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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I feel I should note that my mockery of this book is not because it is bad so much as because it is mockable.
Right, so Captain John Geary gets into the lifepod, after having stayed behind to cover everyone's retreat, and initiates suspended animation to pass the time until he's picked up. He gets out of the lifepod, and its a hundred years later, mid-battle in the same war, still being fought. Somehow, his defense of the retreating ships is remembered as one of the war's first acts of heroism, and he finds that he is remembered as "'Black' Jack Geary" and idolised.
After he is scooped out of his life-pod, and wandering around stunned, the fleet commander informs him that the fleet's senior staff is going to be going over to the enemy flag-ship to negotiate terms for a truce, and they're going to leave Geary in charge, as he is technically the seniormost officer. "But don't worry," he doesn't say, "They will almost certainly not kill us all and leave you in charge. Taking all our Senior officers to their flagship is a totally un-suspicious demand!"
Shockingly, they are all killed, and the enemy demands the surrender of the fleet. Geary finds himself in command of a fleet he knows nothing about, with knowledge of the tactical situation and military technology that's a mere 100 years out of date.
But even worse, he discovers that in the last hundred years, the navy has become alarmingly slack; they don't even salute anymore, have lost any knowledge of tactical manoeuvring, preferring to hurl themselves defiantly to their deaths, and are accustomed to giving their commanding officer backchat. It is difficult to tell which of these horrifies Geary more.
A great deal of the book concerns Geary dealing with his legend; he insists he is no one special, but also insists on his way or the highway. And, as Geary reintroduces radical ideas like 'not killing prisoners' and 'not walking into traps', those around him are astounded by his brilliance and moral courage. Geary must cope with the twin scourges of his undeserved reputation for awesomeness, and the pressure of being just that much more awesome than everyone.
Also: John, 'Black Jack' Geary, hero of a book written by Jack Campbell. Just sayin'.
Right, so Captain John Geary gets into the lifepod, after having stayed behind to cover everyone's retreat, and initiates suspended animation to pass the time until he's picked up. He gets out of the lifepod, and its a hundred years later, mid-battle in the same war, still being fought. Somehow, his defense of the retreating ships is remembered as one of the war's first acts of heroism, and he finds that he is remembered as "'Black' Jack Geary" and idolised.
After he is scooped out of his life-pod, and wandering around stunned, the fleet commander informs him that the fleet's senior staff is going to be going over to the enemy flag-ship to negotiate terms for a truce, and they're going to leave Geary in charge, as he is technically the seniormost officer. "But don't worry," he doesn't say, "They will almost certainly not kill us all and leave you in charge. Taking all our Senior officers to their flagship is a totally un-suspicious demand!"
Shockingly, they are all killed, and the enemy demands the surrender of the fleet. Geary finds himself in command of a fleet he knows nothing about, with knowledge of the tactical situation and military technology that's a mere 100 years out of date.
But even worse, he discovers that in the last hundred years, the navy has become alarmingly slack; they don't even salute anymore, have lost any knowledge of tactical manoeuvring, preferring to hurl themselves defiantly to their deaths, and are accustomed to giving their commanding officer backchat. It is difficult to tell which of these horrifies Geary more.
A great deal of the book concerns Geary dealing with his legend; he insists he is no one special, but also insists on his way or the highway. And, as Geary reintroduces radical ideas like 'not killing prisoners' and 'not walking into traps', those around him are astounded by his brilliance and moral courage. Geary must cope with the twin scourges of his undeserved reputation for awesomeness, and the pressure of being just that much more awesome than everyone.
Also: John, 'Black Jack' Geary, hero of a book written by Jack Campbell. Just sayin'.
This is the first military sci-fi book I ever read. Unfortunately, once I was done with the series, I couldn't find anymore like it. What I loved is that Black Jack Geary was the epitome of the reluctant hero and I'm a total sucker for that kind of character. The idea that he had been floating around in space in a lifepod frozen in susepended animation and wakes up a hundred years after he entered the lifepod is a great plot device. He wakes up to find out that he's become a legend and a hero, and yet he doesn't feel like one. After all, he lost his ship in the battle that sent him into the lifepod.
I didn't think I'd be able to follow the complicated space battles but they were so well written, I had no trouble at all. Of course, keep in mind, I have nothing to compare it too. I didn't even like Star Wars very much.
I didn't think I'd be able to follow the complicated space battles but they were so well written, I had no trouble at all. Of course, keep in mind, I have nothing to compare it too. I didn't even like Star Wars very much.
Fun. Not too deep and the characters aren't well fleshed out but a worthy adventure in space with some excellent battles.
Oh man, I wish I could, like, 4.9 this one. I really, really enjoyed it - Chris and Linda had told me about them and had a hand-waving enthusiastic discussion about how good the series is, and they were not exaggerating. It's like: take most of the military themed SF I have ever enjoyed, and then remove MOST OF THE FAIL and then add a whole bunch more ladies, all of whom are just, you know, ladies, rather than back-patting-oh-look-I-have-a-female-character-give-me-a-cookie!ladies and the characters are interesting and there's a new-to-me take on some of the science side of the space travel, which I also found nifty. I am looking forward very much to reading the second one, and they're definitely books which keep making me late coming back from lunch. Because I am just going to read ooooooooooone more page. (Spoiler: that plan is both flawed and a lie.)
A surprisingly captivating military sci-fi series that had me rationing my pages in order not to finish it too soon. Unlike many of its contemporaries Dauntless is much more character driven and does very well in that aspect. I'm definitely going to check out the rest of the series. Highly recommended!
Well, what can I say? I almost never read the odd sub-genre of military science fiction - to be honest most of what I've read before has been fairly pointless masturbatory macho wish fulfilment rubbish of the highest ordure. The exceptions would be Haldeman's peerless [b:The Forever War|21611|The Forever War (The Forever War, #1)|Joe Haldeman|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1167322714s/21611.jpg|423] and John Scalzi's homage to same, [b:Old Man's War|51964|Old Man's War|John Scalzi|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1346671475s/51964.jpg|50700], and both authors lagged in those universes after a dazzling first entry.
I can now add Campbell's Dauntless to that list. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the character of Jack Geary far too much - an older man horrified by the supposed legend attached to his name, aghast at the depredations his supposed actions have visited upon humanity for over a century.
I'm actually looking forward to the next book or two of this series, I can only hope that he can keep some of his momentum alive for them.
I can now add Campbell's Dauntless to that list. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the character of Jack Geary far too much - an older man horrified by the supposed legend attached to his name, aghast at the depredations his supposed actions have visited upon humanity for over a century.
I'm actually looking forward to the next book or two of this series, I can only hope that he can keep some of his momentum alive for them.
A good military SF tale (albeit a bit light). I think I like space battles written by naval officers, although Hemry sometimes ventures a bit too close to describing sea manoeuvres. Light on the characters and heavy on the military, but overall I enjoyed it. I guess I was able to keep my critical eye mostly closed for once. Part of what drew me in was the emphasis of military discipline over heroic dogfights, so if that sounds dull, you may want to steer clear. The crews' reactions were sometimes forced (well, more pushed a little too far), but I got past it. The ending is soft, since it is evidently part of a series, but there is no outright cliffhanger.
Those marines were rather convenient, though.
Those marines were rather convenient, though.
🚀Fantastically written military science-fiction with smart tactical space battles & encounters.
🚀Intellectual examinations on morals & ethics amid an exhausting & intimidating time of war.
🚀MC is imperfect & the struggles he has are empathetic, realistic, & perfect complement to the situation/scenarios involving his specific existence.
🚀Thought-provoking exploration of how prolonged periods of war can affect human psyche in disturbing ways.
🚀Slow pacing that still manages to feel comfortable due to intense nature of the plot.
🚀Some of the best hard science-fiction I've read in a very long time.
🚀Slightly reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica.
🚀Recommended for fans of military SF involving complex & intelligent exhibition of wartime strategies, as well as lots of technical science & engineering in regards to space travel/survival.
🚀4.5 lightyears outta 5!
🚀Intellectual examinations on morals & ethics amid an exhausting & intimidating time of war.
🚀MC is imperfect & the struggles he has are empathetic, realistic, & perfect complement to the situation/scenarios involving his specific existence.
🚀Thought-provoking exploration of how prolonged periods of war can affect human psyche in disturbing ways.
🚀Slow pacing that still manages to feel comfortable due to intense nature of the plot.
🚀Some of the best hard science-fiction I've read in a very long time.
🚀Slightly reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica.
🚀Recommended for fans of military SF involving complex & intelligent exhibition of wartime strategies, as well as lots of technical science & engineering in regards to space travel/survival.
🚀4.5 lightyears outta 5!
Military SF in the what-the-world-needs-now-is-a-grandpa subgenre with wooden prose and a plot stolen from Xenophon's Anabasis.
Despite being incapable of making a conference call, resurrected "hero" Black Jack Geary has the know-how to save the day, all it takes is discipline like people had back in the old days.
Despite being incapable of making a conference call, resurrected "hero" Black Jack Geary has the know-how to save the day, all it takes is discipline like people had back in the old days.
AHHHH! CLIFFHANGER!!! So obviously I'll be reading the next one, because I have to know what happens. Really enjoyed this one, but the over-explanation of the science got a little bit tedious. Probably works for people who aren't familiar with these scientific concepts, but I kept wanting to yell "yes I know how light speed works!" And the narrator for the audiobook sounds like the "honest trailers" guys, which was pretty funny. Overall I really enjoyed this book.