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emaynard97's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
4.5
benstanley's review
4.0
I still loved it, because it was still Expeditionary Force. It was still Joe and Skippy and the whole crew, there was still great banter and engaging stakes, and all around I got what I was looking for. It was an exciting and entertaining ride.
That being said, for the final adventure of the Merry Band of Pirates, it was a bit of a disappointment. The dialogue and really a significant amount of the book was pretty repetitive, and there was a lot of discussion about how hopeless everything was. There was not a lot of progress for much of it, which was a bit of a drag and harkened back to some of the weaker early entries in the series. There were very few cutaways and PoV's outside of Bishop this time around, and while in the past those have been a little hit-or-miss, on the whole I think they added greatly to the story and were missed in Failure Mode. It also meant that characters I would consider to be pretty major were only given a line or two, and did not actually contribute to the plot, which was also disappointing.
I wasn't expecting this book to tie up every single plot element or loose thread left over from the series' run. The galaxy is a messy place, and leaving certain things open-ended is fair enough. That being said, I was hoping for a little more wrap-up than what we got, and what we did get with the primary conflict was, like I said, pretty repetitive. The finale itself was also a very abrupt deus ex machina, and while that's something of a staple for the series this one was arguably among the weakest, with next to no justification and very little explanation afterwards. The righteous smackdown with the Elders wasn't all that satisfying, and while that makes sense within the context of the events, for the final climax of the series it was underwhelming.
That's not to say that it was a bad entry by any means. Failure Mode had a lot of great stuff in it, including some really engaging plot points with the Elder AIs and some pulse-pounding action. We did get a lot of great Joe and Skippy banter. As far as an end to the series it was satisfying enough, but not amazing. It didn't ruin it by any means, and I am excited to one day re-listen to it all the way through.
P.S. Congratulations to R.C. Bray for some of the best damn audiobook narration I have ever heard, throughout the whole series!
That being said, for the final adventure of the Merry Band of Pirates, it was a bit of a disappointment. The dialogue and really a significant amount of the book was pretty repetitive, and there was a lot of discussion about how hopeless everything was. There was not a lot of progress for much of it, which was a bit of a drag and harkened back to some of the weaker early entries in the series. There were very few cutaways and PoV's outside of Bishop this time around, and while in the past those have been a little hit-or-miss, on the whole I think they added greatly to the story and were missed in Failure Mode. It also meant that characters I would consider to be pretty major were only given a line or two, and did not actually contribute to the plot, which was also disappointing.
I wasn't expecting this book to tie up every single plot element or loose thread left over from the series' run. The galaxy is a messy place, and leaving certain things open-ended is fair enough. That being said, I was hoping for a little more wrap-up than what we got, and what we did get with the primary conflict was, like I said, pretty repetitive. The finale itself was also a very abrupt deus ex machina, and while that's something of a staple for the series this one was arguably among the weakest, with next to no justification and very little explanation afterwards. The righteous smackdown with the Elders wasn't all that satisfying, and while that makes sense within the context of the events, for the final climax of the series it was underwhelming.
That's not to say that it was a bad entry by any means. Failure Mode had a lot of great stuff in it, including some really engaging plot points with the Elder AIs and some pulse-pounding action. We did get a lot of great Joe and Skippy banter. As far as an end to the series it was satisfying enough, but not amazing. It didn't ruin it by any means, and I am excited to one day re-listen to it all the way through.
P.S. Congratulations to R.C. Bray for some of the best damn audiobook narration I have ever heard, throughout the whole series!
elahrairah's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
tarostar's review against another edition
2.0
Failure Mode fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
Everything feels rushed, half baked and unconvincing.
It was entertaining enough to get me to the end, but this is undoubtedly the weakest book in a somewhat uneven series. Expeditionary Force was never about a plausible universe with aliens that are pretty much variations of human archtypes, but it was a fun ride. I shall remember the series fondly, but disappointed at the weak conclusion to the journey.
Everything feels rushed, half baked and unconvincing.
It was entertaining enough to get me to the end, but this is undoubtedly the weakest book in a somewhat uneven series. Expeditionary Force was never about a plausible universe with aliens that are pretty much variations of human archtypes, but it was a fun ride. I shall remember the series fondly, but disappointed at the weak conclusion to the journey.
iono's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
faileskye's review
5.0
Why read this review? If you’re this far in the series, go finish it! It’s worth it!
I am devastated that this series is over. I truly loved it and recommended it madly, without reservations, to anyone who would listen to me. This is because it was a consistent, two books or more a year, series that never took itself too seriously. It’s a comedy first, adventure second, and all around compelling science fiction. It stayed true to its origins, was consistent, and improved with almost every book.
So that’s why I ask, why the bad reviews? What were people expecting. Rushed? Not really, everything that happens has been there the whole time, and the resolution fits. Things happen fast at the end, while a teensy amount rushed, it fit. Things are happening fast in-world, to drag them out would mean losing the suspense.
I class books as either “entertaining” or “good.” Most of this series has fallen into “entertaining” but this book more than any of the others was both entertaining and good. The growth of Bishop is so gradual and realistic throughout the series, that we can truly appreciate who he has become in this book, and feel for him as he faces every challenge before him. Skippy too.
So this is the final book in the series. It gives us resolution, but it is not the end. I think that’s what people have problems with. There was never going to be a pretty bow for everything, it’s a galaxy with asshole cats, asshole lizards, asshole spiders, and an asshole beercan. So while I wish there was an epilogue, I am so happy with this ending.
So thank you Craig Alanson for giving me these books. I’ve gotten each one as it came out ever since I stumbled upon Columbus Day two months after its release. And thank you RC Bray. I’ve binged the books so much at times that my own internal voice would sound like Skippy when I thought.
I am devastated that this series is over. I truly loved it and recommended it madly, without reservations, to anyone who would listen to me. This is because it was a consistent, two books or more a year, series that never took itself too seriously. It’s a comedy first, adventure second, and all around compelling science fiction. It stayed true to its origins, was consistent, and improved with almost every book.
So that’s why I ask, why the bad reviews? What were people expecting. Rushed? Not really, everything that happens has been there the whole time, and the resolution fits. Things happen fast at the end, while a teensy amount rushed, it fit. Things are happening fast in-world, to drag them out would mean losing the suspense.
I class books as either “entertaining” or “good.” Most of this series has fallen into “entertaining” but this book more than any of the others was both entertaining and good. The growth of Bishop is so gradual and realistic throughout the series, that we can truly appreciate who he has become in this book, and feel for him as he faces every challenge before him. Skippy too.
So this is the final book in the series. It gives us resolution, but it is not the end. I think that’s what people have problems with. There was never going to be a pretty bow for everything, it’s a galaxy with asshole cats, asshole lizards, asshole spiders, and an asshole beercan. So while I wish there was an epilogue, I am so happy with this ending.
So thank you Craig Alanson for giving me these books. I’ve gotten each one as it came out ever since I stumbled upon Columbus Day two months after its release. And thank you RC Bray. I’ve binged the books so much at times that my own internal voice would sound like Skippy when I thought.