Try the online novel "The Rothafen Saga: here: http://www.concentric.net/~Los/ft/lossf.htm

Well for those who start with Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers [influences](Cold War): The next would be Joe Haldeman's Forever War (Vietnam) Followed by John Steakley's Armor (Carter's abortive Miltary decisions) and lastly John Ringo's A Hymm Before Battle (Gulf War) Yes I have a large SF library and have read 80% of what has been listed so far.

Military/Political/Sci-Fi/Fantasy - Doomfarers of Coramonde and Starfollowers of Coromonde by Brian Daley were a hoot. Starhip Troopers was always, and remains a favorite. E.

A very good series, unfortunately not finished yet, is 'A song of ice and fire' by George R.R. Martin. It's a Machiavellian story set in a fantasy world. I've read a lot of these kinds of books but this tops them all by far. Political intrigue, battles, excellent characterisation, etc. I really recommend it.

While "Starship Troopers" is my favorite, I'd like to post a strong plug for "Wasp" by Erik Frank Russell. The title comes from the hero's recruiter describing how a one gram wasp could cause the crash of a metric ton automobile.

Harry Turtledove's alternative histroy series with the civil war is really good, although I prefer when it finally hits The Great War. I love reading American Front, Walk through Hell and Breakthrough.

My favorite military science fiction book would have to be the sci-fi short story book by Poul Anderson called "Seven Conquests." It's very interesting, and makes you think, not just a series of battle scenes. The author has several other great Sci-fi books as well.

Turtledove is great! I love the "Darkness Desending" series. WW II with magic! Algrave is Germany, Swemmel is Stalin, even has US and UK and even combat in "Africa!" Well worth the read!

I'll resurrect the thread ; ) Ender's Game and Starship Troopers are up there. The Coramonde series by Daley were quite good also. There are some good MSF short stories by a guy name of Dean Ing that are quite good. Of course, Red Storm Rising is an edge of your seat thriller. On a slightly different Military Fiction note, I just finished "Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson... That was one great book. Doesn't have laser rifles in it but I thought rated a mention here. jim

I am in shock an aw that no mention to the Bolo series is in this string. Starship troopers is on the shelf of favorit books, right next to BattleField Earth (another outstanding book turned crappy movie) But the Bolo books are just, well, great. Somthing about a tank that thinks that has my number I suppose.