The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight by Jack Campbell

Science Fiction/Space Opera

The Lost Stars are a spin off to the Lost Fleet and Beyond the Frontier series.  Unlike both of these series, which follow Black Jack Geary, this series follows characters that were on the other side of the war.  Here is what Goodreads says about The Lost Stars - Tarnished Knight: 

The authority of the Syndicate Worlds’ government is crumbling. Civil war and rebellion are breaking out in many star systems despite the Syndic government’s brutal attempts to suppress disorder. Midway is one of those star systems, and leaders there must decide whether to remain loyal to the old order or fight for something new.

CEO Artur Drakon has been betrayed. The Syndic government failed to protect its citizens from both the Alliance and the alien enigmas. With a cadre of loyal soldiers under his command, Drakon launches a battle for control of the Midway Star System—assisted by an ally he’s unsure he can trust…

CEO Gwen Iceni was exiled to Midway because she wasn’t ruthless enough in the eyes of her superiors. She’s made them regret their assessment by commandeering some of the warships at Midway and attacking the remaining ships still loyal to the Syndicate empire. Iceni declares independence for the Midway Star System on behalf of the people while staying in charge as “President.” But while she controls the mobile fleet, she has no choice but to rely on “General” Drakon’s ground forces to keep the peace planet-side…

If their coup is to succeed, Drakon and Iceni must put their differences aside to prevent the population of Midway from rising up in rebellion against them, to defend Midway against the alien threat of the enigma race—and to ferret out saboteurs determined to reestablish Syndic rule.

I really wondered if I would even like Tarnished Knight. Some spin-off books don’t work and I had no previous investment in the characters or in the Syndicate Worlds.  What I found was a book that I enjoyed.  Jack Campbell (John Hemry) writes are good tight story and Tarnished Knight is no exception. 

Neither Artur Drakon nor Gwen Iceni are a role model for heroes.  While they did not measure up to the ruthlessness the Syndic government wanted they were ruthless enough become CEO’s (very high ranks) in the government.  Watching them try to change and leave behind many of the behaviors they had learned to survive was interesting.  I kept pulling for both of them to survive and change.  While they were the two main characters there were several side characters that added to the tension and action in the book.  There is one in particular that needs to be watched very closely.  Even those that did not come across as untrustworthy could not be totally trusted. The title fit the characters.  While any might be a Knight all are tarnished.

Like all the books in all three series the ending was a cliffhanger so I will be looking for the next book in The Lost Stars series.

Ace published The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight by Jack Campbell in 2012.

Analog Science Fiction and Fact and Asimov’s Science Fiction

Science Fiction Magazines

I have several favorite authors and I hate the long wait between books.  Analog Science Fiction and Fact and Asimov’s Science Fiction magazines help break that wait up.  Some of my favorite Science Fiction authors often have short stories or novella in both magazines.  John Hemry who writes the Lost Fleet series as Jack Campbell has several alternate history novellas in Analog.  My favorite is Swords and Saddles in the April 2010 issue.  Kristine Katherine Rusch has several novellas set in the Diving in the Wreck and The Retrieval Artist Universe published in Asimov’s.  She also has stories set in other places in both publications.  I have another post today about Killer Advice, one of those novellas.  

Both Analog and Asimov’s are available on Fictionwise either as individual issues or as subscriptions.  

Dreadnaught, Beyond the Frontier by Jack Campbell

Science Fiction

In the Lost Fleet series Jack Campbell has Captain John “Black Jack” Geary awake from cryogenic sleep to take command and despite overwhelming odds bring the Alliance fleet home.  In this new series, Beyond the Frontier, Geary returns with new challenges.  I wondered if Campbell could maintain the tension in this new series that was the hallmark of The Lost Fleet books.  I started reading Dreadnaught and had trouble putting it down.  A whole new set of problems kept me reading and the tension that was a hallmark of the first series was there.  Dreadnaught starts a month after the last book in the Lost Fleet series.  Geary and Tanya managed get away and marry but immediately were called back to duty.  Geary has a new assignment.  He is to command the First Fleet and his duty is to investigate the aliens and check out the Syndicate Worlds.  There are layers to the assignment.  The politicians and the military high command do not trust Geary while the people adore him.  It seems that a living hero can be very inconvenient to those in power.  Geary cannot help but wonder if he is being sent on a suicide mission.  Of course Dreadnaught ends with a cliff hanger. 

Jack Campbell (John Hemry) writes great military science fiction and terrible romance.  The interaction between Geary and Tanya in the romance area is thin at best but great in the military story.  The entire cast of characters is back; even ones that I expected to stay home are back on the ships.  The pace is great, the story good, and the action thrilling and sometimes unexpected.  Something new to look for are all the saying that include “Black Jack” in them.   While Geary does not enjoy hearing them they are amusing.

Ace published Dreadnaught, Beyond the Frontier by Jack Campbell in 2011.

I purchased Dreadnaught.

The Lost Fleet: Victorious: by Jack Campbell

Military Science Fiction

The last book in a great series always brings on mixed emotions. There is joy in finally finding out how everything ends and sadness because there will be no more books to look forward to. The Lost Fleet: Victorious generated an abundance of both emotions.

When we first met Captain John “Black Jack” Geary his escape pod was picked up after drifting 100 years. Geary and his ship were the first causalities of a war that has lasted 100 years and legend says that when the time is right he will return to save the Alliance. The fleet has just suffered a crushing defeat at the Syndic home world, all senior officers are dead and Geary as the Captain with the most seniority is in command. It is his job to try to get the remainder of the fleet home.

In Victorious the cycle closes. After bringing the fleet home Geary is promoted to Admiral of the Fleet. His job is to return with the fleet to the Syndic home world, end the war and find the aliens on the far side of Syndic space, He must do this while allowing enough himself enough maneuvering room to find a solution to his own personal goals.

Like the rest of the series, Victorious is military science fiction at its best. The action is realistic and gripping. Victorious is filled with interesting characters, a well-written plot and a recurring theme of honor above all else. Victorious is a great ending to a great series. Do start this series at the beginning. Just make sure you don’t have anything pressing because you will not want to put any of the books down.

Ace published The Lost Fleet: Victorious by Jack Campbell in 2010.

I purchased Victorious from Borders.

John Hemry writes the Lost Fleet books using the name Jack Campbell. The Starks War series and the JAG in Space series were written using John Hemry. Both are available as an eBook package or as individual eBooks from Baen. I have read both. If you like The Lost Fleet check out his other two series.

The Lost Fleet: Relentless by Jack Campbell

Space Opera/Military Science Fiction

The Lost Fleet: Relentless is the fifth book in the six book Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell. Read my October 8, 2008 post on the Lost Fleet series.

The fleet lead by Captain John Geary is within 3 jumps of Alliance space. The action starts with a stop to free Alliance prisoners of war. Geary has destroyed much of the Syndics fleet but finds that there is a large reserve flotilla that has been moved to block his way. There are still people in the Alliance fleet that do not like Geary and are trying to destroy him. All of this adds up to continued action and adventure. Jack Campbell keeps this series moving at a fast pace.

ACE published The Lost Fleet: Relentless by Jack Campbell in 2009.

The previous books in this series are:

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless
The Lost Fleet: Fearless
The Lost Fleet: Courageous
The Lost Fleet: Valiant

The Lost Fleet: Victorious comes out in 2010

John Hemry writes the Lost Fleet books using the name Jack Campbell. The Starks War series and the JAG in Space series were written using John Hemry. Both are available as an eBook package or as individual eBooks from Baen. I have read both. If you like The Lost Fleet check out his other two series.

Dauntless, The Lost Fleet, by Jack Campbell

John “Black Jack” Geary was discovered in his hibernation capsule one hundred years after he fought in the first battle against the Syndics. He finds that he is a legend, a legend that far exceeds his actual deeds. His time in service makes him the senior officer in the Alliance fleet that has just suffered a stunning defeat and is trapped in Syndic space. It becomes Geary’s duty to get the fleet back to Alliance Space. The plot sounds familiar; other authors have used it with varying degrees of success. Jack Campbell in Dauntless, The Lost Fleet uses it extremely well. I was hooked from the first page. In Dauntless, The Lost Fleet Geary starts on an adventure that will last through 6 books. Four of the books have been released. The fifth comes out in April of 2009. I have watched John Geary grow as the series progresses. The plot also expands and grows as the series continues. The first book has enough action and adventure to hook anyone who loves Science Fiction Space Opera. You get an extra bonus if you love Military Science Fiction. Jack Campbell is a pen name for John Hemry, a retired Navy Officer. He uses his military experience to write believable military stories. Dauntless, The Lost Fleet is a well planned start to a great series. Look for another story that uses the same premise, being tossed forward in time, tomorrow.