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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
There is a legend that runs through many cultures that a long-dead hero will return at his country's hour of need. Something similar happens when long-thought-dead hero John "Black Jack" Geary is found in a hibernation survival pod in enemy space, a century after his legendary last stand. After the commanding officers of the fleet are executed, Geary is responsible for seeing the space fleet safely home. Can he deal with the pressures and changes?
There are some interesting ideas floating around in here. Campbell uses this story to address the issue of the rule of law and the laws of war. And it is a bit frustrating that Geary is a little too perfect --I like my heroes with just a few flaws.
There are some interesting ideas floating around in here. Campbell uses this story to address the issue of the rule of law and the laws of war. And it is a bit frustrating that Geary is a little too perfect --I like my heroes with just a few flaws.
adventurous
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe it's just that I'm not overly fond of this type of space versioned-submarine warfare. Passable, but not really my cup of tea.
The Lost Fleet was on sale at Audible and I decided to give it a try, though I'm not really into military science fiction any more.
The Lost Fleet's main weakness lies in it's setting, a lost fleet trapped far from home. There is nothing but military action in this book. It deals with Politics, Strategy and Tactics, and when it does deal with people, they are shallow cardboard cutouts.
Jack Campbell does describe a Navy battle quite well. But It's a Navy battle. His Space Navy even lacks carriers, Stealth or Attack Drones. Technologies that exist today. There is some reasoning why the dangers of AI and communication lag at long distances prevent the use of armed automated drones, but I think some creative thinking could find a interim solution.
It is amazing that out of five available weapons systems described, only one is a guided missile that can react to changes after it is launched. all other four are dumb ballistic projectiles or energy weapons or stationary mines.
All this in space battles that suffer badly from relativistic distances and speeds.
I was much more impressed with the type of space engagements described in the [b:Revelation Space|89187|Revelation Space (Revelation Space, #1)|Alastair Reynolds|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306807253s/89187.jpg|219037] universe.
The Lost Fleet's main weakness lies in it's setting, a lost fleet trapped far from home. There is nothing but military action in this book. It deals with Politics, Strategy and Tactics, and when it does deal with people, they are shallow cardboard cutouts.
Jack Campbell does describe a Navy battle quite well. But It's a Navy battle. His Space Navy even lacks carriers, Stealth or Attack Drones. Technologies that exist today. There is some reasoning why the dangers of AI and communication lag at long distances prevent the use of armed automated drones, but I think some creative thinking could find a interim solution.
It is amazing that out of five available weapons systems described, only one is a guided missile that can react to changes after it is launched. all other four are dumb ballistic projectiles or energy weapons or stationary mines.
All this in space battles that suffer badly from relativistic distances and speeds.
I was much more impressed with the type of space engagements described in the [b:Revelation Space|89187|Revelation Space (Revelation Space, #1)|Alastair Reynolds|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306807253s/89187.jpg|219037] universe.
(Originally posted @ CSI:Librarian.)
For the longest time I've been seeing books come out with blurbs that basically state that "If you like Hornblower and like space, you will like this book." I have never put much stock in that sort of thing, but the stupidity of the comparision has always irritated me. First of all, just because a character goes on or near a boat, ship, or space station doesn't mean they are like every other character who has ever done so. Secondly, Hornblower is not the only fictional sea captain in existence. Personally I lost interest in the Hornblower books solely due to their namesake being an unlikable jerk, but I digress.
When I noticed such a blurb on Dauntless, my first thought was: Oh, for crying out loud, not this mishegosh again. But I started reading and something unexpectedly awesome happened.
I had stumbled upon someone who basically is what you would get if you combined all of the awesomeness and tactical skill of Jack Aubrey with the kindly fortitude and can-do attitude of Steve Rogers (aka Captain America). Provided Aubrey was living in space and Captain America was lost in an escape pod instead of trapped under the ice somewhere. I guess you'd have to throw in some other differences and a helping of John Sheridan from Babylon 5.* And, all right, some of Hornblower's occasional bouts of self-doubt into the mix while you're at it. What's important is that Geary has a great heart, is a really awesome leader, and is a terrific main character in his own right.
My mind is still boggling over how much I loved John Geary and the massive book crush I harbor for him. His range of emotions, his struggles, his frustrations, his drive, and his thoughts seemed very believable. I really loved the idea of him being percieved as this great war hero legend as if he was Odysseus or King Arthur come again, but that the reality is that he is just some guy. There's a lot of humor to the book, of course, but there are plenty of moments that indicate that the being stuck in a future that he accidentally helped create in a lot of ways is very taxing.
I suppose if I tried I could find a few things to complain about, but Dauntless was basically everything I want in terms of Science Fiction - straight-to-the-point plotting, realistic dialogue, fast pace, a lack of preachy pretentiousness, no Earth-centric nonsense whatsoever, and a main character who is sufficiently lacking in special specialness. He was great on his own, but he was also surrounded by a really interesting cast of characters too. And although I have been bored stiff by the tedious details of flight plans, battle manuevers, and space ship strategies in the past, I was actually really, really fascinated by Geary and his fleet.
In conclusion, without a doubt one of my favorite reads of 2011. I don't know why it took me so long to find a book in the subgenre of Military Science Fiction that featured a character who is as interesting as the backdrop behind him, but thank goodness that I finally did. Whether you're on the fence when it comes to Military Science Fiction or you're very fond of it, read this book!
* Not in terms of the special destiny but the whole dealing with politicians and constantly having to tell people to stop bringing up that one battle that he was great in. And constantly having to deal with people not listening to him. And I have to admit that my mental image for Tanya Desjani is Susan Ivanova.
For the longest time I've been seeing books come out with blurbs that basically state that "If you like Hornblower and like space, you will like this book." I have never put much stock in that sort of thing, but the stupidity of the comparision has always irritated me. First of all, just because a character goes on or near a boat, ship, or space station doesn't mean they are like every other character who has ever done so. Secondly, Hornblower is not the only fictional sea captain in existence. Personally I lost interest in the Hornblower books solely due to their namesake being an unlikable jerk, but I digress.
When I noticed such a blurb on Dauntless, my first thought was: Oh, for crying out loud, not this mishegosh again. But I started reading and something unexpectedly awesome happened.
I had stumbled upon someone who basically is what you would get if you combined all of the awesomeness and tactical skill of Jack Aubrey with the kindly fortitude and can-do attitude of Steve Rogers (aka Captain America). Provided Aubrey was living in space and Captain America was lost in an escape pod instead of trapped under the ice somewhere. I guess you'd have to throw in some other differences and a helping of John Sheridan from Babylon 5.* And, all right, some of Hornblower's occasional bouts of self-doubt into the mix while you're at it. What's important is that Geary has a great heart, is a really awesome leader, and is a terrific main character in his own right.
My mind is still boggling over how much I loved John Geary and the massive book crush I harbor for him. His range of emotions, his struggles, his frustrations, his drive, and his thoughts seemed very believable. I really loved the idea of him being percieved as this great war hero legend as if he was Odysseus or King Arthur come again, but that the reality is that he is just some guy. There's a lot of humor to the book, of course, but there are plenty of moments that indicate that the being stuck in a future that he accidentally helped create in a lot of ways is very taxing.
I suppose if I tried I could find a few things to complain about, but Dauntless was basically everything I want in terms of Science Fiction - straight-to-the-point plotting, realistic dialogue, fast pace, a lack of preachy pretentiousness, no Earth-centric nonsense whatsoever, and a main character who is sufficiently lacking in special specialness. He was great on his own, but he was also surrounded by a really interesting cast of characters too. And although I have been bored stiff by the tedious details of flight plans, battle manuevers, and space ship strategies in the past, I was actually really, really fascinated by Geary and his fleet.
In conclusion, without a doubt one of my favorite reads of 2011. I don't know why it took me so long to find a book in the subgenre of Military Science Fiction that featured a character who is as interesting as the backdrop behind him, but thank goodness that I finally did. Whether you're on the fence when it comes to Military Science Fiction or you're very fond of it, read this book!
* Not in terms of the special destiny but the whole dealing with politicians and constantly having to tell people to stop bringing up that one battle that he was great in. And constantly having to deal with people not listening to him. And I have to admit that my mental image for Tanya Desjani is Susan Ivanova.
I didn't know the category military science fiction existed. I ordered books #2 and #3 (Lost fleet has 6 installments)
A quick, fun read, and a solid start to a series (such that I'll probably eventually get around to the next book). My sense what that there were a LOT of analogies (if not borrowing - although I don't know in which direction) from the second-generation Battlestar Gallactica, but I'm guessing someone has already done the research on that. An interesting take on naval warfare (transposed to space), leadership, teamwork, politics, and, of course, religion.
An intriguing start to a series, with a good protagonist and deep science. I'm glad I checked this one out. The narration was very well done. It's not an action book, but the tension is solid.