Armor by John Steakley is a must read. It's not heavy on sci-fi techno mumbo jumbo or interstellar politics...It focuses on two storylines. The first one, told in third person, is about Felix. One man in a suit of armor battling armies of giant ants on the hostile planet appropriately named, Banshee.

Felix is afraid, full of fear and knows he is going to die. But inside him lies a ruthless killing machine he has named, The Engine. The Engine will not let Felix die. During battle, The Engine takes over and carries Felix from one horrifying battle to another as his superiors continue to send him back to fight.....halfway through our focus shifts to....

Our second storyline, told in first person, is about the infamous space pirate, Jack Crow.....(Disney's Pirates totally ripped off this character btw). Jack has just escaped from prison and gets in with a crew of deserters and vagabonds avoiding the Ant War. Jack is sent on a mission to infiltrate an outpost of scientists on a small planet and pull down their defenses so that the crew of bandits can swoop in and get the supplies they need to continue on.

The two storylines merge and lead a finale of pure brilliance. I had tears of joy and tears of sadness all mixing together. I was on my porch screaming/laughing/howling at this book. Screw my neighbors if they don't understand what a real good book can do to a grown man.

I loved it so much that I feel compelled to tell people...anyone...everyone...to go read this book.

Then go read The Stars My Destination, The Forever War, and The Demolished Man.....all great...but Armor...man....wow.....