''A Hymn Before Battle'' is the first book in

John Ringo John Ringo (born March 22, 1963) is an American science fiction and military fiction author. He has had several ''New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York ...

's '' Legacy of the Aldenata'' series. Earth is introduced to extraterrestrial life by the Galactics, who tell the leaders of the World that an invasion by another alien race, the Posleen, is coming. Earth's military forces are made available to the Galactics in exchange for technology to help stop the onslaught, but it is unclear just who can be trusted as the invasion nears.

Title

The title recalls

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...

's poem "

Hymn Before Action "Hymn Before Action" is a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1896. It takes the form of a prayer by troops to God and to Mary on the eve of battle. Publication history and reception The poem was inspired by the 1860 hymn '' The Church's One Foun ...

", which is quoted extensively throughout the book.

Major characters

* Bob Duncan, Staff Sergeant, Chief Fire Direction Controller for the 2nd Battalion 325th Infantry Heavy Mortar section * Jack Horner, Lieutenant General, commander Joint Special Operations Command * Jacob "Jake the Snake" Mosovich, Command Sergeant Major Special Forces * David Mueller, Sergeant First Class, Special Forces * Michael O'Neal, Web designer and former Sergeant. Recalled to develop technology and tactics to deal with the alien threat. * Sharon O'Neal, wife of Michael and former Naval Officer. * Earnest Pappas, Master Gunnery Sergeant USMC (Ret.) * Himmit Rigas, representative of his race to humans * Jimmy Stewart, PFC Fleet Strike and former gang member * Tulo’stenaloor, First Order Battlemaster of the Sten Po’oslena’ar.

Reviews

Library journal praised the "fast-paced action and acid humor". Booklist praised it as "splendid if somewhat sprawling, but added "Critics may not give it the time of day".

References

Novels by John Ringo Legacy of the Aldenata 2000 American novels {{2000s-mil-sf-novel-stub