Hammer's Slammers
by David Drake · first published 1983
7mentions
4recommended by
6HN commenters
2014–2025first – last mentioned
67% recommend33% neutral
Military science fiction at it's best, fast paced and hard hitting.
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…want to just bask in the sheer glory of superior firepower and gallows humor, and maybe even occasionally see something with a little bit more to say about politics and men who fight, I'd suggest the Hammer's Slammers series by David Drake. Future tank company modeled loosely off of the Foreign Legion just after WW2, the most mercenary of mercenaries, probably the coolest and most reasonable command-and-control for…
on “The Author of Our Best SF Military Novel Explains the Future of War” ↗I'd second the Hammer's Slammers rec. Don't be put off by the lurid pictures of ZOMG TANKS!!! on the covers of some editions; it's a lot more nuanced than the name and artwork imply. I'd also recommend his Redliners, which deals in…
on “The Author of Our Best SF Military Novel Explains the Future of War” ↗Seconding this... Forever War is probably some of the most readable, non-America-Fuck-Yeah military sci-fi I've read--another good one is Armor. If you want more military sci-fi, check out the Hammer's Slammers series by David Drake (tank company in spaaaaaace, but not the stupid Bolo stuff); he also had one anthology that was very nearly solid cyberpunk surveillance dystopia, Lacy and His Friends.
on “Beginnings of Science Fiction” ↗If the article's thesis is resonant, consider a David Drake novel or two. Rolling Hot comes immediately to mind, but Hammer's Slammers started the series. Drake served in armored cavalry in Vietnam -- many of his science-fiction books imagine a universe of higher technology that is no less human. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerverse
on “Remote war is bad war” ↗I have enjoyed those (I have a complete Hammer's Slammers collection).... also definitely check out the Lt. Leary RCN series, starting with the novel "With the Lightnings"... my favorite series of his work.
on “Military Science Fiction Author David Drake, Passes Away at Age 78” ↗Hammer's Slammers, anyone? In the series of books they would use a laser to carve a hole in air and then inject a plasma made of super-heated copper into the collapsing channel. I always thought it was a pretty neat concept.…
on “US Air Force Shoots Down Drone Swarm with THOR Microwave Weapon” ↗Disagree. You're assuming nothing upsets the balance. I'm thinking of the Hammer's Slammers books. For those who haven't read them: a reasonable extrapolation of future tech with one big change: Cartridge-based energy guns. They are lightspeed weapons, no leading your target or the like.…
on “Dr John C. Clark, a scientist who disarmed atomic bombs twice” ↗