Hammer's Slammers Series by David Drake

When a planetary government faces threats from guerillas, insurgents or terrorists, the men they hire are Hammer's Slammers - known throughout the galaxy for their cold, ruthless ferocity, their ability to defeat overwhelming forces, and their willingness to go up against impossible odds.The Governor, to whom Raj Whitehall has sworn absolute loyalty, nourishes a paranoid envy and mistrust that grows with every victory... moreWhen a planetary government faces threats from guerillas, insurgents or terrorists, the men they hire are Hammer's Slammers - known throughout the galaxy for their cold, ruthless ferocity, their ability to defeat overwhelming forces, and their willingness to go up against impossible odds.The Governor, to whom Raj Whitehall has sworn absolute loyalty, nourishes a paranoid envy and mistrust that grows with every victory. Can even a battle computer of the Galactic Age be enough to counter the fury of Raj's enemies - and the treachery of his "friends"? less

This volume features all of the Hammer’s Slammer short fiction, as well as all of the interstitial material from the original Slammers collection, new artwork and new interstitial material. Volume 1 also features an introduction by Gene Wolfe and an original Slammers story, “A Death in Peacetime... moreThis volume features all of the Hammer’s Slammer short fiction, as well as all of the interstitial material from the original Slammers collection, new artwork and new interstitial material. Volume 1 also features an introduction by Gene Wolfe and an original Slammers story, “A Death in Peacetime.”Contents:* Introduction by Gene Wolfe* Foreword: Becoming a Professional Writer by Way of Southeast Asia* Under the Hammer* Supertanks* The Butcher’s Bill* The Church of the Lord’s Universe* But Loyal to His Own* Powerguns* Caught in the Crossfire* Backdrop to Chaos* Cultural Conflict* The Bonding Authority* Hangman* Table of Organization and Equipment, Hammer’s Regiment* Standing Down* Code-Name Feirefitz* The Interrogation Team* The Tank Lords* Liberty Port* Night March* The Immovable Object* The Irresistible Force* A Death in Peacetime* Afterword: Accidentally and by the Back Door less

Hammer's Slammer Don Slade is coming home to the planet Tethys, to his son and the woman he loves. But the space between is cold and dark with planets which hold hidden dangers, and if Don Slade should ever reach Tethys, that's when the real fighting starts.

Two incandescent novels of epic journey and battle across the stars—Cross the Stars and Voyage—set in David Drake’s best-selling Hammer’s Slammers universe together for the first time in one mega-volume. In Cross the Stars a retired mercenary captain takes a Ulysses-like star voyage home where he must fight to regain his lover and his heritage. In Voyage, a young man comes of age as a galactic warrior in an epic “Jason and the Argonauts”-like journey to recover a powerful alien artifact... moreTwo incandescent novels of epic journey and battle across the stars—Cross the Stars and Voyage—set in David Drake’s best-selling Hammer’s Slammers universe together for the first time in one mega-volume. In Cross the Stars a retired mercenary captain takes a Ulysses-like star voyage home where he must fight to regain his lover and his heritage. In Voyage, a young man comes of age as a galactic warrior in an epic “Jason and the Argonauts”-like journey to recover a powerful alien artifact.Two incandescent novels of journey and battle across the stars set in David Drake’s best-selling Hammer’s Slammers universe together for the first time in one mega-volume. In Cross the Stars, Captain Don Slade has resigned from active duty with the Slammers and headed home for what he hopes will be peaceful  retirement with his son and the woman he loves. But Slade’s road to his homeworld lies through a jungle of planets in the wildest and toughest quadrant of the galaxy. Slade has going for him the loyalty of a contingent of Slammers who have sworn to see him home. Most of all, he still possesses the wits and wily tactical ability that made him a legend among the Slammers in the first place. He’s going to need all of it, for even if he makes it through all dangers, he’ll discover Tethys is not exactly ready to welcome him home with open arms. The journey home is an Odyssey of epic proportions and Don Slade is just the Ulysses to undertake it. In Voyage, Ned Slade has a heck of a name to live up to:  that of his uncle Captain Don “Mad Dog” Slade of the legendary mercenary brigade, Hammer’s Slammers. But Ned’s life takes a turn to adventure when he crews for Lissea Doorman, a trade-ship captain who is sent by her conniving guild masters on what is supposed to be a suicide run. The crew of the good ship Swift is after an ancient alien artifact that could revolutionize star travel. The journey is long, and along the way Ned must first survive in a hard-knock universe full of forces—some very large and very-much armed-to-the-hilt—that would like nothing more than to blow him and the crew of the Swift to smithereens. And if he manages to pull through and, more importantly, if he manages to grow up and come of age as a man in the process, he may yet become the warrior and leader of warriors that is his inheritance. Jason and the Argonauts meets gritty science fiction adventure in what many argue is one of best-seller David Drake’s greatest and most compelling works. less

Col. Alois Hammer's indomitable Slammers are called in to support human colonists against a native uprising in this novel-length adventure. But even though the natives' off-world weapons are no match for the Slammers, their ability to teleport gives them a frightening advantage! Reissue.

The hottest science fiction mercenaries of the decade are back, so why count the cost? The other guy is going to pay for it! Hammer's Slammers must win a two-front war while maintaining the civilian power structure against hordes of religious fanatics.

Colonel Hammer has only a mixed bag of recruits and battle-fatigued veterans to relieve a district capital that has to be rescued. Rolling Hot is sure to follow the success of David Drake's Hammer's Slammers (nearly a million in print) and the bestselling tie-in adventure game.

They were the best.Colonel Alois Hammer: He welded five thousand individual killers into a weapon more deadly than any other in the human universe.Luke Broglie: His brilliant mind could have succeeded in any business; but war was the business he chose.Tess Kuykendall: She knew what her job was, but she also knew what was survivable.Slick Des Grieux: War was his life, and that made him almost too dangerous to live... moreThey were the best.Colonel Alois Hammer: He welded five thousand individual killers into a weapon more deadly than any other in the human universe.Luke Broglie: His brilliant mind could have succeeded in any business; but war was the business he chose.Tess Kuykendall: She knew what her job was, but she also knew what was survivable.Slick Des Grieux: War was his life, and that made him almost too dangerous to live.The collision between different styles of being The Best meant a bloodbath, even by the grim standard of Hammer's Slammers less

With a veteran ’s eye for the harsh and gritty details of war, David Drake depicts a futuristic analog of Vietnam-era tank combat in his Hammer’s Slammers fiction. Upon this tactical foundation, Drake uses historical metaphor to provide a rich and detailed future-history that is both unique and strangely familiar. The characters that make up the Hammer’s Regiment are neither cartoon heroes nor propaganda villains; rather they are competent professionals engaged in a deadly business... moreWith a veteran ’s eye for the harsh and gritty details of war, David Drake depicts a futuristic analog of Vietnam-era tank combat in his Hammer’s Slammers fiction. Upon this tactical foundation, Drake uses historical metaphor to provide a rich and detailed future-history that is both unique and strangely familiar. The characters that make up the Hammer’s Regiment are neither cartoon heroes nor propaganda villains; rather they are competent professionals engaged in a deadly business. The inevitable conflicts between policy, necessity, and human nature are often at the forefront of the Slammers narratives, and it is this rich fusion of elements that makes Drake’s Slammers fiction instantly identifiable and utterly compelling. The Hammer’s Slammers series is some of the most important and influential work in military SF. The Vietnam War made indelible marks on the science fiction genre, and Drake’s service with the Blackhorse Regiment during the war gives his fiction a unique perspective. It is this perspective that is sometimes lacking in military SF, and one that makes Drake’s work so important to the science fiction genre as a whole. This three-volume set collects all the Slammers short fiction and novels into a set of uniform editions, and presents a new, previously uncollected piece of fiction in each volume. This second volume collects the first four Slammers novels, At Any Price (1985), Counting the Cost (1987), Rolling Hot (1989) and The Warrior (1991). The novella “A Day of Glory” was written for this volume, and has been uncollected prior to the publication of tihs volume. less

Gangs ruled Cantilucca. Guns were the only law, and there was no lack of guns. It was hard to imagine matters getting worse. Until the survey team arrived ...Major Matthew Coke was not a squeamish man, but the state of affairs on Cantilucca turned his stomach. He was only human after all. Where some of the rest of his team were concerned, it was difficult to be sure... moreGangs ruled Cantilucca. Guns were the only law, and there was no lack of guns. It was hard to imagine matters getting worse. Until the survey team arrived ...Major Matthew Coke was not a squeamish man, but the state of affairs on Cantilucca turned his stomach. He was only human after all. Where some of the rest of his team were concerned, it was difficult to be sure. Five professional mercenaries who'd learned the hard way that in the end they could defeat anything - except their own consciences. less

With a veteran ’s eye for the harsh and gritty details of war, David Drake depicts a futuristic analog of Vietnam-era tank combat in his Hammer’s Slammers fiction. Upon this tactical foundation, Drake uses historical metaphor to provide a rich and detailed future-history that is both unique and strangely familiar. The characters that make up the Hammer’s Regiment are neither cartoon heroes nor propaganda villains; rather they are competent professionals engaged in a deadly business... moreWith a veteran ’s eye for the harsh and gritty details of war, David Drake depicts a futuristic analog of Vietnam-era tank combat in his Hammer’s Slammers fiction. Upon this tactical foundation, Drake uses historical metaphor to provide a rich and detailed future-history that is both unique and strangely familiar. The characters that make up the Hammer’s Regiment are neither cartoon heroes nor propaganda villains; rather they are competent professionals engaged in a deadly business. The inevitable conflicts between policy, necessity, and human nature are often at the forefront of the Slammers narratives, and it is this rich fusion ofa elements that makes Drake’s Slammers fiction instantly identifiable and utterly compelling. The Hammer’s Slammers series is some of the most important and influential work in military SF. The Vietnam War made indelible marks on the science fiction genre, and Drake’s service with the Blackhorse Regiment during the war gives his fiction a unique perspective. It is this perspective that is sometimes lacking in military SF, and one that makes Drake’s work so important to the science fiction genre as a whole. This three-volume set collects all the Slammers short fiction and novels into a set of uniform editions, and presents a new, previously uncollected piece of fiction in each volume. This third volume collects the last two Slammers novels, The Sharp End (1993) and Paying the Piper (2002). The novella “The Darkness” was written for this volume, and has been uncollected prior to the publication of this volume. less

Lissea Doorman wasn't one to refuse a challenge. Challenged by the rulers of Telaria to run a suicide mission, she put together a crew of tough mercenaries and brilliant specialists, ready for anything. Their journey took them through strange worlds, all the way to the Lost Colony--where they learned that their adventure was only just beginning.

THE SAGA OF THE SLAMMERS BEGINS!COLONEL ALOIS HAMMER: He welded five thousand individual killers into a weapon more deadly than any other in the human universe. When a planetary government faces unfriendly natives, guerrilla insurgents, or ruthless terrorists, they do the only thing that might save them— they hire Hammer's Slammers, the toughest, meanest bunch of mercs who ever wrecked a world for pay... moreTHE SAGA OF THE SLAMMERS BEGINS!COLONEL ALOIS HAMMER: He welded five thousand individual killers into a weapon more deadly than any other in the human universe. When a planetary government faces unfriendly natives, guerrilla insurgents, or ruthless terrorists, they do the only thing that might save them— they hire Hammer's Slammers, the toughest, meanest bunch of mercs who ever wrecked a world for pay. Known throughout the galaxy for their cold, ruthless ferocity, the men of Colonel Hammer's indomitable armored brigade routinely accept impossible missions. Again and again, they go up against overwhelming forces, or fight a two-front war against ferocious opposition, all without atomizing their civilian employers. Can they keep doing it Not if they abide by the rules of civilized warfare...but nobody ever said the Hammers were nice. Even when their chances are not good—those who oppose them have no chance at all!Publisher's Note: THE TANK LORDS contains two full volume's worth of the Hammer's Slammer's saga, for the first time presented in chronological story sequence as determined by the author. less

Colonel Alois Hammer: to the galaxy, a legendary commander of mercenaries. To his troops, a leader who can be trusted to always back them to the hilt - and meet a payroll. When the situation on a planet has gone beyond desperate, it's time to call for Hammer's Slammers.