The Blackcollar Series Books 1–2: Blackcollar and The Backlash Mission

Timothy Zahn

Nov 2017 · Open Road Media

About this ebook

The first two novels in the epic sci-fi series from the #1 New York Times–bestselling and Hugo Award–winning author of Star Wars: Thrawn.

Decades after the Earth and the Terran Democratic Empire were conquered by the hostile, reptilian Ryqril, one man must find and resurrect the only fighting force that can free humanity . . . 
 
Blackcollar: Resistance member Allen Caine was preparing for the most important mission of his life—until the plan takes a turn and he ends up abandoned on the outpost planet of Plinry. His only hope to salvage the mission and buy time for TDE is to reform the legendary Blackcollars, the genetically enhanced guerilla force famed for their exploits battling the Ryqril. But if he’s going to find them, he will have to become one of them.
 
The Backlash Mission: After completing his yearlong Blackcollar training, Caine is returning to Earth at the head of an elite squad of warriors to strike at the puppet human government collaborating with the alien Ryqril. The only problem: There is already a strong Blackcollar element on Earth—in the criminal underworld. And Caine doesn’t know if they are going to fight alongside him or against him.
 
As with his million-copy bestselling Star Wars novels, the Blackcollar series shows once again that Timothy Zahn “is a master of tactics and puts his own edge on complex hard-SF thrillers” (Kevin J. Anderson, New York Time–bestselling author).

Ratings and reviews

An almost believable couple of yarns that pit Ninja-like commandos against conquering aliens and their collaborators. Only one collaborator shows any degree of intelligence, that being Prefect Galloway. The rest of the bafs guys are just venal and stupid. The "Ninja-like" Blackcollars are interesting in several ways. The notion that they can take on technologically advanced foes with surikins, nungchucks and "sniper slingshots" is whimsical at best. Entertaining nonetheless.

I liked the strong start of this series, and I wish there would be new books coming out.. It's been many years since I've read the beginning.

It took me a little while to get into it, but about a third of the way through the first book, I couldn't put it down.

About the author

Timothy Zahn is a New York Times bestselling science fiction author of more than forty novels, as well as many novellas and short stories. Best known for his contributions to the expanded Star Wars universe of books, including the Thrawn trilogy, Zahn won a 1984 Hugo Award for his novella Cascade Point. He also wrote the Cobra series, the Blackcollar series, the Quadrail series, and the young adult Dragonback series, whose first novel, Dragon and Thief, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Zahn currently resides in Oregon with his family.