The Recommended Reading Path
If you are looking to dive into Rick Partlow's military sci-fi saga, the best starting point is Contact Front, the first book in the main Drop Trooper series. Following the journey of Cameron Alvarez—a street thief given the choice between prison or the Marine Drop Troopers—is the most natural way to experience the universe's technology, lore, and stakes. The main series is complete at 16 books, concluding with 2024's Kill Chain. For the best experience, we recommend reading the main Drop Trooper series in publication order before branching out into the prequel and sequel series that flesh out this massive universe.
The Birthright Connection and Prequels
While Contact Front launched the Drop Trooper brand in 2020, Partlow had already laid the foundations of this universe years earlier with the Birthright series. First published in 2011, the original Birthright book introduces readers to Caleb Mitchell and the broader geopolitical landscape that leads to the interstellar conflicts in Drop Trooper. The companion series consists of four books, including the prequel Glory Boy, which focuses on Mitchell's early military career. To avoid spoilers and appreciate the historical references in the main Drop Trooper series, we suggest reading the main 16 Drop Trooper books first, followed by the Birthright books to explore the universe's history.
Publication Order of Drop Trooper Books
- Contact Front (2020)
- Kinetic Strike (2020)
- Danger Close (2020)
- Direct Fire (2020)
- Home Front (2020)
- Fire Base (2021)
- Shock Action (2021)
- Release Point (2021)
- Kill Box (2022)
- Drop Zone (2022)
- Tango Down (2023)
- Blue Force (2023)
- Weapons Free (2023)
- Collateral Effects (2023)
- Down Range (2024)
- Kill Chain (2024)
Publication Order of Birthright Books
- Birthright (2011)
- Northwest Passage (2015)
- Enemy of My Enemy (2016)
- Glory Boy (2016)
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
Rick Partlow's universe (often called the Birthright Universe) is sprawling, containing several interconnected series: Holy War, Drop Trooper, Birthright, Recon, Acheron, and Psi War. Chronologically, the events of Holy War and the early Birthright books (like the prequel Glory Boy) take place before or during the timeline of Drop Trooper. However, trying to read the universe in a strict chronological sequence requires jumping back and forth between different series and book chapters, which can disrupt character development and spoil major plot points. The author himself advises reading the series in blocks rather than attempting a strict chronological shuffle.
Spin-Offs and Collaborations
If you complete the main series and are hungry for more action, you can explore the co-authored spin-off trilogy Drop Trooper: Pirate Wars, which Partlow wrote alongside author Ralph Kern. Consisting of Insurgency, Infiltration, and Isolation (all published in 2023), this subseries follows Ranger Antonin Murdock as he battles outlaw fleets on the frontier. It offers a slightly different flavor of space opera while staying grounded in the shared universe lore.
What to Know Before You Start
Rick Partlow is a former U.S. Army infantry officer, and his real-world military background heavily influences the tactical realism, logistics, and chain-of-command friction depicted in the books. Readers love the Drop Trooper series for its gritty battlesuits, detailed orbital drops, and the realistic depiction of the Tahni—humanity's fierce, non-human adversaries. Despite the high-octane action, the series maintains a deep focus on character growth, loyalty, and the moral cost of warfare, setting it apart from generic space marine fiction.