Heorot: Per Pournelle's blog Chaos Manor (and I'd advise anyone interested in an eclectic, catholic site to subscribe to it), Mamelukes should be out this summer. If you subscribe, you get to read the first chapter of Mamelukes. Be advised, it may not appear that way in the final book form.

 

As for my favorite MSF character: Christian Johnny Falkenberg, with a few of his subordinates behind him.

 

Best MSF book: Starship Troopers, which helped focus my reasons for becoming a Soldier.

 

Did 'Nam as a REMF, stayed in the NG/Reserves, retired out in '93, still annoy people in magazines with comments. Middle child back in Iraq on his second tour with the Cav. His mother was called up and sent over for Desert Storm.

No one has mentioned Felix from "Armor" by John Steakley. I realize it's a little unrealistic, but the whole concept of him wanting to die but his subconscious keeping him alive is interesting

I just finished reading that book, and to me, Felix just seems too much like a Deus ex machina for me to really identify with him. I did sympathize with the other soldiers who were killed earlier in the book, like Forest and Bolov, because they were good soldiers trying to do the right thing while the leadership bumbled and stumbled and basically cowered behind the more capable (if lower ranking) warriors.

Some other favorite sci-fi characters: Colonel Richard Baslim from "Citizen of the Galaxy." Lazarus Long from "Time Enough for Love."

After reviewing the posts, I think I've read nearly all of the books mentioned here at least once, and most I have in my home in either hard or paperback (my wife is a big fan of Ringo, Weber, and the "gang" from Baen...revels in being referred to as a "Baenite").

Every "Bolo" ever written about was a pure hero, wether by Laumer's hand as intended, or those who did a pretty fine job of picking up the mantle in following years in their series of cooperative short stories. But, I suppose, as the Bolos weren't human, they don't count.

 

Slick Desgruieux, from Drake's Hammer's Slammers "The Warrior", remains my personal favorite. He isn't romantic, is more than willing to kill the opposition just because they exist, is always waiting for "the next one", and holds personal grudges until they die of old age and then mounts them on the wall. While mentally unstable, this is a killer.

 

Past that, there's an unmentioned Ltc. T.C. McQueen from "Space: Above and Beyond". This is a professional Marine officer, a combat veteran, a student of history and someone who knows what the price of war means. Watching the one episode "The Angriest Angel" tells it all.

 

But, there have been a lot of great choices, and all deserve merit for differing reasons, and I heft my glass to you all in your selections. Here's hoping the printed word never fades.