Leviathan (The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier #5) by Jack Campbell

Science Fiction/Space Opera

What Goodreads Says:

“One of the best military science fiction series on the market,” (Monsters and Critics) The Lost Fleet delivers thrilling combat on a grand space opera scale. Now, Admiral John “Black Jack” Geary embarks on a brand new mission—to defend the Alliance from itself—in New York Times bestselling author Jack Campbell’s latest action-packed novel…

Two Syndicate World star systems have fallen prey to a mysterious fleet of warships—a fleet controlled entirely by artificial intelligence—that is now targeting Alliance space. The warships are no mystery to Geary. They were developed by his government to ensure security, but malfunctioned. If the Syndics learn the truth, the war with the Alliance will resume with a vengeance. 

As the government attempts to conceal the existence of the A.I. warships—and its role in their creation—Geary pursues them, treading a fine line between mutiny and obedience. But it soon becomes clear that his fleet is no match for the firepower of the machine-piloted armada.

With the help of the Dancer species of aliens, Geary has tracked the A.I. ships to their secret base in the supposedly mythical Unity Alternate star system where his fleet, the last hope of the Alliance’s future, will end the conflict at any cost.

I was disappointed in Steadfast, the last book of the series, but Campbell is back on track with Leviathan.  Once again Geary has to save the Alliance.  This time he has to save it from its own mistake.  He does not do it alone. The final save comes from a very unlikely source. 

If you like space battles, interesting characters, unusual aliens and impossible odds Leviathan is for you.  It can read as a stand-alone but read the entire series starting with The Lost Fleet for maximum enjoyment.

Ace published Leviathan by Jack Campbell in 2015.

I received an ARC of Leviathan from Netgalley in return for  an honest review.

Steadfast (The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier) by Jack Campbell

Science Fiction

From Goodreads: 

 Geary and the crew of the Dauntless have managed to safely escort important alien representatives to Earth. But before they can make tracks for home, two of Geary’s key lieutenants vanish. The search for his missing men leads Geary on a far-flung chase, ultimately ending at the one spot in space from which all humans have been banned: the moon Europa. Any ship that lands there must stay or be destroyed—leaving Geary to face the most profound moral dilemma of his life.

To make matters worse, strains on the Alliance are growing as the Syndics continue to meddle. Geary is ordered to take a small force to the border of Syndic space. But what he finds there is a danger much greater than anyone expected: a mysterious threat that could finally force the Alliance to its knees.

As Geary spearheads a desperate battle to protect the Alliance against a shrewd and powerful enemy, he’s left with just one question: Who are they?

I said when Campbell started the second series featuring Jack Geary I did not see how he could keep the same level of tension that he had in the first set of books.  After reading the first Beyond the Frontier books I admitted he has succeeded.  I was expecting the same in Steadfast but it just was not there.  What was there was information needed for the story to continue but it just was not exciting.  I kept reading expecting the book to pick up but it did not until the very end.  That part was exciting and sets up the next book.  If you are a fan of the series as I am you will want to read Steadfast and like me you will be looking forward to the next book.  Just don’t expect the same level of tension that is present in previous books.  Instead Steadfast is like many middle books in a series it is just a filler to set up the next book.

Ace published Steadfast by Jack Campbell in 2014.

Waiting on Wednesday - April 16, 2014

 

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature sponsored by Breaking the Spine.  It is a great way to share upcoming releases.

I am waiting for The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Steadfast by Jack Campbell to be released May 6th.  This series is one of my favorites.  Every time I think Campbell cannot keep the series new and fresh he proves me wrong.  I am counting on him doing it again with Steadfast.

From Goodreads:

"New York Times bestselling author Jack Campbell’s action-packed Lost Fleet series has propelled readers from deep space to the very edge of their seats. Now Admiral John Black Jack” Geary embarks on a thrilling new adventure to defend the Alliance and safeguard the future.

Geary and the crew of the Dauntless have managed to safely escort important alien representatives to Earth. But before they can make tracks for home, two of Geary’s key lieutenants vanish. The search for his missing men leads Geary on a far-flung chase, ultimately ending at the one spot in space from which all humans have been banned: the moon Europa. Any ship that lands there must stay or be destroyed—leaving Geary to face the most profound moral dilemma of his life.

To make matters worse, strains on the Alliance are growing as the Syndics continue to meddle. Geary is ordered to take a small force to the border of Syndic space. But what he finds there is a danger much greater than anyone expected: a mysterious threat that could finally force the Alliance to its knees.

As Geary spearheads a desperate battle to protect the Alliance against a shrewd and powerful enemy, he’s left with just one question: Who are they?

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.

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.