Welcome to the HDF … the Human Defense League.

Set after a failed alien invasion which still managed to destroy more than half of the human population, Earth continues to battle on. All 18 year olds are drafted into the Human Defence League, put through a rigourous, if short, training session, then spat out to continue the battle against the insectoid-like Scum. The story basically follows the initiation of Marco, nicknamed Poet, a young man who only wishes to continue writing his book about a turtle, become a librarian and live peacefully with his girlfriend. Well, that’s not going to happen.
The reader follows Marco and a small group of other conscripts, some there more willingly than others, through the rigours of boot camp to their first major encounter with the alien enemy, a battle which is both fierce and bloody action. Although nothing much is new, it is still an exciting read and the character of the main protagonist well drawn.

What does concern me, however, is the overall world picture: the aliens are capable of inflicting huge casualties. After fifty years of fighting, surely there would be too few survivors to be able to continue the defense in such organised number, especially when conscription of Earth’s youth is for a five year period. Yet the central figures yearn for the peaceful home life left behind, daily and sports events as other social activities. Who would be left to enjoy them? And where? Cultural mentions also seem to reference the present day, or even our recent past, – like the recruit who is constantly singing Elvis songs – rather than introducing new: the story is supposed to be set a couple or more centuries into our future.

Jeffrey Kafer’s narration, however, leaves the listener little time to ponder this. Reading at a fast pace, with good intonation and pleasantly voiced, his performance is slick, but not overemotional, allowing the author’s words to tell the story. He draws the listener along with him, through the loves, fears and horrors confronted by the Poet.

I enjoyed this book. Certainly not without flaws and, as mentioned by others, very reminiscent of some earlier works, it nevertheless can stand on it’s own as good entertainment. And if action is what is desired by the reader, the final chapters alone certainly provide that. And, yes, I have already purchased book II in the series.