Marko Kloos

Marko Kloos is a German-born science fiction author best known for his military science fiction series Frontlines, which began with Terms of Enlistment in 2013. After initially self-publishing his work, Kloos signed with 47North, Amazon Publishing's science fiction imprint. His Frontlines series has achieved significant commercial success, with multiple books appearing on bestseller lists and Terms of Enlistment being nominated for a Hugo Award in 2015. Beyond the Frontlines series, Kloos has written The Palladium Wars series and contributed to various science fiction anthologies. His work frequently draws from his military background and explores themes of warfare, technology, and human adaptation to future environments. Kloos resides in New Hampshire and maintains an active writing career, regularly releasing new entries in his ongoing series. His background includes service in the German military and work in the technology sector before becoming a full-time author.

Readers consistently highlight Kloos's accurate portrayal of military life and operations. Many note his ability to write action sequences that feel authentic without getting bogged down in technical details. What readers liked: - Clear, straightforward writing style - Military details that enhance rather than overwhelm the story - Character development across series - Fast pacing and combat scenes - Balance of action with human elements What readers disliked: - Some found early books in series too similar to Starship Troopers - Later Frontlines books received criticism for repetitive plots - Romance subplots described as basic or underdeveloped Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Terms of Enlistment: 4.0/5 (37,000+ ratings) - Lines of Departure: 4.2/5 (25,000+ ratings) - Aftershocks: 4.1/5 (8,000+ ratings) Amazon: - Terms of Enlistment: 4.4/5 - Lines of Departure: 4.5/5 - Average across all books: 4.3/5 One reader noted: "Kloos writes military sci-fi that respects both the genre and the reader's intelligence."

FRONTLINES SERIES Terms of Enlistment - A young soldier from Earth's welfare tenements joins the military and faces both human and alien threats.

Lines of Departure - After battling alien forces, Andrew Grayson must choose between following orders and his conscience as humanity faces extinction.

Angles of Attack - Humanity launches a desperate counteroffensive against the alien Lanky forces threatening Earth's colonies.

Chains of Command - Andrew Grayson and the North American Commonwealth forces attempt to retake Mars from alien occupation.

Fields of Fire - Earth's military forces struggle to defend their remaining territory while planning a major offensive against the Lankies.

Points of Impact - The war against the Lankies reaches a critical point as humanity attempts to turn the tide with new tactics and technology.

Orders of Battle - Andrew Grayson leads special operations against both alien and human threats as the war enters a new phase.

Measures of Absolution - A novella focusing on military police officer Halley during the early days of the Lanky war.

Lucky Thirteen - A novella following dropship pilot Halley's experiences during crucial combat missions.

PALLADIUM WARS SERIES Aftershocks - A former soldier tries to rebuild his life after a devastating interplanetary war between Mars-like colonies.

Ballistic - Political tensions rise between planetary colonies as mysterious attacks threaten a fragile peace.

Citadel - Multiple factions race to prevent another interplanetary war as violence escalates across the solar system.

Waybound - The series concludes as characters face both personal and system-wide conflicts amid rising hostilities.

John Scalzi writes military science fiction with a focus on power armor and interstellar warfare, similar to Kloos' Frontlines series. His Old Man's War series features military recruits fighting against alien threats across space.

Jack Campbell focuses on space fleet combat and military leadership in his Lost Fleet series. His work emphasizes realistic space warfare tactics and the challenges of command structures.

David Weber creates detailed military science fiction centered on space navies and technological advancement through his Honor Harrington series. His works include complex political situations and military hierarchies.

Linda Nagata writes about combat technology and its effects on soldiers in near-future settings. Her Red trilogy deals with powered armor and military operations, sharing technological themes with Kloos' work.

B.V. Larson produces military science fiction series about humanity's conflicts with alien civilizations. His Star Force series includes regular military personnel thrust into interstellar warfare, similar to Kloos' characters.