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rpmiller's review
4.0
This was actually a story about a two people involved in investigation and covert operations. One changed, mostly because he was not initially part of the operation, while the other merely became known to the first and to the reader. Other characters played a part only in how the related to these two. There was very little science, and that was mostly about propulsion and traveling enormous distances through the universe. Of course, there was plenty of fiction!
mlejoy's review against another edition
3.0
This isn't bad for a first book from an author. However, one of the top rated reviews here compares Caledonian Gambit to the Vorkosigan series, and I can assure you that it doesn't really compare to that in anyway (other than being a sci-fi book). The humor, characters and plot don't even come close to Bujold's work (the Vorkosigan books are my favorite sci-fi series - so it's a very high bar).
That being said, it was a pretty good spy-caper, as long as you're not expecting anything new or surprising. I'd call it a "beach read" - something you read when you just want mindless entertainment (in a good way). The main character Brody was pretty vanilla, but I did like the special ops team characters. As others have mentioned in reviews there really aren't any women in the book except as background.
My main gripe about this book is that a lot of it felt forced or unrealistic. There's a lot of "current-era" jargon and technology - it didn't feel especially futuristic. A lot of the dialog seemed formulaic - like "insert wise ass comment here", "insert brooding, cryptic comment here". My biggest issue was the ending - it wasn't believable & everything works out too perfectly I realize it's science fiction, but rules of believably still apply. That being said, I think this author has potential and I did like the book despite a few flaws.
That being said, it was a pretty good spy-caper, as long as you're not expecting anything new or surprising. I'd call it a "beach read" - something you read when you just want mindless entertainment (in a good way). The main character Brody was pretty vanilla, but I did like the special ops team characters. As others have mentioned in reviews there really aren't any women in the book except as background.
My main gripe about this book is that a lot of it felt forced or unrealistic. There's a lot of "current-era" jargon and technology - it didn't feel especially futuristic. A lot of the dialog seemed formulaic - like "insert wise ass comment here", "insert brooding, cryptic comment here". My biggest issue was the ending - it wasn't believable & everything works out too perfectly
Spoiler
The head spy guy swipes the identity of another spy - and then gets into an ultra top secret base with no challenges. He has no plan and just hopes the bad guy won't shoot him, then he's taken prisoner and just one guy escorts him to the brig. Of course our hero manages to get the jump on the lone baddie. Really? What would have happened if the one guy had been competent? If they had handcuffed him? If they sent more than one person? So now our hero, who has escaped, opens up his storage container that has the bodies of his friends that he smuggled in, and they barely had enough air to survive - really? Then, they have to figure out how to do a wormhole jump with the super secret ship, something no one has ever seen or done before, and they manage to figure it out in just 2-3 stress filled minutes while under attack from enemy ships. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? EYE ROLLjoe_mcmahon's review
5.0
Excellent read. Lively characters, good plot. Moren throws a couple of curves that I spotted, but called completely wrong. Good enough for a re-read, and looking forward to more stories set in this universe.
wixtech's review against another edition
5.0
Can’t believe this is a first novel
Dan has done a terrific job with his first published fiction novel. Good old fashioned sci-fi, without being campy or too drawn out. He left this reader wanting more from “Lije” and his new team. Looking forward to sequels (please!).
Dan has done a terrific job with his first published fiction novel. Good old fashioned sci-fi, without being campy or too drawn out. He left this reader wanting more from “Lije” and his new team. Looking forward to sequels (please!).
julie_bonjour's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
jjcrafts's review against another edition
3.0
Kyle Rankin is a soldier who has spent the last few years of his life scrubbing toilets on Sabea but when a new gateway in the galaxy opens he gets a chance to go back to his old life as Eli Brody, a soldier for the other side who had been stranded on Sabea since their old gateway had been destroyed in the war. He does it reluctantly. In fact, most of the things the protagonist in this book does are reluctant. Every situation he gets put in he just goes along with and lets himself be manipulated by whoever is closest. It was very frustrating, and while I know there are real people like that it doesn't make for a very likeable character. I didn't really route for him at any point. And even when he's not being told what to do I didn't think his internal motivations for things really add up. It was a fun and twisty Sci fi. The world/s and settings were all well fleshed out and believable but the main issue I had was that the main character was very weak.
depizan's review
2.0
The devil is in the details and the details are where this book fails. Oh, it's a competent enough spy story, it's just that the sci-fi aspect keeps wandering off. Far too much of the book felt like it was taking place on Earth in the present day. That wouldn't have been a fatal flaw if it weren't for the lack of stakes, a problem that also largely goes back to the worldbuilding. Caledonia, the Illyrican Empire, the Commonwealth...the audience has no preset investment in the well-being of any of these governments or places and the book doesn't give us enough to get invested. Or at least not enough for me to.
Part of the problem is that one of the main characters seems to have no investment in any of them. He's Caledonian, but he enlisted in the conquering Illyrican's military, and then he's been stranded in the back of beyond for five years and...he has no investment in the book's central plot, basically. And when the characters don't care, the audience starts to wonder why they should.
Okay, yes, the other main character had the investment of being a Commonwealth agent, but somehow the stakes still didn't work. The time pressure of the plot never felt like pressure. (Maybe because the whole idea of dragging in this guy because his brother's involved - a brother he hasn't seen in nine years, I might add - didn't feel like desperation so much as "eh, this could work.")
(I'm pretty sure there were also timeline problems in the back story. Like I said. Devil. Details.)
Part of the problem is that one of the main characters seems to have no investment in any of them. He's Caledonian, but he enlisted in the conquering Illyrican's military, and then he's been stranded in the back of beyond for five years and...he has no investment in the book's central plot, basically. And when the characters don't care, the audience starts to wonder why they should.
Okay, yes, the other main character had the investment of being a Commonwealth agent, but somehow the stakes still didn't work. The time pressure of the plot never felt like pressure. (Maybe because the whole idea of dragging in this guy because his brother's involved - a brother he hasn't seen in nine years, I might add - didn't feel like desperation so much as "eh, this could work.")
(I'm pretty sure there were also timeline problems in the back story. Like I said. Devil. Details.)
megatza's review
5.0
4.5 stars. Very solid debut novel from Dan Moren. Classic space opera, with drama, adventure, and excitement. I really enjoyed the novel, but think I would have preferred reading rather than listening; I found it difficult to keep track of characters' multiple identities and twisting plots. Can't wait for what's next, though!