Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1) by Jack Campbell
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Book Reviews of Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1)
Book Review: A story and character worth reading
Summary: 5 Stars
I just like sifi, especially military sifi. So when I saw this I thought okay what the hell and I bought it. This book turned out to be special. I read it because I wanted to read it. The story is a western where the hero has to take the wagon train through the indians and make men out of the boys. We have seen this in countless moives. However Campbell by introducing a wonderfull and human character in Black Jack made the story moving. I really cared about Black Jack. I also found myself liking the secondary characters. I found that Campbell had taken time to flesh them out and make them interesting and not props. Let me say at this time that Campbell has set up the ideas of legend vs the common man, which after thinking about is the bases of many of John Ford's John Wayne moives. This concept is familar and comforting for the reader. I also found Campbell's war without anyone knowing why it started unnervingly real and modern. The actions of both sides in Campbell's war were very very contemporay and out of today's news. I found myslef satitisfied after reading this novel and hungry for the next. Great job.Book Review: Actually, Pretty Good
Summary: 5 Stars
In the 100-year war between the two human societies the "Alliance" and the "Syndics", the Alliance Fleet pick up a 100-year old suvival capsule with Captain "Jack Black" Geary, in hibernation. Jack Black has been presumed dead in the early days of the war, and his legendary expolits are stuff of legend and the basis for the Aliance's military tactics. The Alliance fleet are stranded in enemy territory on the verge of annihilation. Through Syndicate treachery all their leaders are executed, and Jack Black, being the most 'senior' officer becomes the fleet commander. The story is about how Jack Black leads the Alliance fleet out of the ambush to safety, and ultimately to Alliance space.
This is well written, exciting, crisp military SF, with realistic space battles, good (and incompetent) captains, and some good old fashioned politics thrown in. Once started, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in a couple of hours and went straight to the bookshop and picked up the next book in the series.
Book Review: Clean and Absorbing!
Summary: 5 Stars
Whenever I try a new series, especially in sci-fi, I am always a little nervous about the content. I love sci-fi, but sometimes the books just aren't what you'd expect. I am pleased to say that this book was clean enough to be read by teenagers but still written in a way that could appeal to adults.
This book reminds me a bit of the success of the Law and Order and CSI TV shows that could draw in a viewer but kept some normalcy by admitting that cops, forensic experts, and prosecutors don't normally spend all of his or her free time drinking and sleeping around. The portrayal of a hero who doesn't fit in to his society and sometimes not in with his fleet and the explanation of his real thoughts and insecurities, makes Captain Jack Black Geary seem like a real human hero instead of a James Bond Hollywood fantasy. If you enjoy reading sci-fi that makes you think about how you and people you know would handle things, then I would highly recommend this book!
Book Review: Military Sci Fi at it's best
Summary: 5 Stars
The Lost Fleet: Dauntless was by far a great military Sci-Fi read. The hero is found in suspended animation and revived 100 years after he `died' in a spectacular display of heroics. Now he's a legend in a time where his people are `familiar strangers' and the honor of his day is long past. To talk too much about the book would give away it's excellent points. All I'll say is that the hero is engaging, and you are sucked into his world in the firs two pages of the book, and you can't put that book down. I had to read it in one sitting, and it's been rare I can find a book that produces such an effect. I found it in a way reminiscent of Battle Star Galactica, with a touch of "Space Above and Beyond". The characters are well defined, as is the conflict and moral dilemmas. The battles are quick, and deadly. The stakes are high. Everything you'd want in good Military Sci Fi is here. My only regret: there are no more of these to read. I'm hoping the rest of the books are out soon.Book Review: Spoiler-free: I loved it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've recently been hugely entertained by Dauntless, by Jack Campbell. It is book one of the Lost Fleet series, but it is not the work of a first-time novelist; Wikipedia reveals that Campbell is a nom de plume of one John Hemry, whom I had never heard of.
A book like this is a bit of a commodity; "Hornblower in space" wouldn't be far off the mark, and if the idea of watching a rather interesting character navigate through a series of space-naval engagements while coming to terms with his own identity doesn't titillate, you're probably well served to look elsewhere.
But if you don't mind a bit of space opera, and want to stand shoulder to shoulder on the bridge as the right-thinking Alliance Navy clashes again and again with the evil, business-minded Syndic, well, look no further. Space Marines, escape pods, musings on total war, a hero come back to life - I feel like a lot of SF fans and fans of naval novels would probably enjoy it.