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rheren's review
4.0
Also a great book: I couldn't stop reading. Almost as good as #1. I say almost because he got halfway through and then succumbed to the siren call that hardly any scifi writers seem to be able to resist: for some bizarre reason they always have to have a sexual relationship complicating things. The book was much better before he and his lover started getting involved and jealous and catty and all the lameness that goes along with that. At least the sex scenes aren't graphic, so that made it bearable. The female character worked quite well as a civilian "straight man" to let him explain military and space combat fundamentals to us, the reader, when we needed help understanding what he was doing, but I think the author felt that this role was over, and apparently was like, "well, what other use is a woman in a story about a heroic male figure? Oh yeah, they can have sex!". Disgusting.
Anyways, that particular pet peeve of mine aside, it is a terrific book, and I'm getting #3 as fast as I can. As the books go along it's getting more and more of the feeling of reading about a chessmaster, not an admiral: because we never meet anyone except the captains of ships, it feels like the ships are just pawns crewed by a single person who is either an ally of the admiral or a problem. Also a minor quibble, but it does give the books a different feel than the Honor Harrington books, for instance.
Anyways, that particular pet peeve of mine aside, it is a terrific book, and I'm getting #3 as fast as I can. As the books go along it's getting more and more of the feeling of reading about a chessmaster, not an admiral: because we never meet anyone except the captains of ships, it feels like the ships are just pawns crewed by a single person who is either an ally of the admiral or a problem. Also a minor quibble, but it does give the books a different feel than the Honor Harrington books, for instance.
protoapostoli's review
Quick read. Not too intensive or thought provoking. If you get through the first book in the series and find that you want to know more about Captain Black Jack, it's definitely worth a read.
peresr's review against another edition
4.0
Continua la saga militar de Geary, molt distreta, lleugera però divertida i que enganxa. Recomanable a qui li agradi Forever War o Scalzi.
elsmasho's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
kynan's review
2.0
The story continues...actually, this could almost literally be the same book as [b:Dauntless|112292|Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, #1)|Jack Campbell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309198180s/112292.jpg|108122], it's the same basic plot, leading up to a similar set piece "finale" closing out with a teaser for the subsequent book. The minimal differences come from a new physical location and a slightly stronger threat to Geary from inside the fleet. The major characters reveal slightly more detail with regard to their history but don't develop beyond the boundaries reached in Dauntless. The baddies remain nearly irredeemably bad (to be fair, there are efforts to explain the motivations of the main antagonist) and the goodies continue to lead the charge for universal truth, justice and liberty.
Unfortunately this book continued to strain credulity. There's some really tenuous connect-the-dots going on in the lurking sub-plot. The 100-year war that has managed to pound all traces of intelligence out of the Fleet through raw attrition seemed a harsh juxtaposition against the (SPOILER ALERT: SLIGHT SPOILER IN THIS SENTENCE) sudden discovery of a literal physics genius commanding one of the fleet ships (YOU'RE GOOD TO KEEP READING FROM HERE) and the changes wrought on the fleet by Captain Geary continues to strike me as things that would obvious to even the dullest of people that were still trusted enough to be given charge of what would have to be a very, very expensive piece of equipment (not to mention the numerous lives entrusted to their care).
I'm still reading because the naval theory seems sound (to my civilian mind anyway) and I enjoy that kind of thing. After completing book two I have quite a strong feeling that I know how book three is going to play out and I can't help but feel that this six volume series could probably have been edited down into a more palatable trilogy. But, I've started and I really hate not finishing things so I'm going to push on!
Unfortunately this book continued to strain credulity. There's some really tenuous connect-the-dots going on in the lurking sub-plot. The 100-year war that has managed to pound all traces of intelligence out of the Fleet through raw attrition seemed a harsh juxtaposition against the (SPOILER ALERT: SLIGHT SPOILER IN THIS SENTENCE) sudden discovery of a literal physics genius commanding one of the fleet ships (YOU'RE GOOD TO KEEP READING FROM HERE) and the changes wrought on the fleet by Captain Geary continues to strike me as things that would obvious to even the dullest of people that were still trusted enough to be given charge of what would have to be a very, very expensive piece of equipment (not to mention the numerous lives entrusted to their care).
I'm still reading because the naval theory seems sound (to my civilian mind anyway) and I enjoy that kind of thing. After completing book two I have quite a strong feeling that I know how book three is going to play out and I can't help but feel that this six volume series could probably have been edited down into a more palatable trilogy. But, I've started and I really hate not finishing things so I'm going to push on!
lundos's review
3.0
More or less a straight continuation of the first book. A few new characters, some other people making moronic decisions and our MC making the right decisions.
The space battles are pretty good (though the two ships hitting each other is too much Star Wars), the building of the legacy is good and the world expands a little. Though, its still pretty superficial.
The space battles are pretty good (though the two ships hitting each other is too much Star Wars), the building of the legacy is good and the world expands a little. Though, its still pretty superficial.
dotorsojak's review
3.0
2.8 stars
Very like the other books in this series. There are a couple of good fleet actions. The love affair doesn't work in my opinion, but it's of scant account. The character herself (Victoria Rione) seems like someone who might do something interesting, but JC hasn't figured out what yet. New character Captain Falco is also of scant account. He seems to have been invented merely so that Geary can have a foil. Then he is suddenly sent off stage for a large part of the book. Falco's Hornblower equivalent is "El Supremo" from Forester's first Hornblower: THE HAPPY RETURN (aka BEAT TO QUARTERS), but Supremo is a far more interesting creation. I know, I know--it's not fair to hold up anyone to Forester.
I read this quickly and probably will not read another JC for a while.
Very like the other books in this series. There are a couple of good fleet actions. The love affair doesn't work in my opinion, but it's of scant account. The character herself (Victoria Rione) seems like someone who might do something interesting, but JC hasn't figured out what yet. New character Captain Falco is also of scant account. He seems to have been invented merely so that Geary can have a foil. Then he is suddenly sent off stage for a large part of the book. Falco's Hornblower equivalent is "El Supremo" from Forester's first Hornblower: THE HAPPY RETURN (aka BEAT TO QUARTERS), but Supremo is a far more interesting creation. I know, I know--it's not fair to hold up anyone to Forester.
I read this quickly and probably will not read another JC for a while.
innocenthedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
dan_at's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Fun, fast, perfect palate cleanser.
git_r_read's review
5.0
Suspense and paranormal make up the majority of Mt Git'r'Read. The remainder leans into other genres including science fiction. It has to be the kind that doesn't delve too much into the weeds of technical and mechanical. Or if it does, written in such a way that it doesn't go completely over my cranium.
Jack Campbell writes the latter. It is still technical, but smoothly done. Maybe because The Lost Fleet is military in nature and I am familiar with that world and that lingo. Also because Jack Campbell is an excellent story teller. It's a superb story that happens to be science fiction in nature.
FEARLESS is the second book in the Lost Fleet series and is as excellent as the first one that had me going out to buy this one within a few pages of starting DAUNTLESS.
Captain John "Black Jack" Geary is beginning to feel at least reasonably comfortable in his role as Fleet commander. He's had continuous difficulties with a few of his other ships' captains, but it is exacerbated when a rescued captain begins to fling his authority around, leading to mutiny.
John Geary just wants to get his fleet home to Alliance safety, but the mutineers want to stand and fight the Syndic.
The first book was mostly Geary accepting his role as Fleet Commander after a century of frozen sleep. He has made progress with most of the fleet acceptance of his training scenarios and reverting back to discipline and routines that seem to have slipped away.
Here he is battling the enemy in the Syndic as well as the mutineers. The way he handles himself, makes his decisions, and treats his crew is watching his dual personalities. Not split, but as John Geary and as legendary "Black Jack".
A superb book and I cannot wait to get the next in the series, COURAGEOUS.
Definite recommend.
Jack Campbell writes the latter. It is still technical, but smoothly done. Maybe because The Lost Fleet is military in nature and I am familiar with that world and that lingo. Also because Jack Campbell is an excellent story teller. It's a superb story that happens to be science fiction in nature.
FEARLESS is the second book in the Lost Fleet series and is as excellent as the first one that had me going out to buy this one within a few pages of starting DAUNTLESS.
Captain John "Black Jack" Geary is beginning to feel at least reasonably comfortable in his role as Fleet commander. He's had continuous difficulties with a few of his other ships' captains, but it is exacerbated when a rescued captain begins to fling his authority around, leading to mutiny.
John Geary just wants to get his fleet home to Alliance safety, but the mutineers want to stand and fight the Syndic.
The first book was mostly Geary accepting his role as Fleet Commander after a century of frozen sleep. He has made progress with most of the fleet acceptance of his training scenarios and reverting back to discipline and routines that seem to have slipped away.
Here he is battling the enemy in the Syndic as well as the mutineers. The way he handles himself, makes his decisions, and treats his crew is watching his dual personalities. Not split, but as John Geary and as legendary "Black Jack".
A superb book and I cannot wait to get the next in the series, COURAGEOUS.
Definite recommend.