Monster Hunter Nemesis by Larry Correia

#5 in multiple New York Times bestseller Larry Correias Monster Hunter series. Agent Franks of the U.S. Monster Control Bureau is a man of many parts¾parts from other people, that is. Franks is nearly seven feet tall and all muscle. He's nearly indestructible. Plus hes animated by a powerful alchemical substance and inhabited by a super-intelligent spirit more ancient than humanity itself. Good thing hes on our side. More or less. Sworn to serve and protect the United States of America from all monsters by one of the countrys founding fathers, Franks has only one condition to the agreement: no matter what the government learns of him, no matter what is discovered concerning his odd physiology or the alchemy behind the elixir that made him, the government is never, ever allowed to try and make more like him. Such is absolutely forbidden and should the powers-that-be do so, then the agreement is null and void. Project Nemesis: in a secret location, using sophisticated technology and advanced genetic engineering, the director of the very agency Franks works for is making more like him. And the director is not content with making one. Nope, hes making thirteen. Now all bets are off, and Hell hath no fury like a monster betrayed. Particularly if that monster happens to be an undying killing machine capable of taking out vampires and werewolves with one hand tied behind his back. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Lexile Score: 800 About Larry Correias Monster Hunter series _[A] no-holds-barred all-out page turner that is part science fiction, part horror, and an absolute blast to read.Ó¾Bookreporter.com _If you love monsters and action, youll love this book. If you love guns, youll love this book. If you love fantasy, and especially horror fantasy, youll love this book.Ó¾Knotclan.com _A gun person who likes science fiction¾or, heck, anyone who likes science fiction¾will enjoy [these books]ãThe plotting is excellent, and Correia makes you care about the charactersãI read both books without putting them down except for workãso whaddaya waitin for? Go and buy someãfor yourself and for stocking stuffers.Ó¾Massad Ayoob About Larry Correias Monster Hunter Vendetta: _This lighthearted, testosterone-soaked sequel to 2009's Monster Hunter International will delight fans of action horror with elaborate weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, disgusting monsters, and an endless stream of blood and body parts.Ó¾Publishers Weekly The Monster Hunter Series Monster Hunter International Monster Hunter Vendetta Monster Hunter Alpha Monster Hunter Legion Monster Hunter Nemesis The Monster Hunters (Omnibus contains Monster Hunter International, Monster Hunter Vendetta, and Monster Hunter Alpha)

Agent Franks is a dick. You know it, I know it. Everyone does. But Agent Franks would never do bullshit, backstabbing, cowardly things out of selfishness. So when he gets set up to look like he went to destroy the MHB, he needs to do anything he could (and the dude can do many insane things) to prove he is innocent and find out who and why is trying to make him look like he basically betrayed everyone and everything.

It was time to humanise the MHB and Mr. Correia did one hell of a job. Owen and MHI in general doesn't trust the government and at heart, they want to be left alone to do their thing instead of waiting to some asshole to look up in the government issued handbook how to do it according to politicians. Then again, that's pretty much a returning theme in all of this author's books and I can respect that. The government isn't infallible. The procedure isn't always perfect and I'm really against the idea that any one of us can become the loss that's calculated as acceptable when the rules are made.
When dealing with a huge volume of human beings, you can not just completely ignore that, the human factor. How we are awkward, clumsy creatures who don't always make the best decision. Who will act batshit insane or just criminally stupid sometimes. Who will be unpredictable.

Here comes Agent Franks, though. He isn't human. He can't understand things like getting emotional over a case, having biases or acting in a surprising way. He comes, he fights, he closes the case and he leaves.
But then what will happen when the enemy is not working according to any moral code and even uses creatures that are very familiar to Franks?

When the series started, we were told the MHB is one block of government funded assholes. Sure, we have seen some of them being human, some hints here and there as time went on, but at the same time it was rare to see them interact with each other without it being filtered though the eyes of Owen and Co. Here a bunch of them do exactly that. They apparently have Christmas parties with Secret Santa, they bitch about their assignments. Many of them are actually unhappy about many of the things they have to do to the survivors. Archer and Grant are downright funny.

It was interesting to see how Franks was basically forced to compromise; he realised that to fulfill his big goal of protecting humanity, he needed to do things he found distasteful and deal with people he finds weak. Then again, everyone is weak to him.
I will go there; sometimes Franks was downright charming with how he is totally inhuman and just does his best. Yes, yes, he is not a good person, but he is kind of... not even a person. His past was interesting too.

This one fleshed out a lot of things about the world. If you think the Non-Owen-Centric books are not essential, think again. They are an absolute joy every time.

I enjoyed the back story that we are finally give on Agent Franks. It placed a whole new dimension to his character.

Oh Franks Franks Franks! What a pleasant surprise this was! Larry's approach of changing the POV with every book has reaped rich rewards without sacrificing the primary timeline. Its Franks turn under the sun and boy does he make it count. The fight between the irresistible force and the immovable object is just the icing on the cake this one needed. Awesomely fast and superb entertainment. Looking for the next entry Larry!