The Alliance has been fighting the Syndic for a century--and losing badly. Now its fleet is crippled and stranded in enemy territory. Their only ho...
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reviews
May 05, 2011
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it: 
I like having an audio book on when I'm doing things that require little or no thought...of course I listen when I'm working on leather crafts. Could that explain the number of unfinished mistakes in that lower drawer??? Oh well, back to the subject at hand.
I recently finished the 6th Honor Harrington book and thought it somewhat of a "come-down" from the earlier ones...really. She seemed to be closing in on Super-Woman status. When I read the synopsis of the next it was ju More...
I recently finished the 6th Honor Harrington book and thought it somewhat of a "come-down" from the earlier ones...really. She seemed to be closing in on Super-Woman status. When I read the synopsis of the next it was ju More...
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Mar 26, 2009
Paul
rated it:
The century-long war between the Alliance and the Syndic (Syndicated) Worlds has been going very badly for the Alliance. Now the Alliance fleet is badly outnumbered, and stuck deep in Syndic territory. But the Alliance has a reluctant ace up their sleeves named John Geary.
"Black Jack" Geary was famed for his heroic "last stand" in the early days of the war. He was thought dead, but was revived after a century in survival hibernation. He is totally disgusted with t More...
"Black Jack" Geary was famed for his heroic "last stand" in the early days of the war. He was thought dead, but was revived after a century in survival hibernation. He is totally disgusted with t More...
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Jan 02, 2009
Jody
rated it:
First book in a great space opera series. Blurb by William Dietz says "A rousing adventure...the kind of hero Hornblower fans will love" and that really says it all. If you like your heroes so noble it kinda hurts, Black Jack Geary's the one for you.
As a young soldier he's assumed killed in a particularly valiant military action at the start of a war. One hundred years later that war's still going on and his cryogenically frozen body is recovered from a "life raft More...
As a young soldier he's assumed killed in a particularly valiant military action at the start of a war. One hundred years later that war's still going on and his cryogenically frozen body is recovered from a "life raft More...
Nov 21, 2008
Michael
rated it:
Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell (the pen name of John Hemry) is a military sci-fi novel that revolves around the main character Captain John "Black Jack" Geary. Geary is war hero of historic proportions and the hero of the battle in the Grendel system. The Syndics (a human corporate empire) ambushed the Alliance at Grendel where Geary made himself famous with his heroic "last stand". Geary is thought to be lost in battle at the helm of his ship but a hundred years later an Allian
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Oct 30, 2011
Elf
rated it: 
This is going to be an unfair review, because it is a comparison of writing styles based upon a recommendation. An acquaintance of mine familiar with my appreciation of the David Weber Honor Harrington series, recommended that rather than read "those atrocious Hornblower In Space books," I read Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet series. Campbell, he explained, was a former Naval officer himself and had a far better grip on what it means to describe leadership and command than a wanker li
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Sep 19, 2011
Allisyn
rated it:
The premise of this science fiction tale is one that I found very intriguing and even better, it was skillfully executed. Campbell throws you straight in the action because the protagonist, John Geary, is thrown straight into the action. Since Geary wakes up from stasis in the middle of the war, Campbell is able to introduce the current situation to the reader by way of briefing Geary. Some of the chain of events that lead to Geary taking command of the fleet are a tad unbelievable but if you su
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Jun 29, 2011
William
rated it:
2 AND 1/2 STARS.
I admit I was surprisingly entertained reading this book. Maybe my opinion is a bit clouded since my father was a Captain in WW2, but I had a good time with it. Sure, most of it is predictable with very little added to the genre, but it had loads of energy and the constant technical problem solving situations kept me on my feet. I'm curious to see how this unfolds into an ongoing series.
My big criticism is that it appears everyone but Captain John Geary More...
I admit I was surprisingly entertained reading this book. Maybe my opinion is a bit clouded since my father was a Captain in WW2, but I had a good time with it. Sure, most of it is predictable with very little added to the genre, but it had loads of energy and the constant technical problem solving situations kept me on my feet. I'm curious to see how this unfolds into an ongoing series.
My big criticism is that it appears everyone but Captain John Geary More...
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Apr 23, 2011
Klava
rated it: 
This series of books is written by an exceptional writer who makes it easy to understand
and makes believable the warfare in space by massive fleets of ships and the men and women who serves on them. The author introduces us to the main character, Captain John "Black Jack" Geary, who is picked up by an Alliance Fleet after 100 years in hibernation and is dropped into a new (for him) world where the war that started in his time has been raging for 100 years. By accident, he is g More...
and makes believable the warfare in space by massive fleets of ships and the men and women who serves on them. The author introduces us to the main character, Captain John "Black Jack" Geary, who is picked up by an Alliance Fleet after 100 years in hibernation and is dropped into a new (for him) world where the war that started in his time has been raging for 100 years. By accident, he is g More...
Apr 20, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
I didn’t even know the genre ‘Military Science Fiction’ existed until I picked up a few John Scalzi novels a while back. I always preferred my SciFi to contain mysterious (and dangerous) celestial objects peppered with frightening aliens. Yah, man—gotta have aliens. Now, it seems, I am getting into ‘Marines in Space.’
I hesitated for a while. I am just not a military sort of guy. But once I started, this became engrossing.
Perhaps it’s the clever premise (not a spoiler).
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I hesitated for a while. I am just not a military sort of guy. But once I started, this became engrossing.
Perhaps it’s the clever premise (not a spoiler).
More...
Mar 25, 2011
Andreas
rated it:
Solid military SciFi. The premise has an attack fleet from the "Alliance" find the century old survival pod of legendary commander John "Black Jack" Geary, with the man himself hibernating inside. Just after that, the fleet is stranded in "Syndic" space after being soundly defeated in an ambush. All the flag officers have been imprisoned and shot, so by virtue of time in rank, Captain Geary is now in command of the "Lost Fleet". But in the century of his a
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Feb 25, 2011
Genevieve
rated it:
A fun space opera. The characters aren't very lively, but it's a short book and they seem to have potential – I want to read the rest. Later, after reading the rest of the available Lost Fleet / Black Jack Geary series: I enjoyed many aspects of this book, and the others in the series. It gets better as the series progresses. I love the premise and the world, and the development of the main character. I'm going crazy wanting to know more about what will happen with the new threat (I'm tryin
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Feb 24, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
When John Geary's ship was attacked, he provided covering fire so his comrades could escape. Now, after a century of fighting, the Alliance have launched an all-out attack on their enemy's home system—only to suffer a crushing defeat. The remnants of the Alliance fleet place their trust in the legendary Geary who has only just awakened after 100 years in survival hibernation.
Somehow, Geary must live up to his heroic reputation and get them safely back home.
As the youn More...
Somehow, Geary must live up to his heroic reputation and get them safely back home.
As the youn More...
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Aug 31, 2010
Allen
rated it:
This is the first book of a six part series, the series starts very strong and seems to run out of ideas about book 4.
Overall I liked it, the author (John G. Hemry, writing under the pseudonym Jack Campbell) really knows how to make a space battle interesting. He has a very strict set of physics he follows, which does not allow FTL during battles. He does allow FTL as a mechanism to quickly move between star systems, but once in a star system .2 C is about as fast a ship can trave More...
Overall I liked it, the author (John G. Hemry, writing under the pseudonym Jack Campbell) really knows how to make a space battle interesting. He has a very strict set of physics he follows, which does not allow FTL during battles. He does allow FTL as a mechanism to quickly move between star systems, but once in a star system .2 C is about as fast a ship can trave More...
Jun 22, 2010
Seth
rated it:
I generally prefer fantasy to science fiction, and when I do read science fiction I tend to avoid the military subgenre. As such, I went into Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet: Relentless with pretty low expectations. I found myself quickly engrossed, and finished the book fairly quickly. It isn't perfect, but most readers of science fiction will find something to enjoy here.
As Campbell has explained on several occasions, the Lost Fleet series melds the theme of the long retreat after a mil More...
As Campbell has explained on several occasions, the Lost Fleet series melds the theme of the long retreat after a mil More...
Jun 13, 2009
Dani
rated it:
Target Audience: Breathing sapients over age 10
Warnings: Battle descriptions and allusions to sexual encounters
Jack Geary is on a routine training mission with his fleet when they come under attack on their border with the Syndicate, another human-held area of space. His ship is crippled and he falls back so that others can escape. As captain, he is the last the leave his wrecked ship, and he falls into the cryo-sleep knowing that rescue is only a few hours away.
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Warnings: Battle descriptions and allusions to sexual encounters
Jack Geary is on a routine training mission with his fleet when they come under attack on their border with the Syndicate, another human-held area of space. His ship is crippled and he falls back so that others can escape. As captain, he is the last the leave his wrecked ship, and he falls into the cryo-sleep knowing that rescue is only a few hours away.
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Jun 05, 2010
Sandy
rated it:
As military science fiction, this book is awesome. The battles were intense, and I felt as if I was holding my breath waiting to see what would go wrong and how things would turn out.
I bought this book for... uh... myself (sort of) because it was recommended by an author I like and because the plot is similar to Linnea Sinclair's ACCIDENTAL GODDESS: the MC reappears after a hundred years to find that he's made history as a hero (or goddess, in Sinclair's book). The only thing that More...
I bought this book for... uh... myself (sort of) because it was recommended by an author I like and because the plot is similar to Linnea Sinclair's ACCIDENTAL GODDESS: the MC reappears after a hundred years to find that he's made history as a hero (or goddess, in Sinclair's book). The only thing that More...
Feb 02, 2012
Melissa
rated it:
I like military fiction anyway, and this is some good military SF. You've got this guy, John Geary, who wakes up from 100 years of drifting in an abandoned survival pod to find that a) the war that had just begun back then is STILL going on, b) he was "posthumously" promoted to captain after his disappearance, c) in all that time, he's become something of a folk hero, and d) thanks to fleet rules about seniority, when the Alliance fleet's leadership is massacred, he's the senior rankin
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Aug 11, 2011
April (CSI:Librarian)
rated it:
(Originally posted @ CSI:Librarian.)
For the longest time I've been seeing books come out with blurbs that basically state that "If you like Hornblower and like space, you will like this book." I have never put much stock in that sort of thing, but the stupidity of the comparision has always irritated me. First of all, just because a character goes on or near a boat, ship, or space station doesn't mean they are like every other character who has ever done so. Secondly, Horn More...
For the longest time I've been seeing books come out with blurbs that basically state that "If you like Hornblower and like space, you will like this book." I have never put much stock in that sort of thing, but the stupidity of the comparision has always irritated me. First of all, just because a character goes on or near a boat, ship, or space station doesn't mean they are like every other character who has ever done so. Secondly, Horn More...
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Jul 29, 2010
Daniel
rated it:
Jack Campbell's got a great idea, a promising premise and a good protagonist. Waking from a 100 year hibernation, a soldier finds he's been idolized into a legend he never was--and his fleet is stuck deep in enemy territory. The only way out is in.
I enjoyed the idea, and I enjoy a good space battle, especially when there is attention to the physics of outer space. This is no George Lucas creation where the laser screech by and the fighters fly like airplanes in an atmosphere. Kud More...
I enjoyed the idea, and I enjoy a good space battle, especially when there is attention to the physics of outer space. This is no George Lucas creation where the laser screech by and the fighters fly like airplanes in an atmosphere. Kud More...
May 24, 2009
Henry
rated it:
Military science fiction can be hard and cold. You can be detached from it about as quickly as Star Wars fans decided they didn't like Jar-Jar Binks. But Campbell writes a fast-paced novel that forces you to use your head. The subtle psychology of leadership in the book is a good detour and a continuing theme that continues to impress me as much as Orson Scott Card's work in the Ender series. There isn't endless talk of weapons, ships schematics or technology (sorry to the Star Trek and John Cla
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Feb 02, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
I solidly enjoyed Dauntless, but wasn't overwhelmed by it. I wouldn't have expected to like a novel that is essentially an unending battle to be as good as this, but I'm similarly unsurprised that I didn't think it was great. The main character is developed and appealing. The supporting characters are necessarily thin given the ship-to-ship battles, but there are two minor characters that are at least interesting enough that I care what happens to them.
I nearly thought that the nove More...
I nearly thought that the nove More...
Sep 10, 2010
Maura853
rated it:
OK, how embarrassed am I to admit I've just read this? ... Not at all actually. I've tended to steer away from military SF (damaged by Starship Troopers at a tender age) but the premise of this intrigued me: the hero of a legendary "last stand" is discovered alive, floating in space, in stasis, and discovers that he must simultaneously live up to his heroic reputation while saving his new comrades (who could be his great-grandchildren) from the stupid macho heroics that are the twisted
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Aug 14, 2010
Michael
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I really enjoyed the portrayal of sub-light speed space combat in Dauntless because of the way it accurately depicts information delays, velocity matching, and the importance of fleet formations. In fact, much of the book focuses on depicting large-scale fleet actions, rather than just one on one ship combat, which is a refreshing change. Additionally, Campbell manages to weave in the human side of military command in a way that is lacking in many similar novels - the commanders in Dauntless a
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Oct 05, 2011
April the Cheshire Meow
rated it: 
Written well as far as characterization. But the original premise of a key given by an enemy traitor" for a special faster than light travel hypernet is spurious and ridiculous, since after receiving this technological gift, the "good" side simply says "wow, thanks, let's plug this in and use it without any questions or planning." Since I've never been in a military force of any kind perhaps my assumption that the military would be suspicious of secret back doors intenti
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May 19, 2009
James
rated it:
The author claims that he was influenced by the Greek story of the March of Xenophon. Actually, given that this book was written in 2006, another more immediate story comes to mind: Battlestar Galactica. Except there are no cylons, nanotechnology, time travel, virtual reality, or artificial intelligence. This book could have been written by John Campbell (of Analog Magazine) in the 1960's.
This is a Military sci-fi book, as opposed to Space Opera. The difference is that this book More...
This is a Military sci-fi book, as opposed to Space Opera. The difference is that this book More...
Jan 12, 2012
Meryl
rated it:
John "Black Jack" Geary wakes up from cryosleep to find 100 years have past and he is now a legendary hero. Lost in a decisive battle with the Syndic Alliance, Geary's actions have made him a hero. Now he has been found by the Fleet cruiser Dauntless, and brought back to life in the middle of a war that has dehumanised both sides and brought them to the brink of collapse.
Geary just wants to crawl away somewhere and live out his life. But when command of the decimated fle More...
Geary just wants to crawl away somewhere and live out his life. But when command of the decimated fle More...
Aug 24, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Tea: I believe I'll have a half a cup, plus a quick splash
Overall, a good solid enjoyable read. I haven't been much a fan of space, I'll admit. However I did enjoy this space journey, the reluctant hero, stimulating and sometimes laugh-out-loud dialogue, variety of personalities, and the perilous almost-never-gonna-get-there adventure to get back home safely without loosing another spaceship from the ever present enemy at their back.
There were some slow parts, but the good parts really More...
Overall, a good solid enjoyable read. I haven't been much a fan of space, I'll admit. However I did enjoy this space journey, the reluctant hero, stimulating and sometimes laugh-out-loud dialogue, variety of personalities, and the perilous almost-never-gonna-get-there adventure to get back home safely without loosing another spaceship from the ever present enemy at their back.
There were some slow parts, but the good parts really More...
May 10, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
Before I say more about this book I need to specify that I dearly love Space Operas. Particularly Space Operas that involve fleets of space battleships turning each other in floating hunks of radioactive slag. This book delivered. What this book didn't deliver on was endless expositions of technical details. The weapons have evocative names like Hell-Lances, energy weapons, and Shrikes, missiles, and the engines are merely described has propulsion units. This book is also very short at 304 pages
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Apr 26, 2010
Pkelsay
rated it: 
This was my first attempt at reading sci-fi military fiction. (I had read some sort of Christian spy military fiction before, courtesy of my parents - a bit odd but fairly well written.) This book started with a metric shit-ton of dialog that tried quite hard to create a sympathetic character or two. For me, it was pages and pages of chatter from a guy that was in some sort of emo PTSD fuge, overlaid with the petty politics of pseudo-American military culture.
I rarely fail to get en More...
I rarely fail to get en More...
Jul 19, 2011
Claire
rated it:
Oh man, I wish I could, like, 4.9 this one. I really, really enjoyed it - Chris and Linda had told me about them and had a hand-waving enthusiastic discussion about how good the series is, and they were not exaggerating. It's like: take most of the military themed SF I have ever enjoyed, and then remove MOST OF THE FAIL and then add a whole bunch more ladies, all of whom are just, you know, ladies, rather than back-patting-oh-look-I-have-a-female-character-give-me-a-cookie!ladies and the charact
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