Orphanage (Jason Wander), by Robert Buettner   [Mass Market Paperback 2008]

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Rave Reviews (19)*

• 1) Great Homage to Heinlien

  by Steven R. McEvoy on December 19 2005
    90+ helpful votes

  "We crabbed shoulder to shoulder down the cargo nets to our landing craft bucking in the Channel, each GI's bilge -and-sea-soaked boots drenching his buddy below. In that moment I realized that we fight not for flags or against tyrants but for each other. For whatever remains of my life, those barely met strangers who dangled around me will be my only family. Strip away politics and whatever or whenever, war is an orphanage."
  -Anonymous letter fragment, Recovered on Omaha Beach,
  Normandy, June 1944.
  Orphanage begins with this quote but it began a long time ago. This book is written in homage to Science Fiction Greats Robert A. Heinlien, and Joe Haldeman, who each wrote political commentaries on War set in science fiction stories. Heinlein wrote his original Starship Troopers in 1959, and Haldeman wrote his The Forever War in 1972 and revised it in 1975. Each of these books follows a young man from basic training through to great battles to attempt to save the earth from aliens, as does our story.
  Our grunt is Jason Wander, a young man mad at the Universe, his parents were killed in the first meteor impact. After a few run-ins with the law because of anger and lashing out after his loss, he is given the choice to serve prison time or in the military. At some point in his training he goes from being apathetic, to deciding to become a good soldier. His adventure lead him to the moon where he is the first human to encounter the slugs who are trying to wipe out all life on earth, then onto Ganymade where the first major conflict of this war begins. Ganymade is the outpost in our solar system for our alien enemies that we are being bombarded from. During the heroic battle as the force of 10,000 is knocked down to a few hundred, he is promoted time and time again, for succeeding and rising to the occasion. Field promotions are hard earned for they come at the loss of good men and women, and with each promotion you become responsible for more lives. Can he take the pressure, can he save earth, read it and find out.

• 2) Up Through the Ranks

  by Michael T. Smith on November 10 2004
    60+ helpful votes

  A spur of the moment purchase that turned out to be a day and a half of non-stop reading. A new entry into military SF has arrived. Written by a soldier about what really modivates individuals that take up the sword as a profession. Orphanage is the story of the development of a unified Terran military force as told from the viewpoint a grunt whose simple choice is military service or jail. If you enjoyed "Starship Troopers", "Joe Mauser", Hammer's Slammers" or "Falkenberg's Legion then this book is for you.

• 3) Outstanding Book!

  by JJohn on November 03 2004
    40+ helpful votes

  Wow! I couldn't put this book down. Buettner did a great job of keeping the reader invested in each and every character. This is by far the best sci-fi book I have read this year. I can certainly see this exciting story as the next big blockbuster movie.

• 4) 2004's best Sci Fi novel!

  by Rhys Pool on December 20 2004
    40+ helpful votes

  I kept reading reviews all over the net claiming Orphanage was the novel of the year, of the decade, this generation's Starship Troopers. Right. I know books. I know Heinlein. So I appointed myself as a Truth Squad and plunked down $6.99 to set the record straight.
  
  Twenty-four couldn't-put-it-down hours later, I reveal The Truth to you all: The reviews are right. Orphanage may be the definitive military coming-of-age story of the Post-9/11 generation. Easily 2004's best SF novel, but it is fast, funny and accessible enough that general-fiction readers can gobble it like Grisham or Grafton.
  
  Orphanage is the story of smart, underacheiving teen Jason Wander, who grows a chip on his shoulder as big as Jupiter after alien bombs kill his mother and millions of others. Jason comes of age in the infantry and winds up "one of the lucky orphans who in one hour will save the human race or die trying." His infantry division must invade Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, and destroy the Alien outpost that is sending the bombs. They have to win with pasted-up antiques. Each time you think things can't get worse, they do.
  
  Halfway through, I thought I loved this book because it was fast, funny, superbly-written entertainment. When I finished it, I realized that I loved it because I would never look at soldiers the same way again. And today that matters.
  
  Warner Books released Orphanage as a low-profile, mass-market, genre paperback. As The Word gets out, my $6.99 for that first-printing paperback is going to look like an investment.

• 5) Couldn't put this book down!

  by Ken Browning on December 01 2004
    30+ helpful votes

  When I received this book I began to read and found myself unable to do much of anything until I finished it. The narrator's voice makes you feel as though it is your good friend telling you this heartfelt story.
  I have not read Forever War, but have read Starship Troopers. And, unlike the previous reviewer I find the book is just a great new version of Starship Troopers. The similarities to "Troopers" are obvious, but that is what the cover of the book tells you.
  I highly recommend picking up this fantastic new story. It kept my weekend full of good reading.

• 6) Fast and Fun

  by thxlogan on January 05 2005
    30+ helpful votes

  I picked up this book on impulse because of the references to Heinlein's Starship Troopers. I think that description is correct to a certain extent, but Orphanage is a great story on its own with constant non-stop action. My only disappointment was finishing the book so quickly. Hopefully Buettner has more of the same waiting in the wings.
  

• 7) Now we're talking!

  by Hiawatha Bray on December 01 2004
    20+ helpful votes

  I rarely read sci-fi these days. If more books were like this one, I'd be an addict again. This here's the real deal--a delightful adventure in the grand Heinlein tradition. No lover of old-fashioned space opera should miss it.

• 8) A real good first novel

  by I. Cannon on November 01 2004
    20+ helpful votes

  I just finished the book and I have to say it was well worth reading. It is a story of human determination. We get to see just about every side of humanity is this book. There is humor and loss and sacrifice and so many other aspects that makes for a real good story and all woven together in a believable main character who keeps having to push himself to be more in order to help save the Earth.
  
  If you are a fan of military sci-fi stories, then I highly recommend reading Orphanage.

• 9) Excellent Read

  by Chad Duke on May 07 2005
    20+ helpful votes

  Quickly let me say with regards to previous reviewer "Southern Fried". Pay no heed to his ridiculous review. I went through and read other reviews he has written and all are in the same format. Not only are they all spoilers...ruining the book for any future readers (not to mention against amazon rules.) But, almost all go through each book and state how terrible and cliche they are.
  On with my review...Orphanage is a gripping story that keeps the reader very emotionally involved with each character. The last 50 pages are what keeps the book fast and fun. If Buettner had spent 200 pages on battle scenes I would have put the book down at that point. The beginning of the book highlights the unique charm of Buettner's writing style. And, the end keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in one sitting and found myself ready for more right away. I am looking foward to the next book.

• 10) One heck of a good military science fiction novel

  by Daniel Jolley on November 12 2005
    20+ helpful votes

  It's not every day that a writer's first novel draws praise from Joe Haldeman (author of The Forever War) and comparisons with Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Robert Buettner's Orphanage, though, certainly deserves many of the accolades it has garnered. The novel doesn't have the complex socio-political subtext of a Starship Troopers, but it does serve up one heck of a good military science fiction adventure. There isn't time for political rumination or sociological analysis in Buettner's Earth of 2040. The Earth is under attack from an unknown extraterrestrial enemy, and it needs people to go out there and kill some aliens - and that's where Jason Wander fits in.
  
  Wander's life changed the day his mother visited Indianapolis, only to be killed by an alien projectile. He becomes something of a juvenile delinquent, popping Prozacs to keep himself from thinking about his loss. After getting into trouble, he is given a choice between jail time and the life of a soldier. In boot camp, he continues to screw up - until nearby Pittsburgh is destroyed instantaneously by another projectile. Even then, he makes another huge mistake and should really have been booted out of the infantry for good - but he wasn't. Thus it is that this most unlikeliest of soldiers becomes the first human to ever see a live alien and plays a crucial role in mankind's first offensive mission of the intergalactic war. If you like to see normal human beings in your science fiction, Jason Wander is your man. He's as real as they come - funny, sarcastic, temperamental, and as cowardly as he is brave - in other words, he has the makings of a true hero.
  
  These aliens, I should mention, are Slugs, an alien life form that intelligence specialists struggle to understand and defend against. Their attack on the Earth comes in the form of unarmed projectiles which decimate city after city across the globe. A few decades of peace have made the world woefully unprepared for such a military crisis, and the good guys go to war with a lot of equipment dating as far back as the First Gulf War or even World War II. After discovering that the Slugs have established a firing base on Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, UN forces prepare a daring counter-offensive, secretly launching it years before it is officially supposed to be ready. Despite a series of court-martial offenses, Wander is there. The attack does not go as planned, not by a long shot, and that only makes Wander's story all the more intense.
  
  If you're wondering about the title of the novel, it comes from the idea that war makes orphans of all soldiers. When you're there in the heat of battle, your only family consists of the men and women fighting alongside you - and, when it comes right down to it, you fight like hell for them - not for yourself, not for your family, not even for your country (or, in this case, planet). Wander fights primarily for three of his compatriots - his old buddy Metzger, a rocket jockey who got famous by shooting projectiles out of the sky; his fellow gunner "Munchkin," an Egyptian lass he treasures for more than one reason; and a pilot named Pooh, the new love of Wander's life (a life which promises to be a very short one indeed).
  
  The war as we see it in Orphanage is a personal war - Wander's war. As a former military intelligence officer, Robert Buettner proves himself more than capable of presenting battle at is most visceral level, as seen through the eyes of a grunt. There are some interesting science fiction elements involved in the storyline, and yes, there are certainly similarities with the science fiction of Heinlein and Haldeman to be found here, but Orphanage really tells its own story - and a thrilling story it is.

• 11) City-destroying missiles come from Ganymede

  by Midwest Book Review on January 06 2005
    20+ helpful votes

  In Robert Buettner's original and highly recommended science fiction novel Orphange, humankind's first alien contact comes in the form of city-destroying missiles from Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Under attack from afar, humanity needs an effective counterstrike to survive- and it's up to a teenage and a group of orphan soldiers nobody will miss to man a scavenged spacecraft that's mankind's only hope for survival.
  

• 12) A pleasant surprise

  by John S. Ryan on February 26 2005
    20+ helpful votes

  At last, a worthy successor to _Starship Troopers_ and _The Forever War_.
  
  Robert Buettner offers more than simple homage in this fine military-SF novel. Oh, the homage is there; he acknowledges both Heinlein and Haldeman, and he incorporates variations of themes not only from _Starship Troopers_ but also from _The Puppet Masters_. But he's not merely copying stuff others have done before him. On the contrary, it's almost impossible to write a novel in this genre _without_ incorporating many things that now seem 'cliche' because the original masters did such a memorable job of inventing them.
  
  You can gather from the other reviews everything you need to know about the plot. Jason Wander, as you'll learn within the first few pages, is a young man who lost his mother in a devastating attack by some aliens who seem to want to move onto our planet and hope to soften us up. He winds up serving in the infantry; we follow him through Basic Training and off to Ganymede, where the aliens have a base. (No doubt this will remind many readers of Juan Rico, but Wander is a different character entirely and he has his own voice altogether. In fact, his cynical smartassery recalls the best work of Keith Laumer.)
  
  An excellent, excellent work of post-9/11 military SF. Heinlein would have loved it.
  
  And three cheers to Fred Gambino for a magnificent piece of cover art.

• 13) Great sci-fi book!

  by Jason S Robinson on March 30 2005
    20+ helpful votes

  The blurb on the book states that this is the tradition of "The Forever War" and "Starship Troopers" but these blurbs often lie to sell the book, so I was pleasantly suprised to find the book actually did belong among those two wonderful stories about interplanatary invasions. The author of this book has served in the armed forces and it shows in his writing. The way the soldiers interact with each other, the bonds one makes in wartime and the split decisions one must make with the knowledge that the wrong one will be the last decision ever made is all portrayed here accuratly. I also thought all of the future aspects of the book were nicely done and this includes modes of transportation, medicine (such as Prozac 2), anti-matter drives on starships, weapons, and many other things. In my opinion, a sci-fi book is much more enjoyable if the author is an obvious sci-fi fan as this author definitely is.
  
  I highly recommend this book.

• 14) Homage from the Orphanage

  by Walt Boyes on September 18 2005
    10+ helpful votes

  It is clear, from the plot, the characterization, and the forward that this is an homage to "Starship Troopers" and "The Forever War." One of the things that classics inspire is other writers who re-use themes because they love them. In "Orphanage" Buettner clearly owes Heinlein and Haldeman, but what he does with their headstart is clearly his own trope.
  
  Buettner's take is very much post 9-11 in sensibilities, and his government is even more cynical than Haldeman's, and almost as "fascist" as Heinlein's.
  
  His orphans are the same ones Heinlein drafted to fight the Bugs, and Haldeman drew from his Vietnam experiences in "The Forever War." Buettner's orphans fought the Assyrians, marched in the Roman Legions, and posed for clay statues for the grave of Shi Huang Ti. They fought "o'er Afghanistan's plain," and went with Kitchener to Khartoum, and charged up Cemetary Ridge with Pickett. They are the ones who always come forward to put their own bodies between "their loved homes and the war's desolation."
  Jason Wander is an innocent. He remains, to some degree, an innocent throughout the book.
  
  This is an allegory for peace that is masquerading as an action adventure sci-fi epic.
  
  It is allegorical in the same way that "Starship Troopers" is. We see Heinlein's didactic novel as "fascistic" but really it is not. He makes an argument that the only people who should have the franchise are people who are willing to work for the state: in whatever capacity, not just as a trooper.
  
  Orphanage is an outstanding first novel, and as his writing improves we should see much more of Mr. Buettner.
  
  I am waiting...in fact I went right out and bought the sequel.
  
  Walt Boyes
  The Bananaslug. at Baen's Bar

• 15) Damn good read.

  by Bernard J. Stewart on November 04 2006
    10+ helpful votes

  I have heard it said that all of the current fantasy fiction is from authors who needed more hobbits and dwarves and wizards. That they could not accept the loss of Tolkien. I have never been able to accept the loss of Johnny Rico, Carmen, Sgt. Zim and the Roughnecks. I have not been able to accept the loss of Robert Heinlein and now I don't have to.
  
  Mr Buettner has given us a homage to "Starship Troopers". Yes, it is derivative and I can see Rico, Raezcak, Zim and the others in this novel. Since Heinlein didn't give us the rest of the story Buettner has. I would classify this as juvenile fiction in the same vein as Heinlein's juveniles. He has different characters in a different unvierse but is telling the same story. Not of glory, but of sacrifice. Not of great ideals, but of the man next to you and the unit you live with.
  
  And he is going to tell us more.
  
  Good enough for me.

• 16) A worthwhile read for those who liked Starship Troopers

  by James M. Nelson on March 01 2005
    10+ helpful votes

  Although the plot, as has been pointed out by others, is derivative, this book is well written and fast-paced. I got through it in half a day of sustained reading and I'm keeping my copy for more leisurely reading when I get the time. I'd like to see a sequel and will certainly be on the lookout for other books by this author.

• 17) W.E.B. Griffin of Sci-Fi

  by Seachranaiche on May 06 2008
    10+ helpful votes

  Although "Orphanage" has been out for a few years, I only just discovered it, and it comes as a welcome relief. Much of military Sci-Fi has, regretfully, turned to ultra right-wing themes, rendering it practically unreadable. Robert Buettner has avoided excessive politics to create a thoroughly enjoyable story of soldiering. I have really missed good, agendaless military Sci-Fi, and here now there are even several sequels, enough to last for perhaps the rest of the week!
  
  The narrative voice of "Orphanage" is down-to-earth and realistic, with language and turns of phrase that are both original and authentic. While there is some simplistic plotting and characterizations, these did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. Buettner's knowledge of military history is sprinkled throughout, lending continuity and even greater authenticity to the plot. "Orphanage" is being compared to Heinlein and Haldeman, as plot devices seem similar to "Starship Troopers" and "The Forever War". I counter that it is probably difficult to create a drama of war in outer space without sharing some common themes. Rather, I see the story as being more similar to the Army novels of W.E.B. Griffin, beginning with "The Lieutenants", novels that thoroughly represent the military life in times of war and peace.
  
  I begin reading the sequel...now.

• 18) Jason Wander, human

  by Frank Long on April 07 2008
    10+ helpful votes

  Those of us who read "genre" fiction choose these books because of the familiar stories, plot devices, people types, and, well, all the ingredients that make it a Romance, a Western, a Mystery and yes, even Science Fiction novel. We love to revisit these familiar stories and search for new authors who can transport us from our reality to their "worlds". Science Fiction has many genres within its broad scope; space opera, hard science, first contact, alien invasions, discovering that big thing in the sky and, of course, military fiction. Why do I bring this up? Because too many reviewers are comparing Mr. Buettner's work to Heinlien, Haldeman, et al or saying he is out right stealing ideas! Yes, if you enjoyed "Starship Troopers" you'll enjoy the "Jason Wander" series. But the main reason I enjoyed these two books ("Orphanage" & "Orphan's Destiny") so much, besides being just a good ol' fun read, is the stories are about imperfect people repeatedly overcoming extraordinary odds (not always with the best "final reel" outcome) and grow with each experience. Being a former Military Intelligence Officer, Mr. Buettner brings to his books a military reality to give the stories some real bite. And, gosh, I like Jason Wander; he makes wrong decisions (for the right reasons), follows his heart a bit too much for a soldier and is constantly putting his booted foot in his mouth. In other words, Jason is a human; just like you and me, and we can relate to his troubles AND triumphs!
  
  Robert Buettner is a wonderful new voice in Science Fiction and I hope to be reading his books far into the future!

• 19) Pleasant Surprise

  by B. Nolan on January 19 2008
    10+ helpful votes

  Others have given plot points. I would just like to add a review to support the book and author.
  
  This book was an impulse buy at a second hand book store. Having read "Starship Troopers" several times long ago, I was intrigued by the introduction. I would up reading the book almost straight through. It was intertaining and time well spent. I will look forward to the sequal. I hope to see more of Howard. He is as much a hero as anyne else and smart too. I also like Jeeb a lot, and hope to see more of him.
  
  I would really like to see this book made into a movie by someone who knows what they are doing.