“Earth Alone” falls short of its promise as military science fiction, lacking credibility in both its scientific and military aspects. The narrative revolves around Earth’s conflict with an insectoid alien race, reminiscent of “Starship Troopers” (the film, not the book), and the overall plot seems like a CW adaptation of the aforementioned source material.
The novel leaves critical questions unanswered, such as the motives behind the alien attacks, their capabilities, and how they manage to assault Earth’s cities without warning. Although the aliens are deemed technologically superior, the story fails to explain this advantage, especially given their reliance on primitive claws in combat, devoid of any advanced weaponry.
Equally puzzling is the lack of exploration into how human society has evolved during 50 years of warfare against an enigmatic foe. The narrative barely touches on societal changes, presenting a mere compulsory military service for 18-year-olds as the only apparent adjustment.
From a military perspective, the Human Defense Force’s approach is nonsensical. Soldiers are armed with inefficient assault rifles and light armor, ignoring modern weaponry like grenade launchers, landmines, helicopters, drones, missiles, and anti-aircraft guns that could provide a significant advantage. This regression in military tactics and equipment contradicts historical trends where armed forces adapt and innovate in response to conflict.
Character development is sorely lacking, with one-dimensional archetypes like the bully, the Texan, and the Russian providing little substance. The protagonist, Marco, is particularly grating, constantly expressing his aversion to military life and an unusual focus on personal relationships amid a backdrop of war and loss.
Despite a backdrop of global devastation, Marco’s preoccupation with trivial romantic entanglements and a fixation on 20th-century cultural references creates a jarring inconsistency with the futuristic setting. The narrative fails to immerse readers in a world on the brink of extinction, instead perpetuating an anachronistic atmosphere.
In summary, “Earth Alone” struggles to deliver a convincing narrative, faltering in scientific plausibility, military realism, and character development. The story’s failure to address fundamental questions and its inconsistent worldbuilding undermine its potential within the military science fiction genre.