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Episodes
Welcome to the Military Science Fiction Podcast. We’re four veterans who were crazy enough to become writers, and we’re here to talk about what makes great Military SF, the greatest niche within a niche of any fiction. More niche than the Coast Guard. On board is Rick Partlow, author of more than sixty novels, including Contact Front and the Drop Trooper series, Jeffery H. Haskell, author of the Grimm’s War series, as well as the Wraith and Arsenal superhero series, Josh Hayes, author of the Valor Series and the Operations Manager and Head of Thriller Acquisitions for Aethon Books, and I’m James S. Aaron, author of the Aeon 14: Sentience Wars and Galactic Law series. Between the four of us, we bring more than a hundred novels written (most of that is Rick), more than thirty years publishing experience, and on the military side we’d be retired by now if any of us had stuck around.
Episodes
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
We share some our favorite military science fiction books. Some you know, and some are off the beaten path. What's your favorite?
The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H. Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Mentioned in this episode:
David Weber – Honor Harrington Series (Books 1-6)
• Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074C161MH
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle – Footfall
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345323440
Walter Jon Williams – Voice of the Whirlwind
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1597800872
John Steakley – Armor
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0886773687
Mark Greaney – Midnight Black
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593548183
Glen Cook – Passage at Arms
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1597801194
David Gerrold – Voyage of the Star Wolf
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1932100075
Joe Haldeman – The Forever War
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312536631
Orson Scott Card – Ender’s Game
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812550706
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle – The Mote in God’s Eye
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671741926
Arik Kershenbaum – The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984881965
John Ringo – A Hymn Before Battle
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671318411
David Drake – Hammer’s Slammers
• Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0441315933
Lois McMaster Bujold – Vorkosigan Saga
• Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W9LXSYG
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
The team continues our discussion of how to develop a military science story from concept to outline and now chapters that fit into common story structures.
Why follow structure at all, Drill Sergeant?
Because it's what the readers expect, private. Now beat your face.
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The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
This week's guest
https://aethonbooks.com/
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
The team invites Steve Beaulieu, author (as Jaime Castle) and co-owner of Athon Books on the show to talk about the publishing side of military science fiction, what the future of the genre holds and what excites him about the coming years.
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The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
This week's guest
https://aethonbooks.com/
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
James and Jeff discuss what makes a great military science fiction cover (or any genre fiction) as well as what makes a great side character in MILSF, and why we don't see more novels about heroic cooks.
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The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
This week's guest
https://aethonbooks.com/
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025
In this episode we start a multi-episode conversation that gets very in the weeds on how to take a series from conception to summary, plot, chapter outline and even deeper.
The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Friday Feb 07, 2025
Friday Feb 07, 2025
Josh and Rick talk about how they name ships, vehicles and weapons in their stories, how names can have meaning and dropships probably don't need a name.
The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
#amwriting, #militarysciencefiction, #scifi
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Monday Jan 27, 2025
Monday Jan 27, 2025
Jeff and James talk about their new co-writing project in the Grimm's War universe, and a bit more about how to approach a project like this, how to find new stories in an existing world. Jeff also compliments Rick extensively.
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The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Technology continues to advance and its impacts on military operations can change everything... and sometimes War, War never changes.
In this episode we talk about crafting stories that include changes in technology, how they can be explored in a convincing but also fun way, and why MILSF readers love their gun porn.
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The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Military Science Fiction presents some unique opportunities to explore villains.
The same rules of great villains apply, but in MILSF you get to play with rank, weapon systems, politics, aliens, a whole gamut of special jerks that the civilian world doesn't get to experience. Motivations can be personal, cultural, or purely professional, but on the whole nobody is satisfied by an incompetent jerk as a villain.
Come hang out with us as we discuss some of our favorite villains, the difference between an obstacle and a villain, and how to make sure the reader understands that the author and their villains don't share the same values, morals, or political leanings.
Let us know what you'd like to see in the comments!
_______________
The Military Science Fiction Podcast, with Rick Partlow, Josh Hayes, Jeffery H. Haskell and James S. Aaron.
Published weekly.
Our Books:
Jeffery H.Haskell: https://amzn.to/3Yaq6VZ
Rick Partlow: https://amzn.to/3W74AzL
Josh Hayes: https://amzn.to/3Wdcpmz
James S. Aaron: https://amzn.to/4eTVDBa
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/milsfpod
Tell someone about the podcast or do pushups.