The Overlooked Military Sci-Fi Battle: Los Angeles
A Military Sci-Fi Not Like the Others
As I ask for every armed conflict, please pray for peace.
Looking for psychological military science fiction? Read about the adventure of veteran Brendan Murphy as he tries to keep peace between Earth and a mysterious alien race known as the Sabia. Read the Fallen series today! Please remember to leave a review once you are done. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent creators
The Military Sci-Fi for the Military
Spoilers Ahead!
Battle: Los Angeles is a 2011 movie that came out in the quiet theater month of March, made a profit, but suffered from such poor reviews that it is mostly forgotten today amongst science fiction fans. I use the adverb “mostly” to caveat the statement because many veterans, especially Marines, love the film warts and all.
First off, I want to stress the movie isn’t perfect. From Michelle Rodriguez’s acting to some questionable tactics, like having riflemen engage giant alien tech instead of pulling back into bunkers and firing the largest ordinance possible, the movie has its flaws, but end of the day the film’s use of military culture and the outcome (spoilers) is a love letter to those who served like Starship Troopers is.
Marine-isms Throughout the Film
For realism, the filmmakers had the actors train with actual Marines. The results speak for themselves. The cadence of the half-talking, half-yelling reminded me of the time I was on Marine bases. Also, the general behavior pre-combat was comically accurate. When the news in the movie said the military was deploying to confront the crisis, the actor Marines yelled “that’s us!” The first time I saw the movie it was with Marines, and they all yelled back “that’s us!” during that scene.
The tactics were so-so in the film, though the accurate use of covering fire, constant communication, and heavy hand signaling was something rarely seen in military science fiction films. All of this came together for Marines and other military in the audience nodding in approval throughout the movie.
It’s a Military Tale, Not a Humanity or Survivor Story
Independence Day: Global Story, Military Initially Slaughtered.
War of the Worlds: Survivor Story, Military Initially Slaughtered.
Skyline: Survivor Story, Military Initially Slaughtered.
The Fifth Wave: Survivor Story, Military Initially Slaughtered
Mars Attacks: Global Story, Military Initially Slaughtered.
Battle: Los Angeles: Military Story, Military Victorious
See the difference?
The story focused on a squad of Marines, with the viewer finding out things as the Marines did. The president, Pentagon, and other forces existed only as concepts. End of the day, it was just the Marines in combat that mattered. The same was true of combat. It was quick, confusing with a fog of war, and left no time to mourn the dead. It was what many Marines and other military personnel felt during the Global War on Terrorism.
Battle: Los Angeles is a clear moral movie like Starship Troopers. The Marines are the good guys who protect innocent civilians while also defending the homeland against invaders. It’s not a film for everyone, but it’s a movie for those who served.
Yet Another Podcast on the Same Subject
After the quick rise (but before the quick fall) in everyone losing their minds over Trump ordering the release of government files about the investigation into aliens, T.J. Haines and I discussed the theology behind whether aliens existed, and if they did, what Christian sources could be used to explain the situation. The Bible, Padre Pio, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John of Damascus and more come up in this talk.
Other Independent Book Promotions
Kindle Unlimited First-in-Series Reads - March Edition - Books on Kindle Unlimited and on Sale
Free Science Fiction Stories - Free Book Giveaway
The Redline by Izaic Yorks - Free Book
A slave born of aborted flesh with one last chance at freedom. A girl to be recovered. Will he be her savior or executioner?
Kal has one shot at freedom, but it means going against those who own him. Aborted and reborn for entertainment and advertisement, Kal’s life has been nothing but misery. But when he is needed to recover a mysterious girl, he must make a choice: do as his masters bid or risk everything for a chance at True Freedom. In a futuristic world where genetically engineered and cybernetically enhanced humans are owned by corporations, Kal must use his speed and strength to break the shackles that bind him.
Outbound Recon: A Gritty Space Marine Military Sci-Fi Adventure by Logan Shields - Book for Sell for 99 cents and Free on Kindle Unlimited
The mission was simple.
Land on Aris-6. Eliminate the threat. Get out clean.
But Jack Rourke isn’t seeing enemies—he’s seeing ghosts.
Civilian casualties. Forgotten lives.
And flashes of a past they told him never existed.
Now the soldier who never questioned anything is asking the one thing that could get him killed:
What if the real enemy is the system that built him?
Outbound Recon is gritty, high-stakes military sci-fi for fans of shadow ops, buried pasts, and heroes who defy the system.
The Hole in the Sky by Dan Daetz - Free Novella
On a planet where a black hole in the sky is a common sight, Alana Larsen endures a more crushing reality: her father left home to serve the regime as an executioner. But he’s no ordinary executioner. He dispatches human sacrifices into that very black hole. His spotted past and horrific vocation convinced Alana and her mother to flee to the agricultural highlands. In exile amidst the wheat fields, under the threat of radiation, Alana attends a one-room school for teens. When her teacher, an intriguing young woman, kicks off a class competition, the prize spurs Alana into action. Paired with an unlikely team, Alana must face her wounds, her worries, and her own sense of worth. But only by trusting her friends and risking everything does she discover what matters most—and who she might become.
Special Section: Other Substackers of Note
Ray Imgrund’s Exploration of Religion in Sci-Fi
Nick J. Taylor Writes Science Fiction Stories on his Substack Notes page.
J. Michael Thomas Writes Science Fiction Stories
Kenneth E. Harrell Offers Samples of His Sci-Fi Novels
De Degraw is Writing a Military Science Fiction Novel on Substack
David T. Etheridge is working on a futuristic novel about AI.
Until Next Time
Next time, I will have my fourth very short story collection!
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, Dormition, An Odd Pilgrimage, The Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency or whatever else I have discussed. I promise to reply!