
Squad Kill
Forthcoming May 2026
Getting home alive will take everything they have…
Osiris “Oz” Aquino is an underprepared Navy officer put in command of seven castoff Marines on a research starship dispatched to an alien planet.
His sergeant is hostile, his Marines have records full of infractions – not to mention that they’re plagued by old weapons and missing supplies due to budget cuts – and the crew and scientists would rather have nothing to do with him.
As the ship approaches the planet it’s investigating, they find plenty of signs of intelligent life in the form of ruined cities and skeletal remains. The only things living in the ruins are adorable aliens which the researchers dub squonks.
It all seems run-of-the-mill, until it isn’t…
Sudddenly, the squonks get loose in engineering and go ballistic, the crew sent to investigate aren’t coming back, and Oz and his team have a fight on their hands.
He must restore safe access to engineering before the crew on the ship run out of air all while figuring out what turned the squonks from cuddly to killer. And if he doesn’t act fast, the squad who’ve evacuated to the planet’s surface may not survive.
From Jack Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of Lost Fleet, comes his latest – SQUAD KILL – an action packed, science fiction thrill ride filled with military action, detailed alien worlds, and characters you can’t help but root for.
Reviews
"This taut, entertaining military SF plot will appeal to fans of Jack McDevitt."
“A mind-bending space adventure with relatable characters, weird aliens, plenty of twists, and a rapid-fire pace. Highly recommended!"Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Red Empire and Ghosts of the Void
"Jack Campbell manages to weave military science fiction and survival horror together with the competency of a master of both genres. Throughout the action, Squad Kill reminds us that while organizations and systems may fail us, we can still perform our duty."Jason Anspach, Associated Press Bestselling Author of Galaxy's Edge & Forgotten Ruin
"The best bug hunt since ALIENS. What a read!"Scott Sigler, New York Times #1 bestselling author
"Jack Campbell powerfully reminds us of the crushing responsibility we place on young men and women we send into battle. Squad Kill is a must-read!"Jeffery H. Haskell, author of Against All Odds
"Jack Campbell is one of the all-time-greats of military science fiction"Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series