Robert Frezza's *A SMALL COLONIAL WAR* and its sequelae (*FIRE IN A FARAWAY PLACE* and *CAIN'S LAND*) comprise an example of one of the least appreciated but best-written military SF book series. By comparison, the house-plotted and written-to-order X-Wing potboilers and the *Hoo-Raw!* boorishness of the StarFIST hacks is barely worth lugging to the recycling bin. Another underrated series of works is that of Lois McMaster Bujold's SF centered upon the character of Miles Vorkosigan, most particularly including the short work "The Borders of Infinity" (found in the anthology of that title). Not so long on mindless shoot-'em-up, but with more on the reasons *why* war happens. By and large, the interesting thing about military speculative fiction is not technology or force structure (as in the present discussion of *STARSHIP TROOPERS*) but the nature of armed conflict itself, and the ability in MSF to explore that central topic in contexts that facilitate *Gedankenexperimenten*. Whether you're looking at low-tech warfare in an SF situation (see Forstchen's *THE LOST REGIMENT* series, or Jerry Pournelle's excellent *KING DAVID'S SPACESHIP*, aka *A SPACESHIP FOR THE KING*), it's the examination of why and how people engage in warfare that's really intriguing about military SpecFic. ...

How about the "Sten" series by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch? I probably should have mentioned it, also. Between the action, tech, and humor, there is also an underlying message of power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If you haven't, you might want to check it out.

How about the Wing Commander Series, mostly written by William R. Forstchen? The technical and sociopolitical detail is pretty good, and the combat descriptions are some of the best I've read? A second would be the Fleet series edited by David Drake. These are pretty well written, and interconnected in an interesting way.

For modern era stuff, ala Clancy, try anything by Eric L. Harry (Arc Light is my favorite). As someone else commented, the Falkenberg Legion books are pretty good.

Drake is good. I liked "Hammer's Slammers". Another good series is "The Last Legion" by Chris Bunch(co-author of the "Sten" series).

I don't know if I have a favorite book series, but I do have a favorite arthur: William H. Keith. I started reading him back in the 80's with Decision at Thunder Rift all the way to his Heritage series. Excellent stuff! There was another guy back in the early 90's who wrote three novels for FASA's Renigade Legion series: Peter Rice. His books did an excellent job catching the feel of an armor platoon in action (especially the drudge and trudge of daily life in the field- maintance!). The guy was either a tanker or really did his homework.

I second that; having read most of the MSF books I can attest that Frezza is the MASTER.

My favorite series is more alternative history than sci-fi, but its done by Harry Turtledove. In it, the south wins the american civil war and years later the north and south go to battle again during ww1. Its very good if somewhat sad at times.

Lensman series - E.E "Doc" Smith. From the 30's and 40's. Reissued a couple of years ago. Triplanetary First Lensman Galactic Patrol Gray Lensman Second Stage Lensman Children of the Lens An epic struggle for the future of the universe!

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Orson Scott Card. While some of his books lean towards geopolitics, ENDER'S SHADOW and its sequels are some of the best ever written, IMHO