Basic Information
Kill Team is the third installment in the Galaxy's Edge military sci-fi series, written by Nick Cole and Jason Anspach. Length wise the novel is similar to its predecessor, although perhaps just a tiny bit shorter. While Legionnaire and Galactic Outlaws hover around the 90k world range, Kill Team comes out at about 80k words or 8 hours in length for the audio-book edition.
Structure and Story
Kill Team returns to the hardcore military themes of the first book in the series, landing it firmly inside the military science-fiction genre. In terms of structure Kill Team adopts characteristics from both its predecessors. We see a return of the multiple POV storytelling, similar to what we saw in Galactic Outlaws, with the novel switching between two main story-lines which progressively become more intertwined. The prose also features a bit of a callback to Legionnaire as we once again return to the first person, present tense style of narration for one of the main story-lines. While the other introduces a third narration style to the series comprised of a second person, present tense prose.
In terms of story, the novel's events in large part take place between the events of Legionnaire and Galactic Outlaws. One of the story-lines continues the career of Lieutenant Chunn after the evacuation of Kublar. Naturally this means a return of several other beloved characters from Victory Company like Wraith, Twenties and a couple others, and of the booths on the ground action from the first book. The second story-line however introduces a new character to the story and explores his role in the Galaxies Edge universe through a Spy-Thriller themed story.
Sub-genre Breakdown
In terms of sub-genre, the book has a significant action focus due to its military sci-fi genre. This mostly takes the form of combat engagements between smaller groups of combatants. The second most prominent are a combination of suspense and psychological elements, tied to the Spy-Thriller aspect of the novel.
After that you can also expect to see some comedy elements, which balance out the dark and serious undertones of the story. There's plenty of world-building present as well, which does an excellent job fleshing out the Galaxy's Edge universe. Especially when it comes to filling in some of the backstory and context for the events of the previous two books in the series. Te tied to Captain Keel as he smart-asses his way passed blood-thirsty pirates and high-classed contacts while pursuing his targets. Technically there's also a pinch of romance present, but honestly that's barely worth mentioning. And lastly we can't forget the dramatic elements, which of course also play a role in the storytelling.
Ratings and Conclusions
I've really enjoyed the Galaxy's Edge series thus far, so it's no surprise that Kill Team was similarly a pleasant experience. It was thrilling to see the return of Lt. Chunn's story and the more militaristic themes of his story-line. Although the Spy-Thriller addition to the series was also a very interesting and surprising addition to the series. I must admit that at first I was not too enthusiastic about it, but as the book went on I felt myself being more and more invested in it.
One thing I will say about this novel, is that thus far it is definitely the most intense and stressful volume in the series. If you're looking for a lighthearted read to chill out after a tough day at work, then Kill Team isn't the a good option. However if you're looking to sweat you ass of in the comfort of your recliner or bed, then you've found the book for you.
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