Courageous (The Lost Fleet, Book 3) by Jack Campbell
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Book Reviews of Courageous (The Lost Fleet, Book 3)
Book Review: Excellent addition to the series
Summary: 5 Stars
While I must say this was one of the faster reads in the series it was also one of the finest to date. I say, to date, as I honestly can't wait to see what the next one entails and wish it was out next week!
Overall in this book we see the good captain fighting once again not only the Syndic but (to a lesser extent this time) his own command. While this may be seem by some to be a bit odd in that you would expect he would have won more favor by now it still holds you to the book wondering how he will deal with a war (of sorts) on three fronts. The Syndic, his command and even himself. Perhaps the greatest question not yet answered is who is the 4th party who seem to be helping the Syndic but perhaps have designs of their own on the whole of Humanity?
Without going too much into the book it's perhaps a bit "simple" in its writing and style but frankly that's what makes it so appealing. Gone is the over technical details of the battles. Gone are the overdone explanations of technology. Here is simply one guy trying to figure out how to get home and get the rest of his group home too, when most days you feel he'd rather just give up.
I think that's why most find the series so appealing in that we can actually relate to this guy on some level or another and in that aspect want to read more and more of the series
Book Review: Keeps getting better!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was surprised to see this book getting lower reviews than the first 2 books - frankly I thought it was the best so far! I got into this thanks to Amazon's "recommendations" and though I enjoyed the the first book enough to order the next two in the series, I wasn't awaiting the next installments with the same excitement I usually have for books by, say, Jim Butcher. I read through Fearless (the second book in the Lost Fleet series) and again, found it moderately interesting but not that gripping. Not so for Courageous though!
It feels like Campbell/Hemry has gotten the balance of action, dialogue, and descriptive storytelling just right. The space battles are still detailed (I can't quite wrap my mind around all of the maneuvers and positioning to be honest), but not overly so. The insights into the character minds and personalities are well done, letting us sympathize particularly with our protagonist, but also with those (both friend and foe) around him. I was genuinely moved when reading about the losses of both ships and people that we have come to know.
Possibly this book feels better because I've read the first 2 installments, which has laid out much of the backstory. However, I still think that this was an excellent read and worth 5 stars.
I now cannot wait to get started on book 4! :)
Book Review: The Saga Continues...And Well Done, too...
Summary: 5 Stars
Courageous is the latest installment in Jack Campbell(John Hemry)'s "Lost Fleet" saga. I'm glad to know this is the third installment of six planned(so far). Having read his other series, I believe he's gotten the hang of writing episodic space-opera type sci-fi. While the tactics and logistical details may pall on some, these details are what make things happen in real warfare("For want of a nail, a rider was lost...etc.") and function as plot elements, which writers use instead of relying on explosions and other "eye candy" that visually oriented media use to hold some folk's attention. The extended battle sequences are a bit dry, but then, the books are shorter and easier reading than the Honor Harrington(Don't get me wrong, I love 'em and won't miss one)stories and establish Campbell as a notable writer in his own right. I gladly welcome any male writers of space opera-why is it that my favorite space-opera writers(Bujold, Moon, McCaffrey) are women?...especially one that's as good as this series.
Actually, The writing steers between the over-written and the sparse science of other series(where plot elements sometimes supress believe-ability) quite nicely. I'd place this series in along with Hornblower, Vorkosigan, the Helmsman, Ensign Leary and both of Elizabeth Moon's space-opera series.
Bravo! Keep 'em coming...
Book Review: Excellent character struggle
Summary: 5 Stars
The main themes in this book are not just the typical fish-out-of-water story (although it has that), but the struggle between doing the right thing because it's right or because it's easy. Jack Geary has been idolized as a hero "Black Jack" and is starting to really struggle against becoming a dictator. He knows that there is a contingent of captains (he's the fleet commander) who think his "new" ways of doing things are dishonorable and heretical; these captains are the most likely to not just get themselves killed, but all the men and women aboard their ships, too. It would be so easy to just toss them in jail before this happens, but where would he draw the line? How many people would he imprison just because they disagree with him or challenge him? So he tries to follow the rules, but knows that it could get people hurt. He doesn't want to become "Black Jack", but that's what the second contingent of captains want. They want him to take command and maybe even take over the Alliance as a political dictator. They think he's been sent back by their ancestors to save them and he can do no wrong in their eyes. But he's only human ... which is how the smallest contingent sees him, a man and not an iconic legend. This book, Courageous, is more about this struggle than their trip home. Really good book and great series.Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a reader of military scifi for the past twenty years. Jack Campbell nicely strikes the balance with another winner in his "Lost Fleet" series. The tenants of leadership are right on. His writing is excellent and he deserves to rank right up there the best of them. This is one of the few books that I was willing to preorder without readin reviews and I was not disappointed.
For those of you in the field where leadership qualities play an important part, this book is a good read on what to do and how to remain true to oneself.
Wayne Lougheed
Zenith1@optonline.net