Ian Douglas (AKA William Keith, Jr.) has managed to capture the feel of what it is to be a Marine in this trilogy. Combined with his talent for writing fairly realistic science into his work, he has easily created the best military sci-fi since Jerry Pournelle's Falkenberg Legion series or David Drake's Hammer's Slammers. I eagerly awaited this book and wasn't disappointed at all. As for comments about the conclusion not wrapping everything up, why? Mr. Keith's website indicates that a second trilogy is on its way, that will take the Marines to the stars. Why wrap everything up when we have the chance to enjoy a long-running series with an epic sweep?For an example of just how enjoyable Mr. Keith's (Douglas') series can be, I recommend you read the Warstrider series.