Courageous (The Lost Fleet, Book 3)
by Jack Campbell
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Book Reviews of Courageous (The Lost Fleet, Book 3)
Book Review: More of the Same. Not Cambell's best.
Summary: 3 Stars
Pity poor Jack Campbell.
He writes two military sci fi books in a market chocabloc full of similar books and both score consistently high ratings, which is why I bought and read the first two books in this series. The second ends on a precipice and many readers, like myself, are sitting on the edge of seats waiting to pick up the third.
Alas, the third comes and goes, and I cant help but feel my good mate jack has let me down. Just more of the same. More running, another internal Captain raises their head to spite ol' Black Jack Geary, and there's still the tantalising hint of aliens in the background pulling Humanity's strings.
I heartily recommend this "Lost Fleet" series, but as a stand alone book, this third installment is rather bland.
I guess even the more talented authors out there run out of puff from time to time. But never fear, for I shall be there for the next book.
I notice most of the "we found this review useful" ratings are for those who rated the book highly and those who gave 3 stars or lower arent rated at all.
Dudes, this is not a popularity contest.
Book Review: Love this series
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been an avid reader of this series, ever since I stumbled on the first book. If I'm not mistaken, this is the Author's first effort in this genre, and I must say, he's doing a hell of a job.
Most of the time, military sci-fi can be derivative and stale - since most of the time, everything has been done before. However, this series manages to find just enough "newness" that it feels surprisingly refreshing. The basic premise has been done before, but what sets it apart is all the additional parts - along with some pretty tight and entertaining narrative, this is the type of book that you pick up and won't put down until you finish it.
Alas, the only bad thing about these books is that they are quite short. I don't have it on hand right now, but I believe they go up to about 300 pages each, which in my case, that's about 4-5 hours of hard reading before I'm done.
I can't wait for the rest of the series to come out (next book out in June, I think).....I'm certainly hoping they will expand on the behind-the-scenes menace they've been hinting at in the first three books.
Book Review: Space Opera At Its Best!!
Summary: 4 Stars
Courageous is another enjoyable addition to Jack Campbell's Space Opera series and you won't be disappointed. Jack Campbell's (John Hemry) writing style improves and solidifies with each book and his storytelling remains consistently strong. As far as the technical knowledge and military expertise wrapped into his novels, Campbell/Hemry is one of the best!
I continue to enjoy the way he mixes his expertise in military tactics with the problems and challenges of military leadership. He obviously draws from his own past experiences in the military, but adroitly adapts these "lessons-learned" to the unique universe he has created with the war between the Syndics and the Alliance.
The aspect of this current installment that has improved the most (in my opinion) is the way Campbell discusses the personal lives and relationships of his Officers. The writing style dealing with personal issues in this current novel is much more fluid and woven more tightly into the overall novel.
As always, I now look forward to the NEXT installment! Get busy and publish the next one Jack!!
Book Review: Book 3 and 4 should've been book 3
Summary: 3 Stars
The first and second installments of this plot line were incredible, but the latest chapter in the Lost Fleet series seemed to drag along like a dying bovine. Captain Geary is still submerged in the political warfare and logistical nightmare of being stranded behind enemy lines. And to make matters worse, the Syndicate, enemies of Black Jack Geary's Alliance, has wizened from the rag-tag group he initially encountered, and are quickly relearning the lessons of wars past.
The possibility of a third party operating behind the scenes was what had me eager for this volume, but that is addressed in only the most passing sense. The plot is essentially a rehash of the first volume, and has many if not nearly all the elements from both volume 1 and 2. While certain new threads are introduced, this entry did little more than move pieces around a board, rather than have any actual play.
Book Review: Not as good as the first two
Summary: 3 Stars
The first two books in this series were very good. The overall feel is that of the Aubrey/Maturin series of naval tactics and strategy and a friendship/rivalry between the Captain and a trusted advisor.
This book seems to have fallen off in terms of writing style and its story line. The fleet continues to make its way home, and is faced with increasingly difficult choices. But the nature of the relationship between Jack and the Co-President seems less real in this book, owing to the multiple swings in the mood between them. The battle scenes are still good, but seemed shorter and less rich than in the previous books.
I still like this series, and look forward to a resolution of the fleet's fate. But just as Jack cannot afford a war of attrition, this series needs to find a way to restore its winning ways or it will wear out its welcome before the final book.