expedition sends these soldiers farther away from the life they knew both in time and space.

Where most books in this genre are filled with brave volunteer soldiers doing their duty, this book is filled with conscripts. Draftees who were picked because of their advanced educations and high IQ scores. The story looks at what happens when the culture and way of life an army is asked to fight for change without notice, leaving the soldiers behind.

2. Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

This story follows Juan Rico from his time as an enlisted soldier on to his promotion first to Non-Commissioned Officer and then to a commissioned officer. Juan's story is set in the middle of an interstellar war with a race humans call the bugs. The story deals with a multitude of issues such as who should be allowed to vote, the meaning of civic virtue and how one should train their puppies.

This is the book that all other military science fiction books draw from. This book wrote the tropes that everyone else is using to this day. The story has bug shaped aliens, rocket ships, space transports, and most importantly a real cool suit of armor that lets its wearer do all kinds of amazing things. Some of the speeches in here are blatantly political. You can almost see Heinlein thumping his fist on a lectern telling us all how things should be. If you have a beef to pick with Libertarians this could set your teeth on edge.

If, however, you have a soft spot in your heart for the good guys beating the bad guys through hard work and ingenuity, then you'll enjoy this book.

1. Armor - John Steakley

Armor is the story of a person who has been pushed so far past any normal physical and psychological limit that the only thing left is survival. Felix's inability to allow himself to die, even as he expects it, propels him from one fight to the next. His story is told through his own eyes, as he looks out through his armor.

The title of this book doesn't just refer to the suit of armor that Felix is assigned to. It also refers to his mental armor. The armor that refuses to let himself be taken or killed. This book breaks down into three acts. The first and third acts focus on Felix and the planet Banshee where the fighting takes place. The second act focuses on a character named Jack Crow. The pace of the second act is slower than the first and third, but if you can ride it out the third act really pays off. It should be noted that I'm putting this book on the top of my list even with a slow chunk right in the middle. IT'S THAT GOOD!

Honorable Mention

Falkenberg's Legion by Jerry Pournelle 

It was a tough call to not include this story in the top 5. I'll be honest with you, this almost beat out Old Man's War. Falkenberg's Legion has been a favorite of mine since I was in High School and Jerry Pournelle is a wonderful writer. I would recommend this book to anyone.

NHL Conference Finals or Better Late Than Never

This is late coming out, but I've been busy and I'm a front runner anyways, or haven't you read this? At the time of this post the Kings lead the Coyotes 2-0, and the Rangers lead the Devils 1-0.

Eastern Conference Finals

New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils     I pick: Rangers

The I don't care match-up of the playoffs so far. I'm rooting for the Devils, but I get the feeling that the Rangers will advance to the Stanley Cup. On a side note, how far do the Devils need to go to make Marty Brodeur comfortable retiring? If they win the Cup does he come back next year?

Western Conference Finals

Phoenix Coyotes vs Los Angeles Kings     I pick: Kings

I've picked against the Kings twice now based on the fact that they couldn't find the back of the net all season long. I am now a believer. The Kings will walk all over a Coyotes team that has made it this far using smoke and mirrors. Dave Tippet has implemented a scheme in Phoenix that maximizes his rosters talent, but it won't let them score. Mike Smith has had a heck of a run, but it's all over now. I said it here now, and you can take it to the bank (pay no attention to that donut I put up in Round 2): The Kings are going to win the Stanley Cup. J. Quick is the best goalie left in the playoffs and the rest of the team has remembered how to light the lamp.

It's In The Water

The Portland Winterhawks fell short in game 7 of the WHL Finals last night. So ends their quest for the Memorial Cup, and so continues a favorite saying of a couple of old friends. The Phuc brothers used to say that they didn't know why teams from the Pacific Northwest don't win Championships, but for sure, "It's in the water."

The last team from the Pacific Northwest to win a championship was the 97-98 Portland Winterhawks. Before that you have to go back to the 82-83 Winterhawks. I'm not counting the Huskies shared NCAA football title, BECAUSE IT WAS SHARED! Shared titles don't count. (Co-Champions, what a joke. Get on with that playoff system already NCAA Football!) Before that you have to go back to 78-79 with the Seattle Supersonics, and the 76-77 Blazers.

The late 1970's. Maybe that's when the tainting of the water table in the Pacific Northwest started. There have been teams that have gone to championship games, and series in the meantime. The Blazers had a couple of opportunities in the early 90's. The Sonics made an appearance. The Vancouver Canucks and the Seattle Seahawks both made it to their championship game/series. None of them brought home a championship.

It's in the water. Last year before the deciding game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals Nathan Horton of the Boston Bruins brought some Boston water all the way across North America to pour it onto the ice in Vancouver. The home team had won the first six games of the series. After Horton baptised the ice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with his Boston water the Bruins went on to win the championship.

As I see it the solution is simple. If I owned a sports franchise, or was the athletic director of a major university in the Pacific Northwest I would not allow any of my players to drink the water. I would provide all the bottled water they wanted. I would tell them that Montezuma's revenge has been creeping steadily north. I would tell them that drinking the water in the Pacific Northwest causes hair loss and a diminished sex drive. I'd truck water in from New York, and Boston. I'd truck it up from Los Angeles, and even from St. Louis. I'd be open to water from almost anywhere but Buffalo, NY. (I'm pretty sure whatever we've got in the water here, they have in the water there.) I would set up a closed water system for each one of the athletes in my organization. I'd include the coaches, the training staff and all of the front office personnel. They would use water from this system for all of their water needs. Bathing, washing, filling water bottles to squirt their dogs to get them to stop barking, ironing, cooking, and washing their cars.

The result? Championships galore! One for everybody! Until someone takes this advice to heart though, us fans will just have to learn to live without championships. You see, it's in the water.

NHL Round Two

East

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals     I pick: Capitals

I don't like this match up. I don't like that it took the Rangers seven games to put away the Senators. I don't like that I can't tell if the Capitals are a strong defensive team or the Bruins were just horrible offensively. I don't like that I can't tell if the Capitals are weak offensively or the Bruins are just exceptional defensively. I close my eyes and throw my dart and it lands on...

Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils     I pick: Flyers

This one's easy. The Flyer's have too much fire power to not advance. With all due respect to Marty Brodeur, this one could be over early.

West

St. Louis Blues vs Los Angeles Kings     I pick: Blues

As bad as the Canucks turned out to be defensively, that's how good the Blues are. There's no way the Kings get over that hump. This one too, could be over early.

Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators     I pick: Predators

This is my series to watch. Two very similar teams. Defense first systems, and two hot goaltenders. In the end I think it's Alexander Radulov that tips this series to Nashville.

2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round One Update

West

Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings     I picked: Canucks

The Kings lead the series 3 games to 1. The Canucks have replaced Luongo as their starting goaltender in favor of Corey Schneider and it looks to have worked. At least for one game. This series picks up again on Sunday in Vancouver.

St. Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks     I picked Blues

The St. Louis Blues lead the series 3 games to 1. I haven't paid a lot of attention to this series. It's enough for me to know that the Blues are ahead and the Sharks are not.

Phoenix Coyotes vs Chicago Blackhawks   I picked Coyotes

The Coyotes lead the series 3 games to 1. This series has been exciting with the running of goalies, open ice head shots, and a @BizNasty being tossed out of the game for not having his jersey tied down. The Coyotes are on my short list of teams to root for. Can you imagine them winning the Cup this year then being sold and starting next year someplace else? Good Times.

Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings     I picked Predators

The Nashville Predators lead the series 3 games to 1. This series has a lot riding on it for my family. Another hockey dad and I have put 50 push-ups from our kids on the outcome. So far Pekka Rinne has been spectacular in net for Nashville. If I had to pick out a prototype to use to build my ultimate goalie it would start with him. Hopefully Shea Weber can avoid throwing any more Red Wings into the turnbuckle and the Preds can finish this off tonight.

East

New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators     I picked Rangers

This series is tied 2-2. I wasn't interested in this series to begin with. That's changed now that the Senators have risen up to win two games. Really physical series with lots of hitting, a couple of line brawls and a Brandon Dubinsky match penalty.

Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals     I picked Bruins

This series is tied 2-2. Riding some hot goaltending by Braden Holtby, the Capitals are making this a series. The Bruins don't seem to be able to find the back of the net. It's a lot to ask of the 22 year old Holtby to carry this Capitals team much further in the playoffs, but a first round upset isn't out of the question. Look out Bruins.

Florida Panthers vs New Jersey Devils     I picked Devils

This series is tied 2-2. Martin Brodeur may be past his prime, but he still has the ability to rise to the occasion. He posted a shutout in game 4 to tie the series. I haven't seen any of these games, but it's good to hear that Marty is having some success in the post season.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers     I picked Penguins

The Flyers lead this series 3 games to 1. If you like rough and tumble, high scoring games then this has been the series to watch. Lots of rough stuff before, between, and after the whistles. Big name goaltenders under-performing (I'm looking at you Fleury and Bryzgalov). It looked like the Flyers would walk away with this one until game four when the Penguins beat them 10-3. If any team can come back from 3 games down it would be the Penguins.

So far so good. The only pick I really want back is the Canucks over the Kings. I did not see that coming.

Round 1 Predictions For the NHL Playoffs

Tonight begins the race for Lord Stanley's Cup. My predictions for winners in round one are at the bottom in Red. If you think I got something wrong leave a comment below.

Seed	West		Seed	East
1	Vancouver Canucks		1	New York Rangers
2	St. Louis Blues		2	Boston Bruins
3	Phoenix Coyotes		3	Florida Panthers
4	Nashville Predators		4	Pittsburgh Penguins
5	Detroit Red Wings		5	Philadelphia Flyers
6	Chicago BlackHawks		6	New Jersey Devils
7	San Jose Sharks		7	Washington Capitals
8	Los Angeles Kings		8	Ottowa Senators
	Round 1
	West			East
	Vancouver Canucks			New York Rangers
	vs			vs
	Los Angeles Kings			Ottowa Senators
	St. Louis Blues			Boston Bruins
	vs			vs
	San Jose Sharks			Washington Capitals
	Phoenix Coyotes			Florida Panthers
	vs			vs
	Chicago BlackHawks			New Jersey Devils
	Nashville Predators			Pittsburgh Penguins
	vs			vs
	Detroit Red Wings			Philadelphia Flyers

What Does It Mean To Be A Fan?

What does it mean to be a fan? This was a discussion we had at Easter dinner yesterday afternoon. I can name for you the date and time that I became a sports fan. It was January 20, 1985 and my dad and I were driving home from Kennewick Wa, to Portland OR. Super Bowl XIX was being played between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. We picked up the game on our way out of town. I don't remember how many different stations we changed to on the trip home, but I got the chance to root for Joe Montana as he led the 49ers to a 38-16 victory.

I became a football fan on that day. The next year I rooted for the Seattle Seahawks and I have been ever since. Through ups and downs, thick and thin, I was there. Bo Jackson running over Brian Bosworth on Monday Night Football? I was there. Dave Krieg being sacked 7 times by Derrick Thomas setting the single game sack record? I was there. Ken Behring looking to move the team to Hollywood? I was there. Jeremy Stevens talking trash about Jerome Bettis in Super Bowl XL and then dropping every ball thrown his way in the game (including two in the endzone)? I was there. I was even there when they won their division with a 7-9 record, and then to ensure that they would get a horrible pick in the NFL entry draft, beat the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs.

You're asking what my point is and I'll tell you. Being a Seattle Seahawks fan this last 27 years has taught me heartbreak, pain, and suffering. I follow other sports as well to a lesser extent. I like the Portland Blazers, Seattle Mariners, and University of Oregon football. I also am a huge fan of the Portland Winterhawks. Do you know how many championships those teams have combined to win since I started watching them? Zero, Zilch, Nada.

The NHL playoffs start on Wednesday, April 11th. Why is that important? What's my NHL team? I don't have one. My favorite NHL team is the one that's going to win the game. I may pick a team to root for during a playoff series, but if they don't win, I'm picking up my pack and moving on. I now have reinforced ankles to accommodate the shameless bandwagon jumping I do. Last season during the Eastern Conference Finals I rooted like crazy for the Tampa Bay Lightning. When they lost in game 7 to the Boston Bruins, I turned around and rooted for the Bruins to beat the Canucks. When the Bruins beat the Canucks in game 7 of the Finals to win the cup, I jumped up and danced around. I had won. My team had beat the other team and won the Championship.

Ellen Etchingham has a great piece that posted today to the Backhand Shelf blog where she pleads for us all to be fans. To dedicate ourselves to a single team and experience the highs and lows that come with that single minded focus. I'm here to tell you that I've done that. A lot. Nothing so far has matched watching my Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup. Was I long suffering? I was not. Am I rooting for the Bruins again this year? Not yet. Right now I've got my eyes on the Nashville Predators. I'll start with them and see what happens. The best part is that come June I know that My team is going to be lifting the Stanley Cup.

The 100 Best Songs of Ever

A complete, and utterly comprehensive list of the 100 best songs of all time. The list is in no particular order, and yes it does include every song on Led Zeppelin II. Please to enjoy if you can.

Grooveshark Playlist 100 Best Songs of Ever

Title	Artist	Album
Alive	Pearl Jam	Ten
Cocaine	Eric Clapton	Slowhand
Release	Pearl Jam	Ten
Help	The Beatles	Help
Running With The Devil	Van Halen	Van Halen I
Aint Talkin Bout Love	Van Halen	Van Halen I
Panama	Van Halen	1984
Drop Dead Legs	Van Halen	1984
Cabo Wabo	Van Halen	ou812
Poundcake	Van Halen	For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll)	AC/DC	High Voltage
T.N.T.	AC/DC	High Voltage
Can I Sit Next to You Girl	AC/DC	High Voltage
Ride On	AC/DC	Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Shot Down In Flames	AC/DC	Highway to Hell
If You Want Blood (You've Got It)	AC/DC	Highway to Hell
Night Prowler	AC/DC	Highway to Hell
Shoot to Thrill	AC/DC	Back in Black
Back in Black	AC/DC	Back in Black
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution	AC/DC	Back in Black
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)	AC/DC	For Those About to Rock
Who Made Who	AC/DC	Who Made Who
Shake Your Foundation	AC/DC	Who Made Who
Thunderstruck	AC/DC	The Razors Edge
Twist and Shout	The Beatles	Please Please Me
Love Me Do	The Beatles	Please Please Me
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds	The Beatles	Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band
When I'm Sixty-Four	The Beatles	Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band
Helter Skelter	The Beatles	The White Album
Story Of My Life	Social Distortion	Social Distortion
Ball and Chain	Social Distortion	Social Distortion
Paradise City	Guns 'n Roses	Appetite For Destruction
Patience	Guns 'n Roses	G N' R Lies
Sweet Emotion	Aerosmith	Toys in the Attic
Dream On	Aerosmith	Aerosmith
Sweet Home Alabama	Lynnrd Skynnrd	Second Helping
Tuesday's Gone	Lynnrd Skynnrd	Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Simple Man	Lynnrd Skynnrd	Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Cinnamon Girl	Neil Young	Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Heart of Gold	Neil Young	After the Gold Rush
Mr. Soul	Buffalo Springfield	Buffalo Springfield Again
Old Man	Neil Young	Harvest
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)	Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble	Couldn't Stand the Weather
American Tune	Paul Simon	There Goes Rhymin Simon
Sharp Dressed Man	ZZ Top	Eliminator
La Grange	ZZ Top	Tres Hombres
Shake Your Rump	Beastie Boys	Paul's Boutique
Whole Lotta Love	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
What Is and What Should Never Be	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
The Lemon Song	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Thank You	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Heartbreaker	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Ramble On	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Moby Dick	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Bring It On Home	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin II
Gallows Pole	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin III
Tangerine	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin III
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin III
Good Times Bad Times	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin
I Can't Quit You Baby	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin
Your Time is Gonna Come	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin
The Song Remains the Same	Led Zeppelin	Houses of the Holy
Dancing Days	Led Zeppelin	Houses of the Holy
The Ocean	Led Zeppelin	Houses of the Holy
In My Time of Dying	Led Zeppelin	Physical Graffiti
Houses of the Holy	Led Zeppelin	Physical Graffiti
In the Light	Led Zeppelin	Physical Graffiti
Down by the Seaside	Led Zeppelin	Physical Graffiti
Nobody's Fault but Mine	Led Zeppelin	Presence
In the Evening	Led Zeppelin	In Through the Out Door
Fool in the Rain	Led Zeppelin	In Through the Out Door
Hey Hey What Can I Do	Led Zeppelin	Coda
Seven Nation Army	White Stripes	Elephant
Desperate People	Living Colour	Vivid
Which Way to America	Living Colour	Vivid
Solace of You	Living Colour	Time's Up
Down In It	Nine Inch Nails	Pretty Hate Machine
Sleep Now in the Fire	Rage Against the Machine	The Battle of Los Angeles
Outshined	Soundgarden	BadMotorFinger
Slaves and Bulldozers	Soundgarden	BadMotorFinger
Searching With My Good Eye Closed	Soundgarden	BadMotorFinger
Seven Bridges Road	The Eagles	Eagles Live
Hotel California	The Eagles	Hotel California
Ripple	Grateful Dead	American Beauty
Friend of the Devil	Grateful Dead	American Beauty
No Woman, No Cry	Bob Marley	Legend
Stir It Up	Bob Marley	Legend
Redemption Song	Bob Marley	Legend
Toes	Zac Brown Band	The Foundation
Chicken Fried	Zac Brown Band	Home Grown
Where the Boat Leaves From/One Love	Zac Brown Band	Where the Boat Leaves From
Baba O'Riley	The Who	Who's Next
Won't Get Fooled Again	The Who	Who's Next
Behind Blue Eyes	The Who	Who's Next
Who Are You	The Who	Who Are You
No Excuses	Alice In Chains	Jar of Flies
Tones of Home	Blind Melon	Blind Melon
Brown Sugar	The Rolling Stones	Sticky Fingers

Portland Junior Hawks 2011-2012 Peewee House Playoffs

Here are some of Cam's highlights from this years Hockey Playoffs. Enjoy!

Thanks Be to You NBA Network

Happy Friday All! This is my first day of Christmas vacation. I walked the dog, got some breakfast and decided to sit down and relax. NBA network was showing  the Detroit Pistons Vs the Chicago Bulls from Christmas day 1990. The game was good. It really reminded me of just how good Michael Jordan was, and how annoying Bill Laimbeer was. Chuck Daly on Detroits bench, a young Phil Jackson wearing a bow tie, and Marv Alberts doing play by play.

The game was good, then they went to commercial. I tuned them out and read some email until some guy named Vince came on and started selling the Slap Chop. I think the line that really puts this over the top for me is at around the 35 second mark. "Stop having a boring tuna, stop having a boring life." Oh lord, please give me the strength to not strangle Vince if I ever see him in person.

During another break NBA network put on an ad for a product called Insta Slim. This is a tank top made out of an elastic, spandex type material that sucks in your gut for you. As a middle aged guy with a couple of extra pounds around my middle, and a desire for a fix that doesn't involve exercise or eating responsibly I was interested. I waited for it through the entire commercial and they didn't say it once. Not one time did they call this product what it was. A girdle. (I would also have accepted corset, though that would have been less accurate.) If they're not going to call it what it is, I'm not going to buy it.

As with so many other things, bad ad's on NBA network come in three's. The third one during this game was for a product called Max Tall Shoe Inserts. I was just sitting there minding my own business and I hear this from my TV, "Guys Pay Attention. How would you like to have an extra two inches?" (Go ahead and click the link it's right at the beginning of the video.) Yeah, that's all it took to drag me in. I thought the email spam I used to get in the 90's had migrated to the NBA Network. Turns out this product is for an insert you can put into your shoes to make yourself taller. According to the commercial this makes you more attractive to women, and men will listen to you more in business meetings.

Thanks NBA Network! It's been a long time since I've had my insecurities played on so obviously. For the record, I will not be buying any of these products...though that Slap Chop does look tempting.