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 Saga Continues...And Well Done, too...
Summary: 5 Stars
Courageous is the latest installment in Jack Campbell(John Hemry)'s "Lost Fleet" saga. I'm glad to know this is the third installment of six planned(so far). Having read his other series, I believe he's gotten the hang of writing episodic space-opera type sci-fi. While the tactics and logistical details may pall on some, these details are what make things happen in real warfare("For want of a nail, a rider was lost...etc.") and function as plot elements, which writers use instead of relying on explosions and other "eye candy" that visually oriented media use to hold some folk's attention. The extended battle sequences are a bit dry, but then, the books are shorter and easier reading than the Honor Harrington(Don't get me wrong, I love 'em and won't miss one)stories and establish Campbell as a notable writer in his own right. I gladly welcome any male writers of space opera-why is it that my favorite space-opera writers(Bujold, Moon, McCaffrey) are women?...especially one that's as good as this series.
Actually, The writing steers between the over-written and the sparse science of other series(where plot elements sometimes supress believe-ability) quite nicely. I'd place this series in along with Hornblower, Vorkosigan, the Helmsman, Ensign Leary and both of Elizabeth Moon's space-opera series.
Bravo! Keep 'em coming...
Book Review: Excellent character struggle
Summary: 5 Stars
The main themes in this book are not just the typical fish-out-of-water story (although it has that), but the struggle between doing the right thing because it's right or because it's easy. Jack Geary has been idolized as a hero "Black Jack" and is starting to really struggle against becoming a dictator. He knows that there is a contingent of captains (he's the fleet commander) who think his "new" ways of doing things are dishonorable and heretical; these captains are the most likely to not just get themselves killed, but all the men and women aboard their ships, too. It would be so easy to just toss them in jail before this happens, but where would he draw the line? How many people would he imprison just because they disagree with him or challenge him? So he tries to follow the rules, but knows that it could get people hurt. He doesn't want to become "Black Jack", but that's what the second contingent of captains want. They want him to take command and maybe even take over the Alliance as a political dictator. They think he's been sent back by their ancestors to save them and he can do no wrong in their eyes. But he's only human ... which is how the smallest contingent sees him, a man and not an iconic legend. This book, Courageous, is more about this struggle than their trip home. Really good book and great series.Book Review: Probably the last of this series that i'll read
Summary: 3 Stars
I read the first book in this series in one sitting. Book two went by almost as fast. Book 3 plodded, and for more than one reason.
First, the writing's just not as tight anymore.
Second, some of the primary characters are becoming simpler instead of more complex as the series continues (other reviewers have covered this in depth, so i'll leave it be).
Third, Geary's internal conflict with Black Jack is getting a bit worn out.
And fourth, in this book i really felt like half of every page was spent reminding readers of the events of the previous two books. I do understand the importance of refreshing a reader's memory in a series, and of making every book accessible to someone who, for reasons i'll never understand, picks up a book mid-series and expects everything to make sense. But when it gets so chronic that a continuing reader can't get through it all, something's gone amiss.
I'll probably track down book four in a bookstore some day to read the first chapter and find out what happens after the pseudo-cliffhanger ending of book 3, but i'm not going to pay $7.99 for a rehash of the first three books, plus a few bonus scenes.
Book Review: This book is losing its fanbase
Summary: 3 Stars
At this point in the series I have mixed feelings. Overall I feel this 3rd book of the series is little more than a mashup of the first two books in the series. Sure some of the characters relations have changed or evolved. But when it comes to the fleet getting home or finding out more of the secret that has been teased at during the end of the first and second book...I feel let down.
To break down my impression of this book, I would say the book consists of 30% evolving characters 60% Recycled fleet battles & captain conflicts 10% secret that remains a secret.
I dove head first into book 1 and was hooked at the end that teases you with what you expect to be a revelation in book 2. Then I read book 2, that was clearly different than book 1, but still left me hooked and teased at the end by the same secret you never find out from book one. With book 3 I believe 200 pages could have been cut from the book and the book would have been better because of it.
At this point I am clearly conflicted. I want to know whats going to happen in book 4, but I feel like I am being toyed with, or maybe the author hit a rough spot while writing this one.
Book Review: Disappointing - not as good as the first two in this series.
Summary: 2 Stars
In this book, Campbell has tried to make Black Jack Geary almost too human. And to be honest, his continual battle against the rebels and idiots in his fleet is becoming tiresome.
Let's face it, these are space operas and I'm far more interested in reading about a HERO than a conflicted leader who second-guesses himself in every leadership role.
It is also starting to become tiresome waiting for the fleet to wrap this up. Book three ends up offering no new revelations, and really just more of the same "jump into a new system, find a way to win the battle and pick another system to jump to next" that you were treated to in the first two books. At least with book one you had the clever twist of Black Jack finding that the fleet had atrophied and needed his old leadership style and in book two you discovered some rather interesting plot twists regarding the net. Book three offers nothing but battles.
Frankly, I could have skipped it and moved on to book four - assuming book four isn't more of the same.
The series drags on with this one. I'll bet you could simply skip it and move to book four without ever missing a beat.