Grunt Life: A Task Force Ombra Novel

Written by Weston Ochse

Narrated by Todd McLaren

Benjamin Carter Mason died last night. Maybe he threw himself off a bridge into Los Angeles Harbor, or maybe he burned to death in a house fire in San Pedro; it doesn't really matter. Today, Mason's starting a new life. He's back in boot camp, training for the only war left that matters a damn.

For years, their spies have been coming to Earth, learning our weaknesses. Our governments knew, but they did nothing-the prospect was too awful, the costs too high-and now, the horrifying and utterly inhuman Cray are laying waste to our cities. The human race is a heartbeat away from extinction. That is, unless Mason, and the other men and women of Task Force OMBRA, can do anything about it.

This is a time for heroes. For killers. For Grunts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: May 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781515989790

Weston Ochse

Weston Ochse is called “one of the major horror authors of the 21st century” by the American Library Association. Whether he’s writing horror, science fiction, or thrillers, Weston’s life skills and his more than thirty years in the military, traveling all over the world, has given him a unique perspective on the poignancy of the human condition, which he strives to embrace in all of his literary work.

Reviews for Grunt Life

[eric_j._guignard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

REVIEWED: Grunt Life (A Task Force Ombra Novel Book 1)
WRITTEN BY: Weston Ochse
PUBLISHED: April, 2014 by Solaris

‘Grunt Life’ is the fifth book I’ve read by Weston Ochse, and it’s absolutely the most powerful. Deeply resonant, riveting, filled with action and the emotional ups and downs of military life in a sci-fi/ earth vs. aliens thriller, this novel lives up to the cliché of something that ‘once started, cannot be put down.’ It’s notably insightful dealing with the suicidal tendencies of a career soldier who’s hit bottom, then is taken and ‘re-wired’ to realize meaning in fighting for humankind. As much psychological as it is scientific, ‘Grunt Life’ is still able to bring out humor and dignity while driving a fast pace of action and self-discovery. Gripping, dark, and highly recommended.

Five out of Five stars

[kevbayer-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Starting off with a thorough reading an uncomfortable topic (suicide, specifically a service member suffering from PTSD committing suicide), this book gives him and others suffering like him a second chance in a special unit fighting an alien invasion.

The alien invasion comes fast, and off-screen, while our characters are still in training in their new unit. This leads quickly to the typical trope of the last remaining vestiges of military fighting the aliens. They quickly realize all their efforts are having no effect, and must find new ways to gather intel, fight effectively, and win. By the end, they've made some progress, but in no way have won the war yet.

I enjoyed this book, though the suicidal tendencies of the characters were at times uncomfortable to read. People this distraught, this broken, make unique character point-of-views. But it's their overcoming of this that makes them readable heroes.

There's no paranormal stuff here, it's just the military against the aliens. Fans of Bob Mayer's Atlantis and Area 51 series, James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, Myke Cole, or Jean Johnson will enjoy Grunt Life.