Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4)
by Jack Campbell
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Book Reviews of Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4)
Book Review: There *is* still good "space opera"...
Summary: 5 Stars
Parts of this review copied from forum posts...
There's something about the "Lost Fleet" series that just draws me in, and I can't quite put my finger on it. I was thinking about it the other day, and about my first steps in SF - I think it was Heinlein in a school library, but some of my major early purchases were second hand copies of "Doc" Smith novels, and a lot of Edmund Cooper if anyone remembers him. Oh and a lot of JT Edson Westerns. So I guess I get a lot out of good old basic "good guy vs bad guy" stuff, with "good guy gets the girl" thrown in. Hmm - doesn't that describe 90% of SF?
I was *going* to say that "Valiant" seems to slow down the seeming breakneck pace of the Lost Fleet through Syndic space, but a quick review tells me that isn't really true (four systems if my count is correct).
What is true is that the first two thirds of the book (more or less) deal with the return of the fleet to the Lakota system, and what they encounter there after so recently fleeing from it. What we see here is a great example of Jack Campbell's ability to bring naval battles in space to life for us. Some of my earliest reading in SF was "Doc" Smith, and although this is a little more "realistic", it made me nostalgic. (Nobody uses the word "ravening" any more. Why?!)
What we also see in this first section, and even more so later in the book, is excellent development of existing characters and plot elements and some exciting new twists. I won't discuss them in any length for fear of spoiling the fun, but hint at treason and possible new allies in unexpected places.
I am becoming thoroughly engrossed as the series progresses, and I think the story is developing a depth to match.
I must say, the thing that has me wondering now is whether or not the series will end in a triumphant return to Alliance space, or if the return will be a mere prelude to even more shenanigans. The way it is being set up, I think there are going to be many more questions and plot elements to resolve once the fleet gets home, and I hope the author is planning to answer them.
Book Review: Geary's Point of View
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read a lot of comments that people have posted and so far I think a lot of them just do not get the writing style the author was going for. Most books use the point of view of many characters to assist with the story line and to flesh out certain characters. The Lost Fleet is written from just Geary's point of view. This limits how much other characters can be fleshed out to only what Geary is thinking of them at the moment. They can never really tell their side of the story and can only show their actions and intentions as interpreted by Geary.
What this does and what I think the author was going for is to create a story of isolation. I mean think about it, he's a man found after a century of floating in space only to find out he is some great hero of the past. He is automatically isolated and on the outside because of this but then you throw in the burdens of command and an enemy constantly trying to kill them all if he makes a mistake. He has thoughts and feelings that go beyond his duty but due to his honor he sticks to regulations (regarding his love interests and most everything else). This further isolates him because he can't even choose to do what his heart desires most.
Hopefully that helps some of you understand why the books are written like they are. And the 4th book, Valiant, is very good at portraying this isolation and shows that Geary is extremely human and on the verge of breaking down. He can't stop being fleet commander, he can't have the women in his life, he has secret foes that may be willing to do anything to oppose him.
I gave this book only 4 stars simply because as others have stated this series should have been condensed down into 3 books with longer page counts. I also do not like the reiteration of certain things in all 4 books. It's as if the author wants to make his books readable starting at any point. They may not make as much sense if you don't start from the first one but you wouldn't miss out on some of the detailed explanations of how things work. I don't like that.
Book Review: Continuation of a steady and successful plot
Summary: 4 Stars
Book four takes off where book three left the reader. The Lost Fleet had just left a tolling battle in the Lakota system through a jump to the Ixion system, only to decide to surprise the Syndic battle group as they pull a u-turn and return to the Lakota system. More than half the novel is dedicated to the battle and aftermath in the Lakota system. Thence on, the Fleet passes through the pirate mining system Branwyn, then to the supposedly abandoned system of Wendig and finally the Fleet ends up in the Cavalos system, all of which are still in Syndic territory. With only two battles taking up the pages within, a large amount of the time to spent trying to find who is undermining Geary's leading position and hypothesizing about the nasty little hate triangle between the Syndic, Alliance and alien persuasions.
Much like the previous three books of the series, Campbell repeats many of the things we already know (difficult communication through ship distances, the grayness of jumping, the ultimate goal for the fleet and difficulties of battle faster than point one light speed). Also, Victoria Rione rears her ugly head again in these pages and continues to reinforce my hate for her. She's a `button-bushing pitch (read into that).' Why is it that every conversation Rione and Geary have together, I feel like tearing out my own hair? As Rione ends her emotional and physical relationship with Geary, we get to see a rise in personal communication between Geary and Desjani, much as the circulating rumors have already implied.
The over all pace has been steady since book one and continues to be brisk through book four. With all that could be said about Valiant, in the end you can stay it's a continuation of a steady and successful plot. Little surprises around some corners, deaths and destruction sprinkled here and there along with some personal tension will meet the reader in these easy 284 pages.
Book Review: Pleasant diversion
Summary: 4 Stars
These books have been a pleasant diversion. The battle scenes are well thought out. The science and general operations of the ships seem plausible and the author has done a wonderful job of closing out each novel so each book can stand on its own merits.
The first novel introduces us to the Alliance's struggle against the Syndicates with Captain Geary as the unwilling hero and main protagonist. Captain Geary needs to lead the fleet safely home and somehow re-teach his fleet captains forgotten ways of fighting from another nobler era. When the captains obey Geary's commands they win battles. When the captains fail to follow Geary's orders they lose their ships.
It is a classic us-against-them story line. The Alliance against the Syndicates and Geary against his recalcitrant captains. The idea worked for the first novel but the story has barely progressed beyond those confines and it shows in this last installment.
The weakness of the series is the character development. The good guys lack any depth beyond supporting or conniving against Captain Geary. The bad guys are limited to sterotypes. There might be good Syndicates but most are bad (and misled). All Syndicate CEO's are bad. The faceless and unknown aliens are bad and so on. Even the good guys are not exactly hero material. Who would like to see more of Rione? After a fourth novel it would be nice to see some progression.
Out of the four novels, this one was the best. I would normally agree that this should have been kept as a trilogy and ranted that the editor should have trimmed up the story but I still want to read more. I think the author will be very challenged to wrap up the story in the next two novels but I think it is possible and the way this book ended really creates some exciting possibilities. Overall, this was a fun read and I am looking forward for the next volume.
Book Review: Frustrated and OMG! Space porn!
Summary: 3 Stars
There are series of books that you look forward to, like the Prey series, the Dresden Flies,or the Plum series, because you care about the characters and the author doesn't disappoint his fans. That is how I have felt about the The Lost Fleet series, but not now. I have written some of my best reviews when comes to this series, but the last one and this one have begun to wear on me. The news is that the characters are still growing and interesting and... well that is all there is, character developement plus a guide on how to command and war dehumanizes man. Oh yeah, there is porn in space and it is deadly. Wow just what I need to be remind of. Look this book is almost 300 pages long. There is one terrific battle sequence at the first of the book and a short battle at the end. In between the two is Geary leaving one woman for another and finding out he can't have the new woman until the fleet gets back home, which means a lot of cold showers for both of them. Seriously there is a great deal of talk and talk and ...well talk. I have compared the first two of the series to Johm Wayne movies, the last one to a breather for the author, and now I am just frustrated over the lack of anything remotely looking like action or movement. Oh I will buy the next one and I will hope it will return to the style of the frist two books, but I am not sure.
P.S. I know this may sound petty, but I really hate the cover of this book. It has nothing to do with anything that happens in the story. The first two covers were very good and the last one of kind of strange looking, but this one, oh brother. That makes my point when I am paying more attention to the cover and not to the book there is something wrong and it is no me this time.