Amazon Cover
Pogue One (Anthology – see author details below)
BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON
The purpose of this anthology is not to denigrate pogues. On the contrary, we felt their representation in fiction (military SF or otherwise) a bit lacking. What about the kid with the thirty-pound brain locked away in the vault, like in Gene Rowley’s tale of a lance corporal in the Cyber Corps? The medical ninjas who’re willing to move heaven and earth to save one more life feature prominently in K. Anders’s story. Chris DiNote shows us there are worse things lurking within the depths of the military machine than mere pogues. In “The Troll,” Jim Curtis reminds us that the hardest working folks in the military just may be the apes whose job is to keep aircraft in the sky. Wrapping up our ensemble of storytelling is Liska McCabe, who reminds us that no matter the MOS, we all endure check-out in the end.
MY REVIEW
Raconteur Press is single-handedly attempting to bring back the (1) anthology, (2) the pulp anthology, (3) short story goodness. In 2025 they are attempting to publish 25 short story anthologies. If you have been hungering for good pulp anthologies – from fantasy to detective noir to cats in space, they got you covered.
Pogue One feed my particular love of support-staff of the military. Instead of the man in the mechsuit taking names of aliens on a star-flung planet, I want to know about the people that (1) built the suit, (2) maintain the suit in the field, and (3) arrange the logistics to get the suit from point A to the infantry wearing them at point B. Yes the TIP of the spear is interesting, but there is a whole lot of spear and very little tip and the tip wouldn’t reach where it does without the spear shaft. (I really need to write some military-support stories. But fortunately, in the meantime, other people have wrote some!)
Overall, Pogue one delivers as promised. Pogue stories! Being an anthology, some are great and some are good.
Breakdown by story with a short review of each
1. A Dzar Wars Story by K. Anders – Medtech are used to keeping others alive, less so, themselves. (4 star)
2. To the Letter by S.J. Fazekas – Public relations. Love, following orders, and meeting mission goals – you can have any two, but not all three. What is a public relations officer to do? (Loss of stars for weight hate, 2 star)
3. F$%n Guard Guys! – Finances. Nepotism and Old Guard vs. Bean Counters; both combatants waging war through the old boy network and budget line items. Who will win? (3 star)
4. Unsung heroes of Cyber Corps by E.G. Rowley – Computer maintenance. Remember to always report phishing emails to security promptly. (3 star)
5. Big Mama – Logistics usually is about getting shields to the right location; other times they are the only shield between disaster and the civilians. (4 1/2 star). This is the story I want expanded into a full novel and get an expanded ending. Yes, complete story, but I want what is next!!!
(UPDATE!!! – full length novel – A Kiss from Damocles (book 1) is available. Set in the same world, but not the same characters. Still, I get to find out what is next.)
6. Forge of Hephaestus by William Meinert – Analyst (taking all the data collected and teasing out the secrets). The military is always looking for the right tool for the right job, but when technology advances, can old tools be used again? (2 stars – I personally hate the friend zone trope. Other than that, the story is great.)
7. Bits and Parts by Josh Hill – Maintenance Tech. When a gutter rat gets inside the fence, can the Master Gunnery Sergeant save him before the dangers outside the base and the dangers inside the base find out exactly what the rat can do? (5 star)
8. Chow Hall – Installation Techs. They say know your enemy, but it also pays to know your allies. (5 star)
9. The Troll by J.L. Curtis – Machinists. God bless the reservists brining their specialties to the services. (4 star – note, technical heavy)
10. Moto-Morphosis by Liska McCabe – Accountant. Accountability during out-processing can be worse than the enemy. I am amused the last story of the anthology is about trying to turn in the equipment so a military member can leave. (3 star)
Overall, a broad range of skills covered.