Courageous (The Lost Fleet, Book 3)
by Jack Campbell
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Book Reviews of Courageous (The Lost Fleet, Book 3)
Book Review: The author takes a time out
Summary: 3 Stars
Yes you read the title correctly. The author takes a time out to.... Oh I don't know what he is doing here exactly. I reviewed the first two novels by comparing them to a John Wayne movies. You know the first was a wagon train in Indian country and the second one was the navy in WWII. This one is... a soap opera. The author takes time to set up the dealings of the characters and their desires. You know: Will Geary sleep with Capt. Desjani? Will Rione stop sleeping with Geary because her husband maybe alive? Will the screct commanders who are working against Geary topple him? Can the fleet ever get enough supplies? Will Geary become Black Jack and become dictator of the Alliance? You know the usual stuff that takes place in your everyday space fleet. What about the aliens that know one knows about? Can the fleet always win a battle? Which there is only one or two good ones in this novel. Only in the last three pages does the author finally take off in a direction or rather reverses himself in a direction. Look if you have read the first two then you will read this one. The characters are becoming clearer in their personalities and actions. Themes are revisited and restated. Is it a good book? Only in the sense that I want to read the fourth one to see what the he_l is going on. It is not as good as the first two, but it is a bridge to rest of the upcoming stories. So it is only a 3 star book.
Book Review: No longer running
Summary: 5 Stars
Black Jack Geary is a Hero (notice the capital). A larger than life military hero who rescued his comrades against impossible odds. And died fighting. At least, that's how the story goes until Jack is rescued from a stasis pod. And ends up in charge of a space fleet on the run (yes, there are downsides to being the oldest officer by a few centuries). Jack not only has to flee from the enemy fleet. He's also constantly on the run for the Spirit of Black Jack Geary, whispering in his ear to take control, call the shots, be the man he can be. And I'm leaving aside the aliens who're lurking backstage.
Joking aside, this is an excellent book! The first two parts of 'Lost Fleet' held a lot of promise, as does this one (managing that in itself already isn't quite bad for an author). Where the previous books were perhaps a little weak, this book excels: it brings the characters to life. Vividly. In subtle shades, with believable challenges.
The ending makes you long for the 4th installment. Suddenly this military SF turns into a road movie: Jack has traveled, resisting his evil twin Black Jack Geary. Then he's forced to look Black Jack in the face, to see him reflected in the eyes of the people around him. He braces himself, gets a grip and decides to face the future on his own terms. He turns around and... (Now we'll just have to wait for part 4)
Book Review: Excellent addition to the series
Summary: 5 Stars
While I must say this was one of the faster reads in the series it was also one of the finest to date. I say, to date, as I honestly can't wait to see what the next one entails and wish it was out next week!
Overall in this book we see the good captain fighting once again not only the Syndic but (to a lesser extent this time) his own command. While this may be seem by some to be a bit odd in that you would expect he would have won more favor by now it still holds you to the book wondering how he will deal with a war (of sorts) on three fronts. The Syndic, his command and even himself. Perhaps the greatest question not yet answered is who is the 4th party who seem to be helping the Syndic but perhaps have designs of their own on the whole of Humanity?
Without going too much into the book it's perhaps a bit "simple" in its writing and style but frankly that's what makes it so appealing. Gone is the over technical details of the battles. Gone are the overdone explanations of technology. Here is simply one guy trying to figure out how to get home and get the rest of his group home too, when most days you feel he'd rather just give up.
I think that's why most find the series so appealing in that we can actually relate to this guy on some level or another and in that aspect want to read more and more of the series
Book Review: Keeps getting better!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was surprised to see this book getting lower reviews than the first 2 books - frankly I thought it was the best so far! I got into this thanks to Amazon's "recommendations" and though I enjoyed the the first book enough to order the next two in the series, I wasn't awaiting the next installments with the same excitement I usually have for books by, say, Jim Butcher. I read through Fearless (the second book in the Lost Fleet series) and again, found it moderately interesting but not that gripping. Not so for Courageous though!
It feels like Campbell/Hemry has gotten the balance of action, dialogue, and descriptive storytelling just right. The space battles are still detailed (I can't quite wrap my mind around all of the maneuvers and positioning to be honest), but not overly so. The insights into the character minds and personalities are well done, letting us sympathize particularly with our protagonist, but also with those (both friend and foe) around him. I was genuinely moved when reading about the losses of both ships and people that we have come to know.
Possibly this book feels better because I've read the first 2 installments, which has laid out much of the backstory. However, I still think that this was an excellent read and worth 5 stars.
I now cannot wait to get started on book 4! :)
Book Review: Good stuff
Summary: 4 Stars
Good military sci fi series so far. Probably the best I have read in a long time. I especially like the portrayal of the military concepts of honor, tradition and selflessness that make our military so strong.
I am not as concerned with the on and off again moodiness of Co-President Rione as some of the other reviewers have commented , However, the main character CAPT Geary needs to quit having so much self doubt. No effective commander can function properly and responsibly with as much self doubt as is constantly attributed to our hero. He needs to get a grip on his life and move forward. Sure anyone in battle has doubts but you need to have confidence in your abilities, in your subordinates - officers and NCOs to give you the information that allows you to make informed decisions. If you have that much doubt in your own abilities and your decision making then you should relinquish your command. He needs to pick a good Executive Officer (not just his flag ship commander) and a battle staff to assist in decision making rather than simply relying on a "virtual conference debate" among ship commanders.
The books otherwise are good reading and have really keep up my interest. I await the next books in the series and look forward to finding out more about the constant reference to the "Aliens" that keeps popping up.