The Forlorn Hope is a science fiction novel by David Drake.

The Forlorn Hope was originally intended as the first volume of a series for Ace Books, later installments of which would be written by other authors; the setting of the book was based on the Thirty Years' War while the initial situation was inspired by Xenophon's Anabasis.

Drake did not write any sequels to this book as he felt that he had ended it at a satisfactory point.

On the planet Cecach, a civil war has raged between the secular Federals and their religious zealot adversaries, the Republicans.

Fasolini's Company is to provide heavy support to a Federal firebase.