asdvj's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
swissmunicipal's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting story, but it felt like I was dropped right in the middle of a bigger story without full context.
mferrante83's review against another edition
3.0
OK, I know I skipped the last three volumes of the Lost Fleet series. Maybe I’ll go back and post some lengthier reviews but right now I will press onwards. If you haven’t read the first Lost Fleet series be aware that there will be some spoilers for that series in this review. That there is a second series is likely, on some level a spoiler, in and of itself. So, if you’ve just started to read The Lost Fleet or if you intend to read The Lost Fleet: be warned!
So at the end Victorious, and likely as many readers suspected, “Blackjack” Geary has delivered the titular fleet home breaking the back of the Syndicate worlds over the course of his long journey home. Geary has managed to find some romance in the process dodging Alliance authority and marrying his Flag Captain, Tanya Desjani. Dreadnaught (first book in The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier) opens up bare months after this event as Admiral Geary and his new wife are called back to duty. The Alliance, and the military brass, are up to their old tricks again scrambling and squabbling to undermine Geary’s popular approval amongst the populace and amongst the Fleet. Assigned a new mission, a diplomatic mission to the alien race (now referred to as The Enigmas), he has obstacles thrown at him from superiors left and right not to mention a mountain of unforeseen dangers lurking around every corner.
Rest assured this is military science fiction pure and simple. Notions of a duty and honor, though sometimes conflicting amongst generations, play a central roll in the novel (as in previous Lost Fleet novels). Of course with a series subtitle like “Beyond the Frontier” I’m all on board for this series. The subplot of the alien pressence in the original Lost Fleet novel’s was one my favorite aspects and the internal complications of the Alliance government juxtaposed with overt manipulation by unseen intelligences (across a potentially greater context even more alien species) is fascinating. That contrast lends a certain amount of sad comedy to the fleet’s situation this time out. Bureaucrats fearing for their power and those fearing the alien threat seem to be at opposite ends of event’s in Dreadnaught. Sure, they think (rightly) that Geary is the perfect candidate to suss out the alien presence near home but at the same time they do their level best to hinder his work at all times. That last bit is perhaps the most frustrating: the threat of the Enigmas pose doesn’t serve so much as a catalyst for human unity but just as another tool in the constant struggle for more power.
Dreadnaught build’s directly on the events of the previous series. This is not a book for newcomers and there is very little hand-holding when it comes to characters and relationships. While a new reader might easily grasp what is going on it is long-time readers who will benefit most while reading this book. Several shifts in personality of some key characters over the span between the series lend an air of personal drama and I found myself almost as interested in the catalysts for these changes as I was in the copious amounts of action and military engagements that occur throughout the novel. Rest assured that Campbell isn’t really breaking new ground here but that is less of a complaint than you might think. This well-trod ground is comfortable and entertaining. It is not without surprises and the notion of humanity on the cusp of a wider multi-species cosmic community is something that is always exciting. I look forward to seeing where this series will go and am excited to see how good old Blackjack tackles the mountain of challenges that lay ahead.
So at the end Victorious, and likely as many readers suspected, “Blackjack” Geary has delivered the titular fleet home breaking the back of the Syndicate worlds over the course of his long journey home. Geary has managed to find some romance in the process dodging Alliance authority and marrying his Flag Captain, Tanya Desjani. Dreadnaught (first book in The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier) opens up bare months after this event as Admiral Geary and his new wife are called back to duty. The Alliance, and the military brass, are up to their old tricks again scrambling and squabbling to undermine Geary’s popular approval amongst the populace and amongst the Fleet. Assigned a new mission, a diplomatic mission to the alien race (now referred to as The Enigmas), he has obstacles thrown at him from superiors left and right not to mention a mountain of unforeseen dangers lurking around every corner.
Rest assured this is military science fiction pure and simple. Notions of a duty and honor, though sometimes conflicting amongst generations, play a central roll in the novel (as in previous Lost Fleet novels). Of course with a series subtitle like “Beyond the Frontier” I’m all on board for this series. The subplot of the alien pressence in the original Lost Fleet novel’s was one my favorite aspects and the internal complications of the Alliance government juxtaposed with overt manipulation by unseen intelligences (across a potentially greater context even more alien species) is fascinating. That contrast lends a certain amount of sad comedy to the fleet’s situation this time out. Bureaucrats fearing for their power and those fearing the alien threat seem to be at opposite ends of event’s in Dreadnaught. Sure, they think (rightly) that Geary is the perfect candidate to suss out the alien presence near home but at the same time they do their level best to hinder his work at all times. That last bit is perhaps the most frustrating: the threat of the Enigmas pose doesn’t serve so much as a catalyst for human unity but just as another tool in the constant struggle for more power.
Dreadnaught build’s directly on the events of the previous series. This is not a book for newcomers and there is very little hand-holding when it comes to characters and relationships. While a new reader might easily grasp what is going on it is long-time readers who will benefit most while reading this book. Several shifts in personality of some key characters over the span between the series lend an air of personal drama and I found myself almost as interested in the catalysts for these changes as I was in the copious amounts of action and military engagements that occur throughout the novel. Rest assured that Campbell isn’t really breaking new ground here but that is less of a complaint than you might think. This well-trod ground is comfortable and entertaining. It is not without surprises and the notion of humanity on the cusp of a wider multi-species cosmic community is something that is always exciting. I look forward to seeing where this series will go and am excited to see how good old Blackjack tackles the mountain of challenges that lay ahead.
nukehavoc's review against another edition
3.0
The continuation of the Lost Fleet series starts off slow as Black Jack Geary wades through political landmines and scheming Syndic CEOs to get on to his real mission: confronting a shadowy enemy menace. The pace isn't the book's biggest problem though - that lie in the fact that Geary's hasn't face a significant challenge - or made a costly mistake - in 500 pages or more. That lowers the series' trademark tension considerably. Im hoping well see some truly notable, Geary-worthy challenge in subsequent books.
keary's review against another edition
4.0
Love Jack Campbell's books. Easy read but very enjoyable.
ryanjamesburt's review against another edition
3.0
Well this is the start of the Beyond the Frontier series. This is following The Lost Fleet series of 6 books. I really did enjoy the first 6 books and this continues the story along.
This book is slower than I would like. It ends with a band and leave the book open right for the next one. Let hope that one can keep up the pace.
This book is slower than I would like. It ends with a band and leave the book open right for the next one. Let hope that one can keep up the pace.
rxh05d's review against another edition
3.0
Uggghhhhhhh. Until about two thirds of the way through I was ready to just be done with the series. How unimaginative do you have to be if the only source of character development you can think of is to continue a love triangle that has already been resolved? But I'm just barely - barely - interested enough in the alien storyline to keep going.
matosapa's review against another edition
2.0
This is a continuation of the Lost Fleet series. A series I rated at a consistent 3.5 stars. I liked the main plot mechanism (ragged isolated fleet fighting its way home) and the main character Geary was very interesting.
This series begins soon after the ending of the previous series and is populated by main characters from that series. The main plot mechanism is Geary initiating contact with an alien race and grappling with conspiracy issues concerning the Alliance.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me because it seems to be more of the same i.e. one epic battle after another against overwhelming odds and no end in sight. In addition, the relationship between Geary and Tanya distracts from the story and feels wooden and unwieldy. I felt he did a good job with this relationship in the first series but it just gets in the way here.
This series begins soon after the ending of the previous series and is populated by main characters from that series. The main plot mechanism is Geary initiating contact with an alien race and grappling with conspiracy issues concerning the Alliance.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me because it seems to be more of the same i.e. one epic battle after another against overwhelming odds and no end in sight. In addition, the relationship between Geary and Tanya distracts from the story and feels wooden and unwieldy. I felt he did a good job with this relationship in the first series but it just gets in the way here.