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A Captain's Crucible #5
Worlds at War
Fifty-five of the most powerful warships humankind has ever developed. Thirty-five allied alien vessels. One man who just might be humanity’s last hope. The admiral has restored Jonathan Dallas to the captaincy of the USS Callaway, also placing him in direct command of the new alien allies that joined the battle group after the destruction of the Elk homeworld. When the combined fleet begins making its way back to human space, they encounter a new threat to both of their races. As the death toll rises, Jonathan must come to terms with the fact that Earth might not exist anymore. "Welcome to the captain’s crucible, where your first mistake in the seat of command will be your last."
- GenresScience Fiction
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2017
69 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Hooke
102 books509 followersIsaac Hooke is the best-selling author of the Ethan Galaal series of thriller novels, as well as the SF-themed ATLAS trilogy. When Isaac isn't writing, publishing, and blogging, he's busy cycling and taking pictures in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He has a degree in Engineering Physics.
You can follow Isaac on Twitter @IsaacHooke and his website http://IsaacHooke.com.
You can follow Isaac on Twitter @IsaacHooke and his website http://IsaacHooke.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 3, 2017
I'm not normally a Sci-Fi reader, I keep saying that but this series is excellent, I'm a character reader and Isaac Hooke really gets into character development and by this time, if you've read the first 4 books, you're heavily invested in the characters. Futuristically, believably written this is a very good book and a must read for those who read his first four Captain's Crucible novels. This book gets right back into it. No spoilers here though, buy the books, read the books, get into a very good author I have. I look forward to the continuing Captain’s Crucible Saga.
January 22, 2017
returning home
The fleet is slowly returning home, Captain Dallas is unhappy with the result of the attack on the Elk home world. But that is the least of the problems, both he and the fleet have to face. The Elder ship is attacking earth, having wiped out the fleets in the SOL system.
The fleet is slowly returning home, Captain Dallas is unhappy with the result of the attack on the Elk home world. But that is the least of the problems, both he and the fleet have to face. The Elder ship is attacking earth, having wiped out the fleets in the SOL system.
February 7, 2017
Good as thee others.
This book is great at what it does, keeping you entertained and somewhat mystified throughout the book. I would recommend yo any who liked the previous books in the series.
This book is great at what it does, keeping you entertained and somewhat mystified throughout the book. I would recommend yo any who liked the previous books in the series.
February 7, 2017
Great book series
I have read several books by this author and this series is by far my favorite work. Well worth the read.
I have read several books by this author and this series is by far my favorite work. Well worth the read.
November 19, 2019
Great!
The whole series has been great fun to read, cant wait for what comes next in the series. Hooks is fast becoming one of my favorite Authors.
The whole series has been great fun to read, cant wait for what comes next in the series. Hooks is fast becoming one of my favorite Authors.
January 9, 2025
Excellent Novel
Highly recommend. Moves along at a good pace. I always have to make up enough comments to fulfill the twenty word requirements. Still a book worth reading.
Highly recommend. Moves along at a good pace. I always have to make up enough comments to fulfill the twenty word requirements. Still a book worth reading.
January 29, 2017
We’re back with Captain Jonathan Dallas, Commanding the starship Callaway of the United Systems. They have just finished off destroying the homeworld of the Elk faction of the alien race call Raakarr. They had done this deed at the behest of the other Raakarr faction, the Zarafe, believing that this was just a small colony world that was dangerous to the United Systems and the Zarafe. What was done was unbelievably horrible, but it was done and there was no going back. In fact, the Callaway and the small Task Force under Captain Dallas’ command needed to get back to Earth and enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation. The one builder ship in the Task Force was just about ready to finish building the Slipstream Gate that would allow them to finally leave Raakarr-2 and move back to the Vega 951 system and then to home.
Only, there appears to be something wrong in Vega 951. While the Raakarr Zarafe faction is now allied to the Callaway, their ships have to ability to move through Slipstreams without the need for a gate. They have sent small scouting parties ahead and have found nothing but devastation in the Vega 951 system. It appears that the United Systems and Raakarr have made a terrible enemy of the Elder, a very ancient race that is distantly related to the Raakarr. The Elder seem to be measuring humanity to see if they are worthy of existing. The Callaway’s action against the Elk homeworld has turned the Elders against humanity and they appear to be ready to eliminate all humanity all the way back to Earth itself.
So, with a crew that is pretty exhausted and an ally that is questionable as to their loyalty, Task Force 72.5 head back through the new gate and into Vega 951 to await whatever destiny they have if any. Their trip homeward is not easy. The Elders have left small, but highly advanced scavenger ships in each of the systems they must pass through. These scavenger ships are made from the remains of recently destroyed vessels, orbital stations and crews. One scavenger ship, with it’s disintegration weapon, can easily destroy an entire fleet of United Systems and Raakarr ships. So, how are they to get home and what will they find once they get there?
This story seems fairly long and I guess it is. The remaining human and Raakarr combined fleet has to pass through several star systems before getting to Earth. It would have been helpful if there had been a star map illustration somewhere in the book, but if you read closely, you can figure out the path towards the Solar System. There is some good starship battles along the way and they are not that hard to follow. The author does a good job of describing the action, at least from the perspective of Captain Dallas. It’s seems that Captain Dallas is meant to lead the remaining human forces because every time something happens, his command Admiral gets killed leaving him to take over the fleet. Seems like he should have been promoted a long time ago. There is also this strange part in the book where it appears that Captain Dallas lusts for his Executive Officer’s wife, Bridgette. I don’t know why that’s part of the book, but it keeps coming up at the most idiotic times. I think that could have been left out.
Still, these are very good military science fiction books although a little short on character building for anyone other than Captain Jonathan Dallas. We do get to read about Chief Rade Galaal. a MOTH, who has his own set of adventures telling how he became a MOTH. Those Atlas books are great and a recommended read. I hope then next book in this series, Flag Ship, means that Captain Dallas gets advanced to Admiral and we still get to read about some of the same crewmen.
Only, there appears to be something wrong in Vega 951. While the Raakarr Zarafe faction is now allied to the Callaway, their ships have to ability to move through Slipstreams without the need for a gate. They have sent small scouting parties ahead and have found nothing but devastation in the Vega 951 system. It appears that the United Systems and Raakarr have made a terrible enemy of the Elder, a very ancient race that is distantly related to the Raakarr. The Elder seem to be measuring humanity to see if they are worthy of existing. The Callaway’s action against the Elk homeworld has turned the Elders against humanity and they appear to be ready to eliminate all humanity all the way back to Earth itself.
So, with a crew that is pretty exhausted and an ally that is questionable as to their loyalty, Task Force 72.5 head back through the new gate and into Vega 951 to await whatever destiny they have if any. Their trip homeward is not easy. The Elders have left small, but highly advanced scavenger ships in each of the systems they must pass through. These scavenger ships are made from the remains of recently destroyed vessels, orbital stations and crews. One scavenger ship, with it’s disintegration weapon, can easily destroy an entire fleet of United Systems and Raakarr ships. So, how are they to get home and what will they find once they get there?
This story seems fairly long and I guess it is. The remaining human and Raakarr combined fleet has to pass through several star systems before getting to Earth. It would have been helpful if there had been a star map illustration somewhere in the book, but if you read closely, you can figure out the path towards the Solar System. There is some good starship battles along the way and they are not that hard to follow. The author does a good job of describing the action, at least from the perspective of Captain Dallas. It’s seems that Captain Dallas is meant to lead the remaining human forces because every time something happens, his command Admiral gets killed leaving him to take over the fleet. Seems like he should have been promoted a long time ago. There is also this strange part in the book where it appears that Captain Dallas lusts for his Executive Officer’s wife, Bridgette. I don’t know why that’s part of the book, but it keeps coming up at the most idiotic times. I think that could have been left out.
Still, these are very good military science fiction books although a little short on character building for anyone other than Captain Jonathan Dallas. We do get to read about Chief Rade Galaal. a MOTH, who has his own set of adventures telling how he became a MOTH. Those Atlas books are great and a recommended read. I hope then next book in this series, Flag Ship, means that Captain Dallas gets advanced to Admiral and we still get to read about some of the same crewmen.
February 18, 2017
Good series.
Enjoyed the whole series. Story moved along at a good pace.
Physics of space battles didn't get bogged down by being tied too huge numbers in time which was a refreshing change on a since that is not to far removed from ours.
Thanks for the read.
Enjoyed the whole series. Story moved along at a good pace.
Physics of space battles didn't get bogged down by being tied too huge numbers in time which was a refreshing change on a since that is not to far removed from ours.
Thanks for the read.
January 14, 2017
'Worlds at War' is the fifth installment of the 'A Captain's Crucible' series by Isaac Hooke. It follows Captain Jonathan Dallas as he struggles against ever mounting odds to bring his fleet home. After defeating the Raakarr and in the process unwittingly destroying the Elk faction's home world in book 4, the human fleet is finally on its way home. But all is not what it seems and humanity's greatest test and Jonathan's greatest challenge is yet to come.
If you like grand space battles, fleet level maneuvers and tactics, and the technical details they involve, this is the book for you. Mr. Hooke paints vivid pictures, telling a great action-packed story in a universe that is well thought out with realistic characters and just enough technical details to help explain the events without slowing down the story's progress. But be forewarned, this story, and all of its minute details and twists and turns, is best enjoyed when you start at the beginning and read all five installments of the series in order.
The one thing I missed in this story, though, was the interactions and personal struggles of the minor characters that had been peppered throughout the previous installments in the series; but even so, I enjoyed this story very much and finished it in record speed.
If you like grand space battles, fleet level maneuvers and tactics, and the technical details they involve, this is the book for you. Mr. Hooke paints vivid pictures, telling a great action-packed story in a universe that is well thought out with realistic characters and just enough technical details to help explain the events without slowing down the story's progress. But be forewarned, this story, and all of its minute details and twists and turns, is best enjoyed when you start at the beginning and read all five installments of the series in order.
The one thing I missed in this story, though, was the interactions and personal struggles of the minor characters that had been peppered throughout the previous installments in the series; but even so, I enjoyed this story very much and finished it in record speed.
January 9, 2017
"If you still need a toaster, I'm available."
After many months of hard fighting, with the destruction of the Elk home planet and it's horrendous civilian death toll, the battle, for now at least, is over. But the uneasy, guilty peace is short lived - the real war is yet to begin and this time it is being taken to Earth itself.
In this fifth book of the stupendous Captain's Crucible series, Mr. Hooke has excelled in his recounting the fears and destruction of the united fleet under the command of Captain Jonathan Dallas aboard the valiant USS Callaway as he and the remaining ships fight to try to save their own homeworld from certain annihilation. As always, the battle descriptions are detailed, imaginative, very realistic and never boring. Well written, the tension grows throughout the book until reaching the final explosive scenes. A must read for all fans of military Science Fiction or anyone enjoying thrilling non stop action. But don't start with this book _ go to the first and enjoy this terrific series all the way through. And feel for the weight on the Captain's shoulders.
My thanks to Mr.Hooke for the gift of this book
After many months of hard fighting, with the destruction of the Elk home planet and it's horrendous civilian death toll, the battle, for now at least, is over. But the uneasy, guilty peace is short lived - the real war is yet to begin and this time it is being taken to Earth itself.
In this fifth book of the stupendous Captain's Crucible series, Mr. Hooke has excelled in his recounting the fears and destruction of the united fleet under the command of Captain Jonathan Dallas aboard the valiant USS Callaway as he and the remaining ships fight to try to save their own homeworld from certain annihilation. As always, the battle descriptions are detailed, imaginative, very realistic and never boring. Well written, the tension grows throughout the book until reaching the final explosive scenes. A must read for all fans of military Science Fiction or anyone enjoying thrilling non stop action. But don't start with this book _ go to the first and enjoy this terrific series all the way through. And feel for the weight on the Captain's shoulders.
My thanks to Mr.Hooke for the gift of this book
January 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I love space opera and this is one of the best series that I've read.
To me, it's not a stand alone. You have to read the previous ones to get the full benefit of Mr. Hooke's wonderful galaxy building.
I Highly Recommend this series
To me, it's not a stand alone. You have to read the previous ones to get the full benefit of Mr. Hooke's wonderful galaxy building.
I Highly Recommend this series
January 31, 2017
Worlds at War 5
Just finished reading this book and have to say I think it is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The action was just where it needed to be in just the right amount. If you have the first 4 this book is a must have.
Just finished reading this book and have to say I think it is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The action was just where it needed to be in just the right amount. If you have the first 4 this book is a must have.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews